CVS/Chase - After the approval with conditions

[Barry]

[This thread continues the discussion of the proposed CVS/Chase development in downtown Sebastopol from the point where the City Council approved the design on August 8th, 2012. To see the discussion from the point when it was first proposed in May 2011, see this thread: http://www.waccobb.net/forums/showth...pment-proposal - Barry]


CVS/chase approved subject to adding door on Sebastopol Ave (12) corner and convert a one-way drive to a fire lane. 3-2 with Kyes and Gurney saying no.

Armstrong is not happy about adding the door.

Council would rather they add drive thru at redwood market place.

[Edited by Barry for clarity and typos following a late night!]

[Imagery]

I wonder who got paid off?

[b.w. rose]

So, I get up this morning and Waccobb has this news and the Press Democrat site doesn't !!!

[La.Sereniti]

Barry,

Thanks for the update.

Can we start a new thread... this thing is a beast and is hard to make useful. Title? Protesting CVS/Chase Approval? Taking action! or Marketing Contest! Local Business NOT Corporations.

What are those actions? What do we do?:
Create a bumper sticker contest (Call to visit a website. Make a mockery of these corporate monsters with humor)
Website: Here's your options for banking and pharmacy
Boycott CVS and Chase: Friends and family of ALL communities.
Community specials: All people with a bumper sticker on their car. (ie 2 for 1 deals)(something like give a pint get a pint Screaming Mimi's ...awesome!)
Marketing stunts: monthly prizes for most creative placement
Your ideas?

Geez, why do I feel like we just sold our soul last night? I'm sad for this community. Very sad. And violated.

How did this happen? Sebastopol? really???????????????????????????????????????

Really? Is this a prank? I wish it was.
If you agree Barry please move this message to a new thread with new title. [Done! - Barry]

[Allorrah Be]

More will be revealed, as we see what happens with lawsuits and other events.
Pray for Peace!
Rev. BE

I wonder who got paid off?

[Shepherd]

I also think that we need a new thread which starts after the decision last night. Those of us who were there could contribute to starting it, as could others.

We are now in a new ball game and need to mobilize people to continue the struggle against Chase/CVS, before their corporate takeover of our small town. Their suburban strip mall could be extended by the purchase of the abandoned lumberyard down the block. Armstrong Development brags on its Calif. Regional Website that it represents Wal-Mart, Target, and such big chains. What a nice downtown commons that would make?

Now is the time to get more active, or it will soon be too late. I am preparing a response to yesterday's PD editorial, which I should finish soon and will send to wacco.
Shepherd

[Barry]

Sebastopol City Council OKs CVS project design
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article...p=all&tc=pgall

By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, August 8, 2012 at 7:03 a.m.

A Sacramento developer's plan for a CVS Pharmacy and Chase Bank branch at one of Sebastopol's busiest intersections has received final approval for a design, ending two years of planning and sometimes emotional debate.

The Sebastopol City Council, in a debated that started Tuesday night and ended Wednesday morning, granted an appeal for Armstrong Development, which was contesting an earlier rejection by the city's Design Review Board.

However, the council added the conditions that the developer include an additional entrance at the corner of Sebastopol and Petaluma avenues and convert a one-way drive to a fire lane.

“We have come to the point that we have a much better design than at the outset,” said Mayor Guy Wilson. “We have come from what was a pretty mediocre first effort.”

The proposal by Armstrong Development has been one of the more contentious in Sebastopol, already subjected to two dozen meetings and hours of debate.

Tuesday night, the debate began with a crowd of 250 in the audience, but it had dwindled to 50 people by 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, when the council took action.

The council voted to uphold the appeal, but with the two conditions that have to be met to the satisfaction of the staff and council.

CVS has resisted having a second door at that location, contending that it created safety and theft issues.

CVS also wants vehicle access at the one-way driveway on Petaluma Avenue, which the council wants as a grassy fire lane.

Armstrong spokesman Bill McDermott didn't have an immediate response to the conditions after the vote.

The council passed the resolution in a 3-2 vote.

Wilson and council members Patrick Slayter and Kathleen Shaffer approved the motion, but Vice Mayor Mike Kyes and Sarah Gurney voted no.

“I am not giving it a green light,” Gurney said. “I'm not willing to approve a project in which there are so many things that are not nailed down.”

Kyes said that he was also not satisfied with the reduction of the height of the CVS Pharmacy in the latest redesign.

The developer is proposing to build a 14,576-square-foot CVS Pharmacy and 4,327-square-foot Chase bank branch at the site of the vacant Pellini Chevrolet dealership.

CVS and Chase would move to the 2.4-acre site from locations elsewhere in the city.

Critics contend the project is a suburban shopping center with two large buildings and a large parking lot, and it is out of character with Sebastopol's Main Street character.

Armstrong had already received all necessary approvals for the $10 million project, including the City Council approving a negative declaration of environmental impacts.

The design was the last approval needed, but has already been rejected by the Design Review Board twice.

In this the fourth design, Sebastopol architect Kevin Kellogg varied roof heights, added a brick facade instead of quasi-industrial metal siding, removed some parking, created a larger plaza, added clear glass windows and gave the driveway a one-way entrance.

The changes were made at the request of the City Council in February, but the redesign was still rejected by the Design Review Board on May 30.

You can reach Staff Writer Bob Norberg at 521-5206 or bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com.

[Shepherd]

Thanks, Barry, for your good communication skills and all the work that you do to keep us informed, such as by starting this new thread, since we are now in a new moment on this defining issue for the future of Sebastopol.
Shepherd

[dominus]

I'm not surprised in the slightest about the green light on this project because of CVS's well-financed legal representation. However, Armstrong may NOT want to meet these conditions and ultimately decide to let this one go.

[Maureen]

I’ve been following the comments on WaccoBB and Sonoma West regarding the CVS/Chase process with a mixture of irritation and concern.


Two years ago I wrote an Opinion Piece for the Sonoma West where I outlined the reasons as I saw them for not wanting CVS/Chase to change locations. I am not a fan of this move at all. But when the majority of our City Council, except Sarah Guerney, voted to approve the appeal after the Planning Commission vote, this project was legally done, except for the DRB. Legally, the only issue the city council could vote on last night was whether or not Armstrong had met the suggested changes and was in compliance with local code.


I am irritated and concerned by the emotional only response to the City Council’s decision by folks who apparently not only haven’t done any of their homework, they have no real sense of how local government works. Before you start slinging mud,... check out local code, state law, etc.


For those of you who indirectly accuse city council or city staff as having been bought off: Do you know these people? Have you talked with them? Do you know that basically the City Council members are volunteers who work hard and really care about the city. They might see the issues differently, and I don’t alway agree with them, but I always respect them for the service to our community. Do you know the challenges of a city Planning Manager who has to make sure all state, county and local codes are being followed and provide fair processes to all?


I do not and will not shop at CVS, or support Chase bank because I believe in supporting local banks and I am appalled by CVS business practices. But not everyone has the luxury of this boycott. CVS has locked many of our neighbors into only being able to get their prescriptions paid for by their insurance by purchasing them only at CVS.


There are a lot of voters in this community (perhaps even a majority) who do support this decision, or are neutral and wonder what all the fuss is about. Personally, I don’t want CVS or Chase in our community, but they are already here and they currently have the right to buy property and to be afforded the same fair process any one of us would want if we were in the position of buying property and developing it.


If these issues are really important to you, now is the time to participate in updating the General Plan, and in the process, learn to really listen to other view points in our community.


And if you really want to keep this fight going, contact Helen Shane about the lawsuit and put money where your mouth is.

[Barry]

Here's a video of the motion and vote, and the Mayor's plea for peace and respect (4:30 mark) that happened after midnight.

I also shot various segments of the prior discussion, including the part about adding the door. Let me know if you are interested in seing them. I won't be able to upload them until tomorrow, though.

[Helen Shane]

I’ve been following the comments on WaccoBB and Sonoma West regarding the CVS/Chase process with a mixture of irritation and concern.


Two years ago I wrote an Opinion Piece for the Sonoma West where I outlined the reasons as I saw them for not wanting CVS/Chase to change locations. I am not a fan of this move at all. But when the majority of our City Council, except Sarah Guerney, voted to approve the appeal after the Planning Commission vote, this project was legally done, except for the DRB. Legally, the only issue the city council could vote on last night was whether or not Armstrong had met the suggested changes and was in compliance with local code.

hs- actually, Maureen, the issue of what the city council, and before them, the DRB upon acting on that City Council resolution was circumscribed by none other than Bill McDermott, Armstrong agent, who IMHO interpreted the action needed into boxing in the DRB and what they could comment on. I have a verbatim translation of the DVD minutes that memorializes the dialogue on that subject, from the DRB meeting, and will send it to you for you to judge.


I am irritated and concerned by the emotional only response to the City Council’s decision by folks who apparently not only haven’t done any of their homework, they have no real sense of how local government works. Before you start slinging mud,... check out local code, state law, etc.


For those of you who indirectly accuse city council or city staff as having been bought off: Do you know these people? Have you talked with them? Do you know that basically the City Council members are volunteers who work hard and really care about the city. They might see the issues differently, and I don’t alway agree with them, but I always respect them for the service to our community. Do you know the challenges of a city Planning Manager who has to make sure all state, county and local codes are being followed and provide fair processes to all?

I do know these people, and have actively worked with most of them except for Shaffer and Slayter, and that includes staff members. I always respect the positions held by them, and, if they earn it, respect them personally. As to the Planning Director, I have my personal opinion of his objectivity.


I do not and will not shop at CVS, or support Chase bank because I believe in supporting local banks and I am appalled by CVS business practices. But not everyone has the luxury of this boycott. CVS has locked many of our neighbors into only being able to get their prescriptions paid for by their insurance by purchasing them only at CVS.


There are a lot of voters in this community (perhaps even a majority) who do support this decision, or are neutral and wonder what all the fuss is about. Personally, I don’t want CVS or Chase in our community, but they are already here and they currently have the right to buy property and to be afforded the same fair process any one of us would want if we were in the position of buying property and developing it.


If these issues are really important to you, now is the time to participate in updating the General Plan, and in the process, learn to really listen to other view points in our community.


And if you really want to keep this fight going, contact Helen Shane about the lawsuit and put money where your mouth is.

And Committee for Small Town Sebastopol has a bank account at Exchange Bank that would be happy to scoop up any contributions, and would be gracefully acknowledged, or to to PayPal and look for Committee for Small Town Sebastopol and give that way.

Thank you, Maureen. Good to see Dan at the meeting last night. Helen

[Shandi]

I don't live in Sebastopol, but understand the concerns voiced by those opposed to this project. It's possible that the "majority" of residents don't know or care about this issue. If that's actually true then the job for the minority opposed, is to convince other community members to boycott.

I think that once the residents experience the problems projected, they will be more likely convinced.
Our power lies in where we spend our money, and if the community doesn't support these businesses, they may leave of their own accord. (Even if it takes awhile to sink in)
Although I understand that some people may be locked into CVS " as previously mentioned

"CVS has locked many of our neighbors into only being able to get their prescriptions paid for by their insurance by purchasing them only at CVS."

The bucks are the bottom line, and is possibly how this thing got approved in the first place, but we may never know whose pockets got lined, or if they did.

[theindependenteye]

quote: CVS has locked many of our neighbors into only being able to get their prescriptions paid for by their insurance by purchasing them only at CVS.

