Humanure Handbook

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For your reading pleasure, I have found this gem of a webpage, complete with music ("My Dad's Dunny Doesn't Flush") and a how-to book which you can purchase to learn how to "recycle" certain of your bodily products. There are even videos to tell you how to do it! 

This is not about a composting toilet - but a "collection device" as the composting is done elsewhere.......... There is a bounty of information here, and you could spend days picking through all of these piles of knowledge.

All of this would be illegal in Los Osos, but it is fun to fantasize, as long as fantasy aromas do not spoil your "brown study."

http://humanurehandbook.com

Watch where you step.

Town's Sewage Plant Hosts Giant Viruses!

Sewage from the Austrian town Klosterneuburg, where Franz Kafka died, is fueling a scientific controversy. I'm not sure how excited to get over the giant viruses found there and Franz Kafka is probably not a topic for a sewer blog. But with our sewer plant running smoothly, and still no sign of hooking my house up which will yield a bounty of photos and descriptions, I had to go somewhere. 

Kafka did have tuberculosis and who knows, if the sewer in that town was operational then (1924), what could have happened in the mixing of multi-viral and bacterial components is unknowable. It is an interesting thought anyway, if one doesn't linger on it beyond three seconds.

All of the excitement is about a genome that looks like it could have descended from some cell-like virus - some in-between state between cells and viruses, which is a big deal in the scientific world. Now, as all of you might recall, viruses have few genes, some with as little as two. E-coli, a single-cell bacteria found at sewage plants, can have 4,400 genes and comes in many types, some, when internalized, can lead to death (Kafka died of starvation however). These giant viruses can hold more than 2,500 genes!

If you want to read about this, you can go to this link here:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/04/giant-viruses-found-austrian-sewage-fuel-debate-over-potential-fourth-domain-life
There are some lovely virus renderings on this page to illustrate scale.

I did go to the Kafka bookstore while in Prague a couple of years back, the city where Kafka was born, the bookstore being very near to his birthplace (sign translation - Kafka Bookstore).

And while I did not get the chance to visit the Prague sewer system, it is quite old and you can read about it here:

http://www.pvs.cz/en/history/history-of-the-sewer-systems/

You can see inside here:

prague sewers

Come to think about it now, this odd nexus of Kafka and giant sewer viruses (I'll have to relate what was said about viruses and our sewer some years back to complete this picture I guess), if there was ever an author living or dead that could have summarized the hideous Los Osos sewer war in a deep and meaningful way, Franz Kafka would be my pick. Please read The Metamorphosis and The Castle. Or if you prefer, a Cliff's Notes assessment,

"No matter how hard Kafka's heroes strive to come to terms with the universe, they are hopelessly caught, not only in a mechanism of their own contriving, but also in a network of accidents and incidents, the least of which may lead to the gravest consequences."

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/the-trial/critical-essays/kafka-and-existentialism 

Sweater Poop (Sad Story, So Don't Read If Depressed)

This is a sad posting. Coyote scat is usually not so colorful. If you click on the image to see the larger size, you will see the bright yarn, probably from a little sweater, probably covering a little body, most likely that of a little dog, or possible a cat (but not likely) embedded in the scat. Coyotes do not eat sweaters without something inside of them.

I wavered on posting this. I don't know how many readers there are here, so don't know if this will go anywhere. But when a couple of my cats vanished years ago when I first moved here, having no clue on the coyote population, I would have wanted to know what happened to them.

This was found on State Park land, off the end of Santa Ysabel, on the path that heads to the eucalyptus trees, Saturday, April 1. It had been there for some time. 

Purple Pipe Hydrant

Well, it is back in our midst. The bacteria laden, butt ugly, and foul smelling water that we have sent underground and out of town for its spa treatment - beautification and toxin removal - has returned not just to Broderson, but right here in our midst - on Tenth Street!

Who owns it? Ostensibly the water companies. Who paid for it? We did. What paperwork, legalities and hoop jumping must there be to open the spigot - to maybe send this water back home and underground into our sparkly clean, repurposed septic tanks? It is the next part of the sewer journey for this H2O. 

