Is this really the message we want to give our youth and our community? That they need to escape Lake County, any way they can, even if it means exposing them to the casualties of war to do so? Or is there a better answer? Could it be that we are at the point where we are lacking personal responsibility, creativity, knowledge and wisdom to the detriment of our community and our children?

I do not believe it is a mistake that the Chinese word for “crisis” is written with two simple but opposing characters, one symbolizing “danger” and the other symbolizing “opportunity.” As terrible as the unemployment crisis, the economic crisis, the oil crisis and the mortgage crisis is, each crisis has given us the chance to begin exploring new avenues of awareness and opportunities.

The question we need to be asking ourselves is whether we will choose awareness and opportunity over ignorance and abandonment. Will we jump ship and encourage others to jump ship just because the storm is approaching and the seas are getting a bit rough or will we take command of the wheel and navigate our ship into a vast sea of opportunity? The opportunity is out there, if we just take a moment to look for it. I took a few moments, myself, to look for the opportunity within the crisis and I found some opportunities I would like to share.

First, we can all begin by buying and selling local. One of the best ways to stimulate a local economy and local jobs is to support local business owned and operated by local people who will in turn do the same.

Here’s an idea, instead of going to a corporate-owned chain where fat corporations get paid and very few local people ever see the money, allow your purchasing power to strengthen the local economy by supporting locally owned businesses so the jobs produced are long-lasting. You may be surprised that the new Starbucks has hired and fired more people since it has opened than any of the locally owned coffee shops. So, why not invest in a neighbor who actually cares about keeping their employees and customers happy? It definitely couldn’t hurt.

Shopping local not only makes good economic sense, it also makes good green sense, especially when you are buying local products from local people. That is because when you support local people, such as artisans, farmers, winemakers, etc., you are also creating less pollution and saving more oil because neither you nor the items have to travel very far for the transaction to be made. With all the talk of the oil crisis at hand, it just makes sense to begin to support and maintain our local resources.

We can also use one of our greatest technological resources to find new sources of income. Did you know the fastest-growing job market is right in your own home? Home businesses are surging, due to gas prices, traffic and the accessibility of the Internet. Your computer is probably one of the best job resources you have, when considering a home business. There are boundless opportunities, just waiting for you, over the Internet. Places like Elance (www.elance.com/p/landing/buyer.html?rid=1121E) and Worldwide Work At Home (www.worldwideworkathome.com/freelance.html) reveal a vast amount of leads for freelance work which can be done entirely at home.

As well, the technology of the Internet takes us one more step into the future. Social networking is no longer social but professional, thanks to places like Wowzza (www.wowzzapower.com/index2.php?siteID=227262) and DirectMatches (www.directmatches.com/default2.asp?site=shamancola) which list a multitude of online business opportunities.

In addition, blogging has gone professional, as well, having the potential to earn hundreds of thousands a year (www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/BUVJSNSTC.DTL), especially, if you are a blogger who takes advantage of affiliate marketing programs like Clickbank (www.clickbank.com/index.html) and Commission Junction (www.cj.com/) for affiliate leads.

Amazingly enough, the newest craze is surrounding resurgence of network marketing and MLM businesses. They are popping up everywhere and they are popping up for a reason. The old network marketing and mlm businesses have a new and improved twist on them these days, and are definitely worth looking into. This is because, due to the latest technologies, network and mlm marketers no longer need to turn to friends, family and neighbors in order to succeed. In fact, there is even an e-report and book (http://mss.the7greatliesofnetworkmarketing.com/) about how network marketing has evolved and what you can do to take advantage of the evolution. There is an entire world out there to generate leads from, today.

In addition, some of them have little to no startup costs and don’t require any needless buying or selling. Solutions like The Spiderweb System (http://myspideysense.com/) offer e-products and e-tools both you and your network actually need when conducting network marketing, professional networking, affiliate marketing, mlm marketing, blogging or any other online business which allows while you to earn money through affiliate commissions rather than sales. The best part, all of these opportunities and solutions are as close as the nearest computer.

