Mendocino County Today: Saturday 8/31/2024

Westport Ladies | Warmer | Water Craft | Investigate Navarro | Toxic Algae | Brugmansia | Rivers Caution | AVUSD News | Local Events | Weed Heists | Area 101 | McGourty Crowing | Noyo Harbor | Norvell Interview | Pomo Bluffs | Skunked Again | Dam Fails | More Water | AI Report | Winter Wellness | Boonville Distillery | Farm Stands | Wendling Hotel | Weekend Brunch | Hop Tee | Wine Competition | Ed Notes | Yesterday's Catch | Marco Radio | Junkyard Dog | Another Victory | Wage Theft | Bankrupt Republic | 400 Years | Harris/Walz Interview | Management Position | Velvet Honk | Young Willie | Joyful Austerity | Kathmandu | Woodstock | About Face | One Song

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WARMER THAN NORMAL temperatures will hang on for one more day today before more seasonable weather arrives alongside deepening marine influence near shore. Hotter temperatures will return by mid next week. (NWS)

STEPHEN DUNLAP (Fort Bragg): On the coast this Saturday morning yes you guessed it a foggy 55F. If you liked yesterday you'll love our forecast for more of the same going thru the holiday weekend.

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INVESTIGATE NAVARRO RIVER POLLUTION

I am writing to express my deep concern for the Navarro River in Anderson Valley and to request that an INVESTIGATION be done to determine the source of possible excessive nutrients being deposited into the river and its tributaries. I live between two river resorts directly on the Navarro River in Philo. This is a recent and acute problem for the last two years. I want to convey to you that this is not normal algae growth, it is massive and invasive. 

In 2022, a drought year, the water ran clear through September. It was low, but beautiful. 

In 2023, after a very wet winter, the Algae bloom began at the beginning of August. Small amounts of Bacteria were discovered in the water and signs were posted. The river was unusable, ugly and unhealthy. I surmised that after drought years the massive rains must have washed a lot of topsoil into the water.  

2024: This year the massive bloom of Filamentous Algae began on July 8th; it was the first heat wave of the season. The pictures included were taken by me on August 8^th. The pictures are not enhanced. It was noon time, and the sun was high in the sky. The Algae stretches for at least two miles that I have walked and starts directly above me where Indian Creek joins the Navarro as one of its tributaries. The North Coast Water Board conducted testing and determined small amounts of bacteria were present. Again, signs were posted and a HAB was marked on a map. Done.  

A simple search of Algae Blooms produces the same result over and over. 

Per Wikipedia; Algal blooms are the result of a nutrient, like nitrogen or phosphorus from various sources (for example fertilizer runoff or other forms of nutrient pollution), entering the aquatic system and causing excessive growth of algae. An algal bloom affects the whole ecosystem. 

Per www.epa.gov: non-point source pollution which may include diffuse runoff from agricultural fields, residential lands, roads and stormwater) may be high in nitrogen and phosphorus and can promote or cause excessive fertilization (eutrophication) of both flowing and non-flowing waters. 

Per National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Algal Blooms (nih.gov) : 

Scientists know that certain environmental conditions, such as warmer water temperatures in the summer and excessive nutrients from fertilizers or sewage waste brought by runoff, trigger HABs, but they are still learning more. 

And many more.... 

I live very near to several large vineyards and at least one cannabis cultivator. The cannabis cultivator has greenhouses right up to Indian Creek and the massive number of vines on the valley floor are also next to the creek. I do not know the water discharge regulations and compliance requirements for cannabis or other agricultural industries. Has or CAN an inspection be conducted? The excessive nutrients must be present in the water to create such large noxious blooms, even with climate change and low water flow.  

Action must be taken to determine the cause of our beautiful river being off balance and overwhelmed with algae. It is toxic, unsightly, and unhealthy for fish and wildlife. Our very livelihoods are affected in so many ways: loss of business for resorts, loss to the salmon population, our State Park suffers, the general happiness of the community suffers, and no more swimming in the summer. This year the river in Philo was swimmable for only 7 weeks. The owner of the resort next to me states that she has never seen anything like this in 16 years of living on the river.  

The mass dying of the bloom consumes the oxygen out of the water and further damages the water quality. 

The North Coast Water Board is developing a Supply and Demand Assessment for the Navarro River as this is obviously a concern. A work plan model is being developed. How can we assist in this study? I am willing to collect water samples or help with restoration projects. 

Supply and Demand Assessment (SDA) – Navarro River | California State Water Resources Control Board 

A study from 2012 Titled “Evidence of Ecologically Relevant Degradation of Summer Base-flows in the Navarro River California” by David Hines and Emma Kohlsmith (UCR) shows the summer flow rate does not meet irrigation needs of Anderson Valley. In 2012... 

See:    Evidence of Ecologically Relevant Degradation of Summer Base-flows in the Navarro River, California (escholarship.org) 

In 2013 the UC Cooperative Extension conducted a study titled “Meeting Irrigated Agricultural Water Needs in the Navarro River Watershed”. The study was conducted to assess the water needed to change the agricultural landscape of Anderson Valley to grapes. It looks at increasing vineyard production from 2,652 acres to 7,301 acres. See chart below. The study's authors are Glenn McGourty, D. Lewis, J. Harper, R. Elkins, J. Metz, J. Nosera, P. Papper, and R. Sanford Mr. McGourty went on to be elected Mendocino County Supervisor and as such is on the Mendocino County Water Agency’s Board of Directors, who approve well applications. Supervisor McGourty was an author of a study that had influence on the sustainability of adding thousands of vineyard acres to the valley and subsequently  had a say in the approval of new wells.  

“It is likely that additional agricultural acreage will be added to the Navarro watershed to accommodate favorable economic demand for wine grapes and wine. The most likely places where growth will be seen are in the Hendy Woods and Robinson Creek sub watersheds. These areas are already the most densely planted areas. However, water development would remain an issue as it is unlikely that very much new water could be appropriated from surface waterways.” 

I would ask Supervisor McGourty if the recommendations for water sustainability in his study have been implemented?  

See study:  Agricultural Water Use in the Anderson Valley (ucanr.edu) 

The North Coast Water Board is developing new rules that address the impact vineyards may have on water quality. These rules, called the Draft Vineyard Order, were released for public comment in June 2023. I am sorry I missed the public comment. “Over 95% of North Coast vineyards are located within the Navarro River and Russian River watersheds which provide important fish habitat and are impacted by excess sediment and high temperature. During storms, bare soil in vineyards can erode and contribute excess sediment to local rivers, which harms fish. In the absence of on-farm practices, pesticides and fertilizer applied on vineyards can also end up in local waterways and groundwater. The Draft Vineyard Order requires farmers to address stormwater runoff from their vineyards to control sediment and pollutants that can reach streams.”  Hopefully these new regulations will help to restore some of the damage done by sediment and run off from winter storms. 

See:  Information about the Draft Vineyard Order (ca.gov) 

The degradation of water conditions in the Navarro River and its tributaries led to the inclusion of the Navarro River in the Clean Water Act 303(d) list for impairments associated with sediment and temperature. 

In conclusion, it appears help may be on the way in new sediment and discharge regulations and a new hydrology model being created by the North Coast Water Board to evaluate what changes need to take place to restore water quality to the Navarro River. 

But we don’t have years to wait. This leaching of nutrients into our surface water must be INVESTIGATED right now, before another winter of runoffs damages the river again. I am pleading for your agency to take steps to remedy this situation today. 

Below is a google earth photo of the area I am referencing. The yellow highlight area is where the Algae Bloom is. You can see the massive agriculture that is concentrated here. The red ex’s mark the cannabis operation and vineyard in close proximity. 

Sincerely, 

Lisa Nunes 

Philo, Calif 

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TOXIC ALGAE ALERT ISSUED FOR MENDOCINO COUNTY’S NAVARRO AND RUSSIAN RIVERS

by Matt LaFever

Health officials in Mendocino County are warning the public about potentially toxic algal mats recently discovered in two local rivers, advising caution for anyone who boats, fishes, or swims in the affected areas.

