Introductory Bio:
Joey Racano was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 22nd, 1955, one of 5 children. A United States Navy Viet-Nam era veteran and the author of 3 books on social activism, he makes his home in Morro Bay, on the rugged Central Coast of California.
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Hello,
I'm Joey Racano and I hope you'll vote for me in the Morro Bay City Council Primary election to be held June 3rd, 2008. Your vote will help allow me to run for the Morro Bay City Council General election in November.
With the world in turmoil both nationally and globally, the best thing for citizens to do is get involved locally, in campaigns like mine. Here in Morro Bay, we have been blessed with a beautiful ecosystem that has, unfortunately, been abused. This abuse has not only degraded our environment, but squandered the economic value of the area as an ecotourism mecca.
I intend to change our direction with fresh ideas and the strong leadership it takes to implement them. Even now, the same old forces of ignorance and greed are planning to move ahead with short-sighted plans for the further industrialization of Morro Bay National Estuary while continuing to rationalize the dumping of millions of gallons of sewage into our precious coastal waters.
It will take strong leadership to stand up against such plans, and change our direction. I am the only candidate who can provide that level of leadership.
Respectfully,
Joey Racano, Candidate
Morro Bay City Council
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The Platform and Positions of Joey Racano:
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On Harbor Walk:
Harbor Walk is one of the most beautiful ways for tourists (and residents) to enjoy the natural splendor that is Morro Bay. When I stroll down the walkway, I think, 'Why wasn't this done sooner?' The bay, the birds, the sand spit, the monolithic volcanic plug (rock), the dunes, the otters, the buoy, inlet, clouds- what an experience!
And because a city does not live by beauty alone, these treasures must not only be protected and cherished- we must also allow them to take care of us. That means using creative ways to increase the influx of tourism dollars into the pockets of Morro Bay residents and government.
I am excited about my ideas to make this happen and look forward to presenting these ideas to the people of the city. Plenty of time for that too, with our new primaries (which I don't agree with!) added to the regular election cycle-
But, like has all too often been the case in Morro Bay, there are elements who don't see the beauty as an ecotourism goldmine. They are stuck in the old ways. The old ways which destroyed our fisheries, blew up the rock, built a hideous destructive and unecessary power plant, used the ocean as a sewage dump and left this town broke.
And these same old elements see something different than the rock, water and sky. They see a boat haulout, an industrial boat repair yard, a 4-ton crane and asphalt-paved storage lots.
I am a firm believer that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. I would like to see the Power Plant area be redeveloped with something very beautiful and I have a plan. But further inustrialization of our precious estuary that would jeopardize our ecotourism future is definitely the wrong way, and if elected, I will fight to preserve and further enhance the beauty our visitors and residents experience when they visit Harborwalk.
*Joey on 'GREEN BUILDING':
'Green Building' would be a great idea if we made it mandatory for all new construction. Green Building would also be great if it were required of all major remodeling of houses. Perhaps Green Building will someday soon evolve into that. And I do agree Green Building is called for in Morro Bay when we redevelop the Power Plant into something lovely, lucrative and useful. But for now, Green Building would be more accurately called 'Green Washing', as in a slick public relations campaign for builders of new homes. At a recent Green Building event sponsored by environmental groups who should know better, I saw a slogan on the wall saying, 'BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF GLOBAL WARMING'.
What a rediculous statement! First of all, 'Building your way out of global warming' is a lot like 'heavy-petting your way into virginity'. It doesn't work that way. It doesn't matter how green the building techniques, if you build a large single family home on esha (evironmentally sensitive habitat area) it just ain't green! And it's still growth. Which generates more waste.
Which uses up more water. Green Building, at least for now, is a slick PR campaign that makes it seem ok for municipalities to continue funding themselves with developers fees, continues the irresponsible practice of allowing the use of 'In Lieu' fees, and allowing planning and economic development departments to be more likely to continue with their doomsday policy of rampant, unsustainable, mindless growth. Green Building may get a pretty housewife lots of nice gifts from her Cal Poly Architectural student husband, but it is no good for us or the Earth until we stop Green Building and start Green Retrofitting. However, if Green Building were to adopt some of the fundamental ideas of Low Impact Development...(see below)...
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'LID'- LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT:
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Low Impact Development is something that can make Green Building better. At the recent CORRT (Coast and Ocean Regional RoundTable) meeting, I asked a member of the Central Coast Regional Waterboard "what is the difference between Green Building and Low Impact Development?".
