Regarding wineries, vineyards and water
Wineries and vineyards now exist where, in the past, was mostly trees and brush that absorbed much water with no return for the property owner. Now we have wineries, we have grapes, which amounts to a very important industry for Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties.
People complain about wineries and vineyards, but housing projects take a lot of water year round vineyards only take water in the growing season, but vineyards have very big value, which has a very big tax bill. People are complaining about traffic to wineries, but in the olden days our lake was a source of income from boating, fishing and tourists. It is not that way any more; but we still need tourist revenue. The people that come and buy and drink wine spend money in all the business in the three counties.
We should respect the tourist money and not complain about them coming to our wineries or changing our rural atmosphere before you build your fancy joint you disturbed someone else’s rural atmosphere. They did not complain about you so why should you complain about them. You should be happy that they are bringing revenue to our counties, because in the end if our counties did not have this extra revenue they would have to get it from us the taxpayers because the government always spends and we always pay … this way we always have people come up from other areas and spend money in our community when they could be spending it in theirs.
Instead of complaining about them we should all appreciate them because to our businesses their value should be our value because our values are dollars and they are helping us furnish to our government. Before you become a crybaby think about the whole picture.
Let’s protect all our farmers and all our wineries and all our tourists and appreciate them and their money.
Ron Rose, Lakeport
Not helping
I have never read a more non-fact based rant over an issue than the one submitted on May 19th by Ms. Salvadori. Her letter to the Editor seem to put her level of expertise and skills above scientist, medical doctors and anyone else who doesn’t agree with the person staring back at her from her own mirror.
In her many submissions to the editor, I have not seen one that had a positive thought to the issue she was addressing, mostly defending her narrow views about folks who do not practice her religious beliefs as a whole and question the values of same. Her right to freedom of speech is not the issue this day, but, blatant non-fact based rants bring that same right to others to point out the offensive nature they bring to an important area of local interest. Intelligent discussion of issues of the day is a wonderful arena to allow all sides of an issue to share there thoughts and views to gain a positive result and understanding of the reasons why an issue is resolved.
As to her latest rant, I might suggest those who are interested in the subject — the good or bad use of pot — read the latest issue of the National Geographic magazine to add to their knowledge and understanding of this product of nature.
Jim Hall, Clearlake Oaks
