Pot growing season in California
Click on the graphic to be taken to the campaign that put marijuana control up to a vote in California in November 2010
… is in full swing, according to the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting. However, this year, shortly after autumn harvest, on November 2, 2010, the opportunity to extend controls now used for alcohol to marijuana, or Cannabis sativa, will come before California voters. Here is a chance to aim for the civility of the Dutch. Proponents of the plan point to the potential to fill public coffers and empty state prisons. Less obvious benefits include an end to growers splashing herbicides on public land and possibly even a stop to water wrangling by marijuana farmers, though given the attitude of legit farmers to water reporting, that might truly be a pipe dream. Labels as to potency would certainly be a public service. For those who want …
Interim phantom
The slaughterhouse at La Villette, 1929. Photo: Eli Lotar. Source: Documents magazine, November 1929.
Austin Beutner, interim general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, wants to sell assets and the department headquarters rather than ask for rate increases to pay for renewable energy reports the Los Angeles Times. The Times describes Beutner as the fifth general manager in three years, a break from the standing bio note that he’s also the ninth GM in 10 years.
Given that all GMs seem to be interim, if the department does sell its headquarters, it could always relocate the general manager’s office to Farmer John in Vernon. Click here for a sketch Beutner budget released last week, or here for KPCC’s Molly Peterson’s preview of today’s plans for specific divestments. LA Observed says Beutner and City Council president Eric Garcetti will appear today on KPCC’s Patt Morrison show…
The week that was, 6/6-12/2010
… while excess rain involves modest gains, deficiency involves large losses. — “Monsoon, welcome,” commentary by Ramesh Chandra, director of India’s National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, Financial Express, June 9, 2010
A draconian drilling moratorium might make more sense if the industry had a history of devastating oil spills. — Opinion piece, “The second oil disaster,” The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2010
“One of the last pristine, most biologically diverse coastal habitats in the country is about to get wiped out. And there’s not much we can do about it.” — Felicia Coleman, director, Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, “Even the best outcome won’t be good,” USA Today, June 7, 2010
… the Old and Middle rivers – tributaries of the San …
Arroyo Seco water budget
After reading the newly published "A Water Budget for the Arroyo Seco Watershed," those who doubt the conservation cred of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California may still wish that its board would wake up in the 21st century, but they will probably not question the dedication to conserve and educate of Met chairman Tim Brick. Through the Arroyo Seco Foundation, Brick has just published a report that takes residents of the Los Angeles County communities of La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Highland Park, Montecito Heights and Elysian Park through the natural and unnatural water cycles that drive Southern California. The report could not be more layman-friendly, however anyone interested in urban water management should click on the graphic to be taken to the foundation, where the document can be downloaded for free.
Rambling LA: The Chumash Trail
Environment reporter Ilsa Setziol recently left the San Gabriel foothill haunts often covered by her blog Rambling LA for a hike on the Chumash trail in Point Mugu State Park. This photo essay captures glimpses of coastal sage scrub in spring, including the toyon, sages and artemisia pictured above. Click here for more images from Ilsa’s foray, including close-ups of mariposa lilies, buckwheat, prickly pears, golden stars, monkey flowers and yucca spires. For background on the trail, click here for a piece by John McKinney from the Los Angeles Times. Or for regional Southern California listings of hikes, restoration projects and dry garden events, click here. If you have an event that you would like listed, please send details to emily.green [@] mac.com or provide a link in the comment box.
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