Dusting Off

Finally! A green building article (“Sweet Home California,” April 15-21) that talks about asbestos! Beside other hazardous material one may encounter when conducting a renovation such as lead paint, lighting wastes, and mercury switches, asbestos was manufactured in a number of products such as flooring, plasters, skim and texture coats, joint compound, acoustical ceilings, roofing materials, insulation, asbestos cement pipes and so many more I can’t even list. It is still not entirely banned and is still being imported into the U.S. in a lot of different building products. Know what you are dealing with before you renovate your home or business. Get it tested by a asbestos consultant or assume the material contains asbestos and deal with it accordingly. Protect your health and your liability. And remember, safe handling of asbestos and other hazardous materials is a huge part of green building! Thanks!

Aromas Water Politics

Kudos to Zach Stahl for pointing out the strained, aromatichydropolitics of waterexportation projects in Aromas (“Pump It Up,” April 15-21). The Planning Commission denies a subdivision project proposed by the president of the Aromas Water District since they recognized our groundwater is in chronic overdraft, yet the General Manager of the AWD goes public at theBOS meeting with pronouncements about how “AWD has had no problems in 50 years.” I encourage Aromas and Oak Ridge residents to go online and discover that AWD had problems with well production in 1989, the State hit AWD with a capacity order requiring them to increaseproduction bydrilling a new wellin 2003 (which is how we obtain most of our water), and AWD’sconsulting hydrologist, who clearly understandsAWD is in overdraft, recommended AWD replaceone of three wells we use. AWD does their own inhouse analysis of capacity.How cozy. What they fail to understand is an inexpertinhouse“capacity review” of wells does not guarantee water for current ratepayers for the NEXT 50 years. It’s time for a professional, independent analysis of AWD’s long term groundwater needs, before any water exportationis rushed… .in a supervisorial campaign year.

Barnes-Stormer

The upcoming District 28 Assembly primary election affords the District voters an opportunity to elect a highly qualified candidate to represent their issues in Sacramento. Janet Barnes has been a highly motivated and intelligent public servant for many years. She has served on the City of Salinas Recreation Parks Commission and the City Council for many years. It is here that I have had the opportunity to see her research complex issues and arrive at actions in the best interests of her constituents. Her integrity and dedication is unchallenged and will serve California residents as she takes on the difficult issues that are facing the state. I consider her a friend and, without reservation, endorse her candidacy in the upcoming primary. I encourage residents to cast their vote for a very qualified candidate, Janet Barnes.