Mendocino County Today: Wednesday 5/14/2025

By AVA News Service on May 14, 2025

DRYING AND WARMING trend today through the remainder of the week. Breezy northwest winds is anticipated each afternoon. A weather system will bring cooler temperatures, gusty winds and a slight chance of rain Saturday. Windy conditions continue Sunday with warmer temperatures next week. (NWS)

STEPHEN DUNLAP (Fort Bragg): 46F under mostly clear skies this Wednesday morning on the coast. Warm & breezy for the next few days, then a bit of cooling on the weekend.

FEATHER ALERT ISSUED FOR MAN LAST SEEN IN UKIAH

Gregory Frank, 18, was reported missing by the California Highway Patrol on Sunday, May 11, 2025. He was last seen in Ukiah, Calif., on April 15, at Gibson Street and North Oak Street. He was wearing a blue shirt and blue pants with skateboarding style shoes. (California Highway Patrol via Bay City News)

The California Highway Patrol issued a missing person Feather Alert on Sunday for a Pomo man who was last seen in mid-April in Ukiah.

Gregory Frank, 18, was last seen on April 15 at about 10 p.m. at Gibson Street and North Oak Street.

The Feather Alert was issued by the CHP at the request of the Ukiah Police Department.

Frank is described as 6 feet tall, about 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue pants, and skateboarding style shoes.

He was traveling on foot at the time, CHP said.

Anyone with information about Frank’s whereabouts was asked to call 911.

IT'S PENA!

Proactive Policing Leads to Capture of Potentially Violent Felon

On May 12, 2025, at approximately 9:29 PM, an officer of the Fort Bragg Police Department was conducting routine traffic enforcement in the downtown area when he observed a vehicle driving northbound in the 200 Block of N. Main Street. The officer observed the vehicle travelling over the posted speed limit and they utilized a speed detection device to confirm that the vehicle was travelling 41 miles per hour (MPH) in the posted 25 MPH zone.

The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and identified the driver of the vehicle as Juan Yepez Pena, 32 years old, of Lathrop, California. A records check revealed that Yepez Pena had a felony warrant from 2019 out of Menlo Park, California, for 285(i) PC – Sodomy without Consent involving Drugs or Alcohol.

Yepez Pena was arrested on the outstanding warrant and issued a citation for violation of 22350 VC-Speeding. Yepez Pena was transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail.

An internal records check showed that Yepez Pena has had no other contacts with our Department.

“This type of proactive law enforcement 24 hours a day is what helps keep our community safe,” said Fort Bragg Police Chief Neil Cervenka, “What began as a traffic safety stop, turned into the capture of a person wanted for a serious felony driving through our city.”

This information is being released by Captain Thomas O’Neal. All media inquiries should contact him at [email protected].

LIEUTENANTS LEE & CLARK

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Kendall held a promotional ceremony this morning for Brandon Lee and Aaron Clark. Lieutenant Lee will command the Sheriff’s Coastal Sector, and Lieutenant Clark will command the Central Sector to include the Ukiah region and surrounding communities. Both Lieutenants have long and distinguished law enforcement careers, leading up to their promotions.

Sheriff Kendall expressed his gratitude to Lieutenants Lee and Clark for the work and sacrifices they have made to earn their Command positions. Sheriff’s Lieutenants act on behalf of the Sheriff of their assigned Sectors and will be responsible for all patrol functions of the entire region for which they command.

Sheriff Kendal also recognized recently promoted Legal Specialist Ines Cowen and introduced two new employees, Corrections Deputy Omar Martinez-Damian and Community Services Officer Ulises Valencia-Muniz.

Please join Sheriff Kendall in congratulating Lieutenant Lee, Lieutenant Clark, Legal Specialist Cowen, Corrections Deputy Martinez-Damian and CSO Valencia-Muniz.

A KINDER GENTLER BREW FEST IN 2025

by Terry Sites

The Anderson Valley Brew Fest 2025 held on May 10th just isn’t what it used to be. Looking back over the years we recall accounts of mud wrestling in the rain, nudity, drunk and disorderly conduct, and multiple DUIs.

In one bygone year Deputy Orell Massey had to escort a sodden reveler out. When the reveler asked him why, Massey replied, “You’re drunk,” to which the reveler replied quite soberly, “I’m at a beer festival!”

This year there were no DUIs or official drunk and disorderly arrests at all and there was definitely no mud wrestling. It seems that following Covid and the current political chaos, public celebration has toned itself down. The generally high spirits of the young are muted these days.

“The Big Lebrewski” was the theme for 2025 riffing off of the cult classic movie “The Big Lebowski” from 1998 with Jeff Bridges starring as “The Dude.” Many at the Brew Fest this year wore bathrobes in solidarity with “The Dude,” a dyed-in-the-wool slacker and famous beer drinker. His laid back attitude did indeed seem to permeate this year’s proceedings.

Traditionally attenders are encouraged to costume up either in keeping with the year’s theme or just for fun. Many antlered drinkers were spotted in honor of the AV Brewery mascot Barkley (an antlered bear). Local beauty Shay wore a spectacularly Teutonic outfit complete with Viking horned helmet and golden bowling ball bustier. There was a fifty-ish crowd dressed in classy Lebowski bowling league shirts. Many buxom young women attended wearing cleavage baring tops that left little to the imagination. What is it that brings beer and busty women together? Another girl had somehow cut an actual beer keg in half and inserted herself inside with the tapper ready to pour below her stomach.

There were the always delicious and nutritious tri-tip sandwiches with sautéed veggies available at the AV Lion’s Club booth. Indian Curry, Jamaican food, pizza and Fairall Farms sweets. With around 50 breweries pouring, it’s essential to have plenty of good food available to soak up all the alcohol.

The Firkin Tappers marching band livened things up throughout the day. How many bands actually have three big tubas on hand? Only oom-pah Beer Fest bands? Several other bands scattered around the grounds kept things hopping. The action was divided between the redwood grove on the right and the big grassy field on the far side of the Agriculture building on the left.

The whooping sound that the crowds make when a drinker loses control of their beer drinking glass and drops it was heard but not as often as in previous years. The weather was fine — a relief after last year when it poured, dampening both spirits and clothes. This was especially fortunate for those camping overnight nearby. Nobody likes a soggy tent and a soggy tent is even worse when you have a hangover.

At its peak in the past the Brew Fest probably attracted 5,000 attenders — there were about half that many attending this year. There were enough people to make it festive without veering into the craziness of the previous crowds. Hopefully Boonville and the Valley as a whole benefitted from the visitors through increased business. The vibe of the event was positive for sure.

In the end of “The Big Lebowski” we are are told that “The Dude Abides…” One explanation of the meaning of this is that, “One should enjoy the simple pleasures of life (like beer), be generally tolerant of others, maintain equanimity in the face of adversity, and encourage others to do the same.” It is hard to argue with that.

UKIAH PUSHES BACK ON THE FRUIT’S OF MULHEREN’S UNPOPULAR TAX SHARING AGREEMENT

Supervisor Maureen Mulheren (facebook):

“I’ve never had a man as obsessed with me as Ken McCormick is (and I’ve been married twice). This is truly a wild experience to have someone writing so many false things about you on the internet daily. His latest theory is that I’m personally masterminding Annexation, like Sir what? This is something that City Councils, Boards of Supervisors and LAFCo reps have been working on for DECADES. It’s literally not my idea man. And I can’t draw a line — straight or otherwise as to how I could possibly gain from a potential annexation yet Ken can’t keep my name out of his mouth. I’m always happy to talk about the issues, Ken needs to work on some healthier communication skills because this is not how you engage in civil discussions with elected officials.”

McCormick:

“The City of Ukiah is advancing a plan that would nearly triple the size of the city limits. We are a group of concerned citizens opposing the City’s current annexation proposal. For more information, you can go to noukiahannexation.com”

Intro:

“We are a group of community leaders, businesses, and concerned citizens dedicated to stopping the City of Ukiah’s power grab. The City’s current annexation proposal is not in the best interest of the city’s residents because it will put a further strain on city resources. If the City struggles to manage its current population, how can we expect it to sustain a dramatic expansion?”

More information: https://www.noukiahannexation.com/about

MARK SCARAMELLA NOTES: I can’t find anything particularly obsessive about Mr. McCormick’s posts regarding Ukiah’s proposed annexation. Everything I’ve seen on the subject looks like reasonable opposition to Ukiah’s extensive parcel grab. McCormick is certainly not the only Ukiah Valley voter who doesn’t like Ukiah’s proposal. Ukiah’s proposed annexation (which is now the subject of a separate ad hoc Supervisors committee) creates a number of negative implications relating not only to shifting major revenues from the County to the City, but who pays and gets fees and how much, zoning administration, who controls various utillities (water, sewer, electric) and their cost, etc.

Supervisor Mulheren was the County’s point person on the lopsided and ill-advised “Tax Sharing Agreement” from last summer which has lead to Ukiah’s oversize annexation proposal. We were told recently that Ukiah’s initial annexation map that they floated last summer was much smaller and more sensible, but now that they’ve seen how much Ukiah stands to gain, they developed this much bigger parcel grab proposal. Mulheren’s tax-sharing agreement, which was created in secret ad-hoc meetings between Mulheren and City officials, was presented to the other Supervisors without being reviewed by County department heads and without any analysis of what the impact would be on the county budget. Several critics, including (belatedly) Supervisor Haschak, have said that Ukiah’s proposal would turns over a lot of tax revenue to Ukiah without reducing the County’s service requirements.

Now, we hear that there are people in Ukiah who are opposed to Ukiah’s proposal for their own, sometimes individual, reasons as well, arguing that it adds too much to Ukiah’s service demands, will lead to increased fees, and puts too much demand on Ukiah police to respond to the more rural areas farther from Ukiah’s downtown.

Supervisor Mulheren posted on facebook recently that her constituents should limit themselves to polite questions which she will politely answer — end of dialog. She doesn’t seem to realize that sometimes people don’t agree with her polite answers or that her actions are opposed by some of her constituents and they don’t necessarily accept her unilateral declarations/answers. Mr. McCormick may be irksome at times on other topics, but that shouldn’t detract from the legitimate negative implications of the City of Ukiah’s large parcel grap that many Ukiah Valley residents are only now starting to realize is the result of Supervisor Mulheren’s Ukiah-friendly tax sharing agreement.

Instead of bemoaning Mr. McCormick’s blunt criticisms, Supervisor Mulheren would be well advised to attempt to justify her tax sharing agreement that has energized the opposition of quite a few Ukiah residents.

COUNTY’S BUDGET WOES AND HIRING FREEZE ARE BOUND TO IMPACT RESIDENTS

by John Haschak

The budget process rolls on to the June deadline. What started as a $28 million deficit was reduced to $17 million. Cuts have been proposed that would bring it down to $2.5 million. These cuts will hurt. It is one thing to say that we agree to a hiring freeze but when that freeze affects county operations whether it be public safety, processing of building permits, or the ability to respond to a social service crisis, this will be felt by Mendocino County residents. I have proposed to rescind the Supervisor salaries, undoing last year’s raise and cutting the out-of-state travel and education line items. While these are important, we just can’t afford them right now.

FEMA eliminated the BRIC grant program that would have funded fuel reduction, home-hardening, and defensible space projects for the Brooktrails, Sherwood Road and City of Willits airport. This will not make our communities safer or stronger or more resilient. We will continue to look for other funding sources.

On a 3-2 vote with me and Supervisor Cline dissenting, the Board voted to go ahead with cannabis expansion due to a technicality in the ordinance. Supervisor Cline and I wanted to keep the original intent of the ordinance at 10,000 sq. ft of cultivation per parcel. With the vote, two permits per parcel are allowable, which will allow the doubling of cannabis cultivation.

As a cancer survivor, I have had annual appointments at Stanford for the last 34 years. I have had the same doctor who has been the department head for many years. We always talk about the newest breakthroughs in cancer research. Last month, he said that the breakthroughs will come at a much slower pace since federal funding has been cut. This is just not right. Medical research is critical for our health now and into the future.

We all live in a beautiful county with incredible people. The diversity of our county is a source of strength, a credo of live and let live, and appreciation for each other. Mendocino County is a place where our differences are celebrated and encouraged. As neighbors and community members, all are welcome to be who they are. The county regularly recognizes months for volunteers, social workers, veterans, Gay Pride, public safety officers, Black heritage. To truly recognize and appreciate who we are as a people is a source of community and county pride. I am co-sponsoring resolutions honoring Poppy and Memorial Days in May and Gay Pride in June.

The Talk with the Supervisor will be on Wednesday, May 14, 10 a.m. at Brickhouse Coffee in Willits. As always, you can communicate with me at [email protected] or 707-972-4214.

Pacific Tent Caterpillar, Ukiah garden (Martin Bradley)

SAVE ALEX THOMAS PLAZA

To: Shannon Riley, Deputy City Manager

City of Ukiah Civic Center

300 Seminary Avenue

Ukiah, CA 95482

Dear Ms. Riley,

I’m writing to express my concern about a statement you recently made to a journalist that if Mendocino County deeds the soon-to-be-vacant courthouse property to the City of Ukiah, the City considers the sale and demoliton of Alex Thomas Plaza to be a “serious possibility.” This comment appeared on April 27 in a news story published in three prominent local media outlets (here, here and here).

I started a petition to oppose this “serious possibility,” which just surpassed 100 supporters.

This idea came as a shock to me and I’m guessing most who value Alex Thomas Plaza and wish to see it maintained and preserved, not demolished.

I am hoping you will respond to the following questions to provide the public with information about the City’s contemplation of a plan you revealed to sell our town square in order to pay for demolition of the courthouse:

1) When you announced on 4/27/25 that the sale of Alex Thomas Plaza is “a serious possibility,” can you explain what you meant? What does the modifier “serious” indicate?

2) You didn’t say the sale and demolition of the plaza was one possibility being explored among others and follow that statement with other possibilities … Why? Why did you only mention one possibility?

3) Were you expressing your personal opinion, or speaking on behalf of the City of Ukiah?

4) If you were speaking on behalf of the City, can you explain how this proposal advanced to the current stage, which you are calling “serious”? How did the question of the future of the soon-to-be-empty courthouse become connected with Alex Thomas Plaza, a property which has absolutely nothing to do with the courthouse? From whose imagination did this idea originate?

5) If Mendocino County deeds the courthouse to the City of Ukiah, do you support the sale of Alex Thomas Plaza to fund the demolition of the courthouse and construction of a new plaza at that site?

6) Are you aware of any other proposals or plans for use of the courthouse or other proposals to fund the demolition of the courthouse? Do you know why no other proposals have been mentioned, much less described as “serious,” by city staff?

7) Why, of all the property that the City of Ukiah owns, did you select Alex Thomas Plaza as a “serious possibility” for sale and demolition? Why are other city properties, of which there are many, not being given “serious” consideration for sale and redevelopment?

Thank you for taking the time to consider these questions. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Andrew Lutsky

Ukiah

MENDOCINO COUNTY’S HOMELESS CRISIS PERSISTS even as Fort Bragg sets the standard

by Matt LaFever

In a new report titled “Homelessness: A County-Wide Issue,” the 2024-25 Mendocino County Civil Grand Jury offers cautious praise for Fort Bragg’s Care Response Unit (CRU), describing it as “exemplary” and “well-established.” But the report also highlights persistent gaps in services and coordination across Mendocino County, calling homelessness an “endemic” issue that demands urgent, countywide solutions.

The Grand Jury’s investigation focused on the CRU program, a Fort Bragg-based initiative blending law enforcement outreach with social services. Officers trained in de-escalation and mental health awareness partner with plainclothes outreach workers to provide food, medical care, shelter, and transportation to those experiencing homelessness. For individuals who decline services, CRU staff attempt to reconnect them with friends or family—or, if no options are available, sometimes transport them to nearby encampments outside city limits.

While the Grand Jury lauded CRU for its compassion-driven strategy and local leadership, it noted that “verified results… that would verify the success of the program” have yet to be published. Still, the report states that CRU has earned “much local praise and positive media attention” and is currently being studied by UCLA for potential replication across California.

The report marks a rare example of optimism in the face of a crisis that continues to strain Mendocino County’s infrastructure. Point-in-time counts and regional studies—including the influential 2019 Marbut Report—have long pointed to the systemic challenges behind local homelessness: untreated mental illness, substance use disorders, economic instability, and a fragmented patchwork of services.

In response, county officials are developing a new program, Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE), modeled in part on CRU. CORE is intended to unite Behavioral Health, Social Services, and the Sheriff’s Office under a coordinated outreach strategy to address homelessness beyond Fort Bragg’s borders.

The Grand Jury supports CORE’s development but warns that existing county services remain overextended. The report highlights the Sheriff’s Office’s limited coastal presence—just two deputies patrolling a 100-mile stretch between Gualala and Rockport—and points to small coastal communities like Mendocino, Albion, and Caspar, which lack their own law enforcement agencies and rely on under-resourced county services.

“While the homeless situation in Mendocino County is not yet dire,” the report cautions, “programs to address the issue before it becomes horrific are essential.”

The Grand Jury’s recommendations are measured but firm. It urges Fort Bragg to report outcome data on CRU by the end of 2025, and encourages CORE program developers to collaborate closely with their counterparts in Fort Bragg to avoid duplication and improve efficiency. At the same time, the jury acknowledges the moral and logistical complexity of the issue, noting that many individuals experiencing homelessness decline services entirely.

“A motivational strategy is used,” the report explains, referencing a tiered approach to outreach that attempts to engage those who are ready for help, as well as those who are reluctant or resistant. Yet it also acknowledges a persistent tension: some people simply do not want to accept assistance and cannot legally be forced to do so.

The report closes with an appeal to the County’s leadership to act with urgency and compassion: “The Grand Jury hopes Mendocino County will achieve greatness by developing and implementing a program to alleviate homelessness, while remembering that the unhoused are human beings deserving care that is sensitive and adequate.”

While Fort Bragg’s CRU may serve as a promising template, the path forward for Mendocino County will require more than one program—and far more than one city’s effort.

(mendofever.com)

Duals, conks on the forest floor. (Randy Burke)

WILDFLOWER SHOW 2025

Dear Editor,

We would like to thank everyone who made the 2025 Wildflower Show a success.

But first - we are extending an invitation to community members to join us in next year’s wildflower adventure. We would love additional plant propagators, collectors, and especially those interested in identifying plants. Contributors with new ideas can only help to improve this special event. We want more of our community members to be an integral part, and to help make this show even better. Interested? Please contact Jean at (707) 272-8243.

Many members volunteered to help collect, sort and bottle hundreds of wildflower specimens from around Anderson Valley, over the course of three days. We also received valuable assistance from outside the Club whom we would especially like to thank: Anita Soost, Angela Dewitt, Heather Morrison, Jade Paget-Seekins, Scott Morgan, and Rick Bonner. These spry helpers climbed up cliffs and down trenches, braved swamp and poison oak, to collect things we couldn’t have gotten otherwise. Jade and Heather were also our official Botanists, helping to identify all the specimens. Lynn Halpern was there each day in the week leading up to the Show, helping us every step of the way. Hans Hickenlooper, Tom Condon and Jesse Reyers lent their muscles for the heavy lifting.

Each year our collection is enhanced by provision of tree cuttings from Scott Hulbert and wild grasses from Bill Harper and Kathy Bailey. An invasive plant table with specimens, pictures, and information provides a counterpoint.

Our vendors are selected to enhance the Show, and indeed they did so, once again. The Sanhedrin Chapter of the California Native Plant Society was there with books and posters to offer and was busier than ever sharing their knowledge with so many people. The Galbreath Wildlands Preserve provided an informative talk about Sudden Oak Death as well as a poster and brochures about their mission.

Thank you to the AVHS art department, whose students produced paintings for display at the show. The Club volunteers voted on the art and gave the top three artists $50 each. Also, Linnea Totten and Evette LaPaille worked to arrange the elementary students’ educational visit Monday morning.

Thanks to Robert Rosen, the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, and the AV Methodist Church for allowing us to place our banners on their respective fences, and to KZYX for airing our announcement each day.

Thank you to the businesses and people who donated auction gifts. A big ‘Thank You!’ goes to the following, for their support of our community: Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Bee Hunter Wine, Boont Berry Farm, Boonville General Store, Boonville Hotel, Brashley Vineyards, California Native Plant Society, Dancing Dragonfly, Disco Ranch, Farmhouse Mercantile, Foursite Wines, Goldeneye Winery, Gowan's Heirloom Cider, Gowan's Oak Tree, Husch Vineyards, Lemon's Philo Market, Mosswood Market, Navarro Vineyards & Winery, Offspring Pizza, Pennyroyal Farm, Philo Ridge Vineyards, Roederer Estate, Rossi's Hardware, Weatherborne Wine Corp., and Witching Stick Wines.

Finally, heartfelt thanks goes to Becky and the Fairgrounds staff for all their help.

Anderson Valley Unity Club
Jean Condon

Love in the Mist, named for the “bright blue flowers that seem to float in a mist of fine, feathery light green foliage” (Martin Bradley)

NORM THURSTON:

Thank-you Ted Stephens, for your service on the Retirement Board. Your candid insights and refreshing openness was appreciated. However, I must disagree on your characterization of the Board as “a super majority board of foxes”.

Much has been said about the composition of the Board of Retirement. The Board has 9 members (excluding alternates) and is comprised of 4 members who are elected by either current employees or retirees: 2 elected general members (current non-safety employees), 1 elected safety member (law enforcement), 1 elected retired member. The remaining 5 members are comprised of 4 appointees of the County Board of Supervisors (1 of which is usually a sitting supervisor), and the County Treasurer-Tax Collector (per state statute). Of the 5 members that are not elected by current employees or retirees, 2 are elected officials who are also county employees. In summary you have a majority of 5 members who are either elected officials of the county or appointed by elected officials of the county. Because the 2 elected officials are also county employees, it is also sometimes claimed that the employees have a super majority. But that lays the responsibility for the actions of those 2 officials on current employees and retirees, when it should be rightfully assigned to those 2 officials and the voters that elected them. One thing I think we can agree on is that county employees and retirees do not need misguided and inflammatory comments cast on them.

UNVEILING THE NOYO CENTER'S 10-YEAR STRATEGIC VISION

Be a part of the future of marine science and conservation on the Mendocino Coast!

Join the Noyo Center team for an exciting unveiling of our upcoming initiatives Saturday, May 17, 2025, 12 PM to 3 PM at the Noyo Center Field Station in Noyo Harbor.

Discover our bold 10-year vision and our immediate 3-year plans, including:

Breaking ground on a state-of-the-art Ocean Science Center campus.
Expanding and enriching our educational programs.
Pioneering tidal zone regeneration and kelp forest restoration through innovative aquaculture and scientific research.
Growing our impactful community-driven marine mammal science program.

Come hear about these exciting developments and learn how you can contribute to a healthier ocean.

Enjoy complimentary snacks and engaging conversation. Admission is free.

Kindly RSVP at noyocenter.org so we can plan accordingly for refreshments and seating.

LOCAL EVENTS (this weekend)

CHANGE OUR NAME - FORT BRAGG: THE NOYO BIDA TRUTH PROJECT; One People, One Fire Tribal Engagement and Spring Celebration

The Noyo Bida Truth Project (TNBTP) in collaboration with The Coastal Conservancy, The Potter Valley Tribe, Save California Salmon and The Trees Foundation hosted an Indigenous lead Spring Ceremony in Fort Bragg from April 25th-27th 2025. The event celebrates the Spring New Year honoring our underserved First Nations connection to the Mendocino Coast. We gathered to discuss cultural erasure, environmental justice, food sovereignty and the history of the genocide perpetrated on the Indigenous people at the Mendocino Reservation known today as the City of Fort Bragg.

The One People, One Fire Community Engagement Project (Hintel Cha’ Xo Cha’) began on Friday evening with a ceremony starting our spiritual fire. Gary Thomas, from Elem, opened up the event with prayers for the lands and waters with a group of family members sharing feather dancing. Thomas expressed in the language from his village noyo xewan means “under house” in reference to subterranean round houses. This cultural exchange creates a clear understanding of the connection and similarities our tribes share across todays political boundaries; counties and cities.

On Saturday morning organizers invited the public to gather at the Noyo Headlands for prayers acknowledging the lands of the Mendocino Indian Reservation and all of the Tribes who were captive. In connection with Indigenous place names, our Noyo Community descendant and board member; Misty Meadlin - Cook, shared the significance of a rock she explained was documented in the Coast Yuki language as the upside basket rock. In understanding pre-colonial contact, acknowledgement in the context of linguistic history is imperative. While California is diverse in language stocks and family relationships, the Yukian language is an anomaly, meaning it has no connection to any other language. Anthropologists document the language to be (1) of (6) ancient language families that is related to no other. The place name of this rock in the Yuki language is an ancient place name. Misty translated this name into the Little Lake Pomo language (Northern Pomo) to Buuche met’ yo’ uuyeh’. The community gathered around the historic landmark to share prayer songs speaking of the need for restorative justice to the lands and Indigenous peoples. Thousands of innocent Indigenous children, women and men were enslaved and abused at the reservation that extended from Fort Bragg to the Ten Mile River.

A community “Teach In” and luncheon took place after our walk at the Mendocino College Coast Center. An Indigenous panel representing diverse Tribal experts spoke on the significance of returning Indigenous place names. Over 45 community members were in attendance, the community raised questions on how to support the organization and asked what is the first name of the area? And what the name of Fort Bragg may be changed to. A group of Indigenous community members from the area have suggested Noyo Bida; which has been referenced in Northern Pomo meaning “ash under” or “ fishing place, “a second recommendation is Ka Kahleh meaning “white water.”

Our Teach In was facilitated by board member, Nikcole Whipple of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. Panelist included:

Clayton Duncan, elder and member of the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. Duncan has organized the Bloody Rock Massacre Sunrise Ceremony for several years and is a strong advocate for Indigenous name returns and standing against cultural appropriations.

Misty Meadlin-Cook, a Sherwood Valley Tribal Member, Noyo Community descendent and NYBTP Board Member. Misty is a cultural practitioner who previously worked for her tribe as a tribal historic preservation officer (THPO).

Marva Jones is an enrolled Tolowa Dee-ni' citizen, and descendant of the Yurok, Karuk and Wintu tribes. Her villages include Nii~-lii~-chvn-dvn and Mvn'-sray-me' along the Smith River and the villages of Wausek and Weitspus along the Klamath River. Sii~xuutesna holds a myriad of professional practices, experience and tribal community-building expertise.

Nick Garcia is a tribal member of the Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians. He works for the Pinoleville Pomo Nation as a MMIP Advocate and Program Coordinator. Nick is an active traditional ecological knowledge teacher sharing with our youth and community the practice of making traditional jewelry.

On Sunday, we met at the Noyo Bida Ranch north of Fort Bragg at noon for an Indigenous meal. Marva Jones and her family prepared Salmon and Steelhead cooked over an alder wood fire pit. We had over 30 people gather for lunch and workshops that included shell making, acorn processing, basket weaving, seaweed gathering and surf fish and salmon processing and cooking.

Our event was captured by Steve Knox of LuckyKnoxproductions who worked with our youth creating a documentary as a tribute to our coastal tribal communities raising the significance in returning Indigenous place names. Youth advocate, Natyia Whipple; Round Valley Indian Tribes Yuki and Little Lake Pomo, was awarded a youth fellowship through Save California Salmon to work with our Indigenous filmmaker.

We would also like to acknowledge and thank (3) resilient Indigenous young ladies who allowed us to use their picture on our event flyer and webpage. All Round Valley Indian Tribes tribal members, these young women represent many cultures and tribes along the west coast. Left to right; Violet McCloud is Nisqually, Puyallup from Washington, Wylacki, and Nomlacki from Round Valley and Lipay Nation from Santa Ysabel. Kai-Mi and Rachel Redhawk, are Coast Yuki, Kashia Pomo, Little Lake Pomo and Wailaki. Thank you Rachel for sharing this picture taken at the Cahto Coast Walk last June at Wages Creek north of West Port.

Yahwee (Thank You) to all who joined us in our Spring New Year celebration on our North Coast. We greatly appreciate our presenters for their contributions and engagement in our cultural exchange of Traditional Ecological Knowledge. If you would like to learn about our not for profit work, subscribe to our monthly newsletter or donate a tax deductible gift please go to our new website https://thenoyobidatruthproject.org/

Philip Zwerling, Ph.D.

http://www.philipzwerling.com

The Noyo Bida Truth Project

thenoyobidatruthproject.org

THE DISGRACED COP WHO COST A SMALL CALIFORNIA TOWN MILLIONS

One officer's indiscretions cost a city nearly a third of its annual police funding

by Matt LaFever

Kevin Murray when he was employed at the Ukiah Police Department, pictured with his K9.

The reputation of the Ukiah Police Department has been dragged through the mud over the past four years, largely due to the actions of one man: former Sgt. Kevin Murray.

Ukiah, the largest city in Mendocino County, sits along the Highway 101 corridor about two hours north of the Bay Area. Though it’s a small city, what happened within its police department reverberated far beyond city limits.

Murray’s fall from grace began with a high-profile arrest and a slew of disturbing accusations. The allegations ranged from breaking into a woman’s hotel room for sex to storing methamphetamine in his department-issued locker to brandishing his service weapon while sexually assaulting a woman. Though he ultimately pleaded no contest to charges of witness intimidation and false imprisonment, officers involved in the investigation described his behavior as exhibiting “criminal sophistication.” In a move that stunned the community, he was sentenced to just two years of probation.

With little satisfaction from the criminal courts, Murray’s accusers turned to civil litigation. Three lawsuits were settled by the city of Ukiah, resulting in over $3 million in payouts. To put that into perspective: The Ukiah Police Department’s budget for the 2025 fiscal year is just over $10 million. One officer’s crimes cost the city nearly a third of its annual police funding.

Now, four years after his firing, the department is attempting to redefine its image and rebuild trust in a community where Murray’s name remains synonymous with the department’s darkest hour.

‘Criminal sophistication’

The first serious case involving Murray began on Oct. 13, 2018, when he allegedly forced his way into the home of Christopher Rasku, a disabled Gulf War veteran, without a warrant. According to court records, Murray knocked Rasku unconscious and continued beating him as he lay limp on the floor. The city of Ukiah paid Rasku a total of $1.05 million to settle his claims.

In January 2021, Murray was hit with criminal charges including burglary, meth possession and sexual battery, stemming from an apparently harrowing night at the Super 8 Motel in Ukiah involving a woman referred to only as S.Y. in a report from the Sonoma County Probation Department. The document laid out Murray’s tactics in chilling detail: Murray allegedly shut off his body-worn camera, drove the car S.Y. was sitting in behind the motel and asked her to kiss him on the neck. He entered her room uninvited, snatched her key card and said he’d return after his shift. That night, he texted asking if they could “hook up tonight” and requested S.Y. send some “good pics” so he would know if “the good[s] are worth coming back for.” S.Y. said she had never given Murray her cellphone number, and authorities discovered Murray used a spoofed caller ID to hide his identity while texting her. The woman was so terrified, she barricaded the door with a table. She later received a $250,000 civil settlement from the city.

Just one month later, Murray faced a second criminal case, this time for the alleged 2014 off-duty rape of Corinne Johnson. Prosecutors initially charged him with forcible rape and forcible oral copulation, adding an “allegation” of sexual assault armed with an assault weapon. In the civil complaint filed in December 2022 by Johnson against Murray and the city of Ukiah, it is specified that Murray was armed with a knife and a handgun. Though the court ruled the city wasn’t liable, Murray failed to respond to Johnson’s civil suit and was hit with a $1 million default judgment.

In 2021, former Ukiah officer Isabel Siderakis filed a civil suit accusing Murray of sexually assaulting her during a 2013 training trip, just months into her time on the force. She said the department retaliated when she spoke up, isolating her and cutting her pay. In January 2025, the city of Ukiah to pay her $1.75 million to settle her claim.

Despite all of these allegations over years, Murray ultimately served just two years of probation in connection to the S.Y. case — a punishment that sparked outrage across Mendocino County.

The ruling, handed down by Judge Ann Moorman, came nearly two years after Murray’s arrest and left many questioning the integrity of the justice system. Moorman warned during the sentencing hearing that even minor violations — like drinking a beer or possessing a bow and arrow — could land him in prison, as reported in local media at the time. “Your conduct has caused damage to the Ukiah Police Department that will take generations to heal,” she said.

The Sonoma County Probation Department reviewed Murray’s case before sentencing and recommended two years of probation with a suspended prison term and a one-year jail sentence. Sonoma County Probation Officer Spencer Misetich, who prepared the report, called Murray’s actions “abhorrent” and slammed Murray’s behavior as exhibiting “criminal sophistication.” Yet due to the fact that “no factors in aggravation were found true or admitted by the defendant as part of his plea agreement in this matter,” the report concluded “the Court is essentially limited to imposing the middle term of imprisonment, which is what we would recommend.”

“ … We do feel the defendant’s abhorrent actions in this matter deserves further jail time in addition to the time he has already served,” the report continues, recommending a prison term of two years with “execution of sentence suspended,” plus two years of probation. Moorman indeed handed down the recommended probation with no additional jail time, leaving many to wonder how a cop accused of such abuse avoided a single day behind bars.

SFGATE spoke with Chris Andrian, a partner at the law firm that represented Murray during his criminal trial in relation to the S.Y. case. He said the plea deal offered to Murray was “brokered on the premise there were weaknesses in the case against him.” While acknowledging the negative public perception surrounding the trial’s outcome, Andrian added, “We look at cases, not at community outcry.”

Andrian also addressed how a municipality might retain a problematic employee like Murray, even in the face of potential civil liability. He said employers often “turn their cheek” to misconduct, preferring to make it go away rather than outright fire someone. “The profession I work in is responsible” for incentivizing agencies to keep problem employees, he added, as it might feel less risky to cover for someone rather than face a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Despite multiple phone calls to numbers associated with Murray, SFGATE could not reach him for comment before publication.

Panos Lagos, a Bay Area civil rights attorney, said he took on S.Y.’s civil case, which resulted in the city of Ukiah paying the $250,000 settlement, “because of the egregiousness of what I heard.”

Kevin Murray’s mug shot after being arrested.

“What this officer, this sergeant did, it speaks for itself,” Lagos told SFGATE, noting that while abuse of power isn’t uncommon in law enforcement, Murray’s actions stood out as “pretty egregious.”

At the same time, Lagos acknowledged the city’s eventual response. When presented with clear evidence of Murray’s wrongdoings, Lagos said, “They very quickly did the right thing in getting him terminated.”

In his 17 years of litigating police misconduct, Lagos has seen a shift. “When I started, it was like, ‘Well, we didn’t have video.’ And there was a dogfight to the end in court. But now it’s not like that. We have early settlements — like this one here.”

Still, he said, deeper reforms are needed. “We’ve got to be careful about the kind of person who wants to be on that level,” he said. “Is it so they can exercise force, or do they really want to serve the community?”

‘It can weigh on you’

Ukiah police Chief Thomas Corning was sworn in one month ago, becoming the third chief to take the helm since Kevin Murray’s misconduct shattered trust in the department. His predecessor, Noble Waidelich, took over nine months after Murray was charged but was forced out within a year amid his own scandal: allegedly coercing a woman into sex while on duty and in uniform. Waidelich has denied the allegations, and the two parties are scheduled to enter mediation later this month.

Cedric Crook stepped in next, aiming to rebuild community trust, a mission Corning told SFGATE he is determined to continue.

In the wake of the Murray fallout, Corning said the department has overhauled oversight practices and transparency protocols. “The policy used to state that guys were, you know, basically recommended to turn on their body cams during citizen contacts,” Corning explained. “We changed it to where they are mandated on every citizen contact to turn on the camera.”

He added that internal misconduct investigations will now be handled by “an outside agency that doesn't have any connection with our department at all — and they’re not even located in this county.”

Corning expressed deep frustration over the shadow Kevin Murray continues to cast on the Ukiah Police Department. “You just constantly keep hearing about this guy,” he said. “It can weigh on you.” That legacy, he added, stands in stark contrast to the department he knows and loves. “When you care about a department this much, you know how much good we have — and how much good we do.”

Despite the weight of the past, Corning said he’s committed to moving the department forward. “We’ve really made a very strong effort to hold people accountable, to try to be transparent with the community,” he told SFGATE. Still, he acknowledged how fragile public trust can be: “All it takes is one or two guys to ruin that reputation with the community.”

(sfgate.com)

CATCH OF THE DAY, Tuesday, May 13, 2025

STEVEN ALLEN, 68, Ukiah. Tear gas, controlled substance, paraphernalia.

LINDA ALMOND, 66, Ukiah. Controlled substance, paraphernalia, probation revocation.

ADRIEL BIGGIE, 27, Fort Bragg. Narcotics for sale, manufacture of controlled substance by chemical extraction, probation violation.

KYLE MASON, 38, Ukiah. Controlled substance, disobeying court order, probation revocation.

MICHAEL PARKER, 47, Ukiah. Camping in Ukiah.

EMMANUEL TISCARENO, 21, Fort Bragg. DUI with blood alcohol over 0.15%.

BRIAN WILLIAMS, 53, Ukiah. Paraphernalia, parole violation.

LYDELL WILLIAMS, 35, Ukiah. Petty theft with two or more priors.

JUAN YEPEZ-PENA, 32, Lathrop/Fort Bragg. Sodomy without consent of drugged victim and defendant in mental facility.

MEMO OF THE AIR: We’ve Been Trying To Reach You About Your Cat’s Extended Warranty.

“Religions depend a lot on where they come from. Desert religions are not jungle religions or high mountain religions.”

Marco here. Here’s the recording of last night’s 7.4-hour-long Memo of the Air: Good Night Radio show on 107.7fm KNYO-LP Fort Bragg (CA) and also, for the first three hours, on KAKX Mendocino, ready for you to re-enjoy in whole or in part:

Here's the recording of last Friday night's (9pm PDT, 2025-05-09) 7.4-hour-long Memo of the Air: Good Night Radio show on 107.7fm KNYO-LP Fort Bragg (CA) and also, for the first three hours, on KAKX Mendocino, ready for you to re-enjoy in whole or in part: https://tinyurl.com/KNYO-MOTA-0643

Coming shows can feature your own story or dream or poem or essay or kvetch or announcement. Just email it to me. Or send me a link to your writing project and I'll take it from there and read it on the air.

Besides all that, at https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com you'll find a fresh batch of dozens of links to not-necessarily radio-useful but worthwhile items I set aside for you while gathering the show together, such as:

Vintik-Shpintik, the story of a little factory screw that went on strike. The 1925 book, and the 1927 cartoon. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/little-screw

The revolutionary MingKwai Magic Eye Chinese typewriter. https://www.neatorama.com/2025/05/04/An-Old-Typewriter-Turned-Out-to-Be-a-Priceless-One-of-a-kind

KNYO was 19 years old last week. KMFB lasted 43 years (1968-2011). If KNYO lasts as long as KMFB did, that gets it through the Singularity. It'll be nice for people left behind when all the nerds are raptured up into computational matter and have no mouth though they must scream. https://soundcloud.com/user-948609824/i-have-no-mouth-and-i-must-scream-full-audiobook-harlan-ellison-version

And Jill Sobule died last week. It was a good life. It was a good, good life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT61cHQ0hVw

Marco McClean, [email protected], https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com

JED RIFFE FILMS TAKES ON DISNEY

Dan (O’Neill), Gavin and I just launched this Kickstarter campaign for the film: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jedriffefilms/mousetrap-the-air-pirates-war-against-disney

It would be great if you shared it with your fans:)

Check out the video, the team and the rewards.

I brought in two Oscar nominated filmmakers: Animator and Writer Jim Capobianco on Ratatouille and many more Pixar and Disney Films https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0135296/

Editor T.M. "Tom" Christopher Facing Fear. Tom edited special versions of Star Wars and just edited two animated films for KUKU studios GO! GO CORY CARSON. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0160628/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_3_nm_5_in_0_q_T.M.%2520C

This is our film's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MouseTrapDoc/

Appreciate your help getting our Kickstarter out to folks. Jed, Dan and Gavin

THE WAR ON SCIENCE

Editor:

Every day we learn about another scientific, health and safety program canceled or a group of scientists or health professionals being fired from various federal agencies. The potential loss of institutional knowledge possessed by these groups and individuals will only be known when our citizens die because of neglect by the various agencies that provide health and human services, occupational and health safety, environmental protection and much more. For example, to pursue increased use of coal for power, miners will no longer be screened for black lung disease.

The agencies are being led by individuals with no experience in the areas they are leading. Our citizens need to express outrage at this war on science forged by the administration. This is all happening with no oversight by Congress, which holds the purse strings for funding these programs but sits on its hands hoping no one notices so it can pass a budget to give tax breaks to billionaires.

Don Raimondi

Santa Rosa

ARE YOU READY?

Taking Charge in an Existential Disaster of a World

Warmest spiritual greetings,

Sitting here on a public computer at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in Washington, D.C., having just read through the daily news reports. With the exception of individual spiritual enlightenment, everything else appears to be worse than depressing; somewhere between hopeless and insane defines the majority of situations. Greed, hatred, and delusion are the fodder for local, regional, national, and international environmental and social situations.

I am available for frontline spiritually sourced direct action. This world needs an eco-revolution! I have no further need to be in a homeless shelter in the District of Columbia, having finished supporting the Peace Vigil across the street from the White House for the sixteenth time (since June of 1991).

Here and now, it is all about letting the Dao work through the body-mind complex without interference. Feel free to contact me. I'm ready. Are you ready?

Craig Louis Stehr, [email protected]

GIANTS SNAP SKID as Christian Koss hits grand slam, Robbie Ray goes 6

by Shayna Rubin

San Francisco Giants' Christian Koss (50) celebrates after hitting a grand slam that also scored Willy Adames (2), Wilmer Flores and Patrick Bailey during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Francisco, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Christian Koss didn’t know what to do with himself the moment he crossed home plate. The rookie said he “blacked out” as he rounded the bases once he realized his first career home run had managed to slip over the left-field wall.

It wasn’t a normal pinch-me moment for a 27-year-old who’d spent his entire career prior bouncing between minor-league teams, but a go-ahead grand slam that set the tone for a 10-6 San Francisco Giants win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tuesday’s was an exhale game for a team mired in an offensive freeze as they unleashed hit three home runs: A two-run blast from Willy Adames, a late three-run homer from Jung Hoo Lee and Koss’ momentum-shifter that erased an early three-run deficit.

Unfamiliar with the feeling of hitting a big-league home run, Koss was in such a daze when he crossed home plate that he was swinging at open air to connect hands with Adames for their personal handshake.

“I messed up the handshake with Willy and he got on me for it,” Koss said. “Haven’t been in that position before, so maybe next one we’ll be better prepared. Moment got too big, panicked a little. We’ll get the next one.”

With one big swing, Koss became the 17th Giant to hit a grand slam as his first home run and first since Ford Proctor in 2022. It also ignited a chain reaction in the dugout.

“We were going nuts. It was an awesome moment,” starter Robbie Ray said. “You could feel in that moment that he was going to do something. He’s come up in situations like that and gotten base hits and moved guys. Put a great swing on it and found the seats. We were losing it.”

Koss drove in the Giants’ only run in Monday’s loss and Tuesday had his first multi-hit game. He only needed to trade a few bats for the milestone ball to the kid who caught it in left field.

“The grand slam by Koss was a big lift for us,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s driven in five runs in two games, so that was huge. And we were able to add on and get some crooked numbers.”

Adames, who has been getting in early batting practice this week, looked to be in for a promising night when he torched a line drive 110 mph for a hard out in his second at-bat against Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt. Next time up, he hit a two-run home run to left field, his fifth, and kept flexing his muscle with an opposite-field double in the eighth that shattered the framing on the Splash Hit sign on the Levi’s Landing bricks.

The cherry on top of a relative slugfest at Oracle Park was Lee’s three-run homer in the eighth. With Mike Yastrzemski on, lefty reliever Joe Mantiply intentionally walked Heliot Ramos — who came into the game as San Francisco’s hottest hitter — to get to Lee, but the move was perhaps underestimating splits that show Lee’s superior numbers against lefties. Lee launched a two-strike curveball down the line in right, drawing the loudest cheer of the evening from a crowd gathered for Korean Heritage Night.

“When (Matt Chapman) got out, I was thinking in my mind that the Diamondbacks are going to face me instead of Ramos,” Lee said. “I just wanted to help out the team by scoring a run. I didn’t think it was going to be a big run like that.”

Trending opposite of his rotation mate Justin Verlander, the San Francisco Giants are still unbeatable when Ray starts.

Ray away from his four-seam fastball in the first inning — the Diamondbacks came into it with the league’s second-best OPS (.887) against the pitch — and didn’t have his best slider to start. Arizona scored three runs on five hits, attacking the slider and upping Ray’s pitch count to 26.

Leaning more on his four-seamer as the start progressed, Ray didn’t give up a run after that first inning, going six innings with nine strikeouts on seven hits and two walks. He improved to 6-0 on the season and the Giants to 9-0 in games he starts. Not since John Burkett in 1993 has a Giants pitcher won six games without a loss in his first nine starts.

Big for Melvin was Ray’s ability to get through six on a season-high 108 pitches — the most he’s thrown since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 — with a handful of relievers unavailable in the bullpen.

“You give up three in the first, it’s not ideal,” Ray said. “At that point you’re trying to get as deep as you can in the game, save the bullpen and keep us in it. It felt like we had good at-bats and just waiting for that one breakthrough, and we got it.”

(sfchronicle.com)

NEWSOM ANNOUNCES HATCHERY UPGRADES AS HE PROMOTES SALMON-KILLING DELTA TUNNEL, SITES RESERVOIR

by Dan Bacher

In an apparent effort to boost his increasingly tarnished environmental image, California Governor Gavin Newsom on May 8 announced upgrades to 21 state fish hatcheries to “boost salmon populations” — at the same time that he is promoting water policies that have driven Central Valley salmon populations closer and closer to extinction.

“The project helps build the California salmon and trout supply, which are central to the health of California’s biodiversity but also indigenous peoples, communities, and the state’s multimillion-dollar fishing industry,” Newsom claimed.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/12/2321912/-Newsom-announces-hatchery-upgrades-as-he-promotes-salmon-killing-Delta-Tunnel-Sites-Reservoir

State engineer's testimony reveals Delta tunnel would increase State Water Project deliveries by 22%

For many years, the California Department of Water Resources has claimed the purpose of the Delta Tunnel is to “provide, restore and protect the reliability of State Water Project (SWP) water deliveries,” as noted in the Environmental Impact Statement for the Delta Conveyance Project (DC).

But testimony by a Department of Water Resources engineer reveals that the Delta Tunnel, if built, would increase water deliveries to state water contractors by 22 percent.

On April 3, the latest Delta Conveyance Project update from the Department of Water Resources claimed that it is a “myth” that it intends to increase water exports from current levels.

Myth: DWR intends to increase deliveries through the Delta from current levels, even during droughts.

*Fact: What this myth conveniently omits is that the State Water Project is facing a reduction in delivery capability and supply reliability by as much as 23% over the next 20 years. We will lose much more over the life of the system due to climate change, sea level rise, and wild swings in precipitation patterns. The purpose of the Delta Conveyance Project is to minimize these future losses and protect reliability for 27 million Californians. State Water Project deliveries have declined, and will continue to decline, yet with the DCP the declines will be lessened and all Delta water quality and fishery protections will continue to be sustained. To call this an “increase” is simply untrue and misleading. Additional Myths/Facts can be found here: https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Delta-Conveyance/Public-Information/DCP_MythFact_2024.pdf

CHP'S NEW STEALTH VEHICLES

In the real world, aggressive lane weaving, triple-digit speeds and road rage aren’t part of a high-score strategy—they’re deadly. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is deploying a new generation of low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles (SMPV) to crack down on what can only be described as “video game-styled” driving on our highways.

“The new vehicles give our officers an important advantage,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “They will allow us to identify and stop drivers who are putting others at risk, while still showing a professional and visible presence once enforcement action is needed.”

These 100 Dodge Durangos—paired with our existing high-performance fleet, which includes Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers—blend into traffic just enough to observe the most reckless and dangerous behaviors without immediate detection. Once enforcement begins, their markings serve as a clear reminder that safety is the CHP’s top priority.

With over 390,000 crashes annually in California and nearly 1,000 daily reports of reckless driving, these new tools will help our officers hold the most egregious violators accountable. Last year, CHP officers issued almost 18,000 citations to drivers speeding over 100 miles per hour.

Speed is a factor in approximately 30% of all crashes and major contributor to traffic fatalities and injuries. It is particularly dangerous because it decreases reaction time, extends stopping distance, and intensifies the severity of crashes.

Our goal remains the same: reduce injuries, prevent fatalities, and restore a sense of safety on California’s roadways. We urge all drivers to obey speed limits, avoid aggressive behavior, and share the road responsibly.

The CHP is positioning the first 25 SMPVs in various regions across California this week. All 100 high-performance patrol units will be strategically placed along California’s busiest, high-risk roadways by June.

Speed isn’t a thrill—it’s a threat. And the CHP is responding.

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

ON LINE COMMENTS

So says the chp however as proven by many reports slow driving puts people to sleep and increases chances of wrecking as well , many other countries and states have much higher speed limits , however they also have a government that doesnt tax for roads and spends it instead on bike trials and anything but keeping the roads safe to drive potholes in california are sort of like driving off a cliff , however the real story is california has to come up with a fuck ton of money to pay for everything it has promised to people so it is time to start writing tickets and lots of them,

Are you ok? You sound schnockered. Ebrious. Inebriated even.

The worst are the old gray hairs, always bitter Democrat women with a Coexist (my arse they want to, much like “our democracy” garbage) bumper sticker, who insist on driving 45 in the fast lane on interstates and local highways. You can see them acting like they don’t see the line of 10 cars behind them as they slyly glance into their rear view mirror. These morons are extremely dangerous, causing everyone to pass them in the slow lane. Yet, they simply refuse to move over cuz, again, they don’t care. It’s “our democracy” and nobody else’s as they pretend to play traffic regulator. We shall call it the entitled my precious Gollum Syndrome. As a result, these morons should be targeted by all LE and ticketed. If ticketed more than once, they should be jailed for two months, after which they get served a permanent revocation of driving privileges. Much to their chagrin of hyping buses for others, suddenly that becomes their only means of transportation for the rest of their miserable existence. Justice served to morons.

Did your mommy hurt you?

Someone pooped in your cornflakes today? You don’t like old people? If you’re lucky you’ll get to be one….I see more dumb MALE drivers every day than your Grandma!

Sounds like this moron is part of the problem.

Not my experience, on 299 and 101 people driving at 65MPH always stay in the #2 lane. Where do you see what you claim to describe?

Forty-one year old fitness guru Jack LaLanne prepares to swim from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf in handcuffs, San Francisco, CA, July 9, 1955, LA Herald-Examiner photo

I HAVEN'T WANTED MORE 'STAR WARS' IN FOREVER. 'ANDOR' CHANGED THAT.

by Drew Magary

“Andor” finishes its series run Tuesday night after only two seasons. I feel a bit grief-stricken. You would too if you had to sit through Jar Jar Binks, grade school-caliber monologues on the unpleasantries of sand, Force healing and “The Book of Boba Fett” just to get to this show. “Andor” has been the best “Star Wars” work of the 21st century, perhaps ever, and now you’re telling me I only get two seasons of it? I’ll be telling my comic con panel moderator about this.

I never expected to care about “Star Wars” this much again in my lifetime. Disney overextended the franchise after acquiring it and spat out a bunch of half-assed movies and TV shows that were just a series of Easter eggs strung together. “Hey look, it’s Chewbacca! Again! And whoa hey, turns out the Mandalorian is delivering Baby Yoda to none other than Luke Skywalker! Remember how much you loved Luke Skywalker when you first met him?” Eventually, I got tired of playing Let’s Remember Some Jedi. I was an adult now, one that had outgrown childish things.

So when “Andor” — spun off from the film “Rogue One” and centered on Diego Luna’s petty criminal-turned-rebel Cassian Andor — came along three years ago, I was ready for it to suck, the same way everything else “Star Wars” has sucked lately. Instead, I got one of the best shows of that year or any other. That’s because series creator Tony Gilroy felt no obligation to the rest of the “Star Wars” canon, and because he innately understood that the best inspiration for any fantasy tale is real life. This is especially true if you’re hoping to make a space opera that feels grown up. Actually dark and actually gritty. You’re not gonna accomplish that goal just by adding some swear words and making every interior shot darker than my attic. You have to traffic in the issues that REAL grownups, not a bunch of whiny fanboys, confront on a daily basis. Love. War. Grief. Anger. Death. The big stuff.

“Andor” traffics in the big stuff, and without straining for allegories. This season’s main story arc — with the Empire massacring the inhabitants of the city of Palmo in order to loot the priceless natural resources of its home planet of Ghorman — contains plot elements that bear more than passing resemblance to conflicts of the modern world: disinformation campaigns, the Gaza atrocities, #MeToo, Trumpism and more. “Andor” forces its characters to ask themselves hard questions about the world they live in, and then refuses to give them easy answers. Cassian and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard) argue over whether letting all of Ghorman burn is the right thing to do if it means inspiring other worlds to join the Rebellion. Senator Mon Mothma (a brilliant Genevieve O’Reilly) wants to do the right thing for Ghorman while feeling utterly hamstrung politically, ultimately putting her life in danger after making a floor speech that may not end up making a lick of difference.

(L-R): Attendant Heert (Jacob James Beswick) and Supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) in Lucasfilm's ANDOR, exclusively on Disney+. ©2022 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

Meanwhile, careerist Imperial bureaucrat Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) has an emotional breakdown after ordering the massacre of Palmo at the Emperor’s behest. This isn’t just a simple conflict between the good side and the dark side. Every choice these characters make has consequences, and they feel those consequences deeply.

Speaking of realness, Gilroy and his team have infused it into every aspect of the “Andor” story, and have refreshed the franchise’s lore in doing so. For example, Season 2 marks the first appearance of the Force in “Andor.” But you never hear a character call the Force by its trademark name, and you never hear anyone on screen yelp, “Oh my God, she’s a JEDI!” Instead, you get a small encounter between Cassian and a weird mystic lady who heals his ailing shoulder using mere touch. Had this scene fallen into clumsier hands, you’d hear the “Binary Sunset” theme come swooping in. Instead, you get this gorgeous bit of dialogue from the accidental faith healer:

“I sense the weight of things, things I can't see. Pain, fear, need.”

Here’s another example: the Emperor. You and I know Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor from previous “Star Wars” films. He’s a big part of the “Andor” story as well, presiding over a clumsy galactic bureaucracy and ordering unspeakable violence be done on his behalf. And yet, McDiarmid never appears on camera. We never even hear his voice. Rather than indulge in cheap fan service, Gilroy reduces the Emperor to an unseen, malevolent presence … just as he was in the first two “Star Wars” films. That’s an artist trusting the audience to fill in the gaps using their imagination, which is the right move more often than not.

At the same time, Gilroy is making sure that everyone and everything that DOES appear on screen in “Andor” serves a distinct narrative purpose. Admiral Krennic from “Rogue One” (Ben Mendelsohn) comes back into the fold this season, but only as a side player who sets crucial plot elements into motion. Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO droid from “Rogue One” comes to life at the end of the third batch of episodes, but only after we’ve watched him and an army of other K-2 droids massacre the people of Ghorman, Terminator-style.

Gilroy even brings back the urbanized planet of Coruscant — which felt like nothing more than a dateline on the bottom of an establishing shot in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy — and gives it life. Cassian hides out in a s—ty apartment there. Senator Mothma desperately works the halls of the Imperial Senate there. And Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) recovers from trauma by getting hooked on street narcotics there. Suddenly, I have opinions about the city of Coruscant and what happens in it. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve felt that way about ANYTHING “Star Wars” related? You’d have to take me back to the 1980s, when “Star Wars” felt fresh, alive and relevant. And not just relevant to some booger eater at Comic Con, but to functional human beings.

I’d tell you that this feels miraculous, but it doesn’t. It feels like Disney found a brilliant writer/director in Gilroy (the man made “Michael Clayton,” for god’s sake) and trusted him to execute his vision, and that of his team, his way. That’s why you and I are only getting two seasons of “Andor” instead of five. Gilroy wanted to make something that lived up to his exacting standards, but knew he couldn’t do that over the course of five seasons. He opted for two, and now I’m left wanting more. I haven’t wanted more “Star Wars” in a long time. It almost makes me feel like a kid again.

(SFGate.com)

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER LETS RIP AS SHE REVEALS TECHNOLOGY HAS CRIPPLED HER CLASSROOM IN UNFILTERED EXIT VIDEO

by James Gordon

In a blistering TikTok rant that has captivated more than a million viewers, a 26-year-old high school English teacher has delivered a raw and unfiltered farewell to the classroom - and to a generation she says has been consumed and crippled by technology.

'I'm actually leaving the profession. I am quitting. Friday is my last day,' said Hannah Maria, a 10th-grade teacher who claims she simply couldn't take it anymore.

'This will not be my classroom after Friday.'

In a nine-and-a-half minute spiel recorded during her planning period, Hannah tells the camera that her desks are no longer filled with minds eager to learn but with students scrolling TikTok, playing games, and copying assignments through AI tools like ChatGPT.

'I really, really, really want to talk about… how technology is ruining education,' she declares, her voice full of frustration and resignation.

Hannah, who has 2,600 followers, teaches in a district where every student from sixth to twelfth grade is issued an iPad.

Far from helping students, she believes the device has become a weight that is dragging down the standards of education in America.

'These kids don't know how to read,' she says flatly. 'Because they've had things read to them, or they can just click a button and have something read out loud. Their attention spans are waning. Everything is high stimulation. They can scroll in less than a minute.'

Hannah continues to paint a grim picture of the modern classroom: Teenagers who refuse to write even a paragraph, who throw tantrums when asked to handwrite an assignment, who beg to 'just type it' - not to save time or effort but to copy and paste answers from the internet or use AI to do the thinking for them.

'They want to use [technology] for entertainment. They don't want to use it for education,' she says.

She believes the behavior of her high schoolers is only part of the problem. What worries her is the sense that this generation, raised on screens, simply doesn't care about anything whether it be learning, literacy or even the basics of society.

'They don't care about making a difference in the world. They don't care how to write a resume or a cover letter. They just have these devices in their hands that they think will get them through the rest of their life.

'I don't have a lot of faith in some of these kids that I teach,' Hannah admits, before clarifying that she has taught 'several' bright students across her classes.

But for many others she says, 'older generations have failed them' by devaluing the basics - reading, writing, arithmetic - and replacing them with high-tech distractions masquerading as innovation.

'When I was their age, movie days were a treat,' she reflects. 'But now, when they say they want a movie, they mean they want something playing in the background while they scroll on their phones and talk to their friends.'

She says she can 'count on one hand' the number of students who actually pay attention during lessons in which films are shown.

Her solution is a drastic one - ban technology from schools.

'I think we need to cut off technology from these kids probably until they go to college,' she says. 'Call me old-fashioned, but I just want you to look at the test scores. Look at the literacy rates. Look at the statistics. From when students didn't use technology… to now.

'If you can't read and you don't care to read… you're never going to have real opinions. You'll never understand why laws and government matter. You'll never know why you have the right to vote.'

She pleads with decision-makers - school boards, superintendents - to look at the data that includes plunging test scores, the national literacy decline, the growing dependence on technology, before making her case for all things analog.

'There's nothing wrong with using your budget on textbooks and workbooks and paper copies of things,' she says.

'It might be a 20-year plan, but you've got to start reintegrating this. You've got to start getting rid of the technology and bringing back the things that worked.'

Hannah explains how she didn't always want to be a teacher but decided to enter the profession three years ago, inspired by her own family who were educators.

She notes how she found the school calendar appealing together with the chance to work with teens.

Hannah even taught digital arts and computer skills before transitioning into teaching English class, even embracing the very technology she now blames for breaking the system.

But between the pay, the behavior, and the disillusionment, she says the system has broken her too.

'My main motivator for leaving was the pay,' she admits. 'But if the experience overall had been better, I could've toughed it out.'

In the end, she says, the job became unbearable.

'This generation is really tough,' she says. 'And I will admit that I'm just not cut out for it. Anyone who starts now… I commend you. God bless. I wish I was stronger.'

Those commenting on the video appeared to have sympathy with Hannah's point of view.

'Bring back computer labs where they learn computer skills and leave the Chromebooks out of the classroom,' wrote one agreeing with her anti-tech stance.

'GenZ here, even just being in college online for Covid has made me feel like I’ve declined educationally. My attention span sucks, I don’t know how to study anymore and have lost so many skills,' posted another.

'My students won’t even Google now that AI is around. Google means looking at a few websites while AI just tells them. Wild,' explained a fellow teacher.

'Just graduated college and started using AI within the last year… I can’t even imagine having access to it in high school - I never would’ve learned, at all,' a fourth wrote.

In a follow-up video posted after her original take went viral, Hannah clarified she has a lot of respect for the faculty and staff at the school where she works, but maintained she 'made my bed and now I have to lie in it' amid a surge of attention over her viewpoint.

ROMANI

In early 20th-century London, the bustling city streets filled with horse-drawn carriages and busy markets were occasionally brightened by the presence of Romani Gypsy families traveling through the area in their vibrant, traditional caravans. These families, with their deep cultural roots and distinctive way of life, brought a unique and colorful touch to the urban landscape. Their presence stood as a reminder of a different, more rural lifestyle amidst the rapid modernization of the city.

The heart of the Romani Gypsy way of life was the vardo, or gypsy wagon, which served as both a home and a work of art. These intricately decorated caravans, often painted in bright reds, greens, and yellows, were adorned with detailed carvings and symbols that held cultural significance. Each vardo reflected the craftsmanship, traditions, and pride of the family, offering a glimpse into their rich heritage as they traveled from place to place. The family’s distinctive dress, with vibrant skirts, shawls, and handmade jewelry, further highlighted their unique cultural identity and provided a striking contrast to the more subdued fashion of London’s urban dwellers.

Despite the growing urbanization and industrialization of London, the Romani Gypsies maintained a lifestyle closely connected to nature and tradition. They traveled the roads in tune with the seasons, embodying a freedom that contrasted sharply with the structured, factory-based life many Londoners led. Their colorful caravans and traditions offered a refreshing break from the monotony of city life, and their presence in London added a layer of diversity to the city’s cultural fabric, showcasing the beauty of different ways of life and the enduring power of heritage.

A READER WRITES: Fresh Air: R. Crumb, King Of Underground Comics

This is fun.

R. Crumb, King Of Underground Comics (Fresh Air)

R. Crumb created Zap Comix and such characters as Mr. Natural and Fritz the Cat. His comics were a staple of the 1960s counterculture, and came out of his nightmares, fantasies and fetishes. There was a time when he wanted to censor that part of himself — but then he took LSD. He told Terry Gross about that experience in a 2005 interview. We'll also hear from his wife Aline Kominsky Crumb, who is also a cartoonist. Film critic Justin Chang reviews the new Marvel film, Thunderbolts*.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fresh-air/id214089682?i=1000706969676

ON-LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

After a family gathering a close relative sent me a very cryptic email commenting on the long road ahead for me and that she wished me well. I had no idea what the heck she was talking about so I sent a response saying I was quite puzzled by her remark but wanted her to know I was very happy and very healthy and wished her the same. Never heard another word. Odd. People are odd.

LEAD STORIES, WEDNESDAY'S NYT

With Trump Visit, Qatar’s Image Makeover Scores Another Success

Trump Meets Syrian President After Pledge to Lift Sanctions: Live Updates

In Private, Some Israeli Officers Admit That Gaza Is on the Brink of Starvation

Your A.I. Radiologist Will Not Be With You Soon

No Naked Dressing? How Will Stars Make News?

METHOD ACTOR to Director Alfred Hitchcock: “What’s my motivation?”

Hitchcock: “Your motivation is, You’re getting paid.”

ISRAEL: KILLING GAZA

In The Economist:

The generals wanted the operation launched on April 1st to go unnoticed until their soldiers had taken up secure positions.

But the politicians were quick to crow. The Israel Defence Forces (idf) had embarked on a new operation to “smash and clean the area of terrorists,” said Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz. It was aimed at “capturing wide areas [of Gaza] and adding them to Israel’s security zones,” he continued….

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa declared the Gaza Strip a “famine-stricken zone” on Wednesday, as Israel continued to block the entry of food and aid into the blockaded enclave.

"We declare Gaza a famine-stricken area," Mustafa told a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"We demand all UN member states take urgent action according to their obligations under international humanitarian law, and recognize this disaster and famine," he said.

The Palestinian premier called on the international community to "implement UN resolutions that prohibit using starvation as a weapon of war."

Mustafa also appealed to the entire UN system to "immediately activate its mechanisms and treat Gaza as a famine zone."

Since March 2, Israel has kept Gaza’s crossings closed to food, medical, and humanitarian aid, deepening an already humanitarian crisis in the enclave, according to government, human rights, and international reports.

Nearly 2.4 million people in Gaza live completely dependent on humanitarian aid, according to World Bank data.

Figures released by Gaza’s government media office showed that at least 57 Palestinians have died of starvation since October 2023.

More than 52,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

ON THIS DAY 1916, James Connolly was executed by a British firing squad. A working class hero whose legacy inspires us every day as we build the republic for which he gave his life. A republic of equality and justice - a republic, united and free.

James Connelly the hero of the working class

26 Comments

Harvey Reading May 14, 2025

NEWSOM ANNOUNCES HATCHERY UPGRADES AS HE PROMOTES SALMON-KILLING DELTA TUNNEL, SITES RESERVOIR

What stupidity. California diverts far too much water already…it should encourage birth control, including vasectomies and tubal ligations. California exceeded its carrying capacity for human monkeys decades ago. Looks like Newsom is following the trumples agenda on this matter.

Reply
- Moi-même May 14, 2025
  
  Harv,
  
  pleasure in the sexual act comes from being OPEN.
  
  you don’t want wear a raincoat in the shower, do you?
  
  Reply
  - Bruce McEwen May 14, 2025
    
    Celibate
    
    Celibate
    
    Abstain from the dance club
    
    —thepopyoulayshuncrysis.org
    
    Reply
  - Harvey Reading May 14, 2025
    
    Youdontmakeanysense…no wonder you don’t use your name…
    
    Reply
George Hollister May 14, 2025

John Haschak: “FEMA eliminated the BRIC grant program that would have funded fuel reduction, home-hardening, and defensible space projects for the Brooktrails, Sherwood Road and City of Willits airport. This will not make our communities safer or stronger or more resilient. We will continue to look for other funding sources.”

Brooktrails needs to come up with their own funding. If a legal mechanism is absent to do this, then legislate one. Brooktrails is like many cities and communities in California with serious fire risks. It is essential these living places embrace fixing their fire risk problems, and by using their own money will ensure the most accountability in the process. The FEMA funding that was eliminated was an eight hundred million dollar program. While that is a lot of money, it is a drop in the bucket for what is needed across West, and won’t ever be enough if locals don’t take financial responsibility for their own fire risk problems.

Reply
- Eli Maddock May 14, 2025
  
  So what am I to do if/when my neighbor chose not to take responsibility, the inevitable firestorm wipe’s us out and the insurance company either canceled or would not insure ?
  The “drop in the bucket” programs set precedent for legal obligation to take responsibility. Brooktrails is a perfect example due to the heavily wooded and steep terrain, close proximity to neighbors. Heck, that describes most of nor-cal rural homes. But my point is, if responsibility is left entirely to the landowner, does your neighbor hold the liability for multiple parcels being burned due to neglect of their property? No! It’s on you, and your insurance. If you’re still one of the lucky few that can get it. Let alone afford it!
  Bringing point 2, it’s getting exceptionally hard to get insurance. Gov. Funded programs that make it possible to afford mitigation should be a welcome relief to the endless risk of loosing insurance.
  I say, DOGE something else!
  
  Reply
  - George Hollister May 15, 2025
    
    In the past there were Mosquito Abatement districts in California due to the presence of malaria. My understanding is these districts, lead by an elected board, could enforce mosquito abatement on any property in the district. The landowner had no choice but comply. Why not have the same for fire hazards? An elected board could require abatement of defined fire hazards in the district that threaten the district. The district could also collect taxes to implement fuel reduction. In the case of Brooktrails, they might want to start with $500 per parcel per year. There is much more that a Fire Hazard Abatement District could do, and it would be by majority consent of the voters of the district. Reductions in insurance rates would potentially follow. Insurance companies are looking to insure a home owner who wants to protect his/her house more than the insurance company does. An effective Fire Hazard Abatement District would do that.
    
    Reply
    - George Hollister May 15, 2025
      
      Surprising to me, California still has Mosquito Abatement Districts, and they do have the power to enforce compliance.
      
      Reply
Andrew Lutsky May 14, 2025

Here’s the petition I started to oppose the sale and demolition of Alex Thomas Plaza: https://chng.it/LYc7DRCXTk

Thank you to everyone who has read and shared it. I will share updates on the petition page.

Reply
Craig Stehr May 14, 2025

Just alerted by email Danny, Stevie, and Niko Thomas in regard to the Andrew Lutsky letter which opposes the notion of selling the Alex R. Thomas Plaza to fund the latest Ukiah fantasy of making Mendo great again. Also, the Thomas’s have no objection to my returning to Haiku spelled backwards and moving into the plaza until I receive senior subsidized housing. Please appreciate the fact that I am now living on $488 monthly social security, and thus am able to pay 25% of that for rent. I would appreciate a studio apartment in central Ukiah, near the Natural Foods Co-op, Adventist Health (where my heart specialist and also dental hygienist are located), the Chase bank, the Mendocino Book Co., Schat’s, and several watering holes. I am thanking you in advance for your cooperation. You are most welcome for my past 50 years of peace & justice and environmental activism, successful cultivation of a spiritual life, creative writing, and now letting the Dao work through me without interference (which obviously benefits everything everywhere constantly).
Craig Louis Stehr
Adam’s Place Homeless Shelter
2210 Adams Place NE #1
Washington, D.C. 20018
Telephone Messages: (202) 832-8317
Email: [email protected]
May 14, 2025 Anno Domini

Reply
Mazie Malone May 14, 2025

Good Morning,

Regardless of Mo’s part in implementing the annexation Mr. Mc Cormick is a bully! That is what she should have said, not a joke about his obsession with her. I realize she was trying to make light of it to make it more digestible to the public.

mm 💕

Reply
Ted Stephens May 14, 2025

Stephens MCERA Comments
Norm – I did not mean to speak poorly of any county employee or retirees. The ones I know are good people. My intent was to point out a flawed system that I believe is in jeopardy. I will elaborate later after the dust of the day settles and I have more time.
Thanks!

Reply
- Norm Thurston May 14, 2025
  
  No worries Ted. Your concerns are valid.
  
  Reply
Harvey Reading May 14, 2025

https://consortiumnews.com/2025/05/14/watch-senior-un-official-it-will-be-too-late-to-rule-it-genocide-what-more-evidence-do-you-need/

Reply
Betsy Cawn May 14, 2025

About “clothes”:

in the early 70s I worked for a man who made his own clothes, everything from design to finish, uniquely adapted to the stylish mandate of males (of a certain class of worker) wearing “suits.”

growing up in the 50s, moms made a lot of clothes, and fashion companies created “patterns” that the creator to use with their own materials, gussie up or tone down according to the purpose: school and work clothes, Sunday-go-to-meetin’ and humble court appearances, funerals, proms, and parades.

in the last few years I’ve watched a lot of “contemporary” film-making, often of televised series shorn of advertisement on “streaming” services, and watched a lot more news channels than necessary, fascinated by the appearances of geographically strewn reporters, and those carefully coifed anchors in magically plastic studios that could be on Mars for all we know.

somewhere along the line fashion emphasizing women’s bodily attributes came into style, and nearly all of them wear some sort of adornment, sometimes ear gear, with very “au naturel” makeup. a surprising new fad, women’s un-“styled” hair, windblown, barely trimmed, no more bangs and no more clever cuts, it just hangs there unevenly and the actors hardly bother as they tear into their new hard-action, take no prisoners proof of “equality” . . . with all those drab men in their same-o suits, ties, clod-hoppers and no caps. (unless, of course, the new presidential cap-mania is your pick.)

official old peoples’ clothes are sweats, matching colors not required; tees and tanks in “summer” and fleecy tops or flannel shirts. to hell with the buttons, anymore.

oddball president of a country defending its sovereignty to the core, a previous television star and cultural comedian, switches to plain pants and shirts that bear only the symbol of his country, long or short sleeves. period, end of sentence.

when our president chided him for not wearing a suit, he replied that he would wear a “costume” when the war was over.

he meets in the most elevated offices of national officials all wearing suits and ties and the standard starched white shirt (women are allowed a little variety in their skirted versions) in his humble uniform. no one else minds.

in pictures of other “westernized” countries, all the men wear suits+; in “undeveloped” countries the inhabitants where the dress of their cultural heritage, men in pants/dresses, or just dresses, or robes. everywhere children wear regular pants and tops and if-they’re-lucky some kind of shoes. haven’t seen many socks these days, come to think of it.

armed forces of any kind fortify their spines with girding gear and gun-toting outfits, badges and patches de rigeur, hard “tops” with more symbolic heraldry.

bling for the masses.

people joke about shoppers at Walmart wearing their pajamas.

our secretary of state has a highly checkered (if plebean) past, but is almost always seen wearing the standard white collar male finery.

all over the world, people by the millions in marches are clothed in accordance with their culturally-driven societies, but mostly now its jackets and pants for the guys and gals. hypersensitive men get confused by women with really short haircuts entering public womens rooms.

burkas, niqabs, and hijabs.

megatons of used clothes fill the dumps and waterways of the globe, fiber from fleece is now a micro-particle injuring the health of wildlife, cheap/shitty womens “frocks” and boobalicious mini-blouses, almost all of the televised females show their decoltage between the lapeled and shoulder-padded semi-suits. tight skirts and bun-hugging trouserettes abound.

in the 50s, a high school teacher of mine was a rabid sino-phobe, who held up the example of men and women in China wearing identical monochromatic pants and jackets, as a consequence of giving in to Communism (the good old days of the Red Scare and the Yellow Peril).

vietnamese revolutionaries under those conical rice straw hats, blending into the jungle in their anonymous black kits.

the regalia of state, military and royal, bedangled and fringed with the aura of tradition obliterating any personality but the liege’s, in elaborate photo-ops.

asexual “scrubs” and authoritarian white coats, color-coded for functional recognition in the 24/7 chaos of hospitals and “care” homes.

can you imagine how hard it is to maintain a proper set of clothing for work (office or shop or factory) if you’re living in your car? lucky enough to be able to keep a small storage unit, car costs including insurance, cell phone (essential), paperwork and medications and — how DO they do it — food? and then keep the car from getting towed while you’re at work? what a nightmare, huh Mazie?

Reply
- Bruce McEwen May 14, 2025
  
  My grandson does it in Montana. Lives in his car and drives all over the state, he’s been to every county multiple times, a traveling nurse, for old folks, and he supports my two great grandchildren and recently got a raise in wages. He wears scrubs unless out camping and fishing. Lots of opportunities for a outdoorsman like him to camp and fish. I lived there 20-odd years and had my share of outdoor sports.
  
  But about old-fashioned dress. I shall never forget the time an old man came in the bar and took a seat at a distant table from where I sat chatting up the barmaid. She looked from him to me and said. “When you get old promise me you won’t wear athletic suits!”
  
  I saw her point and assured her I never would.
  
  Thanks, Betsy for the rummage through the old steamer trunk that holds my memories of how my elders used to dress!
  
  Grandpa Was a Carpenter
  Song by John Prine ‧ 1973
  
  Grandpa wore his suit to dinner
  Nearly every day
  No particular reason
  He just dressed that way
  Brown necktie and a matching vest
  And both his wingtip shoes
  He built a closet on our back porch
  And put a penny in a burned out fuse.
  Grandpa was a carpenter
  He built houses stores and banks
  Chain smoked camel cigarettes
  And hammered nails in planks
  He was level on the level
  And shaved even every door
  And voted for eisenhower
  ’cause lincoln won the war.
  Well, he used to sing me “blood on the saddle”
  And rock me on his knee
  And let me listen to radio
  Before we got t.v.
  Well, he’d drive to church on sunday
  And take me with him too!
  Stained glass in every window
  Hearing aids in every pew.
  Grandpa was a carpenter
  He built houses stores and banks
  Chain smoked camel cigarettes
  And hammered nails in planks
  He was level on the level
  And shaved even every door
  And voted for eisenhower
  ’cause lincoln won the war.
  Now my grandma was a teacher
  Went to school in bowling green
  Traded in a milking cow
  For a singer sewing machine
  She called her husband “mister”
  And walked real tall and pride
  And used to buy me comic books
  After grandpa died.
  Grandpa was a carpenter
  He built houses stores and banks
  Chain smoked camel cigarettes
  And hammered nails in planks
  He was level on the level
  And shaved even every door
  And voted for eisenhower
  ’cause lincoln won the war.
  
  Source: Musixmatch
  Songwriters: John Prine
  Grandpa Was a Carpenter lyrics © Walden Music, Inc., Sour Grapes Music, Inc.
  
  Reply
  - Chuck Dunbar May 14, 2025
    
    WOW! Thank you to Betsy and Bruce–great stuff of threads and all, right here in the AVA….
    
    Reply
- Norm Thurston May 14, 2025
  
  Clothes don’t make the man (or woman).
  
  Reply
  - Chuck Dunbar May 14, 2025
    
    My dear wife would argue that one a bit, Norm.
    
    Reply
Jayne Thomas May 14, 2025

Some might like to know that there is a real Lebowski: Jeff Dowd, son of well known leftist political economist, Doug Dowd. (1919-2017 in Bologna, Italy) He was involved in film productions in the LA area and friend of the Coen Brothers who stayed at his place occasionally. Jeff had also been a radical anti-war activist, part of the Seattle Seven. He absolutely was “The Dude” and after the film’s success enjoyed appearing at various Lebowski festivals across the country. He has a sister, Jenny Dowd, a teacher and artist in Prundale (not Jennifer, but Jenny, after Marx’s wife).

Reply
Ted Stephens May 14, 2025

I would like to take the time to try to summarize my MCERA thoughts and comments for our AVA readers.
I did not mean to disparage any county employee or retiree. From my experience they are good people.
My comments were in the context of the design of the county retirement plan law (CERL) and the flaws in the system.
This comes from my studying the system for a few years, then serving on the retirement board from about 2010 to 2016. I think most that know me would say I am a serious financial mind with much formal training, professional experience and an interest to speak to these pretty complex financial matters. My desire while on the retirement board was to true-up the plan and make it sustainable for our plan participants and our taxpayers. From that experience I now believe it is not sustainable and the longer you kick the can down the road the more the benefits will be in jeopardy.
The county retirement system, by design, is what is called a Moral Hazard in economics where one side makes the bets (participants in the plan) and the other side is responsible for covering the bets (taxpayers). Even with the purist of minds, moral hazards most always do not end well.
Any low balling or mistake by the retirement board must be paid for by the taxpayers. Benefits are “guaranteed” by the taxpayers until they can’t be sustained anymore.
My vote count on our plan is 10 seats, with 9 voting (the extra is a fill in for the retiree member). Of the 9 votes, 6 are participants in the plan and 3 are supposedly independent and placed on the board by the supervisors. The six seats, 67%, was what I was referring to as a supermajority and they are all plan participants. Often, as it currently is, you have one of the “independent seats” that is a retiree on another system like ours (with a vested interest in not rocking any plan boats or votes). Yes, two of the 6 seats are elected by the voters (one supervisor and the Treasurer/Tax Collector), but they are still participants in the plan with a vested interest in keeping the employee side less expensive knowing the taxpayers MUST pickup any lowball. Additionally, for the elected supervisor and T/TC, they always seem pretty aware of the largest single voting block in our county and the pressure of the public sector unions. Of the three independent seats, I think only two are filled now and one of those is a true believer in the perfection of the current structure.
The plan is only about 74% funded and the unfunded amount is about $248MM. The debt per plan participant is about $66K each or about $91K per retiree.
As long as I have been watching a new contribution dollar has never gone into the plan. Benefits paid out have ALWAYS been larger than the combined employer and employee contributions.
Many say the county has underfunded the plan. I disagree. Twice we have totally paid up the plan to 100% funded on the promise it will stay that way. The county borrowed via pension obligation bonds (POB) totally funding the plan, with the promise they would be good now, only to have it go back to an underfunded level that would not be allowable in the private sector. We had PEPRA state law to fix the problem, implemented over a decade ago to fix the flaws, and we are still only 74% funded. BTW, the taxpayers and county budget still had the POB debt to service too.
As to employer contributions we put an average of 41.3% into the plan per dollar of county payroll. We also put in Social Security and other benefits that are not included in the 41.3% contribution or is any debt service on the pension obligation bonds. The employees put in 10.3% of their payroll.
There is not a single employer in the private sector that could put 41% of payroll into their plan long-term. The industry average is 4% to maybe 6% or so on the higher end. We have made this very high 40% level contribution since I have been paying attention and we have never put any new dollars in the plan…when added to the employee side, it all went to benefits without actually adding any new contributions to the plan.
Some will say the county/taxpayer just need to put in more, but I do not think that is the answer. Remember we fully funded it twice, have been putting in the 40% range per payroll dollar and we now have debt of about $91K per every retiree!
Putting in more and more is not a long term solution. We have a system that is flawed and brought us behavior like “excess earnings” (anywhere else people would have done jail time for that fraud). You can have the plan cost be a bit higher than the private sector for a while, but 10 times the retirement cost of the private sector and a quarter Billion in debt for a small county like ours is not sustainable. I think it is doubtful we will be able to find the funds to make this plan safely funded. If I was a current county worker I would be very concerned about the underfunded status and none of my contributions, or the county’s contributions for me, ever going into this underfunded plan. I would be looking up how a Ponzi scheme works and looking into the actuaries’ track record to see if I could find comfort.
The design, and reluctance to allow any discussion, is why I have used language like the foxes counting chickens. It will work until it doesn’t. When it doesn’t I doubt you can put it back together. Some will say I am a bad person for pointing this out.
It is with much dismay when I speak to the condition of our county retirement system and any hope that it will be fixed soon.

Reply
- Norm Thurston May 15, 2025
  
  There is a lot to unpack here, but I will address just one piece. Ted, you often mention that annual benefits paid out exceed annual contributions to the plan. While this is an interesting observation, it is not an established measure of the health of a retirement system. At the most basic level, a system’s annual income includes the two items you mentioned (employee/employer contributions and benefits paid out), but also includes INCOME from the investment of the plan’s sizable assets. There are legitimate concerns about the funding level of this retirement system, but there is no evidence that the system cannot continue to pay the benefits earned by retirees, and still whittle down the unfunded liability. The current funding level of 74% is a vast improvement from the mid-60% level of past years, which demonstrates this point.
  
  On a related note, the first pension obligation bonds only covered about 50% of the unfunded liability of the plan (this was the county’s decision). POB’s are issued by the county, not MCERA, on the expectation that the earnings from the net proceeds to the plan will exceed the cost of issuance, plus the interest that will be paid to bondholders. It is my belief that both the county and the retirement system would have been better off it the county would have not issued the bonds, but instead paid the annual cost of principal and interest directly into the retirement system as additional contributions.
  
  Reply
  - Chuck Dunbar May 15, 2025
    
    And thank you, Norm, for your further thoughts on the retirement system, with a somewhat more optimistic view of its stability.
    
    Reply
  - Ted Stephens May 15, 2025
    
    Norm – Thank you for your input and your legacy watching these things. Note my comments on benefits paid being larger than the total contributions always included the comment that the plan was severely underfunded. If the plan was fully funded, and we trusted the actuaries, it would be fine to have negative net contributions to the plan. The level of funding with our plan would not be allowed in the private sector.
    Also note I have never said anything negative about the investment structure. I am comfortable with the investments.
    My issue is with the actuarial and the design of the plan. The actuaries have never, ever predicted the experience. It has ALWAYS been underfunded with the loss inuring to the taxpayers and putting the participants more at risk. When I left I had worked very hard to implement the stop of negative amortization of the debt and to shorten the payment schedule (IIRC, from 30 years to 15 to 18 years, depending on what type of mistake it was). The whole reason was to start paying off the unfunded liability RIGHT NOW. Unfortunately, even with those improvements, and the county putting in more money due to the changes, the unfunded liability still went up from about $185MM to $248MM. The funding has improved a little, 70.7% to 74.2% (and I have heard this used to say we have it under control and it is getting better), but the debt has gone up $63MM because the overall liability continues to grow at a rapid pace. The $63MM is a lot of money in 8 years, especially when it now totals a quarter of Billion dollars. As a result of all this history/experience I do not believe the actuaries when they say that all is good and the unfunded liability will be reduced. How many times should a reasonable person fall for the same banana in the tailpipe?
    Oh, I divided by the wrong number last night. The unfunded liability per participant is about $66K, but the unfunded liability per retiree is about $144K.
    I think we both agree the plan should be fully funded. I think where we might part company is the fix. I think we should take care of those that were promised benefits, but I think the longer we try to keep this structure going forward will just put the county and retirees at greater risk.
    
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    - Norm Thurston May 15, 2025
      
      I will always be grateful for your efforts to eliminate the negative amortization tables. I never like them either, thought they were like starting a footrace by taking two steps backwards.
      
      Reply
Chuck Dunbar May 15, 2025

Thank you, Ted Stephens, for your clearly thoughtful and informed look at MCERA. As a now-retired former County employee of 18 years–social worker supervisor in CPS–I have often had inklings that this system was, in the big picture, “too good to be true.” (Side note: I have the same concerns about many other issues in our country at present.) I do not completely understand the finances of the plan, but I appreciate your informed take on its deficits, in several meanings of that word. The system’s foundations appear shaky and endangered. Thank you for making the effort to educate us.

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Mendocino County Today: Wednesday 5/14/2025

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