PD Editorial: Lynda Hopkins for 5th District supervisor

[Barry]

Unsurprisingly, the PD has endorsed Lynda Hopkins.
I'm still on the fence, but leaning that way myself. :nearmiss:

The biggest concern about her is her funding. However, I believe she is of good character and her heart it truly in the right place. I don't think she will let her backers push her to a vote she doesn't feel good about. I don't think she is a big money shill. I think we are blessed with a good crop of candidates and the money interests picked her as better to work with than Noreen, who is not unblemished.

I hope to do an interview with her and really press her on her backing and what kind of leverage that may buy them.

Tim, Tom and Marion are also worthy contenders. I've been particularly impressed by Marion, but I'd like to see her get some background (Planning Commission?) before stepping into such a big role. I know Lynda has limited background, too, but she has been a quick study and it seems up to the job.

Barry
:waccosun:

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PD Editorial: Lynda Hopkins for 5th District supervisor
THE EDITORIAL BOARDBY THE EDITORIAL BOARD | May 15, 2016, 12:11AM

Voters in Sonoma County’s 5th District, which stretches from Roseland to Bodega Bay and includes all coastal areas, have a choice on June 7. And it’s not just about picking which of five candidates to succeed Efren Carrillo as “mayor” of west county. The choice is whether to help the county move forward or take a step back. It’s that simple.

Among the candidates, Lynda Hopkins presents the best opportunity to move past the acrimonious political battles of yesteryear toward new and creative ways of addressing the prevailing needs of today. These needs include creating affordable housing, fixing roads, adapting to a changing climate and providing sound fiscal management for a county with a $1.5 billion budget and lingering — and potentially staggering — pension problems.

An organic farmer, the Stanford-educated Hopkins, 32, emerged on the political scene with her sensible, middle-ground recommendations for resolving conflicts over plans by the Lytton Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians to build up to 360 homes, as well as a hotel resort and a 200,000-case winery, on properties west of Windsor. Although lacking in experience in elected office, Hopkins has proven to be a quick study on county issues and has demonstrated innovative thinking with ideas such as creating community improvement districts in Bodega Bay and along the Russian River as a way to ensure these residential pockets directly benefit from tourist dollars spent there. She’s suggested using Open Space District land already paid for with taxpayer funds to help mitigate requirements for tiger salamander habitat to encourage needed projects such as affordable housing. She also seeks a no-nonsense approach to dealing with the county’s pension problems including providing greater transparency on unfunded liabilities and promising action and extended oversight on the recommendations of the citizens’ pension advisory committee, which are due to be released July 12. “The more I learn (about unfunded liabilities), the more depressed I become,” said Hopkins. “What is it going to look like in the next recession?” These are the right questions to ask.

By contrast, these are not the questions that voters can expect from Noreen Evans, 60, who has a strong pro-public employee union voting record and, by virtue of her experience in the state Legislature, is the presumptive favorite in this race. She is unapologetic about her part in boosting pension benefits while serving on the Santa Rosa City Council, which involved the kind of retroactive 50 percent increase in retirement benefits that now saddles local governments with massive unfunded liabilities making it harder to meet basic needs such as repairing streets and caring for parks. Her track record in the Legislature in this area was no less disappointing. In 2005, as the folly of these enhanced benefits was becoming evident, Evans authored legislation that would have raised the cap on pensions for firefighters and police from 90 percent to 100 percent of salaries. At the time, the pension costs in Sebastopol, where Evans now makes her home, had soared from less than $100,000 a year to roughly $750,000 in five years. And when local governments were drowning in pension-related costs in 2012, she threw them an anchor instead of a life raft, supporting AB 1692, which hindered the ability of governments to find relief in bankruptcy court.

We have praised Evans for her work in a number of areas ranging from protecting state parks from closure to banning the kind of imitation toy firearms that was involved in the shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez. But given her track record, voters should have little confidence that she will put their interests ahead of those of public employee unions.

County Planning Commissioner Tom Lynch of Guerneville has a far better grasp on the county’s pension problems and is another strong candidate in this race. The other two, Marion Chase of Santa Rosa and Tim Sergent of Forestville, are both bright and well-intentioned. But neither can match the others in terms of support or knowledge of the workings of the county.

The Press Democrat recommends Lynda Hopkins for supervisor.

[Richard Nichols]

I am utterly flummoxed by some of what I read about Hopkins and some of the people who should know better. Who do you think raised all that money? Did she go to gravel, real estate, wine and other big players and convince them that she was the one? Everyone know who did that work. The same guys, - erik the k, bosco, and other pro biz types - who have managed to keep control of the BOS for years.

It is time for a change, and Noreen would be that very important 3rd vote in support of the issues we in the 5th care about. And whoever said Hopkins wasn't a good person? Come on Barry, you don't honestly think she will be unswayed by her supporters, do you?

And whoever said Noreen was unblemished? Who can be in the positions she has been in and not be subject to mistakes and criticism, but she is totally willing to acknowledge her endorsers and contributors.

