Dear Friends,
This has been a wonderful season at the park. The Community Farm is in full swing providing CSA baskets to many households and fresh produce available at the Farmers Market in the Town Square on Fridays. The trails are full of people walking their dogs, hikers, and joggers and herd of goats deployed to keep down the poison oak, invasive species, and to help reduce the fire hazard from the underbrush.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that while the Park is temporarily allowed to keep the gates open to a short list of activities, there are many common activities that are currently prohibited by zoning regulations. As you may recall, in February it was brought to our attention that many activities, including hiking, biking and picnicking at the Park are not allowable under current Agriculture Exclusive Zoning.
On March 25, as recommended by the Planning Department, the Community Park filed a General Plan Amendment petition to rezone park property and obtain a new zoning classification that will better serve community needs at the park. That application was relatively simple and included a very brief project description as Kirk Girard suggested at the public planning meeting.
The Park Board has reviewed all the available zoning designations and found that each of the available zonings are missing key elements. We have concluded that the Community Park needs a requires a new zoning to fulfill community needs at Park. We have begun to collate all the key components that we would like to see in a new zoning. The information from the various community planning sessions; input from various park users, groups and community members and the information from the completed studies have all been incorporated into this draft.
We have not as yet had any feedback from the Planners regarding the concept of creating a “Community Park Zone” so we do not know how it will be received by them. While it may be a bit premature to release this information, we certainly want to keep you informed and most importantly, we want to take your input on this draft concept. The draft zoning proposal is attached here and copies of the maps that show proposed locations for various community activities are available on the “Communications and Updates” page on our website at: www.sohumpark.org/updates.html
· Farming and Conservation Use Map
Current zoning documents and maps can be found in our Communications and Updates page in the Document Library. You can submit your comments to contact@sohumpark.org or send them to: SHCP, PO Box 185, Garberville, CA 95542.
Please note that the meeting that was scheduled for the Board of Supervisors to make a decision on the Park’s petition on September 22 has been postponed by the Planning Department due to their current workload on the General Plan Update. We will let you know when the new date has been scheduled. Until then, we’d like to hear what you’re thinking.
Best Regards,
Kathryn Lobato
189 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 28, 2009 at 9:01 pm
the last stone
Hope this goes through. Makes sense for the community park to have it’s own zoning. After all it’s not like there are areas already zoned for multiuse community parks…
August 29, 2009 at 2:42 pm
anonymous
Keep the park a park. It is really not necessary to have yet another music venue. We have enough.
August 29, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Anonymous
Stand alone community park zoning does not exist in Humboldt County. The County would have to make one up out of thin air. I guess it would work if the property was owned by the community, but the community park is not, the Park Land is private property and still not paid.
It will be very interesting to see what the Counties comment is on this new concept will be.
Did you read what the Park has planned for housing at the Park? There check out the link from the letter above, its on their web site, it will blow your mind.
August 29, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Anonymous
We don’t need any more Ag land taken away. The Park needs to stay zoned AE.
August 29, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Ed Voice
I agree 100%. As per Kirk Girard (Humboldt County Planning Director) at the Redway School Park meeting in March of this year and on the Monday Morning Magazine on Kmud, he said the County never had a problem with people walking, running, biking, family BBQ’s, Easter Egg hunting, dog walking or bird watching. The County only had a problem with un-permitted concerts at the Park.
This spin the Park Board put on the County for closing the Park is crazy. The Park Board closed the Park to get what they thought they wanted from the County and it backfired in their face.
It has been great to have just a Park for awhile now, without amplified music coming from across the river.
August 29, 2009 at 11:17 pm
anon
What difference does it make who owns it? Zoning governs use, not who can own the property. And if the county can create a new category of zoning to cover a very unique park then so much the better.
Unfortunately what could be a very beautiful thing and important asset is being blocked by a small group of prima donnas with plenty of time to fuel their obsession against the park and everyone associated with it.
August 29, 2009 at 11:20 pm
anon
There is more agricultural output from that land since it’s been a park than its entire prior history.
August 30, 2009 at 8:33 am
Ed Voice
And why is that anon? Maybe its’ because Tooby never grew anything with out having four legs. Tooby never had crops of any kind for production.
Do you think since the Park Ag production is so high and they are making buckets of money from Ag, that if they needed the Community Farm Land for Houses, RV Park, Campground, Concert and Festival Park Lot they would not dump that farm in the blink of an eye.
You need to read what they are asking for, stop thinking from your heart and use your head.
Thanks
August 30, 2009 at 9:35 am
Ed Voice
It makes a night and day difference who owns the property. If it was community property, the community could or would have a say about what happens. Maybe even a Board member that is from the community, acting in the best interest of the Park, the Community and it’s neighbors.
The Park is a beautiful thing, just like my neighborhood. No group of prima donnas (as you put it) has ever tried to block any thing but Commercal Concert & Festivals venues, Parking Lots, RV Parks & Campgrounds and housing development.
Tell me this, if AG is so important, why has the Park used the Certified Organic Hay field as a Parking Lot?
Talk is ne thing, facts are another. Please talk to me, about the small group of prima donnas that are trying to block anything beautiful about the Park, Please……
Thanks
Ed
August 30, 2009 at 9:42 am
anon
Maybe its’ because Tooby never grew anything with out having four legs. Tooby never had crops of any kind for production.
Thank you for making my point.
August 30, 2009 at 10:08 am
Ed Voice
What point is that? Ag is Ag. Are you saying that Sheep & Beef are not Ag? Tooby used his land for Ag, I guess you think Ag land is something only used for growing something from under the soil?
The Park Board wants to take AE off the table at the Park, they want it zoned “Community Park” and have asked for things not related to Ag what so ever. AE zoning protects the land and the Park from anything outside Ag.
So why can’t more land at the Park be used to grow even more crops? Why is the Community Farm restricted to 15 acres, way not 30, 50, 100 or even 200. After all, the Park is 5 times the size of Garberville or 405 acres, not counting the Park property that Randall is leasing. So why is the Park Board only using 15 acres of production farm land?
Thanks
Ed
August 30, 2009 at 11:01 am
anon
So why can’t more land at the Park be used to grow even more crops? Why is the Community Farm restricted to 15 acres, way not 30, 50, 100 or even 200.
Why is it any of your business? As you say, the park is privately owned. Did you complain to the Toobies when they didn’t spend 200 acres growing crops?
August 30, 2009 at 11:16 am
Ed Voice
The truth does hurt. You can spin this thing twice around the moon if you want, bottom line is MONEY and who is going to get it. The Community Park has never been about the Community, it has been about investment and return for a few inside people.
I tell you what, it was a lot better when Tooby owned that land. We knew more information about what was going on, if anything.
It is nice to see, that you do understand, this is a private community park on private property. Why did they us the name Community in the name?
Thanks
Ed
PS, are you one of the private investers of the Park. Do you make income from events at the Park?
August 30, 2009 at 11:19 am
anon
Nice smoke screen and dodge. But you didn’t answer the question. It was none of your business when Tooby owned it. If you don’t support the park it’s none of your business now.
No, I make no income from the park. I walk the trails and attend wonderful events there. I want to continue to do so. That’s my interest.
August 30, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Lisa
“So why can’t more land at the Park be used to grow even more crops? Why is the Community Farm restricted to 15 acres, way not 30, 50, 100 or even 200.”such as
What needs to be understood here is that “the park” does not make agriculture happen, people make agriculture happen at the park.
The 15 acre produce patch happened because Mischka Straka, Bill Reynolds, Joaquin Hershman, John Finley and so many others have acted on their enthusiasm for the project. Countless hours and considerable resources have gone into making that farm. The park, as I see it, is holding the space.
I hear a lot of ideas from people like, “you guys should grow only blue flour corn ,” and “we want to bring in tanks and truck in water and have a fish farm,” and “I’d like to see olive trees”. But I have not seen or heard a plan that demonstrates level of committment that the Community Farm has enjoyed.
As I see it, the fact that we are even having a conversation about a community park is pretty unique. I like it.
August 30, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Ed Voice
Smoke Screen & Dodge? This is so weird, your talking to me on this blog as “anon” and I am using my name for all to see. I wonder who is using the smoke screen & dodge.
As a neighbor and stakeholder of the Tooby Ranch, it was none of our business what they did, as long as Tooby did not become a public nuisance or break any laws. Now in the case of the Community Park Board, they have seemed to not care about their neighbors, rules, regulations or laws. They have become a public nuisance at times and not done anything about it.
And for the most important fact, the Park Board used over $650.000.00 dollars of public funds, taken from the Community to purchase this Park, only to become a private Community Park, with the Community not having any say in what happens or is planned.
And you see nothing wrong with this? The Park Board needs to start running the Community Park as if it was a Community Park……
August 30, 2009 at 12:44 pm
anon
So many words and you still can’t answer the question.
What the park board does is the business of the park board and people who donate to the park. If they don’t like what the park board is doing they can stop donating to the park. Otherwise it’s none of your business what they do with the park or the funds.
They have not been a nuisance since that one concert. You are simply obsessed.
August 30, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Eric Kirk
with the Community not having any say in what happens or is planned.
Ummm. Isn’t the missive in the main post precisely a call for input?
August 30, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Ed Voice
So how do people feel about the Community Park and how the Park Board wants to rezone their property to best service the Community?
If they keep the property zoned as AE, just like it has been since the Park Board purchased it in 2000, the County has said, they can still have all the same low impact activities they have right now and the same goes for Tooby Park as well.
Everyone that was pitching this Community Park idea back in 2000, had always said, they wanted to save this property from the jaws of developers, to keep this property in the hands of the Community. Well, the Park Board has turned into what they tried to keep off the now Community Park Land.
If the Park Land stays in AE zoning, everyone will still be able to walk, jog, run, bike, picnic, BBQ, bird watch, swim, play, easter egg hunt along with all the events we are allowed right now.
If the Park Board is allowed to change the zoning and land use at the Park for what they want, we will see Homes being built, RV Parks, Campgrounds, large Commercal Conerts and Festivals 10 to 12 times a year. You will see what a Corporation can do to our way of life, the reason we all came here in the first place, get away from big crowds, big box, traffic and more and more people at every turn.
Please read what the Park Board is asking for. Remember we are the Community in Community Park. Please read before you think. Look around and see how many things will change.
Thank you very much,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
August 30, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, as one of the posters said, if you don’t like where the park is going, don’t donate, and boycott their events. But so far there have been a number of public meetings held over the past year, and there appears to be overwhelming support of the direction the park is moving notwithstanding misinforming posts such as that one.
August 30, 2009 at 8:36 pm
the last stone
I like the rezoning proposal.
I believe your comment quoted below is a serious distortion of what the park board wants to see happen on the property:
If the Park Board is allowed to change the zoning and land use at the Park for what they want, we will see Homes being built, RV Parks, Campgrounds, large Commercal Conerts and Festivals 10 to 12 times a year. You will see what a Corporation can do to our way of life, the reason we all came here in the first place, get away from big crowds, big box, traffic and more and more people at every turn.
There may be some in the community that would like to see this happen, but this is not the direction that the board is outlining in response to community input. Statements such as yours are efforts to confuse the community about what is actually happening. What you are trying to accomplish with such fear tactics is really difficult to fathom.
I was so pleased that the park board stepped forward so that the Tooby Flat would not be turned into 5 and 20 acre individual “ag” parcels.
My understanding is that much of the “ag” land is actually quite marginal. Some seasonal use for public events in these areas seems appropriate. I’m in favor of occasional mid-size events (think Summer Arts) at the park, in a location that will minimize the impact on agricultural use of the land as well as key habitat areas. Though if you are really looking for wildlife habitat it might be good to focus some attention on locations a bit more than a few hundred yards from Garberville.
I am not opposed to some senior housing or other ecologically conscious development at a small scale — less than 5% of the property — if an appropriate location can be identified. I would especially support it if that development can pay off the park and endow it with operating income to maintain basic infrastructure and supervise events. It would be very good to see the future of the park endowed with a firm financial foundation.
The key to successful operation of the park is sufficient income/resources to provide adequate staff and management, appropriate and well designed infrastructure (think small stage with an acoustic shell pointing noise up to the freeway among other things) and competent supervision of events to ensure community concerns regarding scale, decibel levels, compaction etc. are addressed.
Park income will also enable the park board, with the community’s support, to manage the property in way that continues to subsidize the relatively high level of agriculture happening at the park right now and add to that agricultural base.
The park board has and continues to offer many opportunities for the community to help shape the potential emerging at the park — particularly for those as in Lisa’s post above — who actually commit time and resources to initiating activities and creating public use areas at the park.
I look forward to hearing specific responses from others in the community about how we, as a community, can accomplish these goals.
I think the zoning proposal is on the right track and encourage the supervisors to enact it.
August 30, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Ed Voice
Good point Eric, oh and before I forget, thank you for posting this Park letter and request to rezone the Community Park.
As to your point, if I understand the meaning of boy·cott [ bóy kòt ]“refuse to deal with something: to cease or refuse to deal with something such as an organization, a company, or a process, as a protest against it or as an effort to force it to become more acceptable”.
I think I am already doing that.
And you are also right, when you say “There appears to be a overwhelming support of the direction the Park is moving” That is what the Park Board wants everybody to believe, that there appears to be overwhelming support. Key words being “appears to be”. The only “overwhelming” support, is from the Park Board and their investors.
I have attended all the public meeting of the Park Board since Oct 2008. None of this information we are reading now, has ever been shown to the public or at any of the past meeting. How can you say, what the Park Board is requesting in the letter you posted and the new documents listed on the Park web site could have overwhelming support from this community, without anyone being able to read, ask questions, get answers or get any information what so ever. This must mean they have never gone to a Park Board meeting in the last two years. Even at the Mateel Boo & Hiss meeting back in February, the only overwhelming support was for: walking, biking, bird watching, picnics, family BBQ’s, swimming, dog walking, disc golf, skate board park etc etc etc, or as the County calls them “low impact – passive activities”. I have the CD’s of the meeting, there is no overwhelming support for Housing Development, Commercial Concerts or Festivals, RV Parks, Campgrounds or anything else at that level. I love our Park for what it is right now.
The people that come to the Park Meeting now are on the same page as the Community Park meeting back in 2001 & 2002. No one wanted Concerts and Festivals or any kind of Housing Projects on Park property back then, and the same goes for now.
The Community has no voice in what the Park Board wants. Now this is a Nonprofit 501c3 Public Benefit Charity, listed with the State of California and the IRS. They are not a private anything, but they are a “Corporation”, and like all “Corporations”, they are only interested in keeping their investors happy. And yes they have investors, and they are making a great return on this Community Park purchase.
So Kirk, maybe you should do some homework on what the Community Park Committee of SHWT was telling people back in 2000, why people in the community should donate money to SHWT and purchase this Tooby Flat, as it was called back then.
It is very sad, that in 9 years, people in this community have forgotten how they were sold on this Park idea.
Now I would like to hear from the “overwhelming” amount of supporters the Park Board has. I want to hear from all those people that want everything the Park Board is asking for and more. And I would also like to see a town hall meeting, just like in 2001 & 2002. Letting people in this community ask questions of the Park Board, just like in 2001 & 2002.
Eric, if you want I can send you the Community Planning notes from those meeting in 2001 & 2002?
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
August 30, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Ed Voice
That was well written and well thought out. So lets do this. Have a town hall type gathering, with very one in the community, the Park Board and a third party facilitator, maybe someone like Nancy Reichard. Let the Park Board give a presentation of what they are requesting from the County Board of Supervisors. Then allow members of this community to ask question of the Park Board in front of the Community, not behind closed doors and only about their rezoning request. Then let everyone vote, only after all questions have been asked and answered, one by one, with everybody documented how they voted, then that would be a fair way for the Park Boards plan to go forward.
You see, there has never been a meeting of the Park Board that allowed the Community to speak, ask questions and get answers about this rezoning the Park Board is requesting in public. This is fair for the Park Board, the Community, the neighbors and most of all the land & wildlife we all love and care for as a community.
We must demand that our seventh generation have the same range of possibilities for their Earth as we have for ours. Too many times, we don’t question the negative, often malicious consequences of our greed. While progress should never come to a halt, there are many places it should never come to at all.
Thank you
Ed Voice & Voice Family
August 31, 2009 at 12:08 am
Anonymous
“the Last Stone”
Your Comment about, (I was so pleased that the park board stepped forward so that the Tooby Flat would not be turned into 5 and 20 acre individual “ag” parcels).
If I was you (and I’m glad I’m not) I would look at the land use zoning for the Tooby Flat again. Yes it is zoned AE (Agricultural Exclusive) and under land use the north half of the flat is listed as AR 5-20 and the southern half is listed as AL 20. I don’t know what you think Southern Humboldt Working Together saved from the Tooby Family. The fact remains, Southern Humboldt Working Together purchased the Tooby Flat in 2000 from Buck Mountain Ranch LP aka Robert “Bob” McKee. The point man in all of this was the one, the only Steve Dazey. Now here is a pop quiz. What two persons in SoHum now have property on either side of the park, that was include in it’s original purchase of the Tooby Flat by Southern Humboldt Working Together? Take as much time as you need, it will come to ya. Here is a clue, one of them has been a park director for 8 years and the other one rhymes with Williamson.
August 31, 2009 at 10:38 am
southern humboldt resident
true but not private lands have been zoned this way and the community par is in private hands.
August 31, 2009 at 10:41 am
southern humboldt resident
I agree with Ed Voice all good points.
This park is in private hands they will have the right to sell the park with all there zone changes to anyone they want to.
August 31, 2009 at 10:59 am
southern humboldt resident
Anon
There are other people that have a lot to say on how the the community park land is rezoned there are people in Humboldt that have grown weary over the concerts and other events that take place in Southern Humboldt.
I for one am opposed to any concerts over 300 people being held at the park.
This land should stay AG land.
Some people live in the county to enjoy the beauty and the little bit of peace and quiet we have left.
I hope the county opposes the zoning change.
