Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/community-opinion/)
Securing a long-term solution to spent nuclear fuel storage has proved daunting in the U.S. Making the task more difficult is the amount of misinformation put forward by some regarding the nature of spent nuclear fuel and its storage. John Dobken, San Onofre nuclear plant public information officer, argues for a science and fact-based discussion of the issue.
Thirty two people “without fixed abode,” homeless, died in Orange County in September, 2020, last year there were 10. One of those who died last month was shot by police while jaywalking, and Operation Roomkey is shutting down, sending 500 homeless back to shelters or back onto the streets. Yet in the midst of this darkness there has been some light, some discussion about next steps. What the County needs, however, is much more than a few photons of hope.
This Op-Ed responds to: Murphy: COVID Won’t Stop City’s Affordable Housing Efforts from 9/22/20. It focuses on the lack of authentic community participation under his leadership. That lack of transparency is further magnified due to Covid-19 barriers that limited public access during Council meetings. Many Orange residents and business owners are asking, when did the community become the enemy? Doesn’t our voice matter too?
Water authorities have been cleaning up groundwater contamination at the El Toro air base. The Irvine Ranch Water District should make all the cleanup data available online in a timely manner. That way residents can trust that their drinking water is clean and safe.
President Trump has made it clear that he will do everything in his power to hinder and undermine the United States Postal Service in its operation. The thin veneer for this action is that mail-in ballots increase the opportunities of fraud. The assertion is false, and the consequences are devastating.
Nuclear safety advocates are right to question SoCal Edison’s decision to remove the cooling pools at the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Edison should follow the example of the Swiss who have chosen to make safety the top priority in designing storage of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel.
Earlier this month, criteria for the seal was approved by the State Board of Education. To receive the distinction, students must exhibit excellence in civic learning, civics-related projects, and contributions to their community. They also must demonstrate a keen understanding of the U.S. Constitution, the California Constitution and the American democratic system.
Wylie Aitken, the former lead negotiator for Anaheim in dealing with the Angel management, makes the following points in an article on the Angel sale:
• The current process has been fatally flawed
• The back door, secret negotiations were in stark contrast to previous negotiations
• The council has a duty to make public the prior negotiations and the negotiations undertaken by Sidhu
• The failure to allow public comments is totally unjustified
Since the retirement of the nuclear reactors at San Onofre in 2013, activists have turned their attention to spent nuclear fuel storage at SONGS. In doing so, they’ve painted a picture that isn’t accurate, omits facts, and only serves to mislead the public about this very safe practice.
COVID has impacted so many things in our community from school to business to how we interact with family and friends. In the midst of this pandemic, however, local government must continue to make progress on important initiatives like addressing the senior housing shortage.