In addition, there are now a multitude of “green” opportunities just waiting to be discovered and implemented. Urbanhabitat.org (http://www.urbanhabitat.org/node/528) has listed a few. Before looking for a job or a business opportunity, why not take some time to focus on “green” jobs and “green” businesses within Lake County which would offer you and others something unique?

I visited Hopland’s Solar Living Institute this weekend for their Solfest which was a tremendous success. People came from all over the world to come to this “green” event. Now, there is a plan in the works for a “green” motel, right across the street. Where are our green motels, our green gift shops, our green businesses and green jobs? These things would not be too difficult to create, considering Lake County is actually one of the last few places in California that has some “green” left in it and already attracts a decent amount of tourists.

We could use the example of San Mateo County (www.recycleworks.org/green_business/index.html) to learn from and we could even create a green guide (www.greensantabarbara.com/) as Santa Barbara has to promote green businesses within the community. With eco-tourism on the rise, we could boost our economy and help our preserve and protect our precious natural surroundings simply by going green and creating a buzz about it through places like Green Vacation Hub (www.greenvacationhub.com/) and GreenBiz (www.greenbiz.com) which would not only attract eco-tourists but ecologically minded residents and businesses. We could we create a multitude of green businesses and green jobs, we could possibly a green community and a green economy, which could serve as a model for others and a terrific green eco-tourist destination, all at the same time.

Throughout history, some of the most successful people are the ones who see opportunity where others do not. Perhaps, we need to simply open our eyes more to the possibilities rather than opening our mouths about the impossibilities.

If we truly begin to see the “opportunity” in our crisis, we would realize that we don’t need to leave Lake County (or encourage anyone else to do so) just to find work. In fact, I would encourage people to stay in Lake County and utilize the incredible resources we have which allow us the opportunity to build a better place for future generations.

Andrea Anderson lives in Lakeport.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}

Furthermore, the stuff I heard preached in church was not the behavior I saw modeled for me by many who sat in the pews – so being there felt like a major waste of time. I thought, why should we sit and listen to this stuff when no one actually lives it? I went on my merry way still determined to be a "good" person, but not quite sure about the particulars of how this related to God.

As an adult, however, I felt a deep need to join a faith community because it seemed like the easiest and fastest way to join together with others to make a difference in helping a hurting world. My husband and I tried several churches in different communities before settling on our current church, United Christian Parish. What follows are the reasons we chose this amazing congregation that in every way defies the “churchy” and judgmental Christian upbringing both of us had experienced as youth.

United Christian Parish (UCP) is a Lakeport church made up of Disciples, Methodists, and Presbyterians who worship together under this common umbrella: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.”

The essential faith that binds us together is a common belief that Jesus Christ walked the Earth some 2,000 years ago. Every member of this welcoming congregation is given the liberty to interpret the particulars surrounding Jesus in his or her own way, however.

For example, there are many who believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. Other ideas are equally welcomed and respected, however, such as these: Jesus is but one of many children of God; Jesus is the only God; Jesus was one of several highly-enlightened teachers who had accessed the Divine within him and who tried to teach others that everyone is capable of this too; Jesus is coming again someday; Jesus already lives among us in the hearts of every human; Jesus’ Divine energy is alive within every atom of everything in the Universe; Heaven is something to look forward to; Heaven is already here – we just need to have the eyes to see it; Jesus died for our sins; Jesus was executed because he was a religious troublemaker; Jesus rose from the grave; Jesus’ resurrection is a metaphor for enlightenment through suffering; Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene; Jesus never married; the Bible is the Word of God to be interpreted literally; the Bible is the word of many ancient believers who recorded their fears and hopes in a formal way; the Bible is a semi-historical chronicle of persecuted people filled with wonderful exciting stories; the Bible is a wealth of important messages for living that we can follow by using contemporary interpretations; and on and on.

The range of beliefs is far-reaching, but the common factor is simply belief in Jesus Christ.

Regardless of the non-essentials (many of which are listed above), we all believe that Jesus was here to teach the message of love, compassion and gratitude. He died trying to spread this Word to all to help heal a hurting world. While many other “Christian” churches get so hung up on 2,000 year-old non-essentials that they end up alienating those who would otherwise join them in their quest to bring love and compassion to our world, UCP relegates those non-essentials to the back row and instead welcomes ALL who wish to follow Jesus’ example.

