POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CAMPBELL backs HARRIS for 2020 — Dems tell KENNEDY to WAIT — HEALEY refuses to SETTLE

CAMPBELL backs HARRIS for 2020 — Dems tell KENNEDY to WAIT — HEALEY refuses to SETTLE

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. CAMPBELL BACKS HARRIS FOR 2020 — Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell delivered a boost to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign yesterday, when she endorsed the California senator as "uniquely qualified to be president of the United States." Campbell and Harris first met at Campbell's graduation from UCLA Law School, where Harris was the commencement speaker. And the two politicians are also linked by Katie Prisco-Buxbaum, an operative who serves as Harris' southwest finance director and who ran Campbell's first city council campaign. "It created a friendship and a common political history between Kamala and Andrea because Katie has worked for both of them," said Boston-based Democratic fundraiser Sean Curran, who has hosted an event for Harris here. "And Katie is one the best operatives in the country — one of Massachusetts' best exports for politics in probably 20 years." Campbell introduced Harris at a fundraiser last weekend, which was held at King's in the Back Bay. When Campbell spoke, Prisco-Buxbaum was the first person to get a shout-out, Curran told me. Harris has visited Boston several times over the course of her presidential campaign, usually on the way to or from nearby New Hampshire. During those trips, Harris has met with Bay State leaders like Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and former Gov. Deval Patrick. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at a Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Devens. Baker attends a discussion on how to address EEE in Lakeville. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh hosts a signing ceremony for "An Act to Further Leverage Commercial Development to Build Housing, Create Jobs and Preserve Inclusionary Development," at City Hall. Walsh announces the winners of youth arts program grants. WGBH's Callie Crossley interviews six Boston City Council candidates for District 5 on "Under the Radar." Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and state Rep. David Linsky hold a roundtable on the RESPECTfully campaign in Natick. Polito and state Reps. David Vieira and Dylan Fernandes visit the site of the Coonamessett River Restoration Project. Polito tours Mashpee Middle-High School's computer and robotics lab, and attends a STEM Regional Network event at Cape Cod Community College with state Rep. William Crocker. DATELINE BEACON HILL - "Feds plan to take flavored vape products off market," by Katie Lannan, State House News Service: "Federal officials on Wednesday announced plans to remove flavored e-cigarette products from the market, while the Massachusetts Department of Public Health moved to gather more information about possible cases of vaping-related lung illnesses." - "State auditor: Health officials failed to quickly investigate nursing home complaints," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "The state auditor is urging stricter oversight of nursing homes after a review found that Massachusetts health officials, who are responsible for monitoring the facilities, often failed to investigate high-priority allegations of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment in a timely manner. Auditor Suzanne M. Bump concluded that the Department of Public Health regularly took about two months to launch an onsite investigation of serious concerns, even though regulations require it to respond within two weeks. Auditors calculated that as many as 80 percent of the DPH's most urgent cases were not prioritized or investigated within the required timeframes, putting residents at increased risk of harm." - "Massachusetts Considers Bills To Protect Homeowners From Punitive Tax Liens," by Chris Burrell, WGBH News: "Housing advocates told State House lawmakers Tuesday that the state's punitive tax lien laws are a pipeline to homelessness and need retooling. Several bills under consideration in the Massachusetts Legislature are aimed at giving more protections to homeowners who fall behind in property taxes if those tax debts are purchased by private investors. More than 30 cities and towns in Massachusetts routinely sell tax lien debts to private investors who can then charge high interest rates or even foreclose on homeowners unable to pay the back taxes and fees." - "Single drivers are taking over Mass. carpool lanes," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "The high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or carpool lanes, north and south of Boston are not really what they're cracked up to be. The HOV lanes, which are intended to give vehicles with at least two occupants a more efficient travel lane, are overwhelmingly used by cars with only a driver, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said Tuesday. "I was shocked to find out that there is a closed Twitter group for people who use your carpool lane where they tweet at each other and say, 'there's no cops, it's OK for single cars to use it,'" Pollack told municipal officials at a Local Government Advisory Commission meeting." - "HPC: Hospitals are inflating severity of diagnoses," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "THE STATE'S HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION released data on Wednesday that suggested Massachusetts hospitals are inflating the severity of patient diagnoses to boost their revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars. The practice, called coding, is not illegal or even improper. Hospital officials mine the health background of patients to build up the seriousness of their diagnosis. The more serious