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and Mendocino County issued advisories for the Navarro River in Philo and the East Fork of the Russian River, where the algal mats were found. Children and dogs, who are most susceptible to serious health impacts, should avoid touching any suspicious-looking algal material in the water or along the riverbanks.

The Navarro River advisory follows an August 9, 2024, report of a bloom, which led to testing that confirmed the presence of potentially toxic algal mats growing on the riverbed. These mats, which may detach and become stranded on the banks, were found to contain low levels of toxins (~5 ug/L anatoxins), but still pose health risks.

Similarly, during a field training session on August 9, 2024, Water Board staff sampled benthic mats in the East Fork of the Russian River near Elledge Ranch Road. Testing confirmed the presence of potentially toxic algal mats on the river’s bottom.

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has posted “Toxic Algae Alert” signs at recreational areas along both rivers, urging users to be vigilant. The public is advised not to touch or ingest any algal mat material and to prevent dogs from drinking river water. If contact occurs, officials recommend washing exposed areas immediately.

The Water Board is monitoring the situation and will provide updates on the California Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Reports Web Map. The advisories emphasize practicing "Healthy Water Habits," such as avoiding algae in the water, keeping an eye on children and pets, and following any posted warnings.

Anyone who suspects a harmful algal bloom or encounters toxic algal mats is encouraged to report it through the California HABs portal, by emailing CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov, or calling the HABs hotline at 1-844-729-6466.

For more information on harmful algal blooms, visit the California Harmful Algal Blooms Portal.

(mendofever.com)

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HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS DETECTED IN THE NAVARRO & RUSSIAN RIVER; Caution Urged in Water Contact (For Immediate Release: August 30, 2024)

1. NAVARRO RIVER

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and Mendocino County advise caution for anyone who boats, fishes, or swims in the Navarro River in Philo (Mendocino County) as potentially toxic algal mats were recently discovered in the river. Because children and dogs are most susceptible to serious health impacts, it is recommended that they avoid touching any suspicious-looking algal material found in the water or along riverbanks.

August 9, 2024 Water Board staff responded to a bloom report on the Navarro River in Philo. Testing confirmed that potentially toxic algal mats are growing on the bottom of the Navarro River in Philo. These mats may detach and become stranded on banks. The toxins measured in the sample were relatively low (~5 ug/L anatoxins) compared to other rivers that can sometimes reach into the thousands of ug/L. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is posting “Toxic Algae Alert” signage at recreational areas along the Navarro River in Philo based on statewide guidance. Recreational users are urged to be alert when recreating in the water. The North Coast Regional Water Boards will provide regular updates to inform the community when postings are removed on the California HAB Reports Web Map.

2. EAST FORK OF RUSSIAN RIVER

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and Mendocino County advise caution for anyone who fishes, or swims in the East Fork of the Russian River (Mendocino County) as potentially toxic algal mats were recently discovered in the river. Because children and dogs are most susceptible to serious health impacts, it is recommended that they avoid touching any suspicious-looking algal material found in the water or along riverbanks.

During field training on August 9, 2024 the North Coast Regional Water Board staff sampled benthic mats in the East Fork of the Russian River at the access point across from Elledge Ranch Rd (39.241443, -123.142949). Testing confirmed that potentially toxic algal mats are growing on the bottom of the East Fork of the Russian River. These mats may detach and become stranded on banks. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is posting “Toxic Algae Alert” signage at the East Fork of the Russian River based on statewide guidance. Recreational users are urged to be alert when recreating in the water. The North Coast Regional Water Boards will provide regular updates to inform the community when postings are removed on the California HAB Reports Web Map.

3. RUSSIAN RIVER AT STANDISH HICKEY

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and Mendocino County advise caution for anyone who fishes, or swims in the East Fork of the Russian River (Mendocino County) as potentially toxic algal mats were recently discovered in the river. Because children and dogs are most susceptible to serious health impacts, it is recommended that they avoid touching any suspicious-looking algal material found in the water or along riverbanks.

August 9, 2024 Water Board staff observed benthic mats at the East Fork of the Russian River. These mats may detach and become stranded on banks. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board in coordination with State Parks is posting “Toxic Algae Alert” signage at the Standish-Hickey Recreation Area based on statewide guidance. Recreational users are urged to be alert when recreating in the water. The North Coast Regional Water Boards will provide regular updates to inform the community when postings are removed on the California HAB Reports Web Map.

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While harmful algal blooms are caused by algal or cyanobacteria that grow floating in the water, some algae or cyanobacteria grow attached to the bottom surface of waterways and can form algal mats. If you see algal mats the recommendation is for children, dogs, and adults to not touch or inadvertently ingest any algal mat material in the water or found stranded on the riverbanks. In addition, dogs should not drink water directly from the rivers. If your dog is exposed, please wash them immediately. These recommendations are based on the potential health risks posed by the toxins that can be produced by algal organisms, commonly cyanobacteria, that can form algal mats. The potentially toxic algal mats can be found either attached to the bottom, floating in the water, or stranded on the riverbank. The appearance of algal mats ranges from bright to dull-green, orange, brown, and maroon material. In summary, when in doubt avoid touching algal mats.

The Water Boards recommend that people practice Healthy Water Habits while enjoying the outdoors this summer at your local lake, river or stream:

• Heed all instructions on posted advisories if present
• Avoid algae and scum in the water and on the shore
• Keep an eye on children and pets
• If you think a harmful algal bloom or toxic algal mats are present, do not let pets and other animals go into or drink the water or eat scum/algal mats on the shore
• Don’t drink the water or use it for cooking
• Wash yourself, your family and your pets with clean water after water play
• If you catch fish, throw away guts and clean fillets with tap water or bottled water before cooking
• Avoid eating shellfish if you think a harmful algal bloom is present

Get medical treatment immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock has gotten sick after going in the water or incidentally ingesting the mat material. Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with cyanobacteria. Also, make sure to contact the local county public health department.

To report a bloom, do one of the following:

• Fill out the bloom Report Form on the portal
• Email: CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov
• Call the HABs hotline: 1-844-729-6466 (toll free)
• Contact your County Public Health Office

For more information about HABs, please visit: California Harmful Algal Blooms Portal

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AV UNIFIED NEWS

Anderson Valley Elementary School

Students are doing well settling into their new classes and are happy and learning. The PTA has been selling spirit wear regularly and it is a lot of fun to see students and staff sporting their school colors on Fridays! Our after school program is going strong, and we are looking forward to the addition of a Ballet Folklorico class being added soon. It has been a great start to the 2024-2025. year!

Jr/Sr High, ASB & Class Officers

Mr. Alexys Bautista is doing a great job with his ASB group! He says, "These students are all leaders on our campus that share the same goal: Revive school spirit and pride and create an environment in which all students feel seen, respected and included. They along with their parents have signed a contract in which they will uphold a conduct that embodies safety, respect and responsibility in all interactions with teachers, staff, peers and the broader community." We are so excited to know this awesome group of students is already making plans for engaging activities for the whole student body.

COPE Health Scholar Program

Ms. Kira Brennan has been working hard advocating for students who are part of the COPE Health Scholar Program. They have completed almost all their clearances and will do a day-ong CPR class on Sept. 24th in Willits. If all goes well, we will have our first three Health Scholars interning at Adventist! They will begin to look at Medical Assistant Programs for their future after High School.

Library Trip

Mrs. Ali Cook took her ELD class on a trip to the public library! They had a blast and were so happy to get books that were both interesting and on their appropriate reading levels. Ali and Heath are looking into bringing the mobile library to our school as well, to give students additional reading options.

English 85

Dr. Maya Borhani will be teaching this dual enrollment English class to over twenty high-achieving students; she was hired by Mendocino College. She will be coming out (from Oregon) soon to meet the class in person but will be mostly teaching them via Zoom. This is an exceptional group of kids and they will have a good experience.