Can anyone cast light (again, if it has already been explained, sorry) how this agreement between CVS and insurance companies came to happen? Presumably it's legal or they couldn't enforce it, but my question is, how did they DO that?

quote: I'm not surprised in the slightest about the green light on this project because of CVS's well-financed legal representation. However, Armstrong may NOT want to meet these conditions and ultimately decide to let this one go.

Is there honestly any chance at all that Armstrong might decide that we're more trouble than we're worth? CVS and Chase are behemoths, but Armstrong is only a baby behemoth (AFAIK) -- unless they're part of Armstrong World Industries. I don't think we can protest ourselves into the corporate consciousness, but Armstrong is very proud of being the development honchos of CVS and Chase (joined at the hip, it appears) all over the damn country.

Armstrong describes themselves on their website: "Our company is expanding, placing offices in some of the nation's fastest growing cities. We are ideally positioned to serve companies looking to expand in multiple markets with multiple locations. As a developer for CVS Pharmacy and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, our 'preferred development' sites are found across the nation." I have a hunch that if we have any plausible target, it has to be Armstrong, not the twin C's. Maybe their razor-sharp honchos have missed the point that Sebastopol is not quite at the top of the "city" category, nor does it aspire to be.

In one of our long-ago plays, Dakota Bones, we had a land-owner who was a lone hold-out, stubbornly refusing to sell his property for development of a giant shopping mall in the middle of godforsaken nowhere. (Previously, dinosaur bones have been found there.) The development is stopped in its tracks, but not because of him. Turns out, when the developer reviewed the proposal, it was discovered that someone had added zeroes to the area's population -- "Nothing could be that small." Could we be that small?

Elizabeth Fuller

[Barry]

The council members made many references to the many emails they have received on this topic, including a very thoughtful and impassioned plea for CVS to remain in their current location read by Sarah Gurney.

If you want to send your comments to the council their addresses are below. Be sure to include staff is well if you want your comment to be entered into the record.

Mayor Guy Wilson - guywlaw@yahoo.com
Vice Mayor Michael Kyes -michaelkyes@sbcglobal.net
Council Member Sarah Gurney - sarahcouncil@yahoo.com
Council Member Kathleen Shaffer - ccmshaffer@gmail.com
Council Member Patrick Slayter - ps.sebcc@gmail.com
City Clerk Mary Gourley - mgourley@cityofsebastopol.org
Larry McLaughlin, City Mgr. -lwmclaughlin@juno.com

[Magick]

Its time for a public, visible boycott of the current Chase, CVS outlets in town. The silver lining could be that since they are not willing to stay where they are we could show them that business as usual is over in their present locations and make them realize that we will not support their presence in our town.

Chase can be stopped with a move your money campaign, and CVS can be stopped by educating people about their horrendous record of disobeying regulations and just paying fines. So many corporations just consider these fines a part of doing business.

Sebastopol has had a history of shying away from direct action but that is what is the effective tool at this point.
Are we ready? Will the candidates who oppose this project help to organize this boycott?

Their record is as follows:
As of May 30, 2008, no less than SIX (6) SEPARATE LAWSUITS have been filed against CVS Pharmacy (or its related companies) on behalf of employees who were denied REST BREAKS, MEAL BREAKS, VACATION PAY, and/or OVERTIME PAY, A

CVS pharmacist has just won $2.6 million for her part in bringing a whistleblower lawsuit against CVS for alleged Medicaid fraud.

SETTLEMENT INFORMATION
Tong v. CVS
Pharmacists in California won a lawsuit against CVS for 19,750,000 for failure to provide meal breaks, overtime, and straighttime wages.

Browse: Home / CVS Fined for Dumping Hazardous Waste in CA
CVS Fined for Dumping Hazardous Waste in CA
By Bob Plain on April 20, 2012
California judge has ordered Rhode Island-based CVS to pay $13.75 million in fines to 45 cities and towns in the Golden State for improper dumping of hazardous materials and hypodermic needles.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay $77.6 million in fines and returned profits in a case alleging improper control in the sale of an ingredient used to make methamphetamine, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
Shareholders file 2 lawsuits against JPMorgan Chase over $2 billion trading loss

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 9:11 AM

NEW YORK — Shareholders of JPMorgan Chase & Co. have filed two lawsuits against the nation’s biggest bank, accusing it and its leaders of taking excessive risk and causing a monumental $2 billion trading loss.

[Helen Shane]

Bill McDermott, Armstrong's agent, confirmed at the Council meeting on 7/19 that Chase is not moving. They want to have two locations in Sebastopol, the better to...well, you know.

I've been hearing about the need to boycott for months. I do wish someone would jump in and organize it.

Thanks, all. Helen Shane

[sandoak]

Barry,

I greatly appreciate your staying so late & bringing us this video. Watching it brings home the reality of this decision & the complex personalities that brought us to this point. I also appreciate the forum you've provided for this issue every step so far, & now the new thread to sort out the aftermath.

I'm wondering how we can get more folks aware of this opportunity to share ideas? You've created something of such value for the community, & the value grows as more people use it.

Thank you for all you do.

Here's a video of the motion and vote, and the Mayor's plea for peace and respect (4:30 mark) that happened after midnight.

[Barry]

I wonder who got paid off?

I think such accusations of financial impropriety are uncalled for.

That said, I'd be shocked if Armstrong, CVS, Chase and perhaps a few other interested parties did not make the maximum legal donation to Kathleen's re-election campaign. See her chatting with Armstrong's representative after last night's vote at right.

It should also be noted that Guy Wilson, who I thought did a masterful job of leading the meeting in a very even handed way, also voted for the project, after forcefully arguing for the corner door to be added. He is not running for re-election. Maybe they'll double of value of his CVS coupons instead!

[Dustyg]

Excuse me, but what happened to representative government? Didn't we elect these people to the City Council to represent us? Not corporations!

Thank God for Gurney and Keyes, let's keep them on and get rid of the others. The decision is a very big disappointment for citizens of Sebastopol...Corporate takeover scores again. At the very least, we can refust to shop at CVS ever again; boycott their business here in Sebastopol and any other town where we shop...perhaps they will respect us a l ittle if we refuse to give them any more money? And if our other council members (who voted YES for Corporations) like that big box, corporate presence so much, why not move to Santa Rosa or Rohnert Park? Why stay here and try to make this into the kind of city that we don't want?

Sebastopol has been a wonderful town, and I hope we can keep it together in spite of corporations and corporation lovers on our city council. Let's be VERY VERY careful who we elect to our city council next time!

[Sara S]

Of course, I'd never shop at CVS or Chase; I've replaced my Chase Visa card with a Westamerica, but what else can we do?

As you say, Dustyg, BOYCOTT! I'm willing to help get this message out, march around, whatever. For the first time in 37 years of living in this county, brain-dead capitalism will actually have an effect on my daily life, since I live near town.

Sara

[La.Sereniti]

I've been hearing about the need to boycott for months. I do wish someone would jump in and organize it.

Well.... hi! =)

I'm a person that happens to know how to use the Internet. Other people will have other skills (ie pharmacy, legal, banking, marketing, etc) to bring to the table.

I just brought my piece that I can offer to the potluck for a boycott. Judging by the increase in readers and a personal note... you might wonder who I am. I am simply wanting to do business with locals and keep profit in the community. That objective is simple and will never waiver.

I love Sebastopol and surrounding communities enough to donate some of my time...

I think what is proposed is as easy as making apple pie, but I'm not bringing all the ingredients.

http://movemoney.org/

Barry has my phone number, if he wants to call me. I must work on some other stuff now, but I'll check back at the end of the day.

Best wishes to you all.... what ever you decide to do.

Sereniti

[photolite]

I don't believe Westamerica to be a whole lot better. Go to Summit, Exchange or Redwood. Check out Go Local for info on local oriented banks.

Of course, I'd never shop at CVS or Chase; I've replaced my Chase Visa card with a Westamerica, but what else can we do?

As you say, Dustyg, BOYCOTT! I'm willing to help get this message out, march around, whatever. For the first time in 37 years of living in this county, brain-dead capitalism will actually have an effect on my daily life, since I live near town.

Sara

[Barry]

I don't believe Westamerica to be a whole lot better. Go to Summit, Exchange or Redwood. Check out Go Local for info on local oriented banks.

Here's the key chart from GoLocal. Note that Westamerica Bank, headquartered in Fairfield, CA, is regional with 9.2% of the their deposits coming from the county. Also note that Bank of the West, which is a subsidiary of a French corporation, is non-local with 1.25% deposits coming from the county.

I moved my banking from Bank of the West to Community First Credit Union earlier this year and have been very happy I did!

Let's keep this thread more tightly focused on the aftermath of the CVS/Chase decision, thanks. We can spawn a new thread about local actions in needed.

[dzerach]

Can anyone cast light (again, if it has already been explained, sorry) how this agreement between CVS and insurance companies came to happen.

don't know, but I came across this tidbit in wikipedia -" In 2003, CVS selected NBTY (Nature's BOunty (owned by the Carlisle Group!) as its exclusive supplier for all existing vitamins and supplements."

quote: CVS has locked many of our neighbors into only being able to get their prescriptions paid for by their insurance by purchasing them only at CVS.

Can anyone cast light (again, if it has already been explained, sorry) how this agreement between CVS and insurance companies came to happen? Presumably it's legal or they couldn't enforce it, but my question is, how did they DO that?

[jayherdt]

I feel like Sebastopol sold out or bought in to development 20 years ago when they moved from an ag community to the yuppie center of Sonoma county. How about those cheap real estate prices and affordable housing-when did we loose that as well.

[Dian Hardy]

Seems to me it all started with the construction of Warm Springs Dam. That allowed (rampant) development and brought a landslide of property trading. Talk to the old folks who've been here all their lives. I'm a mere forty years in the county and can now see how swiftly this happened. The Sebastopol City Council was at one point VERY development based. Everything changes whether or not we take part in the change. I'm proud of the people who stood forward against the project. Take a deserved rest and come back strong. I'm at Burbank Heights & Orchards and will be pleased to take part in a boycott or further actions.

I fell like Sebastopol sold out or bought in to development 20 years ago when they moved from an ag community to the yuppie center of Sonoma county. How about those cheap real estate prices and affordable housing-when did we loose that as well.

[dominus]

Either through an error in judgement or cronyism, a negative declaration was a major miscall. After all, if it's just a "small matter", of relocating CVS downtown with the "same amount of traffic" than I would think an EIR would quickly and easily verify that fact. Sebastopol must first and foremost protect all who will be traveling through that area. Otherwise, if due diligence isn't conducted (and it hasn't been to date,) then there will be a higher risk of lawsuits should something catastrophic occur as a result of this move. To avoid this potential risk, it's prudent, common sense that an EIR be conducted. CVS can comfortably afford to pay for it. We've gone this long, a few more months won't make a difference. The city of Sebastopol should and must retract the negative declaration (people make mistakes) and require an EIR. If CVS doesn't like that, they can go ahead and sue Sebastopol. However, given CEQA guidelines and the evidence, it's highly probable the courts would see the logic of an EIR. I know I, and I'm sure others, would feel a good deal more comfortable with this move if a thorough EIR was done.

[Helen Shane]

Now What? Action!

You may already have heard about the 3-2 vote in favor of CVS/Chase/Armstrong to grant the appeal of the 4 to 1 Design Review Board’s denial of approval.

