If you weren’t already terrified at the incredibly small amount of water currently in the Cachuma Lake Reservoir, than the insane heat wave probably won’t assuage your drought concerns. If I remember sixth-grade science class, which I don’t, heat leads to evaporation. I also remember wanting to fly through the sprinklers when things got this hot at that age, or at least make some ice tray popsicles, both of which require using some water.
Apparently the heat got so intense during the beginning of the week that some local high schools implemented an “extreme heat” minimum day, letting the sweaty teens out early. Now, before everybody from the South and states like Nevada begins laughing and insulting Californians as “dainty flowers,” it’s worth noting that most of these schools do not have air conditioning, or at least modern AC systems.
Both Santa Maria High School and Ernest Righetti High School were mostly constructed in the 1960s, back when climate change was just a twinkle in a young Al Gore’s eye, so the facilities weren’t built with a robust centralized AC system. It’s become a real problem, according to teachers, students, and administrators at these schools, which is why the kids were sent home early to their homes, which probably don’t have air conditioning either. The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District also let the students at Pioneer Valley High School go home early, even though they have modern and adequate AC. You know how teenagers are when one gets something and another doesn’t, you’ll never hear the end of it!
If you are worried about the valley’s teens coming home sweaty and stinking of BO during the summer months, you can actually do something about the problem when you cast a vote in November. A bond initiative (Measure H2016) will be on the ballot so that district schools can get a serious influx of funds—we’re talking tens of millions—to improve infrastructure. That includes robust, shiny AC systems that would make any desert dweller smile with familiar comfort. That way the kids have no excuse to go home early and fill up the kiddie pool or run through the sprinklers, if we’re still slogging through this historic drought that is.
Speaking of turning up the heat, did you catch the presidential debate? There were never really any gloves to take off, but at this point the candidates may as well have been wearing brass knuckles. Most polls identified one clear winner, the one who didn’t interrupt the other more than 30 times and present a weird sniffle throughout the debate.
That’s right, even according to social media polling of Central Coast residents, Hillary Clinton came out ahead. It’s ironic that after all his talk about her health that Donald Trump showed up to the debate with a weird sniffle. But, if you’re anything like me, the thought of either candidate makes you feel under the weather.
The Canary is thankful for the Sun’s powerful AC. Send her your hot or cold comments to [email protected].
