Daily Review, Aug. 08, 1950
Full Text:
It is unfortunate that Harry Bartell, chief of the supervisorial tribe in Alameda county, says the things he says on problems that affect the Hayward area.
It is unfortunate because Chief Bartell always says afterwards that he didn't mean what he said, but meant something else instead.
We're sure our tribal head didn't mean the statement he made on the Russell City water situation Tuesday, the statement that went:
"When we're in a better frame of mind, we'll give It more thought."
Harry really didn't mean it. He knows the Russell City water problem is at its worst now—from now until the fall rains start. He knows that many wells in Russell City are now dry, and that others will go dry fast.
What did he mean, then?
We presume he meant it would be better if the subject were discussed in private—after all, previous talks between the city and county were privately consumated. That would be fine if it led to agreement on how and when water would reach Russell City. But we're afraid private discussions would reduce to methods the county can use to sidestep the issue. Mind you, we don't say that is what would happen, or why Bartell said what he did. We are just afraid that's what might happen.
We say Bartell was misunderstood because that has happened twice before within a year.
Less than one year ago, when the Russell City water proposition became acute, we blamed the county for not taking action. Bartell claimed we "misunderstood" the county's position, that they had no legal authority take action.
Then the city and county went into huddles, private meetings in Oakland at the invitation of county officials. Apparently we "misunderstood" the progress made at these meetings. We thought the whole question had been ironed out and that water would be delivered to Russell City.
Another time we "misunderstood" the good Chief Bartell was during another county-sponsored meeting—on proposed improvements to "approaches" to the existing bay bridge.
Bartell made what sounded like a threat to our ears. And city officials also considered it as a threat. But we all "misunderstood," according to the chief of the tribe.
Somewhere along the line, however, there HAS been a misunderstanding.
We were told last year, after the city-county private confab, and told by a COUNTY official, that the Russell City water line might not be completed by the beginning of summer because projects take time to plan and then complete.
To our way of thinking, that indicated there would be a water line to Russell City, but that the completion date was in doubt. We crossed our fingers.
We've still got them crossed.
If we were to make a suggestion now, it would be for the Chief and his tribe to keep the Russell City water problem in the open—not to take it behind doors. And the suggestion would apply to the City of Hayward, too.
There can be no doubt of it, an agreement between the city and county was reached last year that would have brought water to Russell City.
If the agreement had been made in open meeting, it would now be a matter of record. But, since it was made privately, the problem again is up in the air.
And in case Chief Bartell did 'mean he wasn't in a "frame of mind" to discuss the water problem, let us remind him that the population of Russell City likewise has a frame of mind—and right now it's a lot hotter than the weather.
To view a PDF copy of this article, click the link below:
