- Support Your Local Rodeo Rider
- Pending Redwood Valley Elementary Sale: It’s A Shame
- Matt Says Thanks
- Budget Balancing
- Remembering Dr. Werra
- Redleg Boogie Blues
- New Hospital Not Needed
- Outta Control Spending
- As Nixon Said, ‘Mistakes Were Made.’
- As The Stomach Turns
- Upsidedown
- Hotter & Hotter
- Research Required
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RODEO RIDER
Editor,
My name is Ky Parrish and I am a recent Ukiah High school graduate. I have been a part of High School Rodeo for the last 3 years and represent District 2 which consists of high school students from Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Sonoma, and Napa counties. My first year in CHSRA I was awarded Rookie of the year as a bull rider. My second year I entered in Steer Wrestling and Bull riding. My senior year ended with being awarded Reserve Overall Cowboy, 1st place in steer wrestling and 2nd place in bull riding. All 3 years of my high school career in CHSRA, I qualified for Challenge of Champions and CHSRA state rodeo finals. During my events this year at State Finals I finished 20th in the state for steer wrestling. In bull riding I won 2nd place and that has Qualified me to attend the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming in July.
The National High School Rodeo finals is the World’s largest rodeo. Contestants will be travelling from as far as Mexico, New Zealand, Canada and Australia. I need sponsors to help cover my expenses of competing at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Wyoming where I will be representing the State of California. This event will run from July 16th to July 22nd and will be televised nationality on The Cowboy Channel.
I am very excited about this once in a lifetime opportunity. This fall I will be joining the rodeo team for Murray State College in Oklahoma. I plan to pursue bull riding and study business with the goal of owning my own business one day. If a decision is made by you or your company to provide sponsorship, I will do my best to represent your company with the highest degree of respect as I will be representing your name and the State of California. Please contact me at 707 391-5436 to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Ky Parrish (Son of Ryan and Deanna Titus of Boonville)
Ukiah
PENDING REDWOOD VALLEY ELEMENTARY SALE: IT’S A SHAME
Dear Editor,
I went on a tour of the Redwood Valley Middle School campus Thursday, July 6. There were a few other people on the tour being led by a handful of Ukiah Unified School District employees.
The school was surprisingly in good shape. There is frequent vandalism so all the windows are boarded up and some of the doors. There’s broken glass and such inside some of the buildings but not much that a good sweeping, a shop vac, other clean up, and some fresh paint couldn’t handle. I saw a tiny bit of water damage on the ceiling in one of the classrooms but it looked like it had happened before they remodeled the school and that the roof wasn’t currently leaking. A few fascia and sofit boards on one of the wings but nothing major. Even the gymnasium/cafeteria is in good shape. It doesn’t look like it needs to be torn down, just cleaned up to repurpose. If it isn’t torn down, there’s no need to abate the lead and asbestos.
The school officials did admit that UUSD should have made a better effort to secure and maintain the site to protect it from vandalism and degradation. The community has been clamoring for as much since the closure of the school many years ago. They let a public asset degrade to the point that now they are letting it go at fire sale prices.
I emailed a local charter school afterwards asking if they had any interest as I had heard rumors that they were. They responded promptly saying they did look at the school a few months ago and estimated $2 million in repairs to get it attendance ready which a far cry from the $10 million estimate years ago. Being a charter school, they would need UUSD approval to put a Prop 39 bond measure on the ballot which they would likely be turned down as they have been in the past. If UUSD had maintained it better, it may have been a different situation. They also have debt on their current location. So, the answer was thanks for thinking of us but, no.
It's a shame because it’s in fair shape considering. Looking under the stage in the auditorium, the framing is very sound, stout construction and of high-quality wood. The opening bid is shy of $1 million. Figuring a $2 million cleanup and remodel, $3 million for 12 acres and a whole campus of buildings seems like a steal for whoever buys it.
I understand interest rates are high, which depresses real estate prices and makes bank funding more difficult, shrinking the pool of buyers but I think it would be short-sighted for the school to sell it for such a low price. They have already sat on it for this long, I would suggest waiting a year or two until interest rates come back down and the real estate market gets better. They likely could sell it for $2-$3 million in a better market. I don’t know about UUSD’s financial situation so I don’t know how desperate they are for the $1 million. But if they waited to get more money, it would be much better financially. There’s virtually nothing that would double or triple the return on investment of $1 million in a year or two.
