Sunday, March 06, 2016

DROUGHT, BLOOMS, $$$, ATHLETICS, TAX WOMEN



DROUGHT IN CALIFORNIA 

The good news here in So Cal, eastern Los Angeles County, is that El Nino’s rain has found us again and snow is falling in the mountains from two storms coming through.   Northern California had mountain snow melt much of the past month reducing what had been a promising accumulation toward decreasing our drought effects.   We still will need even more rain and snow.   


SUPER BLOOM IN DEATH VALLEY

Death Valley actually received more rain than normal and the previously barren dry cracked earth is now asea with a rare Super Bloom of wild flowers - see outtakes you can view.  

I'm reminded of suddenly seeing just such a glorious colorful sight in the Arizona desert outside Scottsdale one spring in what had always been a barren area we had driven through periodically for several years.


LANDSCAPING $$$ SHOCK

Local city efforts to increase our environmentally green status to the max prompted seeking new bids with the current contract due to expire according to our local weekly newspaper, The Claremont Courier.    They reported our City Council is in a state of shock at the increased cost from $657,068 annually to $3 million. 

Bids from other landscapers were luke warm using the new parameters—no chemicals, no leaf blowers and no weeds and an increase of mulch use in planters.  

The previous contract was based on limited use of chemicals, the use of battery or electric blowers and varying degrees of weed tolerance.  

Moderation of some expectations has temporarily been made with a short term current contract extension to allow city officials to study the matter further.   What kind of increased costs will we individual home owners incur? 


WATER RATE $$$ EXCESSIVE

Our city continues to seek ownership of our water company through eminent domain legal procedures since the current owner refuses to sell.   Golden State Water Company, considered a public utility, is a wholly owned subsidiary of American States Water Company.  City officials and residents have been unhappy since long before the drought with the pricing mechanisms Golden State Water has used and the repetitive rate increases an impotent state Public Utilities Commission keeps approving.  

A concise article with this link to Capitol Weekly notes:  Claremont had the highest rates of 10 surrounding communities surveyed, and that rates doubled between 2008 and 2013, with another rate hike sought in 2014.”   We reportedly pay $50 more than our next door neighbor city La Verne for the same amount of water. “La Verne is used for comparison because of its similar size, population, and water sources. Claremont has more wells producing less costly water than La Verne but surprisingly La Verne water rates are lower.”   


HEALTH PRODUCT $$$ DISCRIMINATORY TAX ON WOMEN

 California AB 1561 – read the announcement for more facts.  

“Assembly members Garcia and Chang are working to end a longstanding tax on women in California.  Across the world, countries as well as select  states in the U.S. are organizing to repeal the sales tax on feminine hygiene products which are necessary health products for women.  From Canada, to the UK, to Malaysia, political leaders have repealed, reduced, or are under pressure from activists to jettison the “tampon tax.”...  To date, only five states in the United States & Canada have taken this action and eliminated taxation on tampons and sanitary napkins.”   See map.
                   
CNN’S Jackie Wattles reports five New York women have filed a lawsuit against New York’s tax department and its commissioner. “Their demand: Stop imposing a 4% ‘luxury tax’ on feminine hygiene products.”  Legislation has not been making significant gains toward enactment.  "Similar bills have been proposed in states including California, Utah and Virginia.”
                                    
                   
ATHLETICISM FOR OLDSTERS


My city of Claremont, California is a little over 14 square miles in size with a population of approximately 35,000.  The amenities in addition to the universities here include several retirement communities where I've also had the pleasure of providing Speech-Language Pathology services as well as in various other health services settings and hospitals in the surrounding area.   Pilgrim Place, one I have served, is:  “A senior community for those serving in religious or charitable organizations.” 

Our newspaper this week reported a special screening would be held there of Emmy-winning filmmaker Eric Goldfarb’s inspiring documentary on Senior Athleticism entitled “Impossible Dreamers,” featuring legendary golfer Gary Player.   Many other senior athletes appear including the Pilgrim-Pacers.  Their activity is integrated through six short segments beginning at about 19 minutes in and scattered throughout the hour and a quarter of the vimeo.  Pilgrim Place residents are very active in our city, also producing a a renowned annual festival attracting visitors from around Southern California and elsewhere.   

You can determine for yourself whether or not you might want to engage in any of these athletic activities and just how competitive you feel with some of these 60+ to 90+ years oldsters.   As for me, I need to walk more – just regular walking.    

 
                                   

21 comments:

  1. I've seen photos of those super blooms and wish we could be there to photograph it. It looks awesome!

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    1. Especially so, Kay, when you come upon such blooms unexpectedly in a desert area that you had seen for several years as simply sand and cacti.

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    2. I recall how amazed my mother was at a super bloom in Antelope Valley on her first visit to my brother in Ridgecrest CA. She had seen lots of deserts over the years, but never in bloom as she saw it that year!
      Cop Car

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  2. Well you all got your El Nino this past weekend and the same one is expected to set up shop here in Arkansas and surrounding parts for the next 3 days with lots of forecasted flooding. For the farmer’s sake we need to get through this in a hurry and dry out.

    Unbelievable increase there in your city’s landscaping fees. The locals here who work on individual home owner’s yards are increasing their charges also.

    I read about those taxes on women’s hygiene products and was taken back somewhat. Had no idea such a tax even existed? As taxes go, don’t suppose I should have been all that surprised.

    As far as your piece on elder athletics, with COPD that’s only something to dream about for me. It is amazing how much you’ll miss something as simple as a little walk around the block when you can no longer do it. And getting back to the topic of lawn care, even it suffers since I can no longer handle that. But that’s life I suppose...

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    1. Our little corner of the world did get some rain, but not as much as we expected. Sounds like you're going to get more rain than we did. Be prepared, because the end of the week we're supposed to get more rain which may head your way the the days after. We do have lots of snow visible in the mountains above where I live. Just heard news report today that clouds over California are going to be seeded but I don't yet know the particulars.

      I never knew about the tax on women's hygiene products either. Then when I read about items immune to the tax I really became incensed at the unfairness of it all.

      I appreciate the challenges COPD can present. Anything impinging on our breathing does alter how we live our lives. Hope you have good medical support to maximize pleasure in living. My husband had to relinquish lawn care but he never enjoyed it that much anyway. Lawns are going by the wayside here due to the drought. The grass I still have hardly looks as good as when my husband was in charge.

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  3. Reading the bit about landscaping reminds me, I need yard help!

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    1. Yards can get out of hand, especially with all the moisture you get in the east. Hope you get some help!

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  4. Those landscaping cost increases--Wow! That kind of thing seems to happen whenever government entities at any level go overboard with instant reforms. Better to study changes carefully and phase them in unless not changing invites near-immediate disaster.

    Taxes on hygiene products came as a new topic to me, as it did for others. Nothing to debate here--those onerous taxes should be removed ASAP.

    Like Alan, I have COPD and my athletic days are pretty much behind me. However, moderate exercise is OK and I ought to be doing more in that regard.

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    1. Actually, the landscaping changes here have been gradual over several years, but the drought has accelerated the need to continue proceeding. The changes as I described in italics for comparison would not seem to warrant such a cost increase it seems to me. I'm sure further information will be forthcoming and I'll be interested in how that new cost is justified.

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  5. Thanks for the news rundown on doings in your part of the world. Nice that you are still working and that the blooms are blooming!
    I wonder if there is not a labor crunch because of the pressure on undocumented immigrants, who, let's face it, do so much of the work in So Cal., which could be driving up costs for municipalities.
    I never realized that eminent domain could be used to take over public utilities. That would be a good idea in a lot of places.

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  6. I'm posting from a strange computer, and Freddy is actually me, Hattie.

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    1. Thanks for explaining about Freddy.
      Just to clarify, I'm not currently working but may keep up my professional license requirements.
      I recall some ten years or so ago my husband telling me there was a raid one morning in our neighborhood. He said he saw a few gardeners in the area running.
      I don't know the legal specifics that enable our city to repossess our water through eminent domain.

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  7. Speaking of taxing necessities, Kansas has been having a go-around on taxing food. The Wichita Eagle posted: "Including local taxes, Kansas has the highest sales tax rate on food in the nation. When the Legislature decided the time was right in 2012 to eliminate and slash some taxes, the regressive 6.3 percent sales tax on food should have been the first thing to go. Jan 25, 2016"
    Cop Car

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    1. Right on. Rich and poor alike must eat, and sales taxes on food are perhaps the least equitable of all forms of taxation. But why were we not surprised recently when Michigan kept our sales tax on food and cut taxes that favored corporations.

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    2. Hardly equitable taxation on food -- what are these legislators thinking?

      The Calif. tax bill I mentioned also wants to tax candy and sweets to help compensate for monies lost on the women's hygiene products. Reminds me as I reflect on the older population with whom I've worked -- are diapers for infants and adults/others taxed? I've not checked but for those who use them they're certainly very necessary in today's world. Perhaps one person's necessity is another's luxury.

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  8. Such huge hikes in costs happen here when a previously publicly owned (government, local council etc.) facility is sold off to private ownership. Our current government wishes to sell off all the family silver which still remains in the public purse.

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    1. Our city contracted landscape care some years ago which was a cost saving measure at the time, but this drought condition has changed much since. I'm speculating that the difference between a current contract allowing "various degrees of weed tolerance...with limited chemicals" vs the new contract bid specifications for "no weeds...no chemicals" might account for high cost increases. The latter would likely require a hands on approach requiring many man hours.

      Our city water operation was sold many years ago long before I moved here, again a cost effective measure and other benefits at that time. Again, the situation in more recent years, even before the drought, have altered much.

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  9. Thanks for your thoughtful comment on my blog. The observations in your post are giving me much food for thought. With all the emphasis on political correctness and efforts by government to increase revenue, I wonder how long before government will find a way to tax food for thought as well as food for consumption.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and your comment. I would laugh at your speculation about whether the government might one day tax food for thought, but seems as though most anything is possible any more.

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  10. Your landscaping shock made me jump! That is certainly an increase… I find water here to be inexpensive – my bill rarely goes over $15 per month if that much, but since we don’t have a garden, just potted plant, we don’t use much outdoors. I saw pictures of the carpet of flowers in the desert – it must be a sight to see it live.

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    1. Our household water bill here was quite inexpensive for most of the years we lived here. We've always had significantly higher summer rates since watering several times weekly is necessary for vegetation survival. Then our rates started increasing yearly, continued doing even more so, even when usage was cut back, due to the drought's onset. Water is a resource pretty much taken for granted, but is expected to become much less available in the years to come so costs may well go higher around the globe.

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