||| FROM JANET ALDERTON |||


Dear County Councilors Minney, Stephens, and Wolf,

Recognizing that a problem exists is key to addressing the problem. This is what Joe Symons’ Docket Request 21-0003 is all about. Until you, the ultimate deciders of our County’s fate, decide to recognize that a problem exists and decide to quantify the parameters of the problem, no solutions are possible.

If you decide to continue on autopilot, we are headed to be like a Los Angeles suburb suffering from acute water shortages and transportation bottlenecks.

I am fortunate to live in these very special islands because science and logic actually are useful for solving problems. One of our graduate students at the University of California at Berkeley was interested in studying this molecule called mRNA. It is a real delicate creature that falls apart at the drop of a hat. 

But Matthew Winkler persisted and found ways to stabilize mRNA so that scientists all over the world could study mRNA and make discoveries.

Matthew founded a company that marketed mRNA kits that scientists bought because they were useful tools that helped them learn more about the miracles of life.

Because my husband and I helped Matthew’s biotech start-up, I am privileged to live here and have the resources to keep nudging you -to keep asking you to “follow the science.”

Scientists who used Matthew’s mRNA toolkits are part of the string of discoveries that have made the mRNA vaccines against covid-19 possible. 

As I keep trying to tell you, science is powerful.When you ignore the science, you land in all sorts of sticky places -such as global climate disruptions. Please don’t be like the fossil fuel companies who have said, “Nothing to see here. Just keep moving along burning our products.”

  • Please recognize that buildout is a problem.
  • Land use planning is not new. 
  • Tools exist to help make rational decisions.
  • Please use the available tools.

But the first step is to adopt Joe Symon’s Docket Request 21-0003. Please do this to save our unique islands for people and for nature.

Thank-you for listening to my pestering. From your persistent scientist.


**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**