Mendocino County Today: Thursday 4/17/2025

Cloudy Cool | Spring Signs | Apparent Suicide | Jenny Amok | Ukiah Annexation | No Annex | Russula Cap | Trefil Story | Frost Protection | Local Events | Ed Notes | Catheter Practice | Library Backbone | Noyo Planning | Sparkles Wolf | Covelo EMS | Rhododendron Show | Caution Geezers | Yesterday's Catch | Oh Sweetheart | Salmon Decline | Library Card | Hooded Snatchers | Tariff Lawsuit | Dangerous Gang | Hopeful News | Leon Douglas | Smek! | Palestine Lecture | Giants Win | Opening Day | Golf Emergency | Lead Stories | Citizen Neil | Fighting Oligarchy | Recently Unacceptable | Retail Subscriptions | Another Spring

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COASTAL CLOUDS, seasonal temperatures and mostly dry weather expected into early next week. A warming trend will bring high temperatures at or slightly above climatological norms. Expect periods of breezy afternoon northerly winds this weekend and next week. (NWS)

STEPHEN DUNLAP (Fort Bragg): Another foggy 49F this Thursday morning on the coast. Our fickle foggy forecast now has morning fog with after noon clearing into Saturday. Then clearing, they say.

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APPARENT SUICIDE IN RUSSIAN RIVER IN UKIAH

On Monday, April 14, 2025 at approximately 3:25 A.M., Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 800 block of Vichy Springs Road in Ukiah, to conduct a welfare check on a male subject observed tying a rope to the Perkins Street Bridge (Russian River). A passing motorist observed the male subject standing on the bridge and called to report the situation after observing the male tying a rope to the bridge railing.

When Deputies arrived, they located a rope tied to the top railing of the bridge but were unable to locate the male subject or anyone else in the area. During their investigation, Deputies located identifying information belonging to a male subject at the scene. Deputies were unable to locate the subject and completed a missing person report. Deputies and Officers from the Ukiah Police Department searched the area for several hours but were unable to locate the subject or any other evidence related to this investigation.

Later that day at approximately 8:00 A.M., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office initiated a Search and Rescue operation, which consisted of personnel from the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Sheriff’s Office Deputies, and Search and Rescue personnel from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. At approximately 10:00 A.M., a male subject was found in the Russian River approximately 300 yards downstream (south) of the Perkins Street Bridge. The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene at approximately 10:06 A.M. by Deputy Coroners with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The deceased subject, a 53 year old male from Ukiah, was the same person from the original scene whose personal identifying information was located near the bridge and for whom a missing person report was originally taken.

At this point of the continuing coroner’s investigation, details of the investigation and the decedent’s identity will not be released until the legal next of kin has been identified and notified.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by contacting the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.

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FLOWER POT, TOILET LID & KNIFE ASSAULT ON FORT BRAGG POLICE OFFICERS LEADS TO BARRICADE, ARREST.

On April 16, 2025 at approximately 12:32 AM, Fort Bragg police officers responded to the 200 block of E Redwood Avenue on the reports of a female screaming and banging on the front door. The occupants in the apartment did not know who the female was.

When officers arrived, they located Jenny Malagon, 47, of Fort Bragg on an upstairs balcony. Malagon was waiving a large kitchen knife and screaming. Officers directed Malagon to drop the knife and attempted to de-escalate the situation verbally. Malagon continued to pace back and forth on the balcony while screaming. Officers were familiar with Malagon and knew she did not live there.

While officers were talking to Malagon, she picked up a flower pot, weighing about 10 pounds, and threw it down on the officers below. Malagon threw two more pots of equal size at the officers, one missing an officer by inches. From the bottom of the stairs, an officer deployed his TASER in an attempt to use less lethal force to control Malagon. Despite multiple attempts, the TASER was ineffective, as Malagon kept breaking the wires. Malagon then broke through the front window of the occupied apartment and entered it.

Fearing for lives and safety of the occupants inside, officers ran up the stairs. One officer entered through the broken window and unlocked the front door for other officers to enter. During this, the officer cut his hand on the broken glass. He quickly wrapped it in a piece of clothing to control bleeding and continued to assist the other officers.

Malagon had barricaded herself in a bathroom. They also found the residents were in a bedroom near the bathroom. Officers blocked the bathroom door with their bodies while another officer escorted the residents out of the apartment to safety.

Officers forced the bathroom door open a few inches and saw Malagon had armed herself with the lid to the toilet tank and was holding it in a striking position. Thinking quickly, the officers all pushed through the bathroom door, quickly overpowering Malagon and took her into custody without injury.

Chief Neil Cervenka said, “Critical incidents such as these often result in the use OF deadly force. However, our courageous officers faced a potentially lethal situation and resolved it without injury to the suspect. While officers using deadly force make the news across the county, this type of resolution is far more common, but less reported on.”

After medical clearance, Malagon was booked into Mendocino County Jail on the charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury; Resisting Officer; felony Vandalism; Trespass on Occupied Property, and Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance.

The injured police officer was treated at Adventist Health Coast Hospital Emergency Room and released. He was immediately released to full duty.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Sergeant Welter of the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707)961-2800 ext 212.

This information is being released by Fort Bragg Police Chief Neil Cervenka All media inquiries should contact him at ncervenka@fortbragg.com.

Please RSVP by emailing OES@mendocinocounty.gov

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UKIAH PROPOSES TRIPLING ITS SIZE, GOBBLING UP HUGE SECTIONS OF UKIAH VALLEY; taking large chunks of taxable commercial and ag land, off the County tax rolls.

The below Press Release from the City of Ukiah (slightly rewritten by the Ukiah Daily Journal) goes on at length about the supposed benefits of Ukiah’s proposed annexation. But it gives no indication of how big their land grab is. However, given the one-sided annexation agreement the County signed with the City of Ukiah last year (as we noted at the time), no one should be surprised that Ukiah now wants to annex hundreds of parcels both north and south of the current city limits, including the water and sewer districts, the businesses and, of course, the tax revenues that will be shifted to Ukiah.

It now looks like the $3 million a year that was previously estimated to be shifted off the County’s tax rolls (i.e., lost) was substantially underestimated.

Ukiah Considers Annexation

At its meeting Wednesday, the Ukiah City Council will consider whether to move forward with an annexation initiative, city officials reported in a press release.

“This is a key moment,” Ukiah City Manager Sage Sangiacomo is quoted as saying in the release. “We’ve already seen the benefits of greater regional coordination as Ukiah has led efforts to provide quality recreation, water, and emergency response services to areas beyond our physical city boundaries — annexation is a positive next step that would bring similar benefits of regional coordination for other public services.”

If directed to do so by the City Council, “staff would begin preparing a formal annexation application for submission to the Mendocino Local Agency Formation Commission later this year,” following months of work described as conducting “preliminary background work to assess what annexation would mean for public service delivery and have developed draft boundary maps for the council’s consideration. If the council authorizes the city to proceed, a more detailed analysis and formal planning process would follow.”

