My Letter

I wrote a letter to the Times- Standard some weeks ago in rebuttal to a My Word column they published opposing Prop 23. I've seen at least two other letters in the T-S opposing Prop 23 since then but none supporting it, including mine.

So I'll publish mine here, changed slightly from the original I sent in:

Prop 23 doesn't roll back any of our air quality laws except AB32 and it only suspends that one until the economy recovers.

Prop 23 will save everyone money. Even opponents of Prop 23 admit we'll likely see increases in energy costs of up to 60% as we are forced to buy more of our energy from renewable sources and heavy fines are levied against companies exceeding CO2 limits.

Prop 23 won't stop you or your community from using solar or wind power should you chose to do so. It just won't force you, as AB32 does, to use expensive renewable energy you might not be able to afford.

Here in Eureka we're facing a possible 50% increase in our water and sewage bills. We'll also likely be seeing increased food costs soon as Prop 2 (cage free eggs) is implemented. Along with that and any new taxes coming our way, do you really want to see up to a 60% increase in your electric bill?

I don't, so I'm voting YES on Prop 23.



The Santa Rosa Press- Democrat published a nearly identical version of the letter I sent to the Times- Standard within a couple days of me sending it in, but it only made the online "extra" letters.

An Argument For Prop 23?

I guess, but the writer of this piece in the Orange County Register makes a pretty convoluted case for it by concentrating more on AB32- the law that Prop 23 would suspend- and global warming. Not that I don't think he makes a good case. He just wrote too much. He's not alone in his thinking, either.

What I've found to be missing in the debate over Prop 23 is that passage of Prop 23 doesn't mean individuals and communities can't still pursue alternative energy. If you or your community wish to set up a solar or windmill farm after Prop 23 passes, by all means do so. You simply won't be FORCED to use more expensive energy sources that you might not be able to afford as will likely happen as AB23 is further implemented.

Seems simple enough to me and that's why I'm voting YES on Prop 23.