Did columnist tell the whole story about Palin and firing of librarian?
Thank you for allowing Ms. Parkhill to enlighten us with her firsthand knowledge of Gov. Palin”s sneaky inclinations to the censorship of our public libraries (Observer*American, Sept. 17). Oh, excuse me ? not firsthand knowledge, but a quote from snopes.com. She states the Web site is reliable. So I looked for myself. And indeed she is correct! However, when a journalist, albeit on the editorial page, leaves out the “rest of the quote” it is quite telling.
For if one reads the entirety of the quote on snopes.com, quoted by Ms. Parkhill, one will find it clearly stated that the charges of censoring the books at the public library was completely false. This she did include, to her credit. However, even after investigation into the matter, no evidence was found of any documentation, i.e., memos, other “conversations” or discussions as to the removal of any books. Ooops, a little slip there?
Further, if one were inclined to go to the original source of Ms. Parkhill”s quotes from snopes.com, as a thorough journalist might, to verify the accuracy of one”s source, one might find?..the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey would say.
The Feb. 1, 1997 edition of the Anchorage Daily News, found in its archives online, states that Mayor Palin did question her heads of departments as to operating policies and that this was a ” ?rhetorical question with a department head”” and part of the getting acquainted period in the early days of her Mayoral term. Secondly, not only did Palin fire Ms. Emmons, but also the Chief of Police. A small detail that has a great impact! Mayor Palin stated for the Anchorage Daily News that she had felt due to their lack of support for her new policies, she would let them go. She also stated in the same article, that upon further discussion with Ms. Emmons as to her ability to adapt and support the changes coming about and receiving a “yes,” she was reinstated. The Chief was not given that opportunity. Most of us would call it “cleaning house” or making way for the new administration. How does this add up to the “public outcry” being the cause for the reinstatement? Oh, yes, it was just an editorial.
All this to say, if one has a predisposition for or against a political candidate or you just don”t like ”em, just come out and say it rather than hide behind half-truths and omissions. I would have had more respect for Ms. Parkhill, had she told the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, rather than use the power of omission to paint a picture of lies!
Gayle Niehaus
Lakeport
Traffic is making our air unhealthy
Blood clots, strokes, lowered immunity, heart problems, lung asthma, bronchitis, and cancer ? all of these can be the result of living within 2,000 feet of a highway, according to a scientific study reported in a recent US News and World Report story.
In Middletown we have such a highway: State Route 29, Calistoga Street, which is said to be used by 10,000 autos, trucks, and buses every day. We also have many people living and working very close to what might be called, because of its gaseous odors, “ozone alley” ? State Route 29. Located near the highway are 5 schools and two daycare centers, with many children being heavily exposed to unhealthy air.
During the morning and afternoon commuting hours, the petrochemical toxic gases and odors are particularly strong and overwhelming. People living in East Middletown ? at the bottom of the land basin or bowl in which the town lays ? experience these airborne poisonous gases most acutely, especially on windless days when the polluted air settles down, is trapped, and intensifies. It is not uncommon for people to wake up in the morning coughing because of toxic particulate matter and smelling gaseous odors getting into their lungs.
It would seem that in a modern, civilized society people”s health (our neighbors” and our own) would be a No. 1 priority over all else. People”s health is more precious than profits. We are hopefully long past the attitude of “I”ve got mine and the h— with you.” So I believe it is time for our California Air Resources Board and its local agency, the Lake County Air Quality Management District, as well as Caltrans, to come up with workable, permanent solutions to the unhealthy air quality conditions for we who live in Middletown, especially East Middletown, where the air is most poisonous and unhealthy.
What can be done? One possibility is a traffic detour around Middletown, with suitable well-marked off-ramps going into town. Using Dry Creek Road might work. Another idea is to make State Route 29 one way going south during the morning commute from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and one way going north from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with elimination or reduced use of stoplights for through traffic. This would reduce the vehicle pollutants released into the air while engines are idling. Low emission releasing commuter buses and more ride-sharing might help somewhat. Other solutions for this problem have surely been considered, and hopefully NOT the bureaucratic one of “file and forget”. Real lives, the health of we human lung breathers, are at stake here in Middletown.
Supervisors, Supervisor-candidates, and our local Air Quality Management people: step up to the plate, we desperately need your help here.
Clare Brady
Middletown
Back to school
Pickup the paper airplanes off the floor,
Put the Monopoly game up once more.
After a summer at Grandma”s house and the pool,
The grandkids have gone back to school.
Bev Van Pelt
Clearlake Oaks
Curbside recyclables not ?up for grabs”
It may be okay to rescue California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers from a public garbage can but it is definitely not okay to remove any recyclable material from a recycling container or dropoff location. According to California Public Resources Code Section 41950, once recyclable materials have been segregated from solid waste materials and placed in recycling containers or at a designated recycling collection location, the recyclable materials become the property of the authorized recycling agent (i.e. garbage company).
Most people agree that local scavengers are performing a service when they remove recyclable materials from garbage cans. Afterall, no one wants to see recyclable materials taking up space in our landfill. It is another matter entirely, however, to remove recyclable materials, including CRV containers, from recycling containers, including residential curbside totes, or a drop-off recycling location.
Recycling poachers also increase the risk of identify theft so if you see someone digging through recycling carts in your neighborhood, please let the poacher know that the activity is prohibited by law and call your garbage company to report the incident.
Infractions can be classified as misdemeanor or infraction but if the recycling agent elects to pursue civil action, the court may award damages three times the value of the stolen recyclables up to $2,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense.
If you have questions regarding this or other waste management issues, please call the Public Services Department at 263-1980.
Kim Clymire
Public services director
County of Lake
1986 amnesty was a predicable flop
In 1986, we granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal aliens who were within our borders. Predictably, it only made the problem worse.
The only solution is to demand that our federal government enforces our immigration laws. We have troops all over the world protecting other nations. Let”s bring some of them home and beef up the security of our own borders.
Next we must enforce laws pertaining to document fraud and the hiring of illegals. Hence, many illegals will leave our country because no one will hire them. Also, we must cancel granting automatic citizenship to infants born to illegals, a violation of our Fourteenth Amendment. We then can begin deporting the remaining illegals as President Eisenhower did in 1954.
We must not reward illegals with amnesty for breaking our laws. We can be sure that is what our sneaky Congress is planing to do after this year”s election. Let”s not let it happen!
Milton Edward Ventresca
Canyon Country
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to letters@clearlakeobserver.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Please include complete name, address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will be discarded.
