Letters (Sep 16, 2015)

• Bleecker’s Wall Of Shame
• Dear Stu
• Don't Take It!
• Don’t Privatize Animal Care
• Stuart Campbell's Power Grab
• Concerned Citizens Of Fort Bragg (Ccfb)
• Prop 13 Loopholes Wrecking California
• Another Letters Section?
• The Shower Head Filter Scam
• Don't Pave Public Land
• The Pope Is A Jesuit

BLEECKER’S WALL OF SHAME

Editor,

This is an update of what has happened since the article was so generously published by you.

(AVA, June 24, 2015 — https://www.theava.com/archives/44684)

This whole experience has been a real education for me. It was personally very upsetting to me that Bleecker, after being sentenced to 50 hours of community service and prevented from doing contracting work, made the Senior Center one of his first stops, after sentencing. He tried to get work thru the Center; however, I had just talked with Priscilla, an advocate for seniors at the Senior Center, and they turned him down. Tell me, is this really the way it is suppose to work? Anyway, here goes. I am not expecting you to print this; I am using this as way to vent against what is happening here.

I call this: Justice: Mendocino Style; Bleecker's Cabin — Wall Of Shame

When the normal channels of justice do not function, the question is "what other resources are there to pursue justice; and what community resources are out there to work with to be sure the same type of criminal act does not keep reoccurring, particularly by the same criminal?

The case, as previously reported, concerns Brandon Scott Bleecker, who fraudulently took $150,000 from two Willits senior women, claiming to be a licensed contractor. The case was referred to the Mendocino County DA's office by the California State Contractors Licensing Board for criminal prosecution. In a plea bargain, the Mendocino County DA's office sentenced Bleecker to fifty (50) hours of community service and 18 months of Summary Probation. While Bleecker was being prosecuted by the DA's office, Bleecker had three different jobs that he worked. After Bleecker was sentenced, he was marketing his services to the Willits Senior Center. The DA's office never provided an explanation of: (1 why most of the charges against Bleecker were dropped, 2) why Bleecker was never charged with "fraud," 3) why the victims of this crime were never made aware of the plea bargain (which is a requirement), and 4) how Bleecker could qualify for a Public Defender when he had just defrauded two people out of $150,000. Two letters were sent to the DA's office asking these questions; and no written response was ever provided.

WALL OF SHAME — SHAME ON YOU

1. Mendocino County District Attorney's Office

I received a letter from the DA's office indicating they were filing charges against Bleecker; however, there were no charges for "fraud." I wrote a letter asking "why?" I never received a written response. After months of receiving dates for pretrial and trial, I received a letter from the DA’s office indicating Bleecker "…pleaded guilty to two counts of excessive down payments”; and he received 50 hours of community service. This punishment was for “fraud” involving $150,000! Apparently in this county a criminal can decide "what" he can plead guilty to, despite the charges that are filed against him. What a deal! But not justice for all, particularly for the victims or the ones to be.

2. Anderson Valley Advertiser

A beacon of hope! The story was written and placed on the front page of the newspaper, along with a picture of Bleecker. At least some of the public are made aware there is a financial predator in the community, who is not being stopped by the law. I decided to use that newspaper article to create some community awareness so that Bleecker could not continue to ply his illegal trade — certainly 50 hours of community service was not going to stop Bleecker. In fact, I would think it would encourage him. After all, 50 hours of community service for $150,000 is $3,000/hr. Who wouldn't be encouraged?

3. Willits Weekly, Willits News, Ukiah Daily Journal. Santa Rosa Press Democrat

None of these papers were interested in writing about this. They indicated that protecting the public against crime was not part of their mission! Does the public know this? So now the papers are a source of "feel good" social media?

4. Tom Woodhouse, County Supervisor

Tom indicated he had read the article and he knew both Bleecker and his partner Steve Hoehn. He indicated he would see what he could do. I never heard from him again. Public servant gone deaf?

5. Holly Madrigal, Willits City Council

Sent her a copy of the article. She referred me to Sheriff, Tom Allman, and gave me his direct line.

6. Tom Allman, Sheriff

I called Sheriff Allman twice and was told he was busy. The third call I explained the case. He said it was too late; the case was already in the DA's Office. When I said I had made two previous calls to him before the case went to the DA's office, he said he would check that out and would call me the following Monday. I never heard from him. You don't have to handle many cases when everything falls in the category of "too early, too late or too busy to care."

7. Chamber of Commerce, Lynn Kennelly

I gave a copy of the article to Lynn and asked whether she would have the time to read and give me any suggestion on what I could do. She indicated she would. I followed up several times and she had not read the article and never called me back.

8. Priscilla, Community Advocate at the Senior Center (I never got a business card from her, so her title may be incorrect)

I met with Priscilla and she felt there were things we could do. She suggested I call Angelica, at Legal Aid and "7 on Your side." She said she had some contracts she would make. I have followed up with her weekly but she has not been able to talk with her contacts. It's been two months.

9. Angelica, Legal Aid

She said Legal Aid does not get involved in cases like this.

10. 7 on Your Side

I e-mailed a copy of the article and asked whether they were interested. I never heard from them.

11. Community member

Suggested I get in touch with 1) CA Bar Association, 2) Dept of Consumer Affairs, Senior Citizen Affairs and 3) Kamal Harris, State’s Attorney General.

12. California Bar Association

Although a DA is a member of the Bar Association, the Association does not handle improprieties of the DA’s office. They could not tell me who does! Can you believe they don't even know their own system?

13. Dept of Consumer Affairs, Senior Citizen Affairs

There is no such department.

14. Kamala Harris, California State’s Attorney General

A letter was sent with a copy of the article. I received a phone call saying they do not get involved in decisions made by the DA's Office. They have no power over them. Each DA can decide which cases they will take and what decision to make. According to her no one in the state is charged with overseeing the decisions of any DA's office! When I asked about not getting responses to my two letters to the Mendo DA's office, the woman on the phone indicated she would call the Mendo DA and ask them to respond! I never heard from her again and I never received anything from the Mendo DA's office. (The obvious question here is why the Mendocino County DA's office would respond to the States Attorney General's request if they have no power over them)

15. Community member

Suggested I should call several ministers. They belong to an informal council that might want to be aware of a person taking advantage of seniors in the community. After all, each of their parishes have some seniors.

16. Ministers in Willits (3)

I called three ministers and none of them returned my phone call.

Conclusion:

I have to believe that Brandon Scott Bleecker found the perfect community for his crimes and a permanent place to continue his business. At $150,000 a year, if he does not expand his business, he will be a millionaire in 6-7 years, There is no overhead, no local, state or federal taxes, no business license. No organization to restrict his operations. It can't get much better than that!

Julie Cook

Willits

DEAR STU

To the Board of Directors and General Manager of Mendocino County Public Broadcasting (KZYX&Z)

We have received confirmation that a new General Manager has been hired for the radio station, effective September 8. According to our previous agreement, this triggers a new date for the inspection of documents as required by our Demand for Inspection of June 9. You had requested four weeks from the date of the hiring, and we accommodated your request. The new date for inspection is thus Tuesday, October 6. I have copied the Demand and subsequent correspondence below for your convenience.

Considering the work done by our new Treasurer, Clay Eubank, in organizing the financial records, we believe that four weeks provides adequate time. Please note that we do not agree with any of the limitations to inspection that were suggested by Stuart Campbell, then chair of the board and now General Manager, in his response of June 23. If you wish to stop or limit the inspection, you will need to obtain an order from the Superior Court.

Thank you very much for accommodating the inspection. Between now and then, please make sure that all records are preserved and that none are destroyed, removed, or otherwise made inaccessible.

Sincerely,

Dennis O'Brien, John Sakowicz, Doug McKenty, King Collins, Norm de Vall

Mendocino County

DON'T TAKE IT! 

Editor,

Since Carre Brown criticized Woodhouse for talking to employees, and that we know that our supervisors are powerless, the only place employees have to go now is to the press. I encourage the Union (SEIU) to send up some legal people and conduct some First Amendment and Whistleblower workshops. I do not want anyone going through what I did when I reported the many wrongdoings of Family & Children’s Services. These workshops should be provided to all departments in the county so that people really know just what they can or cannot say and risk retribution. I am tired of watching my former colleagues being exploited, underpaid, and forced into silence. Everyone seems to be ignoring the vicious and brutal tactics that the County takes against employees who speak out. I have not. I don't believe these people in charge deserve a second chance. A leopard never changes its spots.

James Marmon MSW

Lake County

DON’T PRIVATIZE ANIMAL CARE

To the Editor:

To the people of Mendocino County, the Board of Supervisors and Administration:

I am disturbed to hear that Mendocino County is even thinking of privatizing Animal Care & Control. For two main reasons. They are condemning their loyal workers to loss of pay, health care, retirement benefits and even their jobs. This is immoral. Yes, a few dollars might be saved but they have already cut wages by 10 percent and not brought them back. Yes, they have given some back. All of the residents if Mendocino County should care. When people lose pay, benefits or jobs it effects their community. Workers can no longer afford to shop in locally owned stores. Walmart may benefit but the community does not.

And the animals suffer too. Many of you only know me as a librarian but I have worked with dog rescue groups for 20 years and was on the Lake County Care & Control Advisory Board until recently. Mendocino County Animal Care & Control has a unique mandate. They must accept all animals brought to them. They must keep them at least a few days. Unlike rescue groups who get to say no or we have as many as we can handle, Animal Control has no legal choice. And so they take in all our no longer wanted pets. They clean out hoarders houses. They pick up strays. They take in litters of kittens and puppies. They rescue abused animals. They pick up dogs abandoned in back yards. Sage Mountainfire and her amazing crew play, socialize, exercise and try to find homes for as many as possible but, of course, the other side of their job is killing (yes, I could use a more euphemistic word) all those that are old, sick, traumatized or just plain perfect but not adopted within a set time limit.

Many years ago, I walked into Lake County Animal Care & Control to find an Animal Control officer sobbing that she could not kill another dog that day. I walked out with Inchworm, a cantankerous old Dachshund who lived another 6 years. We should be honoring these hard working employees, not threatening them.

Unless we create a community where everyone’s job is secure and honored, there will be discontent. I am disturbed that the Mendocino Supervisors and Administration are willing to let their workers slip into poverty. It is not necessary. It is not moral and it definitely is not the right track to take.

Eliza Wingate

Lake County

STUART CAMPBELL'S POWER GRAB

Editor,

Tim Gregory wrote, in response to a post by John Sakowicz: “You poked the tarbaby, Jane [Futcher]. This how he keeps his bullshit coming… promotes his 'show' … obtains revenge…knocks china off the shelf… who plays gets played.”

* * *

Tim, you're going to need a bigger screen to fit all that projection onto.

In real life, John Sakowicz consistently produces a better, more informative and more interesting show than you do. So do I, and so do lots of people who've been banned from KZYX --several of us have died of cancer and old age and so on --that's how long this has been going on-- and you keep getting to fill hours of airtime there with your dronelike somnambulistic platitudinous mumbletry, and better airpeople are permanently marginalized and shut out not only from doing shows but also from any possibility of influencing the decisionmaking process there. Stuart Campbell used his last days of power on the board to stack the (powerless Potemkin) committees with his like-minded cronies, and then he got himself appointed general manager of the gravy train. John Sakowicz points this out, and you call bullshit on John Sakowicz?

I don't know if you ever saw the animated film Wizards by Ralph Bakshi (R.I.P.). It had a character who I think of whenever I read something by an insider at KZYX saying something like what you always say when you stick up for KZYX' classically paranoid, tyrannical, greedy, conniving, false-faced Nice People management.

The character is Larry, a toady, rather a talking lizard, but a toady in the sense of an obsequious underling, a slavish creature. His master bats him around and treats him poorly, and so far from thinking well of him thinks nothing of him at all, but lets him stay in the castle and nibble at the cast off food there, so he knows which side his bread is buttered on, as they say. As he says, sounding like a lizard version of Peter Lorre, "Masther loves Larry! Masther feeds Larry!"

Tim, I'm trying to get you paid with real-life money for your work, such as it is. John Sakowicz is trying to, among other things, get you paid for your work. But your corporate masters want to keep all the money for themselves. Pull your face out of the bong and focus on that for a moment.

There will come an opportunity, a turning point for you, as there does for Larry at the end of the film, to recognize your true situation and finally withhold a piece of crucial support from your masters. When that happens, I hope you make the same informed grownup human decision Larry makes.

— Marco McClean

memo@mcn.org

http://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF FORT BRAGG (CCFB)

CCFB Calls for Democracy Now in City of Fort Bragg with Initiative Measure

“All we are saying is give peace a chance” and let the people vote. Give taxpayers a voice and a choice in the decisions regarding the zoning and development of downtown Fort Bragg. The popular vote is so threatening that the opponents of this Initiative Measure have resorted to name calling, spreading misinformation and political bullying. Why is a popular vote so threatening to these folks and the council members they support? CCFB members believe voting is the best way to resolve this issue affecting the lives of all the people of Fort Bragg. The Initiative Measure is the democratic, civilized solution to the issue at hand in the USA.

The proponents (CCFB) of the Initiative Prohibiting Social Services in the Central Business District want to collect enough signatures to put this issue to rest by popular vote. We do not want to fight, we are not waging war. This measure does not impact any of the service programs established before January 2015. We are Fort Bragg residents and are neither discriminatory nor bigoted- we simply care and want to participate in city government.

How can people claim to be liberal when they are fighting against the basic democratic right to vote?

CCFB simply wants to give everyone an opportunity to vote since the three council members who made this decision ignored 1600 letters, signatures and pleas from locals to locate this project elsewhere. Then they said 10 percent of 3124 was 313 (the wrong answer on a 4th grade math test) and refused to pass a resolution to put the Initiative Measure on November’s ballot for a people’s vote.

It’s time to put this issue to rest, let the people vote. What is wrong with a popular vote? Is it alright for a privileged few to make the decisions- to bow to the “corporate power” that runs the City of Fort Bragg. CCFB members don’t think so; we want the people to make the choice. This project is paid for with tax dollars, the tax payers deserve the right to vote on how the dollars get spent. Let the people vote.

A signature on the initiative petition is not a vote for the initiative. Each signature is a yes to put the Initiative Measure on the ballot, a yes for the democratic process, a yes for democracy.

The professional mental health and social service advocates who got involved in this movement did so because the location violates patient privacy rights and the rights of the disabled. The local business community involved is dependent on tourism to make ends meet. MCHC’s program in the Central Business District does not develop tourism, is not pedestrian friendly and does not support the growth of local businesses. It is a violation of the city’s mission statement in the general plan.

There has been much discussion and research done regarding numerous alternative locations that would provide more accessible housing, more than 5 rooms, more parking and more privacy with plenty of room for the organization to grow but the MCHC Board wanted hardwood floors and an industrial kitchen more than they wanted viable housing for as many clients as possible in a private discreet location where people could maintain their privacy and dignity when receiving services. MCHC has no concern for the clients or local business people.

Many residents of Fort Bragg believe this was a bad choice for the clients, for the community, for the businesses. Let’s stop the fighting and name calling, act like adults living in America, support democracy and Let the People Vote!

If you live in the City Limits and are a registered voter please sign the Initiative Measure when someone comes by or stop by Colombi’s Market, Mendo Litho, Figueiredo’s Video or The Green Door Studio to sign. Support Democracy and our right to vote.

Please sign.

PROP 13 LOOPHOLES WRECKING CALIFORNIA

Editor:

I'm struck by how Californians are again facing the prospect of another tax to maintain the state's crumbling infrastructure. The tax would help, but the $3.6 billion it generates still falls short of what is required to fix our roads. It's just not enough. From our potholed roads to our overcrowded classrooms, Californians are constantly having to approve bond measures and parcel taxes just to keep funding at bare minimum.

A $3 billion bond measure to overhaul an aging BART system is also under consideration. While California residents are generally willing to pay what it takes to repair roads and fund schools, large corporations are exploiting Proposition 13 protections to deny the state billions in funding for public services.