As it turns out, Green Building is a myopic approach that focuses on a specific project. When you're trying to deal with environmental impacts from building, that is not sufficient. Just as the natural world is all interconnected, so are impacts from development. Low Impact Development approaches from this perspective. Low Impact Development takes whole neighborhoods and either builds or retrofits them with a hoilistic, watershed wide approach. Lots of bioswales and pourus paving, with no real curbs or gutters to cause water to rush to the sea.
This reduces the pollution.
It is a way of designing new developments, redevelopments or retrofitting existing developments in such a way as to reduce water flows by mimicing the natural processes. Water is absorbed into Low Impact Developments, allowing it to seep into the ground, much as it would in the natural world, where gophers, beavers, ground squirrels and prairie dogs would be making holes, which serve the same purpose. These holes allow water to seep in and percolate through sediment- the best filters in the world!
When mankind destroys these animals, they no longer function in their role as water filters. Simply put, if you kill your gophers, you simplify your water filters, and that is bad news for not only the gopher, but for people, who happen to be made mostly of water.
And while Low Impact Development may be a good idea for us in our present predicament, it is important to remember that with all Green Building practices, the more these practices resemble the natural world, the better they function- and if they are to succeed, these practices must evolve to resemble the natural world more and more closely. And one fine day planners will see that we can never match mother nature's marvelously sophisticated time-tested and perfect system.
In the end, we must bring about the return of that natural system. Our survival depends on it.
-joey racano
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Police and Fire:
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I haven't had too many opportunities to get to know our Fire Department because they are always so busy. Whenever I see them, it is always in a flash of red, as they race to the scene of a fire or some other mishap where their job is to get there fast and save lives. But I support them and if I am elected, residents should expect me to stand by them.
I have, however, had many opportunities to meet our Police Department. Living in Morro Bay, I have seen them in action. There is no Police Department finer. They work hard to keep us safe, and they are there when you need them. Sometimes it's funny, like the time I climbed atop a big RV to wash the roof, and realized I was stuck up there with no way down (without breaking my neck!).
Fortunately, I didn't have to stay up there feeling silly for long, because here came a Morro Bay PD Officer, tall Ladder in hand. "Next time, make a better plan", he quipped.
Sometimes, it's not so funny, like an arrest I saw them make just last week in North Morro Bay, where squad cars parked a half-block away in all 4 directions, the officers converged on a house, and made the smooth arrest of some unsavory character.
And they love dogs. This is my kind of department and again, if elected, residents should expect me to stand by them.
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ON NEW TAXES:
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Recently, The Morro Bay City Council spent an awful lot of money hiring a consultant to come into our city and show us how to trick the public into voting for Measure Q, which raised our taxes. Not long afterward, city 'leaders' discovered some many millions of dollars, apparently stashed away in different accounts. As a City Councilman, I will never vote to raise taxes, but will instead work hard to raise fiscal accountability and responsibility. Our city has been fiscally irresponsible, all the while squandering our precious natural resources which themselves are an economic bonanza of ecotourism waiting to be nurtured and tapped. It is my firm position that here in Morro Bay, with our extraordinary natural beauty, we can have our cake and eat it too.
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On 'SHIPS 2 REEFS':
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I am against the sinking of ships off our coast for so-called 'reefs'. What a scam! If you check out my blogs below, you'll see where I make fun of this silly idea in a piece called 'Shopping Carts 2 Reefs', where I make all the same stupid arguments ships 2 reefs uses, only for shopping carts, old washer-dryers and refrigerators.
The only thing ships 2 reefs will do is give the Navy a place to dump their military waste. There are a million reasons why it is a bad idea. First of all, it may create habitat, but it will also destroy the habitat it smothers, called sandy-bottom habitat. In Huntington Beach, they just paid 79 million dollars to restore sandy-bottom habitat at Bolsa Chica inlet!
Just let the Navy take those old hulks back down to Texas, like they are supposed to. Our ocean is no trash can! Noone can dive here anyway at 120 feet. Its murky, cold and dangerous!