August 31, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Eric Kirk
Ag zoning does not guarantee peace and quiet. Just so you know. If the property remains purely ag zoned, then there are plenty of uses which may have a much bigger impact on your quiet, and your recourse will be limited.
August 31, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Eric Kirk
Those zone changes would probably have more limitations on commercial uses than present. In fact, for commercial purposes it’d probably be a nightmare as there are going to be different rules applied to different areas of the property. It is a zoning best tailored to use as a community park.
August 31, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Ed Voice
Eric,
What in the world are you talking about. What on the Park property right now, that during the day would be louder than Randall Sand $ Gravel or at night louder than a 140 db amplified music concert? Nothing I know of….
Thanks
Ed Voice
August 31, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Ed Voice
Mr. Last Stone,
I would like to ask some more question, if I may.
Have you read what use’s the Park Board is asking for, under what they call Residential?
1. Caretakers Residences: They already have one, and one is all they need.
2. One-Family dwelling and farm dwellings: They already have them.
3. Room & Boarding: Do you know what that means? Could it mean building more houses, apartments, duplex or fourplex to rent out? And how many more septic systems will that be?
4. Park Staff Housing, Labor Camp and Labor Supply Camps, Guest Houses: I’m sorry, but who came up with this?
5. Clustered Housing, Senior & Multigenerational Housing: Where are they going to put all of that, plus a lot more septic?
And under Permitted Main Building Types, they list: Ancillary Residential, Manufactured Home and Multiple Unit/Group. Not to mention the: Interpretive Center, Park Offices and Headquarters, Camping Facilities, Green Cemetery and Sport Fields.
And all of this plus a concert & festival venue is going to happen on Park property. As the Park Board always states, “WE are Broke” and the Park is still not paid for. They have also stated, the rezoning, permits and EIR are going to be between $75K to $125K before it is all said and done, maybe even more.
So does this mean the Park Board is going to put the Park deeper and deeper in debt, have to sell off more land? The only ones that will benefit, will be the Park Board inverters.
This sounds just like when Dazey was trying to raise money for the Park back in 2000. He would tell you anything you wanted to hear that would be built out at the Park just to get your donation. I can’t think of too many things that have been built out at the Park since 2000. So what makes people think it will happen this time.
I don’t have to try and scare anyone in this community, about what the Park Board is doing to our Park, anyone who have been around this community like our family knows when your getting played. Just look around.
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
September 1, 2009 at 6:26 am
anon
i support the park and park board although housing in the park seems a little much; its a park–don’t try to be everything…
people criticizing the park are yearning for government, i think the board was smart to say not at this venue, maybe later the park board can include the crazies, like the Matteel’s…
as a very near neighbor of the park i LIKE to hear the music overflowing down the river and to my backyard–though i’m a hermit i like the sounds of community…
enjoy the birds, take a hike…
September 1, 2009 at 8:39 am
milt
I took a look at the CP map they have up and if anything, it’s a bit confusing. For example: I cannot distinguish the color difference between the area set aside for concert site and that for housing. Maybe it’s my eyes. And all the different types of roads mixed in with borders. To paraphrase GWB – It must be a map. It’s got lines on it.
I get the impression the park board may be just coming up with a list of every conceivable type of activity and development that could potentially happen in the CP over time so that they will never have to revisit zoning issues again for whatever they decide and whenever they decide to do it. A special permanent Community Cornucopia Zone. Is that realistic?
Just slapping the word “community” in front of it all, as some have suggested, should not exempt any private entity, or even public one, from abiding by the same rules and regs, including their occasional updates, that everyone else is subjected too.
But then there is a fairly wide swath of this “community” that doesn’t like any rules and regs at all. Much of that has already been covered on Eric’s blog.
Where’s the skeet range?
September 1, 2009 at 4:43 pm
andy
milt-
the old shooting range was right across the river, remember! too much housing for me. Can any one tell me why you would submit a request for rezoning property to the County, without knowing what they think? I think you are right, they are asking for a mile, hoping for a couple of feet.
September 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm
anonomy
Everyone needs to read the letter again, see what you missed the first time. It sounds great that the CP Board wants your input, they want the community to make comments. This makes the community feel they have some ownership and control. But in this case it has already been submitted to the Planning Dept. So can I ask the CP Board, at this point will comments from the community make a difference? Do Not ask for people to add their two cents, when you never wanted their input to begin with.
September 1, 2009 at 5:30 pm
anonomy
Hey anon,
You know the white man took that property from the native people in the 1860′s. Their name was Wood. Long before Tooby bought the property and used it for cattle and sheep, it was a large producing farm with fruit trees, row crops and anything else you could grow, trade or sell.
By the way, the park directors don’t make the community farm happen, its the people commited to growing food for other people like you and me. The community farm does all of this on a shoe sting, no lease and year to year not knowing what will happen or come their way.
So thank the people at the community farm, not the park directors.
September 1, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Libby
I thank both.
September 1, 2009 at 6:40 pm
seven
I heard Lobato on KMUD 6pm news coming back from the cove, seems to me that what they lack is a plan. To make anything work you need a plan and just may be why things are not working so smooth for the SoHum park. as always the 6pm news with elkins was great, take a listen if you get a change. Even Richardson from the County made sense. It sounds like SoHum park board jumped the gun a little on this one.
Glad to see all this park talk is on the radio, blogs and web at the same time, good job SoHum park.
September 2, 2009 at 6:30 am
Sandy Feretto
Last night on the kmud news, michael richardson said that the planning dept. still wants PR zoning for the park. Here is the problem, though. In the current General Plan, under which the Pboard is seeking rezone, PR is “to protect publicly owned lands suitable for recreational development or resource protection.” What the planning dept wants to do is change that to “lands suitable for public recreation…”. Even though tooby flat was purchased with donations from the public (to save it from greedy developers), it is now privately owned by a “non-profit corporation”. Govenor Schwartzenegger has already said that he favors “public-private partnerships” for all the state parks he says we can’t afford to let the public own anymore. It is privatization of public lands. Maybe someone like Hurwitz can form a non-profit and buy Richardson Grove, for example. But in order to service the debt of the purchase, of course with “careful management of resources” he could clearcut it and then develop housing for a legacy, and maybe manage to get a good piece on the river for himself to develop into “residential estates”, and make a killing.But he would deserve it because he’d be saving it from greedy developers, right?
September 2, 2009 at 8:41 am
Eric Kirk
But the park is already private. It can’t be made more private. It can only be made more public. Therefor, any zoning which locks the property into public use is going to place more burdens on any owner trying to make private use of it, not less.
If we were talking about a property which was already public looking to be zoned for some private use in anticipation of a sale, then your argument might make sense.
September 2, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Ed Voice
Yes Eric, since SHWT purchased the Park land in 2000 the property has had two separate and formal lot line adjustments, two complete land survey’s, eighty plus acres obtained by McKee, 70 plus acres obtained by Dazey, 20 acres sold to Randall and now this big rezone deal. All was done, without going outside the Park Board. So if you were going to sell or deed any more land from the Park, it would be good to rezone it for anything under the sun.
September 2, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Sandy Feretto
I doubt it is going to be made any more public. The Park Board has already demonstrated that they can and will close the park if they don’t get their way. It can be more private and will be when there are housing developments. Whoever heard of housing at a park?
Besides, if a zone is going to be made up, why not protect the agricultural land and make low impact recreation; hiking, biking, birdwatching allowable? Why not protect the environment? What about wildlife, the river? What about peace and quiet? They could put up those honor boxes at the entrances and charge a buck a person for day use, kids at Tooby memorial park free.
My point about PR zone is about taking the words “publicly owned land” out. The planning dept intends, according to richardson, to zone the state parks PR so we will be seeing lots more of this kind of thing in the future. It is all about privatization, commercialization and development, alas. The community park is leading the way.
September 2, 2009 at 11:52 pm
seven
From a developers perspective, this Community Park Zone is so perfecto, you get everything all in one. This could only happen in a perfect world, where you would never need zoning laws or even a Planning Department, No General Plan Update, No Planning Commission, No Permits ever because all property and land use comes zoned allowing everything and anything you would ever want or need. So from a developers view point this is perfect. As most of us know, even SoHum is not in a perfect world to live, work or play. In the real world Land use and zoning involves the regulation of the use and development of real estate. The most common form of land-use regulation is zoning. Zoning regulations and restrictions are used by municipalities to control and direct the development of property within their borders. Since land-use and zoning regulations restrict the rights of owners to use their property as they otherwise could (and often want to), they are at times controversial. Additionally, the scope and limits of governments’ ability to regulate land use is hard to define with specificity. Courts have held that a zoning regulation is permissible if it is reasonable and not arbitrary; if it bears a reasonable and substantial relation to the public health, safety, comfort, morals, and general welfare; and if the means employed are reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of its purpose. Given the subjective nature of these factors, there is obviously a lot of room for disagreement, and on occasion litigation. The basic purpose and function of zoning is to divide a municipality into residential, commercial, and industrial districts (or zones), that are for the most part separate from one another, with the use of property within each district being reasonably uniform. Within these three main types of districts there generally will be additional restrictions that can be quite detailed including specific requirements as to the type of buildings allowed, location of utility lines, restrictions on accessory buildings, building setbacks from the streets and other boundaries, size and height of buildings, number of rooms, floor space or area and cubic feet, and minimum cost of buildings. These restrictions may also cover frontage of lots; minimum lot area; front, rear, and side yards; off-street parking; the number of buildings on a lot; and the number of dwelling units in a certain area. Regulations may restrict areas to single-family homes or to multi-family dwellings or ranchettes. In areas of historic or cultural significance, zoning regulations may require that those features be preserved. Zoning ordinances must be reasonable based on all factors involved, such as the need of the municipality; the purpose of the restriction; the location, size, and physical characteristics of the land; the character of the neighborhood; and its effect on the value of property involved. The rationale behind zoning is that it promotes the good of the entire community in accordance with a comprehensive plan and as we heard Kathryn Lobato say yesterday on KMUD News, they have no plan.
September 3, 2009 at 8:15 am
Ed Voice
I do have a question for anyone on the Park Board. How can the community and neighbors of the Park be assured that the feedback or comments given only to you, not in a open meeting, be documented and open for the public to view?
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
September 3, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Anonymous
Will the park board show the community all the comments submitted regarding Community Park Zone idea? Good question.
The board needs to draw up a good plan for a true park, based on the Flat’s features and respect for the surrounding neighborhoods. The lack of a one is at the root of board’s problems.
A good plan is not the same as a zoning “wish list”.
September 3, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Eric Kirk
By definition, it will become more public. Right now it’s zone Ag, which is strictly private. It can’t get any more private. Only less.
September 3, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Ed Voice
Maybe by your definition, but not in the practice of the Park Boards past track record. They want no part of the word public, only when they are told they need public support for something they want and oh ya when they need more money. The last thing this Park Board wants is public inspection or public oversight. If this zoning was such a key issue to the Parks future and long term goals, why did they wait 9 years. This should have been the first thing they did from the get go. The Community asked these same questions of Metz, Lobato, Ryce and Dazey back in 2001 & 2002 during the first Community Planning meetings. This idea is nothing new to the Park Board.
As I said before Eric,I can send you all the Community Planning notes from 2001 & 2002. I did send them to the Park Board, but they have still not put them on their web site.
You have to know where you have been, to know where you are going………..
September 4, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Machine Head
I was waiting until this blog ran out of steam, looks like we are there. My two bits are simple, the PBoard needs to stop and listen to their neighbors. Not just Voice and people like him, I mean all of the neighbors in So Hum/Mendo. It is very clear that Voice has a point, but he is to far over the top for me and many others I talk to. He needs to chill. Allow the PBoard to breath and take it all in. Maybe without yelling and name calling, people can just talk it over, then we should know where we have been, and see where we are going as a community with a plan, not just the Neighbors against the Machine.
September 7, 2009 at 10:20 am
seven
The only name calling I have seen first hand, was at the MCC. The PBoard had a meeting earlier this year, they came for bear, using everything in the book to discredit anyone who questioned anything the PBoard had been doing. This was the only Park meeting I have attended. I hope you are taking about the PBoard, in reference to yelling and name calling. You know Voice and others may be over the top for some, but for me I just might join the cause to save the Park from it’s own PBoard.
My comment to the PBoard about this new zoning, show me a plan and they we can talk.
September 9, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Anntony
Boycott their events. Does this mean leave your home if your don’t like how loud their music is being played? When you live above the Park their music is overwhelming in my back yard. How can we boycott what they are doing when we live here, ground zero? This summer has been very nice, nice indeed. Except the two times coming from Benbow! It is one thing to hear music of any kind and another to hear amplified noise.
September 9, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Anonymous
Boy. The “neighbors” remind me so much of my childhood where the old curmudgeon down the street would scream at all us kids when we made too much noise.
September 12, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Anntony
Eric Kirk, at present the zoning is AE, they can’t have any commercial events, because of the zoning and land use under AE. How did you come up with this idea about more limitations on commercial uses than present?
How can you also say, it is a zoning best tailored to use as a community park? Have you seen what the PBoard is requesting as a plan in writing, not just a wish list like they are submitting?
September 13, 2009 at 10:56 am
southern humboldt resident
Good points Sandy, watch out for Richardson.
September 13, 2009 at 10:59 am
southern humboldt resident
Sandy if the planning department gets away with this rezoning this will really open up a can of worms for the whole county.
We also need to keep in mind that the park since it is private can be sold to anyone,with the rezoning intact.
September 13, 2009 at 11:02 am
southern humboldt resident
Thankfully we have people like ED Voice in Sothern Humboldt I am tied of the we have to party and you have to put up with us whether you like it or not.
Thanks Ed keep the people informed.
September 16, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Ed Voice
Here is the reason for the Community Park zoning and land use chages, straight from the horse’s mouth. So I guess the Park Board should share their evidence about overwhelming suppot they have with this community.
“Ed, In the draft staff report I will be recommending the Board accept the petition based on evidence the Plan amendment is in the public interest and the base information has changed and community values and assumptions have changed. – Michael R”.
One more question to this community, why is it, when the Park Board is touring County Supervisors about the Community Park, they will not let the press tag along and listen in? This has happened twice now, once with Supervisor Neely & Lovelace and again with Supervisor Smith. I can understand not allowing the public, we are use to that, but no local news reports?
September 16, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Eric Kirk
The overwhelming support has been evident at every public meeting Ed. People were asked to contact the Planning Department and they did.
September 16, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Ed Voice
Yes Eric, the Park Board did script a letter on their web site for people to copy and send. And yes 136 people sent them to the Board of Supervisors and Planning Office, but it was a plea to keep the rezone for Public Recreation in the County GPU and to reopen the Park to the public, because the County shut it down? What part of spin and deception don’t you understand.
This new “Community Park Zone” that the Park Board is dreaming for is all about Big Box Development and I’m not just talking about bigger and longer trails, more playground equipment, or new superduper Park benches and picnic tables, I’m talking about Benbow size RV Park with full hook-ups, KOA Camping, Housing of every shape, size and price range, 5000 to 6000 seat Concert Venue and Festival area, year round and seasonal food and vender court area, Parking Lots etc etc etc. In fact, most of the principally permitted land uses they want for this “Community Park Zone” have nothing to do with the Community. It’s all about For-Profit vs Non-Profit. Other than using the Community Park for low impact activities like; running, biking, dog walking, just walking, birding and so on, what has the Community Park done for the Community, that it has not already paid for 3 times over.
I for one am opposed to these things. There is no accountability for the overwhelming support you and the Park Board always talk about.
Let me give you an example; at the Redway School meeting, that was billed as a Community Planning meeting by the Park Board, if they asked for a show of hands, who wants Summer Arts, who wants 6 large events more than 500 people, who wants unlimited events under 500 people down at the Park, it did not matter if you said with conditions, no parking on production ag fields, or even if you said, only if they bus everybody in. You were counted as wanting Summer Arts, 6 large events over 500 and unlimited events under 500 down at the Community Park. Only No was a No vote. As for Housing Development, RV Park and Campgrounds, it never came up from the Park Board. This is how all the Community Planning meeting have been so far. And the Park Board doesn’t even have a plan, maybe in someone’s head, but not down on paper. The Park Board doesn’t even have a management plan for operating both Parks. That’s why they are called Community PLANNING meeting, because most people have a plan and they write it down. And I forgot, the Park is still in debt, not paid off yet. Even though the Park Board investors have made over $450K just in interest on their return just since 2000.
One more thing, this new “Community Park Zone” wish list has never been shown to the public or Community in any kind of Community Planning meeting, only in the paper, web site and email. How will the public know how many people in this Community overwhelming want this kind of activity and development down at the Community Park. Would you have us believe the Park Board?
Only when the last tree has been cut down
The last fish has been eaten
The river has all but dried up
The Ag land has been covered over
Will you realize we can’t eat money
September 19, 2009 at 8:33 am
Ed Voice
Eric,
Here is an email, from Steve Werner in the County Planning office. This was sent to Steve Lazar, Tom Hofweber and Kirk Girard aka Planning Director. It was dated and sent February 26 2009, two days after the Park/Mateel meeting-
“The closure was made by the SHCP Board of Directors and announced at the public meeting on Tuesday. According to reports, the decision was made to limit the Board’s exposure to potential liability claims based on the fact that recreational activities were not sanctioned by the County without the securement of appropriate permits”.
“I would expect that this decision by the park Directors will raise the level of public comment with a two-fold purpose: 1) to get the County to accept the Public Recreation land use and zoning change as part of the GPU; and 2) to seek a reconsideration of the Department’s position relative to low-scale on-commercial recreation pursuits at the SHCP property”.
“In discussing this matter with Tom Hofweber before Tuesday’s public meeting, I mentioned the possibility of the Park obtaining a rezoning to add an “-R” Combining Zone to the existing AE zoned property. Under this zoning, a CUP could be applied for for non-commercial as well as commercial recreational uses, but the AE uses would remain as the only principally permitted use. Possibly a middle course if it were agreeable to all parties”.