Let's hope the story unfolds quickly, as this rainy season won't last, spring is coming, summer - if we are lucky, might be a foggy drip, but by fall, our repurposed tanks might be empty. Our plants would be happy to get this stuff. Then the aquifer's water could be used for indoor water needs only, thereby saving it from some amount of overuse.

Our titled (22!), regal water languishes inside of its purple prison! Mary Queen of Scots all over again, with a better ending, I hope.

Another Toilet To Tap Brewski!

I first encountered beer outside of a TV screen, at a late age; I was a protected child. When I did see it in real life, I noticed that what went in, came out the same color. Amazing! But now, for the second time that I have found, that toilet water is cycling through human plumbing systems for another round. Actually, it could go on for more rounds than that, depending on the location of the receiving facilities, post imbibement: in this case, San Diego!

Escondido, California's Stone Brewing Company is the newest craft brewing company to use recycled water. It is coming from San Diego's Pure Water Facility. Granted, they made only five barrels of beer, but they hope to make it available to the public in the future. A toast to another successful "toilet to tap" operation!

Couldn't we upgrade our most-famous-sewer-in-the-world just one more step and make beer too? We already have well known branding for it! We could call the product SRF Suds, or Stout from the Magic Sand Brewing Company, or even Lo$ O$o$ Lager if we wanted to create a top shelf product! Well, think about it anyway.

Board of Supes Agenda 3-21-17 Sewer Item!

At last! Something sewer for us Los Osians on the next BOS agenda!

AGENDA March 21, 2017

County Government Center

Board of Supervisors Chambers

1055 Monterey Street | San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 

Tuesday, March 21, 2017 

0. Consent Agenda - Parks & Recreation Items:
   
   
1. 15. Request to authorize a budget adjustment in the amount of $35,000 from Parks Reserves to Fund Center (FC) 30504 Parks Projects to complete the mandated Los Osos Community Park Sewer Connection, by 4/5 vote. District 2. 
   

Here are the relevant attachments!

http://agenda.slocounty.ca.gov/agenda/sanluisobispo/Proposal.html?select=7151

I hope this looks like the no-brainer that it is and that it will be approved 5-0.

Sewer Service Charges Explained!

I have been a dork for not following up on this - I'm sure it was posted ages ago on the County's website and it must have gone before the Board of Supes, too. Perhaps I was in Iceland, where I neglected a lot of things sewer as they were happening.

(Click images for larger sizes.)

Well, have a look. The sewer service charges are explained on the link below - even the separate billing anomaly that caused such a stir last month at LOCAC! Actually, we are still waiting to hook up, so that is another reason I have not written about this. We have no operating and maintenance charge yet on our bill.

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/document+library/Proposed+Service+Charges+Ordinance.pdf

In case you were wondering about Iceland, they have sewage problems too! I tried to find the time to see a sewage plant, and I was in Akureyri too (see article), but alas, while on a tour, your time is booked from 8:00 a.m. until dinner.

http://icelandreview.com/news/2012/12/21/problems-sewage-across-iceland

I was in downtown Reykjavík and missed this. Darn!

http://grapevine.is/news/2016/03/31/open-sewage-pit-in-downtown-reykjavik/

You would never know this was happening though. The place is Disneyland clean everywhere, and they have water by the ton, which helps.

This looks sewage plant-like, but it is just pipes harvesting steam for power.

This looks sewage-like, but it was actually clean, slightly minerally-tasting, carbonated water. Yes, bubble water coming out of the ground!!

Dr. John Alexander Alexander Dies

The Tribune had a small death notice in the March 7, 2017 paper: 

John Alexander Alexander, 99 of Cayucos died March 2, 2017.

Dr. Alexander was famous during the Los Osos Sewer Wars for stating that we did not need a sewer.

