Thursday, August 13, 2009
AUDACITY of HOPE… Some people rely on death and taxes as their certainties, but Squid prefers to gamble Squid’s life on things like June Gloom on the Monterey Peninsula and eco-activist David Dilworth being a self-righteous wing nut who loves conflict, public-meeting theatrics and the sound of his own voice. Case in point: Dilworth’s group, Helping Our Peninsula’s Environment’s website, touts itself as “the group which stopped ‘Dirty Harry’” – referring to the Pebble Beach Company’s development plans for the Del Monte Forest that included cutting down 17,000 trees – “and the ‘Terminator.’” And with the latter, Dilworth’s taking credit for the state’s decision to stop spraying synthetic moth pheromones over areas including Monterey County in an effort to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth. In true Dilworth fashion, he and HOPE make it sound as if they singlehandedly stopped the spray – and don’t mention the ramifications of the LBAM infestation, like millions of dollars of damage to local crops, and the use of more pesticides. So Dilworth’s Aug. 3 e-mail to P.G. Mayor Dan Cort, in which he threatened to recall Cort, didn’t come as much of a shock to Squid, nor did its snide tone: “There is one small light remaining for you, assuming you may wish to save your reputation from the Recall footnote that would be in your Wikipedia entry for the rest of your life,” Dilworth wrote. “Do not construe this as a negotiation, nor is it up for discussion… I am the only one left who wishes to give you the chance to save face.” His Aug. 7 missive (see story, p. 8) blaming Cort for a deer’s dying screams didn’t come as a surprise either. But Dilworth’s most recent mea culpa? Shocker! “I deeply regret how my actions have upset good people. I promise to be much more careful of my words and comportment in the future.” Huh? This doesn’t sound like the gadfly Squid knows. Although it does remind Squid of Dilworth handing out flyers (printed on paper made from 35 percent post-consumer fibers, of course) at gallery openings back in 2003. “Glass slipper awaits? Tigger wants to settle down with a partner and grow a family,” read the flyer. Tigger, aka Dilworth, was looking for love. (Squid’s not gonna comment on whether or not he was looking in the right or wrong places.)Maybe that’s what this latest stunt was all about – Dilworth, wanting to be loved, or at least to feel like a modern-day David (as in, versus Goliath – or Clint, or Arnie, or Dave Potter, or Cort). And in the case of Cort, he (sling)shot himself in the foot by taking on a man – not necessarily The Man – everyone else views as cool and progressive. Maybe Dilworth just needs a hug. Or to work on his aim.
Paradiso Trattoria
Monterey
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