“Steve W”
- So Eric, does this make sense to you, it does to me. Here the Planning Department (Werner) is offering a way to keep everyone happy, with the least amount of money being spent. If the Park Board wants to have events, they apply for a CUP and in the mean time, everyone can use the Park as a Park for all the low impact activities we all want and also why the Community Park idea was liked by everyone.
Now because the Park Board would have to file for a CUP for commercial events (e.g. Concerts & Festivals) this process would allow the public to make a comment or have a say to the Planning Department and Commission.
Why is this a bad idea, why has the Park Board taken the zoning and land use issue to the next level. In their wisdom, this Park Board wants everything, just read the letter at the top of this blog.
If you did attend the Park/Mateel meeting on Feb.24, you would have remembered McKee say “even if Dazey had not raised all the money for the whole Tooby Flat, they would have been able to purchase 160 acre’s from donations”. Now that would have been paid for. Which means the Park Board would not have had to pay out over $450K (interest only) to their investors since 2000.
I guess less is more and more is better……………
Ed Voice & Voice Family
September 20, 2009 at 5:25 pm
anonomy
So what your saying is there was a deal from Planning and the PBoard did not have to close the Park?
September 21, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Ed Voice
Yes that is what I am saying, as many times as I can and as loud as I can. People in this community need to know this, but it seems they don’t want to hear it.
The meeting some of us had with Supervisor Neely & Lovelace at Tooby Park on the 14th was a great education for both the Supervisors and the group. Its too bad the Park Board does not think in the same way. When we talked to the Supervisors it got in the papers the next day, when the Park Board talked to the Supervisors, it was behind closed doors.
If people only knew the whole story, instead of the half truth they are being told, then people in this community would speak out and tell the Park Board “we are mad as hell and are not going to take your BS anymore”
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
September 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Not A Native
Did the park board really put this shit out?
FORWARDED FROM T/S FORUM:
Let me share with you, what the Park Board is handing out to people outside of So Hum. Let me know what you think.
“The Southern Humboldt community is located in an isolated region of the county where there are strong local norms that accept alcohol and drug use. There are high rates of substance abuse, family violence, and crime, among both young people and adults in our community. Community members need healthy affordable activities and creative outlets for their energy, as well as activities that link them to each other and the greater community. Isolation and high-risk behaviors can result when there are neither alternatives nor options. The Southern Humboldt Community Park seeks to fill the void by providing access to activities and programs to enrich and improve community health, well-being and vitality”.
I guess the Park Boards answer was too promote and have events at the Community Park known as; Irie Boogie, Pipe Jam and Reggae Riding. All three of these events had a paid admission, serviced alcohol, with amplified music and drinks flowing all night long. They were also billed as “Family Friendly Events”. So I guess it is true what they say, “your are what you eat” and “You reap what you sow”
Please help educate people in the So Hum area, and by that I mean all your elected officials. We need to stop the BS now.
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
September 25, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Ed Voice
Dear Not a Native,
Yes, Yes, Yes! My quote was from a five page handout that I picked up at a couple of Park Meetings. I would send you a copy????
There is more to the handout, here is another:
Introduction:
“In 2000, in a dazzling effort that captivated the Southern Humboldt community, Southern Humboldt Community Park (spearheaded by local businessman Stephen Dazey) raised more than $650,000 in community donations for the purchase of this very unique parcel of prime land. Our community responded quickly to the need to protect this property from the jaws of haphazard, profit-driven development”.
I have two problems with this statement;
1) Southern Humboldt Working Together (SHWT) purchased the property and took in all the donations (cash) as the 501c3, the Southern Humboldt Community Park (SHCP) Board did not get their 501c3 statics until March 2002. So if you look at the 2000 990 tax returned filed by SHWT, it only shows $473K as gross income from donations for the purchase of the Tooby Flat (as known back then) in all of 2000. So how is telling the truth? Or where did the money go?
2) If the Park Board was trying to “protect” the Tooby Flat from the “jaws of haphazard, profit-driven development” then what would you call what they have been trying to do for the last 9 years. Read what the Park Board is asking for, sure sounds like development to me. And since they don’t event have a plan, let alone a management plan, I would call that “HAPHAZARD”.
This has never been about a Community Park, it has always been about DEVELOPMENT and INVESTORS. Four people in this community privately invested money in the Community Park early on. They were in the form of personal loans and notes with monthly and yearly interest. Let me put it this way, the Park Board has paid out over $450K in just interest since 2000. In fact they are still making payment every month as we speak, the Park is still not paid for!
Let me know if you have anymore good questions,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
http://member.merchantcircle.com/shcpneighbors
September 25, 2009 at 10:11 pm
seven
I would say its time for the PBoard to have another meeting with the community and hope we can clear the air. Voice is making some sense here. This question needs to be asked in a public meeting with the PBoard and a moderator to keep the questions and opinions civil.
Does anyone know when the last PBoard meeting took place?
I have talked with people who attended the Park Planning meeting at Redway school, they said it was very disorganized and the people attending did not have a say in the Parks direction or vision. It seems the only vision the PBoard has “If you crank it up, they will come”.
If you know someone on the Park Board, tell them to read this blog and it is time for another meeting with their community.
Until then, Happy Trails
October 12, 2009 at 6:20 am
Ed Voice
Dear Kathryn Lobato, Executive Director, Southern Humboldt Community Park;
I have a question about what you said on the 6 pm news from October 5th this past Monday on KMUD public radio.
You said, when asked about housing and I quote:
“We don’t depend on Federal funds or County funds or State funds, we earn all our own money here at the Park doing what we’re doing”
The main reason I bring this to your attention, is because of the documented amount of funds the Park Board has received over the years from outside this community in the form of grant funds, state resources and federal contracts.
I was told by SHCP Board member and Treasurer Peter Ryce, that you (Kathryn Lobato) are paid in part as executive director of SHCP from a grant fund.
The Park Board has received over $63,000.00 in Federal public funds from a U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service EQIP Contract.
The Park Board has received $3500.00 for workshops and community planning meetings from the Victor Fund.
The Park Board has received $10,000.00 to establish a 2.2 mile loop trail in the Park from the Victor Fund.
The Park Board has received $2000.00 to purchase playground equipment for Tooby Park from the Alexander T. and Timothy A. Salvos Fund for Youth.
The Park Board has received $1000.00 for children’s playground equipment and safety fence for Tooby Park from the Monroe Tobin Family Fund.
The Park Board has received $6000.00 to construct a safety fence for the Tooby Park Playground from the Ogilvic Fund.
The Park Board has applied for the Humboldt County Headwater Fund.
The Park Board has applied for the 2005, 2007 and 2008 River Parkways Grant Fund, State of California.
The Park Board has used State resources, such as the California Conservation Corps.
And what was not talked about, was the income stream and current lease agreement between Randall Sand & Gravel and the Park Board. Which has generated over $173,000.00 for the Park Board from 2003 thru 2007 (2008 990 not out yet). This is the Park property right across the river from the River Parkways Grant Project and Tooby Park on the South Fork Eel River.
Thank you for your time and service to this community,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
Neighbors of the Tooby flat since 1966
October 12, 2009 at 6:33 am
Ed Voice
Morning Dennis Huber, SHCP Board Member & Host of Monday Morning Magazine (KMUD)
You are not the first or last person I have heard talk about Golden Gate Park and SHCP in the same sentence. The only other person being Stephen Dazey at two Park meetings this year.
The only thing they have in common is the word “Park” in their names, after that, nothing.
Just for the fact that Golden Gate Park is owned and operated by both the City and County of San Francisco and their Recreation & Park Department should be enough to never allow the two names to be heard in the same topic! Kind of like a Preservationist and Conservationist.
Preservationist view is that the environment has an intrinsic value; that is, the environment has value solely in itself. Therefore the name “preservationist” is explaining the goal to preserve the environment in its natural form, making as little change as possible. Somebody who tries to prevent things from being damaged, destroyed, or altered, particularly things of natural or historical interest.
Conservationists, however, view the environment with an instrumental value. While conservationists are to be considered far more “environmentally friendly” than many, they do not have the same “let it be” view as preservationists do. Instead, they look at the environment and look for what it can do. A key concept is that conservationists generally accept the notion of sustainable yield, that man can harvest from a natural environment on a regular basis without comprising the long-health of the ecosystem.
So the next time you want to correlate Golden Gate Park with SHCP, please remember this email.
Thanks and have a great day in the woods,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 12, 2009 at 7:10 am
Eric Kirk
the City and County of San Francisco and their Recreation & Park Department should be enough to never allow the two names to be heard in the same topic! Kind of like a Preservationist and Conservationist.
Yeah, because nobody associates a park with recreation.
October 12, 2009 at 8:58 am
Ed Voice
Morning Capt. Kirk, Your as good at spin as the Park Board.
SHCP is owned and operated on private property, entrusted by a non-membership non-profit corporate board of self appointed directors. They can shut down the Park to the public any time they wish or even sell it off any time they want without asking anyone (as they have shown), just ask Barb Truitt.
Huber is way out in left field, in my view. It’s funny how fast we forget that the Park was purchased in Oct 2000 and here it is Oct 2009. The Park Board is just now getting around too rezoning the Park Property. They have only known this since 2000! Oh ya, I forgot, people in this community ratted on the Park Board to the County for having un-permitted commercial events on their property in 2007, the Park Board continued to have un-permitted commercial events until the County got pissed in 2008! Then the Park Board Closed the Park, said it was the Park Detractors or Neighbors for all the Parks problems, had a meeting just to incited people and hate the so called Park Detractor or Neighbors and are now trying to play catch-up 9 years after the fact!
Here are some more words of wisdom from your Park Board of Directors to the public:
“We’d like to clarify a point found in a couple of other letters in last week’s letters columns. Both could be taken to imply that the reason for holding concerts at the Park is specifically to raise money for the Park, and that therefore it was pretty much a matter of: “accept the noise or lose the Park” so that any complainer about the noise has to be an enemy of the Park. No way! First, though we certainly welcome and need every bit of income we can generate, the main reason for the events is that people ask for them, enjoy then, and thank us for making them possible”.
“While we really appreciate the recent letters in the papers lately, some telling us how we’re getting it wrong and others supporting what we are doing, we really want to discourage the Park from becoming another symbolic issue that encourages people to take sides and start throwing rocks at each other”.
”We want to have events next year,” Metz said, because they are in desperate need of money.
So as to your comment Eric; “Yeah, because nobody associates a park with recreation”. Do you mean recreation for low impact and passive activities or wreck’reation for commercial events, concerts and festivals? Have you talked with the Couny? And why do they call it a Park?
Short & Sweet: A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment. It may consist of, rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas.
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 12, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, all I can say is, if you don’t like what the Park Board is doing with the park, go buy your own property and do it your way.
October 12, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Anonymous
The Park Board did not buy its own property. And they must not insist on doing things their own way when it disturbs the peace of others. They need to learn to be clear and accurate in their communication, honest and open about their financial and planning decisions, and they need to respect their neighbors. That is how a nonprofit organization gains trust and support in any community.
October 13, 2009 at 5:33 am
Ed Voice
We already did back in 1966, it was the second house built at RiverCrest. What is your point?
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 13, 2009 at 10:35 am
Ed Voice
Eric, My dad had that house of ours built back in 1966, it was the second house built at RiverCrest. Are you telling me to sell the house to get away from the Community Park, so our family doesn’t have to put up with what we do not want down in our neighborhood? What is your point?
Wow, unfreaking believable that you would want a family who has been around this community since 1961 to cut & run. I am very sorry you feel that way, it just makes me fight even that much harder to get the Park BOARD to become a good neighbor.
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 13, 2009 at 11:10 am
Eric Kirk
No, I’m saying start on your own park.
The vast majority of your stated grievances have nothing to do with neighborly issues. You had a loud concert late into the night which disturbed you. You rightfully complained about it. No more loud concerts late into the night. End of story.
But you’ve made it into much, much more and personally attacked people who are guilty of nothing more than volunteering their time to the development of a huge community asset. It’s over the top Ed, so far that you’re losing even the people who sympathize with neighbors who don’t want loud music coming from the park.
The closest you’ve come to proposing something constructive was your support for holding the Mateel Summer Arts Faire at the park. That was a moment of clarity. Why don’t you help us figure out how to make that work?
October 13, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Ed Voice
So Eric, when did this moment of clarity happen, when did this constructive support for holding the Summer Arts Faire at the Park come out of my mouth or my finger tips or become an idea I welcomed? And when you say “us” as in “why don’t you help us figure out how to make that work?” Who is “us”?
I want no part in any Housing development or commercial amplified music events at the Community Park.
And by the way, it was not just that one concert, my formal complaint was submitted to County Planning in 2007. Lets not forget all the commercial events down at the Community Park starting in 2006 that were un-permitted, un-lawful and known to the Park Board at that time. So for 3 years, the Park Board allowed these events to take place down at the Park, knowing they did not have permits and knowing the property was not zoned for their use.
Thjanks
eD vOice
October 13, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Ed Voice
Here you go Eric. If the Park Board gets its way, you will start seeing and hearing an unlimited amount of the events (see your old ad below). So let me ask you, is this what you mean by a “huge community asset”. If you notice the Skate Park and MCC benefit from the below listed event, not the Community Park. It is my understanding that not everyone is allowed to used the skate park, only if you belong to their club.
Why can’t the MCC have “PipeJam” at the MCC, why does this need to be held down at the Community Park?
This event was very loud and went past 11pm, with no County permits. The Park Board took the rights of people away by not submitting a CUP application for this commercial event. The Community Park had nothing to do with this event, other than allowing the event to take place. Who’s insurance covered this event on Park property?
Please clear this one up for me Eric!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Pipe Jam at the Community Park
Show: MCC presents 2nd annual Pipe Jam
Date: 09-06-2008
Where: Southern Humboldt Community Park
Price: $22 members/teens, $25 general
Details: Music by Fishbone, End of June, and more TBA. Pro Skate Demos by Frank Hirratta, Ryan Johnson, Gershon Mosely and more. Music, Food, Beer/Wine after dark. Gates open at noon, music till 11:00pm. $22 members/teens, $25 general, $10 children 5-12, children under 5 free. Proceeds benefit the So Hum Skate Ramp and MCC.
# posted by Eric V. Kirk @ 8:17 AM
October 13, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Eric Kirk
I don’t know the answer to the insurance question Ed. And if loud music went past 11:00 then someone messed up.
But other than that, there’s nothing wrong with an event like this taking place at the park. Most parks around the country host events like this all the time.
October 14, 2009 at 6:20 am
Ed Voice
You just don’t want to get it, do you. Most Parks that host events like this have the proper zoning, land use and use permits to host events like this.
You know in 2010, Dazey, Metz, Ryce & Lobato have to step down as Directors of SHCP (only for one year). I’m sure Dazey will be looking to hand pick 4 more players. You should give it a shot Eric. It would only be for a year, then the fantastic four can come back and save the Park all over again.
Thank you………………….
October 16, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Ed Voice
So Eric, could you please tell me where you get your facts. Or is this a case of do as I say, not as I do.
The first thing any new law student is told, don’t ask a question or state a fact, without knowing what the answer will be or that your fact is just that, something in writing that is a fact, not just something you heard third party or made up.
So back your statement above, is it a fact or is it just made up? This time I want to hold your feet to the fire! Call you on the carpet on this one! Lets see what Eric Kirk is made of…………………..
Any time would be great.
Thanks,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 16, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Eric Kirk
You know very well what the answer is Ed. There were a room full of people. I’m not going to play the game.
October 16, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Ed Voice
So we have now narrowed it down to a room full of people. So this must have been a Community Park meeting? That is great, which meeting, a meeting you attended? I have attended everyone that was open to the public since Oct 2008. Just give me a date. Its no big deal, its just I have recordings of all the meeting, that’s all.
Any time you want to give it up, that would be great. I’m not playing a game. You, Eric Kirk said I have attacked people, now its your turn, come clean, be da MAN, don’t hide behind “I’m not going to play the game”. You started the game, lets finish this, half time is over…………………
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 16, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Eric Kirk
Sorry Ed. Bored now.
October 16, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Ed Voice
That’s too bad, make sure you wear ear plugs (it keeps the sand out) and there’s always room for Jello………..
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 16, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Eric Kirk
Well Ed, the problem is that you obsess over minutiae 24/7, and you go on and on and on and on. You’re taking the kitchen sink approach to try to shut th park down and you’re burning people out, but it’s not going to get you your way. Hence, I’m not playing. I don’t have the time, and I don’t find it particularly illuminating, productive or interesting. You know how you voted on the strawpoll and I’m not going to play the game simply because I’ve missed some sort of qualifying loophole somewhere. If you want to clarify your vote, you can do it. Just don’t involve me.
If you ever want to have a productive discussion you know what to do. You can start by ending the personal attacks, because you’re losing sympathy from people who once might have supported you.
That’s about all I’m going to say on the subject. You’re free to post your rants so long as you don’t cause unrelated threads to stray off topic and you don’t personally attack people. I don’t have many rules here. Those are the two biggies.
October 16, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Ed Voice
All’s well that ends well,
Thanks again,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 16, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Anonymous
It ends well when you act rationally instead of filing complaints against the park everywhere and anywhere possible.
October 17, 2009 at 5:05 am
nope
That is a fact Jack, its the Park Board that the complaints should be filed on everyday and twice on Sunday everywhere and anywhere possible.
WAS I YELLING TOO LOUD FOR YOU AGAIN? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW! HELLO!
October 17, 2009 at 7:35 am
Ed Voice
Morning Eric,
If you are willing, I would like to debate the Parks Boards request to hold the MCC Summer Arts and Music Festival down at the Community Park.
I will only stick to that topic! I will not personally attack any one person, group or organization. I will only talk about documented facts. How ever, If you feel I am talking outside the lines, you can shut me down or 86 me from your blog.
If you have any questions about my documented fact, I can email you anything I have talked about in advance or post debate.
You will have complete control of what we are debating. Just let me know your conditions and I will follow them 100%.
Just the facts, how about it Eric?
