Enterprise columnist

COUNCIL TACKLES BURNING ISSUE É yes, the Fireplace Force is at it again, forcing our esteemed leaders to once more address the issue of Òbanning all wood burningÓ in Davis, according to one of the leading advocates of a mandatory ordinance É tonightÕs the night for those who like their discussions heated, and enough hot air is certain to be released from the council chambers to heat the entire city until Thanksgiving É

And yes, itÕs turned nasty, with ordinance advocate Alan Pryor using his million-word op-ed in this very newspaper on Sunday to demean the acknowledged world expert in air quality, Tom Cahill É wrote Pryor in the longest op-ed in the history of newspapering, ÒTom Cahill made a number of serious misrepresentations and false statements opposing implementation of a widely supported wood smoke ordinance in Davis.Ó É note the words Òwidely supported.Ó É now itÕs Pryor whoÕs making the false statements É

With all due respect to the power of lengthy op-eds, when it comes to a scientific analysis of the effect of wood burning on the air in Davis, are you going to listen to an expert like Cahill or an amateur like Pryor? É this would be the same Tom Cahill who was commissioned to study the air at the World Trade Center after the attacks of 9/11 É Pryor received no such request for his services É

WHEN THE NORTH WIND BLOWS É according to the recommendation of the Natural Resources Commission, fireplaces would be banned completely except on the very few winter days when the wind is howling and presumably blowing the smoke toward Dixon É apparently we care only about our air, not anyone elseÕs É but get this, the Òallowable-burn dayÓ or Òno-burn dayÓ will be determined not by the actual wind speed at the time you wish to burn, but by the forecasted wind speed predicted at least one full day prior É and we all know how accurate those weather forecasters are É

In other words, if at noon on Wednesday the weather forecasters tell us that the wind speed in East Davis between 6 p.m. and midnight on Thursday is likely to be 2 mph, you canÕt burn on Thursday night, even if the sea breeze has kicked in and the wind speed is topping 10 mph É itÕs a little like telling people they can use their windshield wipers only if there was a forecast of rain 24 hours prior, not if itÕs actually raining when theyÕre driving their car É

Goofy? É yes É unworkable? É yes É heavy-handed overkill? É yes É

ITÕS ALL ABOUT TRUST É since there were only three complaints all last winter on the 16 voluntary Òno-burnÓ days, itÕs evident that the good folks of Davis who like to occasionally have a fire in their fireplaces are respectful of atmospheric conditions and not stubborn about their ÒrightÓ to burn wood for heat or ambiance … or both É that high degree of good will and neighborliness is not enough for those folks who must legislate their every whim É our overworked and understaffed Police Department must be absolutely thrilled about having to turn its attention to this newly defined class of urban ÒcriminalsÓ É

READING THE TEA LEAVES É fortunately Ñ or maybe unfortunately Ñ the City Council has the final say in all this and doesnÕt have to follow the NRCÕs recommendation at all É city staff have recommended against the ordinance and thereÕs hope that this council, having already saved the planet by bringing Zipcar to Davis, will leave well enough alone and continue with the voluntary Òno-burnÓ process that has worked so well É weÕll certainly know soon enough É

Ñ Reach Bob Dunning at [email protected] Comment on this column at www.davisenterprise.com

Comments

comments