Officials also explained the benefits of annexation as:

• Enabling more reliable and coordinated government services, including police, code enforcement, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Securing a stronger, more focused tax base to fund quality services and community amenities.
• Giving residents in annexed areas a voice in city elections and representation on issues that affect their neighborhoods.
• Providing a foundation for sustainable housing and commercial development while protecting agricultural land and open space.
• The potential annexation area includes land adjacent to current city boundaries, identified as likely to experience continued growth. These areas are currently served by a mix of county and special district services. A unified approach through City annexation could streamline service delivery, improve preparedness and planning efforts, and enhance responsiveness to community needs.

The April 16 meeting of the City Council is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. at the City Council Chambers located at 300 Seminary Avenue in Ukiah, and also online.

To participate or view the virtual meeting, go to the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84964463874

You can also view the meeting without participating) at: www.cityofukiah.com/meetings

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NO SANE PERSON…

Editor,

No Sane Person Would Want To Be Annexed Into The City Of Ukiah. Protest… Protest… Protest… Just Say No.

Most in the area to be annexed have the Sheriff’s Dept. Wells, Other Water Districts, Septic Tanks, and PG&E.

Ukiah…Sewer is $60 Basic charge with a “usage” (?) fee. Water has a meter. Base charge of $51 and a usage charge. Additionally, the more water you use, your sewer charges go up. So don’t pee, shower, or water your lawn. Then there is a street light fee of $2. Electricity has a base fee of $13.50, then a usage fee… And if you medically need electricity, the bill could kill you. Next, mandatory garbage services…$32 a month. You do not need police, you have a well-equipped Sherriff department.

Now a family of 2 or 3 is paying around $350. You haven’t turned on the air or watered your lawn.

And you still will pay PG&E for your gas appliances.

Ukiah is annexing you for revenue. The street repair on the East side of State St. is Cheap Slurry Seal, not the smooth blacktop for the western hills.

The city of Ukah is slick about how they promote annexing. It allowed Ukiah Valley Fire district to annex Ukiah. It has cost property owners in Ukiah an additional $100 on taxes. Why? Revenue or cronyism? We had a fire department, paid for with sales taxes and property taxes. Could it be that several at UVFD are Double Or Triple Dipping On Retirement? And every time an ambulance goes out, so does a fire truck, it’s in the contract… Job protection… This is costing Ukiah property owners, and it will cost you.

Martha Depriest

Ukiah

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THE VIRAL STORY of Mendocino’s County’s very own serial killer Theory—vivid and unverified

by Matt LaFever

As a reporter living and working in Mendocino County, I've seen my fair share of unusual stories, but nothing quite like the recent claims made by Galina Trefil. Her Facebook post declaring, "I am the daughter of a serial killer," sent ripples through our community. She alleged that her father, Dr. Jon Trefil, confessed to a decades-long killing spree, with victims across multiple states and countries. Despite providing recordings, journals, and other materials, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has not found evidence to support her claims.

This incident underscores the powerful allure of true crime narratives and the intoxicating nature of internet sleuthing. Galina's story, blending personal confession with elements of horror fiction, captivated online audiences, demonstrating how quickly unverified claims can gain traction. The case highlights the challenges authorities face in distinguishing fact from fiction in the digital age.

As a reporter and community member, this experience has been a stark reminder of the importance of verification and responsible reporting. While the allure of uncovering hidden truths is strong, it's essential to balance curiosity with skepticism, ensuring that the pursuit of justice doesn't become a vehicle for misinformation.

Read my story in SFGATE here.

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FREY VINEYARDS: Spring in the vineyards looks like frost protection for the tender new grape shoots. To keep the plants alive when the temperatures get too cold at night, we use overhead sprinklers. The water helps encase the new growth, insulating it from the colder temps. This scene happened early one morning after a particularly cold night at Frey Vineyards.

Ed note: Here in the Anderson Valley, the noble sons and daughters of the grape deploy frost fans, which destroy the sleep of several thousand residents because, as one of the most prominent nobles explained, “My grapes are more important than your sleep” in the reverse noblesse oblige characteristic of the duchy. Of course the wine nobility also claims that the frost fans save water, which is kinda true if you ignore the destructive fact that their lord and ladyships have also altered the ecology of the Anderson Valley via myriad up country stream diversions to feed hundreds of illegal holding ponds.

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LOCAL EVENTS (this weekend)

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ED NOTES

AVA READERS may recall our encounters with the late Yvonne Sligh when she was Mendocino College’s librarian. We clashed with the old girl when she refused to carry the AVA among her many periodicals, few of them showing any evidence of having been read, and none of them to the left of Time and Newsweek.

“THIS is a college, isn’t it, Ms. Sligh? Free exchange of ideas and all that?” Yvonne would harrumph, and stare back at me as if she were no comprende. One day, frustrated at her stonewalling me, I said, “Well, honey, you think it over and give me a call…” She bristled. “Please leave. Now!” I apologized. “I’m sorry, Yvonne. I didn’t mean…” Yvonne had retreated into her inner sanctum, emphatically ending that day’s visit.

IT WAS ALWAYS a hassle, and humiliating, begging various establishments to carry the paper-paper AVA with the libs, natch, perennially working to get it banned, but Mendo College was hardly a liberal institution. It may be marginally more open to dissent these days then it has been, but back in the day, it was impenetrable, probably because its faculty, a dim bunch based on our limited experience with one or another of them, but then, and it may be unique to this odd county but the entire faculty, high school through junior college, is politically, intellectually absent.

ANYWAY, it was fun to mess with Yvonne. When I had some time left over from necessary business in our charming county seat I’d pop out to the College library to bargain with her. “C’mon, Yvonne. Give me a break. Let me in.” One day I asked her if she would give me a hug, “because,” I said, “despite our differences, Yvonne, I think you’re doing a great job.” She shrank back. “Heavens, no!” she exclaimed.

MS. SLIGH finally agreed to carry the paper but hid it away on top of a top shelf where the County’s most dangerous publication to the moral well being of Mendocino County youth was placed three feet above eye level, and where short students would have needed a ladder to reach it.

THE COLLEGE, at the time, was heavy on noisy Christians, none of them much for learning in any known sense, and we soon learned that Yvonne, a member of one of the area’s more primitive congregations, may have thought she was doing God’s work by keeping Beelzebub’s journalism away from curious young eyes, of which there seemed to be few among the student body.

YVONNE was never welcoming but never entirely rude. She made it clear that she wished I stayed the heck outta her library named, by the way, after Leroy Lowery, the college’s first prexy who bragged at its opening that he hadn’t read a book in 20 years. And Leroy did the hiring!

I STILL REMEMBER being startled when I saw a Ms. Morgan Perry featured in a Sunday Ukiah Daily Journal’s “ACHIEVER” series as recipient of the “Yvonne Sligh Book Award” worth $150. My Yvonne! Ms. Perry said she would use the money to buy a trigonometry textbook for the Math 121 taught by Ms. Leslie Banta. Ms. Perry wanted to be a nurse, and apparently trig was part of that curriculum, but it beats me why it would be.