So here we are with another publicly elected board, mismanaging the public’s assets then making decisions based on a crisis mentality. This will not change until we elect better leaders.
Adam Gaska
Candidate for 1st District Supervisor
Redwood Valley
MATT SAYS THANKS
Editor,
During our 4th of July weekend across Mendocino County we were extremely busy. Here we are on July 6th and my deputies are just now coming up for air and completing their reports.
Our communities hosted celebrations, parades, and gatherings. From the Willits Rodeo to the Salmon Barbeque, we had some good times. I wanted to thank all our community members and volunteers who served their communities with hard work in the planning and organizing these events. Seeing the community spirit displayed in our parades made me very proud to be an American.
Holidays such as the 4th of July often take a toll on public safety agencies. First responders don’t get the holidays off, to the contrary we have to ramp up patrols and put people on overtime to cover many of the festivities.
As we have seen in many locations across the nation large gatherings can bring calls to first responders including violence, missing children, vehicle accidents and the types of things we see when an influx of people come to an area. Therefore, we assign extra personnel to cover calls at these events. While these events are occurring, we are also handling the standard calls for service within the communities including thefts, burglaries, assaults etc.
During our celebrations many community members helped us carry the load and helped keep our communities safe. From volunteers in civic groups to our partners in Tribal Government, everyone came together to make our weekend as safe as possible for our residents and visitors.
I think we should be very proud of these folks and the spirit of community they brought to the table. We did have some tragedies this weekend and clearly, we have some hills left to climb.
We often place emphasis on the folks who aren’t serving their communities. Press releases and news stories are filled with crime and sadness. Sometimes I think we completely forget about the good things that occur and the good people who serve their communities every day. Let’s face it, being good residents, raising good families and serving communities doesn’t put people on the front page of the paper. These are the people who are supporting all of us, let take a minute to thank and celebrate them.
As always thank you for supporting the men and women serving at the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and thank you for supporting your friends and neighbors here in Mendocino County.
Sheriff Matt Kendall
Ukiah
BUDGET BALANCING
Dear Editor,
Balancing a budget is a crucial task for any government, as it directly impacts the overall economic stability and long-term sustainability of the government, in this case, the county.
A balanced budget ensures that the county’s revenue matches its expenditure, instilling trust in its taxpayers and employees. Achieving and maintaining a balanced budget requires careful consideration, strategic planning, and a focus on fundamental principles.
Here I will explore the importance of balancing a budget and discuss some practical strategies.
The first step in balancing a budget is to evaluate the county’s current financial situation. The country’s current situation could be better. Potentially millions in the red and no offer of COLAs to the employees just for starters. This process has to involve analyzing revenue streams, expenditures, debt levels, and any existing budget deficit. A thorough understanding of the government’s financial position is essential in formulating effective strategies to achieve a balanced budget.
Increasing government revenue is also a necessary aspect of balancing a budget. This concept has been discussed ad nauseam at county meetings with little consensus on how to move forward. Aside from shoring up revenue-generating departments, the most glaring discussion is the county’s inability to keep up with property assessments and the significant loss of potential revenue. Some numbers I have heard are in the millions of dollars resulting in substantial revenue left uncollected. Such a sum could go a long way to balance the budget and the much-deserved colas. Granted, the money would only come in piecemeal, but if we get started today, then when?
Governments can explore various means to boost revenue, such as increasing taxes; I’m only really a fan of this once and when the county can prove itself both solvent and prudent with expenses and revenue streams. However, it is crucial to strike a balance to avoid burdening individuals and businesses excessively.
Additionally, governments should focus on policies that stimulate economic growth, as increased economic activity indirectly leads to higher tax revenues. Encouraging investment, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting innovation are effective ways to achieve this. One giant step is to focus on limiting bureaucratic red tape and, for lack of better terms, just getting the government out of the way.
To achieve a balanced budget, governments must prioritize spending based on the importance and impact of various government programs and services. There has been some discussion on this involving the social service departments and their efficiency. This idea requires evaluating and reevaluating existing programs and reallocating resources from less critical areas to more essential ones.
