Letters

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Written by: Lenny Matthews

Published: 29 June 2009

Once again fire season is upon us.

As I was driving from Lucerne into Lakeport Monday, I observed three drivers toss lit cigarettes out of their windows. Not only is this horrible for the environment but it is very dangerous. I just don’t understand. What’s even more frustrating is these people would never do this in view of an officer that could site them.

Are these idiots aware that the first time fine is $3,400 and after that it’s $20,400?! This is serious stuff. They know it is wrong and harmful and just don’t give a damn.

Coming off at 11th Street there was an woman coming off of Highway 29, having traveled north attempting to make a right hand turn. She tossed out her cigarette and turned in behind me. She followed me into the Bank of America parking lot. I approached her and her beautiful SUV asking why she tossed her cigarette out the window? I attempted to raise her consciousness and she told me to mind my own business.

This is my business, it’s everyone’s business for it affects us all.

Think about that the next time you go to toss out your butt. If it doesn’t catch anything on fire it will sit there in an attempt to biodegrade for approximately seven years! Thanks a lot.

Lenny Matthews lives in Lucerne.

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Written by: Philip Murphy

Published: 29 June 2009

Last Thursday the director of Lake County Vector Control held a meeting of the board members at a time when she was certain I would be unable to attend, so I had no chance to defend myself against the onslaught of charges they recently leveled against me in the news media.

The first claim made was that I had not asked about any of the subjects mentioned in my recently published letter at the last board meeting (which took place eight days after I joined the Vector Control board).

They failed to mention that I had discussed nearly all of these matters with the director, failed to mention that I became aware of most of these matters after that meeting and failed to mention that if I'd waited for the next meeting to voice my concerns it would be too late to get the facts out to the voters.

Instead of addressing any of the statements I had made in that letter in a meaningful way, they elected to attempt to shoot the messenger instead, and went on to point out the obvious: we have more mosquitoes when it rains a lot in the spring.

The board also claimed that I had little understanding of their budget or the business they conducted, apparently they were unaware that I have more experience doing pest control work than most of the Vector Control staff, and that I also have considerable experience analyzing governmental budgets, everything from the superior courts to school districts.

Now the board says they'll answer my questions, but you have to show up at the next board meeting to do hear their explanations because ... well, I'm not sure why they couldn't just print them for everyone to see. But now that they've finally embraced transparency I have a few more questions, like:

Why is it when Vector Control was supposedly on the ropes financially Curt Giambruno apparently didn't have any suggestions as to how to how to fix that problem, but he twice tried to get the board to vote themselves a raise?

Why did the board do nothing when they were given copies of and asked about a news report that contained some very questionable claims about Vector Control, claims so shaky that the director expressed obvious embarrassment when I asked her about them later? Could it be that it was OK with them if data was wrong if it helped their case for the assessments or were they just not paying attention?

Did the board know I had told the director if she responded publicly to a citizen's published questions about Vector Control without addressing the misstatements in the media I would do it for her? All I wanted was to give the voters an even break, something the board and director seem inclined not to do.

The truth about Vector Control is they are an example of what is poisoning our system of government at every level: they have lost sight of their primary function and spend much of their time building a larger and more entrenched, less efficient bureaucracy and act as if every budget problem can be solved by simply raising taxes.

Phil Murphy, a Vector Control board member, lives in Finley.

Editor's note: Dr. Jamie Scott, Vector Control district manager, said the district board routinely reviews and updates existing district policies. In April of 2008 the district board reviewed its policy on in lieu of expenses to ensure that the reimbursement that the trustees received was adequate for the expenses incurred. She said that, over a couple of meetings, they concluded that no changes to the in lieu of expenses policy were needed.

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Written by: Kevin Engle

Published: 27 June 2009

Many residents located around the south end of the lake, especially the city of Clearlake, are enduring unknown health and safety issues due to this year's early and massive bloom of algae. Commerce is also suffering greatly. Who wants to live, shop, dine or attend events in Clearlake when you gag due to the smell of the lake?

The smell is so foul this year that many rumors were "floating" around about a sewage leak. City and state officials have determined that in fact, the culprit is not sewage, but a form of blue-green algae that emits a sulfurous smelling gas as it dies off. Rumors continue regarding the sewage leak and there are also whispers about some nasty bacterial infections associated to this muck.

I have seen no reports in print as to the exact nature of what the long-term health issues might be. I have seen (in print) warnings for boaters and swimmers. Officials recommend wearing a gas mask to launch a boat in this area. How bizarre! I have also seen warnings not to swim in this primordial ooze as skin irritations are likely. Yuck! Fishing, Lake County's biggest tourist attraction, has also been effected. Algae robs the water of oxygen, hence, the die off rate will undoubtedly increase as the summer progresses. I am sure that human respiratory illness will also be a factor. Might as well be sewage as it all sounds toxic to me no matter what it is. Boy howdy!

To my knowledge, city and county officials have made few attempts to resolve this problem with the exception of bringing in an air boat to blow the floating algae away from the park. That was a smart tact on the part of the city (if in fact it was done by the city). Recently, the county recruited volunteer firemen in an attempt to suck up the muck with a pump truck and then transfer it to the dump. This was a good idea but the pump kept getting plugged. Thanks for trying guys!

The real dilemma is that, due to the prevailing westerly winds, all the algae that was "blown" out of the park area just moved on down the line to the hotels and other businesses along Lakeshore Boulevard, increasing the bulk of the problem and stench for those in it's path.

Old Highway 53 is particularly inundated too as the westerly winds make this area the primary catchall for the worst it. As soon as you turn on to Old 53 the smell smacks you in the face. In some places, the algae is almost a foot thick.

This area of Clearlake also has a few long-established businesses as well as a large population of some of the county's poorest and most disadvantaged residents. These people live in trailer parks along the water. Many of these humble folks already have health issues and should not have to endure this debacle. Something must be done by our local public officials for the sake of it's residents. You'd think the Chamber of Commerce and the EPA would at least be up in arms.

OK, so now that I've taken a few cheap shots at our local officials, what is the solution to this rancorous problem?

First off, as a stop-gap measure, the city should bring in an air boat again or jet boats to clear out ALL of the marina's and little jetties which harbor boats. Most of all, the areas where the trailer parks are located on Old 53 are in dire need of attention. The city will probably need to do this on a continual basis through out the summer. This would make a big difference for the residents and commercial enterprises as well. Get 'er done. Please help! Our health and financial success is at stake here.

I note that the city has recently hired a consultant to oversee applications for the Obama stimulus package opportunities and "green economy" incentives. Bravo!

I have been researching these opportunities and while doing so, stumbled upon a new technology that would most assuredly solve the algae problem that has plagued Clear Lake for so long. Some resourceful individual has come up with a way to turn algae into biodiesel!

This could be a win-win situation if this "green" diesel can be manufactured in a cost effective method. The city could rid itself of the smell stigma, heath issues and financial losses endured by local residents and businesses alike in one fell swoop.

Invest in this "green" technology, Clearlake. It is likely that the city could, in fact, produce enough fuel to run all city vehicles with this "green-blue" energy source and possibly even have a surplus of fuel that could be sold (is that legal)?

Hey! Maybe some road repair revenue might even be tied to the sale of any excess fuel from a venture like this.

If you look for the silver lining in every storm cloud, good things will happen.

Go for it, Clearlake! Get 'er done.

Kevin Engle lives in Lower Lake.