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Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupply

Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

the farmers are crying, president obama, senator feinstein

unfortunately, they can't water their fields with their tears

please! turn the water back on
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

the farmers are crying, president obama, senator feinstein

unfortunately, they can't water their fields with their tears

please! turn the water back on

Exactly what part of my previous post was too difficult for you to grasp? :doh
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

The water WAS turned back on, on June 30. Pay attention. :roll:

Don't even bother...:doh
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

Exactly what part of my previous post was too difficult for you to grasp? :doh

unfortunately, despite your growing angst and freaking out (LOL!), americans are not hearing you

they are, however, bigtime beginning to hear me

president obama, senator difi, please turn the water back on

we're dying here in the valley
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

unfortunately, despite your growing angst and freaking out (LOL!), americans are not hearing you

they are, however, bigtime beginning to hear me

president obama, senator difi, please turn the water back on

we're dying here in the valley

Just when I thought that you couldn't get any more ignorant...
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

ad hominems

LOLOL!

even MORE losing tactics from the angry, nobody-hears-you crowd

save the valley, mr obama

the pain experienced by the real people here is palpable

and very political
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

Sorry kiddos....but the days of growing food in the desert are over:

Global Water Shortage Looms In New Century

Not that using taxpayer dollars to irrigate the farms of wealthy western landowners was ever such a bright idea in the first place.
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

then the prez will pay for the pain

he already is

the planters hold him responsible

you really need to try to change THEIR minds

not ours

LOL!
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

i find your wonkishness concerning the livelihoods of real people stunning

with all due respect

Agent Ferris made an incredibly stupid argument. I still have yet to see any of you actually prove that the smelt is responsible for the water problems rather then the environment.
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

then the prez will pay for the pain

he already is

the planters hold him responsible

you really need to try to change THEIR minds

not ours

LOL!

I'm sure Obama's all choked up about losing the support of a handful of wealthy agribusiness barons. :shock:
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

a handful of rich

LOLOLOL!

wow, is somone far out of touch

unemployment in the central valley is in some places over 40%

the california latino water coalition's letter to president obama, aug 6:

Letter to President Obama | California Latino Water Coliation

August 6, 2009

Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama,

The undersigned mayors and the California Latino Water Coalition invite you to meet with us in California’s San Joaquin Valley as soon as possible. We are in big trouble Mr. President and we want you to see the human suffering caused by this man-made drought that is destroying the social fabric of many of our communities. We desperately need immediate and long term help to correct this situation before it becomes irreversible for many of us and more seriously eats away at other areas of the state including Silicon Valley, the Los Angeles Basin and San Diego.

The combination of court decisions, questionable biological opinions from the Department of Interior (Interior) and below-average rainfall for several years has greatly impacted the ability to grow food and fiber, provide jobs and strengthen the economy. Between 400,000 to 500,000 acres of productive farmland in the San Joaquin Valley has been fallowed due to lack of water. Communities such as Mendota and Huron have seen unemployment rise to well over 40%. The impact is felt throughout the local economy as shops, banks and other services close.

One of several federal roadblocks is the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Biological Opinion issued on June 4, 2009, regarding the decline of the California Salmon population and the effects on other species. This opinion, unless modified, will reduce the amount of water provided to stakeholders by another 300,000 acre-feet. We believe the opinion is flawed, incorrectly concluding that pumping is severely harming endangered species, and directly conflicts with the California Department of Water Resources’ finding that other stressors are more harmful to the endangered species. We ask that the NMFS opinion be reevaluated immediately.

On the positive side, the Two-Gates project, which is presently under consideration by Interior, would place two large gates on sunken barges at strategic locations in the Delta to prevent or substantially decrease delta smelt entering areas near the pumps. If this project is initiated by November of 2009, it will be completed in time to benefit the 2010 growing season, and thus provide some relief to drought stricken areas. We ask that you expedite this project.