The formal resolution will be reviewed by the City Council on August 21.

Possible next steps:

• Armstrong may threaten to sue, or they may actually file a suit regarding the conditions the Council required compliance with.
• Or they might say they accept the conditions.
• Or they may go away… not likely.

If Armstrong accepts the conditions, there is still unresolved the issue of the left turn into the project by cars coming from Santa Rosa on Sebastopol Avenue. We must try to persuade Caltrans not to allow this turn that would tie up traffic even more at that corner!

Small Town Sebastopol still can press its lawsuit to force an Environmental Impact Report, including a bona fide traffic study that will include The Barlow, now so far along that even the hired traffic consultant would be forced to include it in the study.

The whole CVS/Chase/Armstrong issue looms over the November election for the two seats that are now open on the Sebastopol City Council.

Candidates John Eder and Robert Jacob are in the running, as are incumbent Kathleen Shaffer and former Council member Kathy Austin, and Colleen Fernald.

Eder and Jacob have come out emphatically for upholding the DRB. Shaffer and Austin have publicly supported the developers …Shaffer even working “under the radar” (to use her own words) to encourage its support.

You can support Small Town Sebastopol and of course endorse the candidacies of Eder and Jacob.
You choose.
Your responsibility.
Your community is in your hands.

To talk with John, go to johnEDER@comcast.net or call 696-4310 or go to johneder2012.weebly.com
Robert: go to www.Jacob4council.com, or events@jacob4council.com

To send a contribution to Small Town Sebastopol click here
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HK4AGZUNQSV2Q

(you 'll be asked for an amount and either login to your paypal account or enter a credit card number)
or send check or make electronic transfer to
Committee for Small Town Sebastopol,
Exchange Bank, 720 Gravenstein No
Sebastopol 95472

[Barry]

[Posted with permission from Bo Bryant of People's Music:]

I think this whole idea for CVS/Chase in our town

at that corner of town or any where else in

town is crazy nuts insane and should not even

be on the table!!!! They should stay where they are!

Bo Bryant

Peoples Music

Since 1968

[Barry]

Eder and Jacob have come out emphatically for upholding the DRB.

Hmmm... See what you think:

[Dian Hardy]

Seems he has no problem with the corporate move-in but has concerns involving details and minutiae. Hardly an unequivocal stance. Government as compromise. Thanks for the interview, Barry.

[Helen Shane]

Hmmm... See what you think:

(John Eder interview)

I think it's good. He speaks well, his ideas are, I think appealing to more than one group. I like it. Thanks for asking. hs

[1104GT]

No, this is not "government as compromise". It is government working within the limits of it's power. When governments go beyond the power given to them by "we the people", in this case as described in our Municipal Code, that's called tyranny (bad). Governments can't make up new rules as they go. I know many want to stop CVS and Chase, (the corporate entities) from operating in town, but today our government officials don't have that authority. If you want them to, then volunteer to work on the update of the General Plan.

John's comments are those of a creative, resourceful, informed and thoughtful person working within the authority of the City Council. You may think this is "details and minutia", but these are the only tools of regulation available to our Council members. For John to make recommendations that go beyond those powers would be wrong and, to me, scary.

Ted

Seems he has no problem with the corporate move-in but has concerns involving details and minutiae. Hardly an unequivocal stance. Government as compromise. Thanks for the interview, Barry.

[Dian Hardy]

I completely disagree with your reading. Throughout this entire project's trajectory is the issue of what the residents of the city want. And there MUST be a process through which citizens' wishes are known. Just as most people don't know that a jury can make findings independent of instructions received from the bench. The power to do that is democracy. According to you there would be no legal precedent, no change in law or custom.

No, this is not "government as compromise". It is government working within the limits of it's power. When governments go beyond the power given to them by "we the people", in this case as described in our Municipal Code, that's called tyranny (bad). Governments can't make up new rules as they go. I know many want to stop CVS and Chase, (the corporate entities) from operating in town, but today our government officials don't have that authority. If you want them to, then volunteer to work on the update of the General Plan.

John's comments are those of a creative, resourceful, informed and thoughtful person working within the authority of the City Council. You may think this is "details and minutia", but these are the only tools of regulation available to our Council members. For John to make recommendations that go beyond those powers would be wrong and, to me, scary.

Ted

[Peter Schurch]

[ Peter Schurch is a member of the Sebastopol Design Review Board - Barry]

We tried to resist the intrusion of suburban business models into the
downtown core. We failed. Sebastopol already has too many big suburban
players downtown. CVS will make Sebastopol more of a drive-thru town than
it already is. There are other big corporations like Whole Foods which
value local flavor where they do business. CVS didn't want to play that
way. They don't understand a pedestrian friendly site plan. Sebastopol is
nice because of its vibrant culture and pedestrian friendliness. That's
what should be maintained and developed. CVS could have fit into that model
too. But they weren't willing to do it. That's their arrogance. Too bad
for Sebastopol that they got away with it.

[Barry]

I thought I'd try my hand at video! Still haven't gotten used to talking into the camera, but this is passable...

Bonus points to anybody who posts a video reply! If you're interested (and have a webcam) but don't know how, let' me know and I post a video demo! It's pretty easy!

To talk with John Eder, go to johnEDER@comcast.net or call 696-4310 or go to johneder2012.weebly.com
Robert Jacbobs: go to www.Jacob4council.com, or events@jacob4council.com

To send a contribution to Committee for Small Town Sebastopol click here
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HK4AGZUNQSV2Q

(you 'll be asked for an amount and either login to your paypal account or enter a credit card number)
or send check or make electronic transfer to
Committee for Small Town Sebastopol,
Exchange Bank, 720 Gravenstein No
Sebastopol 95472

[Peacetown Jonathan]

I thought I'd try my hand at video! Still haven't gotten used to talking into the camera, but this is passable...