ACCORDING TO Ms. Banta’s class description: “This course will explore the mathematical uses and implications of triangles with its focus on the six trigonometric functions, the inverse trigonometric functions, and their graphs. Students will learn to solve triangles, apply trigonometry to physical phenomena, and work with the trigonometric functions in an algebraic setting. Topics will also include De Moivre’s Theorem and applications with vectors. A graphing calculator will be required for the course. Textbook Information: Trigonometry & MyMathLab Student Acc Kit Pk, Ratti ISBN 0321614704 Edition 1 (Required.)”

WHEN WE GOOGLED this textbook with its Student Acc Kit Pk, we discovered that it retailed for $190 but could be had (new) for as low as $140. We also discovered Trig for Dummies was going for $14 and another trigonometry text was absolutely free and downloadable.

TRIG HAS BEEN around for a very long time. How fancy a trig book does one need to master it? True, the $140-$190 book comes with a “Student Acc Kit Pk,” but why pay that kind of money for a book you’ll only use once?

GRAPHING CALCULATORS, according to my colleague, The Major, a math geek, go for about $100 or so, although there are also free downloadable graphing calculator software programs.

THE POINT? Why would a community college instructor require a student to buy a $150 trig book and a $100 calculator when there are so many options available that are cheaper or free? And in this case, the instructor wasn’t even the author of the textbook, the usual scam college instructors use to bilk the young? I still wonder if Yvonne would have approved.

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

Letter to the Editor:

In support of our libraries…

Libraries are another, irreplaceable American institution that is under attack by the current White House. Libraries are the backbone of a community. They provide so much to so many; all are welcome, and they are free. I have always been an avid reader, and was introduced to the library by my mother at a very early age. I use our Ukiah library for almost all my books now. I very rarely buy books, new or used. Even if I wanted to continue to buy books, as a retired school teacher on a pension, i could never afford to read the way i do now. It is one of my greatest pleasures, as it is for many people.

Sincerely,

Judith Corwin

Ukiah

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NOYO HARBOR PLANNING SESSION

Dear Editor,

I attended the meetings in the Noyo Harbor for the Multimodal Circulation plan over the last two days. While there seemed to be rather limited interest from the public the presentation was both informative and interesting. It is apparent that much of the development in the past has had very little planning or vision of future needs as to how the Harbor would evolve into a modern public space. Issues addressed were, pedestrian access and safety, both in the North Harbor corridor and the approach from Route 1 on the north side of the bridge. The impacts of the new grocery store on the corner of Franklin and North Harbor Drive have yet to be determined but the need for adequate planning is essential.

More information is available at: http://noyooceancollective.org/MULTIMODAL-CIRCULATION-PLAN/

Sincerely,

Tim McClure

Fort Bragg

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SPARKLES & HER WOLF DOG

Editor,

I’ve been putting rubber duckies out for people to enjoy and put a smile on their face and in memory of Cc Cinnamon my Wolf that passed.

She was born on Easter and I guess it made it in the Anderson Valley newspaper. It touched my heart and made me smile knowing that someone is enjoying them. I put some at the end of Gobbi Street at the baseball field and I just put some today at Anton and Todd Grove Park. I hope everybody enjoys them and the newspaper clippings showing that it was there.

Happy Easter and memory of Cc Cinnamon. I just wanted to let you know who has been hiding the little duckies.

Sparkles Totten

Ukiah

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COVELO EMS RESPONSE COMMUNITY MEETING – APRIL 21, 2025

The County of Mendocino, in collaboration with Coastal Valleys EMS Agency will be hosting a community stakeholder meeting focused on addressing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response in Covelo.

Purpose:

Identify barriers, explore innovative community-based solutions, build partnerships, and establish a shared vision for EMS response in Covelo.

Location:

Round Valley Branch Library Community Room

23925 Howard St.

Covelo, CA 95428

Date & Time:

Monday, April 21, 2025

5:00-6:30 PM

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RHODIES

Each year, the Noyo Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (ARS) partners with Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to showcase some of the best rhodie specimens on the west coast. The 46th annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show will be held at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4. The juried show is quite possibly the largest in California with a typical show displaying more than 800 entries and filling the big tent with cascades of color and fragrance.

The Rhododendron Show is free to attend and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Regular admission rates apply to visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens during the show. The Gardens is home to one of the nation’s largest collections of rhododendrons—many hybridized on the Mendocino Coast—and they promise to fill the formal gardens and woodlands with riotous color. The Gardens’ Rhododendron Collection includes over 124 species and 315 taxa. More than 1,000 rhododendrons can be seen blooming throughout the Gardens from early spring until June!

Enter The Show!
Everyone is welcome to enter their best rhododendrons, azaleas, photos, and floral arrangements for judging. Bring your best trusses to the big tent to the south end of the Gardens’ main parking lot on Thursday, May 1 between 3PM – 7PM and Friday, May 2, between 9AM – 12PM. Ribbons and trophies will be awarded to top entries in a wide range of categories. Check www.rhododendrons-mendocino.org for more information on entering.

Learn more at www.gardenbythesea.org/rhododendron-show.

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BRING YOUR BEST BLOOMS. Rhododendron Show Welcomes All Ages to Compete

Each year, the Noyo Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society partners with Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to showcase some of the finest rhododendron specimens on the West Coast. The 46th annual John Druecker Memorial Rhododendron Show will be held at the Gardens on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4. This juried show is one of the largest of its kind, typically featuring more than 800 entries that fill the exhibition tent with a cascade of color and fragrance.

Everyone is welcome to enter their rhododendrons and azaleas. Rhododendrons have a stunning growth habit, forming clusters of flowers at the end of each branch—these bouquet-like clusters are called trusses. WE WANT YOU to enter your best trusses! Bring them to the big tent at the south end of the Gardens’ main parking lot on Thursday, May 1 (3 PM—7 PM) and Friday, May 2 (9 AM—12 PM).

Ribbons and trophies will be awarded across a wide range of categories, including special awards for photography and floral arrangements featuring rhododendrons or azaleas. All ages are encouraged to participate—there’s even a Noyo Chapter Youth Trophy for entrants aged 18 and under, helping to foster a new generation of rhodie lovers. Whether you’re showcasing flowers, photographs, or both, we’d love to see your entries! Visit www.noyochapterars.org for full entry details.

The Rhododendron Show is free and open to the public from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. A selection of rhododendrons and other plants will be available for purchase, and local growers and Noyo Chapter members will be on hand to offer gardening tips and answer questions.

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens will also be open during the show (regular admission rates apply). Home to one of the nation’s largest rhododendron collections—including many hybridized right here on the Mendocino Coast—the Gardens come alive in spring with vibrant color. The Rhododendron Collection includes over 124 species and 315 taxa, with more than 1,000 rhododendrons blooming throughout the Gardens from early spring through June.

Join us as we celebrate spring and the annual Rhododendron Show at the Gardens! For more information, visit www.gardenbythesea.org.