According to the state constitution, which we all swear to uphold, public safety ranks very high, and for good reason. People should feel safe and protected in their communities. When we look at the high cost of crime in our county, we can easily see the need for public safety. Suppose we add up the time the sheriff’s department dedicates to investigating ongoing crimes and the time it takes to arrest, transport, and jail someone. In that case, it can be in the thousands per incident. The costs pile up in the District attorney’s, the public defender and officers or a deputy’s time testifying. Keeping resources allocated to public safety is essential, and coordinating departments to help the Sheriff’s Department best utilize their time and effort is critical.
Governments can ensure that limited resources are used effectively and efficiently by making strategic decisions about resource allocation. Efficiency measures play a significant role in balancing a budget. These measures are where governments should seek ways to streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, and implement cost-saving technologies. These ideas are not new but certainly could help cut down on unnecessary expenses and improve overall government operations and service delivery.
By embracing innovation and leveraging technology, governments can achieve cost savings without compromising the quality or accessibility of public services. One example is online building permits. Streamlining processes to allow for every day, not uncommon tasks that require a building permit. For example, should it take 2-3 weeks to acquire a roofing permit that is not in the coastal zone? A permit for a job that takes 2-4 days from start to finish. State or California building codes and regulations aside, we can do better in permitting.
Another critical aspect of balancing a budget is reviewing grants and other forms of financial assistance provided by the government. The city has done a fantastic job utilizing grant opportunities to subsidize payroll by seeking grants that benefit the entire city population and not just certain groups. The county can and should take the same approach by being more aggressive with grants subsidizing employee payroll. Grants are not the end all to eliminating deficits but can and should play a more prominent role.
It is equally important to assess the effectiveness and eliminate ineffective programs. By targeting funding to areas with the most significant impact, governments can ensure that the allocated resources are utilized efficiently and that the desired outcomes are achieved. Addressing underlying structural issues is also vital to achieving a balanced budget. Governments must identify and tackle factors contributing to budget imbalances, such as high healthcare costs, pension obligations, or inefficient government structures.
Governments can create a solid foundation for sustainable budget management by addressing these underlying issues. We have seen this example in the recently published grand jury report referencing the county’s HR department. The ineffectiveness and instability in this department in evaluating current employees and recruiting new long-term employees. The report mentions that the existing staff should be commended for their effort, and rightly so. However, the department needs stable and long-term leadership.
Finally, regular monitoring and review are crucial to balance the budget. If you have followed the county meetings, you have heard about the need for monthly department reports. If not monthly, then bi-monthly, keeping everyone abreast of current finances and allowing adjustments as needed. Waiting until mid-year can be, at times, too late. Indeed, waiting until the end of the year will always be too late and will force cuts that may have been otherwise prevented.
The county must continually evaluate revenue and expenditure patterns and make necessary adjustments to the budgetary framework. This ongoing evaluation will allow the county to respond effectively to changing economic conditions, policy priorities, and unexpected events.
Balancing a budget is essential for the county’s overall economic stability and sustainability.
Following the general steps and ideas above, the county can begin achieving and maintaining a balanced budget. To summarize some of my thoughts and plans, if elected, the county needs to continue evaluating the current financial situation, increasing revenue, prioritizing spending, implementing efficiency measures, reviewing grants, addressing structural issues, and regular monitoring and review are key strategies to reach budgetary balance. A balanced budget ensures financial stability and will allow the county to effectively allocate resources, stimulate economic growth, and provide essential public services.
Now none of this is to say it will be an easy task, but it must happen. I have no grand illusions that the job will be an easy one. There are many factors involved in producing a reasonable and balanced budget. These ideas are just a few that I have and by no means equate to “problem solved,” but all of these ideas can work if the leadership works together. I have proven myself to be such a leader. I am always willing to work with others and collaborate on ideas.
Understanding that compromise is always part of the equation. One must also have the clout to initiate change. It takes three votes to change and chart a new course. One voice cannot do it alone. Being willing to constantly hear the other side and consider those ideas is how things get done. I have been part of the positive change in the City of Fort Bragg for over six years. If elected, I will be part of the positive, forward-thinking change needed in this county.
Bernie Norvell
Candidate for Fourth District Supervisor
Fort Bragg
REMEMBERING DR. WERRA
To the Editor:
First I would like to say to the family I’m sorry for your loss and everyone who knew him.
My reason for writing this letter is that in the summer of 1962 Dr. Werra saved my life and was the reason I was not paralyzed by my injury. I was 16 years old and dove into the East Fork of the Russian River and broke my neck. Dr. Werra came to me in Potter Valley and rode to the hospital with me. He instantly put me in traction and proceeded to get information. He talked to my parents and suggested to transfer me to Saint Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco. Dr. Werra rode all the way to SF in the ambulance. There is no way to forget. Later in life he became my doctor not until he retired. Knowing him was to love him. Any time I saw him he would remember me and talk of the time long ago when he saved me. One more thing: when my mother was dying of cancer Dr.Werra would come to the house in Potter whenever she needed him, rare in the 21st century. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to his memorial but I will never forget him.
Earl Preffer
Potter Valley
REDLEG BOOGIE BLUES
Dear Editor,
A lot of water has run under the bridge since we last corresponded and I am moved to say hello by your recent writings on (and from) Costello and the Redleg Boogie Blues. So many fond memories.
I've enclosed a couple of recordings I did many years ago with Jeff, his one- time wife and mother of their children, Maggie, a couple of friends, and Redleg front man, Joe Tate. Though not intended as “Redleg” recordings, the Maggie Catfish CD “Just Like Magic” captures Jeff and Maggie at (I think) their best, and Maggie's wonderful painting of the Sausalito houseboat neighborhood as the cover-art is a gem.
The songwriting is superb as is Joe Tate's on the fur-song Redleg “Summer of Love” demo. Maggie's recording “Girl from Gate 5” on the “Just Like Magic” CD tells much of their story in clever song. In some ways Jeff's talent was hidden from the casual observer but, the writing comes full circle as does his guitar playing all these years later, standing tall. I am forever grateful for my association with Jeff and Maggie, leading of course to our own connection (with a little flavor contributed by Dannie Martin).
I called Maggie the other day just to connect and tell her about your enthusiasm for Redleg Boogie Blues, which of course delighted her. Please let interested readers know that Maggie can be found at the Marin Valley Crafts Fair, 100 Marin Valley Drive, Novato, the first Saturday of each month, happy to tell stories and talk about Redleg Boogie Blues and the era that was. She also has a limited number of the “Just Like Magic” CDs for sale.
I will (celebrate--or curse) the 80th anniversary of my birth next month. As they say “…getting old isn't for sissies” and I do my best to keep ahead of the curve, sometimes a bit of a struggle. I hope this finds you and the major in good spirit and health.
Yours,
Jake Rohrer
Haiku, Hawaii
NEW HOSPITAL NOT NEEDED
To the Editor:
This is a reply to the letter calling for the Ukiah City Council to “get us” another hospital.
The Kaiser fully integrated model (including all its physicians being employees) requires a huge pool of members (tilted towards healthy ones) — a combination of Medicare and of working people whose employers pay for all or a generous share of their costs. In a large city, Kaiser is the least expensive plan offered to municipal and county employees as well as many of the area’s major industries/employers, and so it can provide services there.
Their system cannot work in our rural counties unless/until we scale up to the size of Santa Rosa. Um…not what we moved here for!
Janet Rosen (a former happy Kaiser RN and patient)
Ukiah
OUTTA CONTROL SPENDING
Editor:
I’m appalled at how brazenly local government throws around my hard-earned tax money. Inflation, increasing home and auto insurance, increasing “fees” (hidden taxes) and pressure to get us into expensive electric cars are destroying the middle class. What about reducing sales taxes? How about “freezing” property taxes for a year or so? Isn’t extra money supposed to be returned to taxpayers?
Wendy Haynes
Santa Rosa
AS NIXON SAID, ‘MISTAKES WERE MADE.’