Jesus taught the world that judging others was a means of separating ourselves from one another. Rather, he told his disciples to actively seek out those who might be different from us, welcome them, show compassion, kindness and an open heart. Members of UCP, though their individual Jesus-specific details might differ, are united in this idea of charity. Who cares how anyone wants to interpret something, as long as you are showing charity to all of God’s creation? Does Truth need any defense anyway? As one great teacher, Byron Katie, puts it, "Who needs God when we have your opinion?"

Our pastor is a woman, Shannon Kimball-Auth, who is both praised and sometimes maligned for her “liberal” thinking. I’ve never understood how a minister who actually practices what she preaches could be criticized but it happens nonetheless. There are “Christians” out there who forget that the root meaning of “liberal” is liberty (freedom) – something that Jesus wanted for all of humankind.

Pastor Shannon has been a tremendous spiritual guide for me in my quest to understand how my personal beliefs actually match beautifully with the truths of the Bible and other works that were intentionally left out of the Canon.

While some pastors try hard to keep their flock “in line” with particular creeds and/or beliefs, Pastor Shannon actively encourages hers to delve into their hearts to find out how the Word fits for them. She is funny, open-minded, compassionate, fiercely determined to work in a positive way for social justice and planetary salvation, and beloved by her congregation – even those who may differ with her politics or her personal non-essentials.

In many ways, I think she defines a true teacher in the spirit that Jesus was; people choose to follow and learn from the one who does not judge and condemn them, but who welcomes and lifts them to new and greater possibilities.

In this age of quantum physics starting to prove the theory of a “unified field” that ties everything in the universe together via tiny “strings,” we are living in an exciting time indeed for watching the merger of science and spirit: The truths that Jesus taught 2,000 years ago are now showing up in the laboratory.

UCP is a place that enables me to join together with many others to utilize these truths to create hope for a hurting world. We are far more interested in helping the homeless and the hungry, the persecuted and the oppressed, the abandoned and the abused, and in working to be good stewards of God’s beautiful planet than arguing about non-essentials with those who might otherwise agree with our common mission: Charity.

I am grateful to be part of a truly “Christian” community at United Christian Parish, one that loves and embraces the Divine light within every person, as Jesus taught us to do.

Gale Tompkins-Bischel lives in Kelseyville.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}

This is a struggle no one should have to face alone or otherwise. So as a parent you try to help any way you can.

For the last 10 months, my daughter has struggled through the court system. It's like swimming up stream in a raging river full of debris, first fighting for custody of her two children and then financial support. She waited several months before the financial part was ever addressed. I guess since lawyers are getting their money, why worry. Don’t even get me started on that subject (I’ve spent thousands)!

During that time my husband and I bought groceries and paid bills that had been left unpaid (some for awhile) when my daughter's husband left. He had removed her from all accounts several years earlier. She was by all intents penniless. Not once at any time did he call and ask about food, heat, etc. There were two children in the house. At one point in January there was no heat for a week, before she asked for help. Before that she would leave the heat off unless the kids were home and then they bundled up. This made me heartsick; to think my child was ever married to someone like this.

After several months my daughter found a job to replace her part-time job. Her new employers have been very kind and extremely supportive. May I say she loves her job with a capital “L.”

She was finally awarded monthly support to which back support was added. A small portion was tacked on to currant monthly payments. This amounted to about $1,500 a month. In the four months since the judgment, he has paid one full support payment and three partial payments and now nothing. He does not respond to Child Support Services to which the case was turned over. This seems to be his M.O. We have even gotten calls regarding collection accounts (evidently he gave our phone number) and my daughter receives collections calls constantly. I guess he thinks if he doesn’t respond they will give up.

Buy the way, did I mention he owns a business BUT he claims he’s disabled with an arm injury; he’s paid cash when working, isn’t this illegal? However, he goes boating and kneeboards (don’t you have to hold onto a rope that pulls you up?), he plays baseball too, all the while collecting disability. He moved into a larger house on a golf course ... in essence, his life has not changed.

