LUNCH HAS NO FRIENDS
Now I get it.
On Monday, someone forwarded confirmation of their upcoming vaccine appointment to me via email.
What’s funny is that the confirmation email specifically states, “Don’t forward this email to anyone else.”
In the email, there was a registration link.
I clicked on the link and filled out the forms and voila, I had an appointment, too.
I’m not sure why I didn’t get my own special email asking me to make an appointment. I signed up with Mono County several weeks ago. I am above the age threshold. And though I am not a Mono County resident, I own property here, have a business license here (both Mammoth and Mono versions) and regularly commute to Mono County for work.
I also operate a regional newspaper. Some might even classify my work as “essential,” though others may simply deem it as tedious, slanted and dimwitted.
Anyway, I’m eligible for the damn vax. Don’t know why I didn’t get my own email.
But now I understand how all the second homeowners and Black Pass folks jumped the line.
All someone had to do was slip ‘em a confirmation email.
They register. At the vaccination site, they provide an electric bill or some proof of residency and they’re in the door.
This was before the vax police got wise and actually required a local driver’s license or actual proof of primary residency.
But by then, all the bro’s had been bro’d out.
I attended the Inyo County/Los Angeles Standing Committee meeting Monday where L.A.’s Draft Urban Water Management Plan was discussed.
*A copy of this plan is available at ladwp.com. Two public hearings on the plan will be held on March 9 at 6 p.m. and March 13 at 10 a.m. You can register to attend those meetings at ladwpeasternsierra.com.
Ben Wong of the city made the presentation.
The good news: Water demand and population trends have diverged over the past several decades thanks to the success of conservation efforts.
In 1970, the average Angeleno used 189 gallons of water per day.
Now, the average Angeleno uses 106 gallons of water per day.
The city’s goal is to continue to decrease the import of water over time, particularly the water it purchases annually from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Unfortunately, there are no plans to decrease the amount of water L.A. takes from the Owens Valley.
Water from the Eastern Sierra will be ‘historically consistent’ said Wong.
Eastern Sierra residents on the call were less than impressed.
Inyo County Supervisor Matt Kingsley opined that the goal embedded in L.A.’s future plans should be a reduction in water taken from the Eastern Sierra, not only to restore the environment here, but also as a form of “social equity.”
Teri Reid Owl spoke next, saying she was “excited when I see this [L.A.’s continued efforts at conservation and decrease in demand] but also angry. We’ve been paying the cost [of L.A.s thirst] for so many years.”
She also cited environmental damage and social justice issues.
“If it costs you a bit more [to take less water from the Sierra], well, maybe that’s just something you’re gonna have to do,” concluded Reid Owl.
Anselmo Collins, LADWP Director of Water Operations, pushed back a bit, citing L.A.s reduction of water exported from the Owens Valley to 50% of historical levels.
Which is like saying one should be grateful that his/her bad marriage now features 50% less arguing.
It’s still a bad marriage.
While we’re on the subject of water … as of March 2nd, snowpack is at 52% of average to date. This following a year where it took a couple of late spring storms to reach about 75%.
There was also a streak last year from May into November/December of the most consecutive days on record without precipitation in Bishop.
Ftom Lunch’s page two, February 21, 2020:
“In terms of “destination balance” … I had an epiphany Wednesday. John Urdi and the Mammoth Lakes Tourism Board are absolutely right. They should be the ones not only in charge of destination marketing but also destination management. Because if we accept the causal relationship between marketing spend and visitation, then MLT has a pretty firm grasp on the spigot. Big snow year and people flowing in? Spend less on marketing and more on management. Lean snow year? Do the reverse.
And what is management composed of? Land stewardship, better transportation, hospitality training. I dunno. Define it and then let ‘em do it – without one more penny to do it with. Which would force efficiency.”
And now, roughly a year and one pandemic later, you’ve got MLT Executive Director John Urdi on Wednesday presenting his strategic plan for 2021-2022 to his board. The four goals are 1. visitor education 2. infrastructure and visitor flow 3. re-establish destination visitation and 4. local community marketing focus.
In February, 2020, we had hired a consultant to help us talk about destination management.
By March, 2021, we’ve thankfully ditched the consultant and MLT has simply (and wisely) absorbed the job.
As MLT board member Michael Ledesma said Wednesday, it’s a testament to MLT as an organization that it had three exceptional candidates for its most recent board opening.
MLT will need exceptional candidates and strong leadership as it is forced to pivot and evolve. The days of big budgets and freewheeling, unfettered ad spending would appear to be over.
And I’m not sure goal #3 is not actually goal #11.