 "...if anyone could help me it would be Dr. Alexander. His research and development firm had developed waste water treatment plants throughout the world, including Australia, Israel and South America, just to name a few. Dr. Alexander advised me that he would be willing to help us in any way he could. However, he said before he would advise us that Los Osos really did not need a sewer. He proceeded to explain in great detail why Los Osos did not need a sewer plant. The crux of his explanation was that Los Osos had a God-given filtration plant built right into its soil."

http://www.rockofthecoast.com/2009/11/24/cdo-threat-exacts-heavy-human-toll-on-los-osos/

Yes, he was the original magic sand guy!

His business is described below, retrieved 3-8-17:

"Ecm Technical Environmental Services, Inc. filed as an Articles of Incorporation in the State of California and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately twenty-seven years ago on Tuesday, July 17, 1990 , according to public records filed with California Secretary of State."

https://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cudahy/ecm-technical-environmental-services-inc/42002702.aspx

Learn more here:
http://www.abalonefarm.com/the-abalone-farm-and-artisan-restaurant-featured-in-the-novdec16-issue-of-california-bountiful/

http://www.californiabountiful.com/features/article.aspx?arID=1856

—and see some photos here:
http://www.oldmorrobay.com/john_alexander.html

He applied to the County sewer project's Technical Advisory Committee in 2007, but was not selected. His credentials are still online:
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assets/PW/LOWWP/TAC/alexander.pdf

RIP sewer warrior. I was on the opposite side of his stance of course, but found him to be a compelling figure.

Sewer Office Hours Being Flushed.

I haven't been on the County Los Osos Wastewater Project website in ages, but for some reason went there tonight. Well, I guess since the decommissioning septic tanks part of the project was 80% complete a month ago - and more by now - this announcement was bound to happen - below is a copy and paste:

Questions? 

Representatives from the County are available to answer questions from residents and businesses regarding sewer lateral connections for their property, project costs and financial assistance, and answer any other issues related to the Los Osos Wastewater Project.

Meet with County staff during bi-weekly office hours at 2025 10th Street in Los Osos each Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  The last day of bi-weekly office hours in Los Osos will be on Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Or; 

Contact the County at (805) 788-2759 or email rheaslet@co.slo.ca.us with comments or questions.

Or; 

 The Public Works Department office in San Luis Obispo is open Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  The Public Works Department is located in Room 206 of the old Courthouse building, at 976 Osos Street, on the corner of Palm and Osos Streets in San Luis Obispo.

You can see the rest of the stuff on the page here:

http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/PW/LOWWP.htm

Poop Problem In Outer Space - Solved!

We may think that we had a poop problem here in Los Osos with our 40-odd year sewer war. But in outer space, real outer space, not just the outer space feeling we had from experiencing our sewer war, there is a different, and more deadly, challenge - battling poop in space - specifically, the poop inside of a space suit that must be worn for days at a time. 

NASA posed the question here:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/space-poop-challenge

The deadline to present an answer to the problem was December 20, 2016. The winner and runners-up were just announced:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/tech/nasa-space-poop-challenge-winner-announced-trnd/index.html

Another poop problem - SOLVED! (And thanks NASA, for the use of your photograph!)

London's Super Sewer

Look at this monster project, that will relieve the pollution that London is spewing into the Thames River! (NOT their drinking water source* like our water clean-up project was.) Did this project take 40 years of citizen angst and pushback to come to fruition? NO! The initial study began in 2001! 2001 people! Amazingly, from our frame of reference in Los Osos, their project started construction in 2016 and will take 7 to 8 years to complete. The cost is £4.2 billion in 2012 prices.

The informative videos off the link below are fascinating. What is it about sewer projects that brings out the most lovely musical accompaniments to their videos? Our sewer video musical score was lovely too!