Construction continues!

Gym -

We have received an estimate to retrofit the gym to meet current DSA specifications. If the cost of improving it is 51% or more of the cost of replacing it, there is the possibility we could receive funding from the Office of Public School Construction (OPSC).

The OPSC is under the authority of the state of California's Department of General Services. OPSC implements and administers a $42 billion voter-approved facilities construction program.T

Track (Clean California Grant from CalTrans)

We re waiting on DSA approval and it will soon be out to bid.

Fire Alarm (Measure M funded)

Jr/Sr High, we will be putting in an entirely new system; this is currently in the designing process. The new system will be improve the connections between our various buildings and will also eliminate challenges we have been dealing with in our aging system.

Elementary Kitchen (Measure M funded)

Kitchen is back in DSA for approval, which required a change to student drop-off and pick-up to be in compliance with current ordinances. Parents have been doing a WONDERFUL job with the new drop-off and pick up!

We are looking forward to updating the kitchen in the coming months.

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LOCAL EVENTS (this weekend)

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SERIES OF CANNABIS BURGLARIES PLAGUE MENDOCINO AND HUMBOLDT COUNTIES

by Kym Kemp

Over the past year, Mendocino and Humboldt counties have experienced a troubling surge in cannabis-related burglaries, leaving many local farmers, distributers, and dispensary owners concerned for the security of their operations. Despite the frequency of these incidents, victims have largely remained silent or at least unwilling to have their story told—until now. This week, the owner of Henry’s Original, a prominent cannabis facility in the heart of Mendocino County, spoke out after his business was burglarized twice over the weekend, resulting in the theft of a number of* pounds of unprocessed cannabis material.

The first break-in occurred early Saturday morning, with the intruders gaining access to the facility for about two minutes. This triggered an alarm, which led the owner to request the dispatch of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, noted that little was taken during this initial attempt, possibly because most of the inventory was securely stored in another location. At that time the camera footage was not available and the landlord who had access to it couldn’t be reached.

The following morning, however, the thieves returned with more determination. Around 5 a.m. on Sunday, burglars managed to steal a number of pounds* of unprocessed material. Again, the intruders were caught on security footage, driving a gold or tan Ford Explorer and a white box truck with identifiable damage to the rear passenger side (the same truck was at the scene on Saturday). The license plates had been obscured with tinfoil. The owner described the burglars as a Hispanic male and a larger white male with a tattoo on his leg, noting that one of them was not wearing a mask.

“They were just grabbing totes and running,” the owner said. “The alarms were blaring, and the lights turned on, so they were probably panicked. They took less than 5% of what was in the building, but it was still a significant loss.”

This incident is not isolated. According to the owner, other cannabis farms in Mendocino County have experienced similar break-ins. One farmer, who also wishes to remain anonymous, shared security footage of his property being targeted by what appears to be the same gold SUV seen at Henry’s Original with us. In this instance, the thieves only managed to steal a generator and a weed scale before crashing through a gate to escape.

Sheriff Matt Kendall of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that his department is aware of the Henry’s Original incident as well as others and is actively investigating them. There have been a series of burglaries, both cannabis-related and from construction sites, he confirmed. He said that the MCSO is working on solving them and has leads that they believe will be helpful.

Despite the ongoing investigations, the recent burglaries have left many in the cannabis community on edge. The owner of Henry’s Original expressed frustration at the challenges of securing his property against determined thieves.

“I don’t think we’re dealing with professionals,” he told us describing his situation. “[T]hey’re like, knocking over totes and stuff trying to get them towards the door. And, you know, the alarms are blaring stuff the whole time, right? And so, I think, and the lights turn on, we have motion sensor light, so it’s like bright as day there, and the alarms are blaring. And I think they’re obviously probably a little panicked while they’re doing this. And so they don’t take very much, I mean, there’s considerably more the building. And they, they just grab those totes and ran.”

However, other burglaries, particularly at dispensaries show a large level of professionalism. As these crimes continue, the local cannabis industry faces increasing pressure to enhance security measures and work with law enforcement to protect their livelihoods. The hope is that by bringing these incidents to light, more victims will come forward, and together they all can help put an end to this trend.

If you have any information about this, contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department at (707) 463-4086 or the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department at (707) 445-7251.

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‘GET CUBBISON’ ADVOCATE CONGRATULATES HIMSELF

by Mark Scaramella

Lame-Duck Supervisor Glenn McGourty lead the Board of Supervisors’s “Get Cubbison” campaign, so it’s not surprising that he takes every self-serving opportunity to brag about it. Never mind that he and his colleagues didn’t even offer Ms. Cubbison, an independently elected official, an opportunity to respond to the DA’s dubious misappropriation charges, charges that are now bogged down in dense thickets of legal and evidentiary weeds in Ukiah’s slo-mo courtrooms.

At the latest Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council meeting, as reported by MendoFever’s Monica Huettl, “McGourty said County finances have been improved since Chamise Cubbison has been replaced with Sarah Pierce. ‘The transformation has been extraordinary,’ said McGourty. The county now has a credit rating of A+. There is a state entity called Regional Government Services, a JPA [Joint Powers Authority] available to assist county governments. McGourty said he asked Cubbison to get help from them with finances in 2021, and she declined to use it. Pierce is using RGS. ‘Finally we have a functional accounting system,’ he said.”

According to investopedia an A+ rating is a mid-range rating, after AAA, AA+, AA, and AA-, and is neither good nor bad, and is only used as a credit rating for bond investing; it has nothing to do with the rating agency’s opinion of the County’s accounting system.

What is McGourty’s definition of a “functional accounting system”? A ho-hum A+ credit rating? (Any governmnt agency with taxing authority gets at least an A+ rating.) The use of a “state entity”?

Neither of those things have anything to do with the functioning of the County’s accounting system.

The Board has yet to receive regular budget reports from their CEO or their Auditor-Controller / Treasurer-Tax Collector. They have an enormous revenue collection deficit with tax delinquencies that are years overdue. They have dozens of multi-million dollar unmanaged, unmonitored slush funds. The Teeter Plan is running a huge deficit. Nobody has looked at the road fund in years. They had to borrow money from Measure B to cover the jail construction overrun. They have very fancy financial software systems that have not worked as designed for years. They are undergoing an unprecedented $800k state audit. They used one-time funds to balance this year’s budget, again. They gave themselves and their CEO big raises, much bigger than they offered to their employees saying they were broke, without knowing where the money would come from…

But, “we have a functional accounting system”?

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SUPERVISOR-ELECT NORVELL on Homelessness in Fort Bragg & Mendocino County

From an interview with Supervisor-Elect Norvell by Ken McCormick of “Ukiah Vagrant Watch…”

Norvell: The Point In Time Count to me is a flawed tool that should not carry any weight. For example Mendocino County Is down 23% from the year before. What most folks do not know are the mulitple definitions of homelessness, each one specific to the type of funding that may be available. Street level homelessness is what most people see and struggle with. We had 40 people Die of overdose that year not including people that are in shelters and in transitional housing that have been placed into permanent housing. My best guess is this makes up most of the 23%. I always tell people to drive around town and tell me if homelessness is better or worse in your community.

Q. Is there a different standard for homeless when enforcing violations, some have been on the street for decades, in front of judges 100's of times, what should be done with these individuals?

Norvell: Norvell: Yes absolutely. CRU [Fort Bragg’s Care Response Unit] gets involved right away and stays involved. Some people are ready for help and others are not. When the law is not allowing us to mandate help we help those that are willing and also do not allow bad behavior and health and safety violations from those who are not. CRU expanded to include Project Right Now or PRN. It is focused on addiction and recovery. We work with probation, the judges, the DA’s office, public defenders and the jail. If someone ends up in jail we reach out and the courts have allowed us to intervene and will sentence them to rehab for day to day credit. The key is they are only released from jail once we’ve secure them a bed in rehab and are then released to CRU who transports them to rehab. No exceptions. This eliminates the offender being released and expected to enroll in rehab on their own. We have found this to be a key to success. We also have a great working relationship with RCS who will respond and intervene when appropriate.

