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Letters
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- Written by: Gary Hill
I have spent most of my life investigating human conduct.
Twelve years were working for the sheriff’s office – six of those years as a detective sergeant. The following 18 years were with the office of the district attorney as a criminal investigator, from which I retired as the chief investigator.
For the past 15 years I have owned and operated my own business as a private investigator. Most of that work has been in criminal defense – helping to make certain that defendants get a fair shake from the system. But my heart and respect have always been with law enforcement and truth and justice.
For 45 years it has been my honor and privilege to serve Lake County and its citizens. My regard and concern for them runs deep and true.
During those years in the District Attorney’s Office I helped investigate and prosecute several bad cops. We convicted some of crimes; some went to jail and some to prison.
I feel qualified in recognizing the good from the bad and I have a strong disregard for peace officers whose badge weighs too heavily.
Please join us in recalling Frank Rivero, who has failed us all as our sheriff.
Gary Hill lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Deborah Wallace
The theme of this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week – “New Solutions, New Challenges” – reflects the increasingly complex mission of victim advocates today.
We face emerging challenges, such as globalization, changing demographics, immigration, human trafficking, terrorism, new types of crime, and the use of technology both to commit and solve crimes.
We also confront enduring challenges. Victims’ rights are not universal and often not enforced. Victims do not always receive the dignity and respect they deserve. Victims often absorb the physical, emotional, and financial costs of crime largely by themselves.
Over the past year and into the early part of this year, a number of high-profile crimes have highlighted the scope of the challenges we face.
The shooting massacres in Aurora, Colo., and the Sikh temple in Milwaukee, Wis.; the child sex abuse scandal at Penn State; the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Conn.; and, most recently, the Boston Marathon bombing, have shown the public what we see every day – the searing impact of crime on victims and the inadequacy of our tools to meet their needs.
Our work to ensure the rights of child sexual abuse victims, prevent future violence, and reach all victims has never been more urgent.
Meeting these challenges requires insight and ingenuity. That is why the Office for Victims of Crime has launched its new strategic initiative, “Vision 21: Transforming Victim Services,” to find “new solutions” to the “new challenges” we face.
We applaud the Office for Victims of Crime’s efforts to set a comprehensive course for the future, find smarter and better ways to serve victims, and reach every victim in need.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week provides an opportunity to revisit our history, celebrate our achievements and advance the progress of victims’ rights.
As we recommit ourselves to our mission, we look forward to observing 2013 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21-27, with all of you.
Deborah Wallace is program administrator for the Lake County District Attorney’s Office/Victim-Witness Division, based in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Virginia Vovchuk
As avid users of the public lands in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, the Lake County Horse Council would like to thank US House of Representatives members Mike Thompson, John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Anna Eshoo and Ami Bera, and US Sen. Barbara Boxer for supporting and introducing legislation to permanently protect the Berryessa Snow Mountain region.
Approximately half of California’s 700,000 horses are used for recreational purposes, with $1.9 billion of the total California equine industry coming from recreational riders.
A National Conservation Area will ensure that these beautiful public lands and trails are preserved, not only for us, but for future generations.
The number of horseback riders and other recreational trail users in this region is growing. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone who reaches out to appreciate these public lands, finds a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience.
A National Conservation Area will give us the opportunity to craft a management plan. This plan can be tailored to site specific needs in our region.
Better managed recreational opportunities, and the addition of conservation sensitive multi-use trails, will benefit people currently recreating in this region, and encourage more people to visit.
Virginia Vovchuk is president of the Lake County Horse Council, based in Kelseyville, Calif. Visit the group online at www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com .
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- Written by: John Mulrooney
I waded through Cal Water’s latest application for a general water rate increase in the beleaguered outpost of Lucerne.
This time they plan to ding us an extra $818,000 over the next three years. And apparently, it’s our fault because we haven’t been using enough water again! Nothing to do, I suppose, with all the free water-saving devices they were handing out to residents a couple of years ago.
No, they say, you don’t understand, “most costs of operating the water system are fixed, regardless of the level of usage.”
Huh? Doesn’t compute to me.
If people are using less water, don’t the pumps have to run less often? Don’t they save on all those nasty chemicals they treat the water with? Don’t the filters clog less often and need less maintenance? Isn’t the infrastructure under less strain and therefore needs fewer repairs? Couldn’t they send a few people home if there’s not as much demand? Turn off some lights, maybe? Couldn’t we see fewer employees driving around all day in those giant trucks. Really? Costs are fixed?
But wait, they say, we’ll help you out a bit, ease your pain, and this is how it would work.
Customers get to choose between two plans. Cal Water calls them the no phase-in plan and the phase-in plan. I prefer to think of them as the getting screwed (no phase-in) plan and the getting really screwed (phase-in) plan.
Under the getting screwed plan (no phase-in) rates jump an average of $40 a month (up 57%) in January 2014. In January 2015 they go up another $3 a month on average (2.2%) and in January 2016 they go down (believe it or not!) a generous one dollar a month. That’s a total raise of about $42 a month over three years (I’m going with Cal Water’s “typical customer” scenario, which everyone knows is bogus, but let’s move on).
Bad enough, right?
But here’s what happens if the phase-in (getting really screwed) plan – the plan Cal Water humbly “recommends” – is approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.
In January 2014 rates go up “only” $22 a month, about $18 a month less than the raise proposed under the no phase-in (getting screwed) plan. Lessens the impact, says Cal Water.
Right? Wrong!
Because here’s what happens next – rates go up another $26 a month in January 2015 and then another $17 a month in 2016 for a total raise of about $58 over three years.
And when it’s all paid, Cal Water walks away with an extra $451,450 in interest on top of the already unconscionable $818,00 they started out grasping for!
No wonder they’re so eager to help ease our pain.
My question is, if they think we can’t afford to pay an extra $18 a month next year to implement the no phase-in (getting screwed) plan how on earth do they think we’ll be able to afford the extra half million in interest payments on top of the increased water rates? Where are the bean counters at Cal Water finding inspiration for this egregious, immoral greed?
Sounds like the worst excesses of the used car sales business and the payday loan shark industry if you ask me.
John Mulrooney lives in Lucerne, Calif.