WATER TORTURE… Among Squid’s favorite things about a rainy winter is curling up on the beanbag chair, listening to the drops on the roof, then settling in for serious binge watching. Breaking Bad? The Wire? Falcon Crest? Bring it.
But the problem with binge watching is that – unlike real life – Squid’s favorite characters often die too young, and shows always end too soon. That said, Squid often wishes real life was more like TV, and that some local dramas would just get it over with already.
Case and point: the failed regional desal project, which fell apart in 2012 because of a conflict of interest by Steve Collins, who served on the county water board at the same time he was being paid as a consultant for one of the project’s subcontractors.
Squid bets most people have read enough about that debacle to make their eyes glaze over. But guess what? It’s not going away anytime soon: Collins filed a claim against the county Dec. 21 for a sum that “exceeds $25,000.” He claims statements published around July 2, 2015 impugned his reputation and injured his business interests. He’s referring to an article about the lawsuit Cal Am and the county filed against Marina Coast the day prior, which he contends is filled with lies. In the claim, he writes that he intends to provide “state and federal authorities with sworn documents, including sworn statements made by the county and Cal Am to the district attorney, demonstrating perjury, fraud, conspiracy and misuse of public funds.” Federal authorities? Sworn documents? The sound of that makes Squid all tingly. This show might finally get good.
DING DONGS… Squid doesn’t have a very acute sense of hearing, maybe because Squid is easily distracted. Yet Squid heard the ruckus over a bell on Ocean Avenue in Carmel loud and clear.
Here’s how it went down: On Friday, Jan. 8, just a few hours before the city’s centennial kick-off was to begin, Planning Commissioner Ian Martin and Carmel resident Cindy Lloydwere each out for a morning walk, and ran into each other near a World War I memorial, a stone archway with a bell. They were distressed to see the memorial festooned with a centennial banner, so they removed it, folded it nicely and delivered it to the nearby home of centennial committee co-chair Barbara Livingston.
After a panicked resident called the Carmel police, that’s where officers found the banner, unharmed. “We documented it, and case closed as far as we’re concerned,” says Police Chief Mike Calhoun.
Since the kerfuffle, members of American Legion Post 512 have been sending letters to City Council supporting Martin and Lloyd for their brave action, though the whole thing leaves Squid scratching Squid’s head. Maybe this is what post-war society looks like. In which case, Squid might consider staging a rebellion.
(2) comments
Very strange, however "nice" my comment is, you never print it...Perhaps it hits too close to home???
I think it strange that even though Collins complaint is a public document, the County has done a thorough job of stopping it's release..There are several people who have said they have been questioned by Federal agents regarding some of Collins claims !!.. Could there be some very real truth to his claims and the very reason the Supes don't want this claim out in the public especially in an election year...As Shakespeare said..."Oh what a tangled web we weave..ect, ect.."
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