His abusive behavior has not changed, only his address. This is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

My grandchildren are going to counseling because of the trauma of divorce, plus things that are said to them about their mother. My daughter had to take him to court to get an order for the therapist. My granddaughter seems to be his main target; she is constantly worried about something happening to her mother. He finally decided to agree to therapy.

And his manipulation continues.

Today, for me the final straw broke this camel’s back! My daughter called sobbing; the accountant for her work told her that her wages were being garnished because her ex had failed to report a retirement (401k?) account he cashed in 2004. They can’t find him (he lives in the same community), so they settled for the next best person. As, I stated before, he doesn’t respond to any agency.

Did I mention that he stated in court that he hadn’t filed business taxes EVER because he and his partner where saving monies for a “nest egg” ... honest, it's court-documented!

But I digress. I was so angry that I called his cell phone, I knew he didn’t have the courage to answer, so I left a terse message stating that I thought he was a coward, not a man and that everything he has put my daughter through should come back to him and he could choke on it. That really is the gist of the message, no foul language etc., but I was so angry I was shaking and I had to let him know what human waste he is. You probably think that was a bit childish; but I have not spoken to him since prior to the divorce proceedings and I just could not hold back any longer. He has deliberately set out to not only emotionally ruin my daughter, but financially too. He has an agenda.

I have tons of scenarios that go through my head daily. I would say my fantasy life about body parts falling off is pretty graphic. But as I have said many times, he isn’t worth going to jail for. I will only say, he is a product of his upbringing!

You may be thinking, why doesn’t she stop bitching and just pay the tax? Well, I’ve paid a lot of his past bills over the months just so my daughter could stay in a house that went into foreclosure because he stopped paying the house payments, her car was repossessed, light bills, water, gas were unpaid and the list goes on. That’s why!

Where to go from here? Well, one day at a time I guess. My daughter is calling the tax board to hopefully work something out. I pray they will work with her. She was raised with a conscience and a set of morals that her ex was not, that is evident in everything he has done. So whatever comes, she’ll do the right thing.

But the big question is: Why isn’t anyone or any agency going after the person who committed these problems? The answer: Well, it depends on whom you are talking to. Does the government really want to waste manpower looking into a deadbeat father? Or is it easier to go after someone who is in the working community and only trying to stay off welfare and make a good life for her and her children?

Time and many phone calls will tell. If my daughter cannot resolve this, she may have to consider quitting her job and go on welfare, adding to the list of state dependents. As I said, she loves her job and would truly hate to quit. But how can she survive on maybe $800 a month when her rent is $1,100? We also helped her get into that.

While sitting in court and listening to many cases eerily similar to my daughter's, I have to question: What’s going on? Is this a case of a “boys will be boys” attitude? Are there so many of these so-called men that, once out the door, their responsibilities are over? Is this another societal (patriarchal) way to keep women in their place? Are the courts so overflowing with this type of behavior that they have become complacent, jaded or just too overworked?

There are more and more women with children living below poverty level, and no one seems to be concerned. It's easier to say she’s lazy or wants a free ride, instead of acknowledging that most women have either stayed home to care for their children and/or they worked part-time and were out of the job force. I haven’t meet any yet that likes being on welfare.

A woman makes 60 cents to every dollar a man makes. Childcare is cost prohibitive in many cases. So what are the options?

How do the courts make the husband/father take care his responsibilities to his family? There is the Deadbeat Dad law, but that doesn’t always work, it can take months or years to catch up with him and sometimes never.

Is there some kind of manual out there that sells for $2.50 that explains in 30 words or less “How To Be A Deadbeat And Get Away With It”?

This, unfortunately, is only a small portion of my daughter’s story. And the saga continues.

Terry Figone lives in Petaluma. Her daughter and grandchildren live in Lake County.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}

The following facts relate to the falsehoods and defamatory statements published in Mr. Watkins’ guest commentary in the Lake County Record-Bee.

The commentary alleges:

1. That Alan Siegel and I are “imposters” defrauding the public.

Alan Siegel was elected to the board July 2004. He completed his term in June 2006 and left the board. Due to resignations by board members, Alan was asked to return to the board. He agreed and was appointed to the board in October 2006. In June 2007, the association had no nominations or volunteers to run for the vacant board positions. At the November 2007 board meeting, the board appointed Daniel Bridges, who had volunteered to participate on the board. The board reappointed Alan Siegel and me to fill the vacant positions resulting from lack of participation in the June 2007 annual election.

