Rome is burning, and Congressman Sam Farr is swooping in to the
rescue on the wings of a condor. At least that’s what the posters
might look like around town if the Carmel Democrat succeeds in
upgrading Pinnacles National Monument to federal park status in a
rare show of attention to the area.
Rome is burning, and Congressman Sam Farr is swooping in to the rescue on the wings of a condor. At least that’s what the posters might look like around town if the Carmel Democrat succeeds in upgrading Pinnacles National Monument to federal park status in a rare show of attention to the area.
Farr’s office for years has talked about giving Pinnacles its due upgrade. It’s clear the move would create opportunities – artificially driven or not – in drawing more attention to San Benito County’s federally managed tourist spot. The benefits are obvious and they were obvious 16 years ago when Farr entered office, too.
The problem isn’t necessarily the legislation, which Farr recently proposed, though questions do remain about impacts to surrounding landowners.
It’s the timing and apparent motive, to drum up pro-world publicity using an old reliable – the environment – at a time when federal leaders are facing much bigger issues than setting aside more park space and saving the whales.
Farr’s political ilk – and his formula for rubber-stamp reelections – has been defined for years by a barrage of ocean preservation legislation and, in San Benito County, an occasional rest stop for a condor release at Pinnacles or town-hall gatherings.
He specializes in feel-good, motionless leadership around here. Now, in the midst of an economic earthquake, the congressman has pulled out an umbrella.
Farr’s park legislation might, and should, benefit San Benito County in the end. But why not tell us something we already don’t know, and already haven’t been expecting and hearing about for many years?
Why not recognize as the area’s congressman that unemployment here has surpassed 14 percent and make a creative attempt to address the county’s structural, economic woes? Why not leave the condor love fest and orchestrated smile behind for another day?
He makes a point of pandering to the far left while avoiding controversy in the mainstream. That’s why. It’s how he gets reelected every two years without any serious challenges, and without taking on any of the hardest-pressing issues, aside from those on which is base is firmly grounded. Renaming Pinnacles fits the script.
To the rest of us, outside of his bubble, Farr is sort of like a mediocre magician. His act is limited severely because he shies away from risk and controversy. He always, however, has a trick up his sleeve in the end that keeps the crowd mesmerized, enough to bring them back for another predictable show.
