CALIF. NEWS - STRAW - WATER - WALL - BROOM HANDLE

We’re edging toward summer here in Southern California, U.S.A.  with temperatures into 90’s F for a day or two, but soon we’ll drop about 20 degrees for another few days.   I enjoy the frequently cloudy mornings, occasional slight, and I do mean slight, moisture that long before noon leaves no traces of having been present during our “May gray” and “June gloom” months. 

California news of interest includes a measure that will appear on our November ballot to divide our state into three states.    Talk of such divisions i.e. to two states has occurred in the past.    I don’t support this separation, but will be interesting to see the voting totals.   Congress might not approve, anyway, since it would allow us more Representatives and Senators.  Given the reputation we wild and crazy Californians have, more of us in government would be risky.     

Network Neutrality may have been scuttled in D.C. but as The Mercury News reports:

“California and other states, including New York, Washington and Montana, have established or are working to establish their own net neutrality rules since the FCC voted to repeal regulations prohibiting traffic discrimination by the companies that control the internet’s pipes.”

Living near California’s San Andreas Fault as I do, this Atlantic magazine report of a recent Nature article has been of interest.   As they note in the article, “The widespread practice of extracting California groundwater to irrigate the state’s agricultural belt could be…the straw that breaks the camel’s back…” causing ‘the big one’ -- massive earthquake we’re purported to be past due for having.  

On a more local level, for several years my city has been trying to wrest back our water rights from a large national commercial corporate entity that has been unwilling to sell them back to us.   Many in our city have been most displeased with the rate schedule, seemingly constant rate increases, and the fact we pay more than those in other communities with whom we’re grouped.   Our California Public Utilities Commission has been of little or no assistance many have thought, so an Eminent Domain law suit was filed, lost and appealed only to lose again.   The final result is we’re in debt up the ying yang along with other bonds already on the books.

When I first wrote here of the water situation, some were amazed to learn water rights were not already owned by the public rather than a profit-making commercial company.   The reality is more than ten years ago I recall print articles, TV documentaries alerting people to the fact water rights all over the world were being quietly bought up by commercial businesses.  The prediction then was we could anticipate water shortages -- subsequent climate changes, droughts many places since haven't helped.  Water was said then to be the next oil market in availability and cost.  Pretty serious matter since water is a life sustaining necessity. 

Recent years we’ve defeated two more bond issues to provide our Police Department badly needed new quarters.   The first proposal was judged by many voters to be excessive in every way, including size and cost.  The most recent proposal required winning by a 2/3 majority of the vote but missed that mark.  I wasn’t surprised, since newer homeowners would be paying much more than long time residents whose assessed property value is considerably lower, partially due to protective legislation passed years ago.   Also, commercial businesses were excluded from paying at all as were our six local colleges consortium -- though the colleges did volunteer what many voters thought was only a token contribution to offset the expense.

We definitely need new headquarters for our law enforcement men and women who have always provided exceptional service in my experience.  We're encouraged to call officers if concerned about any suspicious person or situation for them to investigate rather than ignoring -- better to have a false alarm is the philosophy.  Surely, another bond issue will be forthcoming that will, hopefully, meet with citizens approval.  The interest rate will likely be higher than with the previous two defeated bond issues, but our citizens were aware of that fact.  

Consider the irony -- given the wall U.S./Mexico political issue -- that I’ve been involved with wall issues associated with my property since 2015.    My situation has nothing to do with illegal aliens though.   I won’t go into the details except to note there’s presently no lawsuit, but it does involve a neighbor, possibly one or two commercial entities.   This has been one more matter on which I was focused instead of blogging during my absence discussed in the previous two posts.   The good news is construction replacing a block wall corner at the back of my property was completed the day of this writing.  Whether or not my costs will be shared by any of those others remains to be determined. 

Exercising is on my mind now to build up my leg strength.  The legs usually are the first to go, you know.   For some strange reason this activity came to mind, so thought I’d share it here.   A favored fun exercise I practiced periodically well into my sixties to highlight my limberness we called “Going Through The Broom”.  I quite proudly mastered this feat demonstrated by my then middle-aged mother when I was a young girl.  

Unlike the video below we started out holding the broom behind our back.   Successful completion required we never release our grip on the broom handle with either hand, or allow any part of our body other than our feet to touch the floor.   We might have to balance on one foot and then the other, but we had to keep the rest of our body off the floor.  I’m not sure when or why I stopped performing this gymnastic pretzel, but when I’ve remembered it in recent years I’ve instinctively known I probably would be wise to not undertake it, and certainly shouldn't now.  

Have you ever heard of, or maybe “gone through the broom handle”?  
Do you know of any other contortionist type exercises none of us should probably engage in now? 
We should be talking about the type exercise we can do!