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 17, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Eric Kirk
Fine Ed. Why don’t you want the Summer Arts Festival at the Community Park?
October 17, 2009 at 5:49 pm
citizen
There are some problems here for those of us who want to preserve a natural area for the community to enjoy while protecting wildlife habitat and riparian corridors. How come if we the community bought this area of land (according to bob mckee, an area five times the size of garberville, or as we were told at the early “charette”, the size of manhattan, the size of florence, italy!), it has become the private property of an unelected board? It seems very difficult to not get into details when people keep saying why are you complaining.
Months before there was ever a community meeting, before the community was even introduced to the board appointed by steve dazey, there was there was already a conditional use permit application filed with the county to have summer arts and music fair at the park. So, in what way was the community involved in the decision?
October 17, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Anonymous
If that is true, who filed for that conditional use permit? What happened? I don’t remember the Park Board seeking a permit for the summer arts festival. The summer arts festival is a MCC event and fundraiser. Get your facts straight!
October 18, 2009 at 7:26 am
Anonymous
Eric,
It took over a year to stop the Park from having concerts like the “one” you are talking about. That was 5 concerts before that “one” came up. You make it seem like there has only been “one” concert at the Park, right. That no neighbors have no right or say in what can happen in their back yard or neighborhood. That is bullshit Eric.
I am supporting what voice is about, speaking out. This will help add to what you say he is loosing in support.
This community is not considered an “open” community. We are considered a underground economy. That is why its very refreshing to hear people like voice speak out. I support his claim and his questions.
October 18, 2009 at 10:09 am
anonymous
You know, people, there were two newspapers at the time, approx. June to Oct. 2000, that were carrying Dazey’s CP pitch every week. There were also 3′x4′ posters on easels he set up in the banks and credit union lobby that were direct solicitations for $4,000 apiece from donors for the CP. No where in either paper, or on those posters, did Dazey ever mention anything about having any specific concert (SAMF), or having a concert site at the CP at all. There was a long list of “Possibilities” for the CP – Schools, Hospital, the many bucolic uses, etc., but nothing about CONCERTS. Fact, jack!
When you think about it for at least 30 seconds there was a very good reason why he didn’t use the words “concert site” or make a direct reference to any specific one. The words, concert or concert site, generate controversy in whatever neighborhood that concerts are intended for, be it Piercy, Myers Flat, or now, Sprowel Creek. Ya think Dazey, a long time veteran of the MCC’s concert site struggles, didn’t know that? He was not going to say anything that would have started a controversy before his pet project was even out of the starting gate. It’s as simple as that.
However, if you now go to the CP website you will see something interesting. At the Stewardship link there is a recap of all those Possibilities Dazey first listed on those bank lobby posters – now with the addition of the SAMF. There is also a Donor’s Letter PDF, dated 10/17/00, which was around the time that escrow was closing, which also had that same Possibilities recap, also with the SAMF added. That letter was the launch of his second round of post escrow solicitations, but a copy of it, with the SAMF included, was never put in the local papers. Why not?
If we are to believe that this is just an honest mistake of a well intentioned person then the only explanation for the, ‘first you don’t see it, now you do’, SAMF mystery, is to believe that Dazey must have had a V8 moment just around the same time that he was making the down payment of publicly solicited money to buy the CP. Perhaps when someone from the MCC asked him about it? ‘Why, of course!(slaps forehead) Why didn’t I think of that before? What a great idea. Let’s be off to Eureka and apply for the CUP and a new zoning change since time is of the essence. But first I have to turn off the public CP microphone and unhitch the dog and pony.”
Is any of this really believable?
The Park board wasn’t formed until sometime much later in 2001, but around 4-6 months after escrow closed when nothing more than crickets was coming from Dazey’s CP, a letter appeared in the papers from Virginia Graziani. She had found out from a friend, I believe, who worked in the HC Planning Dept, that not too long after escrow closed, Dazey and the MCC, had applied for a CUP for the SAMF and a zoning change that would allow concerts down at the CP permanently. Ms Granziani’s bombshell letter set off that concert site controversy that I eluded to above, which led to a heated meeting at the Masonic Lodge in Garberville where Dazey had to apologize for not informing the community about his and the MCC’s plans for the SAMF. “A public, or community, relations oversight” was his excuse.
Everything, I have just written here , including the Masonic Lodge meeting, was carried in both local papers– The Life and Times, (which was eventually purchased by The Times Standard, which owns the Redwood Times), and the Independent, which has been around since 1997, according to its masthead.
Now, you would think that some conscientious reporter from at least one of our existing newspapers would research their own freakin archives but apparently, either both newspapers don’t keep archives or back issues, or they are just too lazy to bother.
The time lines on what was said when, specifically by the only person who was pushing the CP at the time, Dazey, would be all right there. So is all the stuff that happened after escrow closed.
This past January, a rear guard action letter appeared in the local papers, which I call the’ Remembrances of Signs Past’ letter, wherein we are now all supposed to believe that “Donate to educational, recreational and social activities at the CP”, which the letter writer seemed to recall seeing written on those posters I referred to, was/is in fact, just Dazey’s different and creative way of saying, “concert site”! Unfortunately, that disengenuous, oblique logic does not address one key fact, among others, and that is that Dazey had around 4 months during which he was soliciting public money for the down payment, (he wanted $600,000 btw,), to give full disclosure of what he intended to have in the CP. He didn’t disclose the intention for a concert (SAMF) until the down payment was being made, or after, and then it was only made to certain donor recipients of that letter. We don’t know who that donor’s letter went out to. That lack of full disclosure and anything less than that full disclosure during the public solicitation of money phase, needs to be addressed now and accounted for, preferably, before the HC supervisors meeting on Nov 10. Or better yet, AT the Supes hearing would be an excellent time, don’t you think?
Again, it would be nice if we had some investigative reporters around here, but, just like with every other newspaper these days, I guess they don’t exist any more. How very fortunate for Dazey and the CP board.
October 18, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Ed Voice
County Nixes Tooby Flat Permit, Summer Arts And Music Festival To Stay at Benbow Lake For Now…
Tuesday, April 10, 2001.
Mateel Community Center’s application for a five-year permit to conduct its annual Summer Community Arts and Music Festival on 30 acres of Tooby Flat has been rejected as “incomplete” by the Humboldt County Planning Department, so this year’s event will return to Benbow Lake State Recreation Area, a Mateel spokes¬person said Thursday.
Joe Mateer of the Community Development Services Department planning division said the 13-page application containing a description of the project, plan of operations, environmental checklist and environmental factors, “lacked sufficient detail and did not include any supporting information” that would have allowed the Planning Department to consider it.
“The permit is in suspense right now,” Mateer said. “We returned the application with some suggestions on what needs to be done before we can consider it. We recommended they engage a qualified consultant to help with the application,” he said, adding, “Right now we are waiting for more information from them.”
The Mateel spokesperson said the stipulations requested by the county were “impossible” to comply with for this year so the event will remain at Benbow Lake.
In its application, the Mateel wanted the permit to hold the event on the fourth weekend in June, pointing out that temporary facilities would be created for access and egress, parking, craft and food vending, two stages of live music, public camping, and children’s activities. The application said permanent facilities will be created for water storage and distribution.
The Mateel has conducted the festival for 24 years, as well as other large-scale outdoor events, and “is well versed in the requirements of the various agencies with an interest in the smooth and safe operation of such events,” says the application, adding, “This application does not create a new event, rather a new home for our longest running event.
Many local non¬profit organizations rely on this festival for fundraising and gaining public support for their programs.”
The project description said the site would be developed by mowing and harvesting hay, removing of dead material from the forested areas and preparing a site for water storage. “Access roads and parking areas will be mowed and marked and various areas within the project site will be fenced,” the document stated.
Guidelines of appropriate agencies would be followed relative to portable toilets, washing facilities, gray water storage, and permits from Environmental Health will be required for all food facilities.
All structures, the document continues, will be temporary, erected on Friday and removed by Monday. Camping will be in tents and RVs in designated areas beginning Friday and concluding Monday. No fires will be allowed, and overnight security will be provided, as will security fencing to prevent encroachment of festival attendees on adjacent lands. Fire suppression equipment and personnel will be onsite with emergency vehicle access maintained at all times.
Mateer said that for an application to be considered, it must be in proper form. After receipt it is assigned to a particular planner who initiates a file process, including submitting it to all of the different state, county, and local agencies that will be affected by the project. Then it goes before a Planning Review Team, made up of personnel from various departments and agencies to look at it from all angles at once. When it has survived these various preliminaries, it goes to the Planning Commission for a public hearing. All environmental documents affiliated with the project must undergo a review period, all of which is time consuming.
There was hardly enough time, Mateer said, for all of this to be done by the fourth weekend in June. He said he had made a site visit following the submitting of the application by the Mateel Center. “There is a need for definite enhancement of roadway and drainage conditions in the area,” Mateer said. “It may be necessary for a bridge to be built.”
There have been rumors that efforts are being pursued to get Reggae on the River to move its venue from Cook’s Valley to Tooby Flat. Mateer said no such request has been filed with the County Planning Department.
“They have a permit that runs until 2003 or 2004 to operate at the present site. No one has been in contact with the county on this.” he concluded.
By Robert 0. Vincent LIFE & TIMES Newspaper
October 18, 2009 at 2:57 pm
citizen
When was it that kathryn Lobato was the executive director of the Mateel Community Center?
October 18, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Anonymous
RIGHT ON Dude or Dudette, bring IT and keep the facts flowing.
October 18, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Anonymous
A great lyric for this blog thread, it could go either way.
GET OVER IT
I turn on the tube and what do I see
A whole lotta people cryin don’t blame me
They point their crooked little fingers at everybody else
Spend all their time feelin sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your momma’s too thin; your daddy’s too fat
Get over it
Get over it
All this whinin and cryin and pitchin a fit
Get over it, get over it
You say you haven’t been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if I gave you some cash
The more I think about it, old billy was right
Let’s kill all the lawyers, kill ‘em tonight
You don’t want to work, you want to live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn’t owe you a thing
Get over it
Get over it
If you don’t want to play, then you might as well split
Get over it, get over it
It’s like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You’re makin the most of your losin streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak
You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I’d like to find your inner child and kick it’s little ass
Get over it
Get over it
It’s gotta stop sometime, so why don’t you quit
Get over it, get over it
Glenn Frey and Don Henley 1994
October 18, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Ed Voice
I’m am opposed to Summer Arts being held at SHCP because of the following reasons:
There is no Management Plan for this event to be located or held at SHCP. Nothing in writing letting the public or community view the facts.
The reason for this event at SHCP has changed, a) Oct 2008 Park Board tells community in the Redwood Times: events at Park are not fundraisers, only what the public wants. b) Just last week in the papers and KMUD news the Park Board said the events are to get them out of debt and farming doesn’t pay their overhead.
If you move Summer Arts down to SHCP, how many other 2 days events are planned, how many events are enough? Does the Park make 33% of the profit from this event?
The numbers of people attending Summer Arts is undetermined, by that I mean; At the Redway School Park meeting the Park Board said Summer Arts attendance is 2500 per day for two days. Now the Park Board is saying the Summer Arts attendance is 3000 per day for two days, but on the MCC web site, it states that Summer Arts attendance is 10,000 for that weekend. What is the number? The difference just between what we are being told is 1000 to 4000 people for that weekend?
Bottom line, as we have seen over the last 9 years, we the public and community have not seen anything in writing that follows any kind of a Plan, let alone a Management Plan or draft guidelines. The community is asked questions of the Park Board about events like Summer Arts, but no matter what the community does not want, the Park Board will do what they want to do. Let me also say that the community had absoluty no input about the Summer Arts CUP application the MCC submitted to County Planning in 2000/2001. Same with the CUP application the Park Board submitted to County Planning in Oct 2008 for holding Summer Arts and 10 to 12 more commercial amplified concert events at SHCP.
As they have used the SHCP in the past 3 years without permits, it seems the MCC wants the Community Park for its own venue.
You cannot start down this road without having a management plan to work from. I want to see a full blown draft CEQA: sound study, safety study, habitat study, land study etc etc. I want to read a study, not just hear an idea in the moment out of a Board members head, or one that changes every week or that one day Dazey & Son Traffic study.
I still want to know why, why do they want Summer Arts down at SHCP. What is so wrong with Benbow? Plus, don’t forget State Parks. Benbow is where this kind of event should be located. Everything is in place.
We were told by the Park Board, the reason they wanted the public and community to donate and buy this property, was the need to protect this property from the jaws of haphazard, profit-driven development.
I don’t want amplified music or parking for commercial events at SHCP. No parking on the River Bar or Tooby Memorial Park. This is coming from a neighboring property & home owner since 1966.
Now its your turn Eric: Why do you want the Summer Arts Festival at the Community Park, instead of Benbow?
Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Eric Kirk
There is no Management Plan for this event to be located or held at SHCP. Nothing in writing letting the public or community view the facts.
That’s an argument for a management plan, not against holding the event at the park.
The reason for this event at SHCP has changed, a) Oct 2008 Park Board tells community in the Redwood Times: events at Park are not fundraisers, only what the public wants. b) Just last week in the papers and KMUD news the Park Board said the events are to get them out of debt and farming doesn’t pay their overhead.
The question is why you oppose holding the event at the park. Whether the reasons have changed is irrelevant. What we are discussing is whether it is a good idea. Whether it’s a fundraiser or not – I don’t understand what that has to do with the question.
If you move Summer Arts down to SHCP, how many other 2 days events are planned, how many events are enough? Does the Park make 33% of the profit from this event?
So let’s assume it’s the only 2 day event. Then let’s assume there would only be one more 2 day event. What is your threshold? 1, 2, 3 or 0?
The numbers of people attending Summer Arts is undetermined, by that I mean; At the Redway School Park meeting the Park Board said Summer Arts attendance is 2500 per day for two days. Now the Park Board is saying the Summer Arts attendance is 3000 per day for two days, but on the MCC web site, it states that Summer Arts attendance is 10,000 for that weekend. What is the number? The difference just between what we are being told is 1000 to 4000 people for that weekend?
What is maximum number acceptable to you?
We’re nearly half way through your post and you haven’t come up with a reason holding the event at the park is actually a bad idea. You’re fixated on what the park board has or hasn’t done. The question is, why don’t you support holding the event at the park?
Bottom line, as we have seen over the last 9 years, we the public and community have not seen anything in writing that follows any kind of a Plan, let alone a Management Plan or draft guidelines. The community is asked questions of the Park Board about events like Summer Arts, but no matter what the community does not want, the Park Board will do what they want to do.
I’m not aware of any evidence that “the community” opposes holding the event at the park. I’ve heard that supporters of the Mateel have wanted to move the event for years because of changing state policies, but I don’t know the details. Again, you’re focusing on what the Board has or hasn’t done. What do you have against holding the event at the Park?
Let me also say that the community had absoluty no input about the Summer Arts CUP application the MCC submitted to County Planning in 2000/2001. Same with the CUP application the Park Board submitted to County Planning in Oct 2008 for holding Summer Arts and 10 to 12 more commercial amplified concert events at SHCP.
Does the community have any input into the applications for other events? Do they have an input at Benbow? Again, this has nothing to do with the question.
As they have used the SHCP in the past 3 years without permits, it seems the MCC wants the Community Park for its own venue.
I don’t know what the MCC wants, but I have no problem with them holding events at the park so long as they’re responsible. Is there a problem with the MCC I don’t know about?
You cannot start down this road without having a management plan to work from. I want to see a full blown draft CEQA: sound study, safety study, habitat study, land study etc etc. I want to read a study, not just hear an idea in the moment out of a Board members head, or one that changes every week or that one day Dazey & Son Traffic study.
Has that been done for Benbow? If not, are you advocating that the MCC simply not be allowed to hold its event anywhere without undergoing cost prohibitive studies and procedures? I tell you what. If you raise the money for these studies, I will advocate that the Board allow them to be conducted. Otherwise, we’ll do what the law, common sense, and practical reality require. A great deal of time and energy has been spent in consideration of all of those concerns and they’re being addressed. The stage is being repositioned to deal with the noise. Protocols have been established. And county folk have been extremely impressed with preservation and restoration measures taken to preserve land and habitat. If there’s something specific you want to suggest, then make the suggestion.
I still want to know why, why do they want Summer Arts down at SHCP. What is so wrong with Benbow? Plus, don’t forget State Parks. Benbow is where this kind of event should be located. Everything is in place.
Contact the MCC Board and ask them about it. And why should Benbow residents be subjected to noise? How many people are forced to listen to that music and music at the other events held there? Why are the Park neighbors more special?
We were told by the Park Board, the reason they wanted the public and community to donate and buy this property, was the need to protect this property from the jaws of haphazard, profit-driven development.
And so it shall be done.
I don’t want amplified music or parking for commercial events at SHCP. No parking on the River Bar or Tooby Memorial Park. This is coming from a neighboring property & home owner since 1966.
Finally, you gave me two reasons. As for the amplified music, well, obviously there would be amplified music at the Summer Arts Festival. So did you know that when you said you would support the festival in the discussion groups? Or did you intend to say you’d only support it if the music was not amplified?
In any case, we’re taking steps to reduce the noise of events.
The parking is certainly a fair issue and I’ve heard a number of ideas, but I’m not yet up on the details. The marathons at the Avenue of Giants park their cars on the river bar, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea there or at the park. I need to know more.
In any case, I’m only freshly on the Board and I’ve only just joined that discussion, and in any case it would be inappropriate for me to speak for the Board on these issues. But if we can’t plan for parking which doesn’t unduly impact the environment, then we won’t do it.
I don’t know that we can have a Summer Arts festival without amplified music. That’s the tradition. And I’m not indifferent to your desire for quiet, even if you did choose to move near an airport which would bother me more than any music. But the world can’t stop because you want non-musical solitude 365 days a year.
As to why I want it there, well, I don’t really care one way or another. If it makes some money for the park, then that’s a good thing. If it’s good for the Mateel then it’s also a good thing. If it would be a more enjoyable event for the community at the park then Benbow, then that’s yet another good thing. I haven’t really thought about it.
But if the park board is so vastly out of touch with the community, we need to hear from more than a couple of dozen people. We have heard from many more in support of the stated objectives.
October 19, 2009 at 10:31 am
Anonymous
Here is why the Park Board needs a “Management Plan”. At this point, the MCC does not have to use CEQA for having Summer Arts at Benbow, they work under CEQA that State Parks already has in place for the Benbow State Park Recreation Area for their events.
And what did you mean by: “In any case, I’m only freshly on the Board and I’ve only just joined that discussion”. Is there something you want to announce Eric?
The basic goal of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Pub. Res. Code §21000 et seq.) is to develop and maintain a high-quality environment now and in the future, while the specific goals of CEQA are for California’s public agencies to:
1) identify the significant environmental effects of their actions; and, either
2) avoid those significant environmental effects, where feasible; or
3) mitigate those significant environmental effects, where feasible.
CEQA applies to “projects” proposed to be undertaken or requiring approval by State and local government agencies.
“Projects” are activities which have the potential to have a physical impact on the environment and may include the enactment of zoning ordinances, the issuance of conditional use permits and the approval of tentative subdidvision maps.
Where a project requires approvals from more than one public agency, CEQA requires ones of these public agencies to serve as the “lead agency.”
A “lead agency” must complete the environmental review process required by CEQA. The most basic steps of the environmental review process are:
1) Determine if the activity is a “project” subject to CEQA;
2) Determine if the “project” is exempt from CEQA;
3) Perform an Initial Study to identify the environmental impacts of the project and determine whether the identified impacts are “significant”. Based on its findings of “significance”, the lead agency prepares one of the following environmental review documents:
a) Negative Declaration if it finds no “significant” impacts;
b) Mitigated Negative Declaration if it finds “significant” impacts but revises the project to avoid or mitigate those significant impacts;
c) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) if it finds “significant” impacts.
While there is no ironclad definition of “significance”, the State CEQA Guidelines provides criteria to lead agencies in determining whether a project may have significant effects in Article 5.
The purpose of an EIR is to provide State and local agencies and the general public with detailed information on the potentially significant environmental effects which a proposed project is likely to have and to list ways which the significant environmental effects may be minimized and indicate alternatives to the project.
Both the CEQA Statute and CEQA Guidelines are available on-line. Print copies are available to the public in all county libraries, as well as some colleges and university libraries, in the government publications section.
October 19, 2009 at 1:53 pm
anonymous
In case you haven’t been paying attention, Eric Kirk, is now on the SHCP board. He stated that in the ‘Ayers writes Obama’s book’ thread. Now that he is a principle and advocate for the CP that has a zoning change issue before the county, doesn’t that put the fledgling supervisor of the 2nd District, Clif Clendenen, in a potential conflict of interest situation? Or, at least, his first test on that touchy issue?
Eric served with Clif’s election campaign committee last year, did he not? He worked very hard to help Clif get elected. Now he is an officer of a private corporation which is looking to the BoS to ultimately vote to allow that SHCP zoning change.
Shouldn’t Clif have to consult with county council about this new situation? Does he even know about Eric’s appointment? If not, shouldn’t someone tell him? Will he now have to recuse himself from all discussions and voting on that zoning issue before the BoS, or, is this really no big deal, just go on about your business as usual, even after you see Clif and Eric exchange smiles and waves in the BoS chambers? I’m sure they both have the good sense not to do that.
You would have thought that Eric might have realized this potential conflict of interest possibility for his friend Clif before consenting to serve on the SHCP board. It also raises the question whether or not that was exactly what the SHCP board had in mind for their board right now; someone with an inside advantage with a member, or members, of the BoS. Or can this all be chalked up to serendipity?
As Obama has discovered, minor distractions need to be dealt with quickly before they become major distractions.
October 19, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Eric Kirk
Eric served with Clif’s election campaign committee last year, did he not? He worked very hard to help Clif get elected. Now he is an officer of a private corporation which is looking to the BoS to ultimately vote to allow that SHCP zoning change.
Sorry, but no go for several reasons. Corporations make donations to pols all the time and pols are not required to recuse themselves from those votes. It might be a conflict of interest if Clif were to make money off the transaction – not if I was to make money. But you don’t even get into square one with the argument, because I won’t be making any money out of the transaction. I’m a volunteer and all I stand to make is an opportunity to donate more volunteer hours to the community.
Before you start spouting off about something like that and making accusations, you really should know what you’re talking about. This is a perfect example of why nobody’s taking you seriously anymore.
October 19, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Ed Voice
Morning Eric Kirk,
WOW, you sly dog. I was right, you are up for an appointment as a Park Board member or Director of the Southern Humboldt Community Park.
I was going to ask you, what you had heard about the MCC’s role at the SHCP back when you were MCC President (2002). But that is a waste of time now.
This has always been about the MCC and the SHCP being joined at the hip, even when Manspeaker (Lobato) was being paid as Executive Director of MCC, the idea was you guys could use public funds to pay for your own new Concert & Festival Nirvana Venue down at the Park!
Now that explains why SHWT & SHCP has paid out $483,145.00 just in interest to its investors since 2000. By the way, that was paid with public funds!
You know Eric I could go on and on and on as you call it, but we shall see what comes up at the Petition Hearing before the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.
All of you knew this from the beginning and never let on. WOW! Even when Metz made that comment: “THERE WILL BE NO REGGAE AT THE PARK, OVER MY DEAD BODY” or something like that.
Whom did you replace, Metz? And what did you mean by “litigation”? Oh I forgot you can’t talk about Park issues now, your a Board member, right!
You have got a hell of a fight on your hands now, all up hill from where I’m looking, that is for sure………………….
Make sure you thank all of the hundreds and hundreds of people in this community for donating there hard earned money to the MCC/Dazey Community Park!
Ed Voice & Voice Family>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
October 12, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Eric Kirk
Nobody has said anything new about the Community Park, GPU, and Tooby Ranch for months. Everybody is pretty much locked into their positions right now and the last 10 threads on each have been fairly indistinguishable.
I post on those issues when news is made, but I don’t comment on the Tooby Park issue because I’m involved in the litigation, and from here on I won’t be commenting much on the Park because I’ve just joined the Board. There will be news in each of your three areas of interest shortly, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to trot out the same arguments which have been made for the past year.
And if you aren’t interested in what I post, there’s a simple solution. You can start your own blog. I’ll even plug it and link to it to get you started. It takes about five minutes to set up.
October 19, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Ed Voice
Great Post, Thank you………..
October 19, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Eric Kirk
Actually Ed, we just intend to stay focused on building a community asset. We will make our petition and the county will make its decision, and we’ll go from there. We’re pretty hopeful that the county will act in the community’s best interests.
As for the “fight,” well, we’re done with that. You do your thing and have fun. It makes more work for us sometimes, but the ultimate result will be the same, one way or another.
I do like your conspiracy theory about the MCC though. It made my day.
October 19, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Ed Voice
Morning Eric,
Who said anything about a conspiracy theory! You know I guess If I were you, I would use the same tactics if I wanted to discredit someone to get what you wanted, but I am not you, thank god. To label a person as a “Conspiracy Nut” or “Crazy” or even “Mental” works most of the time. But most people in this community know better, some might be alittle high, but they still know better and I’ll just stick to the facts, god knows there are enough of them to fill the Community Park (Did you know the Community Park is 5 times larger than the whole town of Garberville).
Hang on tight and enjoy the ride Eric and by the way Thanks, anytime I can make your day, I feel blessed.
Yippie ky aye,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 19, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Ed Voice
Morning again Eric,
I thought you should be reminded of what you said after the Mateel/Park meeting earlier this year. This quote is from your post on February 25, 2009 at 9:16 am.
“And the Park Board has sat down with the neighbors, to no avail. Personally, I don’t think loud concerts should be held there anyway, and the park has on numerous occasions pledged to avoid the mistakes of the past. I would even suggest that any events be limited to acoustic music with maybe some very limited amplification”.
Could you please tell me when and where the Park Board sat down with the so called neighbors, to no avail? We were asked by Peter Ryce in the form of an email, it went something like this:
—– Original Message —–
From: Peter Ryce
To: Ed Voice
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:40 PM
Subject: SHCP
Dear John and Virginia, Frenchy and Sandy, Kurt and Kristin, and Ed,
After last Tuesday meeting I believe it would be a good thing for all of us to sit down and talk with each other to hear what is being said in the hope of both better understanding and finding a pathway to achieve a common visions for the Park. I truly believe that each of you wants to see a Park for the community and activities at the park that meet the needs of many of our constituents. The Master Plan for the Park should have input from all of us and be part of a community wide process. It seems that with the current action of the Planning Department we will have some time to accomplish this. I am sadden that Park has been closed and hope that there will be some community actions that will allow it to reopen without a multi-year and many thousands of dollar process, but in the long term that may well be what happens.
At any rate, I will be out of town for the next three weeks, but when I return I hope you are willing to sit with us and have this dialogue.
Peter Ryce
Director, SHCP
skyfish@asis.com
707-923-3617
PS. I am sending this to Ed as I do not have each of your E-mail addresses.
Thanks, Ed for forwarding……..
Now Eric, we were never contacted again after this email from Ryce. I emailed Ryce and the rest of the Board many different times after Ryce came back, with no other responce. Now that you are a Board member of the Community Park, maybe you can find out why?
Thanks again,
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 19, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Anonymous
Does anybody outside of a tiny circle even care about this crap? This is even more boring than the Reggae thing.
October 19, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Ed Voice
Sorry, I almost forgot, there was this stated at the March 4, 2009 Park Board meeting:
“Lobato said that board member Ryce is planning on holding neighborhood meetings throughout the area. Arnoul said they plan to do a survey on park usage to offer a chance at input for people who don’t attend meetings”.
I don’t know of one neighborhood or even one neighbor that saw or talked with Peter Ryce or any board member of the Park. And I sure didn’t get a survey on Park usage or see one on the Park web site at all.
What happened? Maybe it’s just another conspiracy theory! Or maybe Woods is right, after all he did say, back on February 25, 2009 10:05 am: “I strongly wonder if Ed has serious psychiatric problems”. This was on your blog Eric. I wonder how that makes people feel…………
Anyway Thanks
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 19, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Anonymous
Kathryn Lobato-Manspeaker was hired in 1995 as the Mateel’s executive director, filling the leadership vacuum. She’d lived in SoHum since the early ’70s, had been a Mateel supporter since the Fireman’s Hall days and brought with her a long history working with local nonprofits.
“When I came on as executive director the community center had been in the new location for a few years,” said Lobato in a call from her Garberville home. “The external part of the Mateel was finished, work was need on the interior. There was still a sizable mortgage on the building and there was a shoebox full of bills that were unpaid. We had debt. Reggae wasn’t making that much money. I think the year I came in it made under $100,000 profit. We were really scraping by.”
People Productions had just gone through its first year producing Reggae and it was time to work out a new contract. It was not easy, initially because the contractor/employee relationship was brand new, but it never got easier.
“Working out that relationship has always been problematic. I think at the core of it, it’s because, on paper, Reggae on the River belongs to the community center, every aspect of it. They hold the trademark, they own all the contracts, they sign all the permits with agencies, they hold the lease with the landowner — but, because Carol was one of the founders, she feels a proprietary interest in Reggae.
“Now, if Reggae on the River was a for-profit business, Carol would be an owner. She would have equity, she would have a retirement coming, she would have all kinds of things that she doesn’t have, that she feels entitled to. And a lot of people feel she should have those things. That is the core issue, and it’s been almost impossible to deal with.”
By all accounts, Lobato’s tenure as Mateel E.D. was productive. She set about fulfilling the community vision of a shift to more of a community center and less of a boogie hall. Heading into the turn of the century, she brought in grant funding from the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and foundations to start up youth programs and further assess the community’s desire for the organization. Even Bruno praised her leadership — “even though we had our differences.”
Those differences came to the forefront periodically, when the time came to renew the Reggae on the River contract. Though the details of negotiations are not available to the public, most people agree that they have long been fraught with difficulties.
After a particularly bitter contract battle in 2002, Lobato decided, “it was time for me to do something else,” and left her position. Three members of the Mateel board, including the board president, refused to sign the 2002 contract, stating: “We have significant objections. We do not believe this contract adequately protects the Mateel.”
October 20, 2009 at 9:59 pm
citizen
Too bad people get bored so easily, since what happens at the park has the potential to have devastating impacts on the river, the wildlife, the neighborhoods, the town and the public trust. This is a huge issue that needs careful attention and scrutiny.
Thanks for the info re K. lobato, ED of the Mateel at the time that the mateel tried to get the CUP the first time for samf at the park, January 2001, long before any of us found out about it or that there was an appointed PBoard (which included the ED of the mateel)
The people of this community bought this land, not the PBoard.
I will tell you why I am against summer arts and music festival (and any concert or high impact development) at the park– its a bad idea.
October 21, 2009 at 8:52 am
Anony Mous
I was glad you asked that question’ it woke me up’ because I care about this crap’ I wish more people did’ Start your own blog if you don t like this one’ It would be a good thing if we heard from more people in sohum’ I was fooled into giving the CP $500′ no one twisted my arm’ I thought it was a great idea at the time’ Some of my friends thought I was crazy to give my money up’ for what they thought was to become the new home for reggae on the river’
Last year I would get so angry at people that put down what the Park was doing’ I did’nt think it was any of there busyness’ Had they donated any of there own money to the Park?’ Looking back I feel like a fool’ It has taken all this time to admit I gave the CP any money and do’nt like what they have done with the Park or are planning to do to our Park’ I do know more people that gave more or less than I’ that is hard to admit to anyone’ I think we need a support group for people that donated any amount of money to the CP’ only to see a private dream come true with a sign that reads -private property-public access-pay to play-toll gate ahead-’ I hope there is no truth to any of this’ but I have heard’ people lie’ cheat’ and steal every day’
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
October 21, 2009 at 10:10 pm
FishTree
Eric, if you are indeed the next new Community Park Board Director, let us all know what is wrong with the Park Board talking with the community once a month.
At this point and what the Park Board is asking for from the County, don’t you think they should also be talking to the people in this community?
Do you feel that the Park Board should listen to the public about what events should take place at the Park?
Do you feel the Park Board should ask the public for any more donations for this new planning and rezoning change at the Park?
If the Mateel’s summer arts is the main reason for the zoning change, has the Mateel been asked about kicking in some money into the mix, sense they will be the biggest beneficiary of funds from this event?
October 22, 2009 at 9:14 am
suzy blah blah
The Man Who Walks in the Woods was right, your story is sooooo full of psychological complexes it isn’t even funny. Freud would have a field day picking it apart –like a vulture on roadkill. I think it’s time for you to snap, Humboldt is all about the party dude. You need to get a life and try having some fun for a change. Kathern and Peter and Steve Dazy are old time hippies, they know where it’s at, ie they are hip to what’s good for the peeps. FYI it was the partying pot smoking hippies that created the Mateel and set a healthy tone for future generations. Nut cases like you just shit on the good intentions of caring ppl like them. Hello? Music is healthy for the soul. Maybe you should kick back and enjoy. It’s like they say, one rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel. So quit your negativity and feel the Love. Cuz it’s like if you don’t feel like you fit in, then wtf are you doing here anyway? But you have a cewl name and actually i hope you change your opinion and decide to join us. And so, here’s special kiss just for you,
big hug,
s
October 22, 2009 at 12:46 pm
milt
Humboldt is all about the party dude.
Once again your non-working, off the lid lyfestile shines through like a ripped leotard, Suzy. Invite the mateel up to your pad to party then. I’m sure your neighbors wouldn’t mind.
Say, weren’t you the one braying about how you weren’t going to let the moral conflict between the poor ripped off mateel and the eville TD get in the way of your own party plans for RR this year? Now you’ve got the mateel’s back again. Fanfukintastic! They’re, no doubt, appreciatin’ yur support.
It looks suspiciously like you’re in the corner, and in the bag, of anyone who’s throwing a party, period. Your above statement renders that obvious. Have you ever had to get up at 7 am to go to real job, Suzy, or is it, Humboldt is all about the dealing, dude?
You also don’t read the papers much, do you, Suzy. If you did you would have noticed that Woods just got taken down a peg by some dudette over at the Healy Center for trying to impersonate them. Don’t get me wrong, Woods is a nice guy and he sure stuck his neck out on the diesel growers, for which I give him a lot of credit, but sometimes he sees just too many rare and endangered plants whenever he takes a hike in the woods to be entirely credible. BTW, what’s your opinion on diesel grows? We’d be all, like, dying to hear it, dudeen.
Lookout. huge bug,
m
PS. It’s not that I want to follow you around, Suzy, but, damn, you really ought to do something about that tailpipe.
October 22, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Ed Voice
Dear Suzy Blah Blah,
Thank you for your kind words and love.
Let me share with you what the Park Board is handing out to people outside of So Hum. Let me know what you think?
“The Southern Humboldt community is located in an isolated region of the county where there are strong local norms that accept alcohol and drug use. There are high rates of substance abuse, family violence, and crime, among both young people and adults in our community. Community members need healthy affordable activities and creative outlets for their energy, as well as activities that link them to each other and the greater community. Isolation and high-risk behaviors can result when there are neither alternatives nor options. The Southern Humboldt Community Park seeks to fill the void by providing access to activities and programs to enrich and improve community health, well-being and vitality”.
I guess the Park Boards answer was to have events at the Community Park known as: Irie Boogie, PipeJam and Reggae Riding. All three of these events had commercial paid admission, live Bands, serviced alcohol and loud amplified music with drinks flowing and blunts glowing all night long. There are some great video’s of “parties” at the Community Park on YouTube. They were also billed as “Family Friendly Events”. So I guess it is true what they say, “your are what you eat” and “You reap what you sow”
If you want to party Suzy, party in your own back yard. Don’t bring your Boggie Parties to my neck of the Woods. If you want to Party, Party at the MCC, you said that’s why it was built?