Big surprise, the Bosco (the invisable DINO in the china shop) owned PD has endorsed Hopkins. And don't tell me he doesn't have influence over the paper.

If Hopkin wins, I am done having anything to do with this s**t.


Unsurprisingly, the PD has endorsed Lynda Hopkins.
I'm still on the fence, but leaning that way myself. :nearmiss:....

[occihoff]

So would you be a little more specific about Noreen's "blemishes ?" It seems that the article from the PD is just putting her down for being too generous with public employee retirement benefits. How big are these benefits? Are they over the top? What if any are Noreen's other blemishes?

Aren't the "money interests" you refer to, whom you think picked Lynda over Noreen because they think she's "better to work with," the same interests that promoted Efren Carillo? How did that work out?

In election after election, has there ever been a time in West County that the money interests promoted a candidate who, once in office, voted against their money interests? If not, why do you think that now it would be different with Lynda?

Tim, Tom, and Marion may be great, but I suspect that the votes will mostly be split between Noreen and Lynda, and any votes for the others will fail to have any effect on tipping the balance.

I'm not really up and highly informed on all the issues and history of political struggles in West County, so I ask you these questions with sincere curiosity.

[wisewomn]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't a lot of the pluses being said about Lynda Hopkins (new face, same promises, etc) also said about Efren Carrillo, who I believe was funded by many of the same sources as Hopkins?

[Richard Nichols]

You are not wrong. Hopkins may be a bright, smart and kind person, but people need to know who is funding her. I will be utterly shocked if west county liberals vote for her.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't a lot of the pluses being said about Lynda Hopkins (new face, same promises, etc) also said about Efren Carrillo, who I believe was funded by many of the same sources as Hopkins?

[wisewomn]

Thanks for the clarification. And wasn't Carrillo supposed to be young, educated, and environmentally aware? We all saw how well that went.

[Barbara Harris]

I am amazed that she (or anyone, actually), would consider running for this important office without any notable or significant experience.Instead, someone who is interested in serving one’s community needs and requires experience, beginning with school board, city council, specific committees, et. al. This as mandated precedence helps to ensure understanding of prior and current issues. This merely makes sense, no matter one’s possible quick learn.

And, I honestly do not think that learning quickly could ever reveal the dynamic and understanding of an entire county’s established protocol toward decision making. As well as understanding the diverse population, housing, education, and economic disparities.

And, that the sources of her financial support are directly connected with interests which are counter to existent needs. In fact, these could interfere with our vulnerable part of the county with consideration of aggressive winery expansion, events, water use, and the annexation of Roseland (which could too easily suffer from potential gentrification).

The choice of representation requires an experienced and seasoned leader who has developed access to the systems and infrastructure with accompanying decision makers. A team is made of those who have been actively involved, however disparate. That is what occurs when one runs for an important office. To have a record of involvement. A learning curve requires having been involved previously. Rather than the “fresh” outlook which resembles a learning curve we cannot afford when so much is at stake. We are at a time like none other now in West County; a firm understanding of what is necessary to preserve, improve, retain, defer, encourage, alter and eliminate.

My affiliation remains with Noreen Evans who has proven, throughout her experience, service and decision-making that she is fully equipped to represent us.

[Barry]

So would you be a little more specific about Noreen's "blemishes ?" It seems that the article from the PD is just putting her down for being too generous with public employee retirement benefits. How big are these benefits? Are they over the top? What if any are Noreen's other blemishes?

Her big blemish, IMO, is her support for the generous retroactive increase to the public employees pension plan, who, not surprisingly are among her big supporters (I don't know their financial support, but I'm guessing it is substantial - anybody have the data?). This is major. I'm sure you can find other financial supporters that had a financial interest in being in her good graces (ie Big Wine, etc.). I have nothing against Noreen. I'd be very happy to have her be our Supervisor.


Aren't the "money interests" you refer to, whom you think picked Lynda over Noreen because they think she's "better to work with," the same interests that promoted Efren Carrillo? How did that work out?

Aside from his poor personal behavior, Efren's policy actions, on balance were acceptable to me, with one glaring exception (that I remember), Dutra (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/showthread.php?73519-Dutra-Asphalt-Email-to-Efren-Carrillo-busting-him). On the plus side, he put enormous energy into getting Sonoma Clean Power (https://sonomacleanpower.org/) up and running. That is huge!


In election after election, has there ever been a time in West County that the money interests promoted a candidate who, once in office, voted against their money interests? If not, why do you think that now it would be different with Lynda?
Can anybody help with this?


Tim, Tom, and Marion may be great, but I suspect that the votes will mostly be split between Noreen and Lynda, and any votes for the others will fail to have any effect on tipping the balance.That's where it stands now, but it could change. As the campaign continues they appear to be more credible to me.

[Richard Nichols]

Perfectly describes the situation. Thanks


I am amazed that she (or anyone, actually), would consider running for this important office without any notable or significant experience....

[occihoff]

So just how generous are those increases to the public employees pension plan? How much money do they get? Usually we liberals are staunchly for the workers. Would I be shocked if I realized how lavish these worker's life styles have become?

I seem to recall being shocked to hear how much money former Supervisors get, and that they get it for the rest of their lives, like an annuity, even if they only served one term! Have I got that right?

Dutra was, and remains, a blight to the environment. Carillo's support for that was a boon to the industry, which presumably contributed lots of money to his campaign. But which of Carillo's supporters was opposed to Sonoma Clean Power? Did Carrillo stick his neck out and vote against some anti-clean power interests who had formerly supported him?

I must say that on the face of it I am less bothered by overly generous financial support for workers than I am by overly generous financial support for big corporations that pollute the environment.


Her big blemish, IMO, is her support for the generous retroactive increase to the public employees pension plan, ...

[twodogs]

...Come on Barry, you don't honestly think she will be unswayed by her supporters, do you?...

Bosco likely does hold some sway at the PD. And just as likely so does Darius Anderson, the PD's primary owner whose wife gave Noreen Evans a $2,500 contribution.

[Richard Nichols]

I'm shocked. You mean to tell me Mz Anderson has critical thinking skills???


Bosco likely does hold some sway at the PD. And just as likely so does Darius Anderson, the PD's primary owner whose wife gave Noreen Evans a $2,500 contribution.

[Lisa Maldonado]

You know it's funy how the Press Democrat never has 'concerns' about any candidate being "too close' to gravel mining or real estate or wineries or developers. Their 'concern' is always directed at any candidate who is 'too close' to the working class who make this county run. I wonder why that is? I mean it isnt as if the wineries and real estate PAC don't have millions in business deals that come before the Board of Supervisors- for example Air B and B etc. But no worries about them buying influence! Keep being 'concerned' about working people's pensions...that's the real issue...

Barry I think you are being sold a bill of goods if you can choose a candidate funded by Real Estate,Big Wine and the same company that Noreen Evans fought to stop gravel mining in our Russian River- (Syar) (https:// https://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/opinion/editorials/syar-industries-enters-political-frey-in-the-fifth/article_ccc96420-17c7-11e6-81d7-8b28ca94a9d1.html)-
Noreen has the strength to stand up against big corporate interests. She has already demonstrated that.
Lynda is a neophyte being propped up by big money interests who are banking that she will owe them. If you are willing to stake the beauty and affordability of our coast on that...then by all means vote for the Business Candidate-Lynda Hopkins.

[Richard Nichols]

We progressives in the WC need to keep pointing out who supports who, and the fact that Noreen is a social and environmental progressive. Thank you Lisa, for speaking out for working people. My wife was at SRJC for 17 years and a staunch union supporter, and she gets a much needed reasonable pension from PERS. I'm sick of these people who keep harping about pensions. Jeez, where would we retired people be without pensions, and workers paid in to the system. It is not an entitlement, but an earned right.

[Barry]

Bosco likely does hold some sway at the PD. And just as likely so does Darius Anderson, the PD's primary owner whose wife gave Noreen Evans a $2,500 contribution.

I'm shocked. Do you mean to tell me that Noreen is backed by the big time developer and local power player, Darius Anderson? I guess we know who will be pulling Noreen's strings... :wink:

[riverosprey]

Thank you Barry for your sage observations.

Richard and Brenda Nichols, known ya for 30 years, love ya...don't begrudge Brenda her pension for all her good works with Calpers at JC...the problem is politicians like Noreen voted for the retirement benefit without funding it; and now we're cutting all the essential services government once provided for generations, and cutting all the programs our generation benefited from, but are no longer available for the Millennials and GenExer's, and increasing their tuitions five fold to pay for the retirements. And Noreen Evans and Lisa Maldonado are unrepentant as we all move on the same conveyor belt toward insolvency like Detroit.

35973However, for lack of a campaign based on ideas and solutions, and trying to use the "guilt by association" idiocy that will not work with Fifth District voters (are we really that lacking?). I offer you the latest "496 Independent Expenditure Report" for SEIU PAC supporting Noreen Evans.

Come on people, $42,164.41 from SEIU PAC, gee maybe Noreen will continue her 100% record supporting the first wave of retiring boomers, while she orchestrates the demise of all the other social programs we fought for generations to provide for the least of thee among us?

And they're telling us Lynda Hopkins is in the pocket of Ag and Business interests. Lynda is already getting second looks from the Farm Bureau (supports ban on GMO's) and Realtor's NORBAR PAC (Lynda joined Noreen in favor of rent control at the Roseland debate).

If you want to send a message that you support a candidate who's pretty much self-financed, and has never been in anyone's pocket for 35 years (in spite of Lisa Maldonado's slanders :), vote for Tom Lynch...as opposed to others who've never voted in the Fifth District.

Love and respect to All! Tom Lynch www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com (https://www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com)

[Richard Nichols]

I thought it was his wife who contributed. It is possible that she has a mind of her own.


