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Letters
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- Written by: Mike Tabacchi
One strategy local candidates have used to court and win supporters in recent campaigns has been to begrudge a so-called “good ole boy” network.
I am certain alliances of like-minded men (and women) with similar backgrounds and ideas for improving Lake County exist. Alliances and informal networks will arise in any organization.
But what has not been explained or sufficiently clarified, for me, are the consequences of this to we the people.
To be sure, many in Lake County are discouraged and struggling. Frustration and cynicism with government is pervasive in our society. It may be true that many county residents feel disaffected and unheard by government officials.
But I see no value – no promise or possibility – in focusing our attention on an arbitrary and phantom “good ole boy.”
This narrative will not move us one step closer to overcoming our complex public health, public safety, and economic hurdles. It is merely noise in the background.
I believe we can nudge ourselves towards greater prosperity. We already enjoy a strong sense of community here. This is part of my understanding and experience of prosperity.
We must find, cultivate, and elect leaders who can harness our collective passions and visions. We can focus our energies with an eye towards support and collaboration to create quality of life outcomes in our communities. I have observed this at the Middletown Area Town Hall (MATH).
Over the years, the MATH membership has been focused and persistent in its efforts. Inch by inch, we are reshaping and reinventing our community. Optimism and community pride is rising.
My participation in this town hall has enabled me to connect with others I might not otherwise have met. I do not own property, and I don’t earn much money. But I am grateful for the opportunities Lake County continues to provide me.
In closing, I also want to acknowledge Supervisor Jim Comstock for the support and leadership he has demonstrated as our elected representative.
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Sara Husby-Good
July 16th is the anniversary of the Bureau of Land Management, or BLM, a federal agency that collaborates with communities and other partners to help manage our public lands for multiple uses including conservation, commercial activities, and outdoor recreation.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Ukiah Bureau of Land Management, especially Rich Burns, the field manager for the BLM Ukiah Field Office, for working to protect our vibrant, active landscapes where folks live, work and play.
Many of us are grateful to live near the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, where there are many opportunities for outdoor adventure on our public lands managed by the BLM including camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, off-highway vehicle driving on designated routes, mountain biking, birding and wildlife viewing, photography, climbing, and visiting natural and cultural heritage sites.
These recreational opportunities and magnificent landscapes are vital to the quality of life enjoyed by locals, as well as national and international visitors.
Keep up the good work.
More information about the public lands in our region can be found at www.tuleyome.org and www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah.html .
Sara Husby-Good is executive officer and campaign director for the organization Tuleyome, based in Woodland, Calif.
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- Written by: Mike Tabacchi
I have lived in Lake County for over 13 years, and I must disclose upfront that I have never been on our lake. I do not own a boat nor do my friends. Given my current life situation, I have to tap into memories of fun at the lake I had as a youngster.
The Lake of the Ozarks remains a popular family vacation destination in the Midwest. Although my family did not own a boat, we vacationed with a family who did.
I was introduced to water skiing on a “saucer” which was a circular piece of plywood three or four feet in diameter. I soon learned to keep my mouth closed. Otherwise, I got a mouthful of lake water and that was not very pleasant.
We stayed in a two-story cabin on Osage Beach. The screen windows allowed the sounds of the lake and the songs of the insects in. We drank soda and played Yahtzee into the late evening.
A boat dock was situated across the cove from our cabin, and it served as a popular hangout for college students. They sure had some fun at the lake!
In fact, I can recall the volume of their fun increased as the night progressed. At age eight, I had only a vague understanding of the role that Budweiser played in the volume of that fun. So, for better or worse, cold beer also seems to be a part of fun at the lake.
I enjoy the spectacular lakeside views in Clearlake and Lakeport whenever I can. I can appreciate the role Clear Lake plays in our economy and the memories it provides for the families who visit. We must do all we can to preserve this jewel for future generations to enjoy.
Mike Tabacchi lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Nelson Strasser
In the process of gathering signatures these past few months for rent control initiatives, we have had the overwhelming support of the people of Lake County. There have been the occasional naysayers and I would like the opportunity to answer their concerns, and express one of my own.
A few folks have said, “I don’t sign petitions.” And, of course, that is there choice. However, they should know that The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees them the right to petition:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (my italics).
I would implore these folks to consider the wisdom of denying to themselves, categorically, a right guaranteed by the Constitution.
There are a few folks that have vehemently pronounced, “I am against rent control.” I understand their sentiment, but, my response is that “I am against being homeless.”
There are also some folks who believe that the market should be the arbiter of price, and here I would agree in principle. But, there is a counter notion in economics: market failure. Market failure is an imbalance in information and/or power between parties.
Put colloquially, “the playing field is not level.” If your rent goes up, you can look for a cheaper apartment, get a second job, ask your boss for a raise, etc. But, mobile homes, as I have said in the past, are not mobile. In most cases, they cost more to move than they are worth.
And, the senior owners of the mobile homes are often not mobile either: some of the tenants in my park are over 90 years of age. It would be a cold-hearted act of cruelty to vacate them from their homes because they could no longer pay the space rent (which has happened in jurisdictions with no rent control).
The last group of naysayers can’t sign our petition because they are not registered to vote and do not care to vote, for a variety of reasons: “the system is rigged”; “there is no real choice”; “my vote doesn’t matter”; “I never vote”; “I can vote for tweedle-dee or tweedle-dum,” so, “what is the point?”
Your vote does matter: In the 2012 election, approximately 21,000 people voted in Lake County. A few votes can be critical. Please register to vote, and, hopefully you will vote for our initiative when it is on the ballot next year.
You can register at the Registrar’s Office on the second floor of Lakeport City Hall, or you can get the stamped form at the post office, or you can download the form from the internet and fill it out and submit it, or you can get whatever political party that you belong to help you register.
And, you can check the box for permanent absentee ballot, so that you need not have to travel to your polling place at voting time.
The power is in the pencil: please exercise that power and sign our petition, and vote next year when it is on the ballot. Thank you.
Nelson Strasser lives in Lakeport, Calif.