Maybe you should send your backing of the Community Park Party Venue to the County Board of Supervisors, I’m sure it will help the Park Boards Petition. I also wanted to say thanks for not attacking people on this blog!
Have a grape day…………….
October 22, 2009 at 5:21 pm
suzy blah blah
It looks suspiciously like you’re in the corner…
What?!!! obviously you are not an old scholl soHum hippie or youd be able to understand our position. I was born and raised here dude and i know what i’m talking about when it comes to what it’s all about with the local fundraisers and parties and these kindof local issues concerning the CP. I participate, i’m a part of the dance called soHum. And as for Woods, youve got a lot of nerve calling him an impersonator, he’s not an impersonator, he’s a fucking damn well talented participator! Whereas your ilk, it seems, just likes to sit on their thumbs and armchair quarterback from a virtual distance. That’s one thing i have to like about Ed, he has a real vioce –no unintended pun. And on top of that Milt, you like to eat up what the newcomer bitches in the newspapers spoon feed you about the founders of this community. Woods and Dazy, Labotomo and Ryce are the kinds of kind folks who raised kids like me to see the Light. What kind of hope did you ever offer anybody? Hello? It was The Man Who Walkd in the Woods that named the fucking Mateel by comjoining the Matole and Eel rivers with his poem about growing the good green herb and starting a new vision of peace love and whatever… Bet you didn’t know that, huh. Well i read his writing on the cabin wall when i was six years old dude. And here’s something else that Suzy can inform you of– i can only speak for myself of course, but it’s common knowledge that we don’t suffer easily ignorent fools like you who come along and talk shit about us and who don’t appreciate the biologic knowledge offered. Talk about an endangered species, the kids around here are driving off cliffs like lemmings off a bluff because we have nothing else to do, but what do you care? You arent interested in helping the young folk raise themselves up and feel good about their community’s self esteem like the ppl who organize these kinda outdoor events like Reggae and the SAF and such. My take is that youre jusst an old sour cur who just wansta put us and any other creative person down. We’re sick of your guff dude. And btw fyi a lot of the Mateellians DO party at my pad, sorry but youre not invited. We don’t cater to bullys like the likes of you. Besides the music might be too loud for your poor little delicate fragile ears. Or the visuals too wild. Grow up Milt! Your adolescent jpegs, fart jokes, and tail pipe humor gets stale really really fast. And besides, some of the desiel growers are not all that bad, a lot of them are the very folks who contributed their hard earned dollars to the non-profits like the Mateel kmud and Epic etc. to get them started and keep them on their feet all these hard won years. Study the history dude. And btw, while i have your attention i think you may be in need of that same psychiatrist that The Man That Walks in the Woods recomended to Mr Voice. Becuz youre a blogstalker Milty, or else why else would it be that you are always the one that jumps first right on Suzy’s comments with your negative vibe like a fly on shit? Lighten up and get out of the attic once in a while, my friend, or youll die of a stress attack. And if you cant do that, at least make some sort of feeble attempt to find your heart so that you can treat yourself to the experience of knowing that you are in control of your emotions and while your at it –quit trying to bully innocent ppl in a slow loading CORNER.
i feel like another beer,
s
October 22, 2009 at 5:24 pm
suzy blah blah
Thank you for your kind words and love.
your welcome.
There are some great video’s of “parties” at the Community Park
on YouTube.
got any links?
neck of the Woods.
LOL!
you should send your backing of the Community Park Party Venue
to the County Board of Supervisors,
thanks for the tip, i just might…
I also wanted to say thanks for not attacking people on this blog!
aw shucks, yuor knot such a bad guy after all. Maybe you just need some earplugs, or vice versa?
Have a grape day…………….
maybe tomorrow.
peace,
s
October 22, 2009 at 5:45 pm
edsvoice
Here you go Suzy, are you in the video?
October 22, 2009 at 6:47 pm
suzy blah blah
no Ed i’m not, but isn’t that Woods in the shadows in the background?
October 22, 2009 at 9:08 pm
milt
Didn’t know you were so knowledgable about the real foundations of SoHum and the mateel. Except Woods wasn’t the poet who named it. Next time you’re partying with your mateel friends just ask them, they might know who. There I go again being critical of omnipotent, Suzy.
And where would we be without the magic herb, now that it’s cognitive powers have been revealed to us? I’ve lived without it and so have many others I would imagine. Eric, the lawyer, for example, claimed he has only around a 5% pot clientel. If you ask others they would probably tell you the same thing. Are they all liars?
I didn’t have anything against the mateel one way or the other, but the past couple of years here in SoHum have been filled with nothing but The Mateel Drama Show: Mateel vs their producer; Mateel vs. TD; lawsuits; crying and screaming in all the LtEs; boycotts; and now, victim again of dastardly neighbors who don’t know how to party?
I can’t understand what’s suddenly so wrong with Benbow Lake State Park. After all, that where the SAF started some 33 years ago and has been ever since. Now I do understand why the mateel would be interested in getting RoR into the CP. That’s really the #1 $maker for all the NPs, isn’t it? and it is definitely out of place at BLSP. So why doesn’t the mateel and their friends in the CP just say what it is they really want in there instead of this obvious stalking horse SAMF – new name change since 2001, after the CP started up.
You and your mateel friends may just have to understand that maybe, just maybe, there’s a whole lot of people who are just plain sick of your constant fucking drama, just don’t trust you to make wise choices which always result in the drama, or, to even be truthful.
I realize that the idea that some may actual choose to live in a rural environment because they enjoy the peace and quiet, more, they EXPECT peace and quite to be part of living in a rural area, is foreign to partypeople like you. You have your Community Center, there’s BLSP that isn’t evicting anyone. They’ve even let the mateel bring beer in.
And there is an amazing concert site down in Piercy, you know about that of course, but the mateel and TD getting their shit together, uh,uh, that will never be because?……….fill in the blanks. So CP here we come. “Get used to it.” Which appears to be about the only truthful statement to come out of that CP yet. And this last one about turning the stage around to eliminate any neighborhood noise that amplified music might cause, that’s what did it for me. That is the stupidest piece of lying shit I’ve ever heard. All anyone with a brain has to do is stand up there on the turnouts overlooking the CP and you can see what the fundamental problem with that proposition is. The CP is in the bottom of a wide river valley. Any amplified event coming from the bottom is going to drift all over the valley no matter where the stage is facing. Think, big teacup. I’ve been to enough boogies to know at least that and I’ve lived here long enough to know how noises carry at night.
If you and your mateel friend wish to be treated with respect then stop the lies and tell the SoHum community what it is you’re really after. We’ll all find out soon enough, won’t we?
October 23, 2009 at 6:53 am
suzy blah blah
OK i’ll make this shosrt so as not to be redundent and bore everyone to death but like i already explained, Milt, youre no more than a blogstalker with nothing better to do than slander innocent ppl like Suzy. Of course i know who the poet was, i just forgot thats all, i know a lot of shit like that about soHum history, like i already told you i read that poem when i was six years old –what were you reading at six Milt? Probably some crap like Horton Hears a Who –LOL! Which is why youre so ignorent and mean just like the straight ppl he talks about in the poem.
mean Fortuna, mean Rio Dell
October 23, 2009 at 7:37 am
Gen II SoHum
Eric, back on Oct 19th you told Mr. Ed “We’re pretty hopeful that the county will act in the community’s best interests”.
FYI-With-in the Humboldt County 1984 General Plan Framework there is “1450 AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN”. With-in 1450 is “1452.2 Findings Required” and I quote:
“In reviewing proposals for General Plan amendments, the Board and Commission should remember that the General Plan is a policy document for the entire County and that it may only be amended “in the public interest” (Government Code Section 65356.1) as determined by the Board of Supervisors. In other words, the plan should only be amended when the County, with the support of the broad consensus, determines a change is necessary, not merely because a property owner or a group of citizens desires the amendment. Every General Plan amendment, additionally, must be consistent with the rest of the General Plan or appropriate changes need to be made to maintain consistency”
Now 1450 from the current 1984 General Plan is what the Park Board and County will be using for this up-coming petition for the Park Boards general plan amendment.
Re-cap: “We’re pretty hopeful that the county will act in the community’s best interests”. The County should not be acting in this communities best interest but all of Humboldt Counties best interest.
You should re-think that thought. Where you speaking as a sitting Board member of the Park or as Joe SoHum.
Please tell us what the CP does for this Community, that this Community has not already paid for time & time again. This Community will pay the Ultimate price if this Community Park becomes a MCC Festival & Concert site, Campground, RV Park, Motorsport and Commercial Venue.
I am proud to be 2nd generation SoHum, but sad to claim this as my prize.
October 23, 2009 at 7:59 am
milt
Oh, so I’m a blogstalker. That’s rich seeing as you have been the one following me on at least two different recent threads. Remember your brilliant reply to my comment about the Okie kids failing the citizenship test – miserably? That one gave you “hope”!
Then there’s the recent RG redwood thread where your reply to my poem led to the revelation that you favor cutting down more redwoods to accommodate a bigger freeway. V sign on that one.
And this thread where you were the one who started in attacking Ed calling him a” nut case” among other things. That’s what prompted my response to you. Now Ed’s your bff and a better person then me. Ha! Trying for a reverse double flip, Suzy? You’re so original.
Yeah, how can anyone not appreciate your 2nd generation hippie pot grower value system: Hurray for you and your buds, fuck everyone else.
One last thing. The tailpipe reference was not directed towards your backend, don’t flatter yourself, but the fact that you lay down smoke just about whenever you comment here. It’s amusing – to a point – then it gets old. Older than one would think for such a young 2nd gen hippie chick/ former child prodigy reader of poetry at 6. And, if you check all the responses to a lot of your drivel, I’m not the only one to point this out.
Yeah, I’m sure you knew who wrote the mateel poem. You just forgot. You and the Okie kids.
bye bye, blah blah
October 23, 2009 at 9:12 am
suzy blah blah
You just can’t stop can you? Even if when i beg you –Milt, Puleeeeeease, leave Suzy Blah Blah the fuck alone if you can’t be nice. Like i told yuo so many times before, if you don’t like what i say you can jusst simply skip my comments like i do with a lot of ppl. It’s really raelly easy to do. But no, that’s not for you, becuz it’s obvious that youre obsessed with Suzy! so much so that youre now even doing reruns of your old stalking posts. It’s like Woods said in his poem, youre ilk is mean mean mean. So, i certainly hope you will follow through with what you say this time, Milt, when you say “bye bye”. It’s music to my ears to hear you’ll no longer be twisting my points to try and make it look like Suzy means the opposite of what i say. Now if you can just stick to it!
sheesh, what an idiot, LOL!
October 23, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Eric Kirk
Huh. It never occurred to me that a statement of hope that the county will act in the community’s best interests would be so controversial. I take it back then. I hope the county doesn’t act in the county’s best interests. Feel better now?
October 23, 2009 at 9:00 pm
edsvoice
Capt. Kirk,
You did not answer the rest of Gen II Sohum’s questions?
You had no idea this Community Park issue about Commercial Concerts, Development and Rezoning was controversial? Do you read the papers, go to Park meetings, or even read your own blog? If you are still thinking this is only about four families or neighbors in this community, Baby, you are going to have an eye-opening adventure in reality.
But hey, what do I know, I’m just a SFHS grad, class of 1975.
October 23, 2009 at 10:23 pm
citizen
When and where has the park board heard from many more in support of their “stated objectives”? Not at the community meetings. Behind closed doors with many would-be concert promoters? All decisions are made behind closed doors by the pboard and their “advocates”. Even at the Feb 24th meeting, during the “park users statements”, most of the people were singing the praises of the natural beauty and quiet and you can take you infants in strollers or walk your dog. To say you support a park does not mean that you support haphazard development and loud boogies.
If you don’t care one way or the other, why not listen to those of us who do care one way or another. I think it would be far more appropriate to use the mateel community center for fundraisers for the park if they really need more money. Isn’t that what the mateel is supposed to be for, fundraisers and boogies? If the mateel supports preserving a natural area for our community to enjoy and wildlife to live, then that is a good thing.
October 24, 2009 at 7:53 am
anomalous
And now they are filing spurious complaints against the farm too. Just by virtue of us being in the Park I guess. I thought these people WANTED agriculture at the Park. Funny way of showing it.
October 24, 2009 at 8:45 am
Lisa
Ed I asked you almost a year ago to remove your offer of free bottles of wine with a Community Farm Membership from your website. We are not associated with your “Enemies of the Community Park” group in any way, nor do we wish to be. You said you would.
I see this morning that you still have not removed it.
October 24, 2009 at 8:48 am
edsvoice
Dear Suzy blah blah,
Sorry, but I have to ask this question, what did you mean by:
“And on top of that Milt, you like to eat up what the newcomer bitches in the newspapers spoon feed you about the founders of this community”
Who are the “newcomer bitches” and who do think are the “founders of this community”?
Thanks
October 24, 2009 at 9:44 am
suzy blah blah
Ed, your continuous reaching after fact and reason is becoming quite irritating to Suzy’s poetic ethos, use your imagination.
huggles,
s
October 24, 2009 at 9:55 am
edsvoice
Lisa,
If you looked at the NOTSHCP web site, you would have read this:
–FREE Napa Valley/Sonoma County Wine for Supporting Our Community Farm. Buy a full share or half share in our community farm and you will receive a complementary 750 ml bottle of Napa/Sonoma wine absolutely free. NOTSHCP is not affiliated in any way with the Garberville Community farm or the Southern Humboldt Community Park; we are just good neighbors and want to keep supporting our local agriculture with this free gift of wine. Just send Friends & Neighbors of the SoHum Community Park & Tooby Memorial Park your paid receipt from the Community Farm and receive two 750 ml bottles for a full share and one 750ml bottle for a half share. Mail to: Free Wine, PO Box 580, Garberville, Ca. 95542 Must be 21 years of age, may require prof of I.D. Allow 3 weeks for delivery. Varietal, Viticultural Area and Winery are limited to stock on hand. Chose is limited to Red or White wine. No wine will be shipped. Expiration: 12.31.2009. Please remember to “Drink Responsibly and Drive Responsibly” Thank you, A. Neighbor–
If it makes you feel better, no one claimed any free wine for joining the GCF CSA. And when we offered to pay all the cost to build new horse shoe pits to replace the original ones that have vanished at Tooby Park, the Park Board declined that offer. Same with the cases of wine we wanted to donate to the Park (same as the wine donated to Hospice & Rotary), used for fundraising auctions, the Park board never got back to us.
Time and time again, we as neighbors have tried to help our Park. It is puzzling that because of this, we are called (as you put it) “Enemies of the Community Park”.
What is so wrong having a Park like we have right now. I sure don’t hear anyone complaining that the Park is too quiet now……………….
October 24, 2009 at 10:36 am
edsvoice
We can’t have that, a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Sorry for getting your “ethos” in a bunch.
Here is to my imagination,
Ed
October 24, 2009 at 11:27 am
suzy blah blah
np, it all comes with the territory, and is a part of the process (or initiation into the mysteries)… The original inhabitants of the area such as the Walaki, Sinkyone, and Tooby knew this and recognized that the feeling of irritation is a natural part of the vision quest. That’s why i’d like to see a return to the old ways, we need to be having peyote ceremonies in the park and vision quests so that ppl can find out what their secret indian name is. Which brings us around to Suzy’s mysterious inner connection to the park board and it’s decision making. I have scouted out the territory before hand and blazed a trail so to speak into the psyche of the community. I took the sacrament at the river years ago and so i have a head start into the perception of Spirit’s desire concerning ppl such as you. The proper way for the board to relate to oneness of tribe is to make a serious attempt at change concerning quieting down the rational minds and dispensing with the egos and materialistic leanings of the “elders” (actually theyre newcomers, but that’s where we at right now) like Eric, would be to have the board eat peyote around a campfire at the park when they meet. That is the best way to get in touch… I am of the Tooby, and my sacred name is Suzy Blah Blah, eg Suzy Two B, ie Suzy Tooby. I think a statue of Ms Tooby would be an appropriate gesture for the board to consider.
Suzy has a lot more to say on this issue but rite now i gotta run, heading for Richardson Grove..
s
October 24, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Lisa
Ed you are disingenuous in the extreme. I remember one day last winter we found someone in a county vehicle looking lost in the parking lot. When we asked if they were looking for someone they replied, “Are you Ed Voice?”
We started to laugh and the agent of the agency turned white and begged us not to repeat their gaffe or they could lose their job. They were here to investigate another of your litany of complaints.
Personally if I had experienced the harassment, the personal attacks and insinuations, the constant projection of a worst-case scenario on all the park proposals, then I would decline your offers as well.
October 24, 2009 at 5:53 pm
edsvoice
Lisa, I am more than willing to debate your allegations, but on a thread dedacated to that subject.
Thank you,
Ed Voice
October 24, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Anonymous
Dear Suzy Tooby blah blah,
I can’t reply to your last post today, but I want to encourage you, not only to send the BOS your support of the Park Board in writing, but you might want to talk to them in person to get your point across first hand. Speaking to them in your own voice can be very powerful and everlasting.
