Other items in today’s column include:
*San Diego Politics
* In memoriam
SAN DIEGO — With sewage increasingly able to be recycled into potable water that can be integrated with the city’s water supply, less treated water will need to undergo secondary treatment before it is returned via the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (PLWTP) to the Pacific Ocean, according to U.S. Reps. Scott Peters and Susan Davis, both San Diego Democrats.
On that basis, and with the support of San Diego’s Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the House of Representatives adopted the Ocean Pollution Reduction Act (OPRA II) by a vote of 395-4, allowing PLWTP under certain circumstances to be exempted from stricter secondary treatment requirements. The measure was introduced by the two Democratic members of Congress and former Republican Congressman Duncan L. Hunter, who later was forced to resign from his seat after pleading guilty to misappropriation of campaign funds.
Faulconer, praising the House action, said “This common-sense bill protects the future of Pure Water, delivers regulatory certainty and moves our region toward securing a safe, independent water supply to benefit the more than two million people impacted by our entire wastewater system. I’m pleased to see the House today recognize the importance of this bill to the economic prosperity of our region.”
Congressman Peters commented, “This bill replaces the complex and expensive treatment waiver application with a simpler and more effective process if the city meets stringent recycling milestones. OPRA has been a decades-long labor of love among the City of San Diego, regional partners and the government. It will deploy cost-effective technology that will protect our region’s water resources–technology that could one day be deployed by other vulnerable communities to help address water shortage issues.”
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San Diego Politics
*Terra Lawson-Remer, whose recent election to the County Board of Supervisors gave that body a 302 Democratic majority, told KNSD reporter Priya Sridhar that she believes more temporary restrictive measures will be necessary to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control. Lawson-Remer defeated Republican incumbent Kristin Gaspar who was critical of such measures, saying they hurt the economy.
*Jared Sclar, a member of the Jewish community who works as a consultant to Democratic campaigns, counted Mike Levin and Barbara Bry this election cycle as clients. Levin was reelected to California’s 49th District seat in Congress. San Diego City Councilwoman Bry was defeated in her bid to become San Diego’s next mayor by Assemblyman Todd Gloria. Sclar recently announced in behalf of City Councilman-elect Raul A. Campillo that Michael Simonsen will serve as chief of staff in the 7th City Council District.
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In Memoriam
Gerald Alan Niederman, 69, died Sunday, Nov. 15, Am Israel Mortuary reported. Graveside funeral services will be conducted by Rabbi Benj Fried of Temple Emanu-El at 9:45 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road.
Niederman’s family provided the following obituary:
On Sunday, November 15, 2020, Gerald (Gerry) Niederman, passed away peacefully at the age of 69 in San Diego, California. Born on August 15, 1951, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Gerry attended Highland Park High School (where he met his wife, Nancy Solow), received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Columbia University, and earned his JD from the University of Chicago Law School. He dedicated his life to expanding access to health care for all and practiced law as a shareholder at Polsinelli in the Denver office, where he represented health care organizations and related nonprofit entities in Colorado and throughout the United States. He also proudly served on philanthropic boards, including the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Judaism Your Way.
Gerry was a devoted husband and father of three who believed in the possibility of a better world. He loved listening to music (especially recognizing his Jersey roots with Bruce Springsteen), driving his bright green convertible, cheering on the Cubs and Rockies, gardening, following his favorite podcasts, playing Scrabble, traveling, engaging in lively political discussions, eating pizza on the beach, debating the proper rice to water ratio while cooking, and enjoying after dinner walks.
Gerry is survived by his wife, Nancy, and three children, Alicia, Ian, and Olivia. He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations in his memory to the Colorado Lawyers Committee (https://coloradolawyerscommittee.org/), the Denver Dumb Friends League (https://www.ddfl.org/), or Judaism Your Way. ( http://www.judaismyourway.org/ )
Am Israel Mortuary also reported the following deaths had occurred in November
—Eric J. Elin, 84, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, and was buried Friday, Nov. 13, at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside. Rabbi Baruch Greenberg of Chabad Jewish Center of Oceanside-Vista officiated.
—Nathan Joshua Harrison, 75, died Friday, Nov. 6, and was buried Nov. 17 at Miramar National Cemetery in a ceremony co-officiated by Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein and Rabbi Jeremy Gimbel of Congregation Beth Israel.
Chabad of La Costa reported the death of Elias Perez, who was buried at noon today (Tuesday) at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com Free obituaries in memory of members of the San Diego County Jewish community are sponsored on San Diego Jewish World by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg.