Comment Archives: stories: News & Features: News
Re: “Knocked Out”
Glad that you are censoring people's thoughts and their choices of websites in this "alternative media journal." Nothing like an ad-hominem attack on a person and his business to show your fairness and tolerance.
Keri Brenner's favorite boogeyman is her problem. Don't lower your paper to the level of some Stalinist witch hunt.
This journal has the promise of becoming a fine local newspaper that people turn to for news and information. Don't let it turn into a blaring mouthpiece for some trust-fund witch hunter like her. You owe the Hungarian guy and his business an apology and maybe a free ad to make up for attacking him.
Re: “Hidden Agenda”
Leilani Clark.... you are a traitor to America... probably bought and paid for, or did you happen to go to one of those parties, you know, they take your photo while you are committing despicable acts? They either own you or you are incredibly stupid, in either case you would do the world a favor if you resigned and started to read and study. People like you who sell out and 'trade with the enemy' are nothing more than brown shirt boot lickers and a disgrace to humanity. How much are they paying you to ruin America? I guess you love something, money... and what is so sad, you have no idea, once your job is done by screwing your community, you will be ground down like the rest of us, because your handlers and their ilk think you are just as worthless as the rest of us. Get real, grow up, and use your brain. You are only a dumb slave, so don't let your ego trick you into thinking you are more than that.
Re: “Lethal Blow”
The arguments in support of the ballot measure to abolish the death penalty are exaggerated at best and, in most cases, misleading and erroneous. Proposition 34 is being funded primarily by a wealthy, left-wing company out of Chicago, the ACLU, and similarly-oriented trust funds. It includes provisions that would only make our prisons less safe for both other prisoners and prison officials and significantly increase the costs to taxpayers due to life-time medical costs, the increased security required to coerce former death-row inmates to work, etc. The amount “saved” in order to help fund law enforcement is negligible and only for a short period of time. Bottom line, the “SAFE” Act is an attempt by those who are responsible for the high costs and lack of executions to now persuade voters to abandon it on those grounds. Obviously, these arguments would disappear if the death penalty was carried forth in accordance with the law. Get the facts at and supporting evidence at http://cadeathpenalty.webs.com and http://waiting4justice.org/.
Re: “Express Lane”
We have to fight the box! and Monsanto! bringing in chain stores would only make gmos more available! what about community gardens in these areas?? guidelines on stores in areas like these and on what they need to carry to be open?there are so many other guidelines they have to go by already to have the license they have, so why not? wtf? were gunna give the go ahead for shit like walmart but not try an bring our community together and plant a garden on all that land?? WAKE UP!!!! two wrongs dont make a right!!
Re: “Bogus Bohemia”
If they didn't do it here, they would do it some where else. These people can meet behind closed doors all the time. they can have concealed meeting with each other on secure networks all day long. That most of these men shape the world we live in and happen to be in the same place is just because they can.
If the 99% really want the change the way business is conducted don't do business with anything these guys touch. Oh wait I'm on a computer. I need to the get to the grocery store. I need to eat food and feed my family. And the list will go on.
If your decision to do all these thing with a high mind to only consume those things you know what's in them and where they come from, then your doing your part. Yelling a staff going to work at an elite male only camp does nothing for any cause. Unless your into primal scream therapy.
Re: “Express Lane”
What about Trader Joes and Target? They have a ton of food. Then there's Lola's. They are all within walking distance of the Circuit City site. I guess it's alright if they let another grocery store in but use common sense. Please. It would be nice if it were safer to ride a bike or walk on Santa Rosa Avenue.
Re: “Bogus Bohemia”
"Of course, there are those who believe far more serious offenses take place in the redwoods, and Moore and Occupy Bohemian Grove want nothing to do with them."
"In the last decade, the entrance to the Bohemian Grove has become a soapbox for 9-11 conspiracy theorists, protesters of fluoridated water and SmartMeters . . ."
My, what a broad brush Jay Scherf uses to tarnish "fringe" groups associated with BGAN. Surely Occupy Bohemian Grove would not limit ourselves to the LESS serious offenses. It would be interesting to learn whether Moore concurs with the liberty Scherf takes in disparaging such a broad spectrum of other activist whistleblowing groups pointing to the identity and constituency of the 1%. If so, the repugnant labeling would explain how many political fish with "new blood and new ideas" may be swimming through new holes in BGAN's "network of loosely connected groups".
For those daring to question the official version of the 911 Commission Report, the 911 Truth Movement is based on real history, not conspiracy theory. If you want conspiracy theory, read the Commission Report. Meanwhile, information provided by commercial pilots and research performed by well over 1000 professional Architects & Engineers for 911 Truth confer much greater legitimacy than any amount of ignorant mudslinging by reactionaries waving the flag of "conspiracy theory". AE911Truth.org
"Protesters of fluoridated water" . . .what a bunch of wackos they are! Scherf reveals yet more ignorance of the history of industrial hazardous waste disposal that formed the underpinnings of the practice of fluoridating municipal water supplies, and the very legitimate reasons why in most of Europe where they have socialized medicine with positive incentives for keeping people healthy instead of healthcare industry profit incentives for making people sick, fluoridated water is expressly prohibited by law.
Likewise for Smart Meter protesters. What irony they are contending with the exact same corporate culprit as did the anti-nuke group that formed "BGAN's roots" over thirty years ago, for exactly the same reasons--public health. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine just came out with a very comprehensive and indicting report on this issue:
http://aaemonline.org/AAEMEMFmedicalconditions.pdf
So how did Smart Meter protesters get on BGAN's bad side?
Is this real coalition building, or just plain old divide & conquer?
Re: “Bogus Bohemia”
I can't believe the manhattan project was conceived there...I wonder how many Monsanto execs go there.
Re: “Delta Blues”
Mr. Wade says, "...claims that a canal would "remove so much water" are just that---claims. Operational limits of a proposed canal have yet to be finalized yet draft elements of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan..." But that's exactly the point. There are very long lists of important questions that remain unanswered about how this massively expensive plumbing system would work, it's impact on the ecosystem, and of course how it will be paid for and who pays, that have NOT been answered.
It is not unreasonable to put science and policy BEFORE building this thing. But those who want it don't care about answering the questions. They want what they want and that's all that matters.
Salmon Water Now asks Governor Brown 7 questions that taxpayers and ratepayers would like to have answered. Maybe Mr. Wade has some answers. You can see the short video and the questions here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-n1LK1QVqc…
Those who are pushing for the canal to be built ought to stop and think about what it would mean. The march to approval and building needs to be slowed down. Take a look at another video that also helps put this debate in perspective:
Stop and Think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnV6MCvXK38…
Re: “Delta Blues”
Those who oppose the Peripheral Canal fail to include all of the facts in their arguments because the facts do not support their position. Claims that a canal would "remove so much water" are just that---claims. Operational limits of a proposed canal have yet to be finalized yet draft elements of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) already include limits on exports when natural river flows are lower.
There are a myriad of factors impacting salmon (and other fish) populations including water quality, invasive species, predatory fish, and ocean conditions. A recent report by the National Research Council stated that improving ecological conditions in the Delta will fail if they don't target multiple stressors, contrary to the constant drum beat calling for a reduced water supply for farms, homes and businesses.
The Sacramento River fall Chinook escapement, ocean harvest and river harvest index clearly shows population (and harvest) peaks in 1988, 1995, and 2002 with corresponding dips in the intervening years. It is normal to expect a rise in salmon numbers now and in the next few years and that's exactly what we're seeing.
Blaming the pumps or deliveries of water that flow through the Delta as the primary cause of reduced salmon populations is simply an exercise in hiding the facts.
Mike Wade
California Farm Water Coalition
Re: “Hidden Agenda”
Leilani Clark, you are probably right. Corporations and the government would never do anything to hurt us. We should all just go back to sleep and not question this Agenda 21 thing. They call it an 'agenda' themselves, but we should not let that worry us. I'm sure that these corporations have only our best interests in mind. Personally, I'll try to forget about the fact that, in the 20th century, global governments outright murdered an estimated 260,000,000 people. That could never happen here. We're so much better than everybody else. I won't worry about it.
Re: “Asphalt Jungle”
Shredded tires are added to the road base, and are destroying the air quality according to neighbors..How did you miss this, please?...b
Re: “The Carrillo Quandary”
agreed, voting for a man who has already sold us out before would be not only foolish, but simply dangerous. I will surely NOT be voting for Carillo, no doubt about that. We need folks who put the environment first, not second or third, first. Carillo seems to have dollar signs in his eyes like so many modern citizens, when he should have trees. Also, what is wrong with a little experience, how much has really changed in 16 years? Our cell phones dont make us any smarter, just one more bill on this list and one more product to buy on credit cards. Not that much has changed, and if anything, preserving the environment is even *more* important than ever before. Vote smart, not shiny new.
Re: “The Carrillo Quandary”
He has been asked about Preservation ranch. He will vote for development in all cases. He doesn't seem to care about the future of Sonoma County and the folks who will be here in the future.
Re: “The Carrillo Quandary”
I’d like to remind voters that an election is NOT a popularity contest or a game to be won. Someone may be young, socially adept, charming and truly kind but that does not automatically make him the best candidate for the position. You have to look beneath the surface for the truth.
I like to look at actual actions taken by the candidate for the common good and then make my choice.
I find Efren Carillo’s environmental voting record to be disturbing. He has not kept his word to MANY of us as far as so many things he said he was going to do.
For instance, he said something like…”No more gravel mining in the Russian River period,” then he voted to increase Syar’s gravel mining contract from 5 to 15 years! He told many of us personally that he would not vote for the Dutra asphalt plant on the Petaluma River. We all know the outcome of that one!
As far as town hall meetings/community visioning etc, what good are they if the person with the vote negates the agreed upon project when it comes time to vote? I’m referring to the Sebastopol Rd project that the community worked so hard on. Mr Carillo also promised to work on changing the laws regarding the impound of the vehicles of unlicensed drivers when speaking at a rally of the local UFW. Did he follow through? No.
He voted for a 45’ tall winery and vineyards to be built along the scenic corridor of Hwy 116 in a residential neighborhood, against the ardent pleas and protests of the community and neighbors.
We have lost more land to vineyards, including along the coast. General plan amendments are granted regularly to accommodate developers.
If you care about the children (and their future), then wouldn’t you work a lot harder to preserve the natural resources of Sonoma County? Our children and grandchildren need clean air and water, scenic vistas and wholesome places to recreate, not more vineyards, traffic, greenhouse gases, pollution and industrial plants. I fear that our county is going to be another Contra Costa County very soon unless this dangerous trend is STOPPED.
If you care about the elders, then PLEASE respect all the work they have done on the General Plan to guide us through this difficult growth process. Many elders with foresight and a vision for the future worked very hard to create a blueprint for development so that Sonoma County would remain the wonderful place to live that it once was! So respect your elders by not granting amendments to accommodate development. If an amendment is necessary, then the project is probably not appropriate. The current business model, based on endless growth is to the informed person, highly unsustainable! We need to develop new, perhaps creative ways to maintain a viable economy other than “development” and new construction/destruction. Otherwise, what will remain?
I am very alarmed, to say the least, at the trend of the decisions of this current board of supervisors. This can only have tragic results.
So I say….Respect Your Elders. Love the Children. Care for the Earth. Not just with words, but with your actions.
This is why I’m NOT voting for Efren Carillo, even though I like him.
I’m voting for Ernie Carpenter, because I know he is not running for his own personal ambitions, but to be of service to the citizens of Sonoma County.
Thank you,
Karin Lease
Re: “Marching for Reform”
Yes and they didn't invite Efren Carillo back because he didn't keep his word on changing/adjustin the vehicle impound laws as he promised thousands of attendees the previous year.
Re: “The Carrillo Quandary”
The logic of this editorial escapes me. Environmental preservation is paramount. But vote for the incumbent who has proven he puts economic development above environmental preservation. And not for the veteran who showed his bona fides in office, because he's "out of touch". (i.e. Old) And oh yeah, if the incumbent follows the path he's demonstrated he's already on, then, in four years, don't support him... Can anyone explain the rationale here? Gabe?
Re: “The Carrillo Quandary”
Interesting that his campaign is fynded by big business?!?!
This Week's Issue
Re: “House and Home”
Kamala Harris hasn't done squat. Her "Bill of Rights" is basically lifted whole cloth from New York State Attorney General Schneiderman's bill.
She is desperate to join the Obama Administration which as everyone knows is in bed with the banks and Wall Street. She is a phony Democrat in Name only and will whatever it takes to keep her name in the press and pretend like she's doing something real. Look at the details of her bill and then decide if it's effective.
What's needed is a serious Occupy-type movement to take back the foreclosed houses and maintain them in better shape than could the foreclosing banks.
Also, hedge fund bloc purchased properties should be squatted by locals in a clean, organized and socially useful manner. This has to be an organized and viable movement, not degenerate into a bunch of homeless trashing these places and creating photo ops for the financial powers that be.