They stacked the BOS meeting yesterday and demanded more than the 1/2 hour which they were going to be given. They were given much more time. KMUD has the story tonight.
Heraldo has it as well.
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April 28, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Anonymous
As usual Southern Humboldt people climbed out of the hills and acted like spoiled brats.
April 29, 2010 at 6:27 am
Anonymous
why do we need “big box” stores in eureka.
I’ve have noticed that costco, walmart and target seem to be surviving without widening richardson grove.
April 29, 2010 at 7:16 am
Mitch
BOD? What am I missing?
April 29, 2010 at 7:56 am
Eric Kirk
BOD? What am I missing?
My brain apparently. Thanks for making note. Change made.
why do we need “big box” stores in eureka.
I’ve have noticed that costco, walmart and target seem to be surviving without widening richardson grove.
Well, again, some of the small businesses are saying they need the widening in order to compete with big boxes; the argument being that the big boxes can more easily work the offloading into their costs of business. The big boxes have pretty much been silent on the matter. It’s some of the little people who are speaking up in favor of the widening.
We really need more information, and certainly Caltrans should have conducted a more effective study of the need.
The association of proponents with big boxes is a rhetorical tactic, assuming it’s intentional, with no intrinsic justification. Maybe the big boxes support it and maybe they don’t.
Again, the primary problem I see in the whole discussion is the decibel level of the screaming and strong opinions supported by very little information. But I’ve said my piece on that. The lines are drawn, and I guess we’re supposed to take sides now or get out of the way.
Just a roll, just a roll
Just a roll on your drum
Just a roll, just a roll
And the war has begun
Now the right thing’s the wrong thing
No more excuses to come
Just one step at a time
And the war has begun
-Sloth, by Fairport Convention
April 29, 2010 at 11:41 am
edsvoice
Eric,
May I ask whom has drawn the lines and why are we to take sides?
As you said, there is very little information given to the public right now, so why take sides? We don’t have to do anything, but demand information and a public forum!
This is not about “war”, it is about information and protest to get that information, a public forum for which to voice ones public opinion.
Who are the small businesses you say need or are in favor of the widening? Are these small businesses local, within 25 miles of Richardson Grove? Can we hear their side of the story? How many of them are there?
For some reason Eric, you always seem to raise more questions than give answers! The public needs all the information and publicly sit down and talk about it!
I watched the BOS hearing Tuesday, I would like to Thank everyone who did speak up and out about this project, Thank you very very much.
Here is the link: http://216.102.9.16/archive/2010/20100427_001.asf
April 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Jeff Muskrat
Thank you to all who spoke at the supervisors meeting, including those who attended for other agenda reasons but were inspired to speak up for Richardson Grove. I would also like to thank Clif for allowing everyone to have their voices heard. This is the basis for our democracy.
To learn more about the RIP(Richardson Grove “Improvement” Plan), please visit saverichardsongrove.org. Here is where you will also find links to the Caltrans project page, as well as the numerous RG coalition groups such as EPIC, Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Humboldt Watershed Council and the Center for Biological Diversity, just to name a few. I implore concerned citizens to make their own decisions, and not buy into the Caltrans PR campaign funded by “our” Headwaters Fund to promote this controversial project.
The meeting will be aired on public access and I suggest that you view it since it was quite a lively event, reminiscent of the code enforcement turnouts of the past. There were at least 70 or more speakers/supporters of Save Richardson Grove, despite the fact that the Times-Standard downplayed the turnout to 30. I appreciate the Lumberjack for not being compromised in reporting a much less than actual attendance. As the meeting commenced, Clif immediately told public comment participants who traveled from as far as Ukiah that the usual 3 minute allotment for comment would be reduced to one minute only.
This created quite an uproar, and Clif threatened to close the meeting and have everyone escorted out. Fortunately, Clif came to his senses and allowed 30 minutes to be devoted for RG public comment, allowing only 30 speakers one minute each. This may have created the confusion regarding the number of reported attendees reported by the T-S. Or maybe something else caused this misconception, such as bias from the Times-Standard, which has downplayed project opposition from the get go.
The public was allowed to speak as the public comment period was extended for two hours. Despite the fact that only one minute was allowed per person, this was fair, as well as appreciated. I however would implore Clif to recuse himself from the Richardson Grove issue if the council allows the issue to be heard on agenda due to the fact that Clif has publicly taken sides with Caltrans while ignoring his constituents concerns.
Direct action to protect Richardson Grove was mentioned by multiple speakers but not reported by the press. Our supervisors now have an obligation to be proactive in dealing with this issue, as they now have an opportunity to represent the concerns of their constituents and give negotiations a chance before Direct Action is used to protect our State Park.
Otherwise, legal and safety concerns synonymous with Direct action activities may have been avoided if our supes had actually done their jobs and represented the interests of local residents, instead of non-local developers and big boxes. (If you want to know where our supervisors interests lie, follow the non-local campaign contributions.) The freedom and safety of their constituents is in their hands.
