- Rules In The Eye Of The Beholder?
- AV Health Center Open For New Board Of Directors Applications
- 21st Century Glass Steagall
- Migrants To Mendocino County
- Sarcasm Bias
- Judge David Nelson Will Retire At The End Of Term
RULES IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER?
To the Editor:
This replies to Mr. Peter Brown’s letter to the Ukiah Daily Journal Editor of October 28 that Dollar General should be allowed to build one of its 9100 Square box stores in Redwood Valley because, to paraphrase, “the rules are the rules, and Dollar General has complied with the rules.”
One of the “rules” that Mr. Brown seems to be unaware of is CP-RV-3, which is a portion of the County’s General Plan that is specific to Redwood Valley. This policy states in relevant part that the County shall promote improvement of the aesthetic character of the Redwood Valley downtown core. Mr. Brown also appears unaware of CP-RV-3.2 which states that commercial development on East Road shall have a consistent architectural theme and be compatible with the character of Redwood Valley. The Board of Supervisors has the responsibility to assure that these rules are met in the case of any proposed project. That is, a building permit can’t legally be issued unless it meets the requirements of the General Plan as well as the requirements of the Zoning and Building Codes; and the Board of Supervisors is the agency that makes that decision.
Mr. Brown also assumes there is a rule that says that if a project meets the requirements of the Building Code a Building Permit must be issued without regard to CEQA considerations or the General Plan. That is the rule in some cities and counties, it is not the rule in Mendocino County. Again, it is the Board of Supervisors that must decide whether or not the requirements of CEQA and the General Plan have been met even in the case of a project that complies with the Building Code and is consisting with the zoning of a piece of property.
If the environmental impacts of a particular type project — such as a 9100 square foot national chain box store in a small rural community such as Redwood Valley — have never been studied during the adoption of the General Plan and the relevant zoning code, then the law is clear that the environmental impacts of a project can and should be considered when the project is proposed.
Throughout history a lot of stupid and venal decisions have been made and justified on the theory that “a rule is a rule and it was my job to follow it.” We are lucky our Board of Supervisors looks beyond such a simplistic phraseology to determine what in fact all the relevant “rules” are and whether or not a proposed project in fact complies with those rules.
Alex Chehada
Redwood Valley
AV HEALTH CENTER OPEN FOR NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPLICATIONS
Hello everyone,
The Anderson Valley Health Center is looking for new board members who have time and the commitment to actively participate in the Board of Directors' and AVHC activities. We would especially but not only welcome younger community members with families who can represent this age group. This is a strictly volunteer position that is not open to close relatives of AVHC staff. A term is 3 years and you will be invited to join at least one working committee in addition to attending monthly Board meetings. Board members can expect to spend 10 to 15 hours per month on projects and meetings. You will help us make decisions that will affect the health of the organization and the broader community in the coming years.
Please call the Health Center (895-3477) for an application which can be left at the front desk when filled out or mailed to the AVHC (PO Box 338, Boonville). Thank you for considering supporting our local health center with your talents. We hope to hear from you.
Best wishes,
Heidi Knott Gundling,
AVHC Board of Directors Secretary
21ST CENTURY GLASS STEAGALL
Dear Editor,
Senator Feinstein tells me the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act is held in Committee. This Act introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren and John McCain separates Investment Banking from Commercial (savings) banks from using FDIC funds to bail them out. I wrote Senator Sherrod Brown in his capacity on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, whose Chair Senator Selby, Ala. is holding the Bill in Committee, of interest to voters all over the US.
”Please urge and lead your colleagues to move the bill S. 1709 to the floor for a vote in committee. The American taxpayers do not want their savings used for a bail-in for the unindicted Wall Street bankers and a looming economic collapse. I realize the Wall Street Banks control most of Congress people with appointees from think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations and lobbying firms. Our only chance to avoid economic collapse is to pass the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act, introduced by Warren and McCain, two courageous and far sighted Senators from both parties. Please use your influence to get the middle class and the poor out of jeopardy of a Derivatives Bust looming on the horizon.”
Sincerely,
Agnes Woolsey
Mendocino
MIGRANTS TO MENDOCINO COUNTY
Dear Editor;
That is an interesting proposal you have made about Mendocino County accepting 1,000 migrants and placing them in communities around the county. I am sure the bigots would crawl from under their rocks and denounce the proposal. I assume you are making particular reference to Syrian migrants who are family groups. Your readers should know Syria has a very complex religious and ethic population. There are Alawites (shia), Ismailis (shia), Sunni, Christians, Turkmen, Druze, and Kurdish as well other smaller groups. Several languages are spoken but Arabic is understood by most groups In particular, the younger migrants probably speak English. As for terrorists there would be none. ISIS are single men who buy sex slaves in the slave market. My understanding. of your proposal is you want family groups.
In Germany the migrants are given a 110-page book about every thing they should know and are given intense training in learning the German language and about 6 months devoted to learning new job skills. The English and skill training could be done on a much lower scale. It is the type of training that could be developed and supervised by the local churches. Also use a network of sponsoring families.
It is doable but would take a dedicated group of local people to get the ball rolling. And most importantly the Obama administration agreeing to take in a decent number of migrants.
In peace and love,
Jim Updegraff
Sacramento
SARCASM BIAS
Editor,
I understand that a part of the function of the free press is to ferret out the facts, separate the true from the false, and then call out the liars and fools. My objection is with the imbalance of the reporting. It seems that there are forty cases of you guys exposing the lies and ignorance of ultra-conservatives, true patriots, good Christian preachers, CEOs, and hedge fund directors for every one time that you go after a progressive congressman, socialist stooge, environmental activist, or others of that pinko ilk for the sames sins. Proof positive of the intractable liberal bias of today's press, and you, Mr. Anderson, are among the worst offenders.
Also, did you know that there were more than two thousand elephants shot in Uganda last year, while nary a one in the proud state of Oklahoma? Pretty clear evidence, I'd say than the hunting regulations in Oklahoma are too damned strict!
Mike DeLang
Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado
JUDGE DAVID NELSON WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF TERM
Editor,
Judge David Nelson has announced that he will not seek reelection to a fourth term as judge of the Mendocino County Superior Court and will retire at the end of his term in January, 2017. This will mean that there will be a primary election for the open seat in June, 2016 with a final election in November, 2016 if necessary.
Judge Nelson was appointed to the bench by Governor Gray Davis in 2003 and has been reelected without opposition to two six year terms since that time. He initially presided over adult criminal courts and then served as juvenile court judge for four years. For the last two years, he has returned to a criminal court assignment and has been the Presiding Judge for the Mendocino County Superior Court. He has been judge of the Adult Drug Court throughout his judicial career. Judge John Behnke will take over as the Presiding Judge in January, 2016. Judge Nelson will return to a felony criminal trial court for his last year as a judge.
Judge Nelson said, “It has been a privilege to serve the people of Mendocino County as a judge. I have been blessed to work with a wonderful group of judges and an excellent, hard-working staff. But it is time to pass the baton to a new judge and I look forward to retirement in this beautiful county.”
Christopher Ruhl, Court Executive Officer
Ukiah
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