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CATCH OF THE DAY, Wednesday, April 16, 2025

SIDNEY FOLEY, 35, Ukiah. Domestic abuse, false imprisonment, brandishing, criminal threats.

PAMELA FORD, 58, Geyserville/Ukiah. DUI.

NATHAN GREGORI, 36, Ukiah. Loitering, shoplifting.

DANIEL HOLMES JR., 31, Ukiah. Probation violation.

JENNY MALAGON, 47, Fort Bragg. Assault with deadly weapon with great bodily injury, vandalism, trespassing, under influence, resisting.

KRISTO OUSEY, 41, Ukiah. Controlled substance, paraphernalia.

DENNIS SCOTT, 67, Fort Bragg. Trespassing, resisting.

DANIEL ZAPATA, 38, Laytonville. Disorderly conduct-alcohol&drugs.

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FUNNY MOMENTS IN STROKE RECOVERY

When after my stroke and I got back to “this” world and started using my phone again it was public wifi, so I got many emails from scantily clad young women who wanted to hook up with me right away, always showing some nice cleavage, sitting with her knees spread slightly apart.

Now mind you I couldn’t even sit up yet, they had too use a lift to get me out of bed, and I was severely brain damaged, but not enough to mistake a spam email, and I would look at her and scan my shattered body and chuckle to myself: “Oh sweetheart you ARE a delightful looking creature, and there was a time, indeed there was a time; but it looks like you missed your chance” and go back to my day.

Chris Skyhawk

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COMMERCIAL SALMON SEASON IS SHUT DOWN — again. Will California’s iconic fish ever recover?

by Alastair Bland

Facing the continued collapse of Chinook salmon, officials today shut down California’s commercial salmon fishing season for an unprecedented third year in a row.

Under the decision by an interstate fisheries agency, recreational salmon fishing will be allowed in California for only brief windows of time this spring. This will be the first year that any sportfishing of Chinook has been allowed since 2022.

Today’s decision by the Pacific Fishery Management Council means that no salmon caught off California can be sold to retail consumers and restaurants for at least another year. In Oregon and Washington, commercial salmon fishing will remain open, although limited.

“From a salmon standpoint, it’s an environmental disaster. For the fishing industry, it’s a human tragedy, and it’s also an economic disaster,” said Scott Artis, executive director of the Golden State Salmon Association, an industry organization that has lobbied for river restoration and improved hatchery programs.

The decline of California’s salmon follows decades of deteriorating conditions in the waterways where the fish spawn each year, including the Sacramento and Klamath rivers.…

https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2025/04/commercial-salmon-season-shut-down-again-california/

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CA COMMERCIAL SALMON FISHING CLOSED FOR THIRD YEAR, VERY LIMITED SPORT SEASON ALLOWED

by Dan Bacher

For the third year in a row, the commercial salmon fishing season on the ocean will be shut down in California, due to the collapse of the once robust Sacramento and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon populations.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the body that oversees ocean fishery management on the West Coast, made the decision at its meeting in San Jose today.

The PFMC did approve a very restricted salmon season for recreational anglers on the ocean in the Klamath Management Zone, Fort Bragg, San Francisco and Monterey regions with a few days at a time open until a quota is reached.

“It is anticipated that the National Marine Fisheries Service will take regulatory action to enact the fishing alternative, effective in mid-May,” according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “In addition, the California Fish and Game Commission will discuss inland salmon fisheries at its April 16-17 meeting in Sacramento and is expected to take final action at its May 14 teleconference meeting.” …

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/15/2316647/-CA-Commercial-Salmon-Fishing-Closed-for-Third-Year-Very-Limited-Sport-Season-Allowed

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THE END OF THE FISH? C-WIN’S TAKE ON THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE SALMON SEASON CLOSURE

by Dan Bacher

Commercial salmon fishing in California will be closed for the third consecutive year, while regulators have allowed only a few days in 2025 for sport fishing. The decision has implications for salmon that extend far beyond the current year — all of them dire. We may never again have another commercial salmon season in California. Worse, our once abundant runs could be facing extinction.

C-WIN has produced a paper on the current crisis identifying the primary drivers of California’s salmon collapse and actions that can be taken immediately to ensure the recovery of these iconic fish. Spoiler alert: it’s all about the water.

Read: Will There Be a Salmon Season Ever Again?

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LET’S DO IT! GO, ATMAN!

Warmest spiritual greetings,

Awoke early to accommodate “deep cleaning Wednesday” at Adam’s Place Homeless Shelter in northeast Washington, D.C. On the way to the bus stop, picked up all of the litter on the way down the hill, (because the juice heads and junkies from the shelter, and also the two trendy night clubs, cannot get the empties and associated litter into the available trash containers. Proceeded to Whole Foods on H Street for a breakfast nosh which included wild salmon chowder mixed with corn and shrimp chowder. There are some advantages to being in the Chesapeake Bay region. Then, pushed on to the MLK Public Library, and upon being encouraged by a librarian to get a temporary District of Columbia library card using the California driver’s license as ID, am now on a computer for 70 minutes. Having a D.C. library card will enable me to write lengthier communiques, as opposed to the previous snippets condemning the insane stupidity of the American experiment with freedom and democracy, which you do understand includes the aggravating and completely crazy fact that it has become impossible to get affordable basic housing anymore in the United States. Whereas I am forever identified with that which is “prior to consciousness”, as a result of profound meditational and other mystical experiences resulting from decades of regular spiritual practices, the ignorance of identifying with the body and mind cannot ever be my problem. And so, having fulfilled my commitment and objectives insofar as being supportive of the Washington, D.C. Peace Vigil for the sixteenth time, I am now prepared to leave the homeless shelter, and return to California. For those of you who have also freed yourselves from the delusional spectacle of samsara, particularly the schizophrenic American variety, please contact me. Let’s set up a brand new civilization based on the Immortal Atman, or sacred heart chakra.

Craig Louis Stehr, craiglouisstehr@gmail.com

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CALIFORNIA FILES LAWSUIT TO STOP TRUMP’S TARIFFS

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FILE_8502.pdf

And, the YouTube recording of Newsom”s announcement of the suit, citing many of the facts listed in the case document: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstGqQaCoe8

California Governor Gavin Newsom Announces New Lawsuit Against Trump’s Tariffs

Excerpts from The Guardian:

In the complaint, California officials argue that the US constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to impose tariffs and that the president’s invocation of emergency powers to unilaterally escalate a global trade war, which has rattled stock markets and raised fears of recession, is unlawful.

. . .

Invoking a statute known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), Trump has issued a series of declarations imposing, reversing, delaying, restarting and modifying tariffs on US trading partners.

The complaint argues that the law does not give the US president the authority to impose tariffs without the consent of Congress. It asks the court to declare Trump’s tariff orders “unlawful and void” and to order the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection to stop enforcing them.

