“Tactical Change for Restore Hetch Hetchy,” Eco Watch, 1/21
We’re Not a Well
Thanks to the East Bay Express and Robert Gammon for pointing
out the hypocrisy of some in San Francisco, particularly some political
“leaders,” respecting San Francisco’s use (and desecration) of the
beautiful Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park as its private
little water storage tank. Here in Tuolumne County it is a standing
joke that SF political big shots view us as a “colony” whose primary
colonial function is to assure SF of a source of water.
We’ve had enough, and we applaud Restore Hetch Hetchy’s decision to
focus on San Francisco and educate the residents of SF that restoration
of Hetch Hetchy Valley will not result in the loss of SF’s water rights
or the actual water that it takes from the Tuolumne River. The
engineers have figured how to get the same water to SF without the need
to first store it in a National Park. See HetchHetchy.org/studies.html
And don’t believe the ridiculous $3 to $10 billion cost for
restoration put forth by the Schwarzenegger administration. They
crudely assumed new supplies three or four times the size of what SF
now receives would be needed. The groups that have carefully studied
the cost issue have said the total cost of reservoir removal and water
and power replacement would run between $1 and 2 billion. Even in tough
economic times that’s a bargain for a second Yosemite Valley, and think
of all the jobs that would be created restoring the valley and later
catering to the tourists who would come to the area to view the results
of the world’s largest environmental restoration project.
Kris Sullivan, Sonora
Keep the Damn Dam
I think it’s ironic when half truths and or twisted remarks get put
down as fact. Did you read the state’s report on Hetch Hetchy? I did
and it basically only stated that the restoration was “possible” but
went on to say that no study had been complete enough to make a valid
determination of whether it would be feasible. There is an elephant in
the room and that is the water rights, once the water flows into Don
Pedro it becomes MID/TID’s and they don’t have to share! There is also
the power loss and the additional power that would be needed to pump
water again (reducing its reliability). Add that to the fact that the
Tuolumne would not see a substantial increase at the junction with the
San Joaquin, it would not help any water supply problems.
The other aspect is — what happens when you “restore” the
valley. Do you want another Yosemite with all the RVs, SUVs, cars, and
people? Have you ever been to Hetch Hetchy? It’s much more pristine now
than Yosemite because those things are NOT allowed because there is no
way to get a vehicle to the other side so it’s much more natural and
better maintained than its BIG Brother. One other thing, you keep
seeing the one shot where it’s akin to Yosemite Valley but once you go
around the corner it becomes much less majestic very rapidly.
Now when are they going to take out the rest of the dams, move all
the people out of the valley, and create a massive flood plane like it
was. OH wait the environmentalists in Oakland and Berkeley don’t like
that little inconvenient truth, they get their water pumped out of the
Sierras too! So stop sending water to San Joaquin Valley farms —
they can go back to dust, don’t send it to LA, they can all die or move
to the east coast — and now don’t send any water to San
Francisco, so who is left? Oakland and Berkeley, how egocentric. The
natural environment is altered in a way that it can’t be totally
recovered and people are here to stay. The best thing to do is to learn
to live with it and help both the natural and human environments
prosper without hurting one or the other. There is a lot to be done but
we are NOT ready for Hetch Hetchy to be torn down and have all the
people on the peninsula be displaced because of lack of water and
power.
Michael Miller, Sacramento
“Have Gun, Will Travel,” Books, 1/14
Mercenaries with Heart
Crescent Security was a small-time security company that didn’t
provide enough manpower to do a mission appropriately. It’s unfortunate
that they are receiving so much free press, simply because they lacked
the moral and ethical fortitude to take care of their own employees.
The author of this article should do a little research on this topic.
We are not “licensed to kill.” We operate with strict rules of
engagement and well within the acceptable standard operating procedures
set forth by the Department of State.
We are former police, swat officers, and military members. We are
not heartless mercenaries, as you would have your readers believe. We
are simply trying to provide a good life for our families just like
anyone else. We just do it in austere and dangerous environments.