I suggest that if you don't have time to watch all of the videos, set the option to "Autoplay next video"on the last video off the link - if you expand the videos (option on the bottom) to 5 years ago, I'm not so sure there is music as I found the sound on the really old ones to not operate. Listen to the music while you are clearing out your "In box" or something. Be sure to listen to the end on at least one of them to hear the adorable seagull squawk which moves across your speaker, left to right. 

https://vimeo.com/tideway

(This one is my first favorite: https://vimeo.com/176721510, and this one is my second favorite: https://vimeo.com/174194088)

(Don't you love the British spelling of tons? Tonnes! Much more fun, but confusing to know how to pronounce.)

* The Thames River IS a drinking water source, but upstream from London.

Julie & Jeff's Sewer Credit Hanky Panky

Well, so much for warm, fuzzy stories to start off the new year! 

An excellent cold, jagged story just broke today on the business principles of Los Osos' most infamous couple, Julie Tacker and Jeff Edwards. Please have a look at SLO Truth's article posted here:

https://www.slotruth.org/2017/01/26/julie-tacker-and-jeff-edwards-activists-or-con-artists/

If convicted, and if still on committees of the Los Osos Community Services District, I would like to them removed from those committees, which are Emergency Services Committee for Julie, and the Finance Advisory Committee for Jeff.

Dog Rescued From Houston Sewer

Back to blog work finally, in 2017. I thought I'd start with a rescue story from Texas. Have a look:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/city-workers-barc-save-dog-from-sewer-manhole

And the happy follow up:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/city-department-takes-in-dog-found-in-sewerewer-manhole

I thought it would be good to start the sewer new year with a story with a happy ending! (This is not likely to happen here, thank goodness. Our pipes are not that big.)

Sewer Lawsuit

Well, this sure won't happen here as we know where our sewer lines are,* but an interesting lawsuit was filed in Scranton, Pennsylvania last month. Unknown, old sewer pipes under private property needed easements by the company that bought the old sewer system. Homeowners were offered too small of a compensation for those easements, which would allow the new company to dig up their property if the sewer lines needed work.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/scranton-homeowners-file-suit-over-undisclosed-sewer-lines/article_db853374-be76-5eda-9dcd-bf877d0455d8.html

Unlikely that our Board of Supes would sell our sewer system to an private company, but it is good to know what goes on elsewhere in the world of sewer.

Happy New Year to all who read this blog, all two of you!


* Sewer easements did occur here in Los Osos, allowing the sewer pipes of one property owner to cross under property of another. Hopefully, this was in the county-owned right -of-way, so no legal mess would occur here like in the above mentioned story. Documentation of pipes has improved in this town as old, unknown pipes were hit accidentally and marked for future excavation.

Sewer In Flames

I confess, I was noodling around in Reddit, I never do that! I searched the topic "sewers" and came up with this from three years ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/17fmcd/sewer_fire_in_omaha_shoots_flames_from_manholes/?

Click on the image for a better view. Amazing! I was in Omaha a few summers back (actually, I can't remember when) and had a very nice time, they have some great public art downtown. And some very nice galleries. 

However, this was not one of Omaha's best days, but I am sorry not to have witnessed this in person; I would have taken better shots.

The comments are riveting, so don't just look at the photos.

Sewer Music

I am not at all sure what the artist(s) Deaden The Pain meant by calling the just-released-today song, "Sewer Clown" (Electronica-downtempo, key of C-) but maybe he/she/they heard of the Los Osos sewer war? 
https://www.beatport.com/track/sewer-clown-original-mix/8672224

There is also an original mix of a song "Sewer Rat" (someone sounds very upset in a digestive track sort of way) by the artist Akcept (Dub step, key of D major):
https://www.beatport.com/track/sewer-rat-original-mix/8390756

How about "Septic Sludge" (by Kiro and Marshall Applewhite) for those of us yet to hook up (Techno, key of G# minor)?
https://www.beatport.com/track/septic-sludge-original-mix/7845917

However, if you go to the search box on Beatport and type in "sewer" (https://www.beatport.com/search/tracks?q=Sewer), a remarkable amount of sewer songs appear. And this is just ONE music website. What does it all mean?

(On a loopier note, here is a pun one! Here is a mellow sewer song, very California!)

Enjoy!