(Betsy Cawn)

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ARE YOU READY FOR SOME HOPEFUL NEWS? 

by Fred Gardner

"Hundreds of military children who are students at Defense Department schools across the globe walked out of class Thursday to protest book bans, curriculum changes and restrictions on extracurricular activities that have resulted from the Trump administration's crackdown on diversity." Rebecca Kheel and Thomas Novelly posted on Military.com April 10, "The walkouts, which included about a dozen schools on U.S. military bases in Europe, Asia and at least one stateside, represent the biggest collective action military children have taken since the start of the Trump administration to demand a voice in their own education after similar, smaller-scale walkouts in February and March." 

The grown-ups haven't been moved to protest.  "Books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,' were among the nearly 400 volumes removed from the U.S. Naval Academy's library this week after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office ordered the school to get rid of ones that promote diversity, equity and inclusion... The move marks another step in the Trump administration’s far-reaching effort to purge so-called DEI content from federal agencies, including policies, programs, online and social media postings and curriculum at schools."

In a follow-up story April 16 Rebecca Kheel reported that "the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday evening against the Department of Defense Education Activity (sic) and the Pentagon on behalf of 12 students in pre-K through 11th grade from six military families who attend schools on bases in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy and Japan."

Once upon a time I would have been glad to learn that the ACLU was filing suit on behalf of the student protesters. But now I'm wary of what role these helping professionals will actually play. Years ago I watched them help the Soros-funded professionals usurp leadership of the medical marijuana movement from grassroots activists in San Francisco. Will ACLU lawyers advise the rebellious students how to "frame their message?" Will the grassroots leaders feel supported or eclipsed?

Thanks, Tulsi

NY Times headline 4/15/25: "Trump Waved Off Israeli Strike After Divisions Emerged in His Administration." Deep into the story we learn who urged restraint: "In a meeting this month — one of several discussions about the Israeli plan — Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, presented a new intelligence assessment that said the buildup of American weaponry could potentially spark a wider conflict with Iran that the United States did not want.

"A range of officials echoed Ms. Gabbard’s concerns in the various meetings. Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; and Vice President JD Vance all voiced doubts about the attack."  (These wee little splits among our rulers expose the ground below, allowing plans to grow.)

Reassignment

Last week, Military.com broke a story that led to the prompt firing of Col. Susan Meyers, the Space Force commander in charge of "our" military base in Greenland. When JD Vance made his brief visit in late March, he disrespected Denmark directly in a speech: "You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland," said the veep. "You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security of this incredible, beautiful landmass."

Greenland is a Danish protectorate, and seven percent of the population are Danish-born. (Almost everybody else is Inuit and mixed race.)  President Trump has announced "our" intention to own it.  Some 150 US airmen and Guardians are stationed at Pituffik Space Base, along with Danish, Canadian and Greenlander civilians. Col Meyers was attempting damage control when she emailed Pituffik personnel that Vance's comments "are not reflective" of the Base's values. "I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly –together," she proclaimed.

Col. Meyers lost her command of Pituffik the day after Military.com posted an item about her internationalist email.  Sen Erich Schmitt, R-Mo., an obvious opportunist, demanded an investigation by the Air Force Secretary. The chief Pentagon spokesperson said, "Actions to undermine the chain of command or subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated by the Department of Defense."

Unneeded Research

It's good that Harvard is standing up to Project 2o25, but let's not lose sight of the fact that a lot of useless research is being conducted there. A recent issue of the British Medical Journal featured a paper with 24 authors. The lead author summarized their conclusions: “Dementia, stroke, and late-life depression are connected and intertwined, so if you develop one of them, there’s a substantial chance you may develop another one in the future” So said Jasper Senff, postdoctoral fellow at the Singh Lab at the Brain Care Labs at Mass General Hospital and at Harvard Medical School.

Well, duh! Isn't it obvious that losing your marbles or being paralyzed will bring you down,  man?  The absurd research was funded by the National Institutes of Health. 

At the height of the AIDS epidemic, an email was sent out by the UCSF News Services Department, announcing the award of a $1.5 million federal grant to a group at SF General Hospital. Well-respected Molly Cook, MD, was involved. The study would determine which of the various services available to AIDS patients in San Francisco were most effective. Cook et al had like a year to do the research. I remember thinking it could be done with one visit to Dennis Peron. Looking back...  I must be the only journalist who ever interviewed Dr. Molly Cook and Dr. Molly Fry!

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BILL KIMBERLIN:

The man with the motion picture camera is Leon Douglas. He retired to San Rafael in 1906 from New Jersey a very wealthy man, but he was going to get a lot wealthier. The house pictured is on “B” street in San Rafael and was not Leon’s Victorian house but was in the same area. This building was the Gate House of the old Boyd Estate and for many years housed the Marin History Museum, where on a visit, I learned about Leon’s story.

Mr. Douglas had founded, with a partner, the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1900 (later RCA). They produced the Victrola record player, based on the Edison device, which they licensed. They later purchased control of the Edison Phonograph Company and used their own design.

Douglas soon realized that if they were going to sell these machines to be placed in living rooms across the country, the machines had to look like furniture not machines, for women to accept them into their homes.

At $200 each, both partners worried they might not sell all of the first 200 they made. It turned out that they sold them by the millions. They sold so many machines that they had to hire 7,000 carpenters to build the elegant wooden cases that housed them. The company slogan was, “His Master’s Voice.” By the 1920’s they had the most popular home entertainment device in America. It was everywhere.

Leon was still inventing things, so in San Rafael in 1918, he produced a motion picture called, “Cupid Angling” using a camera of his own design. It was America’s first feature-length Color film. It starred Ruth Roland, with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks making guest appearances.

Hollywood wasn’t interested in the color system which Douglas invented to make this film. Leon brought it to them as an ingenious two strip color process that produced Color movies. Later, they realized what it was, and started using it illegally. Leon just bided his time while moving to a new home.

In 1921, Leon bought a 52 room mansion on 50 acres in Menlo Park (now Atherton) for $600,000 dollars. He installed a workshop with lathes, milling machines, and drill presses in the basement, movie equipment on the first floor, and his laboratory workshop on the mezzanine. Douglass named the mansion Victoria Manor in honor of his wife and her namesake, the Victrola.

Now, he was a full time inventor, having sold all his Victor stock in 1927 becoming very wealthy.

Douglas is known to have invented all kinds of movie equipment which he either sold or leased to Hollywood movie studios. Things like a zoom lens, a wide screen anamorphic lens, under water cameras, and special effects devices for filming. He held over 50 patents.

But then there was that other thing that he had invented, the one that he is most famous for. He had invented the first practical system for making Color motion pictures and had patented it.

Hollywood was still using his patented system which became known as Technicolor. So, Leon Douglas sued all the major Hollywood Studios in 1934 and won. The studios wound up settling with him by paying him $20 million dollars in that same year.

His mansion in Atherton is now a girl’s school. I visited it and took some photos. There is still an above ground swimming pool with a window for filming under water scenes with his special camera attachments. Leon Forrest Douglas died in San Francisco in 1940, he was 71 years old.