I had been volunteering as a member of the Architectural Control and Planning Committee, and was appointed to the board January 2006 to fill a vacancy created by another resignation. Clear Lake Riviera Community Association Bylaws state that “Any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office.” They further state: “Directors shall be elected for terms of two years and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified (emphasis added), and not be eligible for re-election (emphasis added) after serving a two year term until they shall have not been a director for at least one year.”

California Corporations Code Section 7527 states, “An action challenging the validity of any election, appointment or removal of a director or directors must be commenced within nine months after the election, appointment or removal. If no such action is commenced, in the absence of fraud, any election, appointment or removal of a director is conclusively presumed valid nine months thereafter.”

2. “They have broken nearly every law on the books.”

This charge is without details or factual basis and is totally unsubstantiated. No current board member has received any personal gain or consideration in conjunction with their service on the board, nor have they knowingly violated any laws or regulations relating to Association business. This board has always sought legal advice when questions arose regarding proper conduct of association business.

3. “They have defrauded the public by signing important contracts when they weren’t eligible.”

The eligibility of the board members has already been addressed. In order to have defrauded anyone the board would have to have obtained something of value under false pretenses relating to any contracts they signed. Nothing was so obtained and no losses to anyone have been sustained based on any contractual obligations signed by the board’s directors.

4. The board “elected to employ a secretary as an independent contractor to avoid taxes.”

A consultant with homeowner association management experience was hired by the board to assist a newly hired office manager who filled a salaried position. The consultant was contracted to assist the office manager as needed. She was not given any scheduled hours nor was she given any association equipment with which to perform her consulting services. She was correctly classified at that time as an independent contractor reportable on IRS Form 10-99. When the then current office manager left, the consultant was hired as a salaried employee and reported to the payroll processing company as such.

This board has not attempted to avoid paying any taxes on behalf of the association. The board would have absolutely nothing to gain by erroneously classifying its employees.

5. The board “has abused the elderly both verbally and financially.”

The board hasn’t abused anyone. This is another specious charge without details or factual basis. Collection of dues and imposition of fines for failure to correct violations of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) does not constitute abuse. These actions are in fact part of the fiduciary responsibility of the board. The board could be held liable for failing to perform its fiduciary responsibilities if it neglected to perform those duties.

6. “People are being forced to cut natural chaparral ridiculous distances (100 feet) from their homes.”

Given the hazardous fire conditions in California, amply demonstrated by this years fires, the Association has made an effort to reduce the fire danger in our community. The association’s weed abatement guidelines are distributed to members of the association and are sent out with notices of violation relating to the association’s fire hazard abatement program. Nowhere in the governing documents or in the guidelines is there any mention of a distance requirement. Homeowners cannot be compelled to do anything outside their property boundaries.

7. The “association’s own laws say 30 feet, and the board of directors is breaking the county ordinance and their own law.”

As noted above, the association has no distance requirement. The board of directors cannot be breaking the county law (Kelseyville Fire Protection District Ordinance 12) since the board does not enforce county ordinances and the ordinance applies to property owners not association boards.

8. “Some widows and single mothers are being fined $250 a month because they can’t afford to cut brush 100 feet every year. Some don’t even know they are being fined because the Association is breaking the due process laws of the association.”

The distance issue has already been addressed above. No individual is fined without first being notified by a courtesy letter advising them of the alleged violation and requesting that they correct the problem or contact the Association office regarding their intentions to correct the problem. If no response is received and the violation is not corrected, both certified and first class letters are sent advising the individual that formal violation proceedings are starting and advising them of when the board will consider the matter and inviting them to appear at the hearing. A letter is sent within 15 days after every hearing reporting the hearing results. Each month individuals in violation are notified that a board hearing has been scheduled and that they have the right to appear before the board and present evidence and mitigating circumstances.

The individual Mr. Watkins identifies as an abused property owner hasn’t paid dues for a number of years and has been continually notified that she was in violation. She has elected to ignore notices relating to both her failure to pay dues and failure to correct the violation on her property.

