Counterproductive curbs

Dear editor:
Wasted water is a topic worth adding to the list of issues created by the county’s latest push to build more curbs along the town’s roadways. While storm water is collected and channeled along roads, it is often ignored after being discharged into the landscape.

In Idyllwild, this “flush-and-forget” approach has caused significant erosion that can run down slope for long distances. Much of this runoff eventually ends up in Strawberry Creek and other waterways, where it is wastefully shunted off the mountain in flash floods.

The result is less water absorbed on the Hill in the winter, and consequently drier creeks in the summer. This loss of water renders the community’s already drought-stressed forests even more vulnerable to beetle infestations and fire.

Homeowners, camps, schools and businesses can help lessen the impacts by managing their own runoff from driveways and downspouts, and not removing water-retaining needles and duff beyond what is required for defensible space around buildings.

Best practices for water retention include judicious use of curbs together with permeable surfaces, swales, infiltration basins and other features that allow storm water to recharge locally.

I encourage county planners to give more attention to stewarding and retaining precious water in our parched landscape.

Evan Mills
Idyllwild

Counterpoint to ‘What if?’

Dear editor:
A willingness to speak up and share one’s deepest assumptions is an act of courage; it risks ridicule in this unsettled time when conflicting views are so strongly held.

In the heartfelt “What if?” commentary last week, the writer displayed her deepest conviction, beseeching readers to embrace its power and truth.

It also was an act of goodwill to share her thoughts based on the certainty her belief system would solve all life’s problems.

As all of us struggle to make sense of how to co-exist in a troubled world, a counterpoint to each of her “what ifs” is offered as another option.

To start, all accepted religious belief systems encourage humans to treat each other with kindness and care.

The insistence that “my” Supreme Being(s) is the only true one, is a red flag. It empowers its believers to demand their set of rules be followed by everyone.

What if God cared more about how people treat each other, rather than who they love?

What if marriage was considered an act of loyalty rather than an exclusive right? What if we are entitled to live our lives as we choose, if it doesn’t harm others?

What if we embraced immigrants as human beings, who deserve our respect and kindness?

What if we celebrated our differences rather than condemned them?

What if we worshipped the natural environment as if our lives depended on it?

What if T-O-L-E-R-A-N-C-E are the letters to accept? It’s a word that encompasses respect, generosity, kindness and acceptance for each other.

Mary MacLaren Rider
Idyllwild