Poop Log

Read the last entry in this Christmas story.....my, there are some "interesting"  traditions around the world........I have heard of a "Yule Log," but this is not that.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/nation-world/national/article121692492.html

Sewer Pipe Hostel Room

Yes, you read right. Go take a look: http://imgur.com/a/AUYmd

Sewer Info Deluxe!

While our sewer story here in Los Osos winds down more every day, I must supplement the lack of information from that with fun sewer facts, and I just found a doozie tonight! A hugely comprehensive website, parts of which I have found before, but now it is all in one place and logically put together!

Here is a quote I found on one of the site's pages:

Point of historical interest – an early water regulation:“No one shall with malice pollute the waters where they issue publicly.Should anyone pollute them, his fine shall be ten thousand sesterti.”(approx. $600)  

Source: Sextus Julian Frontinus, Water Commissioner of the City of Rome, 97 CE

Our fine from the Regional Water Quality Control Board was to be $5,000 a day for polluting - but of course it never came to that. I think they were really fed up with Los Osos backing out of sewer projects. 

Anyway, a wonderful sewer history is at your fingertips - read all about them below and, happy clicking on more links than you will know what to do with. You might want to fix a sandwich and a drink.

http://www.sewerhistory.org

Septic Tank Cold Weather Problem Solved!

I found this tonight and decided I needed to pass this on to my cold weather friends on septic tanks. Frozen sewer vents is not a problem in Los Osos of course, but it can be a gnarly problem in colder climes! Have a look at the Sewer Skewer:

http://www.dl-online.com/business/4174991-your-sewer-skewered-local-man-designs-system-prevent-frozen-sewer-vents

Notice Of Completion!

Off of the Consent Calendar for the Board of Supes today,  December 6, 2016!

Consent Agenda - Public Works Items:

20. Submittal of a resolution authorizing execution of notice of completion and acceptancefor the construction of the Water Recycling Facility for the Los Osos Wastewater Project,Los Osos. District 2. 

The project has been completed $2,776,491 UNDER BUDGET and ON TIME!!! 

Bravo County of SLO - our District 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson, former Director of Public Works Paavo Ogren for starting the job, and Project Manager John Waddell for finishing it - and the cast of dozens in SLO County offices who made this giant project a reality! Thanks to all of the many, many people who worked on the many individual parts to this giant project. 

This is a landmark moment for the County of SLO and a giant step forward toward finally addressing our polluted water problem. And especially toward reestablishing comity, once the cornerstone of Los Osos citizen's relationships. The dark, pre-sewer civil war is sunsetting into a lovely indigo underground pool of recycled water.

Squatty Potty

OK, you can't say that I don't bring you the most fun stuff! This is a no-holds blog on....poop, and how-to, in this case. I encountered what I believe to be an original version the of squatty potty while in Turkey a few years back, and I'm sure there are other countries that feature this mode of sanitary facilities as well, but I have not been there yet. Some of the places in the Turkish countryside only had these porcelain floor troughs that had foot guides for squatting over, while in the cities there might be two modes offered - this described squat type, and the "throne" type that we in Western countries are accustomed to. The difference in Turkey was, you just squatted, there was no seat to perch on. And yes, there was water to flush with! I think somewhere in the old posts here I had a photo, but I am too lazy to go back and find it.

I didn't go looking for this item - it was on my Facebook feed. Odd that it took Facebook this long to get a clue on a suggested post for me considering I mention my sewer blog on there. Maybe they don't have much to work with?

If any more fun items like this pop up, I will be happy to share them here! And if any more fun Los Osos sewer stuff comes up, I will be reporting that here, too. Sad to say - or maybe happy to say - the pool of stories on that topic has been rather shallow of late.

On the danger of overloading you with this type of content, I will post one more video. But I will warn you right now, this is not for the weak of stomach, as you will be laughing a lot (and it is a bit gross too). Watch at your own peril!