Chevron saves $100 million annually from Prop. 13. Disney pays eight times less property taxes per square foot than the average homeowner who continues to pick up the tab. There's no denying we need revenue to fix our infrastructure. The answer is stable, sustainable revenue. For our roads, for our schools, for our public services. It's time to close the corporate loopholes in Prop 13 and fix this state.

Daniel Hagen

San Francisco

ANOTHER LETTERS SECTION?

Dear Mr. Editor and AVA readers,

I am a fan of your publication and I confess that it is my humble opinion that next to the Letters to the Editor section there should be a section titled Letters from Lame-ass Inmates. And the first letter published in it should be James Gator Lawson's letter you printed in the September 2 edition.

Is this dude's nickname really "Gator"?

Please allow me to clarify a few things that "Gator" presumes about the much loved and respected patch holder from a motorcycle club here in Northern California. McDermott served 26 years for three bank robberies. He was released August 23 to a parking lot filled with over 500 Harley Davidson's. He was never convicted for murder nor did he serve time for murder. McDermott, tired of the crybaby sniveling-ass mentalities of the Gators in the prison system, spoke out about Lawson's letter to the AVA. Lawson, who obviously suffers from borderline personality disorder, tapes McDermott's letter to a pole on the yard and conducts a "survey" to form opinions on it.

Another fine example of the lame-ass mentality of the Gators in this prison system. Lawson claims to be a speaker at anger management groups, victims against violence groups, blah blah blah. Yeah, just another lame-ass inmate claiming to be a humanitarian. I would urge Gator to go back to your 602 appeals, and your surveys and your anger management group. Because believe me you are viewed as just another inmate blowing smoke up everyone's ass in hopes that you make yourself appear smart and progressive when in reality it's lame-ass inmates like you who are the problem in this broken system of ours!

So to you Mr. McDermott, all of us here send our very best. And to you, Mr. Lawson — or should I call you Gator? — please give me a break. You make all of us look bad.

Anthony Tafoya

San Quentin

THE SHOWER HEAD FILTER SCAM

Editor,

My name is Anthony McCoy. I would like to inform the general public about this so-called Legionaire's disease bacteria they are claiming is here at San Quentin.

You see, my cellie and I have come to the conclusion that it is all bullshit and the warden or some other profiteers are making a killing by reselling some cheap showerhead filters to the Department of Corrections. My guess is they pay about a dime for them and then sell them Department of Corrections for a buck.

Personally, I have been drinking and bathing in this water the whole time and I'm fine.

Anthony McCoy

San Quentin

PS. I would also like to express my love publicly for Donna Mayfield. She's got me for the long haul and I miss her greatly.

DON'T PAVE PUBLIC LAND

Open Letter to Mr. Thompson,

I've just become aware of HR 1931, the so-called "American Land Act" by Mr. Ted Poe of Texas.

Public land, that is, land owned by all of us Americans, should never be handed over to private industry. Never!

But that's what HR 1931 would do. The proceeds would be used for roads. Imagine that! Public lands turning into pavement.

How outrageous! Don't let this happen. Please fight "tooth and nail" to defeat this abomination.

Thank you.

Louise Mariana

Mendocino

PS. To AVA readers: Please write to your congressman to oppose this bill.

THE POPE IS A JESUIT

Editor,

In his recent article "Long Time Coming, Long Time Gone" Jeffery St. Clair confused the religious order to which Pope Francis belongs. Francis is a Jesuit (SJ) not a Franciscan (OFM). Although the Pope chose "Francisco" for his Papal name as he has long admired Francis of Assisi for his devotion to the poor, he entered the Jesuit community in Argentina, becoming eventually a Jesuit Superior.

There was a Catholic joke cruising around some time go about the Superiors of the various religious communities of men seated around a large table in the Vatican and arguing which one had contributed more to the Church and the World. They prayed and suddenly a paper came floating down through the ceiling with the words “Each one of the religious communities of men have contributed significantly to the betterment of society.” Signed: God, S.J.

Jerry Cox

Navarro