I'm shocked. Do you mean to tell me that Noreen is backed by the big time developer and local power player, Darius Anderson? I guess we know who will be pulling Noreen's strings... :wink:

[occihoff]

Barry, you never really answered some important questions in my previous post, so I'm repeating them now in the hope that you or somebody can shed some light:

How big are these retired public employee benefits? Are they really over the top? Is this all you have against her? ( You said you liked her and would actually be happy if she got elected.) If her staunch support for union benefits is financially crazy and destroying our economy, as Tom Lynch and the Press Democrat claim, what does she have to say in her defense? Can a person with her extensive legislative experience really be that financially blind?

Aren't the "money interests" you refer to, who you think picked Lynda over Noreen because they think she's "better to work with," the same interests that promoted Efren Carillo? How did that work out?

I pointed out previously that Carillo's terrible gravel mining vote did not seem to be on the same level as his vote for Sonoma Clean Power--which you mentioned as a balancing plus to his record--because who was against Sonoma Clean Power? How many votes would he expect to lose? What do you say?

In election after election, has there ever been a time in West County that the money interests promoted a candidate who, once in office, voted against their money interests? If not, why do you think that now it would be different with Lynda? Barry couldn't cite such a staunch independent and asked y'all for help. So can't any of you waccoites who follow local politics more closely than I do come up with an example?

[sambacat]

The Press Republicrat has been on the wrong side of environmental candidates 99% of the time. Noreen Evans has an extremely well-proven track record in this regard and is endorsed by Sonoma County Conservation Action, which vets every candidate in the county thoroughly on his/her environmental action or inaction. Personally, pensions are not my highest priority -- urgent and positive action on climate change and preserving Sonoma County's nature and natural resources are.

[scamperwillow]

Sheesh - I sure wish people would get off this one-issue pension straw man! Really! One would think that is all the West County cares about. What about parks, coast, open space, climate change, affordable housing and on and on! Noreen was one vote almost 20 years ago on a unanimous city council that voted along with all the other city councils to increase the benefits of PUBLIC SAFETY personnel - you know the ones that put out fires and save our lives. It was considered important at that time to not have 70 year old policemen chasing down murderers and car thieves - therefore they allowed for attractive early retirement for these people that risk their lives for us.

Then the recession hit and since about 1/3 of pension funds come from investment income, all pension funds took a big hit - just like everyone else did. Noreen was stuck in the Assembly when this all came down and happened to be chair of the Budget Committee having to deal with this huge cut. She managed to save parks, in-home care workers, food stamps and so many other things that would have gone under the ax if she hadn't been there. She also stopped the levying of beach fees! And the pension thing is pretty much now straightened out at the county anyway.

Please people take a look at the whole picture, the qualifications, and do your own research on pensions before taking the word of Tom Lynch and the Press Democrat. I really think fifth district voters are smarter than that - I sure hope so anyway.....

ALSO, why is everyone so upset that working people in unions are getting fair pay, and not concerned about the over-the-top salaries that developers and big winery owners get?


Her big blemish, IMO, is her support for the generous retroactive increase to the public employees pension plan, who, not surprisingly are among her big supporters...

[scamperwillow]

Noreen has socialized with Darius and his wife from her days in Sacramento - they like her. I truly doubt this one contribution will out-balance, Sierra Club, SCCA, Sebastopol Tomorrow, most of the Sebastopol council, Lynn Woolsey, Lucy Kortum, etc. etc. etc. Go to Noreen's web site for a full list of environmental progressive supporters.


I thought it was his wife who contributed. It is possible that she has a mind of her own.

[mstyle]

I have been a self employed resident of the 5th district for the last 25 years and have often disliked seeing formerly diverse farms resort to growing only grapes for the uncommon good. Since it has been going on for so long and with such fervor I have grown to accept the reality I should have fought against to begin with. I just sat around and watched my county allow it to happen....

It is too easy and political to overly criticize, but I think Lynda Hopkins should not be penalized for taking money from " big wine" in wine country as it is to be expected, and lord knows we all need local gravel mined with low carbon footprint. Money for a campaign is tough to come by for such a young 32 year old candidate and private sources are a necessity. Not everyone has the mighty unions behind them for support, with kind respect to Ms. Moldonando.

The most qualified by my estimation is Mr.Tom Lynch of the planning commission. He won't waste a bunch of time and money learning the ropes, but will immediately and tirelessly dive right in and get to the business of fixing running a fiscally sound county.

[Barry]

Barry, you never really answered some important questions in my previous post, so I'm repeating them now in the hope that you or somebody can shed some light:

How big are these retired public employee benefits? Are they really over the top? Is this all you have against her? ( You said you liked her and would actually be happy if she got elected.) If her staunch support for union benefits is financially crazy and destroying our economy, as Tom Lynch and the Press Democrat claim, what does she have to say in her defense? Can a person with her extensive legislative experience really be that financially blind?

According to Noreen, the average county pension is $2,600/month ($31,200/year). Keep in mind that's an average so some people get less, and some people get yet more. While this isn't exorbitant, I would call it generous. It would be fine if it were funded, and it was in balance with the rest of the county's spending obligations, such as maintaining roads and caring for the homeless. It's also a whole bunch more than my pension or yours, or most all non-government workers. The big problem was when the pension benefit was raised by 50%, retroactively, with no corresponding increase in funding. Noreen supported this while she was on the Santa Rosa City Council.

