Letters to the Editor
Nicolisi thankful
Dear Editor:
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of those who have helped me through a trying time.
First of all I am extremely thankful to Brian Dennison at Summit Therapy my Physical Therapist and also to Dr Karch who repaired my dislocated hip. After having years of chronic pain, numerous tests, seeing many doctors and being told it was my back, it was Brian that kept insisting for over two years that the pain was coming from my hip. There were specialists and many doctors that would not listen to him! It seems as though a hip replacement performed in San Diego seven years ago was not done properly. Dr. Karch confirmed that upon surgery!
I would like to thank the Paramedics, Kevin and Ray. The MLFD, Brett, Alex, and Natalie who handled me with such care and compassion. Doctor Howell and the ER Staff who worked so hard trying to relocate my hip. Ingrid E. for her support to my husband. The Mammoth Hospital staff for their great care, Aaron, Brian, John, Kathleen, Lisa, Sandy, Omar and whomever I may have forgotten. All of our Mammoth friends and family who have once again shown their love and support. My husband Sam for always being there!
My long term goal in addition to more therapy with Brian is to return to the golf course and possibly back to the slopes of Mammoth Mtn someday!
Linda Nicolisi
Mammoth Lakes
In defense of proactive law enforcement
Dear Editor:
Having just read Hunt and Harass, I decided to weigh in on Mr. Lunch’s view. It seems he is alarmed by the idea that law enforcement proactively searches out crime and arrests criminals. He defends a man who is so sloppy with guns and so uninformed about California law that he allows a “friend” to forget a loaded firearm in his car. Mr. Lunch careens from the main point of the serious violation of law and distracts us with his outrage about alleged misconduct by the deputies involved. So let’s examine this misconduct.
We all know what people do at hot springs – lots of naked bodies, alcohol, and drugs. To stop a car leaving such an area when the driver exhibits signs of impairment is reasonable and prudent. I find it far less “dubious” that a veteran Sheriff’s deputy might recognize signs of intoxication only a few feet away – that would be the distance between two adjacently parked cars – than Mr. Boulaalam’s weak explanation. We’re not talking about an article of clothing, a day-old lunch, or a flashlight. The issue is a loaded firearm not owned by the person in possession and the owner nowhere in sight. The suspicion that the gun was stolen property would have immediately crossed my mind and the deputies would be negligent of their duties not to investigate. In either case, surely we all know that a loaded gun in a vehicle is illegal on city streets, on a rural highway, and on unpaved forestry roads – even while hunting. Whether this was Mr. Boulaalam’s intention or mistake is for a jury to decide, but it is not relevant to the elements of the crime.
Regarding the deputies playing coy and letting Mr. Boulaalam make voluntary incriminating statements, that game has been going on for generations. Citizens, both law-abiding and criminal, have constitutional protections that do not even exist in other countries. It is well established that cops can remain silent and may use false representations to obtain the truth. So if you’re going to dance at the edge or cross the line, be prepared to pay the consequences in Mono County.
As to probable cause and Miranda, Mr. Lunch, you are clearly a layperson. You were not present to see what the deputies saw, you understand neither, and you publish your ignorance for all to read. In my opinion you are not qualified to publicly chastise the arresting deputies. In the future, please do us the favor of posting a resume of your law enforcement education, in-field training, and years of experience in these matters at the top of the article.
For me, I am thankful that Sheriff Obenberger and his deputies are proactive and “hunt” for criminal activity. It might be popular with some to be seen driving around, turning their back on observed criminal conduct, and soaking the taxpayers with inactivity; but to me that would be official corruption.
Mr. Boulaalam may not have been arrested for the original reason he was stopped – intoxicated driving – but at least he was taken off the road so my family and yours are safer on it.
Gene Kinum
Bridgeport
The Devil is in the Details
Dear Editor:
At the 6/19/13 Town Council meeting to authorize Rule 20A allocation for under-grounding utilities along Main St from Mountain Blvd westward to the Mountain View project property line, I submitted a letter and also spoke at the podium. My request was for the town to ask Southern California Edison to perform a ROM cost analysis comparing under-grounding of five additional poles from Mammoth View property to Minaret intersection to removing and replacing them as is the current plan. Key points of the letter were:
– All the engineering costs will be funded by the 20A allocation so very little engineering effort would be required to extend the under-grounding 500 ft.
– The existing 5 utility poles have to be removed for the West Main St Area B North curb whether they are replaced or utilities go under-ground
– Additional hardware to transition from 20A approved location to above ground and again to transition to existing below ground utilities at the 4th pole fronting Viewpoint would not be required. This potentially includes very expensive underground vaults.
– The 5th pole fronting Nevados Restaurant does not have any high voltage on it; just 2 wire 240 VAC servicing the unsightly traffic monitoring equipment at the Minaret intersection, which will hopefully be removed.
– Existing utility lines have been dead-ended. The only high voltage required is to connect from Mountain Blvd to the underground Minaret Substation.
The Town Council was kind enough to forward my letter to SCE requesting SCE do a ROM cost analysis comparing under-grounding to their current plan of removing 5 utility poles and replacing them with poles at some other location along Main St.
A meeting was scheduled between Mammoth Town and SCE that included this topic and I volunteered to attend, but both Town and SCE indicated that I should not. However, the meeting was held and included my letter as a topic. SCE called me subsequently and said they would only perform the ROM cost analysis if I would pay for it.
When I asked how much this would be, I got the runaround, but a number near $25,000 was mentioned. As an engineer myself who has done many cost analyses in the past I find the $25,000 estimate ludicrous.
I further asked SCE if I was willing to pay the $25,000 and it turned out it would be less expensive to under-ground than proceed on the current path (for example $200,000 less) would I get a refund of the $25,000? Would costs to Mammoth Lakes or Mono County be reduced?
If you consider the approved Mammoth View undergrounding district 20A as the starting point AND the approved Viewpoint Rd improvements part of the Mammoth View project that also will need to remove/replace existing pavement in this area, the overall cost reduction would be even more significant.
SCE indicated that there would not be a refund or reduction to anyone. They apparently could just pocket the $25,000 for their “effort.”
I strongly support the Main St Framework Concept but the “Devil is in the Details.” SCE apparently is not motivated to do what is best for the Town of Mammoth Lakes or Mono County. The table on Page 73 (Total Preliminary Costs Breakdown) of the Main St Plan concludes total cost likely to be $18 Million. What a travesty; we could be driving down a beautiful new Main St after spending $18M and still see 5 ugly utility poles near the most traveled intersection in Mammoth.
I wonder what SCE Ratepayers think of the way they treat their customers.
However, I noticed that SCE was not part of the teams and organizations identified as participating in the plan creation and review process, nor are they mentioned on pages 82 & 83, “On-going Actions” or “Quick Wins.”
Page 69 implores, “Creative funding solutions should be evaluated and executed as soon as possible.” Perhaps it is not too late. Mammoth Town and Mono County should strongly request SCE to participate in a proactive manner in this effort.
Andy Ott
Mammoth Alliance of Property Owner Association
