He's the kind of cop who's been there and treats everyone with respect, even those he arrests

Henry Diaz in his squad car.

Editor's Note: After an absence from journalism of about five years working on clean energy for a nonprofit and then on getting clean trucks for California's roadways for an air district, I went back to writing at a weekly newspaper. This is one of my favorite stories so far. It appeared in the Sanger Herald April 30, 2015.

Henry Diaz is a throwback, the kind of cop who knows just about everybody on his beat.

He's a police officer who understands his town of Sanger, Calif., population about 25,000, because he's part of it. He is Sanger, which is generally poor and 80 percent nonwhite. He was raised in the notorious Chankla neighborhood, the son of a hard-working single immigrant mom who wanted the best for her children. He went to Jefferson Elementary. He graduated from Sanger High in 1994.

"He's the same guy, the same person I met years ago," said his wife, Maricela Diaz. "He's very humble. He likes people, and he's very friendly."

She said she was pleasantly surprised when she learned her husband of 17 years was named Officer of the Year by the Sanger Police Department in early April. Yet, she was a little concerned that the online posting of the news would generate snide comments, since police officers these days aren't often getting the greatest press.

She shouldn't have worried.

The initial Sanger Herald Facebook post about Henry Diaz receiving the honor in early April garnered 226 likes, 15 shares and a then-record more than 4,400 views. The brief post and photo about Diaz getting named Officer of the Year generated scads of comments like this one from Bobby and Denise Perez: "Congratulations Henry. You (are) a great role model for our Kids! Sanger is lucky to (have an) Officer like You."

And this from Jason Boust: "Very well deserved."

And this from Jessica Guerra: "Congratulations to my compadre Henry! Sanger is blessed to have an officer like Henry."

Diaz is the kind of officer who stands in stark contrast to the negative publicity given to police officers nationwide by the plethora of cell phone videos chronicling abuses against suspects. He's the counter argument — the guy people know and trust.

Something's wrong when smog is considered normal

On the Today Show this morning, the view from atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza showed a hazy Manhattan skyline that even obscured the new tower going up at Ground Zero.

Yet, the smog didn't get a comment from Matt Lauer, who was describing the broadcast scene. We're too used to it.

Grimy air is as common as two cars per household, as common as 15 HDPE bags per visit to the grocery store and as common as a reference to the river of garbage on a Cartoon Network show.

Something's wrong here.

Politics as usual

Complacency has become part of the American electorate. Decent jobs are disappearing faster than water from a bucket with a hole. President Obama's got a plan. Congress says it's open to compromise, but does anybody think anything will really be accomplished in the next two years?

Michele Bachmann does appear to have learned to phrase her responses to questions from "mainstream" media in a way that makes her sound like she's at least thinking about moving forward on the economy. And John Boehner and Rick Perry have issued statements, while not very specific, do at least sound good. (I love Perry's catch phrase "Together we can get America working again." Heck yes!)

Issuing the challenge

All in all, I prefer the statement by Craig Lewis, executive director of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based Clean Coalition, who had this to say about clean energy in a recent email: "Our success will bring unparalleled economic, environmental, and security benefits that are achievable through a sustained and concerted effort to implement intelligent energy policies."

He's talking about simple stuff, really. But it's important, especially the jobs component, and transcends traditional political divides. I believe Lewis issued a simple challenge. Something like, "Come on people. Let's make it work."

I find it amazing anybody (seriously) would oppose such a concept. After all, we don't have any alternatives. That skyline is our skyline. Those who can afford a New York City penthouse apartment can see murky air better than most.

Some oppose green

Michael Brune, Sierra Club executive director, says we appear to be on cusp of making it work but he believes the green energy/clean energy movement is under assault.

"Our nation is poised to enter an era where we can take it for granted that protecting public health and providing stable and sustainable jobs are one and the same. The writing's on the wall," he writes on Huffington Post.

But Brune says that's exactly why Big Oil sees a threat to its economic domination and has turned attention and resources to trying to stymie the clean economy.

I don't doubt it. There are significant deposits of "alternative" fossil fuels made more economically viable by sustained high crude oil prices. And they're domestic, or at least on this continent. Unfortunately, these deposits are more difficult to extract and could make the planet look like detritus left by Galactus. (He devours worlds and is an arch foe of the Fantastic Four. This is one of those insider Marvel Comics references. I like him because he created the Silver Surfer.)

Room for everybody

Clean energy offers a big band wagon. Oil (aka energy) companies certainly could diversify. There is likely a significant percentage of investors who prefer not to foul their nests. Why else build wealth if not for those who inherit, right? And progeny need a place to live.

The Brookings Institution's recent report "Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment" says that the clean economy employs 2.7 million workers across a vast group of industries and that various cleantech sectors have shown explosive growth.

We need more such growth.

The question

It all comes down to this: Can clean energy compete? I believe the answer is yes, even without calculating in all the ruination of pollution and degradation to the environment.

However, our best and brightest must take on the challenge. And win.

We don't have much time.

Photo: Lower Manhattan skyline courtesy easy2surf.com.