We appreciate that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Undersecretary David Hayes visited the San Joaquin Valley in June, 2009 and participated in a town hall meeting. However, many of us left the meeting with the feeling that they are limited in what they may be able or are willing to do.

Adding to our concern is Interior’s opposition to a recent federal court order by Judge Oliver Wanger (San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority v. Salazar) which in part concluded that federally mandated waterflow restrictions 1) “will have substantial, detrimental indirect effects on the plaintiffs, the community and the human environment”; 2) “may have significant effects on the physical environment, including land fallowing, increased groundwater use, as well as adverse effects on the water table, soil quality, and air quality”; 3) “… are causing economic hardship for water users and the communities upon which they depend. There is also substantial evidence establishing additional, non-economic hardships, involving dislocation of families and related impacts, loss of school and tax revenue, widespread food insecurity …”; and 4) will cause “irreparable harm … including loss of water supplies, damage to permanent crops, including orchards and vineyards, crop loss or reduction in crop productivity, job losses, reductions in public school enrollment, limitations on public services, impaired ability to reduce the toxic effects of salt and other minerals in the soil, groundwater overdraft, increased energy consumption, and land fallowing that causes air quality problems”.

Rather than lawyers arguing endlessly about the fine points of law, we believe that Interior should 1) accept that people, along with aquatic life, are part of the environment and deserve protection, and 2) design and implement a workable solution for all concerned, and do it quickly. We are very concerned, however, that this will not happen unless higher authority intercedes immediately to reverse this expanding human tragedy.

Mr. President, our constituents are not looking for a hand-out. They want to work and have a piece of the American dream and with your help they will achieve it.

cc:
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein

Sincerely,

Paul Rodriguez, Chair
California Latino Water Coalition

Harry Armstrong,
Mayor of Clovis

Ashley Swearingen,
Mayor of Fresno

Raul Gonzales, Jr.
Mayor of Woodlake

Victor P. Lopez,
Mayor of Orange Cove

Marcia Sablan,
Mayor of Firebaugh

Raymond M. Lerma,
Mayor of Corcoran

Ed Murray,
Mayor of Lindsay

John F. Murray,
Mayor of Lemoore

Fred West, Jr.
Mayor of Wasco

Jesus J. Gamboa,
Mayor of Visalia

Trinidad M. Rodriguez,
Mayor of Kerman

Robert Silva,
Mayor of Mendota

Michael Burns,
Mayor of Dos Palos

Sam Armentrout,
Mayor of Madera

Craig Vejvoda,
Mayor of Tulare

Harlin G. Casida,
Mayor of Avenal

Ed Katen,
Mayor of Newman

Mary L. Fast,
Mayor of Reedley

Ramon R. Dominguez,
Mayor of Huron

Jose R. Villarreal,
Mayor of Sanger

Jim Simonian,
Mayor of Fowler

Pete McCracken,
Mayor of Porterville

Armando Lopez,
Mayor of Parlier

Farrell Jackson,
Mayor of Oakdale

Cathy L. Prout,
Mayor of Shafter

Bruce Blayney,
Mayor of Kingsburg

Amarpreet Dhaliwal,
Mayor of San Joaquin

Ron Lander,
Mayor of Coalinga

Leonel Benavides,
Mayor of Farmersville

Justin White,
Mayor of Chowchilla

Ken Rosson,
Mayor of McFarland

Brent H. Ives,
Mayor of Tracy

Mark Wallace,
Mayor of Dinuba

Dennis Lujan,
Mayor of Selma

Gary Mock,
Mayor of Maricopa

Rich Ford,
Mayor of Gustine

Carol Joan Faul,
Mayor of Atwater

Larry D. Hansen,
Mayor of Lodi

Tommy Jones,
Mayor of Los Banos

Sam Ramirez,
Mayor of Delano

David G. Ayers,
Mayor of Hanford

Leon Ooley,
Mayor of Exeter

Walt Murken,
Mayor of Escalon

Larry Adams,
Mayor of California City

Dave Noerr,
Mayor of Taft

Ellie Wooten,
Mayor of Merced

Tim Tarver,
Mayor of Arvin

Becky Campo,
Mayor of Patterson

Anthony Cannella,
Mayor of Ceres

Kristy Sayles,
Mayor of Lathrop

Linda Vernon,
Mayor of Tehachapi

Daniel Varela Sr.,
Mayor of Livingston
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

a handful of rich

LOLOLOL!

