Opinion
The common good Dear Editor: Seldom if ever has an issue received more press than Claremont’s proposed water company purchase and Measure W. Advocates pro and con have weighed in with each side supplying “facts” to support their position. We have no additional information to share. We do have a question: What is the motivation […]
Two wrongs don’t make a rightDear Editor:Growing up in Claremont I was taught that two wrongs don’t make a right. Golden State Water was wrong to increase our rates by double digits during the deepest recession of my lifetime. These increases led to protests and the formation of Claremont Outrage.The plan to purchase the water […]
by John PixleyThe finger snapping was new to me. I have seen a lot of twinkling, when people raise their hands and wriggle their fingers in approval. I have seen people repeat in unison what a speaker says to make sure it is heard by all. But I had not seen an audience, or part […]
by Danny HolznechtFor those of us who read the pages of the COURIER each week, we know that water has been a hot topic in Claremont for many years. I’ve stayed on the sidelines and, until now, have only shared my thoughts with family and close friends. I’m writing this piece because Measure W, the […]
by Mellissa MartinezLast week, my new friend David offered a gruesome explanation for the origin of ‘basket case.’ I looked at him skeptically as he outlined a grim story of quadriplegics in the early 20th century forced to live in baskets. The tale seemed oddly too precise to be true, so I assumed that it […]
by Susan SchenkWell, is anyone surprised that another Golden State-backed group (“Stop the Claremont Water Tax”—more on that name below) has emerged to oppose our buying the water system? Unfortunately, like the former group, this one has also misunderstood the publicly-available information, resulting in misleading assertions in last week’s Viewpoint. If we conduct a “thoughtful […]
by John Pixley“Old man” was printed in black block letters on the back of the lifeguard tower, like it was done with a stencil. This was the wrong tower—it was not the last one, the next one down, Dog Patch, where the beach wheelchair was—but I knew about Old Man. My friend used to talk […]
No gas, no problemDear Editor:As a new 100 percent Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) owner, I want to publicly thank the city of Claremont for doing what many cities around the southland have yet to do. That is installing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in the city center. There are two by city hall and two […]
This fall, Claremont residents will be asked to weigh in on a consequential ballot measure that, if passed, would result in water bills approximately $100 per month higher than they are today. The city is seeking voter support for a $135 million water bond.A local coalition of community members, some of whom were born and […]
A competitive water market in Claremont?Dear Editor:Robert Traer’s letter in the September 5 edition of the COURIER got me thinking. Rather than purchasing the existing water system via eminent domain from Golden State Water, would it be possible to instead create a competitor to Golden State Water in the city of Claremont?As a significant percentage […]
By Ellen Taylor, VP for Advocacy, League of Women Voters of the Claremont Area With nearly eight in 10 California voters supporting improvements to the state’s initiative process that increases clarity and provides voters more information, SB 1253 (Steinberg) was approved by the California senate. SB 1253, the Ballot Initiative Transparency Act (BITA), will create […]
Too many unknowns Dear Editor: I want to thank Marilee Scaff for her reply (“Inaccurate Assumptions,” August 29) to my earlier letter, in which I had outlined a number of significant obstacles to the city’s takeover of the water system via eminent domain. I believe that Claremont is long overdue for a serious discussion that […]
There were lots of choices. Red. Blue. Green. Purple. “Purple,” I said. Then I thought for a minute. Would purple go with most of what I wear? I do wear mismatched high-tops, not to mention rainbow laces, but I can and do change them everyday. “Green.” I changed my mind. Green would still be colorful […]
It was like I could hear the snickers in the back of the classroom. Reading about how print journalism was dead, and how everything has changed because of social media. In some respects, it has. But reaching out to the Claremont community and COURIER readership are things we have been doing quite well for over […]
by Mellissa Martinez Last week, as I looked through pictures of our summer vacation, I discovered that our family had been the victim of a bombing. It was not a scary or destructive event. In fact, it was rather funny—we had been photobombed. We stood in front of a stunning Florentine church, everyone smiling dutifully. […]
by Helaine Goldwater, chair of Claremont Friends of Locally Owned Water Long ago, Claremont decided to allow a private company, Southern California Water Company, to own and manage its water. For quite some time that worked well enough. Although buying the water system was proposed a number of times, the water was reliable and prices […]