She doesn't address pensions on her website (https://www.noreenforsupervisor.com/on_the_issues). She has addressed it in the Supervisor forums (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORyDLeifcSY), but essentially said it was the recession's fault. I think it goes beyond that.

Is this all I have against her? Yes, but I also have a problem with the fierce character assassination practiced by her vocal supporters.


Aren't the "money interests" you refer to, who you think picked Lynda over Noreen because they think she's "better to work with," the same interests that promoted Efren Carillo? How did that work out?

I pointed out previously that Carillo's terrible gravel mining vote did not seem to be on the same level as his vote for Sonoma Clean Power--which you mentioned as a balancing plus to his record--because who was against Sonoma Clean Power? How many votes would he expect to lose? What do you say?

I think the environmental and economic benefit of Sonoma Clean Power outweighs the Dutra and Syar votes, although of course it would be have better had he voted the "right" way on those issues. Efren was a mixed bag.

I'm sure there was opposition to Sonoma Clean Power, and no doubt PG&E would have heavily supported any politician willing to oppose it. He worked tirelessly to make it come to life, besides just not being against it.

There's also Preservation Ranch. He refused to take a position on it in the campaign and his opposition was sure he was going to sell out on that, too. But instead he lead a very environmentally responsible deal to protect it.


In election after election, has there ever been a time in West County that the money interests promoted a candidate who, once in office, voted against their money interests? If not, why do you think that now it would be different with Lynda? Barry couldn't cite such a staunch independent and asked y'all for help. So can't any of you waccoites who follow local politics more closely than I do come up with an example?
Lynda has already taken positions at odds with her backers, including supporting the GMO ban proposition (opposed by the Farm Bureau) and supporting rent control (opposed by the real estate industry).

I just think her inherent values will be a bulwark against the pressures of her supporters.

[riverosprey]

All well said Barry...

Noreen doesn't have a clue-doesn't have a plan-to make these massive unfunded pensions sustainable.

This from Transparent California, average retirement for a full-time career (30 years) is $74,786. Sonoma County also pays into Social Security (not Marin nor Santa Rosa), and has a massive unfunded retiree medical benefit (none for Santa Rosa).

Go to www.transparentcalifornia.com (https://www.transparentcalifornia.com) or www.pensiontsunami.com (https://www.pensiontsunami.com) and learn what a debacle we're in and how it is destroying government services and creating a younger generation of indentured debt slaves. Not to mention Lisa M. the tens of thousands of good paying union jobs LOST, as we no longer hire new workers, retirement without rehirement (sorry we don't have any money to sustain these services), and the few new younger workers are getting half the retirement of the Boomers.

(Thank you Lisa and Noreen for voting to halve the retirement of the next generation without changing the retirement for older workers).

I LOVE Everybody!

Tom Lynch
www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com (https://www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com)

35987


According to Noreen, the average county pension is $2,600/month ($31,200/year). Keep in mind that's an average so some people get less, and some people get yet more. While this isn't exorbitant, I would call it generous. ...

[photolite]

Hear, Hear, Barry.
The elephant in Noreen's living-room is this unfunded pension obligations issue that she continues to ignore. As the County heads to the fiscal cliff, it will be on a potholed road, rolling roughshod over unfunded social programs. Noreen evades any questions regarding the imperative resolution of this inconvenient reality .

Any viable candidate will need support, and Lynda's is upfront and honest. It is presumptuous to assume it will buy influence. More likely, it is support of an individual perceived to be without the obligations to a contrary special interest, of the sort Noreen has to the Unions.

A vote for Noreen is a vote to kick our County's biggest can down the road and watch as our roads grow even worse, families continue to be housing challenged, and our parks spend more time chasing ever dwindling funding options, among other things.


According to Noreen, the average county pension is $2,600/month...

[occihoff]

Wow, thank you scamperwillow for this information, and for all the information you put forth in your previous post! It's so important in complex situations such as elections to have deeper, fuller, factual information about candidates, rather than perceptions based on limited viewpoints or slanted half truths that fail to reveal the whole context in which the candidate's actions occurred. Your list of endorsers was particularly useful. I think that for the many voters like me who do not or cannot take the time to become scholars of the political world, it is a wise shortcut to look at who are the endorsers.


Noreen has socialized with Darius and his wife from her days in Sacramento - they like her. I truly doubt this one contribution will out-balance, Sierra Club, SCCA, Sebastopol Tomorrow, most of the Sebastopol council, Lynn Woolsey, Lucy Kortum, etc. etc. etc. Go to Noreen's web site for a full list of environmental progressive supporters.

[occihoff]

Thank you photolite, as well as Tom Lynch, for your pertinent information and point of view. But what is Lynda Hopkins' hopefully brilliant solution to this financial mare's nest fundamentally brought on by a wilting economy? And has Noreen Evans really failed to respond to questions regarding this most basic issue? I find that hard to believe! Any of you Evans supporters out there have an answer?

