Opinion
- Details
- Written by: Richard B. Cooper
If, for whatever reason, the inspector deems it necessary for the property owner to perform additional tests, the property owner is required to perform those additional tests at the property owner’s expense. Should the additional tests not be to the liking of the inspector, major work, thus major expenses, would be burdened on the hapless property owner.
Then there is the extreme. Should the property not be able accommodate a new system, the property would be uninhabitable. At best the property loses all value because it cannot be sold. At worst, the property owner must abandon the property completely.
If the state or county believes that a problem exists as a result of septic systems, which were installed legally, then the removal of septic systems is a public benefit. All of which is only the government's current opinion. Thus, the government’s perceived problem should not be levied against the innocent property owner. The government should bear the full cost of placing the property on a sewer system. Maybe we make this part of the stimulus package.
Remember the Golden Gate Bridge and the 25 cent bridge toll. To convince the public to tax themselves to build the bridge the proponents pointed out that the toll would end after 30 years, highway tax dollars would pay for the maintenance and generations to come would have a beautiful bridge. Well, the toll is now around $6.
Examples of the continual expansion of taxation and regulation permeate the history of our government. Why should any property owner expect this new regulation to be any different? It is wise to believe that once the regulation is adopted it will only become more restrictive and expensive with time.
Richard B. Cooper lives in Healdsburg.
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- Written by: Paul Breunig
As I sat and listened to the presentation made by Richard Knoll to the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night, many thoughts ran through my mind and what I was going to say. After walking away from the podium that night, I never really said what I wanted to.
To set the story straight, on what I really wanted to say, the city of Lakeport has properties in its boundaries that are basically doing nothing, and some are vacant land. They have been put up for sale over the years, with no takers or qualified buyers.
Now, the city has an opportunity to do something with the least desirable ones and derive monies from them through the sale to their redevelopment agency. The city now has monies to put into the general fund to use as they deem fit.
First and foremost, they want to take care of police and fire departments, which, we all know, are necessary for the protection and needs of the citizens of Lakeport. The secondary use of these funds would be for small business stimulation loans, that would help our local businesses get through these troubled economic times.
We, as an employer, don’t want to lay off employees, or even let them go, because there isn't the business to support them. When businesses close, people lose their jobs and it all trickles down through the community. These monies should help get us through these times, and isn't meant to just enhance anyone's business.
Furthermore, there has to be shown to the city the financial means to repay them for the loans. Credibility is what will make this program work.
Once our city, county, state and country get back on track, the redevelopment agency can offer these purchased lands back up for sale and recover the monies that were originally used to acquire them, and would go back into the redevelopment of downtown Lakeport, remodeling of the business fronts, creation of the lakefront area for parks and beautification of our precious asset, our city and its tourist attractions.
Lastly, for the record, most businesses will dig into their reserves, create credit lines and sell off assets to raise capital to keep their dream going. But, when there is no one or no financial institution to obtain monies from, where do go then?
After being in business in Lake County for over 45 years and 13 of those years in the city of Lakeport, we have seen the ups and downs. This economic downturn we are having now is unlike anything I have experienced before. But, with all of us working at the solution, we will get through it.
Paul Breunig is owner of Hillside Honda in Lakeport.
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- Details
- Written by: Monica Rosenthal
As of Jan. 20, 2009, I am the former District 1 planning commissioner. On this exciting and spectacular day of the inauguration of new president, Barack Obama, my term has come to an end — not that there is any connection between these two events.
I would like to thank former Supervisor Ed Robey for giving me the opportunity to serve. It has been a challenging, rewarding, educational and thoroughly enjoyable experience. While serving as planning commissioner, I have had the opportunity to explore some very special places throughout the county, and to meet the most incredible people, and to be involved in our local government.
As many of you know, the Lake County Planning Commission is charged with the responsibility of making land use decisions that affect the future growth and development of Lake County. Those decisions should be based on reasonable and logical growth patterns that take into account the health, safety, and welfare of the people and the environment. Those decisions should also be consistent with our newly adopted General Plan, the Lake County Zoning Ordinance, the California Environmental Quality Act and numerous other local, state and federal agency regulations. Additionally, those decisions should represent the desire of the people of Lake County both today and for future generations.
At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting during which former Supervisor Ed Robey was honored for his many years of public service, District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington stated, “We did not inherit this land from our grandparents, we are borrowing it from our grandchildren.” Mr. Ed Robey, Supervisor Farrington and I trust that Supervisor Jim Comstock and his newly appointed planning commissioner are among many who endeavor to uphold this philosophy. However, protecting and preserving our land is also the responsibility of the people in each of our communities.
I encourage everyone to be involved in the future of Lake County. The Lake County Planning Commission is a public hearing, the supervisors can be contacted by phone, email, fax or at their weekly meetings. Individuals need to be heard not just the voices of special interest groups or developers. The elected and appointed decision makers can make better decisions if they hear a wider range of perspectives — it is similar to the sound of a symphony orchestra verses that of teenagers playing the drums and an electric guitar in the garage; not that I have anything against youth and their interest in music.
Finally, I would like to thank all of those who supported my appointment as the District 1 planning commissioner. It has been a pleasure to serve the people of Lake County and the District 1 community.
Monica Rosenthal, former District 1 planning commissioner, lives near Middletown.
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- Details
- Written by: Evan Willig
As a person who shares his progressive orientation, his political party and his optimism I thank my fellow Americans for making this happen. To those who don’t agree with his politics or his call to shared sacrifice I cannot help but think you are impressed with his intelligence and grace.
The nation and world are challenged as we have not seen in more than a half century. An economy in recession because we thought wealth was our birthright and not something worked for. A financial system in ruins because we trusted greedy men to do the right thing when no one was looking. The Earth in peril because we pretended it was infinite when a picture from space clearly shows how limited it really is. Our relations with the world strained by our reliance on the technology of war rather than the art of diplomacy.
Yes, our new president has his work cut out for him. So if you see me and millions of others of your fellow citizens a little emotional as we watch and listen to the new president please forgive us.
We invite you, we implore you, to take a moment to reflect in what this country stands for. That the justice and equality we seek and promotion of the general welfare we long for are not the talking points of a politician but the bedrock on which this nation is built.
The United States of America has turned a corner and Barack Hussein Obama is our president.
Evan Willig lives in Cobb.
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