Letters to the Editor
Silence not golden
Dear Editor:
Judging by the choices made by the gentlemen responsible for the removal [of Mono Basin RPAC member Katie Bellomo], it is evident they have attempted to match wits with Katie in public forums in the past – with less than ideal results. You do have a better chance of success at publicly criticizing someone as capable of defending herself as Katie if you make sure that she is not present while you’re doing it.
If there is a positive aspect to the way this has been handled, it is only that the gentlemen involved have shown that they don’t need Katie Bellomo to put them in a bad light. They have done that to themselves.
If their intent was to silence Katie, the possibility of failure is great as this sort of behavior in public servants has been her motivation to speak out in the past.
Hopefully she will continue to do so.
Rick Noles
Lee Vining
No defense
Dear Editor:
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a letter in regard to the poor internet service that occurred during our recent Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. Since then, there have been articles in the local papers on the topic.
In one of these articles, there appears to be an attempt at defending Suddenlink by stating that there were unexpected usage increases of 1700% compared to last year’s holidays. Instead, it demonstrates how inept Suddenlink is in determining its throughput requirements for Mammoth Lakes.
In Mammoth Lakes, the population grows from approximately 7,000 to 30,000+ during the holidays. Much of that population growth is with people that stream videos and play interactive internet video games when they get off of the mountain. They stay in condos and home rentals which is known. Suddenlink knows about the population growth of these users and the guaranteed minimum throughput along its various trunks. Other providers (e.g. telephone companies, long line transmissions, internet providers, etc.) have similar problems and they have developed tools to determine their throughput requirements when there are multiple variables involved. It is called “Traffic Engineering.” Phone companies use this tool to estimate blocked calls during various user loads. Suddenlink is not on top of the problem and needs to get its act in order.
In the meantime, I suggest that our citizens request a refund for service not delivered during the holidays. I also suggest that you contact the FCC and complain. Maybe if the FCC gets enough complaints it will bring Suddenlink to task. Hopefully the FCC will stop Suddenlink from bringing on new subscribers until they have done the appropriate studies and demonstrated their ability to understand their throughput requirements during surge periods and have a plan in place to meet them.
John Stavlo
Mammoth Lakes
Chickens#*t
Dear Editor,
I was recently informed by my landlord that my household was to be fined 100 dollars a day per violation for having too many chickens, too much sagebrush and a coup within 40 feet of a neighbor’s house. For years as a single mother of five I have fed my family off these eggs and meat without any problems or complaints. My children have learned to feed and care for the animals, while providing a locally grown, nutritious meal. Now I’ve been informed that no one in Mono City can have more than four “pet” chickens. Well, my kids could eat four chickens a day! Food security should be considered a necessity, not a public nuisance. The rules severely limiting the number of animals on private property should be updated in order to empower the people to be more self-sufficient in a time when we can no longer ignore the costs of large-scale agriculture and the lack of food security. Mono County has an obligation to protect the rural and agricultural values of our land as well as the inherent right of any property owner to use their land to produce food for their family. This is a basic tenant of private property rights that should supersede all subsequent claims to property devaluation or public blight. On one hand, the County has food assistance programs: On the other, it is stifling the individual initiative of its citizens to responsibly produce their own food. I don’t want a handout; I just want to provide for my family in a wholesome way. Chickens don’t bark or eat endangered songbirds: they feed local families.
Complaint based enforcement of County regulations is executed in a clandestine and unjust fashion. How can the County fine us for fire violations but not the three adjoining lots or all the houses in town they drove by to get here? Is turning a blind eye on the sagebrush ten feet away in another yard a fair and just enforcement policy? When we moved into our house, we cleared a large amount of Russian thistle and brush, but left some vegetation for the animals. Leveling all vegetation for the sake of fire protection destroys animal habitat, exposes the ground to wind erosion and solar desiccation and increases energy usage due to loss of summer shade. When the fire comes there won’t be much left to protect but some sun baked back yard dust gardens. Protecting basic necessities and natural values should be paramount to the interests of real estate speculators, community informants and insurance companies who abuse the strong arm of the law for personal gain. Arbitrary and capricious patchwork execution of poorly implemented county codes sows regulatory backlash and unfairly targets lower income households.
Tajia Zinich
Mono City
Thanks
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank everyone who ate at Roberto’s Café on December 16th for the Tracy Hauter benefit day. The money raised from personal donations as well as the percentage of proceeds from the restaurant has helped cover medical and living expenses while I heal from cancer. I want to thank everyone who came out to support me. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
I especially would like to thank Joan and Dan of Roberto’s Café for hosting the benefit day for me and for donating a portion of the sales. Most of all, thank you Amber Jean and Cindy Sprague for organizing my fundraisers. Without your ideas and hard work, none of this would have been possible. I’m so grateful to you.
Since then, this community continues to amaze me. I’m so thankful for the donations, home cooked meals, inspiring words, visits, and household chores that everyone continues to contribute. I can’t say thank you enough. I feel lucky to live in such a caring community.
Sincerely,
Tracy Hauter