the diagnosis, the more the hospital is paid for the treatment it provides." FROM THE HUB - "On Long Island, Walsh touts drug recovery plan," by Michael Levenson, Boston Globe: "Inundated by complaints about the open drug use and aggressive behavior in a troubled section of the South End, Mayor Martin J. Walsh on Wednesday touted his plan to build a regional drug recovery campus miles away, on a tranquil island in Boston Harbor. After taking a 15-minute Boston Police boat ride to Long Island, he and his top administration officials walked amid the hulking brick buildings there, describing how they could be renovated into a regional treatment campus with 500 beds. "In fairness to the people in the South End, they've had enough," Walsh told a bevy of reporters who accompanied him on the tour." - "Boston micromobility a major solution to region's traffic congestion, study says," by Tom Acitelli, Curbed: "Micromobility could go a long way toward reducing vehicular traffic in the Boston area, according to a new report. INRIX, a mobility analytics and car connectivity firm well known for its traffic analyses, found that 49 percent of all automobile trips in the Boston area are less than 3 miles and 21 percent are under 1 mile. That's slightly more than than the 48 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in other major U.S. metros combined—and enough short-distance trips that if micromobility vehicles such as bikes and electric scooters replaced just a fraction, it could seriously reduce traffic congestion. It would also cut down on emissions and boost the economy that much more as fewer drivers sit unproductively in the Boston region's notoriously bad traffic." - "School bus late in Boston? Some parents call Uber," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "The problem with chronically late school buses in Boston has gotten so severe this year that some parents are now turning to ride-hailing services to ferry their children. Such a scene unfolded last Friday night at the Eliot Innovation K-8 School in the North End, where 52 children waited more than three hours after their 3:05 p.m. dismissal for a bus that never showed up. Frantic administrators — after learning belatedly the driver had called in sick — contacted parents. Many parents swung by, others called for Ubers." - "Council clashes over resolution supporting Hub cops following Straight Pride Parade," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "The Boston City Council continues to grapple with the fallout from the Straight Pride Parade as the body on Wednesday clashed over a resolution praising police, but agreed to hold a hearing on whether to ban antifa-style masks at protests. After opposition from Councilors Lydia Edwards and then Michelle Wu, the council didn't take a vote on a resolution from Councilor Althea Garrison offering 'unwavering support for the Boston Police Department and the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association in their work of keeping Boston safe, and to unequivocally condemn any and all violence and disrespect towards Boston Police Officers.'" - "Former AG Coakley blasted for her Juul job as vaping illnesses rise," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Former Attorney General Martha Coakley is coming under fire over her position at the multi-billion-dollar e-cigarette company Juul, as public health officials sounded the alarm on vaping-related illnesses. "It's really sad to see Martha hanging in there," said Richard Daynard, president of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University. "She shouldn't have joined in the first place." The Herald on Wednesday reached out to Juul to interview Coakley, but the company declined to make her available." - "State and city officials mark completion of Boston's Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge," by Alyssa Lukpat, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers put the final touches of landscaping around the Frances Appleton Pedestrian Bridge in Boston, which state and city officials dedicated Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a statement. The bridge is adjacent to the Longfellow Bridge on the Boston side of the Charles River. It was named after Frances Appleton, who was married to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a legendary poet who died in 1882." PRIMARY SOURCES - "'I would tell Joe to wait': Democrats warn Kennedy against challenging Markey," by Burgess Everett and Heather Caygle, POLITICO: "Joe Kennedy doesn't have to just beat incumbent Ed Markey to win a Senate seat. He'll also have to trounce Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Senate Democrats' campaign arm — and maybe Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The 38-year-old congressman and grandson of Robert F. Kennedy will confront a buzz saw of Washington Democrats if he takes the leap to challenge the Massachusetts senator, a move that would create a massive distraction for the party in a safe Democratic state amid a battle for both the White House and the Senate majority." FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Shannon Liss-Riordan Receives More Support from Labor." from the Liss-Riordan campaign: "Shannon Liss-Riordan, Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, announced more labor endorsements of her campaign today. The new endorsements came from members of United Steelworkers Local 12026S, IBEW Local 1228, and the Alliance of MBTA Unions, an umbrella organization representing three IBEW Locals as well as Machinists Local 264. "We're proud to endorse Shannon's campaign for United States Senate because she will place working men and women front and center in Washington," said Fletcher Fischer, Business Manager for IBEW Local 1228, which represents broadcasting workers across Massachusetts." TRUMPACHUSETTS - "Some