Septage Pumper Truck On A Semi Sunny Day

Pumper trucks have been rolling continuously through Los Osos as laterals have been installed and septic tanks emptied. Where does all that stuff go? The City of Santa Maria!

Septage Receiving:
The Regulatory Compliance group operates the Septage Receiving Facility at the WWTP, and issues permits to waste haulers. The only facility of its kind on the Central Coast, this facility provides an important service to surrounding communities. The facility accepts deposited waste from portable toilets and residential and commercial septage, and allows haulers to dewater and store grease from restaurants. 

There was a burp in our new sewer's collection system seven months ago after sneaky contractor dumped some of this goop directly into the new sewer pipe - you can read about it here in a story by Neil Farrell in the Bay News:

http://www.tolosapressnews.com/first-hiccups-community-sewer/

I don't know If this is what happens in Santa Maria, but this video of septage delivery and processing is pretty fun—for sewer geeks anyway—the contraption featured is called a "Honey Monster!" The video has only gotten four views, so maybe you dear readers, can boost the viewership. Added bonus, the music is straight out of the 1980s!

Products Made From Reclaimed Toilet Paper

Yes, you read that right. It is an interesting concept as long as heavy rubber gloves are involved. If you recall, the Poo-Pets folks actually use cow flops, aka cow manure to fashion their creations, so why should objects made from used toilet paper (vs. food processed via a bovine alimentary canal) be so unimaginable (just because it was used by a human?). It seems like a lot of cellulose is involved with either. 

Have a look. Just remember, these bowls are decorative and you would not want to be eating your Wheat Chex in them.

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/750/154354.html

A Holiday Gift For Someone You Really Don't Like 💩

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Have a look:

http://throwboy.com/products/poop

Or maybe this?

https://www.betabrand.com/womens-poo-emoji-casual-pocket-dress.html

Or for the thrifty, maybe just send one of these in a digital holiday card?

http://emojipedia.org/pile-of-poo/

Hey, send a box of homemade holiday cookies - here's how!

November 19, World Toilet Day

My bad. I missed the opportunity to inform you of World Toilet Day this year. I know this is a light hearted blog—well, most of the time—but this is a serious subject. Check out the website:

http://www.worldtoiletday.info

We may whine and complain, but really, we have it so good. One in three people in the world do not have access to a toilet. Here is a quote off the website:

"Worldwide, it is estimated that almost one-fifth of all urbanites – over 700 million people – live without a decent toilet. To put that into context, the queue for people waiting for toilets in our cities and towns would stretch around the world 29 times."

Manhole Cover Holiday Gifts!

Yes, it is almost that time again. Turkey Day is right around the corner and then, 31 days later....it is time for turkey again, or ham, or like in my family, lutfisk, which many feel belongs at the very least in a sewer blog, it is not for the faint of stomach. But I digress.

Take a look at the website below if you would like an unusual gift for a favorite friend, or your best enemy, who perhaps lives in Los Osos and is acquainted with things sewer. 

http://www.vernakular.com/collections/manhole-cover-doormats
(Where else can you find that Kuala Lumpur manhole cover doormat that you have been wanting since that ill-fated trip sixteen years ago?)

http://www.vernakular.com/collections/manhole-cover-coaster
How about manhole cover coasters? Perfect under that tall, frosty glass of your favorite urine-hued brew!

Happy shopping!

Victorian Fashion And The Loo

Perhaps you have wondered how ladies in voluminous Victorian dresses managed to take care of the bodily necessities that result from eating and drinking. We have all seen plenty of movies with food scenes where the gorgeously clad actors daintily fork up some prawns in aspic or sip a thimble of sherry from a cut crystal footed glass. But from personal experience we know that there is more to the story and that is where this video comes in—to explain how these exquisitely clad ladies managed all of "that." If you did not wonder about this, stick around and learn something.

Cambria's Sludge Stench!

P.U., 400 tons of it!

Read about it here in the Trib:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/community/cambrian/article115146178.html

Some Poop Humor For A Change Of Pace

The Poo-Pourri peeps have the funniest ads!

