WONDERFUL WEATHER YEAR FOR WEST SIDE. The rains came and went, but while they were here we were considerably concerned about flooding again. The Orestimba Creek raged for a while, but never got high enough to reach significant farming land and/or farm houses. The weather brought important snow that filled the Sierras and appears to be a generous supply for our reservoirs – and we hope – for our farms.

Water is a significant commodity these days, and demands the attention of our citizens and our legislative leaders. Without water our cities and our farms have difficult times; and prosperity is certainly challenged. It’s important that a dialogue ensue at every level, from city councils and school boards to boards of supervisors and our state officials. While growth and development has slowed significantly, it will be back, and so will the need for more and more water.

While we have enjoyed a great weather year, our Midwest neighbors have been challenged and ravaged by tornadoes and devastating storms. Thirty counties across the nation are included in federal disaster declarations more than 10 times in the last decade. Some media outlets are calling it the “disaster belt” which is the land stretching from South Florida to rural Oklahoma. Here we find everything from giant hurricanes, floods, ice storms and wildfires. In the past 10 years, those areas have received federal aid in excess of $5 billion.

So while even California has been challenged by floods and fires, we don’t compete with the “disaster belt” and we should be happy about it. On the West Side, we fare even better with few storms causing significant damage on a regular basis!

ELECTION YEAR IS GOOD FOR CALIFORNIA.  With the Democratic race for president tighter than any year in history and the Republican race decided but with some reservations by activist Republicans, California was a battleground because of the early primary, Feb. 5. Some of us lobbied against an early primary saying it would disrupt the voting in the state with so many elections (Feb., June and November). But after watching candidates and their staffs crisscross California, the early primary was a good thing for us.

California concerns and issues were heard loud and clear, and you can bet that will continue as we head toward our November election. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton may just battle it out to the Democratic convention, which means it’s “too close to call.” That doesn’t sit well with Democratic party faithful, since they know facing John McCain will be a big task, since McCain is liked by lots of independents.

While some polling shows Clinton could lose and Obama may win against McCain, I don’t believe today’s polls will mean anything come the real race this fall. Once the Dems pick a candidate to run against McCain, the race will start over again……Lots of fun coming soon!

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