This YouTube video with people unknown to me is reported to be the videographer’s 72 year old brother-in-law as they describe...climbing through a broom stick.  I have to applaud him  -- so what if his knee touches the floor.  But about that other guy..............
  

WATER, WATER, MAYBE GRAY WATER TOO

WATER FOR PROFIT

The arguments have been made by both parties:  the City of Claremont for eminent domain takeover of our water system from Golden State Water Company, owned by an even larger conglomerate.

The latest from The Flow:  
"Aug 16, 2016:  The City and GSW rested their cases on July 15. Closing arguments took place on August 10. Judge Fruin has 90 days to render his decision about Claremont's right to take over the water system by eminent domain. If the decision is in our favor, the cost will then be determined by a jury. GSW attacked La Verne's ability to administer the water system--see La Verne's response in the blog.

"You can get some information on the current state and the history of the effort.

"For a short summary of past events and future steps, see the January 5, 2015 blog post titled "City of Claremont Water Acquisition Process".     

[La Verne is a neighbor city comparable to Claremont, but whose water rates have been much lower.]

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Refreshing your memory as to what I refer, here's a slightly edited version of what I wrote about the water situation in my city, "Water - Matters of Import 2013", 02/01/13

Water continues to be a volatile local issue with citizens in my city --  reaching an explosive level from residents long simmering anger over outrageous water rates.  Our rates have been significantly higher than the surrounding cities served by this for-profit water company owned by an even larger conglomerate.  There is also anger with the California Public Utilities Commission and their Division of Ratepayer Advocates for failing to meet their mandate to obtain the “lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels.”  There are legal reasons why this has been allowed to occur.

Studies are being made as the city moves closer toward a goal of taking over our water for the future generations to come who will most benefit from any savings.  The water company has refused to sell us our water rights.   Our city officials are exploring other options including acquiring ownership through eminent domain.  The company probably fears the latter and has recruited groups outside our city to make this a greater issue than just about citizens wanting fair, just and reasonable water rates instead of our lining the pockets of a far-removed corporation focused on excessive profit.  There are many facts that have bearing including residents responding positively to significant reduction in water usage for several years while the company profits increased as they sought even greater rate increases i.e. they want over 25% increase in 2013.

Years ago I recall reading that water would be the oil of the future.  Also then, PBS broadcast a special documenting that large water corporations were quietly buying up water rights all over the world.  If we think paying outrageous amounts for gas, or not being able to afford to operate our cars is a calamity, at least car makers have finally begun offering us vehicles that use alternative energy.  Somehow, I think our bodies will be less inclined to tolerating major water cutbacks - if we want to continue living - than our vehicles having less gas.  So far, I don't know of any sufficient alternative water substitute.

Here's a link to 10 videos about the world water situation.   You may be well-advised to explore your local water source, who owns it and what is projected for your water cost future.

For many years we’ve been conditioned, with erroneous information in many instances, to believe we should purchase bottled drinking water.  So, we are being slowly moved toward even more water commercialization.  An expectation of raiding what may seem now like an endless water source with desalinization of our oceans may need to be limited in centuries to come.

Many of our fresh water streams, rivers, lakes and even our oceans are all too frequently under assault from pollution. Mining of various sorts, including coal, have contributed to this situation as have the deepest of underground penetrations such as with fracking.  We already have seen the devastation of oil pollution in Alaska and the Gulf accidents from which neither area has recovered.  Still some were  prepared to run an oil pipeline from Canada through a major water acquifer area. Water acquifers must be protected across this nation, just as ours here in my town need to be which this current water company wants to continue controlling.  

* * *
Since I wrote the above we've had the Flint, Michigan water crisis where lead was found in the drinking water with devastating consequences, especially for infants and young children.   This event, coupled with stories of water issues elsewhere,  lends support to consideration of  buying and using bottled drinking water -- but how pure is that water? -- or installing individual water purification systems in residences.   Then there is gray water/grey water -- recycled waste water.

Presently North Dakota with other American Indian tribes and environmentalists are protesting plans to run oil pipelines under the Missouri River, the source of drinking water for some.  Concern focuses on other issues as well as the potential for water contamination should accidental oil pipeline leakage or accidental spillages occur.   21 st Century oil spills are noted  on Wikipedia though the list is incomplete.

Meanwhile, in Claremont, we patiently await the Judge's ruling on our lawsuit to establish eminent domain over our water system.  Then will be the determination of  how much we will have to pay for the system.   Our monthly water bills may well not be lower in my lifetime, but water system acquisition supporters believe their children, grandchildren and other future residents will benefit.