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Written by: Dave Gebhard

Published: 10 March 2009

Created: 09 March 2009

Last Updated: 09 March 2009

Have the California Republicans lost sight of the object of their jobs? To govern the state as servants of the people? Instead, they are acting like children, disciplining one of their own for his daring to act independently. As if his job is to walk in lockstep with fellow Republicans or face a thrashing in the tool shed. Cannot allow him to get away with it, or more will think for themselves and use their own initiative.

Since when is the good of the party more important than the good of the body public? Who do they think they serve? The party or the people?

Personally, I like the open primary, as I do not think the idea of one party using their votes to select their opponents weakest candidate is likely. But we have forgotten what a legislator's real responsibility is, to represent their constituents, not party hacks.

We should let our legislators know what we think of discipline and partisan politics. Let's get them back to the job of governing

Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport.

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Written by: Alex Stabiner

Published: 09 March 2009

Created: 09 March 2009

Last Updated: 09 March 2009

A few years ago the community of Upper Lake passed a bond having the community invest in our school district. Included in the bond were provisions for a totally renovated school that included building a brand new music building.

Passing a school bond in such a rural community as Upper Lake is no small task. Parents, teachers, administrators and community members put in many hours to progress the passing of the bond.

Our district made good use of this community investment and has created one of the finest music programs in Lake County. The teacher, equipment and facility are all top notch.

In these uncertain times the district is now considering dropping the music program all together. Music is something the voters want at Upper Lake High School. If the district follows through with such a cut, it will be throwing away one of the investments that our community has committed to in our schools and acting against what the voters, taxpayers and investors want for our district. Our school already has vacant auto and wood shop buildings where investments of dollars, time, and effort lay dormant.

Our small district has an opportunity to set ourselves apart from many of the other districts in the state. While many districts and sending out layoff notices whole sale, cutting sports programs and considering closing schools, our district has the ability to preserve the programs the community has invested into for so many years.

The district has wisely saved for a rainy day. Our district is fortunate to have incredible people working in positions where money is involved. Our superintendent, business manager and even our school board members all have an incredible sense of how to bring revenue and funding into the district. We have consistently maintained funding for our district’s reserve and this year we even have carry over money in our general fund from previous years, all the while maintaining a wide selection of courses and programs.

Our current economy calls for tough choices and I don’t envy any of the decision makers during this time. However, we must consider that with every investment comes risk. The community has taken risks in investing in the school bond. The voters have taken risks with their investments at the voting booth. I ask that the district take a risk, follow through with the investments it has made over the years and maintain the music program during this troubling time.

Alex Stabiner teaches US history, government and economics at Upper Lake High School. He lives in Kelseyville.

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Written by: Vision Task Force Steering Committee

Published: 08 March 2009

Created: 08 March 2009

Last Updated: 08 March 2009

This statement is a collective consensus of the Vision Task Force Steering Committee. It is not an individual opinion.

We understand that between $1.5 million and $6 million in redevelopment funds will be spent on the city of Clearlake's airport property as part of the negotiating process in selling said property. If these numbers are accurate, the steering committee questions the soundness of this allocation as well as the authority to allocate these funds without the transparency and public input required by the redevelopment agency, which is furnishing these funds.

This steering committee wants to see final decisions on the allocation of redevelopment funds based on more than one man's opinion. Rather, such profound and important decisions should be based on the inspiration and advice of official redevelopment agency input (the City Council), advisory committee input (which does extensive background research) and especially the public's input.

Allocating any money without critical input by these various segments of the community would be against the established processes set up by the redevelopment agency. Any other attempt to circumvent this process by trickery could be illegal and against the best interests of the community. The history of redevelopment funding in Clearlake has been misappropriation, misuse and poorly planned appropriations. Let's not create an environment that allows this history to continue.

In conclusion we advise the redevelopment agency/Clearlake City Council to insist on transparency and critical input of any allocations having to do with redevelopment funding by having a public hearing on this matter.

Clearlake Vision Task Force Steering Committee members include Vince Metzger, Melinda Young, Allen Markowski, Jim Scholz, Robert Riggs, Tony Morales and Alice Reece.

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