In the picture on the website, the School District argued that an ancient Oak on school ground should be cut down. District arborists apparently failed to consider the influence of the drought cycle on the health of the tree, and the District seemed mostly to focus on how and when to cut the tree down instead of figuring out how to live with its good and bad foibles.

In response to the District's claim that the Oaks are generally dropping limbs on people, cars and unsuspecting picnic benches, one audience member derided them for calling attention to the "killer oaks" and pointed out that by the same reasoning, to make everything perfectly safe, perhaps ALL the Oaks should be cut down, and the hills paved? Satire is dangerous, sometimes, as some of the more avid L.A. developers might take it seriously.

FTSP Board seemed disappointed that O.C. Planning Commission had NOT heeded their recommendation, and had amended FTSP to suit the so-called saddlecreek project. They seemed to call for community involvement. One suggestion has been that the FTSP Review Board have the power to kill plans that violate FTSP unless there is unanimous *approval*. When they get this power, the Planning Commission will never get to see projects that don't first pass FTSP muster.

Write letters and call the Board of Supervisors, next step in stopping saddlecreek. There is a letter writing utility on http://Orange-County.net/sc.htm

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3. Santa Clarita Oak and John Quigley: It was pointed out once again that Quigley is trying to save only one Oak, and that there are hundreds of just as magnificent Oaks at risk from the "saddle-x" projects (saddleback meadows, saddlecreek and saddlecrest). There was some interest in inviting Quigley, and his supporters, to speak at one of the rallies to save O.C. Oaks under the slogan, "Stick to the Plan" -- FTSP! There is a website http://StickToThePlan.org.

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4. Watershed protection: Bill Campbell, Tom Harman and Ken Maddox took the lead in sponsoring AB1969, which ensured that the infamous "Orange County Sewage Waiver" would go away. That waiver allowed O.C. to avoid treatment of sewage to the level considered necessary for protection of public health. This is just one small step toward cleaning our O.C. Ocean, Beaches, Rivershed and watershed areas from detritus, oil spills, animal waste, and urban runoff. One of the key issues in watershed protection is leaving a lot of open space to soak up rainfall, and making sure that not a lot of crud leaches into impaired waterways such as Aliso Creek.

It is a good thing that key Republican lawmakers took an active interest in our water quality crisis, because it's a key feature in the values that led so many people to want to live in Orange County. Without a reasonable balance between quality of life and development, property values and the unique O.C. lifestyle will be on a monotone down slide.

Note well that Chris Norby, the newly elected Supervisor from the 4th District, made Clean Ocean and water quality a key stand of his campaign. Coad, on the other hand, ducked any mention of the scandal of our sewage waiver.

Jim Silva, Tom Wilson, and Todd Spitzer all voted FOR a resolution by the Board of Supervisors AGAINST the infamous sewage waiver. Now, these canny public servants may be preparing to turn their interests toward the next logical step -- protection of the watershed from projects such as saddlecreek and its violation of FTSP.

THANKS to Ken Maddox, Bill Campbell, Todd Spitzer, Chris Norby, Tom Wilson and James Silva, amongst others, for taking strong positions FOR solving our wastewater (and freshwater) problems on a policy level.

TODAY, Sunday Jan. 12 attend a reception for Bill Campbell in Silverado, at 5:00 P.M.
Please phone 714-649-0553 for more information, and RSVP, if you plan to go. Bill Campbell is a candidate for the 3rd District Supervisorial seat vacated by Todd Spitzer. It is very important for pols to know how many people are concerned about the health of the watershed. It's people's interest that helps our elected officials do the right thing, as they really want to do, amongst all the conflicting forces that attack those in public office.

Future candidate forums, and other events, will appear on
http://Orange-County.net/calendar.htm

/Doug
714-496-1567

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