October 25, 2009 at 7:36 am
suzy blah blah
Thank you for getting on board and for your encouragement and support. We need to go at this matter with all hands in united participation for the good of the community at large and not get hung up on our own private little ego skirmishes. For when one voice sings alone it wavers on the wind and gets lost in the fog, but when we join our voices together in peaceful non-violent harmony against that voice, and when we amplify our concerns with email, phone, and personal contact, then we can drown out that voice with our progressive activism against that voice. But we must be vigilant, and determined, and not let up! Becuase that is how we can become a united force that shines like the morning sun breaking through the clouds of resistance that gather and hover to restrict the free movement of a free ppl. By chaining ourselves together and locking ourselves into step with our cause we strengthen our fortitude so as to assure that this True voice of the real concerns of the ppl cannot be and will not be broken by the few who oppose our right to gather peacefully to party and unify our position with the elders and ancestors both ancient and come lately as seen put. Thus, i again want to thank you for coming forth into the united front that is forming to oppose this opposition to progressive alternative lifestyle options that are on the table at this crucial time of change and hope in our community. If you have any phone numbers or email addresses to contact for so as to show our united support against this proposed travesty of justice please post them here and elsewhere so that we can move on this issue NOW with swiftness and secure connectivity! Let your voices be HEARD, let the BOS know how you feel. For the sooner we stop this obnoxious whinnying from the opposition. the better we all will be off is the way i feel about it to put it mildly.
in ONEness and Unity!
yours truly,
Suzy Two Blahs
October 25, 2009 at 7:38 am
anonymous
Which county agency was that, Lisa? It seems odd that you and your friends would not have asked that obvious question of the agent. I don’t see why any legitimate agent of an agency would fear being fired just for being lost in a parking lot. Why would they be fired?
Your story needs some fleshing out.
October 25, 2009 at 11:51 am
Anonymous
Suzy 2 Blahs,
What is your party of all parties at the Park? Irie Boogie?
What happened this year? Could you tell us how important Irie Boogie is for this community?
October 25, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Lisa
Of course we knew what agency it was. They were afraid of being fired for spilling the beans and inadvertently letting us know who filed the complaint.
And if I told I would get them in trouble now, wouldn’t I?
That particular investigation, like so many others was baseless in fact.
Like the one that we fielded against the farm this past week was also baseless.
It gets old people.
And that is all that I have to say about it here. You want flesh, then talk to me in person.
October 25, 2009 at 7:09 pm
suzy blah blah
Ok OK, give me a sec, that’s a good one, why don’t you go first while Suzy thinks about it some more –what’s your favorite?
October 25, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Anonymous
You know Lisa, many of us here love & respect what you and John have done with the Farm, but I am hearing a different side of you. What cause do you have to throw your hat into this fire?
I did read this blog about the Park and all the other posts from this year on Sohum Parlance II. You know I have to say this; I cannot find where Voice is harassing, attacking or disingenuous to anyone. In fact as far as I can read, it is just the opposite. As Eric has suggested and pointed out, Voice can be over the top and go on and on and on about his families issues, but nothing close to what you have said in public?
I am not taking any sides with Voice. I think Voice has every right to ask questions. He does not like the direction of the current Park Board, this is his right. From what I have read in the papers, seen and heard at Park meetings and this blog he is not getting any questions answered. This shows me if anyone asks the same questions of this Board or disagrees with them in the same manner as Voice, in turn they would receive the same treatment as Voice (“Enemies of the Community Park”). Those are some strong words, with out being able to back them up.
If you are going to start your own attack on someone in public finish the story, state the facts and have a reason. You have done more harm than good in your post. You have become a hateful person. And at whose expanse. Do not hide behide “baseless in fact” or “Talk to me in person”. You started this, you finish it here, in public where you started it.
Community Park contributor
October 25, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, I will be making a post about the November 10 Board of Supes meeting sometime soon.
October 26, 2009 at 7:21 am
Lisa
Well of course he has every right to ask questions, and I agree that the neighbors of the park have concerns about noise and crowds, at the least, that need to be addressed.
But I do think that it is disingenuous to pretend not to understand why the park does does not your wine, for example, after you have spent a year making spurious complaints to an alphabet soup of agencies, and publishing personal statements about board members that are demeaning, and even border on slander.
From my point of view, I see the park board trying to work with this situation, admit mistakes, deal with a community that wants a lot of different things on this land. And yet for a small group nothing seems to satisfy.
Personally it has been exhausting for me to have to work in this atmosphere. I find that the neighbors of the park should be my natural allies as we seem to want the same things, but their tactics have alienated me.
And further, this past week I dealt with an agency myself, that someone had filed a bogus complaint against the farm. Yes I was angry.
That’s why I jumped in.
As I said, this stuff gets real old.
You can call me a hateful person, whatever. At least I am not hiding in my little Anonymous zone calling people names. I give Ed credit for taking responsibility for his comments on this blog.
And now I am off this topic for good, before I insert my foot in my mouth any further.
October 26, 2009 at 7:37 am
anonymous
Humboldt Hills Hoedown, Hands Down!
October 26, 2009 at 9:01 am
suzy blah blah
thumbs up! and thank you for your input. Now we’d like to invite you to also share, if you so desire, the importance you think the hoedown has for the community and perhaps some personal experiences you had at said boogie that might illustrate the holistic aspects or just the simple good fun of the aforementioned …
So, the next phase of the question that Spirit begs of us at this time is that we proceed to invite the others of the community to come forth, each individually and all together without fear, holding love your heart, attuned to the All, come thou into this healing circle to share … for as each with their unique viewpoint adds to the wholeness and Unity of the ceremony so shall the many voices of Spirit be heard. This invocation goes out to the four directions, reaching to the farthest reaches and most obscure corners of the watersheds, Mattole, Eel, … Mateel: let, the wisdom of the North, the luminosity of the East, the emotionality of the West and the sensuality of the South speak through it’s representatives from the cardinal points of this circle in responce to this question we have posed … Let your voice be heard NOW so that the community park and in extension the community itself and in extension the planet at large can be healed. To the wind and the earth and the water and the fire, to the four leggeds, the two leggeds, and the one leggeds, we ask –What is your party of parties? And what do you feel is the importance that that particular party has for I and I, for the community, and for the earth?
blessings,
S2B
October 26, 2009 at 10:40 am
edsvoice
S2B;
That is an eazy question, Hoedown is a Commercial Concert Event for the Mateel and venders to make money. This event started at the Benbow State Recreation Area, and ended up as a un-permitted event down at the Community Park in 2008.
I have no problem with the music being preformed, the sound level or the people performing it, but I do have a problem with the Park Board & the Mateel Board allowing this event to be held at the Community Park, KNOWING they needed: Approved zoning and land use, CUP, CEQA, Event & Project Plan, etc etc. All this same permitted information would have also included public participation, public hearings and public comment.
Again, Benbow is the area where events like this can be held without a CUP or CEQA, the permits are already in place, there are rules at Benbow. It is truly one of the only outdoor “Pay to Play” venue we have here in SoHum.
October 26, 2009 at 11:55 am
edsvoice
Lets cut to the chase Lisa, this is about using a Certified Organic Hay Field as a parking lot for past and future Concerts & Festival at the Community Park. The question is; was it approved by CCOF? Did CCOF approve of this practice for Certified Organic Hay? Well a Park Board member and Executive Director told KMUD news on air, that is was, when she was asked the same question by reporters. Now we are finding out, that she was not correct in her statement, this practice was not approved by CCOF!
This must be the bogus and baseless complaint you are referring to.
Does the Garberville Community Farm plan on keeping their Hay field Certified Organic by CCOF or too be using that same field as a parking lot for future planned Community Park events (as in the past), such as the Mateel Summer Arts and Music Festival and others?
October 26, 2009 at 12:24 pm
suzy blah blah
No, you need to listen more closely so that you can get your facts straight in order to know which side of an issue it is upon which you stand and the consequences and cumulative impact of your referencing certain misinformed judgments that it seems you are prone to embrace in your social evolution. The music in question is not necessarily “preformed”, there is a considerable amount of spontaneous jamming that occurs. It may be that you have a fear of the unknown and hence a phobia concerning spontaneity. Again, elder Wood’s recommendation of therapy is recommended in order to determine your ability to deal with this and/or other pertinent problems that we as a community are faced with as our visions for a holistic future come into being. When one reaches a certain level of psychological maturity one can more adeptly transverse the kind of hurdles that these challenges present due to one’s expanded and more encompassing facility for a more intelligent implementation of receptive capabilities concerning the occurrence of this kind of development that occurs among the musicians involved. Thank you for your contribution to our circle Ed, but please try to pay a little more attention to what’s going on around you
October 26, 2009 at 12:56 pm
edsvoice
Wow, I had no idea, Thank you very much taking the time and pointing that out to me. Now that is life changing stuff!
Ed Voice & Voice Family
October 26, 2009 at 2:14 pm
suzy blah blah
No prob, time to Suzy is as transparent as alphabet supe. See you at the meeting on the 10th.
huggles,
s
October 26, 2009 at 2:49 pm
edsvoice
PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT
On Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Chamber, Humboldt County Courthouse, Eureka, California, to consider the matter listed below. Further information regarding the proposed project may be obtained from the Planning Division of the Humboldt County Community Development Services Department at 3015 H Street, Eureka, California 95501, telephone: (707) 445-7541 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Contact Person: Michael D. Richardson, Senior Planner.
A General Plan Petition application, Case No. GPP-08-02; SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT COMMUNITY PARK, applicant; File Nos. APN 222-091-03, 222-091-06 (portions) & 222-241-08; Garberville area. A General Plan Petition to 1) add to the Framework Plan and the Garberville-Redway-Benbow-Alderpoint (GRBA) Community Plan a Public Recreation (PR) Plan designation, which would allow Natural Resource uses, Resource Production uses, Recreation uses, and Education and Research uses, 2) change the land use designation on some parts of the property to the new Public Recreation designation, and 3) change the land use land use designation on other parts of the property to a combination of Agricultural Exclusive (AE), Public Facilities (PF), and Residential Multifamily (RM) to allow other uses as shown on maps in the project file. These other uses include agricultural production, music events, recreational trails, sports fields and multifamily housing, among others. The land use designations currently applicable to the property are Agricultural Lands (AL20) and Agricultural Rural (AR 5-20).
THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, IN THE GARBERVILLE AREA, ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE SOUTHERN
HUMBOLDT COMMUNITY PARK LOCATED AT 1144 SPROWEL CREEK ROAD. NOTE: If the Petition is accepted, the project would be subject to a further application for a General Plan Amendment and would require full environmental review. Any person may appear and present testimony in regard to this matter at the hearing. If you challenge the nature of the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Board of Supervisors, at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Documentation to be filed on this matter for the official record MUST CONTAIN AN ORIGINAL AND NINE (9) COPIES OF EACH DOCUMENT. Documentation includes, but is not limited to: written correspondence, audio and video tapes, maps, photographs, and petitions. If possible, all documentation is to be submitted to the Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors, Room 111 of the County Courthouse, 825 Fifth Street in Eureka, (476-2384), by noon on Thursday, November 5, 2009. for the documents to be placed in the Board’s hearing packets. Otherwise; ·documents must be submitted durinqthe public hearing ·on· November 10,2009. FAILURE TO SUBMIT NINE COPIES WILL RESULT IN THE DOCUMENT/S NOT BEING PLACED IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARING RECORD.
DATED: October 16, 2009
Kathy Hayes,
Clerk of the Board
October 26, 2009 at 3:42 pm
withheld
“It was Jim Deerhawk…”
October 30, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Anony Mous
Boy howdy, it’s quiet as a grave yard, must be Hollows Eve, Day of the dead. No more Park crap to kick around?
Nothing about Eric sort a kinda maybe the next new Park Board member?
It must of been a ploy? Nothing from the Park Board about their day in court at the Board of Stupervisors? Heard the Park Board is getting any kind of support letter from any kind of community org they can, blind, crippled or crazy.
October 31, 2009 at 1:32 am
suzy blah blah
No i don’t think so. In my opinion in support of the park and the board i would like to say that when the ppl of this community bought this park with our good money as a whole ppl it was inspired originally from the vision of the dead ancestors and elders like John Deerehawk, Steve Dazy, and The Man Who Walked in the Woods who came here in the early days and who passionately wrote about the change that they as trail blazers saw befitting the vision of a whole ppl back to the land, a ppl that stands as One against the wind of descent to inspire us. These poems and doctrines etc of the early hippies formed a path on which they as a ppl walked in the formation of the Mateel commuinity. It wasn’t at all like Ed Voice and one or two others would have you believe as they have said previously in the newspapers and blogs and seemingly wherever they can, ignoring the noble history of a place and lashing out against Lobotomo, Ryce, and seemingly anyone who gets in their way with their obstructive over the top requesting of an airing out of their reservations on such an issue so dear to the heart of the community to try and convince others what might in their opinion be befitting of this sort of recommamendment –or more to the point, as Woods has put it, their’s might be only a speck of dust on the windshield of progress, ie they may need some psychological counsel to get us to the point where we can once again come together for the sake of clarity to reach an understanding and see this as One. It is written, in the naming of the Mattel poem, we are the ppl of the Mateel, NOT the destitute voices of a few. I don’t think they were thinking of just a farm with a farmer cruising on a tractor when they visioned the Mateel Park in the beginning, it was a more holistic vision of nature, beauty, poetry, music, and dance, one that included everyone’s needs south of Rio Dell… “to be or not to be, this celebration of our unity”, not just a few irritable neighbors. That’s the original vibe of wholeness as i understnad it. It was a much more expanded viewpoint back then, one encompassing the eclectic personality of a whole ppl!!!
Nuff said. Please come to the meeting on Nov 10th. We need all the input we can muster now so that one or two troublemakers like Voice can’t upset the apple cart with their petty and annoying grievances to try and stop this vision from going forth.
October 31, 2009 at 6:29 am
Eduardo de Eciov'
When you talk about the “early years” with Dazey & Woods, you are going all the way back to the mid 60′s (woods) and mid 70′s (dazey). To you these are the early years? You need your way-back machine looked at, it needs a tune & lube, or maybe even a major overhaul.
An elder does not beat his or her own chest, does not seek greatness, does not talk down to anyone, does not force his or her ways onto others. Understanding, wisdom and thought or “less is more” are the making of what most people consider to be an “elder”. Someone who everybody and I mean everybody respects in every way possible.
An elder carries his or her own water, does not conceider himself or herself a creator of anything, thinks of others before himself or herself and can make anyone feel warm and good inside with just a smile.
You for one are casting stones at someone who you do not know, why is that? You use their name as if you do, why is that? You have become what you say is wrong with people. Think not only with your head, but with your heart. You have to think outside your box, not just what passes through your world, but to respect their space as well.
Looking at what I just wrote, I would never become an elder, but I can live with that.
Here is a good test. Just ask Dazey or Woods how much of their own money have they given to the Community Park. Then sit back and listen to their reply, make time for a couple of hours. Then look at their face, ask yourself if that is a face of an elder.
Dream your own dream, make your own path, be your own leader, control only what you can control and never let others own your ways.
October 31, 2009 at 11:46 am
suzy blah blah
Looking at what I just wrote, I would never become an elder
Obviously! so then why did you bother? You have nothing to say of any consequence nor did you quote any elders of the Mateel. What you have to offer to our circle is nothing other than the false puffed up pride and narcissistic drivel of one “never to be an elder”. Learn to be modest so that you can hear the other’s voice, then quiet the mind and research the history and the wisdom of the back to the land movement and the Mateel. There’s still a chance for one like you if you’d just relax and attempt to quiet your anxious heart so that you’ll be able to hear the unity of the One Voice –then you might be ready to learn something of the old ways and be able to apply the elders’ wisdom.
namtaste,
s
October 31, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Eduardo de Eciov'
You know blah blah, there is not a lot of info about Mateel elders. In fact nothing at all. Are there people at the MCC that consider themselves to be elders of the Mateel?
You know most people involved in what you are calling “back to the land movement” did not have a name for it then, it was just called a way to survive. Most people I knew back then (were you born) came from outside Humboldt County. Some were looking to get away and be set free and some were just getting away for what ever reason. It was never organized or planned to any degree, it just happened, at the right time and the right place. For some it worked out real nice, but for most it did not last. Young people then wanted anything free, they were not going to work for the MAN!
In fact most of the people that came into town from the “Land” did not last long, most were picked up on warrants or asked to leave.
I don’t like the sound of One Voice, I do not like green eggs & ham. I like the sound of Many Voices. I like variety, free thinking, new ideas, leaning, asking questions and of course imagination.
You have yourself a Funkadelic day baby girl,
October 31, 2009 at 5:47 pm
citizen
Yes, it is really sad what has happened to all the idealism of the back to the land movement. Now it’s all about makin’ the land pay. Sad for the earth, the river and the wildlife and the people who were told we were buying a park.
October 31, 2009 at 8:30 pm
anonymous
Yes, extremely sad for the people who were told WE were buying a park. Maybe E should have a strip club put next to his house on the week-ends and see what it feels like to have your “space” changed. McKee and his posse are all in this “community” park thing so it will legitimize, in the mind of the community, the sale of all the illegal Williamson Act land. The park should stay as it is now, but become a true PUBLIC park, owned and operated by the community. Being held by a private corporation,but being paid for with public money reminds one so much of the Battle Reggae Royal, with cb and the MCC. Is this the future of the Community Park,E?
October 31, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Anonymous
E, just made a count of support that is out there on this blog. If it makes you feel any better, the Park Board is ahead as long as I take Voice, Citizen, Fishtree and seven off the thread and keep you in the mix. Not so bad. I could sure tell what you were talking about, Voice is loosing support right to left. I see what you mean. It stands out like a sore thumb. Hard to miss and so on and so on and so on and so off.
Keep up the great work, have fun on the Park Board, it was nice knowing you? Hey, maybe we can play some horse-shoes down at the Park, hold on I’m sorry I forgot the Park doesn’t have horse-shoe pitching, mybad!
November 1, 2009 at 7:48 am
Concerned
Here is the best example of ‘BACK TO THE LAND MOVMENT’, check out their web site @ http://www.aimovement.org/
They know a thing or two about elders, wisdom and trying to get back to their land.
Also you might want to read Gary Snyder, Jane Jacobs, Stewart Brand, Ralph Borsodi, Betty MacDonald, Aldo Leopold and if there are any back copies of The Mother Earth News, they are the main players in the white version of ‘Back to the Land Movment’ in the late 1960′es and early 1970′es. This movment for white people was not just in SoHum, or by the Mateel as you call it but everywhere from coast to coast.
