By Nicholas Kristof, New York Times Let’s start with a quiz. Which consumes the most water? A) a 10-minute shower. B) a handful of 10 almonds. C) a quarterpound hamburger patty. D) a washing machine load. The answer? By far, it’s the hamburger patty. The shower might use 25 gallons. The almonds take up almost a […]
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By Peter Wehner, New York Times Among liberals, it’s almost universally assumed that of the two major parties, it’s the Republicans who have become more extreme over the years. That’s a self-flattering but false narrative. This is not to say the Republican Party hasn’t become a more conservative party. It has. But in the last […]
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Publisher’s note: This letter was given to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on June 2, with a copy given to CAO Pamela Knorr. Ladies and Gentlemen: For the past couple of years, I have been asking for the county staff and sometimes your board to fix certain county ordinances, policies, and fee collection […]
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To the community, I have often said and written: We are a nation of litigation with a tabloid mentality. The land is filled with tort terrorists and scandal-mongers. The latest big do about Bruce Jenner is beyond reason, particularly when it replaces so much news of substance and consequence. We are living in a cluttered […]
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To the community, Summer officially begins later this month, but it certainly felt like summer was in full force at the Round Hill Round Up Business After Hours Mixer (BAHM) on May 28 at Round Hills Pines Beach Resort. Over 70 people experienced the resort’s new tiki bar and their new signature drink, the Painkiller, […]
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To the community, “Heavenly Ski Patrol welcomes the opportunity to serve our community in times of need. We appreciate all of the effort toward feeding the hungry and feel privileged to be a part of it today.” These were the collective words of Heavenly Ski Patrol members Jo Cain-Stiles, David E. Hellod and Nate Ludwig. […]
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By Larry Weitzman El Dorado County interim Chief Administrative Officer Pamela Knorr, with a sign off from the new County Counsel Robyn Truitt-Drivon, has hired a private investigator. The PI contract was hidden under a “consultant” contract with a law firm that Knorr has dealt with when she was CAO of Alpine County. Ditto for […]
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By Brandon Sportel About four years ago, I found myself asking a question many teachers ask their students: “Why would you do something like that?” I was sitting down with a fourth-grade student I had just been asked to counsel. I had success at getting to the bottom of students’ issues and I had earned […]
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Publisher’s note: This letter was sent to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in advance of the June 1 budget hearing. The author is the former director of the county Human Services Department, worked for the county for 30 years and helped build all of the senior programs. Dear members of the board: Regarding Monday’s […]
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By Larry Weitzman Having deficit budgets is commonplace in the federal government. They just effectively print more money to cover it. (They do it by borrowing money such as selling T-bills.) But in subordinate governments, while borrowing is sometimes done and some jurisdictions even end up going bankrupt (making future borrowing even more expensive and […]
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