wow, is somone far out of touch

unemployment in the central valley is in some places over 40%

the california latino water coalition's letter to president obama, aug 6:

Letter to President Obama | California Latino Water Coliation

August 6, 2009

Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Obama,

The undersigned mayors and the California Latino Water Coalition invite you to meet with us in California’s San Joaquin Valley as soon as possible. We are in big trouble Mr. President and we want you to see the human suffering caused by this man-made drought that is destroying the social fabric of many of our communities. We desperately need immediate and long term help to correct this situation before it becomes irreversible for many of us and more seriously eats away at other areas of the state including Silicon Valley, the Los Angeles Basin and San Diego.

The combination of court decisions, questionable biological opinions from the Department of Interior (Interior) and below-average rainfall for several years has greatly impacted the ability to grow food and fiber, provide jobs and strengthen the economy. Between 400,000 to 500,000 acres of productive farmland in the San Joaquin Valley has been fallowed due to lack of water. Communities such as Mendota and Huron have seen unemployment rise to well over 40%. The impact is felt throughout the local economy as shops, banks and other services close.

One of several federal roadblocks is the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Biological Opinion issued on June 4, 2009, regarding the decline of the California Salmon population and the effects on other species. This opinion, unless modified, will reduce the amount of water provided to stakeholders by another 300,000 acre-feet. We believe the opinion is flawed, incorrectly concluding that pumping is severely harming endangered species, and directly conflicts with the California Department of Water Resources’ finding that other stressors are more harmful to the endangered species. We ask that the NMFS opinion be reevaluated immediately.

On the positive side, the Two-Gates project, which is presently under consideration by Interior, would place two large gates on sunken barges at strategic locations in the Delta to prevent or substantially decrease delta smelt entering areas near the pumps. If this project is initiated by November of 2009, it will be completed in time to benefit the 2010 growing season, and thus provide some relief to drought stricken areas. We ask that you expedite this project.

We appreciate that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Undersecretary David Hayes visited the San Joaquin Valley in June, 2009 and participated in a town hall meeting. However, many of us left the meeting with the feeling that they are limited in what they may be able or are willing to do.

Adding to our concern is Interior’s opposition to a recent federal court order by Judge Oliver Wanger (San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority v. Salazar) which in part concluded that federally mandated waterflow restrictions 1) “will have substantial, detrimental indirect effects on the plaintiffs, the community and the human environment”; 2) “may have significant effects on the physical environment, including land fallowing, increased groundwater use, as well as adverse effects on the water table, soil quality, and air quality”; 3) “… are causing economic hardship for water users and the communities upon which they depend. There is also substantial evidence establishing additional, non-economic hardships, involving dislocation of families and related impacts, loss of school and tax revenue, widespread food insecurity …”; and 4) will cause “irreparable harm … including loss of water supplies, damage to permanent crops, including orchards and vineyards, crop loss or reduction in crop productivity, job losses, reductions in public school enrollment, limitations on public services, impaired ability to reduce the toxic effects of salt and other minerals in the soil, groundwater overdraft, increased energy consumption, and land fallowing that causes air quality problems”.

Rather than lawyers arguing endlessly about the fine points of law, we believe that Interior should 1) accept that people, along with aquatic life, are part of the environment and deserve protection, and 2) design and implement a workable solution for all concerned, and do it quickly. We are very concerned, however, that this will not happen unless higher authority intercedes immediately to reverse this expanding human tragedy.

