A Blatant Editorial: Mammoth Town Council Expresses Concern Over Federal Government Actions

A Blatant Editorial: Mammoth Town Council Expresses Concern Over Federal Government Actions

Federal lands surround the town of Mammoth Lakes, so it was no surprise that Town Council members were acutely aware of potential changes coming down the pipeline from the Elon Musk/President Donald Trump partnership. That frustration and uncertainty was expressed at last week’s meeting.

As I write this, I have MSNBC’s broadcast of the Supreme Court arguing the validity of birthright citizenship. I am of German descent, adopted into a large clan of Irish Catholics whose father fled Northern Ireland to find religious freedom. I now realize under an interpretation of birthright citizenship, the O’Connor side of my adoptive family may not have really been citizens. This aside has nothing to do with Mammoth Town Council’s discussion but is an illustration of how drastically the country’s political landscape is shifting.

Back to the Mammoth Town Council discussion. The first implication of the impact of the Department of Government Efficiency on local government came during the Regional Broadband Coordinator Scott Armstrong’s update on fully connecting the Town. Councilmember John Wentworth questioned the impact of the Forest Service “being dismantled” since the Town is basically an island in the middle of federal lands. Armstrong wasn’t entirely sure of any impact but told the Council that “utilities have different parameters, rights.”

Armstrong’s assumption was funding for broadband in and around Mammoth had been allocated prior to the onset of DOGE and he felt the funding would “be left in place”. Wentworth was not convinced, adding “we have to keep an eye on claw backs.”

As the Town Council meeting progressed, discussions became even more gloomy. Councilmember Amanda Rice brought up cuts to federal housing and Community Development Block Grant programs. Wentworth added that the assumption that the “world outside of us is safe has fundamentally changed” and funding for housing and wildland fire programs may be considered “too woke” for the Trump administration.

Back to personal experience: I have been watching my new neighbors fixing up their home, planting vegetables and flowers, all the things young homeowners do. Both were employed by federal agencies, both are now unemployed. Okay, life is uncertain and often brings set-backs to one’s life plans. This is different; this is an avalanche of unforeseeable consequences.

Deb Murphy