Also, I become uneasy when people start bashing unions. For many decades unions have fought uphill battles for worker's rights, and their power has steadily eroded over the years as the wealthy power brokers and their government supporters have beaten them down. Unions may become soiled by corruption, but this corruption looks minor compared to the massive corruption perpetrated by the big plutocrats.

[scamperwillow]

You are welcome - here is a direct link to Noreen's supporters to make it easy:
https://www.noreenforsupervisor.com/supporters

[occihoff]

Thank you very much, Barry, for your pertinent and informative response!

What is the "fierce character assassination" you refer to? I wouldn't say I have heard anything that bad from anybody on either side in this wacco debate.

Is it not true, as has been said, that the 50% raise was approved by everyone else on the Council as well? That would put the matter in a different context.

I'm glad to hear that Efren did those good things, and that Lynda has taken those stands. Maybe this just means that West County voters are so liberal and environmental that the Farm Bureau, the wine industry, the real estate industry, etc., have to settle for backing candidates that are less whole-heartedly big business-friendly than they would really prefer.

Hopefully it will not be a disaster whoever wins this race. I'm still for Noreen because she's well known, experienced, and backed by organizations that I trust more than Lynda's backers.


According to Noreen, the average county pension is $2,600/month ($31,200/year). Keep in mind that's an average so some people get less, and some people get yet more. While this isn't exorbitant, I would call it generous....

[Barry]

Thanks for the link for Noreen's "supporters", most of which "endorse" Noreen.

Can you provide information of the people and organizations who have supported Noreen financially, along with the dollar amounts who made contributions in excess of $1,000 or so?


You are welcome - here is a direct link to Noreen's supporters to make it easy:
https://www.noreenforsupervisor.com/supporters

[photolite]

Certainly no union bashing here. Just a frank acknowledgement that, in this instance, the interests of the unions seem in direct conflict with the greater good. Not their fault but in conflict nonetheless, and given Noreen's history with these unions, she appears inclined to vote her special interest at the expense of the rest of us. I have not yet seen or heard her confront this blatant conflict in anything but evasive language.

When I've heard Lynda respond to questions about the unfunded pension obligations, I heard an honest declaration that it is both sensitive and confounding, and will require a willingness to make difficult choices and the political will to execute those choices. No magic bullet, just conviction, which Noreen doesn't seem to possess on this issue. Contrast her response to that of Tom Lynch and Lynda on the video of the Graton town hall that Barry has posted on this site (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORyDLeifcSY).


...Also, I become uneasy when people start bashing unions. ...

[Lisa Maldonado]

I find your claim that you are not "union bashing" disingenuous . Your own words belie your intent.

First of all unions are not as you call them "special interests". We are Public Interest.

And unlike real estate pacs and gravel mining interests supporting Lynda Hopkins who lobby and participate in politics for the profit driven motives, our unions fight for better conditions for ALL the working class. That's why our union SEIU1021, fought and won paid sick days for all workers so they don't have to choose between a sick day for themselves or their kids and losing a days pay.

That's why we spend our money and time and resources fighting for 15$ an hour for all workers in Ca. And we were successful in getting this critical wage increase for working people passed.

In the past we have fought and won the Equal Pay Act, the FAmily Leave act and many other policies that help all working people. We have done this all the while fighting against the Chamber of Commerce and The Sonoma Business Alliance who continue to lobby for policies that hurt the working class.

And we fight for pensions, decent wages and health care because we believe all workers and indeed all people deserve this. Working people do most of the taxpaying and bill paying and community building and we deserve to have a dignified retirement.

Your pension bashing and anti labor comments have no place on a so called progressive and environmental bulletin board.
Those of you like Tom Lynch and the big wineries and developers behind Lynda Hopkins don't care about workers or our community and are happy to turn Sonoma into another Marin where only the rich can afford to live. And they are happy to hate on pensions and labor unions and people who work for a living on behalf of the Good Old Boys in this county who who care more about exploiting the land and the working people to further their own selfish interest.

If you want to keep pushing working class people out of the country and onto freeways where they have to commute longer and longer because they can't afford to live where they work then by all means vote for Lynda Hopkins and keep bashing unions. And let them turn this county into a playground for the rich wine snobs - cause that's where it's going.

If you want to stand with environmentalists and real progressives and the working class then vote for Noreen Evans who is not afraid to stand with working people.

[riverosprey]

I will respond to Lisa's old tired rhetoric later, for now we have a new breathtaking milestone in BOUGHT BY THE BOOMERS (Great title for a TV show---more ideas later :).

Needless to say as Supervisor I will represent ALL retirees and future retirees, as opposed to the current first wave of boomers who have put it all at risk (of course I will represent them as well). As a real Democrat I will also strive to restore all the programs cut with five fold increases in boomer pensions, and corresponding cuts in all the programs we used to have to protect the least of thee among us (but I digress).