Q. What is your position on no public encampment enforcement; cities with aggressive enforcement claim they have fewer homeless. Do you agree?

Norvell: We are fairly aggressive. I can’t say zero tolerance because there are laws protecting some of this. We do however address them Immediately and with the intention of removing them. My fear has always been, letting them get big and then removing them with a bulldozer and ending up on CNN because of it. Not a good look. The key is intervention when they are found and hooking them up with services to get them off the street. Again, these are people and should be treated as such. With the taxpayers footing the bill they expect them to be addressed and should be.

Full Interview: https://bit.ly/3RDGIBg

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SKUNK SKUNKED

Federal District Court declines to consider state court’s ruling that the Skunk Train is subject to local rules and regs…

“…The panel affirmed the district court’s judgment dismissing Mendocino Railway’s federal lawsuit against the City of Fort Bragg and the California Coastal Commission under the Colorado River doctrine, which authorizes federal courts to refrain from exercising jurisdiction where there are parallel state court proceedings.

“The Railway has resisted the City’s and Commission’s efforts to regulate the use and maintenance of Railway properties in the City. The City filed a state court action seeking declaratory and injunctive relief requiring the Railway to comply with local laws regulating the use and maintenance of Railway properties in the City. The Railway asserted that the declaratory and injunctive relief sought by the City were barred by state and federal preemption. The Railway subsequently filed this federal action, seeking a declaration that the actions of the City and the Commission to regulate the Railway were preempted, and an injunction preventing the City and the Commission from interfering with the Railway’s operations.

“… The forum shopping and piecemeal litigation considerations strongly favor dismissal, and the order in which the forums obtained jurisdiction also supports that outcome.

https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/08/29/23-15857.pdf

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SEASONAL DAM ON LOWER RUSSIAN RIVER FAILS, FORCING EARLY REMOVAL OF SUMMER BRIDGE

A breach in the Vacation Beach dam has washed out the summer road connecting River and Neeley roads, forcing an early closure to the seasonal bridge providing access.

by Amie Windsor

The Vacation Beach summer dam on the lower Russian River breached Thursday night, causing water to undermine a county road serving a summer bridge, which has now been closed ahead of the Labor Day weekend.

The dam backs up water along the Russian River to provide a recreational spot downstream of Guerneville between June 15 and Oct. 1.

Vacation Beach is a hot spot during summer weekends for locals and tourists alike, used for picnics, kayaking and fishing. It is unclear if the beach will be open for the holiday weekend.

The dam failed about 8:30 p.m. after a steel stringer on the Neeley Road side of the bridge was buried in the bank and failed.

The failure caused a board in the dam to blow out near the base of the dam structure, causing water to flow underneath the county road.

The dam is managed by the Russian River Recreation and Parks District.

According to a representative from west county Supervisor Lynda Hopkins’ office, the Russian River has not experienced excessive flows upstream, so this was a component failure, not an increase in flow, causing the breach.

Andrea Rodriguez, spokesperson with Sonoma Water, which helps manage river flows, confirmed that “all water levels look normal.”

The dam breach was first reported by Monte Rio Fire Protection District Chief Steve Baxman.

“Water was coming over the dam at the lower summer crossing and water was coming underneath the road,” Baxman said.

Sonoma County Public Infrastructure has closed the summer road for the season because erosion from the dam breach compromised its integrity, according to Hopkins’ office. The road and bridge is typically open through Oct. 1.

The Russian River Recreation and Parks District is currently in the process of removing the dam and draining the pond held by the dam.

“There is no other way to remedy this situation,” Hopkins’ office said.

“It’s a terrible loss to the community to have the Vacation Beach summer bridge crossing shut down early,” Supervisor Hopkins said. “See what one dam failure did to a road at night; if we experienced a dam failure during a busy summer day with lots of folks in the river, the consequences would be even worse.”

District Board President Herman J. Hernandez said the dam has experienced a breach only one other time.

“It happened in 1992 after about three inches of rain,” Hernandez said.

(Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

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SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY WATER RIGHT PETITIONS FOR TEMPORARY URGENCY CHANGES

Sonoma County Water Agency has filed petitions for temporary urgency changes for water right Permits 12947A, 12949, 12950, and 16596 (Applications 12919A, 15736, 15737, and 19351). Pursuant to the existing water rights, water is diverted from the Russian River stream system in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties.

To view the Notice and project information, please visit the Division of Water Rights website at: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/petitions/temporary_urgency.html

Objections filed in response to this notice should be submitted by 4:30 p.m.on September 27, 2024

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Ken Emanuel by email at kenneth.emanuel@waterboards.ca.gov

ED NOTE: The Sonoma County Water Agency wants more of the diverted Eel water stored at no cost for them in Lake Mendocino to meet the ever greater demand of development up and down the 101 Corridor.

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JIM SHIELDS (Mendocino County Observer)

I want to direct your attention to the front-page story-photo collage by Jayma Shields Spence, where she’s welcoming aboard long-time Anderson Valley Advertiser caricaturist, Fred Sternkopf. Fred is the creator of the brilliantly satiric Dr. Doo cartoon. Be sure and check out Dr. Doo on page 3. I guarantee you that Fred is the real deal and you’re going to love his work.

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I’m not a big fan of the internet and electronic-related technology. I especially don’t trust artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies. Anyway, our Town Council holds its meetings at the Harwood Hall/Healthy Start community complex. My daughter Jayma is Healthy Start’s director and we use their equipment for zoom and video recording of meetings. Part of the recording process includes AI-generated summary reports of the meetings. What follows are excerpts from the AI report. Let me know what you think.

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Sheriff Kendall Report

At our August 28th Town Council (LAMAC) meeting, Sheriff Matt Kendall reported on the increase in calls for service, particularly in thefts and overdoses, which are on pace to exceed the previous two years. He mentioned ongoing efforts to address these issues, including collaboration with various groups and the upcoming implementation of Prop. 36 (Prop 36 would both roll back Prop 47 and add new penalties for drug use and a broad range of theft offenses, as well as add new sentencing enhancements that would apply to any type of crime.) The Sheriff also anticipated a decrease in calls by mid-September or early October, despite an expected increase in jail population due to Prop. 36. He also noted an uptick in mental health issues among children returning to school.

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Dr. Palton's Substance Abuse Program Discussed

Council Chair Jim Shields informed the Sheriff about a front-page story in the upcoming Observer, featuring Dr. Sharon Paulton's new program aimed at helping people with substance abuse issues, particularly those with serious problems like Fentanyl. The Sheriff expressed interest in the program and requested Jayma to facilitate a connection between him and Dr. Paulton.

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Ford Street Expansion and Retirement Fund Shifts

4th District Supervisor Dan Gjerde reported that Ford Street Foundation had secured a substantial portion of funds for a new wing expansion through support from the City of Ukiah and local tribes, with a potential small gap funding from Measure B funds. He also said he county Retirement Investment Fund board agreed to shift two-thirds of its international stocks from actively managed funds to broad-based index funds, which would save about $2 million in fees to active managers. Lastly, Dan addressed a longstanding issue regarding access to a property along the Eel River, which has recently sparked concerns among new neighbors about potential fire hazards. He expressed his efforts to involve county staff and Cal Fire to address the situation, with Jim showing interest in the issue.

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Cannabis Ordinance Provision Reinterpretation

Jim discussed a longstanding provision in the cannabis ordinance that was recently brought to the attention of the Board of Supervisors by the county's Cannabis Department. The provision, which was approved eight years ago, combined two separate types of permits: a standard 10,000 square feet grow permit and a separate permit for nurseries that would allow for a combined 22,000 square feet. The Cannabis Department claimed this provision was widely misunderstood and misinterpreted, leading to confusion and potential violations. Jim argued that the provision was not intended to allow permit holders to increase their grow sites to 22,000 square feet.

Jim discussed the need to verify the recollection of former Supervisor John McGowen, who was the main architect of the weed ordinance. He said McGowen stated that the so-called “reinterpretation” of the provision by the Cannabis department is incorrect and does not allow a cultivation expansion to 22,000 square feet but is restricted to a maximum of 10,000 square feet.

This issue will be addressed on September 10th at the BOS meeting. Jim urged support for Council Member Traci Pellar’s letter to the Board of Supervisors, which was similar to an action taken two months prior regarding a letter to the Supes from the Willits Environmental Center on the “reinterpretation” issue. The motion to support Tracy's letter was unanimously approved, by the Council.

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Municipal Advisory Councils Realignment

Jim discussed a legal issue regarding the jurisdictional realignment of municipal advisory councils in the county. He explained that these councils, which were established to advise local, state, and federal governments on various issues, were apparently moved under the jurisdiction of the Planning and Building Department sometime around 2016. Jim argued that this move, orchestrated by former CEO Carmel Angelo, aimed at restricting the councils' activities to planning matters, was another example of illegal meddling by the former CEO. He emphasized that the councils should be organizationally and jurisdictionally under the Board of Supervisors, as contemplated by the state government code. Jim sought the Council's approval to endorse a request to the Board of Supervisors for realignment of municipal advisory councils from planning and building to the board of supervisors. The motion was approved unanimously.

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Ham Radio Exercise and GMRS Radios

Council Member Ran Bush shared his experience of a recent county-wide ham radio exercise, which was an annual event and involved role-playing for disaster preparation drills. He discussed his efforts to train staff on the use of ham and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios for emergency communications. He mentioned that while LVHC has a ham radio on site, it was rarely used. Ran and his team have been practicing with GMRS radios, which are less complex than ham radios but still require training. He also highlighted the importance of regular practice for emergency communications and his intention to stay in touch with local ham and GMRS operators. Council Member Laura corrected Ran's earlier statement about LVHC not having a ham radio.

Emergency Preparedness and Communication Improvements Jim recognized the efforts of the COAD emergency committee, highlighting their successful preparation and training for emergencies, which was acknowledged as a model for other parts of the county. This committee was formed in the wake of the February 2023 snowstorm debacle. Ran stated he would stay in touch with the Leggett community, another area identified as needing improved radio communication. The conversation ended with Jim adjourning the session and thanking everyone for their participation.

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THE BOONVILLE DISTILLERY BISTRO/FIESTA

by Torrey Douglass

The adage “Adapt or Die” is particularly relevant in the restaurant business, and after a slew of changes, proprietor Natalie Sparks has been figuring out the next chapter for her restaurant and craft distillery in downtown Boonville, The Boonville Distillery.

After stepping away from the main restaurant for a time, she is back at the helm, now with Michelin star-rated chef, Chris Morrison, in the kitchen Friday through Monday. Chris is serving up a menu of elevated classics at The Bistro. Dishes include mouth-watering beer-battered fish and chips, the classic ground beef burger, and a trio of salmon tacos that knocked my socks off. Their fresh and filling salads exceed expectations—as Natalie puts it, “We take our salads seriously.” The Bistro is one of the few local spots with a kids menu, as well as the only full bar for 30 miles.

From Tuesday through Thursday, Chris steps out of the kitchen and long-time local favorite, Libby, steps in. Libby ran her own Mexican restaurant in Philo for many years, and folks who have missed her scrumptious enchiladas, burritos, and tostadas will be delighted that she’s cooking again. Fresh, flavorful, and satisfying, Libby strikes the perfect balance with her dishes, combining stick-to-your-ribs nourishment prepared with expert finesse.

Things will continue to evolve at The Boonville Distillery, so it’s best to take advantage of the “Two Restaurants, One Space” while it is here. Whether you sit down at The Bistro or Fiesta, you’ll be exceptionally well fed and watered.

More on instagram @boonvilledistillery and online at boonvilledistillery.com.

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AV PRODUCE STANDS & OUTLETS

Velma's Farm Stand at Filigreen Farm

Now Open On Sundays!

Friday 2-5pm and Saturday-Sunday 11-4pm

Mendough's Wood-Fired Pizza Pop-Up 11:30-sold out, on Saturday only!

For fresh produce this week: peaches, pluots (Flavor Queen, Flavor King, Dapple Dandy), french prune plums, apples, melons, watermelons, summer squash, eggplant, tomatoes (heirlooms, cherry tomatoes, new girls), sweet peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, sprouting broccoli, chinese cauliflower, green cabbage, hakurei turnips, new potatoes, celery, spring onions, green beans, arugula, spinach, beets, carrots, kale, chard, basil and flowers. We will also have dried fruit, tea blends, olive oil, everlasting bouquets and wreaths available. Plus some delicious flavors of Wilder Kombucha!

We also have tomato seconds available in 10 and 20 lb flats. Please email or reach out to Annie if interested!

All produce is certified biodynamic and organic. Follow us on Instagram for updates @filigreenfarm or email annie@filigreenfarm.com (mailto:annie@filigreenfarm.com) with any questions. We accept cash, credit card, check, and EBT/SNAP (with Market Match)!

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Petit Teton Farm

Petit Teton Farm is open Mon-Sat 9-4:30, Sun 12-4:30. Right now we have sungold and heirloom tomatoes along with the large inventory of jams, pickles, soups, hot sauces, apple sauces, and drink mixers made from everything we grow. We sell frozen USDA beef and pork from our perfectly raised pigs and cows, as well as stewing hens and eggs. Squab is also available at times. Contact us for what's in stock at 707.684.4146 or farmer@petitteton.com (mailto:farmer@petitteton.com) . Nikki and Steve

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Blue Meadow Farm Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 AM - 7 PM

Closed Monday. Holmes Ranch Rd & Hwy 128 Philo (707) 895-2071. PS. We just received some delicious fresh peaches from the Hulbert Ranch !

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Brock Farms, Boonville, M-T-W closed

Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun, open 10-6

Right now, I have potatoes, onions, some tomatoes, basil, cabbage, shishito peppers, and cabbage.

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RON PARKER (photo historian)

Wendling (old Navarro)

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JIM ROBERTS (Philo)

Weekend Brunch starts this Labor Day weekend at Wickson Restaurant located at The Madrones!

*Reservations recommended.

We are working on bringing a true Pinsa to the valley in the next few weeks as we work on the special dough.

Dinner menu will be evolving in the next couple of weeks as we work through our fall reset.

Dinner- Thursday- Saturday 5:30pm- 8:00pm

Brunch- Saturday & Sunday 10:30am- 2:30pm

With the holiday, we will be open this Sunday night for dinner.

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MENDO WINEMAKERS GIVE AWARDS TO EACH OTHER

On Saturday, August 17, nearly 100 people gathered for the first-ever People’s Choice Mendocino County Wine Competition in Ukiah. The afternoon started with a welcome rain shower as members of the wine-loving public arrived to assume the role of wine judge.

In all, 31 wineries submitted 100 wines to the event, with 5 Best in Show winners, 11 Double Gold medals, 27 Gold medals, and 30 Silver medals awarded.

[Translation: Every kid got a participation award.]

. . .

MWI Executive Director Bonnie Butcher emphasized that while not every wine received a medal, every single one earned gold votes, reflecting the diverse tastes of our audience. “This just proves that there’s a perfect wine for everyone and an appreciative audience for every wine.”

All Best in Show, Double Gold, and Gold medal wines are invited to be poured for fairgoers at the Mendocino County Apple Fair in Boonville from September 13-15.

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ED NOTES

THE POLITICS OF JOY got off to a bad start with CNN’s lob ball interview with Kamala Harris the other night. The optics were way off, what with The Coach sitting next to the candidate like she couldn't be trusted to talk without dad riding shotgun. Wasn't it Hubert Humphrey who repped “the politics of joy” during his campaign against Nixon? (Nixon, incidentally, accurately assessed Humphrey as “a jibbering idiot.” Like the Kennedy Assassination files, lots of the Nixon tapes are still kept away from the public.) Kamala is not impressive. She comes off as silly and inarticulate, but she's up against preposterous and unthinkable so she's got a shot at the big job, as many of US and the rest of the world looks on aghast.

