Comments about impact of subdivision are troubling
Tiffany Revelle”s article (Observer*American, Jan. 7) has been weighing on my mind. The article deals with the concerns Ross Hardester and others have about how the proposed Valley Oaks subdivision would affect the small businesses in Middletown. “Middletown relies heavily on (shoppers from) Hidden Valley Lake. If all those commercial buildings went in next to Hidden Valley Lake, Middletown would be a ghost town,” Hardester said.
The immediate response of newly-elected District One Supervisor, Jim Comstock, was to say that Middletown is “already a ghost town,” and that “the commercial element is what I think is needed the most.”
I live in Hidden Valley Lake but I have to wonder how all the good people of Middletown who voted for him and those whose stores still proudly display Mr. Comstock”s campaign signs feel about his comments?
Concerns were raised during the campaign as to whether Mr. Comstock desired a position on Lake County”s Board of Supervisors in order to serve developers or the people of District One. The answer to that question, even more now, weighs on my mind.
Bill Barrows
Hidden Valley Lake
Fuel surcharge remains although gas has gone down
Back in October I received my bill from Clearlake Waste Solutions which included a fuel surcharge of 3.18 percent. I figured ok, fuel oil was up to close to $5.00 a gallon and it wasn”t their fault so they deserved the surcharge.
Today I received my bill from Clearlake Waste Solutions and the surcharge of 3.18 percent is still included even though fuel oil is now ? of what it was in October. So, I called them and asked why the surcharge was still in effect even though the price of fuel for their trucks is now back to prices lower then they were 4 years ago.
The answer I received was “Well you didn”t think we would lower it, did you.” The fact is I did expect them to lower the price, I could see the need when fuel oil was close to $5 but not at $2.50 a gallon.
It is my understanding that our city counsel controlled any increase in rates for our garbage service. Did they approve this surcharge as a permanent measure or as a temporary measure? Or did Clearlake Waste Solutions make a nice political contribution to them to help grease the wheel?
Douglas Carlson
Clearlake
NAFTA has been a disaster for U.S. independence
The United States was fortunate to have presidents like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to keep us out of permanent foreign alliances. This helped the United States become the greatest nation in history. Unfortunately, 20th- and 21st-century presidents have entangled us in foreign wars and alliances.
Amid guarantees that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would stimulate commerce, spur job creation, curtail illegal immigration, and have no impact on U.S. independence, Congress approved this 1,700-page pact in 1993. This entangling alliance has more to do with NAFTA regulations rather than real free trade which requires no government interference. Go to www.thenewamerican.com for details.
NAFTA has been a disaster for many Americans and the independence that we once enjoyed. Rulings from NAFTA”s judicial panels have superseded state and federal court decisions, thereby overriding U.S. and state constitutions. These panels were not setup or approved by American citizens. If we want to restore our independence, we must demand that Congress repeals NAFTA!
Lucy L. Crump
Mission Hills
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 ObserverAmerican@gmail.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Please include complete name, address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will be discarded.
