Lake Elsinore Blocks Public from Viewing Poppy Superbloom in February 2023

 I just read that Mayor Natasha Johnson has blocked the public from viewing the February 2023 California Poppy super bloom in Walker Canyon.  See this news article in SF Gate: 

• https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/public-banned-california-superbloom-site-17771678.php 

I wondered why they were doing it.  But thought that maybe the public had to park in front of private homes and maybe walk through private property.  But after looking at Google Maps, it appears that isn't the case. The poppy fields and access trails are on the other side of the I-15 freeway from the populated portion of Lake Elsinore.  It does appear that this open space area is within a short extension of the City of Lake Elsinore boundaries.  So the city does have some jurisdiction over the access point.  The article seems to say that most access to the public is blocked.  However, I watched the youtube video of Mayor Johnson's announcement.  See this link:  https://youtu.be/1pVGSmFBGiY  I think she did a very good job of speaking and seemed confident that what she was doing was correct.  However, she was not clear about what people could do to be able to visit and view the flowers -- only what they couldn't do!  Also, she did NOT want any feedback on her announcement, because all comments were "turned off"  The mayor did mention shuttle busses, but no explanation of when or how they would be available.  She also said they'll make a video and share it with the public.  My experience with poppies is that photos do not capture their beauty.  There is something about the surface texture of the poppy that does not get captured in a photo or video.  You really do need to see it in person!  

The rationale given for blocking the public was pretty sketchy.  First of all, it was based upon apparently a larger super bloom in 2019 that they were "unprepared for" -- Now they've had 4 years to "prepare" for a similar (although possibly fewer blooms) and the best they can do is a blockade and ban the public.  The reasons cited include: "Trampled flowers, injuries, and a headache for residents"    I understand the situation.  The public can seem to be totally irresponsible.  Stepping on the flowers they came to view is very inconsiderate.  Not sure what injuries occurred.  But whenever a large number of people go anywhere there would be a natural increase in people getting hurt from falling etc.  These are public parks and trails that the City is blocking.  Oceanside has a huge influx of people on certain summer weekends to visit the beach -- somewhat similar, but much more predictable.  

I assume that the crowds of concern are on Saturday and Sunday mid-day.  They are also only on a few weekends until the bloom subsides.    Now that the problem has been identified, the mayor should meet with her "partner cities and agencies" and plan for the next time this happens.  Here are some suggestions to consider:

1. Plan for a fleet of rental shuttle buses and drivers for the weekends during a super bloom.  They should be only needed if and when the super bloom occurs.  Arrange for a "decision date" when the mayor would need to make a decision to trigger the use of shuttle buses. --There must be some way of determining from measuring soil moisture and seeing how many seedlings have sprouted whether or not a super bloom is going to happen. 
2. Plan parking areas a distance away from the viewing area.  Plan traffic flow to/from the viewing areas.  Plan signage to inform people of the restrictions, as well as the options for viewing using the shuttle bus. 
3. Arrange for an appointment (and payment) app such as Park Mobile to allow people to make parking spot reservations and pay for the spot.  The pay should be enough to cover all costs related to staff time and shuttle bus operation.  In theory, the City should be able to make a profit from such an operation. 
4. Arrange for a group of volunteer "docents" to staff the entrances to the flower fields.  One of their jobs is to stop people from trampling the flowers.

Police Violence -- is it Mob Mentality?

 There have been several articles talking about the root cause and effect of the recent police violence. 

Here is one in today's Union-Tribune by Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times:

• https://enewspaper.sandiegouniontribune.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=b328425c-7790-4a62-8c83-8411f5a66e05

And here is one by the Union-Tribune Editorial Board about release of police recordings

• https://enewspaper.sandiegouniontribune.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=c474d157-383d-41f1-b6a6-671b57b4f0ef

There was another recent incident on June 14 2022 where the SDPD harrassed the head of the Taxi Driver's union for apparently no reason.  Then now 9 months later the police still have not released the body cam video as promised.  It seems that there should be some sort of discipline for the officers involved, but apparently, nothing has been done. 

• https://enewspaper.sandiegouniontribune.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=fe9fbe8a-6667-4dba-be88-a90ba6cf3cf3

Its clear that we've come a long way in the past 20 years.  20 years ago, police would arrest people taking video of a police incident and often confiscate or break their camera or phone.  Now the police are supposed to be wearing a camera themselves.  I really wonder how many people over the past 100 years have been treated badly by police, but there was no video to refute their story.  

I think there needs to be a post-event analysis of what was going through the police officer's minds when they were busy beating a suspect?  I know that's difficult because the officers don't want to admit what they did, since they are subject to discipline and legal action.  But what causes these highly trained people to treat their neighbors so violently?  Is it revenge for something the suspect said?  Is it because adrenalin is flowing through their veins and they can't think straight?  What actually goes on?  

When I see a police action underway in the streets, or when I see videos of the notorious interactions when police have killed or permanently injured suspects, it always seems like there is a mob of police gathering around the suspect.  In my small town of Oceanside, I've seen a couple of police detain a 12 yr old, search him and while that was going on, 5 other police cars show up, each with two officers.  So with 12 officers and 6 total cars, it would seem the entire Oceanside police force on duty was there.  It looked like the police spent about a half hour intimidating the boy, having him sit and lie on the ground, for example.  Then they all left and the boy just walked away.  I have no idea what went on!  However, the incident certainly didn't call for more than 2 officers to handle it.  Why were the others there? For certain the young boy will never trust a police officer again.   

I wonder if the primary arresting officers feel different when they are being watched by a crowd of fellow officers.  Do they need to act like tough guys because their peers would think they were too "soft" on criminals?  When one officer starts beating or abusing a suspect, do the other officers join in because of "mob mentality?"  What should the nearby public do in such a situation?  It seems that if they yell at the police to stop, it actually infuriates them.  Of course if they tried to physically interfere, they'd be arrested also.  It seems like a subject that deserves a serious study.  If we understood the dynamics maybe something could be done during police training that could reduce the effect