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Fireworks on the Estuary:
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By now, most folks in Morro Bay realize that our economy's best hope for the future is in a happy, healthy ecology. With our new State Marine Reserve in the East Estuary, it is likely that Fireworks no longer are appropriate in that area. There are issues with perchlorate, a poisonous rocket fuel propellent that may not burn up completely and comes back into the water in small amounts. Trace amounts of this dangerous chemical have been shown to be harmful and this may constitute 'take' in the Reserve.
There is an old saying, 'What goes up must come down'. That is true with fireworks. It is wrong-headed for rockets and such to shoot up and then fall back as trash pollution into our estuary, where these parts may be consumed by gulls and other manner of creature.
As any war veteran can tell you, there is a lot of noise associated with explosions. Anyone who sees these explosions as being compatable with the serenity of our estuary needs to have their heads examined. Remember, this all takes place right next to a Heron Rookery, and during nesting season!
Move the fireworks to the High School, where there are bleachers to sit, facilities for people and parking and traffic safety.
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Joey's answers to the 2008 Sierra Club Questionaire for candidates:
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SANTA LUCIA SIERRA CLUB CHAPTER
2008 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE MORRO BAY CITY COUNCIL
Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club wrote:
Greetings, Candidate!
We look forward to your timely response to the attached.
Best,
Andrew Christie, Chapter Director
Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club
1.Why are you running for city office?
*To make a difference.
2.What experience do you have in local environmental protection?
*I played a role in stopping Morro Bay’s sewage waiver, in stopping a poorly planned sewer project in Los Osos, in placing a Marine Protected Area in Morro Bay Estuary, and other various endeavors.
3.Do you want the endorsement of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club and if so, why?
*Yes I do, because as a ‘green leaning’ candidate, I am sure to be out-funded, and so can use all the help I can get- particularly that of the Sierra Club. Plus, it would mean a great deal to me personally.
Energy and Transportation
4. What could the county do to promote more renewable energy use/production?
*I have proposed a mass-transit style rail (electric/solar) to run North-South along the coast that would lessen cars on the roads and could double as an emergency evacuation system in case of a Diablo or other mishap.
We should also invest in solar, but not as currently proposed on the outskirts of Carrizzo by P,G & E. I am also ok with wind energy production, but without the blades known to kill raptors. I am leery of tide-generation because it may be linked to ‘enshrinement’ of coastal power stations using Once Through Cooling. I think solar and bringing back the electric car are the ticket!
5. Do you agree with the scientific consensus on the catastrophic
climate changes, otherwise known as global warming?
*Absolutely. It’s probably worse.
If not, why not?
If so, what steps would you initiate to protect the SLO coast from the threat of sea level rise?
*I would push for compliance with AB32, and I would be a strong advocate for less building in coastal areas. One of my long-term goals is to see municipalities like ours move away from funding ourselves using developers fees! This makes planning and economic development departments more likely to allow building in flood (and fire) -prone areas.
6. How would you go about implementing the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to which Morro Bay is signatory?
*I’d like to see many roofs become gardens and/or solar panels, I’d work to get rid of Morro Bay Power Plant, and I’d like to see electric cars buzzing about our streets! Conservation and education will be staples of my policy.
7. As a member of the city council, will you work to promote public pathways, channel more transportation funds to public transportation, become more bike friendly, and encourage alternative transportation?
*I’ll say yes to all the above!
Coastal Land Use
8. As a represenitive of a city with a Local Coastal Plan, how do you see yourself interacting with the Coastal Commission? What would you do to improve the city’s relationship with the Commission?
*I have an excellent raport with the CCC. I’d like to see the Coastal Act adhered to, and where the LCP and Coastal Act are different, I would lean toward whichever is most protective of the coast!
Ocean Resources
9. What is your position on ocean water desalination plants for future water supply?
*Terrible idea.
Do you support desal and if so, under what conditions?
No I do not. Conservation is called for.
If more are built, should these facilities be privately or publicly owned?
*I am against water privatization.
10. Would you support or oppose expansion of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary?
*I support that idea.
If supportive, what is your preferred boundary alignment, and what actions are you prepared to take to secure the expansion?
*Bring that baby down to Vandenberg, at least! I am willing to lobby in Washington. What fun!
11. Do you support requiring the Diablo Canyon and Morro Bay power plants to discontinue their use of ocean water for once-through-cooling, and switch to an alternative cooling technology?
