Calhouns Can(n)ons

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Ah, Yes, Well, Indeed . . .

Ron Crawford, over at www.sewerwatch.blogspot.com has posted a "Viewpoint" he submitted to the Tribune, which, to date, the Tribune hasn't printed, not even after a whole series of Waltz Me Around Again Willy emails. Ah, Yes, Well, indeed. . . Ron's called his posting, "The Tribune -- STILL "'worse than Nothing.'" And when you read it you'll see why.

The failure of the Tribune to do anything even close to "investigative reporting" during the whole Hideous Sewer Wars is one of the sad links that keeps popping up when you look at that saga throughout the years. If only, if only. And, of course, in this Era Of No Accountability, Lord knows NOBODY want's to be reminded of so many of those key failures -- especially since the Sewer Train Wreck, so preventable if key points had been caught (and made public, by, oh, let's say, the newspaper of record?), turned out to be so expensive a disaster.

22 comments:

Billy Dunne said...: everything is the trib's fault because the are meanies and they don't like me and even though I don't live in los osos I think they are mean because they don't write what i want them to write and they suck because I know more then them and they won't listen to me and they like Pandora Nash-Karner more then me and everyone likes her more than me and I don't know why and I'm gonna hold my breath until someone anyone at the Trib writes something mean about pandora Nash Karner and like me more than her and i wish i lived in los osos because maybe more people would like me because i'm really really smart and if you don't believe me just ask me but I don't and that makes me cry some more but at least i hope i win a lot of contests because did i mention i'm really really smart and then maybe the trib will like me and write really really nice things about me like how i'm really really smart and like me more than pandora nash karner and now i'm starting to hold my breath one two three........; 7:57 AM, January 22, 2008
Mike Green said...: Ah, the good ol Triv.
Anybody read the follow up article in the Triv. on the aftermath of the headline chicken ranch raid?
Thats because there wasn't one.
Seems a 30 plus armed force raid that caught one measly pot stash, caused numerous unemployment cases,and has resulted in almost no building violations, has to wait for the New Times to mention it.
Yep what a newspaper!
Fish are embarrassed to be wrapped in it.
For some real investigative reporting stick to the blogs and quit wasting paper.
Try this one on for size:
http://uncoveredslo.com/; 11:21 AM, January 22, 2008
grasshopper said...: Since Ann and Ron are 'opinion' piece writers, why bother to challenge their viewpoints?

The fall back position is always,
"...I'm not a reporter I merely express my opinion and do not have to back up with facts. If you want facts ask the actual sources"!

And, additionally in the case of Ron, his opinions are skewed by weird fixation for Pandora!; 11:43 AM, January 22, 2008
*PG-13 said...: mike green said > Fish are embarrassed to be wrapped in it.

And birds won't even s*** on it. Imagine that. My parakeets got so constipated I had to go down to the free newspaper bins scattered throughout SLO. They seem much happier now. The parakeets that is. So happy in fact I think I'm gonna have a bunch more parakeets. I probably shoulda been more careful which newspapers I used. Still, better than constipated birds I guess.

grasshopper said > The fall back position is always, "...I'm not a reporter I merely express my opinion and do not have to back up with facts. If you want facts ask the actual sources"

Geez. It's a hard room to work. Yeah, semi-regularly, when somebody complains that she isn't covering every story with perfect objectivity Ann reminds us that she isn't a newspaper - nor does she play one on TV. She writes an opinion piece. If you want reporting you should read the ...., uh, oh nevermind. I'm curious. Who do you think supplies more and better facts and spawns more and better open discourse, if not disclosure, about all things sewer? Ann presents an exceptionally well documented viewpoint. It may not be your viewpoint but that's what the comments are for - for expanding the perspective. If you've got facts then supply them. I'm sure all of us would love to hear them. I just don't get your gripe. Tell me where else we get better information about all the in's and out's and up's and down's of the sewer? Think about it for a moment. If it wasn't for Ann's blog, and Ron's blog, and the commentary they provoke how much would you really know about things sewer? If you've got a better source please share. I want to read it. I really do.; 12:40 PM, January 22, 2008
Mark said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12:43 PM, January 22, 2008
Mark said...: 51: If the past mistakes are ignored or not acknowledged then those mistakes can be repeated.

I want thank Ron for his due diligence and hard work in documenting the "issues". Very few others have demonstrated the courage and fortitude that he and Ann have. They are real "Bears" not "teddy bears"...

It is a "Good thing he has his own widely read, heavily linked, highly-Google-ranked blog"-DAMNED STRAIGHT!

The clear thinking Ron brings to the table, such as;

* The law I suggest will give voters more control over their government, and save countless billions of dollars of California taxpayer money over the decades to come.

* to prevent what happened in Los Osos from happening to other California communities.

are two shining examples of what real journalism should look like, factual and to the point (both of which are scare these days along with common sense about dollars and cents).

Good on you Green...
Grasshopper stay in out of the rain.
Directly over the "drop zone" pg-13, right on TARGET!

Sorry boys and girls I could not post the page of the report I refer to below.
If you want to see it I will send it to you if you contact me off blog @ Mark@NOwastewater.com

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Low
To: Patel, Sona - SLO
Cc: BGibson@co.slo.ca.us ; assemblymember.blakeslee@assembly.ca.gov ; Finucane, Stephanie ; Greg Haas ; bmorem@thetribunenews.com ; Mark Low ; tom@nowastewater.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:00 PM
Subject: SEWERWATCH @ Morro Bay/ Watch out Los Osos/Baywood Park

Hello Sona:

I thought you would be interested in this piece by Ron Crawford. I don't know why the Tribune doesn't hire Ron as his writing is in depth, well researched fair and in short, terrific!

By the way I understand that Tom is willing to be interviewed by you about the "petitions", "in writing" but not face to face.

I know and agree with Tom's reasoning on this and his offer to "interview electronically" is "better than nothing" and would serve to protect the integrity the interviewee's side of the record.

I trust that your organization can see that the LOSTDEP RECLAMATOR Solution is a very big story and will be able to report on it.

There is something magical about the First Amendment when it is exercised properly.

Best,
Mark

http://www.sewerwatch.blogspot.com/

The Tribune -- with their revolving door (because they are cheap) for Los Osos reporters over the past ten years, -- is truly, worse than nothing. (All smack aside, I mean that. It would have been far better for Los Osos, and ALL California taxpayers, had the Tribune simply never written one word on the Los Osos sewer. Their uninformed, lazy reporting on the subject over the past decade has just been terrible. An embarrassment to journalism.)

ps. I have attached a page from a recent report/study done on the sewer in Morrow Bay. After reading this single page how could anyone "want" a sewer and more importantly "why"?
Your Los Osos/Baywood Park/Morro Bay Readers should be interested in a thorough and in depth expose about the Morro Bay sewer situation. It would be a very appropriate use of the First Amendment where keeping government accountable is concerned. But that's just my opinion. I think every reader "hooked to a pipe" for wastewater treatment would be interested in a good article about sewerage, nationally. All politics is local...Think USA Today here.
The Tribune the "newspaper of record" has a good opportunity to perform a real service or not.
We can all learn from our past mistakes, if we can be brave enough to admit them.

pss... The AES DES PPP LOCSD BK Re-org plan due out shortly, will be a once in a lifetime story Sona.
It is going to make HISTORY whether the Tribune covers it or not. Let's stay in touch.; 1:05 PM, January 22, 2008
Mark said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1:09 PM, January 22, 2008
Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...: mark, you stay the h**l away from our CSD - they do NOT need another lawsuit!; 1:14 PM, January 22, 2008
Mike Green said...: Mark, Good idea! you and Sona go team up!

