Politics muddy state water debate

Front lines: San Francisco’s Hetch Hetchy water delivery system has been at the center of some state water wars. (Examiner file photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly everyone agrees that California’s delicate patchwork of waterways and pipelines needs to be fixed, but the solutions all dry up in the face of overheated politics. In Sacramento this week, the talk about needed changes boiled over, but don’t expect any answers soon.

Nothing stagnates in the state Capitol like the water debate. There are just too many groups involved with their own special interests, and the needs of many are redirected by the desires of few.

Even an ongoing drought that’s putting the state’s most valuable resource in peril is not likely to bring consensus on how to fix a system in peril. Five bills were presented at a joint state Assembly and Senate committee hearing dealing with improving California’s water delivery systems, but in the end they appear likely headed nowhere because of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s demand (along with state Republicans) that any measures include the building of new dams and reservoirs.

To environmental groups, dams are ecologically unsound and a general nonstarter. Agriculture interests in the Central Valley just want a steady flow of cheap water. Politicians representing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta want the initial focus of repairing the fragile system of levees that bring about two-thirds of the state’s water to remain.

The arguments don’t change, but the severity of the problem does. Water rationing has been mandated in cities from Sacramento to Los Angeles, and increasing pollution has decimated entire fish populations. One of the bills’ authors described the state’s management of the water system as a case of “benign neglect.”

San Francisco’s system, Hetch Hetchy, offers a glimpse of California’s maddening water wars. Not long after voters here endorsed a $4 billion bond to repair the aging system, environmental groups launched a bid to demolish O’Shaughnessy Dam, an ideological campaign with little regard to the harsh reality that such a move would likely cost the cash-strapped state $10 billion.

As a sop to environmental groups, Schwarzenegger asked the state to do a study of the potential project — at the same time the governor was advocating the construction of more dams for water storage. Huh?

Schwarzenegger is also one of the proponents of a canal system that would deliver water around the delta; critics say it would reduce state farmers’ irrigation water.

That should give you some idea about why water issues always get diverted in Sacramento.

Inventive Apple products boast torch screens

There’s at least one aspect of the latest line of Apple products the Cupertino marketing gurus aren’t hyping: recent revelations that a few of the new iPods and iPhones blow up after heating.

I think it’s fair to say iBomb isn’t one of the applications Apple was trying to promote.

It’s been reported that after a few explosive “incidents” in France and Britain, the European Commission is looking into the new iPhones and iTouches, which a company rep described as “isolated” incidents.

Some news outlets started looking into consumer product agency reports and found that there have been similar “incidents” here in the U.S.

One thing is undeniable, however, and all you have to do is ask some of the new iProduct users: Many of the batteries on the iPhones and iPods get very hot — and unlike the devices themselves, that’s not very cool.
 

USF star played on legendary squad

He was the best player on arguably one of the greatest college football teams ever. And though he was a first-round draft pick, he never played in the NFL because he was injured in an all-star game.

So why is the great Burl Toler so revered that a crowd will likely fill St. Ignatius Church on Wednesday? Character has a longer stride than stardom.

Toler, who died this week, was a member of the 1951 University of San Francisco team that featured three future NFL Hall of Famers. They ran through their season unbeaten, but when the bowl bids were announced, they weren’t on anybody’s dance card, snubbed by the Gator, Sugar and Orange bowls’ committees.

The reason: USF had two black players, Ollie Matson and Toler, who were among the best athletes in the country. It was suggested that USF would be invited to a Southern bowl if they left them off the roster. The team’s response: When San Francisco freezes over.

Toler went on to become the first black referee in the NFL and had an illustrious career as an educator. He was a quiet, proud man who always carried himself with grace and dignity. What a legacy.
 

Irish pub veteran brings culinary talent to Sunset

There’s more than just pot growing in the Sunset district these days — try a dash of neighborhood spirit(s).

One of the more welcome additions to the Avenues quietly opened last week: A new pub called Parkside Tavern. The opening is noteworthy for the owner’s pedigree. Larry Doyle was the chef at Johnny Foley’s Irish House for 12 years, and the space that formerly housed Rick’s at 30th Avenue and Taraval Street has been spruced up considerably.

Oh, and the food is quite good. The staff is friendly. And neighbors are finding it a recipe for success.

Doyle said the risk of opening a new restaurant in a tough economic climate was made easier by the fact that he lives just a few blocks away.

“In this day and age it’s become the norm for people who want to stay close to home to try and do that,” he said. “The wonderful thing about this city is that it’s made up of a collection of neighborhoods and there just seemed to be an opening for a nice, casual pub that served good food.” Doyle is being supported in his venture by the owners of Johnny Foley’s, Mary and Martin Connolly, and some veterans from that venue have already made the switch.

Doyle had to overcome some resistance from a few neighbors in order to get the permits, but it looks like there might be a new destination spot in the fog belt once word gets out.

Check out Ken Garcia’s new blog at www.sfexaminer.com/opinion. If you’d like to dish the dirt, chew the fat or wag the tongue, e-mail kgarcia@sfexaminer.com