WolfeNotes.com

Salish Sea Inspires As Summer Sun Emerges From The Fog

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch ’em roll away again, yeah

I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Watchin’ the tide roll away, ooh
I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time. ~~~ (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay (Otis Redding)

To be precise, I’m actually sitting on the beach of the Bay – not Otis Redding’s San Francisco Bay, but the Port Townsend, Washington Bay on Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.

This song was in my head this morning at a foggy sunrise on the beach, basking in the fog mitigated sunshine after 10 days of clouds and rain.

Coincidentally (?) I just heard it again right now on Bonnie Simmons’ Thursday night radio show at Pacifica KPFA.

But I ain’t wastin’ time – I’m not only enjoying the wonderful world around me, but, now and then, reveling in flashes of insight and jolts of joy. (BTW, I paid $2.35 for a tennis ball size peach yesterday. Sometimes I feel…  ).

… So I, ain’t a-wastin time no more
‘Cause time goes by like hurricanes, and faster things.  ~~~ Allman Brothers (1972)

Public Power Is Not A Pipe Dream

Maine Ballot Question Echoes Forgotten Core Element Of The Green New Deal

Cornel West and Kennedy campaigns as vehicles to attack corporate power, cut through identity politics, and tame the culture wars

[Update – I edited this down to 700 words in a failed attempt to get it published as an Op-Ed in the Star Ledger. Of course, no way with that.

But it was published over at CounterPunch, one of my favorites sites with superb writing and perspectives, with a photo of a dour Lewis Powell in robes.

I guess it’s just my luck to blast identity politics on the day the US Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. Reminds me that I got a great story about the flaws in Gov. Whitman’s “Open Market Emissions Trading” (OMET) air pollution emissions trading program published on page 1 of the Wall Street Journal – but on 9/11/01!!! ~~~ end update]

Let me first set the context.

Left and progressive politics and policy have been destroyed by identity politics and the culture wars.

There is almost a total vacuum of ideas and bold policy proposals, and little effort to promote public education, organizing, and dialogue, even in so called alternative and progressive media circles.

The Democratic Party is hopelessly corrupted, beholden to, and captured by corporate money. Democrats abandoned the New Deal coalition back in the Bill Clinton years (and arguably well before that under Jimmy Carter).

The Republicans have embraced full on fascist politics, from denying women the right to choose, to banning books, demonizing “the other”, and openly advocating a straight up White Christian Nationalist program that rejects liberal democratic institutions and values.

Republicans have linked this culture war fascist politics to a corporate agenda that not only seeks to dismantle the New Deal “administrative state” and restore laissez-faire deregulated crony capitalism, but to cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy, slash the social safety net even further, and take us back to the 19th century practices of child labor, private charity, and the poor house.

Trump has even called for concentration camps for the homeless, involuntary institutionalization of the mentally ill, and execution of drug dealers.

But recently, there have been glimmers of light in this darkness.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced his campaign for President with a refreshingly radical pledge that unsurprisingly has been ignored by US media:

to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening now to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism in our country.

Kennedy pledged to establish “honest government”:

A democratic government is supposed to be of, by, and for the people. But government institutions have betrayed our trust. The intelligence agencies spy on our own people. Government and tech platforms conspire to surveil and censor the public. Regulatory agencies have been captured by those they are supposed to regulate: Wall Street controls the SEC. Polluters and extractive industries dominate the EPA and BLM. Pharma controls the CDC, NIH, and FDA. Big Ag controls the USDA. Big Tech has captured the FTC. No wonder trust in government is at all-time lows. It’s time to earn it back.

More recently, longtime public intellectual Dr. Cornel West declared his candidacy for President. West spoke with Chris Hedges:

Cornel said he seeks “a paradigm shift,” a realignment of “the ideological landscape.” He calls on us to redirect the focus of governing institutions from the demands of markets and corporations, the military machine, empire and the ruling oligarchs, to poor and working people.

“What we need is a recognition that the corporate duopoly, both parties, constitute major obstacles and impediments for the kind of spiritual awakening and moral reckoning that focuses on poor and working people,” Cornel said.

He is calling, in short, for a political revolution and the overthrow of the ruling corporate class.

Boom!

Now with that context in mind, consider that Thom Hartman has a superb piece on the abuse of corporate power, read the whole thing:

• The Unlimited Campaign Spending by Corporations and Billionaires Has Destroyed Democracy

Hartmann’s highlighted two particularly important issues: 1) the Maine Ballot initiative to establish public power in The Pine Tree State; and 2) the Powell Memo.

