On involvement

Some lament in Ventura County that red tape and not-in-my-backyard-minded activists hinder progress. Yet, without a vigilant active community little would be done to help the vast majority of our citizens, many decisions would be taken with myopic profit motives and few socially minded initiatives would get off the ground.

We need only look at last year's success defeating BHP Billiton's attempt to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) platform off the Oxnard coast, where a strong coalition of environmentalists, social justice activists, politicians and even some local business people stood together to fight a project they believed threatened the environment, safety and, yes, the economy of their community.

Now, the first signs are emerging of other successes by local activists, even as new fights take shape. Two hearings, for example, bring some major issues back to the table. On May 8, for one, the California Coastal Commission was set to hear Southern California Edison's appeal of a denial by Oxnard's city council and planning commission of a new peaker power plant near the Reliant power station at Mandalay Beach. The same activists that fought that plant last summer will fight it again at that hearing, and likely beyond.

Likewise, Ojai residents concerned about mining truck traffic along Route 33 have scored something of a victory and will have a chance to ensure that victory holds May 14. That day, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission will consider final action on the proposed Diamond Rock mine. After criticism of the mine's plans to use Highway 33 to transport material and other environmental concerns that might impact Ventura County more than Santa Barbara County, the plan was altered to prevent trucks from traveling south on 33, to reduce its production rates and truck trips to avoid situations where those truck trips might be necessary, and to address other environmental concerns. It is a testament to the continued involvement and dedication of Ojai and Cuyama Valley residents - as well as the mine owner's willingness to discuss community concerns - that such progress was made.

As the summer progresses the grueling presidential nomination process will finally transition to the main event, the battle between John McCain and either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for the White House. Those that got involved with presidential politics for the first time will need to stay engaged if they really want to see change in our leadership.

Those who truly want change in society, though, will have to be involved on many more levels, though. From a leadership standpoint alone, they must commit to vote in the June 3  state primary, when, among other races, two strong women - Mary Pallant and Jill Martinez - will vie for the Democratic nomination for the 24th Congressional District seat currently held by Elton Gallegly. Republicans, meanwhile, must decide whether they can continue to support Gallegly or if their party needs new blood, and if Michael Tenenbaum better represents their values.

More important than any of these fights, though, are the less visible but more immediate neighborhood battles throughout the county. Only those who attend public hearings, write letters to their public officials or otherwise take concrete actions to express their position or affect change have valid reasons to discuss whether their leaders do or do not speak for them.

Concrete actions, though, don't just mean interacting directly with public officials. Because of the struggle to make ends meet, many people don't have the time or resources to be fully engaged in public life. That is both a commentary on the intangible impacts of our economy's race to the bottom and a reiteration of the need for other forms of community building. Grass roots action at the neighborhood level is necessary to show that even working class people are invested in and care about their community and what happens to it.

Those who would rather complain than build those community networks, become directly involved with their government or otherwise take action toward change, however, should be ignored as the apathetic, annoying whiners that they are.