9. We are “fining the elderly outside judicial rights.”

The elderly aren’t selected out for any special treatment. In fact, in most cases we have no knowledge of the age or status of any property owner on the association roles. Fines for violation of the CC&Rs are imposed in accordance with legal requirements outlined in the California Civil Code, Davis-Stirling Act, and the governing documents of the association.

10. Attempting to “destroy the CC&Rs through illegal amendments.”

The board attempted to legally amend the CC&Rs. The meeting was publicized and attended by many property owners. An attorney representative, Beth Grimm, was hired to manage the amendment process. The procedure was done in accordance with the Civil Code and the association’s governing documents. The attempted changes were never enacted due to questions relating to the mailing of a corrected copy of the entire CC&Rs. The vast majority of the votes received approved of the proposed amendments. The current board neither enacted nor enforced the proposed 2006 amendments to the CC&Rs.

A group of volunteers have attempted to oversee the fair and impartial application of the laws and rules governing this common interest development. They have attempted to provide oversight of the daily operations of an organization with many competing constituencies. Their reward has been an unrelenting attack by a small group of individuals, individuals with personal agendas, intent on destroying the organization because it serves their purpose to have the association dissolved.

Unfortunately, the majority of property owners are unaware of the efforts and benefits that their Association provides. They won’t become aware of its value until they lose it. Once the association is destroyed there will be no getting it back. There will be no covenants regarding property use and appearance that all property owners agreed to when they purchased their property. Property owners will then have no recourse to resolve problems other than cumbersome and expensive civil legal procedures and no organization to represent them when the county approves actions that are detrimental to their ownership rights, such as approving the building of a 35-foot tall building that totally obstructs their view.

Nobody is forced to buy into a common interest development. Once you do, you are expected to abide by the rules. If you disagree with certain rules, there are legitimate means of changing those rules. If the majority of the property owners want to abide by the rules, no individual has the right to exempt themselves from the rules they don’t like. Attacking the volunteer board members doesn’t change anything. Many individuals buy into a common interest development precisely because they want certain rules that protect their environment, neighborhood and property values.

Below are some examples of Mr. Watkins’ (aka Kruk Ed Strait) responses to his “Exposing the aked emperor” diatribe of Aug. 5. Is this really the type of individual you want speaking for your community?

Kruk Ed Strait - Probably True

..buuuuuut, fastleft and jmadison don't like Kruk! Even if what he says is probaly true. Amazing! Perhaps they don't know it but they are saying they prefer liars. They're also saying they don't like Kruk's opinions against bloody abortion clinics, homosexual sins, and unruly kids in families and public schools. Of course, they hate Kruk's campaign for creationism and the Ten Commandments. Perhaps they don't know every human must make these kinds of choices before the great and terrible Judgement Day that's rapicly approaching.

Kruk Ed Strait - Foot- in-mouth Judy E

..can't seem to get it out. First, she quotes amended CC&R's that haven't been amended. Then, she gets the judicial process mixed up with star-chamber fining policies. Finally, she has upset her entire boat and fallen into waters infested with the sharks of bloody abotion clinic purveyers and militant homosexual activists. She'll soon be chanting down with the Ten Commandments and long live Darwin to fit in. When the evil predators circle closer and closer, she'll probably think she's more and more popular. Like the rabbit, she doesn't know she's on the menu.

In my opinion, Mr John Stoddard’s (aka Johnny Dangerous) comments in the online forums are generally even less intelligible and more incoherent. Such as this comment under “Commentary shed light on HOA operations.”

johnny d

Novato, CA

#7

Sunday Jul 13

et da rope // get da rope // i got da tree //lets got da boms //da jim spero poopy pants// oliverly dave peepeeboy //wendall bedweter//allind seglynot. i am a real boy//alan @ i dont know da law so i make it up .com // call alan at 1 800 my pants are full //or call 1 800 i cant spell bad boy johnny d .com

I would urge everyone to think twice before you buy into the self-serving appeals of a few people to destroy your association. You may not see the benefits that your $86 a year provide because many of those benefits aren’t readily apparent.