(do you think he will get the sarcasm?); 1:25 PM, January 22, 2008
Sewertoons AKA Lynette Tornatzky said...: mark's tin ear will prevent that I am afraid, mike green.; 2:03 PM, January 22, 2008
Mark said...: Sewertoons said...
mark, you stay the h**l away from our CSD - they do NOT need another lawsuit! Mark says- I agree they couldn't go BK on it.

1:14 PM, January 22, 2008

Mike Green said...
Mark, Good idea! you and Sona go team up! I don't know about "teaming up. Mark says- We are looking for a little- good old fashioned "journalism". See what I mean?

(do you think he will get the sarcasm?) Mark says- naw...

1:25 PM, January 22, 2008

Sewertoons said...
mark's tin ear will prevent that I am afraid, mike green. Mark says- naw; 7:56 PM, January 22, 2008
Churadogs said...: PG-13 sez:"Who do you think supplies more and better facts and spawns more and better open discourse, if not disclosure, about all things sewer? Ann presents an exceptionally well documented viewpoint. It may not be your viewpoint but that's what the comments are for - for expanding the perspective. If you've got facts then supply them. I'm sure all of us would love to hear them. I just don't get your gripe. Tell me where else we get better information about all the in's and out's and up's and down's of the sewer? Think about it for a moment. If it wasn't for Ann's blog, and Ron's blog, and the commentary they provoke how much would you really know about things sewer? If you've got a better source please share. I want to read it. I really do."

Here's what gets funny: Area 51, for example, logs on to declare that Ron & Ann and their blogs are great big useless wastes of time. Then Area 51 logs on AGAIN to declare that Ron & Ann and their blogs are great big useless wastes of time. Then Area 51 returns AGAIN to long on to declare that . . .and so forth. Help my memory here, but hasn't Area 51 been a constant commentor on this blogsite for a very, very long time?

I don't get it. Personally, I don't waste time with things that I consider to be a waste of time.; 9:07 AM, January 23, 2008
Billy Dunne said...: Gee Ann, I didn't know that disagreeing with you and Santa Margerita Ron was the equivlalent of saying posting here was a waste of time. Did I say that? I certainly don't recall, but I must have if you say so.

So....I'll make this my final post...(now that you mention it, the cut-n-paste spamming by the sewer clowns HAS become tiresome),but will check back periodically to see if you answer a question I posed you in a previous post. I'll also check back to see if you can find anything I wrote that says your blogs were a "great big useless wastes of time." Best of luck.

Area51 says:

Do y'all remember the flap a few months back between Ann and Crapkiller over Crapkiller's comments about the 218 vote being a matter of public record? (September25, 2007 "New Rules.") Ann actually kicked Crapkiller off for perceived threats, then reconsidered with a "warning."

Now, we get a lot of this from Wrecklamators Low and Murphy:

"Note: It will be made a matter of record of those dischargers who signed the petition in support of compliance and also those who did not sign in support of compliance."

and this:

"I can say one thing, anyone that doesn’t’ support THIS Plan, is raising and waving the “BAD GUY” Flag and deserves NOTHING. This most certainly will be accommodated, as we will know who they are, a “BAD GUY”."

and this:

"However, I am going to exempt all who voted NO and who DIDN’T VOTE. Only the ones who protested our program and voted “yes” are going to be the ones who must pay all “reward” amounts."

Nary a peep from Ann about these continued implicit (and not so implicit) comments.

I'm just curious, what gives Ann? What is the difference between Crapkillers perceived "threats" and the continued rantings of the Wrecklamators?

10:43 AM, January 21, 2008; 9:36 AM, January 23, 2008
Ron said...: grasshoppa wrote:

"Since Ann and Ron are 'opinion' piece writers, why bother to challenge their viewpoints?"

Right... it's my "opinion" that elected officials that are facing recall in California get to set their own recall election date, just like it was my "opinion" that Coastal Commission staffer, Steve Monowitz, wrote in 1998 (before the silly election that formed the LOCSD on the back of the "Solution Group alternative"):

"Pursuit of the Solution Group alternative also has the potential to result in significant delays to the implementation of a wastewater treatment project for the Los Osos area."