Bonus points to anybody who posts a video reply! If you're interested (and have a webcam) but don't know how, let' me know and I post a video demo! It's pretty easy!

To talk with John Eder, go to johnEDER@comcast.net or call 696-4310 or go to johneder2012.weebly.com
Robert Jacbobs: go to www.Jacob4council.com, or events@jacob4council.com

To send a contribution to Committee for Small Town Sebastopol click here
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HK4AGZUNQSV2Q

(you 'll be asked for an amount and either login to your paypal account or enter a credit card number)
or send check or make electronic transfer to
Committee for Small Town Sebastopol,
Exchange Bank, 720 Gravenstein No
Sebastopol 95472

Well said and quite thorough. I agree that the Barlow Project is NOT the same as the CVS Project--their location is very different and Barlow feels like it will EXTEND our wonderful downtown, while the CVS Development will feel like a wall keeping it out.

Thank you, Vee-jay Barry!

[Helen Shane]

I thought I'd try my hand at video!

Hi Barry - well, you are brave and true. I think your video is very comprehensive and persuasive. One minor point re the Council's conditions. The last iteration of the Petaluma Ave access, in addition to the one at Abbott Ave, is an "in-only" driveway. The Councill's condition is that it be a fire lane only. I must say Mayor Guy took great pains, grilling the fire chief. Braga at first resisted the concept of making it simply an EVA, reason being the additional time it would take to remove the bollards or other device used to prevent other cars from using it as a drive in. Wilson pushed on, saying that surely with today's technology some system could be devised that would work without delaying access by the emergency vehicle. Braga finally agreed, saying "I only want access." So, if this condition were complied with, the only commercial access on Petaluma Ave would be via Abbott Ave.

Thank you for your work and attention to the critical matter of the application. I love Jonathan picking up on the Wall that would be created by that long, doorless entrance on Sebastopol Road, blocking the way to Barlow and the town's entrance, rather than extending our local downtown.

I may get my cam up and running, and will let you know if I do.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[1104GT]

Dian, you need to remember that property owners have certain rights which are regulated by codes and regulations. Government can only restrict citizen's freedoms in ways that are specifically described in law. Elected officials can't make stuff up as they go, even if the will of the people want it. That will must be coded into law BEFORE government can act.

And there MUST be a process through which citizens' wishes are known.

This is exactly what we've been doing in public meetings for the last 2 years. The other tool we have is voting.

Just as most people don't know that a jury can make findings independent of instructions received from the bench. The power to do that is democracy.

True, but jury's cannot make new laws as they go. They can only decide on actions relative to EXISTING laws.

According to you there would be no legal precedent, no change in law or custom.

No, these are different processes; 1) making laws, 2) enforcing laws and 3) Interpreting law. We have to change the law first, then enforce it. That's what the General Plan update is all about.

Ted

[Magick]

I really love the calm, logical tone you use to explain these basic facts of life. I certainly hope that Dian, a very passionate woman, who cares deeply about the natural world, has got her head on straight now that you have explained things..
Except for one thing...your whole story is based on the acceptance that we own the earth, that we in our short life span can come in, make some deals with other humans, buying and selling all the other species and the earth itself, then cut the trees, poison the water, steal the precious oil, drive other species to extinction, all because we, who will not live nearly as long as a redwood tree, own everything!
Ownership is just a fancy word for SLAVERY!
We don't own shit!
And we don't have a right to shit everywhere, especially not in the water..
We got work to do here, and its not about protecting the ruling class! Corporations like Chase and CVS are screwing us and every other species alive.
Or maybe we are all taking too many pharmaceuticals to wake up and smell the coffee!
As Tracy Chapman so aptly put it, "All that you got is your soul! "

Please no more condescending speeches to my sisters that are sick and tired of your laws.
There are laws of nature, there is order here, and it wasn't invented by people.
Ask the sky what it thinks about pollution, what the sea creatures think about plastic.
Thank you, Dian, I hear you loud and clear!
I will take my answer off-line, in other words, if you have something to say about what I just said, you know where to find me.
Yours truly,
Magick
Lawyer from Venus, here to defend Mother Earth in the custody case for the human race!
Contact me through: The FIRMament

Dian, you need to remember that property owners have certain rights which are regulated by codes and regulations. Government can only restrict citizen's freedoms in ways that are specifically described in law. Elected officials can't make stuff up as they go, even if the will of the people want it. That will must be coded into law BEFORE government can act.

This is exactly what we've been doing in public meetings for the last 2 years. The other tool we have is voting.

True, but jury's cannot make new laws as they go. They can only decide on actions relative to EXISTING laws.

No, these are different processes; 1) making laws, 2) enforcing laws and 3) Interpreting law. We have to change the law first, then enforce it. That's what the General Plan update is all about.

Ted

[Shepherd]

The influence of money in elections is not new. When it comes from big business into a small town, that can be a big problem, especially if those businesses have a history of throwing their money around, including paying millions of dollars in fines for illegal, immoral, and unethical behaviors.

It’s all about the money. That’s all that Chase Bank, CVS Pharmacy, and Armstrong want from the people of Sebastopol—extract our natural and social wealth. As for those of us who live here, we love Sebastopol. It is our home.

These three mega-corporations take. They do not give. Sebastopol has nothing to gain from them. And lots to loose. They are greedy. They prey on small towns, sucking them of their resources.

I am concerned about the big bucks that Chase/CVS/Armstrong might give to the two candidates who favor their moving into our downtown core—Kathleen Shaffer and Kathy Austin. Fortunately, these two are running against two successful local businessmen—Robert Jacob and John Eder. Please spread the word to Sebastopol residents to vote for them and thus save our small town.

