Jim Dunlap

We all have heard news in recent months about how the Post Office is in financial trouble. In addition to being a Realtor, I also contract with the Postal Service, delivering mail in the Joshua Tree area. I mainly got this contract so an old high school friend could have a job. I run this route one day a week, as mail is delivered 6 days a week (at least for now).

As a Postal Supplier, I received an email from Postal Headquarters in Washington, DC stating that sometime in their next fiscal year, which starts October 1, Saturday mail delivery will be curtailed, unless Congrall passes legislation specifically prohibiting the Post Office from curtailing Saturday Delivery.

However post offices will still be open on Saturday, and mail will be delivered to post office boxes on Saturday.

But there's still plenty to enjoy Rangers at Joshua Tree National Park said that although we have had plenty of rain, it came too late. We need rain in the fall for large wildflower displays.

If you do venture to Joshua Tree to see the wild flowers, stop in Yucca Valley at one of our many restaurants for lunch. We appreciate your business. And enjoy our many antique shops at the west end of town.

Johnson Valley, Californis, located in the Mojave Desert, east of Lucerne Valley and north of Big Bear, has , in addition to the oldest plant in the world, a cresote bush,a small dirt field and flying club called Valley Vista. If anyone traveling Highway 247 between Lucerne Valley and Yucca Valley has wondered about the mailbox perched 20 feet high that says "Airmail"--this marks the road to the airport.

Several months ago a crosswind blew the clubs only plane, a 1958 Cessna 172 off the runway totaling it. Fortunately no one was hurt.

The club has just acquired another 172. I'm sure that the restaurant at the Big Bear airport will be happy to see this bright red and white plane on Wednesday mornings, as some of the group goes there every Wednesday for breakfast.

Having just read a blog about how the Wall Street reform bill in congress will require property owners who sell their property on "owner carry" will require these property owners to have a mortgage license to do so, I'm reflecting on a blog that I made about the California Air Resources Board, or "CARB."

CARB passed sweeping legislation recently concerning diesel engines in California. This sweeping legislation has and will cost thousands of jobs. The kicker is that one of the researchers responsible for CARB's regulation has a bogus Phd, which CARB ignored.

Just in the past couple of days news broke that CARB admitted that the research for diesel engines was 100% wrong! It's going to be interesting to see how many lawsuits will happen now, justified but costing taxpayers countless dollars.

In December, 2008 the California Air Resources Board passed the most sweeping emissions rule in the nation. This new reguation starts this year.

According to CARB, diesel exhaust causes cancer, and swift action must be taken in order to save thousands of lives in California. This law is intended for all of the big rigs running around the state, but it affects all vehicles with a gross vehicle rating of over 14,500 pounds. All full sized diesel pick ups that I'm aware of have a GVW rating of at least 19,000 lbs. Exempted are motor homes and private utility vehicles. Fleets have to start complying this year; individual owners have four years to comply. This regulation also affects all out of state diesels that operate in the state. So, if you own a 2009 or earlier model diesel pick up, here's how it affects you:

2002 or earlier: you will not be able to operate this vehicle in California, no matter what state it's registered in, after January 1, 2014. There's a $1000 per day fine if you do operate this vehicle in California after 2014! Plan on saying good bye to your beloved pick up.

2003: you cannot operate this vehicle in California after 2014 unless you install a particulate trap in the exhaust system, at a cost of $10,000 (!) per vehicle. If you install this expensive filter, you can then operate your pick up in California until 2016. Good bye pick up!

2004: same as 2003, except installing a particulate filter will allow you to operate until 2019. Good bye pick up!

2005, 2006: same as 2003, except you can operate until 2020, 2021. Good bye pick up!

2007, 2008, 2009: These newer models meet more stringent emissions standards, so no modification is required. However, these models will not be able to operate in California after 2023. Good by pick up! Wonder why new diesel pick ups are so expensive?

2010: This model year is complient with the emissions regulations, therefore can be operated in California indefinately (or at least until CARB passes new regulations). Some other states are watching California, and plan on similar regulations.

I'd like to add a footnote to this blog. This sweeping regulation, which in effect destroys chattel property rights, was made possible not by elected officials, but by appointed officials who do not have to answer to the public. Will real property rights somehow be next? (This information was gathered from various websites, including manufacturers and installers of particulate traps and CARB's official site).