White people will never understand ‘back to the land movment’, native people know nothing else. Look back at your past, count how many generations of men, woman and childeren were killed in cold blood for their ‘back to the land movment’
Here is a number for you. Just back in 1800 there was said to be 300,000 native people living everywhere in California and by 1900 there was said to be only 20,000 at most, hiding anywhere they could. Most all native people in California were hunted and killed between 1850 to 1900, California law allowed it and the Goverment paid for it.
Back to the land movment, I really don’t understand your view or point.
November 1, 2009 at 9:28 am
suzy blah blah
Back to the land movment, I really don’t understand your view or point
redneck idiot.
November 1, 2009 at 9:31 am
suzy blah blah
I don’t like the sound of One Voice, I do not like green eggs & ham.
sorry but when the conversation gets to this moronic level Suzy bails.
November 1, 2009 at 9:57 am
Moronic
C arefull words of
O mittions
N ervously spoken
V alidates
E levated feelings of
R esent
S timulating the sence of
A ccountability
T alking truth of
I rreformable
O bivious exasperated
N eglect.
November 1, 2009 at 10:44 am
suzy blah blah
LOL! good one, very clever, however, i really really doubt that Edwardo will get it … sigh, it’s beginning to look more and more like Woods was right.
peace be ‘pon you,
Y zus
November 1, 2009 at 10:59 am
Concerned
Have you heard the saying ‘You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink’.
To call a person a ‘redneck idiot’ in the same context of documented facts of native people being killed just to keep them off land, that in this case, outside people want to own? I’ll say it again, I really don’t understand your view or point!
November 1, 2009 at 11:12 am
Moronic
Woods was right about what? Moronic is watching football now, maybe you can wait and tell Moronic tonight.
Corn dogs & Moose on tap too you,
November 1, 2009 at 2:24 pm
edsvoice
Eric, Here is that email from Barb Truitt talking about the Redway School Park meeting this past March.
Here is the link to the Park Boards crafted notes and accounts from that same meeting:
http://sohumpark.org/pdfs/3-18-09%20Meeting_Rezoning_Events.pdf
—– Original Message —–
From: “Barb Truitt”
To: “Ed Voice”
Cc: ; “Girard, Kirk” ; “Lazar, Steve”
Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 7:29 AM
Subject: Re: SHCP meeting 3/18/09
Dear Ed,
I’m glad you enjoyed the meeting; so did I! And I think there will be
many more opportunities for interaction and feedback in the coming weeks
and months.
I understand that you and others feel the process is going too fast.
Still other people I’ve spoken with feel the process for getting proper
Park zoning has moved much too slowly.
As to the questions being vague, I’m afraid what was too vague, or at
least unclear, was my instruction regarding the task for our recent
meeting. What the board was trying to accomplish that night was to get
assistance from that (self-selected) group of people on just the first
step in their zoning amendment application.
And what we learned from Kirk Girard near the end of that feedback
process was that even the vague “wish list” was actually far more
specific than what was needed in the Project Description we all helped
to edit. According to Mr. Girard, all that was needed on the application
to support the request for zoning change was to describe a desire to
change the land use to civic and social uses or some such — I didn’t
have a chance to jot down his exact words.
What’s critical here is that the application is just the beginning of
the process to define uses for the Park. The process itself requires
professional studies, including an EIR, as well as public hearings. And
in addition, the Park board pledged, in their recent open board meeting,
to hold more public planning meetings and to conduct a survey to collect
opinions from a broad community cross-section.
Since so many community members have questions on so many different
topics, I am hoping that the format of the next meeting will allow for
topic-specific small group discussions.
I understand your point about the straw poll on the Summer Arts Fair.
I have to say that by that point in the meeting I was not at my best, as
evidenced by my repeated errors in tallying opinions from the tables, on
which folks kindly corrected me. It didn’t occur to me that the
directors should be excluded from the S.A.F. poll, but your point is
well taken. I wish someone had made that point in the moment. Still,
with directors excluded there would have been 31 in favor of S.A.F.
(with and without conditions), and it is clear that every item on the
list (especially S.A.F.!) will be subject to conditions which will be
determined by professionals studies, including an EIR, as well as a lot
more public input.
Sincerely,
Barb Truitt
November 1, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Eric Kirk
Is that supposed to constitute evidence that you didn’t vote for the Summer Arts Fair?
November 1, 2009 at 2:51 pm
edsvoice
No, but thanks for asking. Here is what I sent Mrs. Truitt:
—– Original Message —–
From: Ed Voice
To: btruitt@asis.com
Cc: cclendenen@co.humboldt.ca.us ; Girard, Kirk ; Lazar, Steve
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:05 PM
Subject: SHCP meeting 3/18/09
Dear Mrs. Truitt
I thought it was great to finely speak and meet with other people in this community, we got to share thoughts and information, they got to know me and what I have been asking for and I them. I thought people in all 6 groups came up with wonderful and intelligent questions to what we as groups were to answer for the Park Board.
The one thing everyone was confused or concerned about, was how vague the questions where and how we were to answer them. All 6 groups came up with completely different answers to the same basic questions we were all asked to answer and that was the longest discussion of the night. Again the best part of the meeting was talking about all the issues as a group of people in this community without booing and hissing. Other than that, I am sure the Park Board learned last night, how to get better and more meaningful input from the community the next go around on April 1st.
I think you are going to fast, this process needs to slow down. Your giving to much information in too short of time. People need more time to think, not just react.
With-out being picky or a smart ass, just pointing out something to you, I didn’t think appropriate last night, on your call for hands for Yes on Summer Arts or Yes on Summer Arts with conditions. On just the Yes hands you counted 21, but you counted 4 Park Directors, so the count should have been 17. Again, if your going to do something, do it right. So the count should have been 17 Yes and 14 Yes with Conditions not 21 to 14 and as you said 2/3 in favor.
I really think, in the next scoping or community input meeting, the Park Board should not be allowed in the same room when people are voting or discussing issues of the Park. We had one person in our group that did not want a Park Board members to see them vote against what the Park Board wanted.
Believe it or not, there are people in this community that are intimidated by some of the Park Board of Directors, more than you think……
Thank you,
Ed Voice
November 1, 2009 at 4:49 pm
suzy blah blah
Have you heard the saying ‘You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink’.
yep, it’s an old time cowboy, rancher, “red neck” saying. thanks for helping to prove my point.
namtaste,
s
November 1, 2009 at 5:51 pm
suzy blah blah
Woods was right about what?
please try to follow the context of the thread, i don’t have the time to repeat myself and explain the nuances and complexities of it all to you. But if you scroll back up, way back to the beginning and read the whole thread, twice, maybe, and that’s a BIG maybe, LOL!, maybe you’ll be able to understand what Woods meant by that, but i doubt it. btw I didn’t see the game today but i saw part of the one last night, it was great, did you watch it? Obama was even there. But then we changed the channel so i could watch my Lady Ga Ga rock the house!!! Suzy’s still flyin high from that one!
oxxo,
s
November 1, 2009 at 10:28 pm
anon
enjoyed a nice walk in the park today…
November 2, 2009 at 8:56 am
anonymous
The park–a nice place to walk, you and your dog, trails, nature, peace and quiet. (Not another venue, please.)
November 2, 2009 at 8:59 am
anonymous
And the vegetable farm.
November 2, 2009 at 12:47 pm
edsvoice
Eric,
Have you had a chance to read the Park Boards documented record of the Redway School Park meeting? I thought it was weird to see a different number of people voting on the Summer arts issue. Mrs. Truitt was incharge of that meeting and claims a lower number of people voting (31 vs 40) and I don’t know what’s up with that “No, unless big change” question was all about, they say 7 people voted for it. I never heard that question being asked or answered at that meeting.
Maybe you could ask the Park Board who wrote and documented that meeting for the Park Board. I’m sure they are using it as documented facts that the “Community values have changed” and the main reason they want to change the zoning at the Park, to allow commercial concerts & events, along with other development.
Oh, did I forget to say, that is the main reason the Park Board is giving for their GP Petition hearing on Nov 10th. The Park Board is telling the Board of Supervisors loud and clear the “Community Values have changed” and the whole Community wants an amplified Concert & Music Festival venue down at the Park. You see, the Park Board don’t want this, they are only asking for what the Community wants.
November 2, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Eric Kirk
My understanding is that the meeting was broken down into separate discussion groups and you were matched up with two people to whom you did not wish to appear unreasonable. I’m told that in meetings thereafter a couple of your allies sat close to you to make sure you didn’t slip up again. I wasn’t there so I can’t comment on the dynamics. But this account comes from multiple sources.
In any case, it doesn’t matter. You have the right to change your mind.
November 2, 2009 at 2:54 pm
anon
loved my walk in the park yesterday–a little music there now and then wouldn’t be bad…
November 3, 2009 at 1:35 pm
edsvoice
Mr. Kirk,
My understanding; I was there, your account; you were not. The question is, are you seeking the truth? Or just becoming another Park Board spin doctor.
After reading the Redwood Times today, I don’t have to worry about the nuisance of loud late night Concerts, Summer Arts, traffic or noise coming from the Park all summer long, because they will all be drowned out by a “Motocross Race Track” (Dazey Motosports?)! And this account comes from named multiple sources at the GSD!
I love your “”I’m Told”" remark. I guess you should have stuck by your guns when you said on October 12, 2009 at 2:15 pm:
“I post on those issues when news is made, but I don’t comment on the Tooby Park issue because I’m involved in the litigation, and from here on I won’t be commenting much on the Park because I’ve just joined the Board. There will be news in each of your three areas of interest shortly, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to trot out the same arguments which have been made for the past year”.
I guess your key word is “MUCH”.
But your best quote ever was:
“I’m told that in meetings thereafter a couple of your allies sat close to you to make sure you didn’t slip up again”.
All I can say is “WOW”
Have a great day Eric…………………………………
November 3, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Anonymous
any yet….
that land didn’t give itself to the community. the people involved bought it and need a way to generate some money to get it to pay for itself–a venue is a good way to make that happen, and it also brings some money to the businesses on mainstreet.
i cannot get beyond the neighbors’ contentment with that scar in the earth, the asbestos dust, the heavy (and often dangerously fast) cement and dump-trucks associated with the gravel mine juxtaposed against their resistance to the use of the land across the street as a park and occassional venue.
November 3, 2009 at 4:40 pm
citizen
You can thank the park board for the huge scar in the hillside. The parkboard purchased that 20 acres on sprowel creek road and then dazey ran to the county and asked for twice the amount historically allowed of instream gravel extraction and shale mining ( for their poor broke little non-profit) then sold the twenty acres on top and the gravel rights to randall for a million bucks, an $880,000 profit.
And yeah, it’s horrible. When I told the pboard that I thought it was an environmental disaster, tim metz shouted “Wait til you see how big that hole’s gonna get!” He also said it’s good for the fish.
And yes, this community bought this land, maybe twice. How much really was raised in donations from the public and where did it go? Why isn’t there a management plan and documentation about expenses and income so we can find out if they really even are still in debt or if it’s just the constant lament so that any kind of pimping of the park is justified in the name of servicing their debt?
November 3, 2009 at 4:44 pm
citizen
Take yer i pod and some headphones.
November 3, 2009 at 5:20 pm
edsvoice
FYI Eric,
I emailed Herb Schwartz, Charman Garberville Sanitary District Board of Directors today, asking him about what was said in the Redwood Times today and here is what he let me know:
—– Original Message —–
From: Herb Schwartz
To: Ed Voice ; Bill Stewart ; Peter Connolly ; Dennis Bourassa ; Dwight Knapp
Cc: Mark Bryant
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: Questions
1. Dwight’s comments were in jest.
2. When I say “private” with regards to a public benefit corporation, I simply distinguish it from governmental….often called “NGO” or nongovernmental organizations. SHCP is a “private” meaning not a governmental organization.
3. The letter doesn’t support any proposal by the SHCP. GSD has not determined that it supports any of the changes proposed by SHCP. The letter, as you got it, is that it supports public dialogue. End of that story. Sorry for the confusion.
Best,
Herb
November 3, 2009 at 7:14 pm
edsvoice
Thank you citizen.
You have put into words what I could not, Thank you very much. You can also see that they know the area as well as the Park Board, It’s not across the street, it’s across the South Fork of the Eel River.
November 4, 2009 at 3:22 pm
anonymous
Shit. I read that letter and it sounded to me like a complete support of the pboard proposal. So that person should write another letter, asap, and get that little confusion straightened out.
Eric-you are on the pboard now, if things are so honest and straight-forward, why are they not able to easily answer any $$ questions? They should easily know how much money was paid for the park/land per acre? How much did McKee sell the park/land for, per acre? ( I have heard that he made a double/triple profit on the land.) This doesn’t sound very community minded to me. It sound like the money still owed on the park is more than what it’s worth now. Kathryn Lobato should know exactly how much money she has made over the years, and where that money came from (grants for the park, or donations for park). Did she use money for the land to pay her salary? As far as the other letter trying to guilt those of us who want to see the park remain a park, kids die even when the venues are close to home. Why isn’t the MCC and Benbow enough? Then we have the Redwood Run, the Rodeo, and rr. There is Mal Coombs Park, and the Rodeo Grounds. Now we have people trying to do an off road dirt track. Sounds like plenty of venues to me.
Why is it that greed and corruption is ok as long as it is one of “us”?
November 4, 2009 at 4:47 pm
edsvoice
Eric,
Feel free to chime in at anytime. I’m sure you can straighten this one out. Get use to it, lately the Park Board has been very good at damage control…..
November 5, 2009 at 12:27 pm
edsvoice
Here is an article from the “Southern Humboldt Life & Times” dated August 28, 2001.
For you who are not familiar with the Life & Times newspaper, here is a little history http://library.humboldt.edu/nwcnews/place/sohum.html . I think it note worthy to include this article from 2001. There are many more like this one from 2000 & 2001. Let me know if it sounds as if it was in today’s newspaper and does anyone know George Russell?
“Has Steve Ever Heard Of The Wizard Of Oz?”
Life & Times August 28, 2001
To The Editor:
I am writing in response to your lead article in the Southern Humboldt LIFE & TIMES entitled “Vision Remains Strong, But Donations Need Shot In The Arm.” Your article begins by suggesting, thanks to Steve Dazey’s new Garberville Tooby Park, we are about to have a new healthcare complex, schools, equestrian facilities, soccer fields. etc. I have also heard that Mr. Dazey. the brains behind the big dream, plans on building Olympic size swimming pools, skateboard parks, and youth facilities, and that he would also like to move the Summer Arts Festival and other large scale events to his new park.
Your article goes on to say that there is only one catch – Steve needs a little money. Has Steve ever heard of the Wizard of Oz?
Does Mr. Dazey know that our Healthcare District recently declared bankruptcy, that our junior high is shutting down due to lack of funds, that our library is open only 19 hours a week (and the county threatens yearly to terminate it entirely), and that the antiquated school playground at the SHUSD yard in Garberville was recently torn down due to safety concerns? Too bad that Mr. Dazey doesn’t have time or money for these very real community institutions. But where would the glory be in helping these institutions get back on their feet?
Your article states that Mr. Dazey managed to convince over 100 people at $4,000 a pop to make a down payment on the Tooby Flat. Last year the entire 13.000-acre Tooby Ranch was for sale for around $6.500.000 or about $500 an acre. Mr. Dazey worked a deal with middleman McKee to buy the 375-acre flat for $1.250,000 or $3,333 an acre, giving McKee a whopping 700% mark up. Then Mr. Dazey sought and got more donations, and bought 20 more acres, according to your article, for $120.000 or $6.000 an acre — a 1,200% mark up, over 1.000% profit.
I’ll have to give Steve credit. He made the recently bankrupt Bob McKee an instant millionaire and all with other people’s money. I understand Mr. Dazey made a private transaction with Mr. McKee, buying himself some Tooby property, although your article doesn’t state what he paid for this.
I understand Mr. Dazey also made a private arrangement with Mr. McKee to sell him back the timber on the Tooby Flat, that is now part of the “park”‘ land. The timber is clearly visible between .the Tooby Flat pasture and Highway 101. I understand Mr. McKee is a proud and enthusiastic logger, having logged parts of Seely Creek and Elk Ridge in the Briceland community. I won’t be surprised if someday there is a Save The Tooby Flat From Logging campaign that nets Mr. McKee a Hurwitz-sized ransom. Good work Steve. Thanks for saving the flat from the other ‘”evil developers” who wanted to build homes there.
According to your article, Mr. Dazey has “consultants” donating time for his park. However, I made a call to County Planning this week, and aside from a request to stage the Summer Arts Festival at the Tooby Flat site that was withdrawn, they have received no plans or requests for a “park.” educational complex, new hospital, or anything else. Anyone who has been involved with the Harley Run site, the rodeo event, Reggae on the River, or who even wanted to remodel their house, knows that you have to do more than dream to work through the county permitting process (not to mention projects that require re-zoning). This is surprisingly similar to McKee selling off the rest of the Tooby Ranch (at a huge profit) without county approval. (See my letter to the editor in the Independent dated I/ 9/01 regarding the Tooby family’s prior ten year agricultural Williamson Act contract with the county running until 2009.)
In my opinion, Dazey is putting the cart before the horse, getting the community and a lot of investors revved up about his big dreams before even finding out if any of these projects are possible. Perhaps he is thinking that with enough investors he’ll be able to steamroll the County and the County General Plan. Presently the land is zoned agricultural. A portion of it was even under water in the ’64 flood. Apparently Mr. Dazey’s theme park is a dream park.
In addition, the directors of Dazey’s park are a group of hand-picked, elite insiders, making decisions behind closed doors. If this is a “public” project then it should be a public recreation district with public meetings and with publicly elected directors. Apparently Mr. Dazey wants community money, but he doesn’t want community control!
I am aware that Mr. Dazey has a successful gardening boutique business and sells diesel generators and dirt bikes, but if the local economy ever changes he could consider a career with the circus.
I for one am not interested in being a puppet in Mr. Dazey’s traveling circus. I am giving my hard-earned money to the school and hospital funds. I have no interest in further lining Mr. McKee’s already obscenely wealthy pockets, or further draining or dividing the community.
George Russell, Redway