Letters to the Sun -- Nov. 13

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 13, 2009 | by Lamorinda Sun

Orindans need not be frightened

Recent letters by Ellen Dale and Judy Shallat lead readers to believe if Orinda detached from Moraga/Orinda Fire District to form an Orinda Fire District, it is very likely LAFCO would annex Orinda into Contra Costa County Fire. Those undocumented assertions fly in the face of the fact that LAFCO has not annexed other municipal fire districts such as San Ramon, Kensington, Richmond, etc.

If it is true that LAFCO is in the business of annexing an Orinda Fire District, they could just as well annex Moraga/Orinda. On the contrary; LAFCO has consistently stated it does not force changes on local communities. Recent newspaper articles state communities in East County are getting approval to detach from East County Fire District in order to form a municipal fire district.

I and others have spoken with LAFCO and received an explanation that the Orinda City Council could be the lead agency to handle the detachment of Orinda from MOFD. The detachment process from MOFD to the formation of an Orinda Fire District sounded straightforward.

I suggest Ms. Dale and Ms. Shallot meet with LAFCO commissioners for clarification of possible misconceptions.

Orindans annually provide 65 percent of the MOFD revenue -- $11.5 million, compared to $6 million from Moraga. If Moraga pays $3 million annually for each of its two stations, why isn't Orinda paying $9 million for its three stations? Instead, Orinda is paying $11.5 million, a $2.5 million difference.

This $2.5 million difference may increase to $4 million with construction of the Wilder development. If Orinda forms an Orinda Fire District, this $4 million could be used for pipe upgrades, and to pave roads with huge potholes to improve response times of emergency vehicles.

Vince Maiorana

Orinda

Leaf blower noise -- a time for action

Our recent letter to the editor regarding Orinda's out-of- control noise pollution, mainly caused by leaf blowers, must have struck a chord. My husband and I are amazed at how many fellow Orindans (and even some from Lafayette and Moraga) made an effort to contact us to express their support for a ban on them.

Several urged us to organize a campaign to help Orinda enact an ordinance banning leaf blowers entirely. In doing so, Orinda would join quiet-law communities like Piedmont, Palo Alto, Berkeley and Santa Barbara. While we're not the community-organizer types, we're happy to work with other like-minded Orindans who are ready to take back the quiet and tranquillity of their neighborhoods.

A Google Group has been set up, called Quiet Orinda (http:// groups.google.com/group/quietorinda), where several have already signed up. The group can serve as a central forum for discussing and planning the campaign. Similarly, anyone interested in further information may send an e-mail to quietorinda@gmail.com.

In the meantime, one simple, short-term solution is, of course, to require that your gardener switch to rakes and brooms. We did, and it didn't cost us any more money. You and your neighbors will most certainly appreciate the quieter soundscape and cleaner air.

Susan and Peter Kendall

Orinda