Salvadoran Immigrants Say Their Work Permits Are Being Rejected On The Job And At The RMV," by Phillip Martin, WGBH News: "Some of the thousands of immigrants who are in Massachusetts under "temporary protected status" (TPS) say they have been told in the past few days that they can no longer work, and others have been denied drivers licenses, even though their immigration status has not changed. The problem appears to be that even though courts have blocked — at least temporarily — a Trump administration plan to send many of these immigrants back to their home countries, their work permits show that their protected status has expired." ALL ABOARD - "KEOLIS: WEEKEND PASSES CONTRIBUTING TO REVENUE GROWTH," by Chris Lisinski, State House News Service: "The commuter rail's $10 unlimited weekend pass has quickly become a popular option for travelers with more than half a million sold since it was introduced in May 2018, though it remains unclear how much the ticket type has affected overall ridership, officials said. Keolis, which is under contract to operate the MBTA commuter rail network for the next three years, announced Tuesday that customers purchased 584,000 weekend tickets over the past 16 months." DAY IN COURT - "HEALEY REFUSING TO JOIN OTHER STATES IN PURDUE PHARMA SETTLEMENT," by Colin A. Young, State House News Service: "Under fire for its role in the opioid epidemic, the company that makes and sells OxyContin has reportedly agreed to a settlement with 22 state attorneys general and thousands of municipalities, but not Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who is pledging to continue her fight against Purdue Pharma. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Purdue Pharma is in agreement 'with 22 state attorneys general and more than 2,000 cities and counties that sued the company and accused it of fueling the opioid crisis.'" WARREN REPORT - "2019 MassDems State Convention: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts headline event at Springfield's MassMutual Center," by Douglas Hook, MassLive.com: "The MassMutual Center will host the 2019 Democratic State Convention with longtime allies, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts confirmed to give keynote speeches this Saturday along with Sen. Ed Markey. Watts, a mother of five, was a stay-at-home mom and former communications executive before she founded Moms Demand Action. Affected by the Sandy Hook mass shootings, she started to worry about her children and guns and what could be done to reduce gun violence in the U.S." - MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: "The rise, and rise, and rise of Elizabeth Warren in New Hampshire," by James Pindell, Boston Globe: "The battle for the hearts of New Hampshire progressives is on. And now, for the first time, Senator Elizabeth Warren is winning it. For months, Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders have been campaigning for the same swath of Democratic voters, which Sanders won overwhelmingly in his 2016 primary race against Hillary Clinton. But five months before 2020's first presidential primary, Warren is rising. She won a two-minute standing ovation from thousands of party activists Saturday, came out on top in a poll released Sunday, and is seen as the one to beat, according to interviews with approximately two dozen New Hampshire Democrats this week." DATELINE D.C. - "House Hearing On Medical Deferred Action Offers Little Clarity On Why Process Ended," by Shannon Dooling, WBUR: "A hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday produced more questions than answers around why the Trump administration moved to quietly end a humanitarian immigration policy known as "medical deferred action." Though little clarity was provided by federal immigration officials, the distinct partisan divide on immigration policy was laid bare, with Republican lawmakers suggesting the hearing itself was a scare tactic and the Democrats calling this an inhumane move by the Trump administration." ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: "BERN SCORCHES BIDEN," — Globe: "Tentative deal reached on opioid suits," "More turmoil for Patriots as they stick with Brown," "NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN." EYE ON 2020 - "A New WBUR Poll Looks At What Voters In Mass. Actually Care About." Link. NO PLACE LIKE THE CITY OF HOMES - "'Heartbroken': Springfield voter turnout disappoints again," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "City officials were once again disappointed by the low voter turnout in Tuesday's preliminary election, which was 7.6% citywide and below 4% in many precincts. There are 97,484 registered voters in Springfield; 7,431 cast ballots Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Election Office. The numbers continued a trend of recent years for Springfield preliminary elections and were particularly low in some of the poorer areas of the city." FOR YOUR COMMUTE: Is Fare Fair? On this week's Horse Race podcast, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith talk about new polling in the potential primary match-up between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III. MassINC Research Director Ben Forman talks about a new fare equity study in Massachusetts, and state Sen. Becca Rausch explains her "Community Immunity Act." Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Politico's own Ben Schreckinger; former Senator and now U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown, who is 60; Waterville Consulting Principal Sean Curran, who is 49; and MassGIS' Paul Nutting. DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? No! The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 8-0. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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State Senator Jamie Eldridge's Newsletter

It’s been an extremely busy month, I hope all is well with you in 2014! The Legislature is ramping up as we enter the last year of the 2013-2014 legislative session. This month, the Senate passed a comprehensive Election Reform Laws Bill that will authorize early voting for state and federal elections and primaries, allowing residents to register to vote on Election Day and creating an online voter registration system. The bill also allows 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote.

Joint Housing Committee Co-Chairs Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Honan received “Housing Hero” awards at Citizens Housing and Planning Association’s (CHAPA) first lobby day at the State House for their efforts to pass the $1.4 billion Housing Bond Bill.

Shortly after Governor Patrick’s announcement that he would be investing more than $50 million to combat the effects of climate change, I am proud to co-sponsor new legislation that would develop a plan for the next Administration to address climate change.

I was excited to hear that the towns of Hudson, Marlborough and Northborough were awarded grants by the Department of Public Health to study priority health conditions for a 10-month period, from a health prevention trust fund that was created as part of the 2012 health care cost control legislation.

The water infrastructure bill remains on the move and was heard before the Senate Bonding Committee on Thursday, January 30th. In the aftermath of dramatic decreases in funding for water infrastructure since the 1970’s, most states including Massachusetts have chronically underfunded improvements to our water infrastructure despite its importance to public health, the environment, and the economy. This bill will address the challenges cities and towns face to fund and maintain their water systems. I am hopeful that it will be reported out of the Senate Bonding Committee soon.

As always, I encourage you to contact my office any time with your questions, thoughts, problems and concerns. To that point, please check out my new and improved website, www.SenatorEldridge.com, and let me know what you think.

Best wishes,

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The Senate Passes Comprehensive Election Reform Law Bill

The Senate on Thursday, January 16th voted 37-1 to pass legislation reforming the election laws in the Commonwealth by authorizing early voting for state and federal elections and primaries, allowing residents to register to vote on Election Day and creating an online voter registration system. The bill also allows 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote.

This bill would create a 21st century uniform system to make voter participation more convenient and accessible, and increase the opportunities for people to vote in elections. I am proud that the Senate was able to take these critical steps to strengthen the core values of civic participation and encourage voter turnout across the Commonwealth.

I have filed a bill for the past two sessions, S.325 An Act Modernizing our Voter Registration Systems, that mirrors the election reform bill that passed in the Senate last week. The provisions of S.325 include same-day election registration, allowing voters to register to vote online, permanent voter registration, and the pre-registration of 16 and 17-year olds.

I was proud to file an amendment that passed during the Senate debate that would eliminate the requirement of a check-out table at polling places, which would reduce costs for cities and towns.

Under this bill, Massachusetts would join 32 other states and the District of Columbia that allow early voting. Early voting would begin 10 business days before the election and end two days before the election. The first early voting period would occur in 2016.

This bill would also place voters on the inactive list only after not voting in two consecutive federal elections and not responding to a notice from the city or town. Under current law, a voter can be placed on the inactive list for not filling out an annual census. If a voter does not vote in two additional federal elections, the voter will be removed from the voter list.