Kathleen Shaffer and her friends made it clear after the last election that they wanted her to be the mayor. An issue is what lengths would she go to in order to achieve this ambition. It is important that one or both of Robert and John be elected to prevent that from happening and thus selling out our town to the highest outside bidder.

I hope that you will also join us next Tuesday for the Sebastopol City Council meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., where the Council plans to vote on a resolution regarding Chase/CVS.

Following is a draft of a letter to the Sonoma West editor that I submitted for this week’s paper. It was published, except for the last three paragraphs, which are the meat of the letter. I suggest how big money might influence our small town. This week’s paper also has some other letters favorable to and opposing Chase/CVS. Please follow this issue carefully and write letters to editors.

The Bohemian also has a letter of mine this week. I start teaching full-time next Monday, so my voice will be quiet for a while. I hope others will comment more on these matters. Our town’s future is at risk.

Chase/CVS/Armstrong Update
The conditions attached by the Sebastopol City Council to their August 7 tentative approval of Chase/CVS anchoring our downtown commons may doom it, since Armstrong Development previously rejected them.

The Small Town Sebastopol Committee has filed a lawsuit contending that the project violates the California Environmental Quality Act. It asserts that an Environmental Impact Study should be required, including the traffic that will be generated by the new Barlow Project.

The Council plans to formalize its decision August 21. Now is a good time to write them and letters to editors, as well as attend that meeting. Whatever happens, the issue may dominate the campaign for the two open seats on the Council to be decided Nov. 6.

Successful businessmen Robert Jacob and John Eder are the two viable candidates who oppose the development. Sonoma County Conservation Action has endorsed them as the environmental, green candidates.

Candidate and current Councilmember Kathleen Shaffer has been the cheerleader for the development, becoming known to some as “the CVS lady.” Though she has done good work for the city, she may be best remembered for radically changing its small town character.
Candidate Kathy Austin also supports the two giant outside corporations dominating our small town center.

Given that Shaffer and Austin support Chase, the wealthiest bank in the U.S., and its frequent partner, CVS, one wonders how much support these mega-corporations may provide them. Informed sources report that an Independent Expenditures (IE) committee is being organized to funnel money to the big business advocates. IE’s can receive an unlimited amount of money for candidates. How democratic or fair is that?

What might they do with all that cash? Hit pieces and deceptive mailers before the absentee ballots arrive in early October and then again right before the election might arrive. If you receive many slick mailers at those times making rash accusations, without evidence, it could be a sign of the presence of outside money.

The majority of the community has rejected this project and spoken against it for over two years. This may be the ugliest and dirtiest election in Sebastopol history in recent years.

Shepherd Bliss, Sebastopol

[podfish]

I really love the calm, logical tone you use to explain these basic facts of life.... <...>
Except for one thing...your whole story is based on the acceptance that we own the earth, <....>
And we don't have a right to shit everywhere, especially not in the water..
We got work to do here, and its not about protecting the ruling class! Corporations like Chase and CVS are screwing us and every other species alive. <...>Please no more condescending speeches to my sisters that are sick and tired of your laws.
There are laws of nature, there is order here, and it wasn't invented by people.

so calmly using logic is condescending?? passionately flailing about will give better results??

Failing to understand the forces you're dealing with, failing to understand the source and limits of their powers, means, in the end, you will fail to achieve the end you hope for. "The whole story" isn't remotely based on the premise that we own the earth. The laws of nature allow for a lot more outcomes than you seem to think - nature is a place of intense competition and quite frequently is a place of upheaval and destruction. "Ownership" is a human idea meant to limit what other humans do (well, you could say it's broader than that. A bird has pretty analogous behavior regarding its territory - so it's maybe an animal's way of limit what other animals can do).

In this issue, passion can be valuable. It's a way to get people involved and concerned. But it can also be destructive to the cause, because until you reach the level of open street fighting, those who use the laws and regulations will prevail over those offering only what the system treats as irrelevant arguments. Wishing passionately that the opposition will be seen as an embodiment of evil forces isn't a strategy for success.

[1104GT]

I am concerned with only one thing, and that is being effective. To do so, I recognize that I have to work within the existing framework of laws, government and elected officials. Calm, polite logic has served me well so far and I make no apologies for it. Passion is great, but worthless if you can't make progress because you insist on ignoring the existing way things work in our world. Wishing for a better system that doesn't exist is a waste of time and energy and results in always having to protest things. We need to move beyond "protest" mode and become progressive planners.

That said, if you want to work on a better system, I'm all for it!. The General Plan update is a great opportunity to float new ideas. I completely agree that the whole idea of "ownership" has introduced huge problems into the world, but am not aware of a better system that works with large complex populations. Don't we need some set of rules or laws? Otherwise the thin veneer of civilization comes off exposing the not-so-pleasant nature of humans.

Condescending Ted

I really love the calm, logical tone you use to explain these basic facts of life. I certainly hope that Dian, a very passionate woman, who cares deeply about the natural world, has got her head on straight now that you have explained things..
Except for one thing...your whole story is based on the acceptance that we own the earth, that we in our short life span can come in, make some deals with other humans, buying and selling all the other species and the earth itself, then cut the trees, poison the water, steal the precious oil, drive other species to extinction, all because we, who will not live nearly as long as a redwood tree, own everything!
Ownership is just a fancy word for SLAVERY!

Please no more condescending speeches to my sisters that are sick and tired of your laws.

[Helen Shane]

Funny, Ted, I thought that it was I who was being told I was condescending. Yeah, of course it's all about me, as Howie would say.

