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Hank Stokes

•  Talk to those who spent the summer here and they’ll tell you it was the worst ever.
  
  We agree. It was the hottest of our 35 desert summers, we thought — especially July. But we’d be wrong. Technically. The professionals (bunch of showoffs, if you ask us) say that 2001 had more 100-degree (plus) days than 2006 and the average July temps were only two degrees above normal
  (110 instead of 108). Yes, but they don’t mention the weeks of sustained humidity. It was the heat/humidity combo that got to folks and spiked the Edison bills. Even the European tourists complained.
  
• So you think city councils are all about pulling together for the common good?
  
  Well, think again. Exhibit A: Indio, where Councilman Mike Wilson filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against his own city, claiming he has been denied access to an e-mail complaint made against him
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  . Exhibit B: Desert Hot Springs, where (at our press time) Mayor Alex Bias had refused to attend closed council sessions unless he could bring his own attorney or a tape recorder. His colleagues in turn fired him from all city committees. It’ll take more than a group hug to heal that rift.