Mr. President, our constituents are not looking for a hand-out. They want to work and have a piece of the American dream and with your help they will achieve it.

cc:
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein

Sincerely,

Paul Rodriguez, Chair
California Latino Water Coalition

Harry Armstrong,
Mayor of Clovis

Ashley Swearingen,
Mayor of Fresno

Raul Gonzales, Jr.
Mayor of Woodlake

Victor P. Lopez,
Mayor of Orange Cove

Marcia Sablan,
Mayor of Firebaugh

Raymond M. Lerma,
Mayor of Corcoran

Ed Murray,
Mayor of Lindsay

John F. Murray,
Mayor of Lemoore

Fred West, Jr.
Mayor of Wasco

Jesus J. Gamboa,
Mayor of Visalia

Trinidad M. Rodriguez,
Mayor of Kerman

Robert Silva,
Mayor of Mendota

Michael Burns,
Mayor of Dos Palos

Sam Armentrout,
Mayor of Madera

Craig Vejvoda,
Mayor of Tulare

Harlin G. Casida,
Mayor of Avenal

Ed Katen,
Mayor of Newman

Mary L. Fast,
Mayor of Reedley

Ramon R. Dominguez,
Mayor of Huron

Jose R. Villarreal,
Mayor of Sanger

Jim Simonian,
Mayor of Fowler

Pete McCracken,
Mayor of Porterville

Armando Lopez,
Mayor of Parlier

Farrell Jackson,
Mayor of Oakdale

Cathy L. Prout,
Mayor of Shafter

Bruce Blayney,
Mayor of Kingsburg

Amarpreet Dhaliwal,
Mayor of San Joaquin

Ron Lander,
Mayor of Coalinga

Leonel Benavides,
Mayor of Farmersville

Justin White,
Mayor of Chowchilla

Ken Rosson,
Mayor of McFarland

Brent H. Ives,
Mayor of Tracy

Mark Wallace,
Mayor of Dinuba

Dennis Lujan,
Mayor of Selma

Gary Mock,
Mayor of Maricopa

Rich Ford,
Mayor of Gustine

Carol Joan Faul,
Mayor of Atwater

Larry D. Hansen,
Mayor of Lodi

Tommy Jones,
Mayor of Los Banos

Sam Ramirez,
Mayor of Delano

David G. Ayers,
Mayor of Hanford

Leon Ooley,
Mayor of Exeter

Walt Murken,
Mayor of Escalon

Larry Adams,
Mayor of California City

Dave Noerr,
Mayor of Taft

Ellie Wooten,
Mayor of Merced

Tim Tarver,
Mayor of Arvin

Becky Campo,
Mayor of Patterson

Anthony Cannella,
Mayor of Ceres

Kristy Sayles,
Mayor of Lathrop

Linda Vernon,
Mayor of Tehachapi

Daniel Varela Sr.,
Mayor of Livingston

I must say that I'm quite amused that these mayors think that Obama believes in the American dream. Additionally, California votes overwhelmingly for Democrats so it sounds to me like they've gotten exactly what they deserve.
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

I must say that I'm quite amused that these mayors think that Obama believes in the American dream. Additionally, California votes overwhelmingly for Democrats so it sounds to me like they've gotten exactly what they deserve.

We don't all vote Democrat.
 
Re: Senate Democrats Vote Unanimously To Destroy American Farmers, America’s Foodsupp

I must say that I'm quite amused that these mayors think that Obama believes in the American dream. Additionally, California votes overwhelmingly for Democrats so it sounds to me like they've gotten exactly what they deserve.

absolutely, friend, this is an extremely hispanic region that is drying and dying at the ROOT

and tho i have not confirmed, i suspect, as do you, for solid reason, that the strong majority of those FIFTY TWO mayors are NOT gop

it's astonishing to me how little HEART for humanity is represented by those on the other side

not so much that they feel that way, but that they'd SAY it
 
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