*No. Diablo should not be allowed to operate without knowing what to do with their waste. As bad as Once Through Cooling is, it is production of Plutonium that is what we should fear most. Of course, I am against OTC, in any case, but power plants are simply not a good use for the coast. Can’t we do that inland? There’s only so much coast, after all! As for Morro Bay Power Plant, even without OTC, the upgrade would make air pollution worse for MB by shortening the stacks. As a peaker plant and a merchant generator, just get that thing out of there!
If so, how do you think this could feasibly be achieved?
*Im not sure we can stop Diablo. The two major parties are so wedded to nukes. As for Morro Bay Power Plant, I will continue to use the MLPA (Marine Life Protection Act) process to remove it and replace it with something more eco-friendly. And lucrative!
12. As a member of the council, would you favor the model adopted by the city and county of San Francisco that prohibits members who have received a significant contribution or have met in planning sessions with developers from voting on their project?
*It sounds like something I could support.
Joey Racano
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2008 Green Party Questionnaire for SLO County Supervisor Candidates
I. Ecological Wisdom
1. Do you accept the scientific consensus that global warming predicts changes in sea levels in the coming decades?
Yes. I knew it was a fact years ago from reading Carl Sagan's book, 'Pale Blue Dot'.
If "yes" then what actions/policies/programs would you support or initiate to protect vulnerable populations and property in SLO County.
I'd support solar panels to run lights on the embarcadero and solar panels on roof tops. I am also a strong advocate of ZEV (Zero Emisson Programs) in Morro Bay and everywhere. Some local hotels (at least one) are already providing electric cars. I'd like to expand on that. Also, I am an advocate of all marinas and slips in the estuary being kayak only.
2. What will you do to protect ocean water quality and marine organisms along the California coast?
I am actively involved in the MLPA process, and I am against any continuation of Once Through Cooling, and ocean dumping. Until we can stop such dumping, at least lets get rid of all waivers of the clean water act, thermal, sewage and agricultural.
3. Will you actively support the inclusion of the Central Coast in one of the currently established National Marine Sanctuary programs, given the current obstacles to the formation of a free standing sanctuary?
Yes, I support all the sanctuaries we can get. I am in favor of expanding the Monterey Bay Sanctuary south to include waters off Morro Bay.
4. What policies will you pursue to guarantee that local agricultural resources will not be compromised by the detrimental effects of the following:
a. Pesticide use and accumulation?
Ag folks seem to think they are seperate from the rest of the world. I would like to see nitrogen use decrease and an end to all AG waivers. I am involved in bringing these types of issues before the CCRWQCB.
b. Sludge-introduced accumulation of metals, pathogens, and other contaminates?
I think any sludge should be treated to 'Class A' biosolids, and should be dealt with in the communities that generated them.
c. Monocultures which support agri-business to the detriment of diverse habitats?
Protecting biodiversity will always be my priority. I am vehemently against monoculture- it is a quick path to extinction.
e. Release of genetically modified organisms into the environment?
I am completely against GMO's.
5. What would you do to promote organic and other "green" practices" in our county's
agriculture?
It is said that because of fuel costs and other factors, the communities that survive into the future will be those that produce food locally. To that end, I'd like to see the Dalidio property purchased and become an organic farm for the community.
6. What is your position on "intensive animal facilities?"
I think they are unnatural and breed problems. I think that the closer any system mimics the natural process, the healthier and better for people and the ecosystem we depend on. I would like to see us mimic the natural world more and more closely until we are back 'in the garden'.
A. Would you support amending Ag Policy 8 in our Ag & Open Space Element to impose some sort of clear and specific standards relative to size, confinement, crowding, and living conditions in animal agriculture facilities, and if so, what standards would you propose?
I don't have any specifics on standards, I would leave that to biologists and advocates, but I certainly support healthier cleaner and more natural conditions for the creatures, as well as less hormones and antibiotics.
7. What County ordinance would you introduce or change to promote green building standards in San Luis Obispo?
I don't know the ordinances that exist, but I would like to see Low Impact Development married to Green Building in any new development, and in a program of retrofitting.
LID takes a watershed approach and so is superior to Green Building, which is myopic. Building a Green building on ESHA is not green, nor is allowing developers to get their projects approved by using the term 'green building'.