THE DAY I almost met a movie star she’d stopped by with her long ago boyfriend for a visit, the former boyfriend being Kevin Burke, the talented and charming expat Brit who lives in Philo. Kevin had introduced the visitor as “Julie,” who'd won me instantly when she said, “I love your paper.” I said, “Nice to meet ya, Julie.” Kevin and Julie sat down for brief chat, an exchange of the usual cliched pleasantries. Kevin soon said he and Julie had to be on their way, and that was that. The next morning, my wife remarked, “I think that lady who was here yesterday with Kevin was Julie Christie.” Julie Christie, the movie star?, I asked, startled. No way. Yes, my wife replied, Julie Christie the movie star. She’s a good friend of Kevin’s from way back. It had occurred to me that “Julie” had looked kinda un-Boonville, if you get my drift, but being old and harried and generally distracted, I hadn’t thought one more thought about “Julie.” For all I knew she was some upscale babe the charming Burke just met at the Boonville Hotel, and for whatever reason had dragged the poor thing to my house to show her some of the local savages. Like the rest of the world, I'd loved the two Julie Christie movies I’d seen. She was great in ‘Shampoo’ and ‘McCabe and Mrs. Miller.’ Darn! If I’d known “Julie” was Julie Christie, I could have bored her for at least ten minutes telling her how much I’d liked the only two things I’d ever seen her in. Julie Christie! In Boonville! In my garage sale living room! I’ll be darned.

THE L.A. COUNTY Board of Supervisors long ago approved a plan aimed at helping troubled families keep their children at home rather than consigning the children of the poor into the failed foster home system. A state report had revealed that California counties earned more money in state and federal reimbursements placing children in foster homes than counties earned maintaining the child in his or her natural home. The fact that the typical dependent child spends his joyless youth bouncing from foster home to foster home until at the magic age of 18 when he’s shoved out the door because he no longer has cash value had provoked the attention of reformers who argued it made more sense to put the money into the kid's family rather than soul destroying foster homes and group homes.

HERE IN ‘LIBERAL’ MENDOCINO COUNTY, dependent children provide handsome livings for an array of helping professionals, including two ad hoc non-profits called TLC and Tapestry. The way it works: The county’s Department of Social Services basically sub-leases the kids to these two nebulous outfits who, in return for a large hunk of public money, place the funding unit, er, the child, in foster homes they recruit and fund, thus adding another layer of well-paid persons living off the misery of children.

I SELDOM READ press releases unless the first sentence promises satiric possibilities. We used to get lots and lots of self-satirizing pressers advertising certain charlatans who were big draws among the Northcoast's more credulous citizens. There's something about redwoods and the ocean that prompts, among the loosely tethered, an immediate shutdown of the critical faculties. Julia Butterfly, literally out of her tree, is still out there on the Credulity Circuit. Starhawk? Interesting case. The old girl was a commie who realized early that nobody paid to listen to her talk about surplus value when she could do a Rasputin and live a life of ease talking “spirituality” to purple people at hippie festivals, as she did a couple of times in Boonville. Both the above used to pack ‘em in in Mendo under the auspices of the justly defunct Alliance For Democracy, in theory a reality-based political group. And there wasn’t a structure in the county that could hold the crowd that would turn out to hear Ram Dass. Ukiah? So much as a whisper of “An Evening of Pure Bullshit with Michael and Justine Toms, and the Ukiah PD would have to call the CHP for help with crowd control. These days, only musical groups draw the mobs, which seems to be a lateral move, intellectually speaking, but a tiny step forward.

FROM THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL of Wednesday, March 7, 1979, courtesy Jody Martinez: “Tavern owner jailed. Hopland. The owner of the Keg Cafe on Highway 101 was booked into county jail for attempted murder early this morning after he apparently mistook a sheriff’s deputy for an intruder and shot at him, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said today. According to reports, James Otis Peeler, 58, shot through the door of The Keg at deputy Anthony Craver, 39, of Ukiah, as Craver checked the cafe for intruders at about 2am this morning. The sheriff’s office had responded to a report of a broken window at the cafe earlier in the evening, and Craver was reportedly investigating what appeared to be added damage to the building. When he approached the door of the building to see if there were signs of forced entry, a shot was fired from within, the Sheriff’s Office said. The shot reportedly missed Craver by about a foot. Deputies responding to reports of the incident found Peeler inside the cafe with a .22 caliber rifle, according to reports. He was arrested and booked into county jail for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The Sheriff’s Office said Peeler was apparently guarding the cafe against any further vandalism and mistook Craver for an intruder.” Tony Craver went on from that close call to become Mendocino County Sheriff. Craver passed away last June in Idaho at the age of 85.

A FRIEND borrowed a high school history book to research an article he was writing about contemporary school books. “Am I weak or is this the heaviest textbook in the state?” he asked, deploying “heavy” as in weight, not content. Intrigued both ways, I hoisted the thing to weigh it for myself. It seemed to me not only heavy in the sense of ounces and pounds, it seemed uniquely heavy, disproportionately heavy, weirdly heavy in physical weight. So I got out the scale. “American History: The Modern Era Since 1865” came in at exactly 4 pounds 14 and one-half ounces. In terms of content, I’d say every paragraph, nay, every sentence, was at least debatable. As to the thing’s physical heft, school textbook manufacturers, like the crooks who produce college texts at high prices to students out of all proportion to production costs, textbook publishers similarly run up costs to school districts where, like as not, nobody, teacher or student, reads the books they foist off on inattentive school people.

BUMPERSTICKER spotted on a muddy pick-up in Ukiah: “Wanna come up and see my chainsaw?” And, same day, another very large bumper sticker-like decal that covered the rear window of another truck reading, “Phillipians 4:13” Hmmm. Very tricky, this one. The person responsible knows the average person, even the average Bible-reading person, is not going to know what exactly Phillipians 4:13 says, but a few people will scurry home to research the family Bible.

I REMEMBERED that Phillipians had something to do with the Apostle Paul, but my memory petered out there. But I was curious, as the dude sporting Phil had anticipated and maybe hoped. As soon as I got back to Boonville, I went directly to my Old Testament to see what the heck 4:13 advises, and it occurred to me that I was probably one of many locals similarly impelled.

PHILIPPIANS 4:13. “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Which seems a lot like bragging, especially if you print it in great big block letters on the rear window of your vehicle. Matthew 6:1-6 is more along the lines of what Jesus and God The Father seem to have had in mind: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen as one of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.” And so on. In other words, do good but keep yer piety to yourself, which is sound advice no matter who it comes from, especially in these self-aggrandizing times.

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CATCH OF THE DAY, Friday, August 30, 2024

ARIANA ARNOLD, Ukiah. Domestic abuse.

JAMES CLAUSEN, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

EVERARDO GRANILLO, Ukiah. Controlled substance, unspecified violation, probation revocation.

JOHN HILL, Laytonville. Parole violation.

THOMAS JOHNSON, San Francisco/Ukiah. DUI.

GABRIELLA MARRUFO, Covelo. Vandalism, resisting.

JAMES MATHIS, Covelo. Domestic battery, criminal threats.

JESSE PETERS, Fort Bragg. Failure to appear.

PEDRO REYNAGA, Ukiah. DUI-alcohol&drugs, under influence.

ANDREA SCROGGINS, Willits. Criminal threats, resisting.

NORMA VERDUZCO, Willits. Disobeying court order.

LARRY WOLFE JR., Lakeport/Ukiah. County parole violation, resisting.

AZAIAH ZACARIAS, Ukiah. County parole violation.

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MEMO OF THE AIR: Good Night Radio show all night tonight from Albion, live on KNYO!

Soft deadline to email your writing for tonight's (Friday night's) MOTA show is 6pm or so. If you can't make that, it's okay, send it whenever it's done and I'll read it on the radio next week. I might even check email on a music break and read it tonight anyway.

Memo of the Air: Good Night Radio is every Friday, 9pm to 5am* PST on 107.7fm KNYO-LP Fort Bragg and KNYO.org. The first hour of the show is simulcast on KAKX 89.3fm Mendocino.

Plus you can always go to https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com and hear last week's MOTA show. By Saturday night I'll put up the recording of tonight's show. Also there you'll find an assortment of cultural-educational amusements to occupy you until showtime, or any time, such as:

In those days, everyone was over the safe driving limit, including children, all the time. https://www.neatorama.com/2024/08/25/Life-in-Medieval-Europe-was-Fueled-by-Alcohol

The sudden rise and fall of beach movies. https://www.neatorama.com/2024/08/27/The-Sudden-Rise-and-Fall-of-Beach-Movies

Rerun: The Codfish Ball. Somehow this makes me think of my favorite movie ever, /The City of Lost Children/, which I recommend. There's a scene where One and Miette are cold, wet, hiding from deadly pursuers, exhausted and trying to sleep on a pile of ropes on a dock. One puts his face against Miette's back and blows into her sweater. She says warily, because he's a giant man and she's a little girl and she's been living on the streets in a rough place all her life, "What are you doing." He says, "Radiateur." (I might not have spelled that right. It means, "Heater.") https://misscellania.blogspot.com/2015/01/at-codfish-ball.html

And I have often wondered what was inside those decorative fake roof shapes on the facades of stores. Also, I imagine homeless people climbing up to camp or even build a shack on a giant store roof and just living there, because why not? Who would they be hurting? This woman had the imagination to combine those concepts and save a lot of work. It was good shelter against weather, to sleep there, and because of the facade lights and sign wiring, she had electricity. There are over a billion people in the world, many in America, who would be delighted to live this well. https://tackyraccoons.com/2024/08/29/the-roof-ninja/

Marco McClean memo@mcn.org, https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com

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This is my idea on how to stop theft from small or large stores. You can run but you cannot outrun dogs like this. It is also unpleasant to be tackled and bitten by a large trained security dog. There is a term, "junkyard dog", have you heard it? Not easy to rob a junkyard.

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JR MICHAEL REDDING:

The Federal Reserve, aka the Money Publishing House, is considering a reduction in its interest rate. Because we have "won" the fight against inflation, according to the Jerome Power the Fed's Chairman. Woo Hoo. Well, prices haven't gone down and won't but, never mind, the rate of increase is "only" 2.5%.

You see the latest report shows that the Personal Core Expenditure index or PCE which the Fed uses is "only" 2.5%. Good news? Uh, no, not exactly. Remember how compound interest works? The same is true for inflation. Putting aside that cumulative inflation is 20% or more since 2021, a 2.5% increase in essential goods and services for another 4 years is a 10% compounded increase.

As King Pyrrhus once said, another victory like this and we will be undone.

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ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

“To give the appearance of something holding up, like, say, the US economy, when there is actually nothing underneath. Nothing real, that is.”

Not to be contrarian to this statement but I can only report on what I see. I work in the development field and in my community there are numerous residential subdivisions that are quickly being built out with new $650K homes. People still seem to have plenty of money to buy over priced homes at 6% interest resulting in a monthly mortgage payment of $3,000.

Our industrial sector is cruising. New businesses are moving to town and building new structures on currently vacant sites.

The highways are crowded with new cars, semi trucks loaded with building supplies, and other work type trucks.

If you want to go to Hawaii or Cancun you have to book a year in advance. Even the hotels that charge $4K per night are booked solid.

Disneyland and Disneyworld are still ever popular.

WWE Smack Down and NFL games are still selling out.

People are still buying $100K Ford F 350s to pull their $120K fifth wheel and $75K toy haulers with two $50K UTVs and still have enough money to gas them up, pay insurance on them and cover the costs of registrations.

Taxes are still going up and people are still paying them.

Movie trash like Wolverine & Deadpool are raking in hundreds of millions of dollars.

I keep hearing that the economy is doomed, built on nothing, but when I look around all I see is EVERYONE living the good life.

It causes me significant cognitive dissonance. I know in my gut that things are amiss in the good ole democratic USA but I’m not seeing it in my fellow man. Inflation hasn’t stopped anyone.

I read once that it takes a lot to bankrupt a Republic. Took Rome 400 years. I don’t think we are there yet. We are getting there but we have a fair distance to go still.

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A VAGUE, VACUOUS TV INTERVIEW DIDN’T HELP KAMALA HARRIS

by Bret Stephens

Kamala Harris didn’t hurt herself in her interview this week with CNN’s Dana Bash. She didn’t particularly help herself, either.

On the positive side, she came across as warm, relatable and — to recall Barack Obama’s famous 2008 exchange with Hillary Clinton — more than “likable enough.” Harris refused to be baited into the identity-politics trap, emphasizing that she was running for president “for all Americans, regardless of race and gender.” And she had a nice line of attack against Donald Trump, observing the distinction between leaders who measure their strength according to whom they “beat down,” as opposed to those who measure it based on whom “you lift up.”

Less positive: She was vague to the point of vacuous. She struggled to give straight answers to her shifting positions on fracking and border security other than to say, “My values have not changed.” Fine, but she evaded the question of why it took the Biden administration more than three years to gain better control of the border, which it ultimately did through an executive order that could have been in place years earlier. It also didn’t answer the question of why she reversed her former policy positions — or whether she has higher values other than political expediency.

Harris also relied on a few talking points that may not serve her well in the next two months. She mentioned price gouging, but Americans probably won’t believe that grocery chains with razor-thin profit margins are the real culprits when it comes to their rising food bills. Her $100 billion plan to give first-time home buyers $25,000 in down payment support would mainly be an incentive for ever-higher home prices. Even Trump may be smart enough to explain just how inflationary the gimmick could be.

A bigger weakness in the interview was the presence of Harris’s running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. Though he delivered a fine speech at the Democratic National Convention (brightly enhanced by his cheering son, Gus), he was transparently evasive in answering Bash’s questions about his misstatement about his military service, false claims about a D.U.I. arrest and misleading statements about his family’s fertility treatments. If there are other lies or untruths in Walz’s record, the campaign ought to get ahead of them now.

As for Bash, she is an intelligent and insistent reporter who isn’t afraid to ask follow-up questions when she gets flighty answers. But there was too much fluff in this interview to lay to rest doubts about Harris’s readiness for the highest office. Tougher questions next time, please.

(NY Times)

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PASSAGE OF TIME

by James Kunstler

Dana Bash: “You’ve been Vice President for three and half years. The steps that you are talking about now, why haven’t you done them already?”

Kamala: “I’m very proud of the work we have done.”

She was speaking, you understand, but the main thing you noticed was the musical quality of her voice: sonorous, resonant, like one of the more obscure woodwind instruments, an alto clarinet or a basset horn, producing a sound like unto creamy dressing over the familiar word-salad of iceberg lettuce.

It would be ungentlemanly to bang on the particulars of Kamala Harris’s CNN interview performance, so I’ll proceed. The nocturne was 18-minutes long, all that survived from the 41-minutes CNN actually recorded, so you might wonder a little about the notes not played. The leitmotif throughout was “my values have not changed,” meaning, disregard any dissonance you might detect in the velvet honk of my voice. Mind the significance of the passage of time, not the music, Altogether, as nocturnes should, it had a soporific effect.

And now candidate Kamala Harris will go back to hiding on her campaign bus, which makes a different statement than, say, hiding in the basement a la “Joe Biden,” 2020. It’s the difference between going nowhere fast and going nowhere at all — though both concepts apply to the condition of the USA during the four years of “Joe Biden” (loved and revered by his comrades in the Party of Chaos, who threw the president under the very bus Kamala is hiding in).