In addition to building an online voter registration system, the Secretary of State would create a secure online portal to allow voters to easily check their voter registration status and polling place.

The bill also does the following:

· Allows 17-year-olds to vote in municipal elections in Lowell if voters in Lowell approve the measure;

· Requires municipal election officials to attend annual training given by the Secretary of State regarding applicable state and federal election laws;

· Eliminates the requirement for a cancellation device on voting machines;

· Clarifies that the police detail requirement at polling locations may not apply to early voting sites; and,

· Establishes an elections task force to review early voting and expanding technology, including costs, administrative requirements, reductions in wait times on Election Day, the feasibility of additional early voting sites and hours, voter turnout, Election Day mobile alerts and online voting.

The Senate bill and the House bill will now go to a conference committee to produce a compromise bill for final passage and consideration of the governor.

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Senator Eldridge Co-Sponsors New Climate Change Adaptation Legislation

I was proud to co-sponsor new legislation filed by Senator Pacheco that would require the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop a comprehensive climate change adaption plan to protect critical infrastructure and natural resources.

Senator Eldridge joins Senator Pacheco to announce new legislation to address and reduce the effects of climate change.

The bill SD 1997 An Act providing for the Establishment of a Comprehensive Adaptation Management Plan in Response to Climate Change, includes provisions that would allow the state to purchase from willing sellers land for conservation and recreation that has been deemed at risk of rising sea levels and tides or property that has been repeatedly damaged by severe weather in a “coastal buyback” program. The bill also creates a regional adaptation management plan grant program.
The Commonwealth needs a mechanism in place that protects us from the environmental dangers of climate change. Regulating a plan to address this real threat will ensure that climate change is a priority for the next Administration, regardless of what beliefs the incoming Governor holds on climate change. By addressing climate change resilience, the Commonwealth is positioning itself as a leader on global warming, infrastructure and the health and well-being all residents.
This bill currently has 10 co-sponsors and was shortly filed after Gov. Deval Patrick’s announcement that he would be investing more than $50 million to combat the effects of climate change.

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Massachusetts Department of Public Health Awards Grants for Prevention and Wellness Trust

I am pleased that the Patrick Administration today announced more than $250 in grants awarded to the towns of Hudson, Marlborough and Northborough to help fight chronic illness and improve health outcomes while reducing health care costs. Part of the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, this first-in-the-nation effort is part of a $60 million grant over four years created by the Legislature and administered by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
Each of the nine grantees will receive up to $250,000 for the first phase of their work. As grantees demonstrate their readiness to implement interventions in community and clinical settings, they will receive additional funding between $900,000 and $1.5 million for each of the next three years. The amount each partnership receives depends upon population covered and the number of conditions addressed.
I hope the towns of Hudson, Marlborough and Northborough have success studying priority health conditions for a 10-month period, at the end of which it will be determined whether they will receive any more funding.

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Senator Eldridge Testifies on the Water Infrastructure Bill before the Senate Bonding Committee

I was proud to testify alongside Rep. Dykema and Sen. Pacheco today in support of the water infrastructure bill before the Senate Bonding Committee. This critical legislation prioritizes public health, the environment and the economy and will fund chronically underfunded improvements to our water infrastructure in Massachusetts. I expect that the bill will be released from committee soon.

In This Issue:

• Senate votes on Election Reform Law
• Sen. Eldridge co-sponsors new climate change legislation
• DPH awards $250 million in prevention and wellness trust grants to district
• Water Infrastructure Bill heard before Senate Bonding Committee

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Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness Forum at Trinitarian Church in Concord:

Date: Sunday, March 2nd

Time: 3-5 p.m.

Location: Trinitarian Congregational Church -54 Walden Street, Concord, MA 01742

Please come to this important forum on homelessness, a growing crisis in Massachusetts. Speakers include DHCD Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein and Senator Jamie Eldridge.