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DESPITE BACKLASH, SSU LECTURE ON PALESTINE DRAWS CROWD, STANDING OVATION

Ahead of the lecture, Sonoma State representatives had received thousands of emails criticizing the inclusion of history professor Ussama Makdisi in its annual Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series.

by Terini Mehta

A wave of protest emails and political pressure couldn’t derail a Tuesday evening lecture at Sonoma State University. The event drew hundreds of people — both in person and online — to hear Palestinian American historian Ussama Makdisi speak on the history of Palestine and Israel’s war in Gaza.

Part of the Rohnert Park university’s long-running Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series, the event proceeded without disruption and ended in a standing ovation.

Makdisi, a UC Berkeley professor who specializes in modern Arab history, addressed the controversy head-on. He thanked the university for defending “basic academic freedom” and described the current political climate as the most intense wave of anti-Palestinian racism and attacks on universities he’s seen in nearly three decades as a scholar.

“But paradoxically,” he said, “just by looking around this room I can say: never has there been more demand to know about Palestinian history and to recognize Palestinian humanity.”

His talk came amid escalating national tensions over speech and scholarship on the Israel-Hamas war. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed more than 50,000 Palestinians. A vocal critic of that campaign, Makdisi framed it within a longer history of colonialism, displacement and regional power struggles.

Through his hourlong lecture, Makdisi traced the history of the Middle East from the twilight of the multi-religious, multi-ethnic Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century through the creation of Israel and into the current conflict in Gaza. Weaving in his own family’s Palestinian roots, he explained the beginnings of the Zionist movement as a Western response to antisemitism — one that, he said, ignored the history and humanity of the native Palestinian people whose land was taken to establish Israel.

He argued that the West, in creating Israel, had attempted to atone for its own antisemitic past. In the process, Palestinians were forced from their homes and subjected to decades of suffering. They were, in the words of scholar Edward Said, the “victims of the victims.”

This, Makdisi said, has produced a 21st-century reality in which few powerful Western states have acted to prevent what he described as genocide in Gaza — and where speaking out against Palestinian oppression is often viewed as dangerous or antisemitic.

“Why should one be forced to choose between fighting antisemitism and supporting Palestinian humanity?” he asked. Recognizing Palestinian history, he said, is a necessary part of reclaiming Palestinian humanity.

Now in its fourth decade, the Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series has brought survivors, rescuers and scholars to SSU, including firsthand accounts from the Holocaust and genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia and Bosnia.

But in the days leading up to Makdisi’s lecture, the university faced intense backlash. Thousands of protest emails flooded inboxes of history professor Stephen Bittner, who organizes the series, as well as to Interim President Emily Cutrer, California State University Chancellor Mildred García, Gov. Gavin Newsom and others. Many accused the university of promoting antisemitism and denounced what they called the “inflammatory and false claim” that Israel is committing genocide.

The campaign echoed a broader national crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech across college campuses. In recent months, the Trump administration has launched federal investigations, revoked student visas and pulled funding from universities it accuses of tolerating antisemitism or promoting anti-Israel rhetoric.

Despite the mounting pressure, SSU held firm.

“Much of the criticism has not been offered in good faith. It is simply a means to intimidate into silence,” Bittner said during his introduction Tuesday. “I am grateful that my university has not wavered.”

More than 250 people attended the lecture. Students and faculty were joined by local residents — some wearing keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian identity, others in kippahs, traditional Jewish skullcaps — who gathered in Stevenson Hall for the hourlong talk.

Outside, two protesters stood with Israeli and American flags and signs reading “Free Gaza from Hamas” and “Hostages Home Now.”

Lev Luvishis, a member of the local chapter of Run For Their Lives — a group advocating for the return of Israeli hostages — said he had written to Bittner to protest Makdisi’s inclusion in the genocide series but never received a response.

“We’re standing here because it’s hurtful to us that this speaker was invited to be a part of the Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series,” he said. “Sonoma State can invite him — but not as part of this series.”

He said he chose not to attend the lecture because he didn’t want to “give a platform” to Makdisi.

Inside, the tone was markedly different.

Jeff King, a medical worker from Santa Rosa, said he came out of growing concern over the war.

“I read that more than 200 journalists have been killed by Israel — not to mention schools and hospitals,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s anything I can do, but I can at least just show up and listen.”

By the end of the lecture, the crowd rose to its feet in applause. Bittner, watching from the side of the room, looked visibly relieved.

Among those moved by the talk was Melissa Shilkoff, a theater student and third-generation Holocaust survivor.

“I was afraid there would be some antisemitism,” she said afterward. “But I was very happy with how the lecture went. I wasn’t aware until now that Palestinians were basically forced to leave their country for the Jews.”

Makdisi left the audience not with slogans but with questions — and a call to continue learning.

The next talk in the series is scheduled for April 22 and will focus on the Bosnian genocide. Author Irfan Mirza of the Bosnian American Institute is set to speak.

(Santa Rosa Press Democrat)

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GIANTS START FAST, parlay 13 hits and 9 walks into a blowout of Phillies

by Shayna Rubin

PHILADELPHIA — The staffs, in particular the starters, of the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies were issuing plenty of free passes Wednesday night. In total, 15 walks were doled out in a sloppy three-hour game.

But it was the Giants who made the most of them, transforming a close contest against a tough Phillies lineup into a blowout 11-4 victory that guaranteed them at least a split of the four-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

It’s the second time the Giants have scored double-digit runs the series as every single member of the starting lineup reached base at least twice. LaMonte Wade Jr. (who walked twice and struck out twice) was the only Giants starter without a hit. Mike Yastrzemski, Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman and Tyler Fitzgerald recorded multi-hit games with Fitzgerald’s three leading the charge.

As has become a theme this year, the Giants were methodical, but effective at the plate — going 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position — despite another windy night in Philadelphia.

“We’ve seen a lot of it this year,” manager Bob Melvin said. “In a night that was going to be tough to hit the ball at the ballpark, you saw a lot of balls that were hit good. Not trying to do too much. Taking our hits, taking our walks and scoring in that fashion.”

It’s been a revelatory road trip for Fitzgerald. The second baseman came to the East Coast lugging a .219 average with two extra-base hits, one RBI and a .546 OPS, but feeling inspired by a bit of hitting advice he got during the last home stand from the home run king, Barry Bonds. Since Friday’s win against the New York Yankees, he’s 9-for-19 (.474) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and four RBIs. He’s now batting .314 with a .842 OPS.

“It’s been fantastic here, recently,” Melvin said. “He went from a really tough time to start — he’s a slow starter to begin with — but you look up now and he’s hitting over .300 and it’s been fantastic. It’s settling down the bottom of the order knocking in some runs and scoring runs, too.”

The Giants first took advantage of a shaky Aaron Nola, the Phillies starter, in the first inning. A four-run uprising began with Willy Adames’ double and Lee’s RBI single. After Chapman’s single, Nola issued a pair of walks to force in a second run. Patrick Bailey’s two-RBI single made it 4-0.