Editor,
Blood-suckers Percolating…
Either you're getting old or I'm going crazy: Didn't I read your screed on cliched insults in a post-literate world (first paragraph, Off the Record, 6/28) in the same column, same place, in the last few months? If not, call me just another flipped-out hippie suffering years of drug damage. Not that you should be bitching about literacy when a few paragraphs down the page re: water and the SoCo Supes turning the Russian River into an “impromptu leech field.” Wrong Word, as old English teachers are inordinately and gleefully fond of pointing out. Unless you meant the Supes were creating a flooded field in which to raise blood-sucking freshwater worms (class Hirundinea), perhaps for sale to old school physicians, you more likely meant LEACH, “to dissolve out or remove by the action of a percolating liquid.” But before your vitality as an educated word-wonger leaks, or is sucked, away, consider many TV attorneys made the same mistake when trolling for class-action denizens of Camp Lejune, the big Marine base with toxic drinking water thanks to leeching (sic). When, feeling puckish, I called the number on the screen and informed them of the mistake, the usual response was “Ah shit!” or “I'll let those responsible know.” Subsequent ads deleted the causal action and just said something about “exposed to toxins in the water.” Do you think humanity's proclivity to err is the source of our humility to correct, or will a heartfelt “Ah shit!” suffice?
Cheers, Jim Dodge, Recording Secretary,
SOL (Society of Language, Jack Spicer Chapter)
Manila
AS THE STOMACH TURNS
Dearest Editoria,
One of the propaganda outlets I pay some attention to is the Hoover Institution at Stanford, despite it’s leadership (Condi Rice) and pro-military stances (Gen. H.R. McMaster, Rtd.), finding the level of cogitation a respite from ordinary Facebook “repartee.”
The June 26 edition of the “Good Fellows” confab focuses on the latest scene in the Soviet-Ukrainian bloody soap opera, and the Prigozhin circus holding sway in this episode of “As the World Turns.”
Of course, I grew up in a world that included the Rand Corporation and most of my gainful employment was generated by affiliation with the hated military-industrial complex. (Of all the living examples of our country’s villainous hypocrisy, Kissinger first and then Cheney are among my most detested public figures — somewhat outshined by the Supreme Court on this day, but still…). Gen. McMaster reminds me of one of my favorite world class high tech bosses, an avuncular affiliation that I used effectively to grow my own “career.”
My upbringing also occurred in the era of post-WWII and the mythification of the US as the “world’s benefactor,” hideously reprehensible but temporarily entrenched in the global culture (until the next thing comes along). As far as I’m concerned, the White House has clearly demonstrated its ungovernable rogue status throughout every presidency in my recall. The Stanford “Good Fellows” convey the aura of savoir faire to mere commoners like me, while retaining the authority of their elite sinecures in California’s most ivory of towers.
Betsy Cawn
Lake County
UPSIDEDOWN
To the Editor,
I saw pictures of downtown San Francisco. The homeless camps on the cement sidewalks. The upsidedown people are definitely in charge there and mostly throughout California. San Francisco is the cultural center of moral collapse with Los Angeles and political boomtown Sacramento on the same page.
Upsidedown people needing other upsidedown people, or so the song goes.
That pretty much describes the Democratic National Committee. Upside down people love lies and hate the truth. Let's make a list of some of the more popular lies that support the cultural cancer we are witnessing today in the form of homelessness, drug addiction, from both street drugs and prescription drugs, and computer addiction, etc. Here's a short list of some very important fundamental lies that support human upsidedownism.
A fetus is not a human life.
Nazis are not socialists.
Free money is good for people.
Hard work is to be avoided.
Weird sex is good for you.
Your conscience is lying to you and is some kind of cultural programming.
Power to take money from people who work and give it to people who won't work is a good thing.
Hard work is not a good thing and people should not have to do it.
We are better off now than before we had computers.
You actually own your real estate and are not a tenant.
Of course there are many more lies. Can you see them? Or am I lying to you?
You should know, if not find, friends and join political parties that agree with your rebellion against the truth.
Which way do you think California is headed?
It should be quite clear from the pictures taken that your unsafe feeling, and the stuff you step in, that California is the hierarchy of upsidedown people and is unsustainable.
Obviously I'm not running for office. California is the home of Proposition 13. Weak as it is was, it sent the upsidedown people running and squirming and crying, Where did my pork barrel go?
I have faith we can turn this thing around. Long live California, not the upsidedowners.