Michael Parr, Onaga, Kansas
“The Karma Bandit: Howdy Cloud,” Local Licks, 1/7
Bedroom Pickin’
I’m giggling over your review. I recorded straight into my computer
and attempted to use a mixing program. Perhaps my skills as an engineer
are lacking, but I’m glad you found the lyrics enlightening. I put my
soul into it. I’ve never had a review before. Your review seemed funny
and fair, but I thought my pick’n and melodies were shit hot also!
Loyd Skiles, Oakland
“Silk-E Venom,” Music, 1/21
I’d Like to be Like Silk
Good article. I enjoy reading about struggling artists like myself.
One day, who knows, the world might read my story about trying to make
it in the music industry.
Chauncey “Kool Cheez” Anderson, Emeryville
Miscellaneous Letters
Three A.M. Came and Went; Impressions of
Oakland
Guided by electric rails strangers in twisted stupors stumble
headlong into the night. Frost bitten fingers fumble at buttons and bra
hooks, laser guided genitals set to search and destroy, fog enveloped
crustaceans crab walking towards the tide, all set to the soundtrack of
Felix’s incoherent rhapsodies spinning in the near morning. Oakland is
young and naive, struggling to make it past puberty. On weekends round
midnight, waves of youthful violence pulse through the streets until
morning when calm is restored, the temper tantrums spelled out in lead
at last put to crib.
I have known more serene sunrises in Oakland than in any town I’ve
ever spent sleepless nights in. Over the lumbering dock giants that
hoist hundred ton crates into metallic behemoths who sail confidently
through tempests, up above the vaulted ceilings of Our Saint Churches,
the naughty sun sneaks towards its zenith. At first her light is azure
and hums like a Grecian lullaby. Hangovers soothed, all sleepless
nights resolved. When seven comes around the corner heavy bronze rays
fall like ice blocks onto the city and the boiling process begins
anew.
Soon Oakland will boil over, the rapid water will spill over onto
the heat source and douse it. Only her most beloved children will
remain, starting with Felix, and also the prostitutes on San Pablo and
Fortieth, who in the apocalypse will mount their idols and become
sirens. In Downtown doorways there are the shopping cart refugees from
Ethiopia, Rwanda, Appolonia, Sumeria, and their waning flames will
reignite when for two months the darkness does not abate. The Acorn
Gang, Ghosttown, International Blvd, pistols will ejaculate lead
without incitement, the slugs will patiently lie in wait for their
marks, and the asphalt will be pregnant with blood. The AIDS clinics
will close and their patients will search for cures in the mud and
gravel just to finally find the answer in empty graves. Jack London
Square will secede and the merchant battleships will drag her out to
sea.
I am not from Oakland, but by and by I have been seduced. I write
poetry to her in my head, I sing her songs of worship with the setting
of the sun, I lie awake just to make sure that the sun still rises. I
run my fingers across her veins and count the bursted capillaries. Then
some nights I fall asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow and I
dream of my hatred for this city, and I see that it will not live to
see the apocalypse, it will just wither away as it has been since the
Second World War, when the Apaches came down from the hills and laid
waste to the night.
Andrew Jones, Oakland
Save the Comics
Since I moved to the Bay Area in late 2001 I have seen you go
through quite a bit of change, and most of it positive. I literally
cheered when I read that you’d gone independent. (One can only wonder
what my fellow BART passengers thought at that point.) Yet never have I
written a letter to your editorial staff — until you removed my
beloved cartoons.
I know times are tight, but I just believe there must be some other
way. Syndicated cartoons are one of my favorite reasons for picking up
the EBE, they are the manna that one does not get from the SF Chron and
it’s daily blogwort of crap.
Certainly, I will continue reading the EBE as long as I’m local, but
without my beloved cartoons I fear I may pick you up less and less.
Save the Comics, EBE!! Cut some fat, trim some copy, but please keep
our beloved comic strips!!!
Tyler Burton, Oakland
Corrections
Our January 21 food review of Banyan14 incorrectly stated the
restaurant’s Oakland address. It’s 578 14th Street.