Giants starter Robbie Ray also had issues finding the strike zone. It took him 39 pitches to get through an arduous first inning in which he walked four batters, two of whom scored, and threw only 16 strikes. Ray said he recognized early on an issue with his delivery in which his front side was flying open too fast, which made him pull his pitches.

“It’s unfortunate, the team puts up a four-spot and you want to go out and attack guys. I was just a tick off,” Ray said. “It should be something that I should be able to make a correction pitch-to-pitch, that’s where it bites you. You go out there and can’t make a correction and you throw 39 pitches in an inning.”

Ray walked Bryce Harper twice on eight-straight balls — a careful approach given that Harper came into the game with a career .455 average against Ray in 11 at-bats. In his third plate appearance, Harper got a strike and crushed a slider to right for a game-tying two-run home run. The blast came after Ray made the adjustment to fix his mechanics, which helped him get through four innings with five walks — matching a season-high — and a season-high eight strikeouts. After a spring focused entirely on pounding the zone, it’s the high walk count that bothered Ray most.

“It was self-inflicted,” Ray said. “It’s not like I was giving up missiles all over the yard, it was the walks that killed me. After the first inning, I did a good job getting back in the zone and really attacking guys.”

San Francisco redeemed Ray and went ahead in the fifth inning when center fielder Johan Rojas air-mailed a throw to the infield on Chapman’s single. Lee, who had legged out a double, scored as the ball bounced into the stands above the visiting dugout. Despite a 35-pitch first inning, the Giants couldn’t get Nola out of the game until he issued his fourth walk to Yastrzemski in the sixth inning to load the bases. Against reliever Jose Ruiz, Adames drew the game’s fourth run scored on a walk.

Wade’s one-out walk was the only one the Giants drew in a four-run seventh inning to break the game open.

Relievers Lou Trivino, Camilo Doval and Spencer Bivens countered Ray’s walks by issuing just one free pass (and one hit) over five scoreless innings.

Trivino, who missed the past two seasons with injuries, earned his first win since Aug. 21, 2022, with the Yankees. A meaningful win not just because of of his long-awaited return to the bigs from Tommy John surgery, but because he got the win in the ballpark he grew up attending as a childhood Phillies fan and Green Lane, Pa., native.

“It’s cool to be back in the stadium again,” Trivino said. “Growing up as a kid coming here to the games. It’s special to play on this field.”

(sfchronicle.com)

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THOMAS REID

Another Baseball Memory - 67 years ago today, major league baseball moved from the Empire State to the Golden State:

On 15 April 1958 – The former New York Giants played their first game in San Francisco, shutting out the former Brooklyn Dodgers, 8-0 before a capacity crowd of 23,448 at Seals Stadium in San Francisco. The Giants scored 2 runs in the 3rd, 4 in the 4th and added single runs in the 5th and 8th innings. Shortstop Darryl Spencer hit the 1st home run in San Francisco history, a solo blast off Dodger starter Don Drysdale in the 4th inning. Orlando Cepeda added a solo blast in the 5th inning. Giant starter Ruben Gomez went the distance to blank the Dodgers, scattering 6 hits with 6 strikeouts. Gomez also accounted for the 1st hit in San Francisco Giant history with a single off Drysdale in the 3rd inning.

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GOLF EMERGENCY

Editor:

The president declared a national economic emergency to justify imposition of tariffs worldwide. We all see the result. Several public sources note that he took Air Force One to Florida on April 3, then helicoptered to Trump National Doral Golf Club, attending the LIV golf dinner, followed by helicopter transport to Palm Beach Airport, with the next stop Mar-a-Lago. On April 4, to the golf course and back for the MAGA, Inc. Candlelight Dinner, price $1 million per head. The next such dinner, April 24, is scheduled for Washington. He will certainly travel back for this lucrative fundraiser. Such travels are costly for American taxpayers. Readers can decide: Whose emergency?

David L. Smith

Santa Rosa

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LEAD STORIES, THURSDAY'S NYT

Judge Threatens Contempt Proceedings Over Deportation Flights to El Salvador

Maryland Senator Unable to Secure Meeting With Deported Immigrant in El Salvador

Trump Waved Off Israeli Strike After Divisions Emerged in His Administration

Musk’s Team Is Building a System to Sell ‘Gold Card’ Immigrant Visas

Trump Cuts Likely to Curtail Study of Climate Change’s Health Effects

California Is Taking Trump to Court to Stop His Tariffs

Texas Is Poised to Create a $1 Billion Private School Voucher Program

One Town Says, Yes, You Can Have Too Many Capybaras

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TRUMP ‘TRIED EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK’ TO PREVENT NEIL YOUNG FROM BECOMING A U.S. CITIZEN, says wife Daryl Hannah

by Zara Irshad

Neil Young almost didn’t get his U.S. citizenship due to harassment by President Donald Trump’s first administration, according to his wife, Daryl Hannah.

“They tried every trick in the book to mess him up, and made him keep coming back to be re-interviewed and re-interviewed,” the actress and filmmaker said in an interview with BBC published on Sunday, April 13, while promoting her latest documentary on the musician, “Neil Young: Coastal.”

“It’s ridiculous (because he had) been living in America and paying taxes here since he was in his 20s.”

The “Harvest Moon” singer, who currently holds dual Canadian-American citizenship, has been a vocal critic of Trump for years, describing the reality TV star and business mogul as “a disgrace to my country.” Young also sued Trump in 2020 for the use of “Rockin’ in the Free World” on his presidential campaign trail.

More recently, Young expressed concerns about being allowed to re-enter the country after his summer European tour due to increase in detainments and deportations under the second Trump administration.

“When I go to play music in Europe, if I talk about Donald J. Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminium blanket,” he wrote on his website. “That’s right folks, if you say anything bad about Trump or his administration, you may be barred from re-entering USA.”

But Hannah thinks her husband is safe for now.

“They’ve been detaining people who have green cards or visas — which is hideous and horrifying — but they have not, so far, been refusing to let American citizens back in the country,” she said, “so I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

After his European tour, Young is set to bring his “Love Earth” tour to the Bay Area, with a scheduled stop at Mountain View’s Shoreline Amphitheatre on Sept. 12.

In the meantime, Young and Hannah are focused on the release of “Coastal.” The film, premiering in theaters Thursday, April 17, consists of black-and-white footage of Young’s solo concerts in Southern California, both onstage and off.

“Neil Young: Coastal” (not rated) is in theaters Thursday, April 17. For additional screenings through the weekend at select locations, visit www.coastalthemovie.com.

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WHY DID IT TAKE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC TO RALLY CALIFORNIA LIBERALS?

by Joe Garofoli

FOLSOM — Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — two native New Yorkers and Democratic Socialists — did something Tuesday that no California Democrats likely could: turn out 26,000 people for a rally on a Tuesday night in a Republican House district and chart a way forward for an enfeebled and directionless Democratic Party.

And they were rapturously greeted by an audience of working-class folks starved for someone who could speak for them.