8. How would you propose to implement the "smart growth" principles adopted by the present Board of Supervisors?
Smart Growth is an oxymoron. Studies have called it 'illusory'. Smart Growth merely clusters development together, increasing the importation of supplies and exportation of waste. It also keeps people from seeing their effect on the outside environment. As for implementation of already existing rules and stated objectives, the only real leverage is at the ballot box. We must elect left-leaning, anti-growth, anti-war pro-sustainability leaders.
9. Are you concerned about the vulnerability of the storage of high level radioactive wastes at Diablo Canyon to airborne and waterborne assaults because of its location on an exposed and unprotected portion of the California coast?
Yes, but not as concerned about attacks as I am about the production of plutonium in the first place.
If "yes" then what actions would you support to lessen the dangers and protect the citizens of San Luis Obispo County?
I have already proposed to the supes and the NRC that a mass-transit rail be built running North-south to alleviate traffic and pollution as well as to function as an emergency evacuation system. I abhor nukes and would like to see us go 100% solar.
II. Grassroots Democracy
1. How can we develop planning mechanisms that allow citizens to develop and implement their own preferences for policies and spending priorities?
We must stop funding municipalities with developers fees. We must also eliminate the use of so-called 'soft money' in elections. One way would be through public funding of elections.
2. Do you support the current view shed ordinance or do you support the rejected staff recommendation?
I think visual relief is important, and I am against POPR running the county government. And I am against esha being built on no matter where it is.
Or do you have an alternative position?
Yes.
If so what it is?
Slash 'defense' spending and use some of that money to purchase environmentally sensitive private property. I do agree with the Coastal Commission that the view from offshore should remain pristine.
3. What modifications to the current "winner take all" voting structure would you promote, such as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)?
Yes, Ranked Choice is a big improvement.
4. Would you support campaign finance reform?
Yes.
If yes, what specifically?
Public financing of elections and no more soft money.
5. Would you support an independent civilian review board with subpoena power to investigate complaints about prison guard as well as community police behavior?
Yes. These folks need to have oversight just like anyone else.
6. What is your position on establishing medical marijuana dispensing facilities in unincorporated communities?
Its a good idea. I am very wary of anti-pot laws. Not only is medical marijuana important for cancer and glaucoma patients, but it is a terrible precedent when gov't can tell us which plants we may grow and which we may not. This leads to not being allowed to grow plants that provide habitat for 'vectors' ie: wildlife.
Try allowing habitat to grow on your lawn- you'll soon see a sign that says NOTICE TO REMOVE NOXIOUS WEEDS
III. Multi-modal Transportation
1. A. What do you consider an unmet transit need that could be met?
Better buses and also, we need to get really bike-friendly. There is also a lack of mass rapid-transit.
B. What do you consider an unmet transit need that could not realistically be met?
None!
C. Do you believe the present Unmet Transit Needs process is adequate in meeting those needs? No.
If not, how would you improve the process?
I don't know yet.
D. What do you believe should be the criteria for funding road expansion needs?
You need to be able to show that #1, the road isn't a privately owned toll road through a state park and that you need a road expansion in spite of having done what you could to prevent that need from developing. Of course, we will always need to expand roads as long as we continue to grow without limit. I personally think it's time to grow in quality instead of quantity.
E. What do you believe should be the criteria for funding alternative transit modes?
That you can get it through the planning process.
IV. Humane Treatment of Animals
1. Would you support a countywide rodeo ordinance including the presence of a large- animal veterinarian and the limitation of calf roping to "breakaway" roping?
Yes.
2. Which sections of the circus ordinance ratified in Marin County would you support for our county, such as:
A. Animals be provided with clean water at all times.
Yes
B. Exotic cats be provided with resting shelves off the floor that do not inhibit movement AND a secure exercise area, free of restraint for at least one hour per day.
ONE hour per day? Sounds like someone on death row or doing solitary confinement. What did this creature ever do do be on death row or be in solitary? Who exactly decided they had the authority to do anything with this cat other than give it a checkup and if clean, put it back into its environment?
Big cats in confinement is an excuse not to protect/save habitat and a sign of a very sick society.
-jr
C. Elephants have a record of a TB blood test taken within 30 days prior to the performance and delivered to Animal Services no later than 14 days of performance.
I support this, but again, these creatures do not belong in captivity. It is cruel.
D. There shall be no elephant or camel rides.
Agree
E. Pony rides shall be conducted with individual handlers leading one pony at a time.
Agree
Joey Racano, Candidate
Morro Bay City Council
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