July 18, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

It’s Not Easy Being Green:

Kermit the Frog had a song that outlined the difficulties of being a green, uh…frog… citizen… in today’s society. While by the song’s end, Kermit has decided he’s fine with his tint, in the early going he’s concerned that being green makes it too easy for others to ignore you. “It’s not easy being green /It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things / And people tend to pass you over…” Heartbreaking, even from the felt cloth mouth of a frog puppet.

It’s possible that Santa Monica resident John Youngman felt that he was somehow too green. While Youngman’s woes with seeking approval from the city for a water recycling system have finally been sorted out, he says that delays caused by our city’s permit approval system and a certain level of internal city staff rivalry has cost him at least $50,000 and put the project months behind schedule.

As reported in The Mirror by Brenton Garen, Youngman’s quest for permits for two environmentally friendly “green” water systems for his home began in 2009 when Steve Bilson of ReWater Systems filed the original permit on behalf of Youngman. System One was a so-called “grey water” system that would capture, filter, and reuse household water used for showers and sinks and use it to irrigate the yard. System Two collected rain from the roof and stored in a tank to basically back-up the first system.

Green, smart, and not really all that complicated. So why did it take more than two years to get the city to approve it?

Essentially, some departments in the city got to haggling about details and then some of that became territorial. Okay, maybe that’s human. But in the middle of all that, the city switched to a computerized “ePlan” system for submitting for permits. Going online with technology to make the permit process faster dichotomously meant slowing down Youngman’s application. At one point, two city departments involved in Youngman’s process were unaware that materials relevant to the water systems had been “entered” on the ePlan program.

Ron Takiguchi, a City of Santa Monica building official, conceded that two years is too long for the City to take issuing permits. Takiguchi points out that the water system involved “was custom, and an item that had to be detailed very much. It wasn’t a simple grey water system.” I don’t know. Pipes under your backyard, a big tank to hold water. That doesn’t sound to me like the blueprints for a particle accelerator.

Interesting, maybe, that it took less time for the Feds to decide after the Gulf oil spill that, yeah, you guys can start drilling in the Gulf again. Or that as recently as last Friday, House Republicans made it impossible to pass a measure on disaster aid by attaching legislation to the bill that would have cut green energy programs supported by Democrats. How quickly was the paperwork on that one pushed through to get to a vote, as compared to John Youngman’s journey with our own city to build a water-saving recycling system?

It’s probably coincidental that Youngman ran into delays as he was seeking permits to be a greener citizen of Santa Monica. Maybe a bureaucratic snafu is just that, and nothing more. But his experience doesn’t do much to encourage more green systems in Santa Monica homes. It’s likely the City would point to the new ePlan permit software as a step in the right direction, although apparently the system still dislikes Mac/Apple users and only accepts Internet Explorer. That’s something akin to my girlfriend’s experience with her Droid phone, which often unintentionally dials phone numbers and allows the person dialed to suddenly become a voyeur and monitor whatever is going on at the other end. Oh finicky technology, why won’t you lay down and obey?

But government and its various departments can and do obey… when the goal is clear and all are united. Imagine resolve on the part of U.S. citizens and their government to go “green” and become energy independent (and stop financing terror) by using new green fuels that paralleled the mobilization of citizens and government before and during World War II? What, exactly, is keeping us from that? Do I sound tired and petulant if I say “The other green: Money”? In World War II, American industries grew and became prosperous because of the war. Now, American corporations fear a restructuring of our national energy paradigm that would either leave them out of the profit picture or make them appear to be greedy fools who continue killing the environment just so they can keep on making money. When you have that kind of division, things slow down.

That reality should only further motivate local governments working to improve and streamline procedures so that individual citizens can make small incremental green gains, especially when they are as obviously motivated and patient as Mr. Youngman. At the end of the day, we might smile when one of our children goes out of their way to recycle a plastic bottle. It’s just the one bottle, just a small gesture. But isn’t that how these things grow?

in News
<>Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

SMPD to Conduct Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation on Friday

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The focus will be on speeding, illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to cyclists or walkers,...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Santa Monica Offers City-Owned Properties for Affordable Housing Development

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The move aims to address the city’s Regional Housing Need Assessment of 8,895 units, with a goal of producing at...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...