Some observable benefits are the repair and maintenance of the unique street signs in the Riviera. Yes, there are some that you can point to that need repair. This is an ongoing project that requires continual attention. The community hall is used by many different groups and is available to any property owner for special events. The upkeep and maintenance of this facility is also an ongoing expense. The inspections of new building projects and the enforcement of requirements to complete construction in a timely manner as well as cleanup of those construction sites is another ongoing function. The existence of an organization representing 2,800+ property owners in Lake County provides a strong voice when dealing with other governmental organizations. Having an uninvolved party to turn to when people create hazards and nuisances adjacent to your property is another benefit. Unlike a legal proceeding, there is no cost to you in attempting to resolve the problem.

My tenure on the board is over. I am thankful that a number of concerned individuals, who do not want to see the association destroyed, have elected to run for office in the current election despite the continuing attacks and poisonous atmosphere that Mr. Watkins and Mr. Stoddard have helped create. Those volunteering to run for board positions are also aware that these attacks will not stop because Alan Siegel and I have left the board. The attacks have already expanded to include the office staff and certain individuals running for the board.

I would urge you not to join in the ongoing attacks against volunteers attempting to do the right thing for their community. If you have an issue, bring it to the attention of the board at the monthly meeting or in a letter. If you do not have the time or inclination to help resolve the issues facing our community, at least give those who are attempting this challenge the benefit of the doubt.

Sid Donnell lives in the Clear Lake Riviera and served on the association board.

{mos_sb_discuss:4}

In 2006, the City of Los Angeles hiked trash collection fees to raise an additional $100 million to add another 1,000 officers to patrol the streets. When all was said and done, LA officials used a paltry $42 million of the new funds to add a mere 400 new cops rather than the promised thousand. Recently, Mayor Villaraigosa has proposed another increase in fees to be used to pay for enhanced public safety.

The City of Sacramento is contemplating a voter initiative to pass a "gang crime" tax to deal with its rampant gang problems. Facing an election year and plagued by a rash of crime, city officials want to increase the local sales taxes to 8 percent. This would raise an estimated $16 million a year for prevention and enforcement. Yet this sales tax proposal is ill-planned and hastily pushed and is even opposed by law enforcement leaders.

The City of Oakland joined the tax bandwagon as well by placing a parcel tax on the November local ballot. Officials promise that the money from this tax would be used to add 105 new police officers and 75 technicians. Amazingly, city officials continue to ask for more taxpayer dollars amid allegations of mishandling of existing funds, nepotism and corruption.

While these cities scheme to tax, a plan to infuse local governments with funds and tools for fighting crimes already exists. Proposition 6 – The Safe Neighborhoods Act would guarantee state funding for law enforcement and programs designed to reduce and prevent gang crime.

The LA City Council opposes Prop 6. This knee-jerk hostility toward the measure comes even though the proposition would increase the number of cops on the street – something the council continues to promise but fails to deliver.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums opposes Prop 6 as well, despite its benefits to his city, which is no model for public safety.

While these cities and others continue to wrangle for more taxpayer dollars, they offer few concrete plans on how the dollars will be spent. That's how the LA City Council was able to renege on its promise – by asking voters to approve higher taxes but giving few specifics on how that money would be spent.

Prop 6 will guarantee public safety spending from existing state dollars. This means more officers will patrol the street, more prevention programs, and more rehabilitation without raising taxes. Unlike individual city tax schemes, Prop 6 includes accountability. The measure will ensure that the dollars spent on prevention and rehabilitation will be used efficiently and effectively.

Prioritizing existing dollars is the winning strategy, especially since voters have clearly expressed opposition to increases in their tax burden. Recent PPIC polls show California voters overwhelmingly opposed to increases in sales tax and vehicle fees. With the passage of Prop 6, we can squeeze gangs without squeezing the taxpayers.

Senator Runner is the chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus and a co-author of Proposition 6-The Safe Neighborhoods Act. He previously authored California's Jessica's Law and Amber Alert. He represents Santa Clarita, the Antelope Valley, the Victor Valley, and portions of both the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County. Visit SafeNeighborhoodsAct.com.