It is impossible to over-state the significance and impact of the Powell Memo. It was a reaction to the “excess of democracy” , the various Movements (civil rights, women’s rights, anti-war, anti-nuclear, environmental) and the cultural counter-revolution of the 1960’s (rejection of materialism, acquisitiveness, competition, violence, aggression, patriarchy, sexual repression, et al).

The Powell Memo served as the strategic plan, intellectual framework, and institution building for the corporate long game that has gotten us to where we are. The Neoliberal corporatists did this largely by blaming government and progressives – instead of corporations and capitalism – for people’s problems. That has legitimized a massive shift in power to corporations and away from democratic institutions, as well as expansion of the huge gap in income and wealth inequality, destruction of the middle class, increase in poverty, destruction of the public sphere, the evaporation of social mobility and the onset of cultural wars to mask and displace the substance of public policy.

Moreover, Hartmann’s mention of the Maine public power question reminded me that public power was a key feature and structural element of Bernie Sanders’ original version of the Green New Deal.

Sanders sought to implement public power via repurposing the existing Federal Power Marketing Administrations.

That critically important proposal has been ignored by media, abandoned by climate activists, and virtually forgotten, so here it is again in it’s policy and political outline: (GND)

• Generating revenue from the wholesale of energy produced by the regional Power Marketing Authorities. Revenues will be collected from 2023-2035, and after 2035 electricity will be virtually free, aside from operations and maintenance costs.

• Reaching 100 percent renewable energy for electricity and transportation by no later than 2030 and complete decarbonization of the economy by 2050 at latest – consistent with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change goals – by expanding the existing federal Power Marketing Administrations to build new solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources.

• Transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to 100 percent energy efficiency and sustainable energy by 2030 at the latest. The New Deal provided inexpensive electricity to America through efforts like the Rural Electrification Administration and the Federal Power Marketing Administrations. If the federal government was able to electrify America under FDR without computers or any of the modern technologies we have available to us today, think of what we can do today. Municipal and cooperative electric utilities still provide some of the least expensive electricity in the country today. As part of the Green New Deal, we will expand on that success.

• Build enough renewable energy generation capacity for the nation’s growing needs. Currently, four federal Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) and the Tennessee Valley Authority generate and transmit power to distribution utilities in 33 states.We will create one more PMA to cover the remaining states and territories and expand the existing PMAs to build more than enough wind, solar, energy storage and geothermal power plants. We will spend $1.52 trillion on renewable energy and $852 billion to build energy storage capacity. Together, with an EPA federal renewable energy standard, this will fully drive out non-sustainable generation sources.

• We will end greed in our energy system. The renewable energy generated by the Green New Deal will be publicly owned, managed by the Federal Power Marketing Administrations, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Tennessee Valley Authority and sold to distribution utilities with a preference for public power districts, municipally- and cooperatively-owned utilities with democratic, public ownership, and other existing utilities that demonstrate a commitment to the public interest. The Department of Energy will provide technical assistance to states and municipalities that would like to establish publicly owned distribution utilities or community choice aggregation programs in their communities. Electricity will be sold at current rates to keep the cost of electricity stable during this transition.

The Green New Deal is politically dead, but the policy ideas, technical merit, and political strategy are more relevant now than ever. And public power – politically and energy – could be a pillar of a new framework.

So, what I suggest, is that a superb writer and intellectual like Chris Hedges be the man to craft a progressive “Powell Memo”.

We could call it the “New Deal Restoration” memo.

It could provide a narrative and talking points that could be used to focus, message, and organize the kind of coalition that was able to make the New Deal a reality.

It could be used as a legitimate “bridge” to approach and dialogue with those sometimes described as “right wing populists”, those who have been abandoned by and feel betrayed by Democrats and resentful of the arrogance and condescension of progressives and liberals. Cornel West recently stated that 1 in 9 Trump voters previously supported Bernie Sanders.

It could cut though the identity politics and dampen the culture wars.

So, the challenge is out there – will Hedges, West and Kennedy campaigns craft, in West’s words, a real “paradigm shift,” that leads to a realignment of “the ideological landscape.”?

The whole world is watching!

[End Note: 

Cornel West and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. are not Bernie Sanders and AOC. They will not sheepdog, gaslight, and sell out.

Just thought it important to make that distinction.

And once upon a time, when there was a very unpopular murderous US imperial war that prompted a huge anti-war movement and an insurgency candidate in the Democratic Party’s primary, a sitting US President was forced to step down and not seek reelection. For real.

DEP Water Supply Planning Still Fails To Respond To Climate Change Impacts

DEP Bypassed Legislatively Established Water Supply Advisory Council

Yesterday, the Murphy DEP cancelled the scheduled meeting of the Water Supply Advisory Council (WSAC):

Please note that the June 23, 2023 meeting of the NJ Water Supply Advisory Council has been cancelled.  The next anticipated WSAC meeting is scheduled for July 21, 2023.  More details will be available closer to the date.

