Spin time !!

[David Lee]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/211381

David

[Scott V]

A quote taken straight from the article:

"A year ago, they would have been out planting and pruning in the vast fields of grapes, tomatoes, onions, and nut trees that fan out from the city limits. But this year, many of those fields are lying fallow, and the men at Los Kiki are out of work."

I thought last year was one of our worst years for rainfall and we had much less than this year.

[Darian]

After reading the article, I kinda see it as well rounded and doesn't include much spin. It makes several points that I agree with. Among which is that farm laborers aren't finding work. That's normal when land is retired or fallowed and unemployment in that area is always seasonally high. The article addresses the fish vs people spin issue by reporting on it (without giving the spin any credence), water rights/deliveries and disparities in how the process works; even among water districts. Seems to try to cover everything. Considering what passes for objective reporting in this day and age, IMHO, this article is one of the better ones.

One of the related articles on the website shows what life down in southern San Joaquin has been like "before the current recession", making reference to the tent cities outside of fresno and asks if this will continue. Also asks if people need to adjust to changes coming down the line from global warming and many other issues. Considering that Boswell has estimated annual sales of $400 million, received a gift in the form of reduced corporate income taxes from the State and received the lions share of $5 billion dollars direct cash payment subsidies to CA farmers from the USDA over the years from yr 2000 thru 2006, I'd say a better question is what the hell are these farmers doing to make life better for their farm laborers and/or eliminate tent cities???? The same question could be asked of Paramount farms. In short, there's so much money involved in agriculture down there, that the "fight" over the resource has just barely begun.....

These times are difficult for everyone, including fish. There's one single truth at work here. That truth is when faced with the loss of something extremely valuable to all, each stakeholder group will fight to protect their interests and that includes us.

[David Lee]

"Most people in the valley blame their water woes on those lawsuits and the fish. Since 1992, when Congress established new federal ecosystem standards, increasing amounts of water have been set aside for wildlife restoration. Since then, Westlands has received on average about half as much water as the 1.2 million acre-feet per year it ordered up in its contract, forcing farmers to rely on expensive pumps that suck up water from the aquefier and water transfers from their better-connected competitors to the east. This year, Westlands is down to nearly nothing, and its farmers are livid. "

Westlands hurtin' ?? Why - because they've SOLD their allotments for a massive profit ??

I'd call that SPIN .

David

[Darian]

According to the article, Westlands wasn't going to receive ANY allocation and the author of the article isn't responsible for statements made to him by Westlands and to be fair, you have to acknowledge that he did report that Westlands entered an agreement with the feds to retire 100,000 acres in exchange for a payment of a cash subsidy. That's certainly not a spin. At any rate, the amount of water Westlands and others will receive has been amended since the original allocation.

Certainly, any business (which Westlands is) would be hurting if their product inventory is not available for sale to those it has contracted with and any reduction in that inventory prior to sale could represent hard times.... Maybe Westlands doesn't see this as a spin statement. Nothing unreasonable there. I call the article an example of fairly objective reporting (presenting both sides of the event/issue).

Of course, it's all a matter of perception on the part of the reader....

[STEELIES/26c3]

Greed is blind and easy to find in the desolate soils of Mendota
Same old song of bought and sold and thought not one iota

Drink up! Drink up! while the gettin' is good. Feed that insatiable lust.
Tomorrow we'll worry as we fill our cups over with salty selenium dust...

[STEELIES/26c3]

Water Bill Package fails to make it to vote as legislature ends session, CSPA members ROCK!

http://www.calsport.org/index.htm

FOR NOW... It's all good in the hood...

As the warning label reads... this fight is FAR from over... yet, in our world shrouded by so much negativity... it is nice to have a small victory worthy of celebration...

M