Look, up in the air
What in tarnation were those crazy lines in the sky on Christmas Eve? My partner and I were driving to vacation in SLO that day and had to watch our lovely blue sky scarred as airplane after airplane sprayed opaque lines of some substance across the upper atmosphere. I feel so angry when I see these suspicious-looking lines and wonder how arrogant the sprayers must be to think that the citizens won’t notice our common airspace being violated like that. Who is spraying what, and why? Will it poison us, change the weather? Does anyone know? Does anyone care? Adrienne Prince
Camarillo
An ode to abuse
Slap em in the face and tell em it was somebody else’s fault
Slug em in the stomach and tell em it was a mistake
Kick em in the backside and say it was necessary
Drain em of their assets and say there’s lots of other money out there
Nail em into their coffins and say it was their own fault
And still there are some people begging to be kicked again.
Go figure.
Sounds like it’s time for the D.A.
Joyce Albright
Los Osos
Quit blowing smoke
In response to Mr. Voit from MINNESOTA about Diablo Canyon: People who live in glass houses shouldn’t try to blow smoke up others’ rumps — how about all those “nice� coal- and oil-fired power plants you have in your state? NO pollution there, eh?? And how many square miles of solar panels and/or “pretty� wind turbines would you have to have install to replace the power put out by Diablo Canyon? I’m not pro-nuclear but after reading Sonia Shah’s book “Crude, The Story of Oil�, with what the oil companies and other big businesses have destroyed, physically and socially, worldwide it would seem that nuclear power is definitely the lesser of the energy evils.
Keith Dekker
Los Osos
Beginning of the end
Recently, there have been several letters in the local newspapers castigating the Los Osos CSD Board members for their actions. Some even urge readers to sign a petition so that the County can “take over the sewer project�. In reality, their petition is the first step toward
dismantling our local government. Thus, circulating this petition is an extremely destructive and undemocratic act. It was initiated by a vindictive few who refuse to accept the results of the recent CSD election.
The dissolution of a government body is a very serious matter.
There are many steps that must be taken and it is a long, involved and
expensive process.
If this extreme faction succeeds, Los Osos will no longer make any decisions concerning fire services, water management and of course, what kind of sewer system we want and need.
So, before you sign your name on this petition out of anger, frustration, fear or whatever motive—think again!
Not only will signing this petition signal the beginning of the end of any local control, but you will also be collaborating with those who have no regard for direct, democratic participation, which only
community government can truly provide for its citizens.
Lacey Cooper
Los Osos
Fight to save Medi-Cal
On January 1, 2006, the Schwarzenegger administration implemented a 5% Medi-Cal reimbursement cut. For some dinosaurs this is good. They see Medi-Cal recipients as being “on the dole� and a waste of their tax money. The rest of us, who no longer live in the dark ages, understand that Medi-Cal is the only form of health insurance that many people can hope to have.
As a claims manager in a pediatrician’s office, I can tell you that Medi-Cal reimbursement is already extremely low. In fact, so low that many doctors have already been forced out of the program because they can’t afford to see the patients. So low that most of the doctors who do still accept it have closed their practices to any new patients. This cut can do nothing but make matters worse.
Every day we get calls from parents with Medi-Cal who can’t find a doctor to see their children. Our doctor is one of the last pediatricians open to new Medi-Cal patients and I see him now having to consider closing his practice to this type of insurance.
In a time of rising housing and energy costs, more and more people are being faced with cutting back on their expenses. As a single parent, I know what this means. With only the income of one person, you are faced with giving up extras that two-income families take for granted. When it comes down to having to cut back on food, rent, heat or transportation in order to afford health insurance, it’s really a no-brainer. The option of mainstream health insurance is thrown out and Medi-Cal becomes the only hope.
I am sending this letter to Abel Maldonado and Sam Blakeslee to encourage them to fight this. If any of you out there agree, I urge you to do the same.
Maria Hooper
Atascadero
Time to do it right in Los Osos
Please look carefully at Los Osos and you will see a town committed to building a sewer system. I hardly need to go into past struggles that had the town going in a number of directions, such as: in town, out of town, or no system at all. Finally, as democratic decisions are made, the town voted. The majority voted to move the sewer to a location outside of the town center and reform the CSD with board members that pledged to support the majority vote of Los Osos.
The task undertaken by the CSD board is heavy. Real heavy. Past events at both local and state level must be investigated and questioned. The board members and staff have shown a commitment to an unbiased approach and an open format in all public meetings and the willingness and strength to stand up to Sacramento. It is now time for the personal attacks on board members by residents and press to stop. The majority consists of our friends and neighbors. Please, let’s all support our CSD and Los Osos, respect the majority opinion, and build the best sewer system we can in the right place, with the best design at the best price.
Michael Weller
Los Osos
We are our own terrorists
If the goal of the 9-11 terrorists was the destruction of American society, then they have succeeded far beyond their wildest dreams. Consider, the event they perpetrated on 9-11 was undoubtedly the direct cause of the reelection of a president who, playing with less than a full deck, is openly dismantling society as we knew it. But even more than that, the accompanying transformation of a competent professional federal bureaucracy into a cadre tinctured with cynicism or infused with ideology who cannot punch their way out of a paper bag is rapidly adding its contribution to our destruction.
I cannot help surmising that the real explanation as to why there have been no further terrorists events is simply that Al Qaeda fully comprehends that more attacks would be superfluous.
Lester Goldfisher
Grover Beach
Hearing without listening
I attended the “hearing� by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) in December on the nuclear waste generated by Diablo. The NRC heard little in a strange system of citizen input— the NRC & PG&E did most of the talking.
I was arrested in 1978 in front of Diablo because, as a biologist, I felt the plant should not be constructed until the nuclear waste issue is answered. They said at the time, “Don’t worry—we’ll take care of it.’ Three decades later they still do not know —I do not consider storage on site next to an earthquake fault and subject to terrorist attack an answer.
If the NRC has a “hearing� I suggest they listen to the citizens —we are the ones living downwind from this potential nuclear disaster.
Bill Denneen
Nipomo
Poor Dalidio
The Dalidio family just can’t get a break. The city surrounds their farm with urban development, making it impossible to farm. He responds responsibly to their threat of water contamination by stopping farm operations.
And what is Mulholland’s response? Pure cynicism. I’ve got to believe that Christine Mulholland and her cohorts don’t have a lick of concern for how a man’s property rights have been trampled. They have created a nightmare for this family and they are not willing to take responsibility, accept the outcome, or offer alternatives. What do they expect this family to do? Keep farming until they face millions of dollars in fine from the State Water Board, and end up on the same position as the people in Los Osos? The hypocrisy is overwhelming.
Carolyn Garver
SLO
You don’t miss a thing, do ya?
Joseph ‘Joey’ Racano alias ‘mad-dog’ Racano:
Case pending, LOCSD trying to drop charges so they don’t get hit with a suit for selective enforcement! I have the video of the incident. It’s very interesting; three minutes of madness.
For that small minority who enjoy my writing, get a copy of my book ‘An Activist’s Almanac’. It’s a ‘how to’ book to save the world, and the forward is by Capt. Paul Watson! Just email me.
“Polite conservationists leave no mark save the scars upon the Earth that could have been prevented had they stood their ground.�
David Ross Brower
Los Osos
Pandora’s honey huts
Your center photo, on the cover of last week’s New Times is priceless. Smiley Pandora, in front of her backup group with shifty-eyed former general manager Bruce Buehl seemingly looking her way!!!! We loved it—it prompted me to collect as many New Times as possible, adding remarks for all to enjoy. We’ll meet the challenge of an agenda that will be revealed and give hope to lost Ososans. By the way—where’s Joey and the American flag?
P. Johnson
Los Osos
Silence is golden
I want to thank all the people who stood with our Women in Black Silent Vigil for Peace in 2005 in Atascadero. They have shown that silence makes a very powerful statement! Anyone is welcome to stand with us for peace, on the third Saturday of every month, on the corner of El Camino and Hwy 41 (Morro Rd.) by the RiteAid parking lot. We have our own banners and ask that no inappropriate signs be brought that do not fit with the solemn message of the Vigil. We respect the community and the variety of political values held and do not want to offend anyone. We want only to express our sadness at war and our desire for peace in the world and in our hearts. We also want to thank the community for its warm recognition of what we stand for.
Dee Carroll
Santa Margarita