Check it out, it's truly amazing, I challenge anyone to give me an example of a PAC (Political Action Committee), that has ever paid before a primary election $50,000. Somebody's poll numbers must be dropping dramatically...stay tuned...records are being broken as we speak.
36001<strike>
</strike>

[Richard Nichols]

I retract my withdrawal of calling you a Bosco Boy. I think you are just a tired old capitalist DINO hungry for power. Noreen is quite happy to represent working people, accept donations from working people, and acknowledge it.

But I like you, your heart is in the right place on occasion.


...Check it out, it's truly amazing, I challenge anyone to give me an example of a PAC (Political Action Committee), that has ever paid before a primary election $50,000. ....

[spam1]

Also, I become uneasy when people start bashing unions. For many decades unions have fought uphill battles for worker's rights, and their power has steadily eroded over the years as the wealthy power brokers and their government supporters have beaten them down. .
I've got no problem with private sector unions, to which your quote above refers, but you completely ignore the situation with PUBLIC SECTOR unions, which have no "Big Money" interests fighting to put them down; rather they -are- the big money interest trying to put their pet politician into office to achieve the best deal for their members (who can blame them? not me, but that doesn't mean I want pot holes in the road so they can have giant pensions). Don't you recognize a problem when 20 years ago the pension costs were something like 5% of budget and now they are 20% or more and rising?

Don't you see a problem where someone earns their FULL salary when they retire, and sometimes more? Don't you see a problem when they can retire at 55 or 60 and everyone else, whose taxes pay for these salaries, has to work past 67.5 to receive their SSN and a modest (25% salary) pension even if one is available.

So: One can say "public sector unions are a problem" without bashing private sector unions or being in favor of "big money interests", just like one can say "I don't think illegal immigration is good" without being against immigrants that follow the US laws to come to the US.

[Lisa Maldonado]

Just as those of us who are Mexican know that when people say " I'm against illegal immigration not immigrants" you are lying to avoid being called xenophobic; those of us who are union and working class know that the " I'm against public unions" canard is just a smokescreen for being anti- union. It's obvious and no one buys it.

[spam1]

... you are lying to avoid being called xenophobic; those of us who are union and working class know that the " I'm against public unions" canard is just a smokescreen for being anti- union. It's obvious and no one buys it.
First: ad hominem attacks are extremely unbecoming. I am not lying. I am not xenophobic. I have no agenda against immigrants.

Do you advocate completely open borders? Do you advocate that anyone, who, by any means, makes it to US soil, should be allowed to stay with out any condition or restrictions? If so, at least be honest about it...some people do take that view (not related to West County, of course, where development isn't allowed). But others, including most legislators take the view that a country has a right to control who enters and who stays. One can have that view without being xenophobic.

And one can recognize that there is real, demonstrable, structural difference between public and private unions. FDR recognized it. The difference is this (and of course you never address the position, you just attack me): when the people negotiating with unions are put into their position of power by unions, using money extracted from others (like me and other taxpayers) it forms an unholy alliance that puts the structure of society in danger, with results we see in Stockton, Vallejo, and the roads of Sonoma county.

Try putting down your (verbal) baseball bat, and instead address the position that I present.

[Peacetown Jonathan]

If you want to hear for yourself how each stands in their response to the issues that most interest you, check out the Sonoma Independent's just launched easy to access Candidates Video debate here. (https://videodebate.sonomaindependent.org/)

[photolite]

As demonstrated, your union made a $50,000 donation to Noreen's campaign. That, by definition, constitutes a special interest. Also, as a clear minority of the citizenry belongs to a union, whatever the benefits of union membership may be, and regardless of their fine intent and gains for the working class, they do not represent the public as a whole. The idea of depleting the public treasure in the interest of supporting the very few, is not in anybody's interest, union or non-union, and is unsustainable.

I ask you, do you believe the current arrangement is for the good of us all and can continue unchanged? If yes, please explain to me how so. If no, how would you recommend we bring it back in to balance.
Finally, if there's any bashing going on, it comes from somewhere other than here.


...First of all unions are not as you call them "special interests". We are Public Interest. ...

[Lisa Maldonado]

As demonstrated, your union made a $50,000 donation to Noreen's campaign. ...

First of all- the donation you are referring to is NOT a donation to the Evans Campaign. It's an independent expenditure that BY LAW does not coordinate with any candidate or campaign. It is funded by donations of less than a 100 dollars a year by our workers. It has paid for campaign mailers to inform voters about why we are supporting a pro working class candidate.

I find it hilarious that you and Mr Lynch are on these boards complaining about undue union influence in a campaign. While you say nothing about Lynda Hopkins' hundred- thousand dollars in mail ( not to mention the ten page Press Democrat insert- just like the business owners did for Efren and Gore)
And not to mention the free media that Bosco and the chamber use (the Press Democrat) to issue propaganda to voters.

When do you worry about real estate interests and gravel miners and wineries ( who have millions at stake and projects that will be heard in front of the Board of Supes) buying their political power?! NEVER ! But when the working people in this county try to have say in politics you try to spin it as somehow improper.

