Slip Sliding Away

[rickps]

You gotta love politics and the news...

The big item splashed across local news channels in the past couple of days has been the La Jolla landslide.  And what have we learned so far...

San Diego's Mayor raced to reassure residents that everything was under control.  Meanwhile, the City Attorney, who has been at odds with the Mayor for some time, insists that all is in chaos and that the Mayor's Office is the cause of all ills.

Local residents insist that leaking water mains caused the landslide.  City officials insist that the water main breaks were caused by the sliding soils.  A classic chicken or egg argument.

News items hint that the snobbish wealthy folk in La Jolla somehow deserve all this for being so well off and driving big cars.  Impacted La Jolla residents bemoan their loss 'of everything' as they stand in front of their brand new BMWs.

But where is the reality in this tragic opera?

Could it be that the landslides that have occurred in the past in the area were a warning?

Could it be that developers in their zeal to take advantage of every square inch of real estate were permitted to terrace hillsides and build roads that were insufficiently planned?

Could it be that reality in this unfortunate situation will get trampled underfoot by the political opportunists, media crazed locals, and headline hungry reporters?

And why am I bitching about something that seems to be standard fare these days?  Silly me.

Comments

[greyguy-sf.livejournal.com]

could it be that being perched on the very edge of the continent on cliffs mostly made of sand might not be all that prudent... and what the hell were those people thinking when they decided to buy houses there?

[labeartorycub.livejournal.com]

location, location, location. the opportunity to have a beautiful home in a wealthy and exclusive enclave... gee, the bitterness is becoming apparent; i'd better stop now.

[ricksf.livejournal.com]

If you have nothing nice to say, come sit by me!

Or sit in my lap if you prefer...