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Posts published by “Jim Shields”

Former Supervisor John Pinches Remembered At Laytonville Celebration

On Saturday, July 26, Johnny Pinches’ Friends, family, neighbors, and constituents, showed up at the Laytonville Rodeo Grounds to honor, respect and share stories and remembrances about Laytonville’s native son. Here’s part of what I…

Proposed Supervisors Salary Reduction And Budget Cuts

During the June budget hearings, Board Chair John Haschak attempted to persuade his colleagues to implement very modest, one could say nearly insignificant, reductions to the Board’s annual budget of approximately $20,000. Truth be told,…

Cartel ‘Bad Actors’

Back in early May, the Board of Supervisors unanimously signed off on a letter I characterized as a “Hail Mary” imploring “state agencies and lawmakers for greater collaboration from state agencies to enforce cannabis laws…

No Third Chances On A Very Bad Deal

There’s an old saying that sometimes your second idea on something is oftentimes better than your first idea. At the Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday, June 24th, the Supervisors are planning to take a…

County Budget Sleight Of Hand; AI & Unemployment

Characterizing the County Supervisors recent tentatively approved 2025-26 budget as a “budget-balancing shell game,” Mark Scaramella, of the Anderson Valley Advertiser, posits that the facts just don’t cooperate with those who might disagree with his…

Politics, Priorities And Pinches

It's impossible not to recognize the seemingly institutional dysfunction in the governing process whether it be at the local, state or federal level. Our elected representatives and their staffs far too often flummox themselves and…

Trump vs. FDR’s First 100 Days

No Contest This week on his 100th day in office, DJ Trump bloviated about how history-making his first one-hundred days have been. "We're here tonight in the heartland of our nation to celebrate the most…

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