It amazes me that when someone does not agree with another person, that it then becomes all right to call people names and make false charges against them.
In 2006 I recused myself on the Van Eck subdivision because I made a mistake in a conversation with Mr. Van Eck and stated my opinion on curbs, gutters and sidewalks for his project. I should not have done that and I later decided to recuse myself to be fair to both sides of that issue. I did not have to do that, no one else heard the conversation, only Mr. Van Eck and I knew what was said. But I knew what I did, and I feel I took the correct action.
I did not have any conversations with the Van Ecks about the project currently before the Board of Supervisors and I learned about that project through the normal course of duties as a commissioner. My wife and I get invited to many of the same events as the Van Ecks so we see them from time to time. But, because of the perceived conflicts, the Van Ecks and my wife and I have spent very little time together in the last year. This was a mutual decision to avoid any further conflicts. I'm sure Mr. Murphy is quite proud of himself for becoming a wedge in that friendship. Neither my wife nor myself have any financial interest or connection with the Van Ecks or any of their projects.
Mr. Murphy seems to think that I am getting rich as a member of the Planning Commission. Planning commissioners make $150 to $300 a month. The truth is that I have to take off work to be on the commission and it costs me with lost wages and other expenses about $4,000 a year to sit on the commission. We can spend as much as 20 to 30 hours a month or more reading staff reports, doing site visits and attending public hearings.
Mr. Murphy states I have elastic ethics. I am the vice president of the California County Planning Commissioners Association. I was elected to this position by the planning commissioners from throughout the state's 58 counties. One does not get elected to such a position with elastic ethics. This organization's mission is to train and educate the county planning commissioners throughout California.
If Mr. Murphy spent any time getting his facts right his comments might have some meaning. There was no wine cave approved by the Planning Commission, so once again Mr. Murphy is not correct in his facts!
As for Mrs. Van Eck sitting on the Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors, that is correct. If LFRC had a project coming before the planning commission I would recuse myself. The fact that Mrs. Van Eck sits on the board does not require me to take that action.
What is going on with the Van Eck ranch issue is the same thing that is going on throughout the county when residential meets ag land. There is almost always a conflict. This is a right-to-farm county and the ag land owner has some protections which allow them to conduct their ag business. It is my hope that with good planning, installing ag buffers, we can reduce the number of conflicts between home owners and ag operations in the future.
Cliff Swetnam represents District 4 on the Lake County Planning Commission. He lives in Lakeport.
Regarding the recent article “Lake County gets top marks in the American Lung Association report”:
“Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” is a quote attributed to Chico Marx. I have a similar question. What am I going to believe, the crowing about Lake County’s allegedly clean air, or my own eyes and my extensive video and photo documentation?
Lake County’s once-clean clear air has, in recent years, become typically, in varying degrees, hazy white.
Since April 2002, I have been investigating and documenting with photos and video, conducting research and asking questions concerning conditions and phenomenon that contradict what we are told about Lake County having “clean air.” A significant amount of my information comes from mainstream sources such as NASA and The National Academy of Science.
I question the quality and healthfulness of Lake County’s air, based not only on my investigation, but also on the lack of research or evidence from Lake County Air Quality Management District to refute my research.
I have many questions. These are a few:
1. What is causing our once-clear air to be hazy white?
2. Is there any connection between the white haze and the apparently unmarked jet aircraft that leave lingering, expanding, white-haze-causing jet-trails over Lake County? I have a video record of these jets.
3. Why has the Lake County Air Quality Management District failed to supply any researched, documented, responses to my research and my questions?
4. Is what we are breathing harmful?
5. The mission statement of the Lake County Air Quality Management District is “… to maintain healthful ambient air for the residents and visitors of the Lake County air basin.” How can they fulfill their mission if they cannot or will not answer the questions, especially concerning the white haze, with supporting research and documentation?
The Lake County Board of Supervisors, who also sit as the board of directors for the Lake County Air Quality Management District, must require that anyone representing the Lake County Air Quality Management District support all statements and assertions by defining their terms and by providing, specific time and location evidence. In the interest of accountability, this requirement must be retroactive.
