Opinion

Oct. 23, 2012 — The Lassen County Times does not endorse candidates or issues up for election, so this piece should rightly be considered my own personal opinion. I want to make sure everyone understands that.

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, voters are asked to approve Measure W, a ballot measure that will create a $28 per year tax on each inhabitable dwelling in Lassen County. Residents of the city of Susanville already pay this tax.

It’s curious to note an argument in favor of the tax is included with the election materials mailed to county voters last week, but there is no statement in opposition.

Oct. 23, 2012 — Several years ago a sitcom called “Bewitched” included a nosey neighbor named Gladys Kravitz in their lineup of characters. She was always peeking out the window at the house across the street to see what her neighbors were doing. Her snooping was obvious to Darren and Samantha Stevens, the neighbors she was watching.

A few decades ago it was easy to determine if someone was watching or stalking us. We would catch glimpses of the figure in the window or a car following our patterns of turns as we drove home late at night. With the introduction of the Internet and invention of new technology such as smart phones, it is much more difficult to detect inappropriate behavior.

Oct. 16, 2012 — Lassen County’s Board of Supervisors continues to make good on its promise to find a way to build a swimming pool for the people of Susanville and Lassen County.

Oct. 16, 2012 — Sometimes I just have to scratch my head hard when Lassen County politics get really, really, really serious. A case in point — Eileen Spencer’s Oct. 9 objection to the possible appointment by the Lassen County Board of Supervisors of Kurt Bonham — a certified public accountant and a former mayor of Susanville and city council member — as an alternate on the Lassen County Assessment Appeal Board.

Spencer, who claims she is a journalist simply because she has a murky and undefined relationship with a Lassen County Community Bulletin Board website whose content is controlled by an unidentified committee of unknown origin and number that provides the community with absolutely anonymous “accountability through exposure,” blasted Bonham from the podium and delivered a multi-page letter to the board asking that his name “be removed for any consideration for this or any other appointment” because he does not possess “a level of competence” or “good judgment.”