Local candidate forums
INYO COUNTY – Inyo County voters will have an multiple opportunities to learn more about candidates for Inyo County Board of Supervisor at upcoming forums:
District 4 (Bishop area to north of Independence) – Candidate Genevieve “Gina” Jones, Jones has planned a meet-and-greet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the home of Edie Trimmer, 321 Dewey St., Big Pine. Incumbent Jen Roeser also is running for this office.
• Candidates forum – 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, Big Pine Town Hall, 150 Dewey St., Big Pine.
District 5 (southern/ southeast Inyo) – 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 at the American Legion Hall, 201 S. Edwards St., Independence; 5 - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Statham Hall, 138 N. Jackson St., Lone Pine.
Vocational and job training programs at Cerro Coso community college and the Job Spot, operated by the county Office of Education, also will help businesses with staffing and training, Griffiths said.
He added later that the county and city have created an online site that provides access to all the permits needed from both governments for construction or renovation projects.
Resources and community
The next question involved how to balance exporting local resources (water, minerals, electricity) with a sustainable environment and community.
Griffiths said “balance” was the key. However, the community has made it clear it does not want commercial scale solar farms. The county should “continue the fight” over water exports and other issues with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. There might be some mining projects that produce overall positive benefits, but the county would have to way those pros and cons carefully.
Smith agreed there was no consensus for largescale solar projects or large wind farms. The state’s strict environmental laws will provide information about mineral extraction, but if there was some benefit to mining projects, the county should consider those benefits and the people who are affected by any project should have input. She did not comment on LADWP and water issues.
An audience question was more blunt. It asked the two candidates’ stance on any potential future gold mine on Conglomerate Mesa, southwest of Lone Pine in the Inyo Mountains.
Smith said she “can’t say off the top of my head” what should happen on that project, but that the required environmental studies and public process could provide answers.
Griffiths said there are obviously “lots of problems” with the possibility of operating a cyanide leech-field gold mine on the border of Death Valley National Park where there is no water available. The community has made it clear that is “not something they want.”
Housing shortage The area’s “critical
Second District candidates Jeff Griffiths and Laura Smith discuss forum details with moderator Kristina Blüm Justice Thursday evening.
housing shortage” was a topic brought up in the initial questions and by audience members.
Smith said the area has a “severe housing shortage.” She said there could be “incentives” for building affordable housing, and the state could offer tax breaks and low interest loans and other financial incentives. In recent years, those state programs have expanded. “I’m surprised that you can use public funds” for housing, either in the form of incentives or even property tax breaks.
Griffiths said an “all-ofthe-above approach was needed.” Some land from LADWP should be pursued for housing, but the county and the city of Bishop also own land that could be used for housing.
The Silver Peaks
Project on McGyver Street in Bishop, which is partially grant funded, is an example of a cooperative approach, Griffiths said. He noted the project has a set-aside for veterans. “It’s shameful we have homeless veterans.” The county has also eased land use regulations for accessory dwelling units, has a revolving loan program, and pre-approved building plans for the ADUs, which cut costs. Zoning is being changed to allow commercial property to become mixed use commercial/residential, and some areas will be able to have a higher housing density. The city of Bishop already essentially rezoned most of its commercial core to accommodate mixed uses.
An audience question asked what role the LADWP should play in economic development and housing efforts.
Griffiths said it was “critical” that LADWP be included in local economic development efforts
since “they own the land,” and also need housing for its employees.
Smith noted that it might not be effective to negotiate with LADWP by casting it as “an arch enemy.” She related a trip she organized when LA Mayor Eric Garcetti took office. Bishop council members took over Schatt’s bread and Mahogony Smoke Meats and had a productive meeting with a vice mayor and staff.
Miscellaneous issues Smith and Griffiths differed on the audience question about approving a proclamation protecting LGBT rights (as the current board of supervisors have done).
Griffiths quickly said “yes,” that it was important to support all segments of the community and have all people feel safe.
Smith gave a less concrete answer. She said it was a “God-given right” for people to make “that choice” to be gay or engage in “that activity” or engage in “specific activities” that people choose. She added she would like to consider a “sanctity of life” proclamation, which is generally assumed to be an anti-abortion stance and that public funds should not be used for any LGBT “activities.”
After the event, she clarified that she would have “no problem” with a proLGBT proclamation.
Whether the county should help push for a truck route that would bypass downtown Bishop was an audience question.
Smith said the county or city could not mandate trucks to use such a route, or keep cars off it. Thus, there could be a chance that some cars would literally bypass Bishop. She said maybe a toll for cars using the truck route while allowing trucks to drive it for free might be a solution.
Griffiths said there has been a big change since “the 1950s.” The huge increase in truck traffic from Southern California to the Sparks/Reno area means getting trucks off Main Street and downtown would be the only way to create a pedestrian friendly downtown with street parking and amenities. The route being discussed would take trucks east of town by the
Bishop airport then bring them back north of town to Highway 6. That would make a car trip to Mammoth longer than going through town, for cars he guessed.
An audience question asked about how the county could get involved to lessen the impacts of higher usage in the Buttermilks bouldering area.
Smith said it was good to attract more people to the area to recreate, “but I’m not familiar whether it’s a problem.” She said the new restrooms have been installed, and hoped there would be no need to impose a permit system or other limits on visitation.
Griffiths noted the regional Council of Governments took the lead to find funding for the new restrooms and a long-term planning effort was underway to determine any additional infrastructure needs in the Buttermilks, which could include trail work, possibly designated campsites, parking and road improvements.