Carley Stephens, who does accounting for an engineering firm, said it was more powerful to hear from this pair than from California Democrats, “who pander to many of the same corporate donors. Ninety-nine percent of Americans are not millionaires and billionaires.”

Sanders, the most remarkably consistent politician of this era, repeated the themes he’s been sounding the alarm about for the last half-century: that America is run by an oligarchy devoted only to enriching themselves, creating an ever-widening wealth divide that few on the lower end could ever hope to scale. That message has mostly gotten him shoved offstage by more moderate Democrats funded by those same corporate interests. But the message may be finding its audience in the chaotic first months of Trump 2.0. One look at who was seated behind Trump on Inauguration Day — billionaire tech titans Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk — shows the doubters that Sanders has been right.

Ocasio-Cortez, a former waitress and bartender before she was elected to Congress, said she understood how many Americans are feeling now.

“This constant pressure that we feel in our lives, of the water rising up to our throats, the impossibility to afford anything easily, the fear of speaking up or being who we are in public, the bitter divisions driven more by online algorithms than the truth, the crumbling of our rights and protections,” she said. “Understand that this right now is what it feels like to be governed by billionaires, not someday, but right now. And the first step is to open our eyes to it.”

Brandon Parrett, a 50-year-old middle school math teacher from Auburn, explained why two East Coasters resonate more with him than Democrats in his home state.

“It’s their focus on democracy and working for the common man — all their messages speak to 99% of the population, and they’re just striking a chord with everybody right now,’ said Parrett, who is registered as a no party preference voter.

The resonance of Sanders’ “Fight the Oligarchy” tour is making it harder for more centrist Democrats to dismiss Sanders as the crank with the Brooklyn accent who has been warning about “the millionaires and the billionaires” for decades. Over the past four months of Trump 2.0, the rest of America has seen what he’s been warning about in the form of Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, laying off tens of thousands of federal workers, and the Republican-led Congress and Trump itching to cut vital programs to fund a tax break for billionaires.

One woman, a 63-year-old federal worker who lives in Sacramento, said she was afraid to give her name for fear of retribution at work. She said Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez understood the plight of families like hers while other Democrats didn’t. Her mother came to live with her family recently because she couldn’t survive on Social Security alone.

No top Democrat is traveling the country to deliver this message with the same resonance. Barack Obama occasionally carps from the sidelines via the safe confines of social media. Until a speech Tuesday defending Social Security, Joe Biden has largely been silent. Kamala Harris is in Brentwood, Hamletting over whether to run for governor. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries drew protesters when he stopped through Oakland on his book tour, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer curtailed his book tour after his vote to support a Republican-led spending bill. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, is — like Sanders and AOC — taking on Trump by headlining rallies in red districts, including a recent stop in Bakersfield.

So it is largely up to Sanders to do what he does best: hitting the road to rally those open to the bipartisan message that the American system of government currently works best for those who are rich and well-connected.

But he’s not just talking to Democrats, Never Trumpers and the stray disillusioned Trumpers. Remember that Sanders is not a Democrat. He’s an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate (as any Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign supporter will remind you). He’s laying the base for a new kind of political reordering in the post-Trump era that isn’t tethered to a party. He foresees the new alignment not as left vs. right, but as the Oligarchs vs. the rest of us.

“It is not only Musk and the Republicans who are putting huge amounts of money to make sure they elect the candidates of their choice. It is Democrats as well. And there is a reason why Democrats, for so many years, have not had the courage to stand up to the ruling class and represent working people, and that is because that party is dominated by corporate interests,” Sanders said.

That would be a country where teacher salaries started at $60,000, he said Tuesday, and everyone had Medicare-style health care.

That message and these messengers have been drawing huge crowds, much larger than the progressive community in some of those stops. Sanders hosted more than 15,000 people and overflow crowds across four states during town halls in Omaha, Iowa City, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Altoona, Pennsylvania and Warren, Ohio. He drew a capacity crowd of 15,000 to a rally at the same Arizona arena that Trump visited 12 days before the 2024 election and couldn’t fill.

He drew 34,000 people to a rally in Denver, the largest audience Sanders has ever attracted — bigger than when he was running for president. On Monday, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez were in Nampa, Idaho, before a capacity crowd of 12,500 — an audience roughly equivalent to 10 percent of the population of Nampa. He and AOC are reaching beyond the true believers here and into the true hopers. On Tuesday, Sanders joked that almost as many people showed up in Folsom (26,000, according to him) as did in Los Angeles (36,000) last week.

“They give me hope,” Stephens, the accountant, said.

But there is some political pragmatism at work here, too.

Sanders’ goal is two-fold. In the near term, he wants to put heat on local Republican House members by showing them there are people in their own districts willing to boot them out of office in November 2026 if they support Medicare and Social Security cuts in the upcoming reconciliation bill, which will enable GOP House members to pass a spending plan without any Democratic votes and dodge a filibuster in the Senate. That will be difficult, given the Republicans’ seven-vote majority in the House. Tuesday’s event was held in the district of Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, and he was name-checked several times Tuesday. Surveying the audience spread across the Folsom Lake College Athletic Track, Ocasio-Cortez said, “We just need to peel off three Republican congressmen (to stop the Republican taxi bill). And I got a feeling that you might do it right here. … I don’t think Kevin Kiley is going to be a congressman for much longer.”

Sanders piled on.

“I don’t know if Mr. Kiley is watching the livestream or not. But Mr. Kiley, I think some of your constituents have a message for you: Don’t vote to give tax breaks to billionaires and cut programs that the working class of this country desperately needs.”

Second, Sanders is hiring organizers in the districts he visits to maintain some of the momentum between now and the midterms. He can’t trust that to Democrats, given their track record of losing twice to Trump in the last decade. Sanders does this well. He began hiring organizers in California more than a year before the 2020 California Democratic presidential primary, where he beat Democratic Party stars Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg by eight points.

“I know that it at times can look impossible out here for the Republicans to be defeated,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “But that is not true. It is simply not true. (You’re’ hearing that) from the waitress who is now speaking to you today. Each and every one of you represents today small miracles of faith in ourselves.”

Ocacio-Cortez looked up at a plane circling above the rally that carried as sign saying, “You’re in Trump Country.”

“I don’t think so today,” she said. “This is our country, because we’re not afraid of them anymore.”

(SF Chronicle)

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ON-LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

I went to a nearby car wash recently that I have patronized for a few years. After waiting in a line of cars I finally pulled up to the payment kiosk and the credit card machine was locked up. I asked the attendant if I could pay for a wash and was informed that I would need to purchase a “membership”. When I asked to just pay for a car wash I was told no and directed to get out of the line and leave. It was humiliating and I tried to slink off without making eye contact with the other customers.

A web search revealed that my local carwash is now one of 270 car washes owned by a large private equity firm as part of an extensive portfolio. They own a variety of businesses and are operated by MBAs, lawyers, and suits from various Ivy League institutions. The car wash segment of their portfolio is described on their website as being in the business of “retail/subscriptions”.

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