Letters to the editor

Basic arithmetic

Dear Editor:

I just read Rich Boccia’s letter regarding the successful passage of Measure S. In it he states, “… 73.76 percent of the registered voters supported the renewal of our local parcel tax, Measure.” This is NOT a true statement.

In fact 73.76 percent of the approximately 45 percent of registered voters Who Actually Voted supported the measure. This equates to approximately 33 percent of all registered voters within the Mammoth Unified School District area passing the measure at the ballot box.

I find it ironic that the superintendent of our schools can’t get it right. I hope this wildly exaggerated statement is just a math error by the head of our schools and not more Yes on S propaganda.

Kit Muhs
Crowley Lake 

Draconian forest ideas

Dear Editor:

In response to last week’s letter from Kenyon Kusch. Mr. Kusch, your sense of entitlement and self-importance are not excuses to justify your residence on National Forest public lands. Those campgrounds are meant for recreation, and the stay limits are meant to allow other people to have an opportunity to enjoy them.

The reason for the cut stay limits and the closure of the free campgrounds are the draconian budget cuts implemented against the Forest Service and other federal land agencies. If you expect things to change then write your elected officials. Let them know you want your tax dollars put towards the continuation of recreational opportunities on public lands, instead of bailing out failing private corporations.

Tim Wolfe
San Diego, CA

Police Academy recommended

Dear Editor:

Thank you to the efforts of Officer David Scobie for his time, and of course, all the other officers who contributed to the 2nd Community Police Academy of Mammoth Lakes. I am grateful to have a better understanding of how our local Police Dept. works and what they face on a daily basis, I have a lot of respect for our local Police Department. This class exposes you to experiences, situations and crimes I didn’t know existed in our beautiful little town, but not to worry! I truly think they do an awesome job at keeping our community safe. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who is interested in a career in law enforcement or just want to learn/hands on how our local Police Dept operates, day to day. Also nice to meet everyone in the class, you guys are great and hope to see you all around town more often. Thanks again to MLPD for all you do for our Community.

Jessica Mormann
Community Police Academy – Class #2

All in the liberal family

Dear Editor:

Forty years ago, the TV series “All in the Family” ruled the airways. It topped the Nielsen ratings for five straight years. The show’s protagonist, Archie Bunker, is an aging conservative, reactionary and bigoted family man who, in his heart of hearts, believes that he is the Americano Supremo — the ultimate White, Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Seems like this ideology has resurfaced lately. Archie Bunker clones are popping up everywhere.

We laugh at Archie’s ignorant rants, but want to slap him at the same time. Example: Bunker, to guest star Sammy Davis Jr.: “Now, no prejudice intended, but I always check with the Bible on these here things. I think that, I mean, if God had meant for us to be together, he’d-a put us together. But look what he done. He put you over in Africa, and put the rest of us in all the white countries.” How about this gem: “If you liberals keep gettin’ your way, we’re all gonna hear a big, loud flush: the sound of the U.S. of A. goin’ straight down the toilet.” In a recent televised debate where a Texas governor bragged about his state leading the nation in putting people to death (creating thunderous applause), this Bunker wisdom comes to mind: “It’s a proven fact that capital punishment is a detergent for crime.”

The very same Death-to-Liberals/God-Bless-America mindset that makes us laugh at Bunker appears to have saturated today’s political climate. Lots of flag-waving and Uber-Nationalism going on. Is a House of Un-American Activites Part III far behind? We are witnessing bizarre behaviors from surly, uncivil types who, like Bunker, believe they are wrapped in a shroud of patriotism and can therefore say and do no wrong.

In the public domain, when the topic of contention suddenly shifts to a windy diatribe of how great the country and the “Right is right!” movement is and how evil liberals are—look out. Here comes the latest Archie Bunker impersonation.

I would like to believe that all but the most numbed-out of Americans are wise to the venom of Limbaughism, Coulterism and Fox Newsism, and are more than willing to band together in a spirit of harmonious interest and working in tandem to solve problems rather than roll over and succumb to the volatile antics of that odd, divisive group that thinks it’s making a monumental difference because it waves flags until they become a blur. We need much more than the folding of the arms, the fingers in the ears, and the foaming at the mouth, all the while stifling anything that resembles progress and looking out for the little guy.

Bunker: “Whatever happened to the good old days, when kids was scared to death of their parents?”

Dennis Kostecki
Mammoth Lakes

Committee’s take on Mill Creek

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your recent coverage of Mill Creek in the Mono Basin—the creek that visitors and residents alike know best from memorable experiences in Lundy Canyon. Lara Kirkner’s article “Not So Gently Down the Stream” (10/29/11) helped illuminate an important water issue with a long history.

Mill Creek is Mono Lake’s third largest tributary yet the valuable habitat it provides for birds, fish, and wildlife has been substantially impaired by the excessive diversion of its water. For many years the Mono Lake Committee has sought to understand why over 75% of Mill Creek’s flow is being diverted when water rights allow for far less. As a straightforward rule, water should remain in our Sierra streams except when lawfully diverted.

One reason for this excessive water diversion problem has been the simple physical limitations of old infrastructure. As the article describes, Southern California Edison is preparing to rehabilitate the system that distributes water after it goes through their Lundy hydropower plant (along with many other improvements required in their hydropower license). Fixing this old infrastructure is a win-win: water rights holders will get their full allocations into the Wilson system through a modern facility, and Mill Creek will prosper by retaining the rest of its flow.

Like any water issue in California, there are many details and complexities in the decades-long history of Mill Creek water management. The Mono Lake Committee’s website at www.monolake.org/millcreek can be a helpful information resource. Additionally, I would like to extend a standing invitation to anyone interested in this issue to stop by our office in Lee Vining, give us a call, or drop us an email anytime—we’re happy to talk with everyone who is interested in this important element of Mono Lake’s watershed.

Geoff McQuilkin
Mono Lake Committee