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Thursday, May 01, 2008

Why Does Mother Calhoun Have To ‘Splain This AGAIN?

O.K. Here goes, again. CSD member, Julie Tacker, again, landed on the front page of the Tribune, this time accused of violating several conflict of interest issues. The gist of the violations are: Sent a letter to the Supervisors offering the services of a business Tacker owns (528-FLOW) and which Jeff Edwards, her boyfriend, is its marketing manager, offering to, as the Tribune puts it, “provide and install low-flow plumbing fixtures for Los Osos residents. Tacker and Edwards suggested the supervisors revise wording in the law to require a kind of low flow showerhead that their business installs.”

Then, as Boyfriend Edwards tells the Tribune, “ the company would provide the retrofits at little or no cost in exchange for the water credits the residents would receive. Those are development credits given for conservation of water. . . . The company [Tacker’s 528-FLOW] could then stockpile the credits, which would then allow it to develop projects in the town or sell the credits to other developers, Edwards said.” (And guess who’s the “developer” who’s likely to do that? Yep. Edwards.)

Sweet deal. Doesn’t even begin to pass the smell test. Then it really goes off the ethical rails when Tacker took off her 528-FLOW hat and put on her CSD hat and voted to support a CSD ordinance that could result in her 528-FLOW company maybe doing a deal. Even if there were no quid-pro-quo, that’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

I saw the same thing at work years ago at School Board, wherein one clear, ethical member, recused herself from voting on an issue because her company once did business with one of the bidders, years ago. The connection was extremely tenuous, at best, but this Board Member’s ethics were such that she was willing to remain like Caesar’s Wife – above suspicion, not merely inches from the ethical line.

The problem gets compounded by our method of government: Citizens volunteering to serve part time which constantly brings them into conflict with all sorts of legal and grey ethical lines since living real time in a real community doing real business will constantly challenge the lines.

Even harder is the pretense we make that someone can take off their hats. That is, an elected official can stand up at public comment period anywhere on any issue and declare,”I’m not here as a (fill in the blank,) but merely as a private citizen.” Legally, that’s supposed to put them in the clear. Practically speaking, that bell cannot be unrung and EVERYBODY knows they’re (fill in the blank.)

Add to this mix is the fact that we live in a small community where everybody knows everybody else, gossip spreads like wildfire and Guilt by Association, while unfair, is a reality. Also, in Los Osos, no elected official can ever forget that there are still ugly Sewer Wars factions willing to play Medea to the Teeth; the long knives are still constantly out. And CSD officials need to tread carefully.

And finally, there’s all the stuff your Mom used to warn you about. As the old saying goes, “Lay down with dawgs, git up with fleas” and “Ye shall be known by the company you keep.” The role of Caesar’s Wife -- not only must she actually BE above suspicion but she needs to BE SEEN to be above suspicion -- is an often impossible role to play, but, IF an elected official wants to have any credibility, it needs to be attempted, at least.

Of course, there’s the question: Does the elected official wish to have any credibility? Or even any viability as a Board member? If not, then it’s time to change hats. One way or the other, the voters will have the final say.


And Now, For Something More Serious

Heard about Peak Oil? Well, it’s Time to Talk About Peak Water

At the blog linked below:

http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=69756

6 comments:

Mike Green said...

I need a little help here, perhaps a blog round table would help.
Item 1 The new basin "stealth" plan that would have everyone pumping their tanks every five years
Item 2 The new TAC report http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/AssetFactory.aspx?did=16437
Does this mean that it's possible that a future WWTF with a regional septic addition would be able to capture an additional 3-4 millions of gallons of water per year for reuse in L.O?
Thats a lotta water baby, and that fits into the peak water discussion bullseye.
Should Los Osos build a bigger plant in order to capture water from the entire region?
Can the costs be made to pencil out in our favor?
Water is the new oil and oil is money
What say you?

Watershed Mark said...

http://www.runningdry.org/welcome.html

THE PROJECT

“Running Dry” is a comprehensive public information/education project, established to raise awareness regarding the worsening global humanitarian water crisis. The projects centerpiece is an explosive and enlightening in-depth documentary, “Running Dry”.

Actress Jane Seymour, the documentary narrator, and many other notable and knowledgeable individuals have come together to participate in the public information/education process.

Churadogs said...

Mike Green sez:"Item 2 The new TAC report http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/AssetFactory.aspx?did=16437
Does this mean that it's possible that a future WWTF with a regional septic addition would be able to capture an additional 3-4 millions of gallons of water per year for reuse in L.O?
Thats a lotta water baby, and that fits into the peak water discussion bullseye.
Should Los Osos build a bigger plant in order to capture water from the entire region?
Can the costs be made to pencil out in our favor?
Water is the new oil and oil is money
What say you?"

Hmmm, I suppose the question would be, would that water be available for reuse, ag exchange, what? Is there a sustainable way to get the gazillions of gallons of water/septage to the Sludge Factory using a carbon neutral form of transportation (comply with air quality standards?)

I think one thing might be key here and that's a treatment plant out of town that's sited in a place that allows for extremely flexible use. (solar power, passive ponding, bioremediation,etc.)

Of course, if the basin plan were actually sane, it would look at nitrate loading and water reuse in whole, not some PZ'ed part, and would try to solve the problem in a variety of ways, including Step collection in low lying areas, for example and onsites in others, etc for an overall loading reduction & etc. But, everyone knows that the LO Basin plan is insane and will stay insane, so solving a lot of problems smartly won't happen. Too bad.

Watershed Mark said...

05/06/08 BD MEETING – ITEM #8
STAFF CHANGE #1 (CIRCULATED 05/02/08)
The POLICY ISSUE, STAFF RECOMMENDATION, and RESOLUTION sections have been reordered and clarified. As an example, the revised RESOLUTION is provided below:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The State Water Board:
1.
Continues to commit to sustainability as a core value for all Water Boards’ activities and programs;
2.
Directs Water Boards’ staff to require sustainable water resources management such as LID and climate change considerations, in all future policies, guidelines, and regulatory actions;
3.
Directs State Water Board staff to identify policies and program areas to integrate climate change strategies and comply with the goals stated in Assembly Bill 32, based on the Water-Energy Climate Action Team process;
4.
Directs Regional Water Boards to aggressively promote measures such as recycled water, conservation, and LID Best Management Practices where appropriate and work with Dischargers to ensure proposed compliance documents include appropriate, sustainable water management strategies;
5.
Directs State Water Board staff to assign a higher grant priority to climate-related and LID projects, particularly those that are supported by local LID policies or ordinances;
6.
Supports training for Water Board staff and stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of climate change strategies and LID practices; and
7.
Directs Water Boards’ staff to coordinate with partners from other government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry and business to further enhance and encourage sustainable activities within the administration of Water Board programs and activities.


Time to "walk the walk".

Churadogs said...

Ah, Dream On. I see the "resolutions" but don't see much "implementation" at the local level. Who's gonna make 'em "walk the walk." Much easier to CYA with nice resolutions then pretend you've done something. Sigh.

Mike Green said...

OH GAWD!!! Not the RESOLUTION POLICE! Please, NO NO NO!!!!! AUHGGGGGG!

Resolutions and Campaign promises have one thing in common:

Its perfectly OK to lie cause nobody believes them anyway.