Save Richardson Grove has already accomplished multiple victories in the fight to save our State Park and the Redwood Curtain entrance. Caltrans was going to push the project through without an Environmental Impact Report, but was forced to conduct an EIR due to public outcry. This project is in violation with federal law and the fact that the project is unnecessary and will damage the ancient trees that line the highway(admitted in Caltrans’ DEIR) has riled up a large and diverse group of concerned residents, environmental organizations and business owners.
This fight to Save Richardson Grove has been going on for more than three years, but this is still only the beginning. Your help is needed now and with your support, we will prevail!
saverichardsongrove.blogspot.com
April 29, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Anonymous
Ed is clueless when it comes to irony.
April 29, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, clueless or not, I don’t have the time or energy to explain it every time. Ed’s an adult. Presumably literate.
April 29, 2010 at 5:08 pm
edsvoice
Please point out the “irony” in Eric’s post @ 7:56 am, less the lyric. Presumably you could answer that question?
April 29, 2010 at 6:45 pm
the reasonable anonymous
The reason the Richardson Grove protesters had to “stack” the meeting and ask for additional public comment time (which Clif C. initially tried to deny to them) was that despite being asked repeatedly to put this project on their agenda, the Supes have not done so. So the opponents of the project decided that in order to have their voices heard by the Board of Supervisors, their only opportunity was during “public comment” time. Seems pretty straightforward to me, and entirely appropriate in our democratic system.
Hopefully the Board of Supes got the message, and will put this issue on the agenda in an upcoming meeting, where there will be adequate time to hear the public, including advocates for both sides.
April 29, 2010 at 8:47 pm
ED Denson
According to the current Scientific American rail travel and transport is cheaper, more fuel efficient, and creates less carbon pollution than driving or airplanes. For travel between 100-500 miles it is also faster.Lets bring back the railroad and leave Richardson Grove alone.
April 30, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Businessman
Ed,
Current estimates to “bring back the railroad” run as high as 1 billion. The Richardson’s Grove project total cost is seven million.
Were you planning on paying the difference with your pot growing client’s unpaid back income taxes?
April 30, 2010 at 7:04 pm
the reasonable anonymous
“demanded more than the 1/2 hour which they were going to be given. They were given much more time.”
Somehow Eric missed the part where Clif tried to prevent them from getting more time, and even threatened to clear the room. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, and folks had a chance to air their views.
Unless the Supes go ahead and place this item on their agenda, I suspect we’ll see similar scenes during “public comment” periods at upcoming meetings.
April 30, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Eric Kirk
Somehow Eric missed the part where Clif tried to prevent them from getting more time, and even threatened to clear the room. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, and folks had a chance to air their views.
Yes, Clif was definitely over the top. I’ve obtained a transcript for the moment in question. The reporter didn’t catch the name of each citizen, but each one spoke one at a time and calmly throughout.
Citiznen: Please kind Board. May we address you?
Clif: Grrrrrrrrrrr. Little people disgust me. You get one half hour!
Citizen: But, sir, we don’t mean to offend. But we just can’t express ourselves in a half hour!
Clif: Grrrrrrrrr. Shut your worthless mouths or I will clear the room and cast you into a pit of darkness where there shall be a weeping and a gnashing of teeth!
Citizen: Please sir. May we each of a minute more?
Clif: Grrrrrrrrrrr.
May 1, 2010 at 6:37 pm
the reasonable anonymous
Hey, that’s kinda funny.
But the actual transcript would be more enlightening, if not as entertaining.
Anyway, you sidestepped the fact that Cliff DID, in fact, try to minimize the number of people who would have been able to comment. And if I understood correctly, he wanted to limit each speaker to one minute apiece. Not a very democratic sentiment. Good thing that cooler heads prevailed, and more public comment time was granted.
Yes, “public comment” at BOS meetings is usually limited to 30 minutes, but when so many members of the public show up to speak on an issue, the Supes will often extend the public comment time to so that the people can be heard.
One minute apiece is ridiculous. If all you want is slogans and quick emotional appeals, I guess a minute each would work. But if you want to give people a chance to share their views in any kind of meaningful way, there’s no way that’s enough time.
Now if the Supes actually put the issue on the agenda for one of their upcoming meetings and made time for a full public hearing, that would be even better. But if they don’t, you can’t really blame the activists for using the one forum where they can directly address the board as a whole — the public comment time during BOS meetings.
May 3, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Jeff Muskrat
May 1, 2010 at 6:37 pm
the reasonable anonymous said:
“Hey, that’s kinda funny.
But the actual transcript would be more enlightening, if not as entertaining.”
Here is the KMUD press conference before the supes meeting, as well as the video from the 4/27 meeting:
http://saverichardsongrove.blogspot.com/2010/05/storm-supes.html
Did anyone else see the cartoon from the 5/2/2010 Times-Standard by Karen Gordon? A picture is worth a thousand words…
May 4, 2010 at 8:55 pm
ED Denson
Hey Businessman, where does that 1 billion dollars for a railroad restoration figure come from ? I’d like to read it. At a billion dollars I think I’d give up on it.
May 11, 2010 at 12:00 am
Allefecor
skimpy is the way!
May 21, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Neentuatsax
If you drink then dance…