| | Published July 4th, 2012
| Letters to the Editor
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Editor:
On Tuesday, June 19th, nine members of the Moraga Police Department (seven sworn officers and two volunteer cadets) ran with Pleasant Hill PD (two runners) to carry the Special Olympics Torch from the Kohl's parking lot (in Pleasant Hill) to the Virginia Hills Safeway Store (in Martinez). We were also joined by a Public Safety Officer from St. Mary's College. It was a very warm morning, and many Special Olympics athletes greeted us and thanked us for supporting them. Some of the athletes that attended our fund raiser at the Rheem Theatre were there and it was great to reconnect with them. Our group took the torch from Walnut Creek PD and passed it on to Martinez PD runners.
This was a special day for our police department, because we all ran together, lending support and encouragement to each other. At the end of the run, it was gratifying to sit as a group and enjoy our accomplishments and, as we rehydrated ourselves, I took the opportunity to thank Officer Mary Ann Grubb for her leadership and coaching expertise to get us all running and prepared for the event. As the Chief of Police, it was an amazing thing to see and experience. Besides supporting such a worthy cause, we were proud to represent the Town of Moraga and merit the many well wishes received from individuals, the Moraga Valley Kiwanis, the Moraga Country Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Moraga Citizens Network, Town Staff, and our Town Council. I can tell you from personal experience, I used the thought of all those that encouraged and supported us to keep me going as I ran uphill, in the heat, to the finish line.
On behalf of all the men and women of the Moraga Police Department, please extend our thanks to our community for all of their heartfelt support.
Sincerely,
Robert Priebe
Editor:
If you are ever inclined to ask, "Why can't the people in Congress learn to compromise?" you might want to first review the "reconciliation" of viewpoints regarding "dogs-in-the-park."
Edward C. Hartman
Moraga
Editor:
I read Tom Trowbridges' letter in the June 20th issue. He wants the Orinda City Council to vote on amending Orindas' general plan without submitting it to a vote of the people. He failed to say why he wants this. How will high density housing in downtown Orinda help Orinda? Maybe a larger tax base? Or work for the developer(s)? Or possibly political pressure being applied by the Association of Bay Area Governments? ABAG is pushing "Transit Villages" throughout the Bay Area. I believe this is a utopian desire to create high density populations without cars, who are dependent on public transportation. It also is certainly motivated by government to remove the Prop. 13 benefits many of our local businesses are enjoying. This is certainly not in the interests of the people who live in Orinda. This plan will make it harder to park and shop in downtown Orinda.
Mr. Towbridge does not think a public vote is necessary. Perhaps he fears the outcome. We absolutely must vote on this! Let us resist attempts by bureaucrats and special interests to dictate the future of Orinda.
Henry R. Pinney
Orinda
Editor:
I was approached recently by a woman who was angry that I filed a lawsuit in January 2012 to halt the Town of Moraga's plan to change Rancho Laguna Park. The resident's anger was misdirected because if the suit - a "writ of mandate" -had not been filed, the Town would have plowed ahead, and unique and sensitive habitat (which includes species of concern and possibly endangered species) would have been adversely impacted. This habitat and the species at issue have thrived at the Park in its current state.
For months before the Moraga Town Council passed a resolution in December 2011 to create a small-enclosed dog area abutting this Park's riparian area, several people voiced concerns with town staff and the Council about the need to protect that sensitive habitat. Our voices were ignored. We repeatedly advised those in power that this was not "guesswork." I personally had learned from the Department of Fish and Game that there were two species, dusky footed woodrats and whipsnakes, in the general area, and shared that information at public forums and with the Town.
The Town ignored my request and warnings and those of others about the sensitive habitat, and instead filed a Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). That is, the Town decided it was free to proceed with building the small-enclosed dog park, which would have included grubbing the habitat, without any environmental review. The exemption claim was wrong -- the Town's plans would have adversely impacted protected habitat. I know because biologists told me that. Because the Town failed in its duty, I had no other choice but to file the lawsuit to protect Rancho Laguna Park.
The Town disregarded the environment, when it should have taken a more thoughtful and cautious approach. Instead of spending a few thousand dollars to do an initial environmental review, the Town hired lawyers who charged $60,000 - and for what? Two months after I filed the suit, the Town rescinded the plan and the notice of exemption. The Town's lawyers never filed an answer to my complaint and never did any legal work in court. Instead the Town ultimately decided to do an environmental assessment for $6,000, an assessment that confirmed the environmental concerns that I and others had repeatedly warned the town about. Town staff has since written, that "the sensitive habitat areas would need to be protected in conformance with the intent of the California Environmental Quality Act."
I am one 62 year Moraga resident, who has known the habitat of Rancho Laguna Park for many years, who chose to take a stand and protect the Park. In the meantime, more than 1,800 residents have signed petitions asking that the Park remain as it is or to let the voters decide. I have asked the Town to leave the park as it is all along.
Steve Smith
Moraga
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA