ALPERN AT LARGE-We are in a drought--both a water-based drought, and an intellectual drought. Arguably a spiritual drought, in terms of doing what's right and thinking with one's head while being motivated with one's heart.
And that means operating with an open mind and a kind heart, something Californians used to do--and still think they do...but too many don't.
Like it or not, California's economy was based on a combination of agriculture, technology, industry and real estate. All of that requires water.
As in ... water that this state normally does NOT have, because it is normally a desert.
So when the drought/rain cycle, and the obvious change in climate coupled with reason and science is right before our eyes, the question has to come up: are the right people in charge of our environmental efforts?
Let's make it clear--there is climate change of some sort, as evidenced by (for example) the loss of glaciers in Glacier National Park. Or anywhere else.
But whether it's Mother Nature, or man-made, or American-made, some ideas to address the problem are smart, while others are trendy, while others are promoted to make a few folks rich, and others are just thrown out there by people who get a thrill by telling others what to do.
Fix/Answer #1: Stop being misanthropic. People matter, and their quality of life matters.
As written so well by my CityWatch colleague Paul Hatfield, who's one of the sharpest people I know, we need to address population growth while also doing common sense fixes.
Common sense fixes such as addressing our local population explosion, and that of the world. The rights of women and the quality of life are such that "being fruitful and multiplying" must be balanced by a sustainable approach to "living within one's means".
Paul Hatfield's comparison to the Anasazi, who had to leave their beloved lands and clifftop structures because of a prolonged drought, is comparable to our own. Either we have to import more water, or we have to encourage population stability.
Fix/Answer #2: Stop being misanthropic. Admit when you're wrong, or at least be open-minded to change when experience and reality prove you need to rethink.
It goes without saying we must conserve, but this is NOT the first drought that California has faced, and it certainly won't be the last.
Pipelines and dams made this state habitable--like it or not--and it's more pipelines and dams that will do so again. Which means that we should be environmentally prudent, but not ignore what the heck works and what the heck won't.
What will work: create pipelines to the Midwest and Northwest, reclaim any and all water possible from the rain and snow we do have, and start desalination plants from the ocean we're adjacent to (and maybe clean it up, while we're at it!).
We've HEARD from those who resist pipelines and dams. We've HEARD from those who want rationing and conservation only.
Guess what? You're partially right, but it won't be enough--especially in a state that is more politically correct than economically correct, or scientifically correct. Whether it's Democrats or Republicans, we must be able to say the obvious, and even the politically-incorrect, without being shouted down and/or ignored.
Fix/Answer #3: Stop being misanthropic. This will cost money, and we must both raise taxes and spend better.
This shouldn't be a toughie ... but in our current society, it is.
Whether it's a sales tax, or an income tax, or a developer tax, or all of this above. This will cost money--just as it did with a state society that wanted more universities, better schools, and a better road system.
In other words, if our state chooses to raise taxes, everyone will need to share in the burden. All residents, and all segments, of our society must share in this effort and have "skin in the game".
And the public sector that's sucking up our road/school/water funds? They need to do their fair share, too.
Oh, I'm sure that the LADWP, local and state teachers unions and other public sector powerhouses that "own" this state will scream, but this "pension crisis" must be confronted by taxpayers paying it down, and paying attention, to this horrific diversion of taxpayer resources due to an explosion of state/local pay raises between 2000-2010 that have destroyed this state and its local governments.
So pay attention, Californians, and pay attention to your politicians' allegiances.
Stop being diverted by one-liners, trends, social media memes and reality TV. Maybe a good tax smack to all of you will force us all to not ignore the pension crisis and the water crisis (and the leadership crisis, and the manufactured crises caused by political correctness).
Fix/Answer #4: Stop being misanthropic. Think BIG. Think smart. Think courageous.
Angelenos paying for their water infrastructure. Fine--give the LADWP a 5-10% salary/pension haircut, or at least freeze it until its salary/pension benefits are in line with other City employees.
Find a way to reduce education spending where it's unnecessary overhead, and find a way to fund more colleges--and keep the salaries of those at those colleges in line with a sustainable budget.
Focus our transportation spending on multiple projects, and focus our water spending on pipelines that will both infuriate the anti-tax-at-all cost folks and the ideological/rigid environmentalists alike (they're both part of the problem).
As in pipelines to Oregon, Washington and the Midwest--if the oil industry can do it, so can we.
As in a greater political effort to get water away from other states who aren't in as dire straits as we are.
As in a way to get more water to replenish the Salton Sea and restore that environmental nightmare (yes, that sea was man-made, but sometimes humanity can do great things for the environment).
As in encouraging a growth industry of water desalination, solar panels on every roof, and a host of options that will be friendly to the middle class and NOT just for the very rich.
Californians have a problem with vicious cycles of politically-correct nonsense actually creating or exacerbating the problems it causes, as well as water/drought cycles that are part of reality and for which we don't respond with science and prudence, as well as environmentalists who've rammed ideas down our throats that sometimes work...and sometimes do NOT.
Let's focus on those leaders and ideas that promote good science, and good quality of life. Leaders and ideas who know that "sustainability" means fighting both conservative excesses of being too tight-fisted with money as well as liberal excesses of spending money foolishly and getting lousy results from lousy initiatives.
California, and the nation to boot, can fix our problems to some extent (Mother Nature ultimately wins out, but we can make a difference). But it will involve a healthy dose of Common Sense, and Common Decency...and Uncommon Courage.
And let's stop being misanthropic, shall we?
(Ken Alpern is a Westside Village Zone Director and Board member of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC), previously co-chaired its Planning and Outreach Committees, and currently is Co-Chair of its MVCC Transportation/Infrastructure Committee. He is co-chair of the CD11Transportation Advisory Committee and chairs the nonprofit Transit Coalition, and can be reached at [email protected] He also does regular commentary on the Mark Isler Radio Show on AM 870, and co-chairs the grassroots Friends of the Green Line at www.fogl.us. The views expressed in this article are solely those of Mr. Alpern.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 31
Pub: Apr 14, 2015
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