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At the state level groups have worked to support SB 840, California's Universal Health Care Act, introduced by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, and co-authored by the legislators who represent or have represented Lake County in Sacramento: Assembly woman Patty Berg, former state Sen. Wes Chesbro and current state Sen. Patricia Wiggins.

SB 840 is California's plan to establish a functional, modern, universal health care system for the 21st century.

This bill covers every California resident with comprehensive, affordable health benefits and contains the growth in health care spending while improving quality. It guarantees every patient the total choice of their doctors and hospitals.

California's own budget crisis is greatly affected by the rising health care costs. The state budget buys health care directly through public programs and as employers. The bill is supported by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, who are the principle sponsor of the bill, as well as the California Physicians Alliance.

Also in support, California School Employees Association, League of Women Voters, Health Care for All-California, California Labor Federation, California Church IMPACT, and leading seniors' organizations including the California Congress of Seniors and California Association of Retired Americans.

This bill was passed by both houses of the legislature in Sacramento in 2006 and was vetoed by the governor.

As of this writing, SB 840 has been placed on suspend by the Assembly appropriations committee. It is lodged there, pending resolution of the state's budget crisis.

In early August, the committee will vote on whether or not to send the bill to the floor, where it will surely pass again, and then it will be forwarded to the governor's desk for his signature.

In July of 2007, the Lake County Board of Supervisors did a cost comparison detailing how much Lake County taxpayers would save if the SB 840 single payer health care system was enacted in California.

The Board's figures revealed that Lake County could save at least $1.5 million dollars in health care costs under SB 840 every year.

That's $1.5 million of tax revenue that could be spent on other county services or returned to the taxpayers. (See http://lakeconews.com/content/view/1267/764/.)

Answering a written request from Lake County single-payer health care advocates, that was sent to cities and school boards, in the summer of 2007, the Konocti Unified School District did the calculations and showed a $3 million annual savings in their budget. The school board and union representatives notified the governor of their position supporting SB 840.

In June of this year, Clearlake City Council member Joyce Overton, in response to the 2007 letter, requested that the city of Clearlake's finance director, Michael Vivrette, perform the same cost analysis. The results are that the city could save $404,000 if SB 840 was enacted.

Around the state of California, these studies are being requested of local jurisdictions, by citizens who are interested in a cost-effective and fair implementation of health care delivery.

For example, the Sonoma County Office of Education calculated a savings of $1.35 million, the city of Rohnert Park calculated a cost savings of $1.4 million, the county of Sonoma calculated a cost savings of $20 million, the City of Newport Beach calculated a cost savings of $6 million. The Grey Panthers of California have made similar calculations for other jurisdictions. Of the only 15 government entities in California that have been calculated, the savings to taxpayers range from $230 to $435 million.

The Lewin Group, an independent, nationally respected health care research organization, analyzed SB 840 and California's current broken health care system. They reported that around $20 billion in premiums paid to the health insurance industry in California each year never reaches health care providers. It disappears into competing advertising and other overhead expenses, and multimillion dollar bonuses to health care industry CEOs.

The Lewin Report says that California could save around $8 billion in health care costs in the first year after SB 840's enactment. (Reference site: www.healthcareforall.org.)

Here’s how to calculate savings in four simple steps:

• Step One: Multiply $7,000 (the exemption per employee) by the number of insured employees. The result is the amount of the total payroll that is exempt from SB 840 taxes.

• Step Two: Subtract the result in step one from the total annual payroll of those same employees. The result is the SB 840 taxable payroll.

• Step Three: Multiply the result in step two by 0.0817 (the SB 840 factor of 8.17 percent, as shown in the Lake County memo). The result is the new annual health care cost under SB 840.

• Step Four: Subtract the result in step three from the current annual health care cost (include retirees' cost). The result is the potential annual cost reduction.

Taxpayers would be well advised to contact their local school boards, water boards, and city and county governments and ask those jurisdictions to calculate the savings under a single-payer health care plan.

SB 840 provides truly universal health care – affordable, patient-centered health care – with doctors in charge, not insurance companies.

It's tested, it's possible, a majority of Californians are in support and it's time.

Wanda Harris is chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee. She lives in Hidden Valley Lake.

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