Commentary By Samuel Strait – February 19, 2022 In a recent interview on Crescent City's very own socialist radio station, KFUG, Alex Lemus, Huckster of Renewable Energy Capital announced that he is not the author of the current plan to create a "Monterey Bay Style" fantasy world out of the Crescent City Harbor. So, who exactly is responsible for springing this "pie in the sky fantasy" on the community out of the Harbor Commission? Thus far the "mouth piece" for this "plan" appears to be the Commission's former president, Brian Stone., who currently has set his sights on the District 4 superintendent's chair. A question to Mr. Stone, might be how does abandoning ship stack up against leading the charge for a "new and improved harbor?" Amongst the villains in this age old story, of promise what you can't possibly deliver are four other sitting members of the Commission that seem blinded by the mirage of a viable "plan" to rescue the harbor from indebtedness and lack of credit worthiness. In no fewer words, the harbor is broke and floundering around looking for that proverbial "moon shot" to bail them out. Something like playing the lottery for that fifty million to one shot of financial success. Of course the replacement of Charlie Helms as harbor master with Tim Petrick hasn't resulted in any better leadership. Harbor Master Petrick is "all in" with the "slick" proposed by Stone and Lemus. Everyone else seems frozen in time by the prospect of "Monterey Bay" moving North. Lemus goes on in the interview to distance himself, likely because he knows what he is peddling, to say "this is not his vision." He is merely the one to implement the "plan". He goes on to say an investment of $40-$50 million would be necessary to redevelop the harbor, and implies that under his direction he can get the "money for the redevelopment to grow on trees". After the solar panel debacle it is a wonder that anyone continues to listen to Lemus, Stone, and Petrick. Yet, fools continue to rush in. There is no "plan" offered by Lemus to "move" the current residents of the targeted RV parks beyond isolating them individually and bullying them into moving. It was a breath of fresh air to learn that the tenants will have an advocate. Likely this will put an end to the "Big Top" being proposed by Stone and company. Clearly Lemus and REC will not be able to renovate either park if the tenants remain. So much for redevelopment. Now all the Harbor Commission has to figure out is what to do with their ill advised venture into solar power, resurrect financial health, figuring out how to dredge the harbor, and find millions of dollars to solve its deferred maintenance issues. Work to be done, a golf course maybe? Sad humor……