Jamie in the News

• MWDN: Lawmakers connect through social media

• Boston Globe: Mass. needs to get serious about dumping of appliances

• New York Times: The Obamacare we Deserve

 

Since you mentioned it....

Cape Cod Online offered the following article which I thought was pretty interesting --

Bat nursed to health in time for Halloween

Wild Care in Eastham is rehabilitating a small brown bat that was found on the ground malnourished and with tears in its wings.Cape Cod Times/Steve Heaslip
By Jason Kolnos
October 16, 2010
EASTHAM — He won't turn into Nosferatu. He prefers a simple insect repast to a bloodbath. And he likely won't dive-bomb into your hair.

A little brown bat is getting the royal rehab treatment at Wild Care in Eastham, and that's a bit of good news for a species that has been decimated across the region.

This plucky fanged fella was brought to the wild animal hospital two weeks ago with multiple puncture wounds and damage to his wing's webbing.

A cat had gotten at the bat, hypothesized Lela Larned, executive director of Wild Care.

After daily doses of electrolyte-infused fluids and tasty mealworms, the bat more than doubled his weight.

"When he first came in, he was emaciated, sluggish and unresponsive," Larned said. "Now, he's self-feeding, taking short flights and much more aggressive."

Folks at Wild Care are treating this little brown bat as a member of an endangered species, even though it isn't yet listed as one in Massachusetts.

Bats are dying in the state's caves and mines — where they hibernate during winter months — at alarmingly high levels, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). Biologists attribute the cause to white-nose syndrome, a crusting fungus that attacks their muzzles and other body parts. Mortality rates may be as high as 95 to 100 percent.

An unpleasant example comes from the state's largest hibernaculum (winter bat quarters) in Chester, where a normal winter population was 8,000 to 10,000 bats. But during recent winters, all those bats have apparently died, according to MassWildlife.

"With all the declines that bats have suffered, we wanted to go to every length to make sure this one survives," Larned said.

And if you're sick of scratching bug bites, it behooves you to befriend a bat, too. These winged spelunkers are serial killers of mosquitoes and other insects.

Larned encourages folks to consider installing bat boxes that can host hundreds of them, including females and baby bats.

"A single bat can eat thousands of insects a night, so if you have one of these, you won't have mosquitoes," Larned said.


Coincidentally, thedailygreen offered 7 Surprising Facts About Bats that offers some great pictures and narrative.

Both of those forced me the re-visit Wednesday, August 4, 2010 STATE SPRAYING TO TARGET DISEASE-CARRYING MOSQUITOES.

All of which makes me ponder our arrogance and stupidity as a species.

Allow me -- when the public matter of mosquitoes arose, we were baffled!

For just about 30 years, a few bats have nested under our rake boards. They raise their families and grow and do their thing in the evenings. We have a nodding and appreciative neighborly relationship. Their numbers periodically increase as the harvest increases.

They've been pretty tolerant and forgiving like the time the house was power washed before painting.

A trip outside, into the garden invited the abundance of dragon flies to dive bomb maybe in search of prey that was becoming scarce.

On the evening we were forced to endure aerial spraying, it was misting - not quite a rain. Our bats had been circumnavigating the house, doing their job, sadly oblivious to the poison falling from the skies.

That poison, promoted as benign, destroyed the bats and the dragonflies, allowing the mosquito population to rebound and flourish.

Yesterday, October 17, was the first day a dragonfly was seen.

Years ago, a friend recommended Farnam's Nature's Defense® Water-based Fly Repellent Spray and Concentrate that we've used successfully that includes this product description --

Water-based formula combines citronella with other botanicals
Repels horn, stable, house, horse and deer flies, plus mosquitoes and gnats
Contains no preservatives, additives or artificial colors
Alcohol-free – will not irritate sensitive skin
For use on horses, ponies and foals
Available in ready-to-use formula with trigger sprayer or concentrate (dilutes 4:1)

It's herbs, folks! Harmless stuff the Big Chemical Companies don't promote, instead of poisoning the environment.

Instead of blindly accepting the hysteria, insisting on our superiority as a species, we might consider that the bats are warm blooded, just like humans. What are we doing to ourselves?

How stupid are we as a species?