"We Delay, We Pay" Hit Morro Bay

Sadly, the le$$ons Los Osos had to offer Morro Bay did not resonate:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article114483123.html

Cal Poly's "Sewer Tour"

Today in the Tribune, photographer David Middlecamp posted a photo from the vault about a long gone Cal Poly tradition for new students called the "Sewer Tour!" It is gross and hilarious! Have a look:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/photos-from-the-vault/article114325738.html

Julie Tacker And Money

Let the facts speak for themselves. The sewer money FACTS. Read about a current candidate for the LOCSD. You may judge for yourself if you are happy to pay back your tax monies that were used to pay off attorneys to defend bad decisions requiring a legal defense. In any case, it is all over now - for good - if Julie Tacker is NOT re-elected.

(For a larger size, click the image.)

Update On Sewer Redux!

True to form, Julie Tacker removed the posts beneath my article below. 

I posted my comment to her campaign page at 12:38 p.m.. I checked her page a couple of times during the afternoon and two posts (NOT supporting her) were added to mine. I looked at my E-mails at 4:21 p.m., and found that I had received an E-mail from Facebook notifying me of a comment to what I wrote at 3:44 p.m. (someone I have never heard of). I went to Facebook to look, but all comments had vanished. Well, it was up for three hours anyway! I hope a few people saw it!

Sewer Politics Redux

Sewer politics has been with this town ever since the idea of a sewer was floated back in the 1970s. Battles were fought for and against. Our sewer is now built thanks to the County, and we are hooking up, but a whiff of sulphur still lingers locally, this time in the candidacy of someone for the Los Osos Community Services District board. This time the political football is not the sewer, but the very existence of the LOCSD. The LOCSD was created to have local control of the sewer; we lost that, but now its existence is challenged, which means having any control over our water supply is now challenged..

An opponent to any sewer at all, later revised to "just not THAT sewer," whose latest bid for destruction is the dissolution of the LOCSD under the ruse of "just letting the people decide" is a bad choice for Los Osos. Giving that person a platform for disseminating her message, beyond the three minute limit at public comment, is toxic. I believe her position on the board before, gave her a platform to lead the community into accepting the illegal Measure B. Her name is Julie Tacker.

More recently, Facebook has been her present tool in the current election. Not only are her opinions going out in pixel-world, but paid ads for her have been appearing on timelines. One crossed mine this afternoon that was paid for at CalCoastNews. It was "liked" by someone I am friends with, so it then appeared in my feed. I was now able to comment on said post and lo-and-behold, it appeared on the "Julie Tacker for Los Osos Community Services District" Facebook page! We shall see how long it lasts there before it is blocked. Ms. Tacker has blocked me from viewing her personal page, but I'm sure she will block me from this one too after this.

My comment:

Thank you Mr. X for "liking" this article so it wound up in my feed. I am banned from posting on CalCoastNews because I have opposing ideas from Ms. Tacker and they don't allow free speech over there, even if politely written. So now I have a chance to say something.

Sorry, but have an entirely different opinion from you on her. She wanted to move the sewer out of town, but did so in such a boneheaded way, poking a stick in the eye of the Water Board, that the LOCSD board she was on LOST the low interest loan, lost the sewer project, plunged the town into bankruptcy - which we have FINALLY climbed out of - and now wants to be back on the board - to dissolve it! Yes, DISSOLVE it. No thanks.

Our sewer is now $29 million more out of town, the only local control we have now over our water basin, the big important thing we have left—is by having a seat on the board that controls the water basin— the Basin Management Committee. Dissolve, and all control goes to the County and the two remaining water purveyors one of which, Golden State, would probably jump on owning it. Bad idea.

Please DO NOT vote for Julie Tacker. I do NOT trust her to have anything but her own interests at heart. Electing her to the Board would give her a powerful platform to push her idea of dissolution, which is a bad idea for this town. She has promoted many ideas to help her developer boyfriend in the past, you have to ask - what is her motive to push away our local control?