The WSAC (Council) was created by the Legislature as the vehicle for the public, experts, and other interested parties (aka “Stakeholders”) to provide input to the Department’s management of water supplies, particularly the ongoing update of the Water Supply Plan, including considerations regarding DEP’s issuance of drought advisories.

Today, bypassing the Council’s input, the DEP issued a press release advising the public to conserve water, see:

• MURPHY ADMINISTRATION URGES PUBLIC TO CONSERVE WATER HEADING INTO SUMMER AS DRY WEATHER PERSISTS

Obviously, yesterday DEP knew that they would be issuing this advisory today. So the cancellation of the WSAC meeting can only be interpreted as a move to bypass their prior briefing, consultation, and input.

Importantly, in addition to bypassing the WSAC, for the first time I can recall, the DEP press release included a quote from a private water purveyor (DEP Press Release – emphasis in original):

“As the largest water and wastewater service provider in the state, we understand the importance of conserving our most precious resource, especially during the summer months,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “Incorporating wise water practices into your daily life throughout the season can help us avoid more stringent restrictions as temperatures continue to climb. As an added bonus, using less water will also result in a lower water bill.”

[Update: The DEP press release urging water conservation, is essentially a new informal step in the DEP’s drought emergency framework, which is a phased sequence, e..g. see: 7:19-13.1

Public education on water conservation and drought is a good thing. But the fact that the press office is the lead in this DEP exercise of non-emergency powers under DEP regulations, and that there are no technical criteria and standards guiding this process, and that private water companies are involved in shaping the message, should disturb those that support science and law based government.

And to state the obvious principle that seems to have been completely abandoned, DEP is a regulatory agency and NJ American is a regulated entity. There is supposed to be at least an arms’ length relationship, and in most cases, an adversarial one.~~~ end update]

So, in addition to bypassing the Council, the Murphy DEP is giving preferential access and working closely behind the scenes with a private corporate water purveyor NJ American Water.

Why should NJ American Water have greater access to and influence on DEP than the WSAC and the public? Obviously their corporate interests conflict with the public interest.

Interestingly, just 3 weeks ago, I wrote to Murphy DEP Commissioner LaTourette and legislative leaders to warn about and convey an Audit of the California water supply planning program.

That Audit found that California regulators failed to consider the huge impacts and implications of climate change on water supplies. I urged DEP and Legislators to oversee DEP’s planning to assure consideration of climate change.

One of the projected impacts of climate change is significant fluctuations in normal rainfall patterns, including prolonged periods of little rainfall and drought, along with increased temperatures, both of which stress water supplies.

Thus far, DEP has considered climate change driven increased rainfall in some flood and stormwater regulations. The DEP flood rules are seriously flawed, but at least DEP considered climate science and incorporated new standards and methods in DEP regulations.

But DEP has not incorporated climate impacts in the ongoing update of the Water Supply Plan and DEP water allocation and other water supply management regulations.

[Update: Here’s how the current DEP Water Supply Plan gives climate impacts rhetorical treatment, with only a commitment to “monitor” climate impacts and “respond” – the opposite of planning! (also note the passive voice “there has been concern”, the downplaying or risks (as probability) and focus on the future, as if impacts are not already happening now): (@ p. 37-38)

There has been concern with the possibility of changing climate in the future. The NJDEP’s Science Advisory Board, Climate and Atmospheric Sciences Standing Committee was asked to weigh on the potential impact of such changes on water supply. The Committee reviewed available literature and issued a report of findings. The final report cited the probability of increased frequency of extreme high temperatures, decreased frequency of extreme low temperatures, a lengthening of the frost-free season, and an increased short-term hydrologic variability. This report then lists a number of potential impacts on water supply. The report concludes “All of these studies and informational resources indicate that climate change will make extreme events, including floods, heat waves, and droughts, more likely. They stress the need to build capacity at the local, regional, and state level to develop and institutionalize strategies to cope with extreme events.” NJDEP is committed to monitoring and responding to events in such a way as to preserve the water supply of the State as well as working to ensure an adequate supply into the future.

That is totally lame and ignores the climate science. (and the science DEP cites in the Plan is 16 years old, see the sources DEP cites: 1) Frumhoff, P.C., McCarthy J.J., Melillo, J.M., Moser, S.C., and Wuebbles, D.J., 2007; and 2) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007, Summary for Policymakers: Working Group I Fourth Assessment Report, 18 p and 3) Union of Concerned Scientists, 2006, Climate change in the U.S. northeast: A report of the Northeast Climate Im- pacts Assessment, Cambridge Mass., 52 p.)

