Two topics
Stu News Newport May 13 and Stu News Laguna May 17
Have you been thinking about the high cost of gas and the need to conserve water? I have. Both topics are critical to the lifeblood of our country. Feel free to send me your thoughts.
"Curbing the effects of inflation, even in Newport"
At nearly $5.90 a gallon for regular and more than $6 a gallon for diesel, Newport residents who own a car or a boat know California's gas prices are the highest in the country.
Back on March 11, when I first suggested in Stu News Newport's sister publication, Stu News Laguna, giving all 27 million licensed drivers in the state $250, people laughed at the idea.
Less than two weeks later, Gov. Newsom announced his plan to give people $400. I'm guessing no one in Newport was laughing then.
So, here's my question: Will anyone in Newport, or California for that matter, ever see a check or gas card? If that's not going to happen, then please tell us.
In an effort to help curb the effects of inflation, even in Newport, maybe the DMV should eliminate the annual vehicle registration fee for 2022-23.
I wonder how many people will laugh at that idea?
Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach
"Laguna's commitment to water conservation"
If you have lived in Laguna for any length of time, you know people from one end of town to the other are committed to conserving water. If only the state's other 40 million residents were as proactive. As crazy as it sounds, the State Water Resources Control Board reports residents and businesses actually are using more water today than they did two years ago (when the current drought began). Why is that?
My guess is the answer lies with Gov. Newsom's plea to cut consumption by 15 percent and the messaging coming from different authorities and jurisdictions. In short, they often are at odds with each other or simply misunderstood. That, and who can figure out what cutting water consumption by 15 percent actually means?
I have argued for this before and I'll do it again now. California needs a water czar. We need one person who has the authority to cut through arcane, red tape and make timely decisions that benefit the entire state. If a water czar had been in place these last two years, I doubt the governor would be calling for a reduction in consumption today. It would have been in effect long before now.
Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach