MAKING NEW MONEY
Letter to the Editor:
Mendocino County Public Bank Coalition members, Robin and Mary, were derailed by Supervisor Pinches' responses to their education campaign in his office regarding the Charter and a public Bank. My answer to supervisor Pinches is:
Until Supervisor Pinches realizes how banks make new money when they make a deposit of a loan in a depositors account he will not realize the value of a Charter with the power to authorize a public bank.
If he had read chapter 2 in the “Public Banking Solution” book by Ellen Brown he would realize the truth about the fractional-reserve system of banking and how banks can loan out 90% of their deposits in their accounts using new money to loan out, thereby increasing the amount of money in circulation. He will be ready to see how Banks control the economy by making loans to depositors or withholding loan making which squeezes the economy by not putting new money into circulation. And then he would realize what a Mendocino County Public Bank can do by using fractional reserve as other private banks do, but, only for the benefit of Mendocino County. The Bank of North Dakota, a publicly owned bank also uses fractional reserve system of banking. their economy did not suffer in the 2008 economic crisis. you may say it's because they have oil revenues, but Minnesota also has oil reserves and they suffered with higher unemployment becuse they don't have a Publicly owned Bank.
In addition as elected officials, Supervisors have the power to use eminent domain on securitized mortgages with lost chain-of-title, re valuate underwater loans, sell them back to capable owners at current market value, thus creating an income stream to the County Public Bank once it's established. With Eminent domain mortgage holders must prove they own the note, otherwise there's no one to whom market value must be paid for Eminent Domain.
A Public Bank can be capitalized with $20 million in County Rainy Day Funds which sit idle, and County Retirement Funds and/or School bonds. Each of these organizations may have a seat on the Public Bank Bank Board if they agree to capitalize the County Public Bank.
If the supervisors would go to www.tucradio.com and look for the Ellen Brown Presentation of her book “The Public bank Solution,” they could be enlightened. Also visit www.mendocinotv.com, see the taped book event on Doug McKenty's show. Please urge your supervisors to put the Mendocino County Charter on the ballot.
Sincerely,
Agnes Woolsey
Mendocino
STUPID STUFF
Hello AVA,
First off, many, many, many thanks for sending us the best newspaper being printed. I started trial this week. Too bad I'm only going to trial because I racked up a few misdemeanors (17) and felonies (8) in the 90s. Stupid stuff -- assault with a deadly weapon, drugs, idiot stuff from a confused/drugged mind. In 2003 I pulled my cranium out of my keister and got some cognitive therapy, then college. Yes, I'm a proud member of ASCE. I even pulled two minors.
So without research I moved to Douglas County Colorado. Wrong move. This place, now that I've arrived on the other side of the fence (jail), I hear the numbers and stories. So it's worse here. Although I committed no crime, I still see bars and yards ahead. Oh, wait. I did commit a crime. I have priors. Closing off this thought after this trial I will submit a paper from some research I did prior to Colorado, two years ago. I impressed Joan Prentiselia Stonford and highly pissed off Camela Harris.
I really appreciate reading about the north coast. They've Turkey Vulture, St. Clair, you of course, Mr. Editor.
I have a lot of fun memories and a lot of (all) my family comes out of the Cloverdale area. So before I digress too far, thank you all so much! Of course I'm running without my trusty lexicon/dictionary, so forgive any spelling errors.
Respectfully,
John Porter #2367,
4000 Justice Way,
Castle Rock, CO 80109
PS. My next letter I'll send some stamps to help out and a self-addressed stamped envelope to get back the address for ordering an Okie Joe calendar. Maybe they'll take stamps. Happy New Year to all the staff and top-notch writers at the AVA. MaranAtha, Namaste, Le Chaim.
TIME FLIES
Editor,
It is doubtful anyone would ask me for advice, but if they did I would answer, “Subscribe to Time.” At 56¢ a copy, the best value you can find. The best magazine of general interest left of center. As with any publication, such as the New Yorker, you will encounter issues with few interesting pages. But other issues will be the opposite. On balance, well worth the subscription price.
Ralph Bostrom
Willits
PS. For the Off The Record “Ask the Editor” department. What did the “Occupy movement” accomplish? What has happened to Nicholas von Hoffman?
Ed Reply: I think Occupy helped millions of Americans know that they aren't alone in their suspicions that this economy is organized in way that benefits the tiny the minority of people who own most of it. As I'm sure you know, Mr. B, from your own experience as a citizen, we all swim in a daily deluge of pure propaganda (the One Percenters own the media after all) that unregulated capitalism will, apart from a few glitches now and then, provide us with everything we need. Except it doesn't, as Occupy continues to help people understand. The next step, of course, is to take the knowledge thus gained and beat the bastards over the head with it until we at last enjoy a system that puts the needs of its citizens first. … The most excellent journalist, Nicholas von Hoffman, is now quite elderly and has ceased publication. He is certainly missed.
BEAUTY, TRANQUILITY & POVERTY
To the Editor:
I moved to Willits 12 years ago. On occasion, “I am asked how do I like the area?” Generally, I am reluctant to answer because I have mixed thoughts. I am surrounded by beauty and tranquility but find little connection with the town itself and only few of its people. I do plan to remain in Willits.
I contribute financially and have volunteered many times for assorted events in Willits. What I write is as an outsider looking in.
Naïveté is all I can say when I first moved here. I saw older men riding bicycles and young people sunning on the grass and I thought what an environmentally thoughtful community. Time passed and I saw more men on bicycles and more young people on the grass and realized this was called poverty.
Last night, a young teenager asked me for money as he was walking from one gas station to the next. I asked, “Where are you staying?” His response was “By the railroad tracks with my mom.” My anger became directed to the mom. Who would allow her son to sleep on dirt and in the cold? Poverty is in all communities but it is ever so present and visible in Willits.
The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) originated in 1945 but was abolished in 2011. Many cities and towns took advantage of its use. The agency's purpose was to provide money to breathe life into a blighted area to encourage new investment. Typically, our property taxes provided the largest supply of this income. Willits could have secured this money to revitalize the community economically by making it attractive for new businesses and investors.
It also provided funds for affordable housing, public facilities, and public infrastructure.
To name a few, Lucerne, Rocklin, Lodi, Windsor, and Cloverdale took advantage of RDAs. All of these towns designed points of interest to encourage new business and residents. They made their towns alive with color and beauty. Lodi and Windsor particularly thrived. Cloverdale has struggled but all of these towns are attractive, clean, and inviting.
I have no information as to what, if or how Willits seized the opportunity to utilize its RDA monies. Perhaps they secured all that was available and were productive with its use. However, what I see presently is a community that is with hardship. It is badly in need of repair and sadly represents itself. Painted storefronts, awnings over entries, floral baskets and planters are nice but do not make a huge impact. If RDA money was used for Commercial St. and Main St. I cannot support this intersection as improvement.
Local elders have told me the founders of this town did not want change or progress. For 17 years, Willits had the same mayor, Leo S. Hulett. He was either a very good mayor or the town's people and directors wanted it managed as status quo. To have the same person running your town for this length of time prohibits new vision — a vision by another of equal quality.
Businesses come and go. In 12 years we've lost Sears, Scotts, Trinity Craft, two bakeries, two video stores, a music store, World of Carpet, the fitness center and pool, two pizza parlors and two restaurants, Rays, Mendo Lake Office Supply, multiple thrift and consignment shops. Our court system abandoned us and funding for the library was almost lost.
The Chamber of Commerce is a network of businesses whose main objectives include promoting and insuring the livelihood of future businesses coming to the Willits area. Businesses should be well advised of this town's economy. It is City Hall that approves business permits but one should not be set-up for failure.
Merchants ask us to buy local. This is only fair as they need our support but most locals cannot afford the high pricing. This means driving down the hill to bigger stores with lower prices. For example, the shoe store on Main Street. Its inventory out-priced even the wealthy. Incidentally, this business closed because it was over-priced not because of the future bypass. It was simply a misfit for this community.
Willits has rendered successful improvements through hard work and efforts. It has provided the community with Roots of Motive Power and Museum, the Skate Park, the Dog Park, Kids Club, Mendocino Community College, and the Health and Human Services Agency. Time will tell if the Wowser program is successful.
We are in the midst of the new Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital being built. We are fortunate to have it at our reach, but do not be misguided of its presence. The objective of any hospital is to make money. Primary goal is profit, secondary is patient. (it used to be in reverse but no longer). This facility will see financial gain quickly each and every day. Finances will never see red and always be black. It will also serve outside communities. One cannot be turned away at the door upon emergency. You may have but one foot in the door and the other outside as you are being asked for money or insurance. This may even occur as you are being treated.
It is hopeful this hospital under its new management is as fair to Willits as we are to them. It will have assets to pay forward. This operative requires patients and the patients are this community. Keep in mind other hospitals are available. Perhaps I am overly skeptical but I have seen hospitals empty beds way too soon.
Willits High School was built in 1929. Let us put this year into perspective: The beginning of 7-Up and Pop-Eye. The Wall Street crash and St. Valentine's Day Massacre. If you were of the first graduating class, you would now be 93. This school out-served its function decades ago. It can no longer be covered up with a bandage.
When a student graduates from his/her Alma Mater, it should be with pride and mark of honor. It is not science when students flock together and have little; then little is what they expect. It is difficult to dream proud unless proud is what you see. Our students have to attend this deplorable facility. Yes, they have the charter school and the alternative school but these too are below standard.
At very young ages, students of Willits have had to struggle that their community is driven by Pot. It is not really fair to these young minds. With all this challenge to overcome, we send them off to a place of blight and tell them it is as good as they're worth.
The most positive goal Willits could achieve is a new high school, in a new location, accessible for the mass. All in this community including the new hospital must support this project. One should consider portions of the old high school as salvageable and, refurbished into a new community center or shelter for our homeless souls.
The Bypass, be it considered good or bad, will come to fruition. There is no analogy that depicts differently. Willits needs to accept this fact and adjust. I am reminded of 1989 with a young man at Tiananmen Square. It is a sad scenario that he stood in front of an army tank thinking he had the power to make it stop. He did not and it did not. Actually, his fate remains questionable. Compare that to the danger of Warbler living in our tree or tying oneself to heavy earthmovers, and yet we are expected to protect these protestors and at our expense.
Now that Low Bucks has closed Willits may very well have but just one grocer, Safeway. With this privilege, you get darkness, tight aisles, a miss-placed Star Bucks, dirty floors, and high prices. Let's not forget the poorly marked parking lot that devours our cars such as the Post Office. There is Mariposa, but here again are the higher prices. Possibly and feasibly, Safeway may relocate to the north or south of the bypass exchange. Along with this will come a gas station and fast food sources. There will be no need for a traveler to drive through Willits unless they are heading to the Coast.
Therefore, as life goes on, my neighbors will continue to drain Brooktrails water and grow their pot outside my bedroom window plus a alleged grow house right smack under the noses of the Brooktrails management as water drips, drips, drips away. The homeless with their pit bulls will become more bountiful, because we invite them. Sheriff Allman will remain short staffed and collect only 10% of pot growth. Finally, the Van Hotel and Remco will outlive us all. Why? Because it is Willits.
Carpe diem.
Susan Ross
Brooktrails
THE WEISE LIST
Editor,
Love the Top 10 lists. Here’s mine. Baseball is getting closer!
Desolation Angels by Jack Kerouac
The Western Lands by William S. Burroughs
Adventures in Marxism by Marshall Berman
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
The City in Mind by James H. Kunstler
Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
The Betrayal of Marx by Frederic L. Bender
History and Class Consciousness by Georg Lukac
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe
The Complete Works of Isaac Babel
Michael Weise
Richmond
WHY YGRENE?
To the Editor:
Three members of our Board of Supervisors seemed enchanted with the PACE program being promoted by YGRENE - energy spelled backwards (now isn't that cute?). Today they approved something know as the PACE program (Property Assessed Clean Energy). Lets take a look.
Who benefits? The PACE program purveyed by YGRENE allows homeowners to borrow cash at a fixed 7 percent interest rate over 20 years for a solar panel. The loan would have a higher priority than the existing first mortgage on the property. This amounts to an airtight no risk arrangement, almost impossible to find in an economy where money has been very tight ever since Bernie Madoff was sent to the slammer for 150 years. Not only risk free, it is well above prevailing interest rates offered by local banks: Redwood Credit Union offers variable 10 year home equity loans for solar at 1 percent above Prime (3.25 percent plus 1percent = 4.25 percent) and Mendocino Savings Bank quotes 4.25 to 5.25 percent for the same thing. Solar technology is changing very rapidly and a 20 year loan for obsolete equipment will soon look very pricey.
Who pays? First: The homeowner pays through the nose for these 7 percent fixed interest loans over 20 years. A small $20,000 solar unit eventually costs the homeowner $37,200 over 20 years.
Second: Local banks and credit unions: YGRENE is given the green light to take away their markets.
Third: The holders of existing First Mortgages who suddenly discover they have been downgraded to 2nd mortgages with neither their notification or agreement.
Fourth: The County bureaucracy will now have to collect these solar loan repayments that are included in annual tax bills and then skim off the portion to send on to YGRENE. This increases administrative burden in a county that still hasn't come to terms with that old scam called Brook Trails. Should a property be sold or a mortgagee default, the paper work and handling costs will mount up.
Who is abused? The County Bureaucracy, and local homeowners: YGRENE will have no incentive to screen out those who are not credit worthy since they get the loans paid first even during default. The County must handle all the paperwork of foreclosures that sloppy lending practices might have encouraged. Homeowners who have taken on a debt they can ill afford will also suffer.
Who won't play? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to whom banks resell more than 50percent of mortgages, have refused to play: They won't buy loans under this PACE program. But our three Supervisors (McCowen, Hamberg and Gjerde) who voted for the scam, apparently think they're smarter than all those worthies at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
James F. Houle
Redwood Valley
SCAPEGOATS FOR EVERYTHING
Editor and Coast residents,
Earlier this week I attended a public meeting where “the homeless people” were scapegoated for everything from littering to robbery to rape. It was disgusting to hear people berating the City for allowing such criminality, and ascribing it all to “those homeless people.” This has become the Bogeyman of our time. “If you do this, the Bogeyman will get you, if you do that, the bogeyman will get your little granddaughter.” It is used as an excuse and fearmongering tactic for innumerable self-serving pronouncements. It's disgusting depersonalization of people who generally are just not wealthy enough to buy a place to live. Any why? Because there are not enough good jobs to go around, and there probably won't be any time soon.
Of course there are some bad apples, but that is true of every population. Having a home helps, ridicule does not.
The point is, what do we do about the homelessness that is growing by leaps and bounds in the land of the free?
1. the standard now is: make it illegal to sit, stand, sleep, loiter on any private property, OR ANY PUBLIC PLACE.
In other words: if you're homeless, you can't EXIST anywhere, just die.
2. there is a growing awareness that this is not just a problem of deadbeats, but of structural elimination of jobs, especially unskilled jobs now, but eventually many jobs will be done by done by computers or robots. Simple jobs are not coming back, there will never again be jobs for everyone.
3. Some municipalities will have to take the bull by the horns and FIND A WAY to house many poor people, whether or not they are gainfully employed. Take a look at the article below for a suggestion by the state of Utah, not a weepy liberal state by any means.
“Utah is Ending Homelessness by Giving People Homes
by Terrance Heath
In eight years, Utah has quietly reduced homelessness by 78%, and is on track to end homelessness by 2015.
How did Utah accomplish this? Simple. Utah solved homelessness by giving people homes. In 2005, Utah figured out that the annual cost of ER visits and jail says for homeless people was about $16,670 per person, compared to $11,000 to provide each homeless person with an apartment and a social worker. So, the state began giving away apartments, with no strings attached. Each participant in Utah’s Housing First program also gets a caseworker to help them become self-sufficient, but they keep the apartment even if they fail. The program has been so successful that other states are hoping to achieve similar results with programs modeled on Utah’s.”
It sounds like Utah borrowed a page from Homes Not Handcuffs, the 2009 report by The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and The National Coalition for the Homeless. Using a 2004 survey and anecdotal evidence from activists, the report concluded that permanent housing for the homeless is cheaper than criminalization. Housing is not only more human, it’s economical.
This happened in a Republican state! Republicans in Congress would probably have required the homeless to take a drug test before getting an apartment, denied apartments to homeless people with criminal records, and evicted those who failed to become self-sufficient after five years or so. But Utah’s results show that even conservative states can solve problems like homelessness with decidedly progressive solutions.
Rixanne Wehren
Elk
NO NEED TO INCORPORATE
To the Community Services District Board of Directors, Boonville, California
December 27, 2013
Re: Incorporation in Anderson Valley.
Dear Board of Directors:
This is by far the most stupid idea the Community Services District has come up with. We have been in the valley all of our lives and we own a decent amount of property. We don't have a water problem. We don't have a sewer problem. We don't have a road problem. We don't have a law enforcement problem. We don't have a fire department problem. What we have is a few know-it-alls constantly trying to tell us what to do. How many sitting board members have been elected to this office?
You're doing this to save the Senior Center or the Fairgrounds is a bald-faced lie. What you really want is to create a bureaucracy from which you can micromanage and dictate exactly how the valley operates. Incorporation unquestionably means a lot more taxes and another layer of regulation. Both of which is already strangling us. You're not going to make it better, you're going to make it worse.
Yours Truly,
Nick Rossi
Boonville
REGGAE OFF THE RIVER
Letter To The Editor.
The “2013 Reggae on the River Post Event Report” has now been released and was submitted to the Humboldt County Planning Commission via the Planning Department's Michael Richardson. In the post event report it highlights the ongoing unauthorized changes and unpermitted activities the Mateel knowing made before, during and after the 2013 event.
Even though the Mateel agreed to abide by the stipulations, mitigation and restrictions of their County Conditional Use Permit and Environmental Impact Report, they must have had their fingers crossed when they signed it. Its very apparent the Mateel Community Centers signed agreement with the County is not worth the paper it is written on, e.g. from pumping more water then authorized from a hydrologically connected onsite well from the South Fork Eel River (5 times more), to discharging waste water/grey water into an unpermitted onsite leach field (37,000 gallons), and allowed 993 more people than approved with the 4 day event ticket. If the Mateel is truly concerned about its impacts to the environment, they have a funny way of showing it. Maybe they should take EEL out of their name.
Why are they already asking to expand Reggae on the River for 2014, by wanting to use 700,000 gallons of water from the same hydrologically connected onsite well from the South Fork Eel River, grading even more of the River Bar for parking/camping in 2014, increasing attendance levels by 1000 people and pulling the bridge only after October 15, instead of just after the event? Are they planning another event after Reggae?
In this same post event report, the Mateel makes these statements from page 8 & 9::
“Reggae on the River is an historic event that brings a huge economic benefit to Humboldt County. The Mateel's goal is to minimize the impact of their event while still being able to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for their patrons As with many projects tied to our use of natural resources, there are concerns that must be balanced and mitigations that can be employed to minimize potential impacts. The Mateel continues to support various natural resource-based projects as demonstrated by their generous donation to the Eel River Recovery Project this year”
“While use of the water poses an insignificant impact to the river; it is creating a significant hardship on the Mateel in their proper management of the site for this event. it is unreasonable for the Planning Commission or CDFW to arbitrarily limit this historical use of groundwater without having any data to support their action. The Mateel is requesting relief from this restriction for one additional year with the stipulation that a monitoring station be set up to collect data on water flow and temperature. A study will be prepared and submitted to the CDFW for evaluation. If an impact is demonstrated, the Planning Commission can set a water allocation for future years”
“The Mateei is requesting that the Planning Commission modify Condition Number 6 to require the Mateel to fill their 94,000 gallons of storage prior to May 15th and to allow them pump an additional 700,000 gallons of water between May 1st and July 31st for the 2014 event. No additional water would be pumped after July 31st”
It would seem reading this Post Event Report, the only goal the Mateel has is to maximize their over reaching foot print that creates even more impacts to the River and Aquatic Resources, while at the same time trying to justify their actions as a huge economic scheme that benefits the County?
Reggae Off the River
Ed Voice, Redway
RELAX, NICK
Mr. Nick Rossi:
January 20, 2014 — I am in receipt of your December 27, 2013 letter in which you express your opposition to "incorporation in Anderson Valley." It is comforting to know that you do not have problems with your water, sewer, the county road system, law enforcement or the fire department. However, there are many others who live within the Anderson Valley who do have concerns over these issues. There are currently numerous residents of our Valley who have dry wells, contaminated wells, little or no law enforcement and a county road system that rates one of the worst in the state.
Irrespective of this, your personal attack upon the integrity of the AVCSD board members is unwarranted. The article in the AVA accurately described what transpired at the last board meeting and I believe you have misinterpreted the facts of that session. Not one director of the AVCSD expressed support to incorporate the Valley. What was discussed and acted upon was to create a committee to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation. If the residents of the Anderson Valley would benefit in reduced taxes and better service by incorporating then it may be beneficial to consider this, and to do so via the proper way of public discussions and majority vote. If the investigation shows that it would not be advantageous to incorporate then there would be no public request to do so. The key here is having the knowledge to make an educated decision. To do nothing would be negligent and a disservice to the residents of the Anderson Valley.
Every position on the AVCSD Board of Directors is an elected position in which a director serves at no cost to the Valley. All the members of this board provide many hours of volunteer community service to the Valley in many other ways as well. If you were to attend a meeting you would recognize that your current Board is the exact opposite of "micromanaging know-it-alls," as you stated in your letter. Currently there is a potential vacancy on the board. Please step forward and get involved if you so desire.
A committee report on the issue of incorporation is scheduled for the next AVCSD Board meeting. This will be at 5PM, Wednesday, January 22, 2014, to be held at the CSD boardroom. You are invited to attend.
Sincerely,
Kirk E. Wilder, Director, Anderson Valley Community Services District
Boonville
FUN BUNS
Editor,
Mendocino County Jail's true definition of red white and blue.
This is the first letter of many to come about the sorry, grotesque Mendocino County Jail. My yard partner and I have decided it would be valued and appreciated to write and pull the covers off how this facility is really run and operated. These letters are from the point of view of not just one inmate but two who have been in and out of this [bleep]hole racking up quite a significant amount of days, months, years in here.
The first subject we would like to talk about is the housing/classification of the jail.
Inmate Mikey's story: I am an inmate who has been housed in the hole, Wing 400, for over a year now without even receiving a write-up. I've asked why I am housed over here? The sorry officers they have working as classification/housing officers keep telling me that there is a report. I've asked multiple times to see this report and they simply reply with their crooked fake smile they put on daily: "You cannot have it, sorry." I then asked how long I am going to be here in lockdown and they still cannot give me a straight answer. So here I am doing an indeterminate amount of time in the hole. I have asked both of the classification officers about being moved to B, C or D-mod which is "general population," and they have said no. They then asked, "Is there anywhere other than the three general population modules you would be willing to go to?" I tell them, "No," and that I can see what they are wanting me to do which is "PC up." Protective Custody. I have a mother and kids and I will not go to the "PC" cages over here in Wing 400. I am not willing to go there with people who walk the yard with dropouts, snitches or rapists. Any mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter knows what I'm talking about. A-mod is for sex offenders. They wear red suits and they are sex offenders. They live in a dorm and get out from 9am to 10:30pm every day. They are allowed $80 a week in canteen and are allowed phone cards to make calls. We in Wing 400 are allowed but $20 a week and no phone cards. So the gay criminals get rewarded for taking innocence from a young boy or girl or lady. I am a parent, not just an inmate but also a son to a man and a woman. It's twisted and sick. They should have no right to anything but the "death chamber" at San Quentin. I know you are reading this thinking WTF is going on in that jail? You are not the only one asking this question. It's up to classification and they have their rules screwed up and twisted 180° backward. A-mod is where they house the so-called felons, parolees or prisoners but have been to a state penitentiary. So it is run with prison politics by the inmates. But they won't allow me to go over there either. Since I won't PC up, I guess I'm going to just sit in this hole till I am out of this place.
Inmate Lawson's story: I have been in and out of this jail since I turned 18 in 2007. I've been in B, C, D and Wing 400 modules. I've never received a write up in the seven years I've been coming to this hole. On January 2, 2014 I received my first write up while I was over in C. module. I had just received my medical evaluation to go over to Wing 300, one of the three places I've never been in this jail along with A-tank or the two PC cages over here in Wing 400. We were just doing our normal things and then all of a sudden I was locked into my cell. Oh great, I thought, here comes the baton. An officer had come in and smelled smoke so they had all 60 inmates lined up to head to the yard so they could "toss" the unit. I was in line and pissed off because I knew that when the raid was all over I would have to find all of my personal items scattered everywhere. I proceeded to call the big pork chop of the operation, "fun buns." He turned bright red and the little steaming teapot was tipped over and his [illegible] was poured out. After the raiders were done raiding I was the only one pulled out of 60 people. I was placed in lime-green max 3 over here in Wing 4. The following day I received my write up and it was for insolence toward a Corrections Officer. It is a level 2 write up.
I know I also had my visits and commissary suspended for two weeks. Administrative segregation is punishment by itself, so why would they have the right to give me three punishments for two words? I have been over here almost a month and another CO has written me up for the same charge and I received five more days added onto my sentence. I have tried asking the housing classification deputies who are insolent themselves, "Why am I here?" Not one can give me a straight answer as to how long I will be in the hole. I then asked, "Why isn't the hole punishment enough?" They got upset and said I have anger issues. I said look at my record for the last seven years not one write up, fight or problem is on there. Yet I am in Wing 4 in the hole for insolence to an officer. I have seen people get in less trouble for drinking, fighting and stealing in here than I have for those simple two words, "fun buns." I know what it has come down to. The only people getting out of the hole are the PC birdcages. In the last week alone I have watched two people leave those cages in red to go to these sex offender side of A tank. Like Mikey I have three sons and am solid as an oak log. I won't PC up and go to those cages with narcs, chomos, dropouts or people who have been rolled out of GP. But yet they get phone cards, television, $80 a week commissary and yard time every day along with showers. I am allowed only $20 in commissary and I have to buy stamps, paper, hygiene, etc. I haven't talked to my children since I have been in jail since December. In this county it pays to be a rapist, snitch, dropout or child molester. In this county jail because they receive special treatment especially from the two housing classification officers who make a lot of the rules. I guess I will sit my time out in the hole because I will never roll with those sick individuals in red white or blue. I was raised to be a solid man. If you get caught, shut your mouth and do your time. This county used to take pride in that. If you are solid and all you get is a [bleep] you, this county now takes pride in PCs, snitches, rapists, dropouts and anyone willing to work for the task force. I understand why because they are like the American flag, housed in red, white and blue PC.
Sincerely,
Nolan Todd Lawson Jr. A# 03997
Mendocino County Jail, Ukiah
A BENEFICIAL BENEFIT-I
Editor: The benefit for Diane Hering in Boonville this past Sunday afternoon was a huge success due in no small part to the help from many people, including Sheila Leighton, Steve and Janet Anderson, Xenia King, Judy Nelson, Taunia Green, Ann Panttaja, Glynnis Jones, Rich Ferguson, and Steve Wood. Generous donations were made by Sharon Sullivan, Handley Cellars, Navarro Winery, Goldeneye Winery, DeLoach Vineyards, and Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Publicity was donated by Boontberry Store, All That Good Stuff, KZYX and The AVA. The bands, The Real Sarahs, Staggerwing String Band, and Wild Oats all donated their time and fine music. Taunia Green held an eye-catching raffle with help from W. Dan, Ryan O., and Kim Howland. Thanks go to the many who donated items for that, including Stan Peskett, Brian Schreiner and Kim Howland and others. The ever devoted Judy Nelson organized the large table of food for the event, and sends these words: “Thank you to Pennyroyal Farms for their excellent cheeses, Boonville Hotel for great Kabobs and tasty special popcorn, Boonville General Store for wonderful Savory Scones, Boontberry Farm for Burt's melt in your mouth Savory Rugala, Lemon's delish deli trays, Julie Winchester's amazing gluten free cake and cupcakes (kids loved the square cupcakes), Handley Cellar's remarkable cheese and meat board. And thank you to my friends and neighbors for their very tasty offerings. Here's to health. Thank you, Judy Nelson.” With hopes I haven’t overlooked anyone, here’s thanking you all for attending. And most importantly, thank you Lauren for your help and letting us hold the benefit in your restaurant. I know Diane Hering and her family are deeply grateful to us all.
Brian Wood
Boonville
A BENEFICIAL BENEFIT-II
Editor,
As the lucky one who was invited to help with the raffle at Diane Hering’s benefit, I want to thank each of you who were able to come out and contribute to the cause. You made it a truly monumental event.
To those who gave the raffle items which brought Diane at least $1600 of the afternoon’s total: Roy Laird, Thank you. Abeja Hummel, Thank you. Little River Inn, Thank you. KZYX, Thank you. Kim Howland, Thank you. Stan Peskett, Thank you. Brian Schreiner, Thank you. And yet more thanks to those who helped me pull the raffle together. Ryan O! Via! W.Dan! Deleh! Arline Bloom! All That Good Stuff! Robyn Spector! Torrey Douglass!
Finally, ATTENTION ANDERSON VALLEY: One item has stayed on to be raffled until 100 ticketes are sold: A six-foot redwood picnic table crafted by Brian Schreiner. Tickets will be sold at Luaren’s Restaurant for $5 each or six tickets for $25.
I am proud to be part of a community with so much heart and soul.
Taunia Green
Boonville
CLEAR IT WITH ME FIRST
Editor:
AVA January 22, page 3: “It would help the station [KZYX] to have a capable board of directors, but Sakowicz is the only director who seems to care about doing the right thing.”
Bruce, you don't attend the meetings, so you're on the Ouija board again, regarding who “seems to care.” And the “right thing” is…?
I feel your wistful sentiment, but moods do evaporate. Can you support that concluding flourish: “…Sakowicz is the only director who seems to care about doing the right thing”?
Gordon Black
Mendocino
Ed Reply: As a faithful reader of Sheila Dawn's excellent coverage, and an occasional recipient of non-responsive communications from one or the other Silly Millies sitting as station trustees, please accept my apologies for not clearing my opinion with you, Emperor of Audio Lilliput, before rashly rushing into print. Yes, Sako, in my opinion has done a good job raising the hydra-headed issue of incompetent station management.
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