I do agree with your strategy. One can express emotion to make a point, but all we have is innate kindness and laws. I have often wondered how our driving traffic works...signals are installed, stop signs, driver ed, but it all boils down to respecting, observing and following the guidelines. As to the General Plan, I believe what I've believed in since about age seven; follow the laws; if they seem unfair, work to change them. So I hope we will bring our energy to fix what we found from our recent experiences, is broken or ill-defined in the GP, . This is the end of my philosophizing and back to work on the issues.....Y'awl come next Tuesday! More later.

I am concerned with only one thing, and that is being effective. To do so, I recognize that I have to work within the existing framework of laws, government and elected officials. Calm, polite logic has served me well so far and I make no apologies for it. Passion is great, but worthless if you can't make progress because you insist on ignoring the existing way things work in our world. Wishing for a better system that doesn't exist is a waste of time and energy and results in always having to protest things. We need to move beyond "protest" mode and become progressive planners.

That said, if you want to work on a better system, I'm all for it!. The General Plan update is a great opportunity to float new ideas. I completely agree that the whole idea of "ownership" has introduced huge problems into the world, but am not aware of a better system that works with large complex populations. Don't we need some set of rules or laws? Otherwise the thin veneer of civilization comes off exposing the not-so-pleasant nature of humans.

Condescending Ted

[Occupy Tim]

It is disheartening that here in Sebastopol of all places, even with the community mobilization and outcry, the council still did not have the nerve to stand up to the prime example of predatory corporate capitalism that is the CVS/Chase project. The project is wrong for Sebastopol on so many levels, from design and planning, to the moral and spiritual. It is very unfortunate that the Council did not kill this thing in the beginning by upholding the planning commission's decision, or at least later, the DRB's.

I agree with Barry that we can still stop this project, although, I believe the window to do so is shrinking. Occupy Sebastopol has held three demonstrations on the 12/116 corner, passing out fliers with information about the project and the council members emails. We also put these fliers in 400 Laguna farm CSA boxes. Both Guerney and Wilson said that they had received more email on this issue than on any other and I think that OS is at least partially responsible for this. We also have a petition going designed to put economic pressure on CVS. It sates that the signers will stop shopping at CVS if it moves, and there is room to write how much each person spends annually. The idea was to present this to CVS execs to show them how much money they will lose if they move downtown. We also have discussed doing a weekly/daily picket with the petition in front of CVS's current location.

Occupy Sebastopol plans to continue taking action against this project to the best of our ability. Our next General Assembly will be on Sunday at 3 p.m. in front of the occupy tent. I encourage and invite everyone who cares about this project to attend. OS has the potential to be a very powerful force, we have a highly visible billboard at the center of town, and we are tied into a global and local network of activists and activist groups. However, in order to stop this project we are going to need a level of community participation not yet seen. Occupy Sebastopol is the people of Sebastopol, that tent is our tent, it is a place for participatory democracy and an incubator of new ideas. Occupy is a conductor and the people are the energy that flows through it, empowering new realities to exist.

Please join us on Sunday (8/19) at 3 p.m. in the plaza to plan the next steps in stopping this project. We are going to need everyone to chip in if we hope to be successful. We need YOUR ideas and passion. If this project is important to you and you want to get involved in stopping it, attending Sunday's GA is a good way to start.

Tim Ryan
member, Occupy Sebastopol

[Magick]

Thanks, Tim, for your perserverance on this issue. I can't come Sunday, but I agree we need to go to the next level.
I would support a boycott now...and would be willing to sign up for shifts.
Magick

[Allorrah Be]

This looks like what many of us have been asking for: A way to act, to make a difference.
Let's get on with it!
Peace to all,
Rev. BE

Occupy Sebastopol plans to continue taking action against this project to the best of our ability. Our next General Assembly will be on Sunday at 3 p.m. in front of the occupy tent. I encourage and invite everyone who cares about this project to attend. OS has the potential to be a very powerful force, we have a highly visible billboard at the center of town, and we are tied into a global and local network of activists and activist groups. However, in order to stop this project we are going to need a level of community participation not yet seen. Occupy Sebastopol is the people of Sebastopol, that tent is our tent, it is a place for participatory democracy and an incubator of new ideas. Occupy is a conductor and the people are the energy that flows through it, empowering new realities to exist.

Please join us on Sunday (8/19) at 3 p.m. in the plaza to plan the next steps in stopping this project. We are going to need everyone to chip in if we hope to be successful. We need YOUR ideas and passion. If this project is important to you and you want to get involved in stopping it, attending Sunday's GA is a good way to start.

Tim Ryan
member, Occupy Sebastopol

[scamperwillow]

Interesting article about a similar situation in England

Totnes: the town that declared war on global capitalism
Addressing similar problems we are facing with CVS & Chase. Some interesting ways the are addressing the problem Costa [coffee chain] has already been approved by the Planning Commission. However the town of 7,500 [meaning Totnes, not SEB], is still fighting against them and are taking some interesting action to try to Costa to change their minds about moving in. They are moving into the most visible spot in town. Totnes is a thriving center for music, art, theater and natural health. It has a sizable alternative and "New Age" community, and is known as a place where one can live a bohemian lifestyle.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...sm?INTCMP=SRCH

[Shepherd]

I think that Totnes may also be town in England where the Transition Movement started. There are now hundreds of transition towns around the world, including Sebastopol and Cotati. The USA office is here in Sonoma County in Petaluma.

Interesting article about a similar situation in England

Totnes: the town that declared war on global capitalism
Addressing similar problems we are facing with CVS & Chase. Some interesting ways the are addressing the problem Costa [coffee chain] has already been approved by the Planning Commission. However the town of 7,500 [meaning Totnes, not SEB], is still fighting against them and are taking some interesting action to try to Costa to change their minds about moving in. They are moving into the most visible spot in town. Totnes is a thriving center for music, art, theater and natural health. It has a sizable alternative and "New Age" community, and is known as a place where one can live a bohemian lifestyle.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...sm?INTCMP=SRCH