I... love... that... quote... even if is just my "opinion"... that he wrote that quote... and published it... in an official document... and then made a lot of copies of it... for me to read... in order to form my "opinion" that he wrote it.

Ahhh... Dreamer logic... gotta love it!

You can read a lot of my other "opinions" at this link:
http://sewerwatch.blogspot.com/2006/02/whats-my-opinion-poem-in-verse-of_10.html

Someone do me a quick favor and run down to the environmentally sensitive Tri-W site (or is that my "opinion" too? Oh, I get it now. It's my "opinion" that an official county document calls the Tri-W site ESHA) and let me know if you see a series of "drop dead gorgeous" wastewater treatment ponds (and rain puddles don't count).

A-51 wrote:

"... i'm really really smart..."

Finally, Area-51, you got something right.; 10:47 AM, January 23, 2008
Mike Green said...: Ron, there is a drop dead gorgeous waterfall going on at TriW right now, if the erosion keeps up we may have quite a mini grand canyon.
Someone call SWAP!; 12:15 PM, January 23, 2008
Maria M. Kelly said...: Actually, we could offer helicopter tours - revenue!!
Maybe an OMNI theater (oops an Oregon reference slipped in) with the 180 degree screen and seats the tilt back and there could be a film of the ENTIRE history and there could be interviews and then people could go out and "ohhhh" and "ahhhh" over the non-existing wwtf and then walk away and leave extra change at the gift shop as they purchase stuffed reincarnations of extinct rats and endangered snails.

Mike, I just know you are going to be the first in line!; 12:34 PM, January 23, 2008
Mike Green said...: Maria, sadly, poor Los Osos will never be able to afford a real theater, heck, we can't even get permission to let one set up shop downtown.
I suggest a camera obscura and a wine tasting room, with the stipulation that entry into the camera can only happen after completing four flights of wine tasting.
I'd be first in line for that!; 1:15 PM, January 23, 2008
Mark said...: Maria M. Kelly said...
- revenue!!

NOW you are TALKING!!; 2:03 PM, January 23, 2008
Mike Green said...: Maybe if Jeff works real fast he can construct a replica of "Falling Water" (apologies to FLW) and we can charge for tours.
Beats nitwit ridge.; 2:21 PM, January 23, 2008
Churadogs said...: Area 51 sez: "Do y'all remember the flap a few months back between Ann and Crapkiller over Crapkiller's comments about the 218 vote being a matter of public record? (September25, 2007 "New Rules.") Ann actually kicked Crapkiller off for perceived threats, then reconsidered with a "warning."
And then also sez:"I'm just curious, what gives Ann? What is the difference between Crapkillers perceived "threats" and the continued rantings of the Wrecklamators?"

Crapkiller's threats were posted BEFORE a critical election (218) and at nerve-jangling pre-election time where it could influence voters. That's why I booted her/him off. Inlet's plea got me to reconsider, so I again posted the warning: no threats during a critical election period.

Murphy's posted threat is pointless. There is no election to be influenced, no frightened people to try to electioneer or scare or buffalo into voting one way or the other. The only "damage" that ridiculous threat can do is if somebody falls down laughing and hits his or her head.

HUGE difference.; 8:06 AM, January 24, 2008
Mark said...: The woman can write.
Churadogs wrote: Murphy's posted threat is pointless. There is no election to be influenced, no frightened people to try to electioneer or scare or buffalo into voting one way or the other. The only "damage" that ridiculous threat can do is if somebody falls down laughing and hits his or her head.

When everyone can feel this way about everyone else on all sides of the equation, then we will have arrived...Power to the People!; 3:37 PM, January 24, 2008
Tom Smith said...: SLOcomment.com; 5:10 AM, May 07, 2008

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

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