There must be full disclosure from the Lake County Air Quality Management District and its board of directors. This will include knowledge or information that they may have or that has been provided to them that could possibly be of concern regarding the quality or healthfulness of Lake County air.
American democracy is at an incredibly dangerous juncture in its existence. We are facing serious threats both domestically and overseas. The suspension of habeas corpus and the removal of the limits on martial law are very heinous and suspicious, since they were part of the cornerstones of our country. The freedoms of speech, press, assembly and the right to bear arms, were all instituted to ensure our freedom. Since the Magna Carta, personal freedoms and justice have been our inalienable rights, and now we meekly give them up to our new-conservative (neo-con) rulers.
Our forefathers were suspicious of mercenaries such as the Hessians who fought for the British in the Revolutionary War. The mercenary armies in Iraq, now have training bases on our soil, even though only about 60 percent are American citizens, and they are heavily armed. These experienced professional soldiers are loyal only to a private contractor, and its payroll. If this obscene Iraqi occupation is ended, watch for them to get a no-bid open ended contract on the Mexican border, as they are already building a base almost on top of it.
I am not enthused about the Democratic nominees but after the present administration I welcome any change. America cannot afford any more robber barons, especially ones who claim to be super patriots while short changing our soldiers both in Iraq and after returning home from attempting to secure the oil producing countries for the oil companies. How much blood from both Americans and Iraqis have to be shed for the multinational oil companies? We may not be the deciders, but we need to keep a close eye on those who used to be considered public servants.
It does not seem possible, but I keep hearing more and more about converting both gas and diesel engines to run on something called Brown's gas, Oxyhydrogen or simply HHO.
HHO gas is generated through electrolysis, when you separate the molecules of water into hydrogen and oxygen. HHO gas is supposedly much safer and yet more powerful than gasoline.
From what I have read, thousands of people around the world have already converted their cars to burn HHO.
These people are now enjoying these benefits:
Their vehicles are at least 40 percent more fuel efficient and they save more than $100 a month.
They save on taxes for driving an environmentally friendly vehicle.
They have boosted their engine's performance.
They have reduced their maintenance costs.
The have prolonged the life expectancy of their engine.
Supposedly, water can be used to fuel a car when used as a supplement to gasoline. In fact, very little water is needed! Only one quart of water provides more than 1,800 gallons of HHO gas which can literally last for months and significantly increase your vehicle's fuel efficiently, improve emissions quality, and save you money.
Thousands of successful water-conversions around the world are proof that this technology works and will soon catch on! Some industry insiders say its just a matter of time before this water-burning technology will be standard in new automobiles. One expert estimates most cars will be using this technology by 2012.
Denny Klein is a hydrogen engineer who actually has a patent on HHO and is developing vehicles for the U.S. military that run on this fuel. A Fox News affiliate interviewed Klein about his amazing fuel.
And, here I thought converting grease into biodiesel fuel was the solution to fighting high gas prices. But, lo and behold, the solution may not be grease ... but water.
Thank you to everyone who organized and participated in various Earth Day events throughout Lake County thereby keeping hope alive.
Coincidentally, on Earth Day I attended Clearlake’s meeting about the Provinsalia proposal. I view Provinsalia and similar projects as more steps towards environmental suicide of our county. Why would more than 500 Provinsalia homes along with a golf course be built when there are now literally hundreds of vacant homes on the market as well as scarce water for agriculture, drinking and household use? The last thing this county needs is to unnecessarily use precious resources to further despoil our delicate ecological balance.
Our choice is clear: We can choose to rip down trees, bulldoze whole hillsides, erect countless developments and strip malls, wreak congestion in our already troubled streets, and suck up the ground water and creeks. Conversely, we can obey the cry and chant, “The earth is our mother; we must take care of her.” This cry is basic, and as we care for our mother, we care for our children and their children after us. In other words, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
I recommend the DVD (available at local video stores), “The 11th Hour” for a sobering yet helpful view of our plight and hope in these times of climate change. If you watch it, I predict you too will think twice about the Provinsalias of our county.