Did you think Kamala would still be rising on the joyful billows of hot air that blew out of the Democratic Convention? Like so many of the magic tricks in the party’s repertoire, that one was a spoof of artificial levitation, to give the appearance of something holding up, like, say, the US economy, when there is actually nothing underneath. Nothing real, that is. What’s giving the economy its appearance of loft has been “Joe Biden” pouring government money into scores of party-connected NGOs as pure grift. The main effect of that is the inflation that everybody notices. Meanwhile, nobody gets hooked up to promised broadband and only eight EV charging stations get built for $7.5-billion allocated to the Department of Transportation.

The current prank, though, is to artificially pump-up Ms. Harris in the polls in the attempt to justify the coming ballot fraud to be executed two months from now, as engineered by election lawfare maestro Marc Elias, now on the Harris campaign payroll. That is, an effort to obviate any apparent discrepancies between actual poll numbers and harvested ballots flooding in at two o’clock in the morning on Nov 6.

As it happens, Ms. Harris’s poll numbers have begun to sink the past week, as the tactic of hiding the candidate from the press has backfired. As of August 29, Nate Silver has her chance of winning down at 42.7 to Mr. Trump’s 56.7. Voters have begun to notice that the candidate represents nothing except whatever happened the past four years in Biden-Land — which is to say, open borders, war for the sake of arms profiteers, flagrant censorship, inflation, cratering business activity, and overt DOJ political persecutions. Martin Armstrong, for instance, has estimated Kamala Harris’s true polling number in the ten percent range. Yikes.

So, what was the net effect of the CNN interview with Ms. Harris? It couldn’t have helped. They had to get her out of hiding, considering the significance of the passage of time in an election campaign. Even the in-the-tank news media was starting to complain about her holing-up on the bus. Dana Bash was surprisingly harsh at times when the veep confabulated about her plans to “fix” America’s problems, like asking, “Why haven’t you done that already?” The answer was the bizarre, “We can do what we’ve accomplished so far.” Roger that.

You’re probably wondering: how Mr. Trump will play this? He’d best be polite about it and assume that the voters can see and understand the obvious: that the Democrats have put up an especially inadequate candidate who can’t explain away the fiascos of the past four years. He doesn’t have to rub in so hard that it seems cruel. His own policy intentions are a quite clear alternative to four years of hoaxes, pranks, trips, gaslighting, and grift. Installing Ms. Harris without any input or votes from the party rank-and-file was about as desperate an affront to “our democracy” as anyone could imagine, like something straight out of the old Soviet politburo, picking an Andropov or a Chernenko. Mr. Trump should remind audiences of this at every opportunity if the Democrats keep yapping about “our democracy,” which seems to be all they’ve got.

Something is slip-sliding out there, perhaps the solidarity of the news media. Even The New York Times dissed Kamala Harris — Bret Stephens called her interview “vague and vacuous” the day after. One thing you have to give CNN credit for: they didn’t show a whole lot of Kamala Harris cackling in her trademark manner — to cover that mental vacuum. The cackle has been getting very mixed reviews, anyway, when you disconnect it from the fake “joy” trope. Maybe a laugh-riot is what’s in the missing 23-minutes that CNN edited out of the 41-minute recording.

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Where Willie Nelson got his start! Opening in 1955 in Houston the Esquire Ballroom was home to many country stars in the 50s, 60s & 70s. “Willie was offered a job by house performer Larry Butler after Nelson asked him to listen to a few songs he had written including one called “Crazy.” Nelson, desperate for money offered the songs for $10 each. Butler knowing that these songs were “too good” instead offered Nelson a $50 loan and job performing with his band.” The rest is history!

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TRUE TO FORM, Trump has now taken to calling Kamala Harris “low IQ” and “stupid,” racist tropes he draws on whenever he’s confronted by minorities, women or both. But for all her faults, Harris isn’t stupid. In fact, she’s demonstrated her ability to swiftly master and deftly deploy the finer points of Clintonian triangulation, the strategy of political bait-and-switch that prioritizes running against the core issues held by her own party, even policies she once enthusiastically promoted as signature features of her own previous campaigns. Pulling this off required some pretty adroit political gymnastics, where Harris had to completely reverse herself without showing the strain over long-held positions on fracking, immigration, asylum, a human rights-based foreign policy, student loan forgiveness, torture, the death penalty, and a single-payer health care system. But she sold these policy retreats so smoothly that the Democratic base eagerly embraced her politics of joyful austerity and genocide with a smile.

(Jeffrey St. Clair)

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KATHMANDU

On the Old Hippie Trail

After having found accommodation in the border town Raxaul, I went looking for transport to Kathmandu. There were only two ways: either by bus or on the back of a truck. Since the back of the truck was considerably cheaper, I chose that option. Early the next morning I hoisted myself with my luggage on the back of the truck which was packed with Nepalese, Indians and a few hippies. At first, the terrain we drove through was quite flat, but soon we were high up in the mountains. During the journey, some Nepalese were curious to see my guitar. Not only did I show it to them, but also I plaid them a few songs, which harvested much appreciation. On the way, the truck made stops for meals and sanitary purposes. Unlike most western travellers I didn’t have any trouble with the food for since I was born in Ceylon I was used to the, sometimes very spicy, eastern food. The road was very rugged and under continuous repair which made the trip quite exhausting. Although the scenery was awesome, there were times that I was quite scared when the truck went through very narrow passages, and one would look down in an unfathomable abyss. Some passengers became sick and had to throw up over the side of the truck. Needless to say, everybody was very relieved to see the contours of Kathmandu appearing against the scarlet sky in the background. Kathmandu knocked me off my feet. Again, I found myself a few thousand years back in time in a medieval scenery that reminded me of a Pasolini-style movie. Like in Singapore, or even more so, old Kathmandu was crowded with hippies who formed a separate population group as it were. - Long after this period, they named a street after them called Freak Street. - All of old Kathmandu was like an open museum decorated with myriads of statues, shrines and temples. Among all these riches simple people lived a simple and pious life. In several quarters there were communal bathing places surrounded by sculptures where water gushed out of carved lion heads: I felt as if I was in paradise. The local people had features that appeared to me as a mixture of Mongolian and Indian influence. The first night I spent in the Camp hostel, formerly only frequented by mountain climbers.

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WOODSTOCK: A CULTURAL MILESTONE

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, held in Bethel, New York, in 1969, stands as a pivotal moment in the history of popular music and counterculture. Initially conceived as a small, intimate gathering, the event unexpectedly attracted over 400,000 attendees, transforming it into a massive cultural phenomenon. Despite facing logistical challenges and inclement weather, Woodstock fostered a spirit of peace, love, and unity. Iconic performances by legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who solidified the festival's place in music history. Woodstock's enduring legacy lies in its celebration of music, art, and human connection, making it a cultural milestone that continues to inspire and influence generations to come.

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FRANCE: WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, MAN?

The charges in the case of Telegram founder Pavel Durov reveal a stunning turn toward away from very recent French outrage about surveillance

by Matt Taibbi

On Monday, October 21, 2013, the U.S. ambassador to France, Charles Rivkin, was summoned to the French Foreign Ministry in Paris on urgent business. Le Monde published excerpts of revelations from whistleblower Edward Snowden showing that across thirty days, the U.S. National Security Agency intercepted “70.3 million recordings of French citizens’ telephone data,” revealing surveillance on a “massive scale.”

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault demanded “clear answers” and insisted the U.S. work with France in “creating the conditions of transparency so these practices can be put to an end.” Secretary of State John Kerry happened to be in Paris when the Le Monde story broke. Ahead of a meeting with “Monsieur Kerry,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius seethed the surveillance was “totally unacceptable” and “we have to make sure, very quickly, that this no longer happens.” A week later, Kerry admitted U.S. spying “reached too far.”

Times have changed, apparently. So much for Voltaire…

https://www.racket.news/p/france-what-happened-to-you-man

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