Going to check out our first Tuesday's Blues Days but I wanted to leave folks with this trailer from local filmmaker Don Bernier highlighting the potential pitfalls of urban development. Be on the watch for celebrity cameos of the two and four footed kind.
TRAILER: The Concrete Jungle from Don Bernier on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label Linda Meza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Linda Meza. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Stewardship: No it’s not just a stupid effing mouse…
For the first meeting of the general plan update task force we were each given a homework assignment: “Telling My Story” an introduction in short story form touching on; where we’re from, hobbies and interests, community group affiliations, occupation, special skills and expertise and ‘anything else that could help people get to know you better’. I think I’ve covered those here as well so I’m optimistic my choice of stewardship as a focus isn’t surprising.
Ten days ago I overheard a comment about our marina and the dredge ponds as I left Starbucks on my daily hike with my dogs Baron and Snoop. There are times when I’d love to be able to just stop, turn and say “it’s never just about one thing” instead I tossed my frustration out to the twitterverse and went about my day.
This comment stands out for me not because it was unique, negative reactions from people who perceive an aspect of the natural world as an impediment to “progress” are common, but it highlighted an ignorance of the greater than fifty year history of our dilapidated marina and pier. The current state of general disrepair and neglect was decades in the making, long before some stupid effing mouse chose to reclaim its rightful place in our marshlands and wetlands.
"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." ~Edmund Burke.
Unfortunately the final work product developed by the task force will have zero bearing on the development of the Alhambra Highlands project. Some very smart people have already voiced concerns regarding drainage and sluff when contemplating the removal of 650 trees and grading hill tops. I see it from a different perspective. I look at the removal of 650 live oak trees, presumably many of which are acorn granaries, as setting the stage for future human/wildlife conflict similar to what’s happened in Rossmoor.
Years from now the comment will be, ‘they’re just stupid effing woodpeckers’ and my response will still be it’s never just about one thing…
Ten days ago I overheard a comment about our marina and the dredge ponds as I left Starbucks on my daily hike with my dogs Baron and Snoop. There are times when I’d love to be able to just stop, turn and say “it’s never just about one thing” instead I tossed my frustration out to the twitterverse and went about my day.
This comment stands out for me not because it was unique, negative reactions from people who perceive an aspect of the natural world as an impediment to “progress” are common, but it highlighted an ignorance of the greater than fifty year history of our dilapidated marina and pier. The current state of general disrepair and neglect was decades in the making, long before some stupid effing mouse chose to reclaim its rightful place in our marshlands and wetlands.
"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." ~Edmund Burke.
Unfortunately the final work product developed by the task force will have zero bearing on the development of the Alhambra Highlands project. Some very smart people have already voiced concerns regarding drainage and sluff when contemplating the removal of 650 trees and grading hill tops. I see it from a different perspective. I look at the removal of 650 live oak trees, presumably many of which are acorn granaries, as setting the stage for future human/wildlife conflict similar to what’s happened in Rossmoor.
Years from now the comment will be, ‘they’re just stupid effing woodpeckers’ and my response will still be it’s never just about one thing…
Thursday, August 5, 2010
General Plan Update Task Force
Last year when I was in Santa Cruz inspiration for a blog struck and suddenly I was on the phone with Go Daddy registering the .com domain name. A year later much has changed; what I envisioned as a launching pad for a book and video with a virtual storefront is morphing into something completely different.
Back in February I learned the City of Martinez would be updating its General Plan. Part of the process included the formation of a task force comprised of 17 individuals representing various interests and geographic areas of Martinez. I expressed an interest and in May I received an email congratulating me on being one of the 17 chosen from a field of 54 applicants.
In the later part of this month our task force will take a field trip to familiarize ourselves with the various elements that make up a General Plan: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, Safety and Other Elements. For those familiar with the role I played in the formation of Worth A Dam and the ultimate détente between the City of Martinez and the now world famous ‘Martinez Beavers’ you can probably determine which of these elements are of a special interest to me. That’s why Untamed Martinez still works for a blog/domain name.
But as religious readers of the Martinez News-Gazette know, I do more than hike with my dogs in the hills above the Carquinez Straits or dabble in sales and marketing discussions on Twitter. As in the case of this blog’s focus my community identity has morphed from ‘beaver lady’ to ‘ad lady’. I’m in the trenches with business owners and entrepreneurs; I also carry their voices into this process.
The blog still needs an identity so expect cosmetic changes soon but I’ve learned that when my muse speaks I heed his voice. Waiting until I’ve nailed down my blog design before I begin, oh blogging, is just silly.
Back in February I learned the City of Martinez would be updating its General Plan. Part of the process included the formation of a task force comprised of 17 individuals representing various interests and geographic areas of Martinez. I expressed an interest and in May I received an email congratulating me on being one of the 17 chosen from a field of 54 applicants.
In the later part of this month our task force will take a field trip to familiarize ourselves with the various elements that make up a General Plan: Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, Safety and Other Elements. For those familiar with the role I played in the formation of Worth A Dam and the ultimate détente between the City of Martinez and the now world famous ‘Martinez Beavers’ you can probably determine which of these elements are of a special interest to me. That’s why Untamed Martinez still works for a blog/domain name.
But as religious readers of the Martinez News-Gazette know, I do more than hike with my dogs in the hills above the Carquinez Straits or dabble in sales and marketing discussions on Twitter. As in the case of this blog’s focus my community identity has morphed from ‘beaver lady’ to ‘ad lady’. I’m in the trenches with business owners and entrepreneurs; I also carry their voices into this process.
The blog still needs an identity so expect cosmetic changes soon but I’ve learned that when my muse speaks I heed his voice. Waiting until I’ve nailed down my blog design before I begin, oh blogging, is just silly.
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