But it gets worse. The DEP Science Advisory Board Report (2016) DEP cited in the above WS Plan excerpt also includes this recommendation, which DEP left out because it directly contradicts their “monitor and react” approach”: (@ page 11)

These recommendations are:

1) Strengthen climate change preparedness and adaptation in New Jersey through the establishment of a statewide climate adaptation policy that is designed to significantly reduce New Jersey’s vulnerabilities to a changing climate. This would be implemented by directing integration of science-based standards into state policies, programs and regulations and directing actions consistent with the statewide policy be taken by State agencies, regional and local planning authorities and commissions, municipal and county government. […]

The SAB recommends that these resources be used to provide general guidance on climate change adaptation, and stresses that developing capacity to adapt to extreme events such as floods and other storms, heat stress, and drought, before they happen is very likely significantly more cost-effective than attempting to adapt to extreme events after they happen. The SAB further stresses that although their timing cannot be predicted, it is virtually certain that extreme climate change-related events will occur with increasing frequency.

So, here’s the California Audit and letter – hopefully, DEP will consult with the public and WSAC in updating the current Water Supply Plan to consider climate change impacts.

———- Original Message ———-

From: Bill WOLFE <>

To: “shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov” <shawn.latourette@dep.nj.gov>, senbsmith <SenBSmith@njleg.org>, sengreenstein <sengreenstein@njleg.org>, “Hoffman, Jeffrey L.” <Jeffrey.L.Hoffman@dep.nj.gov>

Cc: Robert Hennelly <rhennelly55@gmail.com>

Date: 06/02/2023 2:50 PM PDT

Subject: Audit of Water Supply Methods

Dear Commissioner LaTourette, State Geologist Hoffman, and Chairman Smith:

I write to provide an interesting and relevant audit Report conducted by the California State Auditor of the California State Water Resources Control Board regarding water supply planning methods.

The audit found:

“we determined that DWR has made only limited progress in accounting for the effects of climate change in its forecasts of the water supply and in its planning for the operation of the State Water Project. Until it makes more progress, DWR will be less prepared than it could be to effectively manage the State’s water resources in the face of more extreme climate conditions.”

• DWR Has Not Adequately Ensured That Its Water Supply Forecasts Account for the Effects of Climate Change

• DWR Must Do More to Prepare for the Impact of More Severe Droughts on the State Water Project’s Operations

For the full Audit, see:

https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2022-106/index.html

While NJ does not face the magnitude or severity of California’s water crisis, I trust that the Department will find the audit’s findings and methodological recommendations of interest in relation to updates of the NJ Water Supply Plan.

Similarly, I suggest that Chairman Smith might consider either directing a similar audit by the NJ State Auditor or Comptroller, or perhaps hold legislative oversight hearings on these important climate related issues.

Respectfully,

Bill Wolfe

“Know them by their fruit”

(Washington Pass – Okanogan – Wenatchee Nation Forest)

I was saddened to learn of Dan Ellsberg’s death on Friday. But he lived a wonderful and long life and made a huge difference in the world and on millions of people’s lives.

Ellsberg was a hero of mine, and a role model.

I can still feel the thrill of reading the Pentagon Papers stories – and the Nixon Watergate debacle it triggered – in the New York Times, a daily pleasure that died for me in 2003 with the Iraq war lies and propaganda they printed.

A lovely poetic tribute by Caitlin Johnstone captures my feelings far better than I could ever express them – read the whole thing:

• Thank You For Your Service

Given that Ellsberg died just 2 days before Fathers Day got me to thinking about how his children must be feeling right now. So, I Googled the Ellsberg family and was so warmly moved to learn of the lives of his children.

Dan’s beauty and quest for truth was passed on: (Wiki)

Robert Ellsberg (born 1955) is an American religious publisher and author who is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Orbis Books, the publishing arm of Maryknoll.

Mary Carroll Ellsberg (born 1958) is an American epidemiologist whose research focuses on global health and violence against women. She is the director of the Global Women’s Institute at George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Michael Ellsberg (born May 12, 1977) is an American author, blogger, and public speaker. In 2011, he published The Education of Millionaires: It’s Not What You Think and It’s Not Too Late.

Yes, known them by their fruit.

I know how proud Dan must have felt for his children.

That’s a joy and pride I share with him, because my two kids are the light of my life.

I am so proud of the kind, caring, and brilliant people they both are! They’re better people than their father and have far exceeded their father’s achievements and have gone way beyond even his hopes and dreams!

Love is the Word, on this Father’s Day.