Tom Madden
Comptche
PS. Where else could you print this letter?
HOTTER & HOTTER
Editor:
We are yet again reminded that our world is rapidly warming, this time by severe heat waves in the South and the wildfires in Canada. The time to act is now to stop polluting our atmosphere with carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.
With the passing of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act there are incentives that make clean energy sources cheaper than burning fossil fuels. The California Public Utilities Commission is tasked with regulating utilities and ensuring that ratepayers have affordable, safe and clean energy.
I ask that the members of the CPUC show bold leadership and rapidly transition all California utilities from burning carbon-polluting fossil fuels to producing electricity from clean sources, such as solar and wind, and using energy storage. Please, for the sake of our grandchildren and all future generations, make this transition the top priority.
Ron Sadler
Lakeport
RESEARCH REQUIRED
To the Editor,
When Joe Biden (Jerry Philbrick said not to call him our president) kissed his son Hunter on national television, was that like a Mafia kiss of death? However, you can't really predict what a politico does today. Hillary kissed Obama and both those warmongers are allegedly alive making millions on book deals like Stormy Daniels, Jean Carroll, and Alvin Bragg are no doubt planning! Is Trump-hating here to stay?
I need to take a break from my “Biden bashing” since I just received the June 14 edition and my brain is again on alert as there is once again near blasphemy against our heroic General Braxton Bragg. I can surmise that the Editor is in favor of a name change for our fair city. Since I will be in absentia for a while, could somebody submit for me the change to “Mendoza Beach” after California's first esteemed Governor)?
Also the Editor seems to be an authority on the life and times of Braxton Bragg. The following might take some research, but instead of slander, I request the “honorable” AVA please submit it to us readers the real true facts about Mr. Bragg.
What my inquiring mind would like to know is: What is Braxton's date of birth and where was he born? When did he pass on and where is his grave? How about information on why at least five other United States towns are named after an alleged mean, blundering and slave-whipping man! Also please research the civil war and let us know what battles were lost due to general Bragg's blunders. According to the media it is amazing that Bragg even survived the Civil War!
It doesn't seem too difficult to establish facts on Bragg's career at West Point and in Texas during the Mexican-American war. Please Editor, put up or shut up!
You did get some facts straight to the best of my knowledge about Fort Bragg history.
My grandma Clara Saunders was the first Crow “half-breed” born in Fort Bragg in 1884. I listened at her knee about much early folklore on the Mendocino Coast. To my knowledge there was never ever any “brutal slavemastery” nor slaughter of any Native Americans in the Fort Bragg city limits.
One more requested fact: When and where did Braxton Bragg actually own this “fantasy slave plantation”?
Sincerely,
David 'Hazel Youngcault-Crow Nation historian' Giusti
San Luis Obispo
PS. Hello to Alan Crow. I got a kick out of him calling me a Muppet! Even though it appears that Alan is still obsessing on me, he didn't this time in the June 14 letter to the editor practice his excessive literary “convict brutality.” But why is a Washington state Okie worrying about Fort Bragg? Is he planning on terrorizing Mendo when paroled? But guess what, Alan? If you ever get a parole date from the Vacaville insane asylum where the Department of Corrections currently is now housing you, you will be dubbed a mentally disordered offender and sent to the Atascadero funny farm for life. A lot of good your snitching to district attorney Eyster did you!
ED REPLY: Focus, Giusti, focus! I'm opposed to a name change for Fort Bragg. In fact, the Name Changers are arranging a debate with me against them during which I will argue against the name change in an event sorta like a rhetorical version of midget wrestling. As for General Bragg, so incompetent his fellow Confederate traitors removed him from their command structure, there's no defense, although he was a product of his time and place, and aren't we all? I think the Name Change issue goes beyond Fort Bragg because it represents a re-write or erasure of historical fact, and re-writes of historical fact are assaults on truth, at least the search for truth. Back to Bragg for a sec: Fort Bragg became Fort Bragg when that junior officer, the guy in charge of the fort, attempted to ingratiate himself with Bragg, then his senior officer, by naming the remote, insignificant American army presence way to hell and gone up in the NorCal wilderness, by naming the fort after Bragg. All this happened long before the Civil War.
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