MAC: Not Keen on EBMUD Project Nor ‘Environmental Justice Element’

continued from front page But current and former MAC members and members of the public aren’t keen on the project, having been burned by a similar soil relocation from EBMUD in 2019 that they say disr pted tra fc and damaged roads with heavy-duty trucks on main thoroughfares, including Redwood Road.

The project planned for this summer is smaller than the 2019 project, with plans to move about 80 percent less soil than the 2019 project. EBMUD says they will further mitigate issues by working during the summer to avoid impacting school tra fc red cing wor hours, covering loads, and encouraging the public to report offending haulers.

Public speakers questioned the necessity for the project at all, saying there are methods to install new pipes within existing pipes that need to be replaced, and it’s possible to do so without moving so much soil.

Former MAC member Marc Crawford, who was serving on the council during the last EBMUD hauling project, spoke at Monday’s meeting, saying he was “shocked” EBMUD would attempt a repeat of a project that he believes did not go well the frst time

“It’s all BS; they told us all these same things last time,” said Crawford. “They don’t really care what we have to say. The deviousness is appalling.”

Crawford said that 150 trucks running regular large loads down Redwood Road would cause damage, and EBMUD should pay to repave the road; the utility says they pay taxes like everyone else and have a right to use the road.

MAC member Chuck Moore called EBMUD’s plan “a slimy way of doing business” and said he’d like to see an Environmental Impact Report for the project, just like any other contractor would need for a similar project.

In the end, the MAC said that they would request that the County delay the project and said they’d fle an in nction i necessary.

The MAC was also not keen on another agenda item- an update they received about the Alameda “Environmental Justice Element” of the Alameda County General Plan.

In 2016, the State of California passed Senate Bill 1000 (SB 1000), which established environmental justice requirements for General Plans for all cities and counties.

The California Environmental stice Alliance defnes Environmental Justice as “the basic right of people to live, work, go to school, and pray in a healthy and clean environment, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, ability, nationality, or income”

The Alameda County Element is a 178-page document that has been in the works for several years and considers factors like population and socioeconomic factors to create more equitable resources in

R P alo the community. The document considers air quality, noise pollution, and disadvantaged communities when distributing resources.

The MAC was somewhat skeptical of the Element, saying there are well-intended ideas but little substance to the plan.

“I hope we aren’t falling into a San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles style hole with this document,” said MAC member Ken Carbone. “This thing is all over the place.”

The MAC criticized the document for being vague and rushed. Members wanted to know the annual price tag of implementing the plan, but the county says that won’t be known until they identify funding from the county budget or outside grants.

“How are we going to measure these changes?” asked Moore. “What is the timeline for results? I’m concerned that there are a lot more economical things going on; we could focus on the more practical things.”

The report next goes to the County Planning Commission, and there will be further public meetings over the summer, with possible adoption as early as this fall.

In other MAC matters, the Council held its annual election of a Chair and Vice-Chair, with current Chair Bill Mulgrew unanimously winning a second term as Chair and Al Padro elected Vice-Chair.

© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

RI ( arc 21 to ril 19) stubborn refusal to go ahead on a project mystifes colleagues who expected more exibility. But once you explain your position, they’ll understand and even applaud you.

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Pra eru is Not e it

As an educator for over 25 years, I was upset by the content of a recent Letter to the Editor (“Amazing What’s Not Being Taught in School System”, 5/7/23). The writer recommends the website Prageru.com as an educational resource. Unfortunately, the letter failed to mention that “Prageru” is not an educational service. It is a Right-Wing propaganda organi ation n act many ona fde academics have pointed out that Prageru’s “educational videos” are little more than hate speech. These videos routinely attack people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. Among other things, the founder of Prageru (Dennis Prager) has compared homosexuality to incest and Prageru videos routinely claim that LGBTQ people are mentally ill. Prager himself has claimed that homophobia, sexism and racism do not really exist. Prageru videos also deny well esta lished scientifc data on climate change and present what is essentially a white-supremacist view of history.

–Alfred Kielwasser, Castro Valley

I Agree With Spink

As an Historian, among a myriad of occupations and degrees I hold, I agree 100% with Stacy Spink on his letter about Memorial Day. A lot of our basic American history, and world history for that matter, is not being taught in our schools. I taught community college in Kansas for two years, and also basic composition at a university for two years, and I was shocked by the lack of knowledge my students had on what, when I was growing up, was practically considered common knowledge. I always wondered how did these students even get into a junior college or a university. Granted, not all of the students were lacking, but I would say a majority were, not knowing things like the origin of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Labor Day, etc. I checked with some of my colleagues about this and some of them were equally vague. I asked one if they knew how we get the dates for Easter, an he said he wasn’t sure but ‘’they are probably determined by the American calendar company.’’ I had to close my mouth tight to keep from laughing. So it is not just students, it is teachers too. Our whole education system has gone awry.

–Angela Shipp, Castro Valley

Ait In Indness

Our faith in fellow human being is tested at times. My faith in kindness of stranger was rewarded by a person who found my wallet in middle of Center Street. Wallet fell out of my unzippered motorcycle jacket. By prompt recovery saved me from hours and days of cancelling credit cards, requesting new ID cards and drivers license. I can not thank enough for the good Samaritan of Castro Valley.

–Keisuke Warner, Castro Valley