CLEARLAKE>>> This week at the Judges Breakfast in Clearlake the topic was open, unfurling a community based conversation rooted in local passion.
Beginning the discussion was District 2 Supervisor Bruno Sabatier with an update on the Town Hall meeting at the Soper Reese in Lakeport regarding the Lake Pillsbury dam decommissioning. He shared “I think we had a good healthy discussion yesterday, I’m not sure we changed minds yesterday but more people know what’s going on.”
He continued to explain that Pacific Gas & Electric has made it official in stating that the dam would cost about $300 million dollars, with more large expenditures down the way. Though, on the other hand, the cost to repair the dam and add the necessary additions like a fish ladder will begin at $50 to $120 million – just for the addition of the long overdue fish ladder. Sabatier stated, “The cost of fixing what we have, and continuing to have a body of water, not destroying a community, and not creating a potential disaster if we end up with a 10-year drought.” He continued “The cost of where we are going versus the cost of what we could be doing is hugely far apart and that to me is the crime that is happening.”
Sabatier noted that this is not the only dam decommission project ongoing in the area, as there is a dam in Mendocino that is also under fire. Many residents in the area are for the dams coming down, as it may restore the Eel River to its original glory. Though Sabatier said it was the opposite, where the river used to run dry in areas before it was dammed.
The supervisor also explained that there is another similar dam situation happening in San Diego, where they have a dam that is in the “unsatisfactory” level. In that case the Army Corps of Engineers has stepped in with a $300 million dollar grant to fix that dam.
Lynette Kirkwood from Women’s Voices on KPFZ community radio shared her passion for bringing awareness to the genocide happening in Palestine. Kirkwood shared her journey as of May 22 when she embarked on a 250 calorie a day diet in solidarity with Palestine. She stated “Oh my god, taking 250 calories a day is so hard. I was drinking water to subsidize hunger and I realized they don’t have any water.” She asked for anyone who wants to join her to do just 250 calories per meal and pray and meditate for those women and children. She concluded with “Don’t let definitions define prejudice. One people, one love.”
Lastly some residents of Clearlake shared their concern with the ongoings of their local government and city council as there was a “closed session” item regarding the City Manager listed on the agenda for the council’s special meeting. This begged the question – are you happy with where the city has grown in the last 10 years? Mark Cooper raised his concern stating, “My fear with what is happening now is that there are blinders on and the city council is only seeing one issue, but they’re going to destroy the city because of it.” On a lighter note resident Mike Boyle shared “When I am driving home, it was like driving in a ‘Mad Max’ movie. I am proud to call Lake County my home.” He continued “The city is making tremendous progress. It’s not a ‘Mad Max’ movie out there anymore. This is a special place with a special breed of people.”
The benefits of community involvement were brought up at the meeting, and according to a study from the Western Connecticut State University, there are many proven benefits to volunteering in your community. These benefits include combating depression, increasing individual confidence and helping to keep people in good physical shape. As per the study, volunteering within your community can create “the happiness effect” where people who volunteer more often shared higher experiences being happy. The study noted “Compared to people who never volunteered, the odds of being very happy rose seven percent among those who volunteer monthly and 12 percent for people who volunteer every two weeks.”
The Judge’s Breakfast is held every Thursday Morning at 7 a.m. at the Highlands Senior Center. Next week’s speaker is Kim Tangerman with the Lake County Health Services Mobile clinic.
