A recycled bouquet – the Don't Dump on Mother award – to the North County branch of Waste Management, the nation's trash disposal giant, for a press release advising consumers how to treat Mother Earth this Mother's Day.
Sounding more like Al Gore than TV trash mogul Tony Soprano, Waste Management district manager Ken Ryan advised gift-givers to “think about what resources it took to make and package the item and how long you think it will last after Mother's Day.”
For example, dutiful sons and daughters who go to a florist for cut flowers should be ashamed. If they do opt for fresh roses, however, “be sure to place them in (a) green waste container for recycling . . . .”
As for old-fashioned Mother's Day cards, they're earth-unfriendly tokens of affection. Though stationers might bristle, Waste Management suggests “e-mail greetings or a photo with a message written on the back. If you purchase a paper card, look for one made of recycled materials.”
Perfume? Turn up your nose. “Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to handle many of the chemicals used in products today. Consequently, many chemicals could escape into the environments. Read the fine print on labels and purchase natural products, when possible.”
Clothes? “When choosing clothing, check the labels and consider carefully clothes that require dry cleaning. . . . consider natural and organic cotton, wool and even bamboo.”
“By thinking creatively,” Ryan says, “you can come up with the perfect gift for your mother, and Mother Earth – let your mom know you were thinking of both!”
So act quickly this morning.
Throw those roses in the trash. Dump that bottle of Chanel No. 5. Toss that polyester pant suit.
Then drive your SUV in search of the perfect sustainable gift.
A brick – the Poor Mouth award – to Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis for his blunt attack on the California Coastal Commission's decision to charge a whopping $8 to park at Tamarack beach.
The mayor has a right to rail against this radical change that would affect beach lovers who enjoy free parking at the popular state beach just north of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
Chances are, nearby city streets will become more congested. That's a big deal.
But in his criticism of the state's fiscal mismanagement, Lewis hasn't emphasized that the city has an important role. Until 2000, the city kicked in $36,000 a year to preserve free parking at Tamarack. The last eight years, nothing.
As the state faces a $20 billion deficit, it's not surprising the Coastal Commission faces hard choices.
On Wednesday, commission Chairman Patrick Kruer stated the obvious: “If there's any city in the state of California or county of San Diego that can help out, it would be the city of Carlsbad.”
Of course, there's old bad blood between the commission and Carlsbad. (Think back to the building of the city's golf course.)
But if Carlsbad cares so deeply about keeping that parking lot full, it has to work with the state, not against it.
Worst case, meters. Best case, free.
A bouquet – the Number Isn't Totally Up award – to Pat Manning, an Escondido-based gift consultant, who's trying to whip up a last-ditch appeal of the California Public Utilities Commission's business-unfriendly decision to impose a new area code – 442 – on northern North County.
Manning is trying to get the word out to public-spirited attorneys that an appeal is still possible.
“I'm screaming into the wind,” she said.
Like many business people, Manning is incensed that a populated area takes the area code hit when, for example, an overlay could have been used. (The down side of that would have been requiring those with 760 area codes to dial 10 numbers. Big deal.)
Art Neill, an attorney at Utility Consumers' Action Network, says people have a 30-day window after April 24 to request a rehearing, which the PUC “will likely deny.” After that, the decision could be appealed in court.
If no attorney takes up the cause, maybe Waste Management, which would not approve of the waste of thousands of business brochures and cards, should send a couple of goons to the PUC and make an offer commissioners can't refuse.
Logan Jenkins: (760) 737-7555; logan.jenkins@uniontrib.com.