Please. Your anti union bias is showing. I think you are just mad that voters are able to see behind the " organic candidate" and greenwashing that big business has been doing in this campaign and voting for the real environmental candidate Noreen Evans!

[photolite]

You spout rhetoric, slogans and invective, yet, like your candidate, you evade answering simple, relevant questions about the issues confronting our community.
Like the oceans, our County is an eco system to be sustained. If we take all the fishes out of the ocean, we starve. If we take all the money out of the County coffers, we starve. The question is about how we sustain this County eco system.
Please stop the name calling long enough to answer the questions.


First of all- the donation you are referring to is NOT a donation to the Evans Campaign....

[Barry]

Barry, aren't "supporters" and "endorsers" pretty much the same? ...

No. Financial supporters have put money behind their "endorsement".

Since Noreen's campaign has made such a big issue of where Lynda is getting financial support from, I'd like to see a full disclosure of the people and organizations who put their money behind Noreen.

Tom Lynch recently posted that the SEIU contributed nearly $50,000 to Noreen's campaign. It's the same group whose members have benefitted from her vote to raise their pensions without a corresponding increase in funding. :hmmm:

Who else has put significant dollars behind Noreen???

[Lisa Maldonado]

Barry- just to clarify.
This is not a donation to a candidate's campaign. It's an independent campaign from the SEIU. It's our message and our mailers and Noreen has no say in it- positive or negative.

Secondly- pensions are not by any means the most urgent and important issue in the district or the county. UNLESS you are Tom Lynch or Ken Churchill or some other right wing Fox News hound.

Check with the county' s pension oversight Executive Director at Sonoma County Employeer Retirment Association- county pensions are funded at 80-90%. It is very healthy and sustainable.

These are phoney right wing talking points that are raised to distract you from the fact that the Sonoma Business alliance and the Sonoma Real estate and SYar gravel mining and big wineries are trying to buy another seat on the board of supervisors. Just like they do on a National Level they are trying to blame working people for the collapse of our economy when the truth is- it's corporate greed that is killing us.

Bernie Sanders recognizes this and Is supporting unions, workers and an economy that works for all. If you want to keep indulging in anti union rhetoric and Fox News talking points on a " so called" progressive website.
Then by all means continue.

But I stand with Bernie -the problem is the 1% not the 99 and I am done arguing with those who attack workers and defend corporate interests and gravel miners while calling themselves "environmentalist".

[Jeremy Goldberg]

Let's not forget, the overspending on pensions by the county was the main reason why the sales tax for repairing the roads went down to defeat last year. If Noreen is going to keep contributing to this problem, I have a hard time supporting her.

I am troubled by Lynda Hopkins' financial backers, but at least she might make more eco-villages, etc. happen. Things like eco-villages are not really on Noreen's radar.

I appreciate all the threads here in waccobb to learn about the candidates for this important position.

[scamperwillow]

Barry, all the financial reports are online and publicly available. I will try to find the link again, but it has been posted a few times. You will find the larger donations come from Sierra Club, SCCA, Guy Conner, Rick Theis, and yes some labor groups. I would sure prefer my candidate be supported by workers groups than big money, developers, real estate and gravel mining.
Marty


...Who else has put significant dollars behind Noreen???

[scamperwillow]

Here is the link to campaign spending reports: https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.org/searchscreen.asp?searchtype=0&checkforyearrange=0&yearrange

Type in the candidates last name. They filed their first quarter reports at the end of April. After that, they have to report any donation $1,000 of more within 48 hours. One recent one to Noreen was from a doctor with West County Health Services.

Most of Lynda's recent ones are max-out donations from wineries or heavy equipment operators.

[scamperwillow]

Here is the link to campaign spending reports: https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.org/searchscreen.asp?searchtype=0&checkforyearrange=0&yearrange

Type in the candidates last name. They filed their first quarter reports at the end of April. After that, they have to report any donation $1,000 of more within 48 hours. One recent one to Noreen was from a doctor with West County Health Services.

Most of Lynda's recent ones are max-out donations from big wineries or heavy equipment operators. Oh and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.

[podfish]

Your pension bashing and anti labor comments have no place on a so called progressive and environmental bulletin board. yes they do, although of course Barry's got final word. But one of the emerging themes of our times, not just this election, is that people aren't willing to hear opposing voices. A backlash seems to be starting and it can't come soon enough.

[Erik Perez]

...Who else has put significant dollars behind Noreen???

I think this answers your question Barry. I saw these going around on Facebook and figured it was pretty telling of who's backing who. I also really appreciate that Noreen seems PROUD of her supporters and not afraid to stand by them. I don't see Lynda standing next to her supporters. Could you imagine what the 5th district would think if they saw a picture of Lynda standing next to these supporters pointing and smiling. What does that say about our two "frontrunners?" When one seems to be proud of her supporters and the other seems ashamed.

Lastly, I also think it really says a lot when Noreen has four major environmental contributions, and the "organic farmer" has zero! :hmmm:

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-05-22_10-08-14.png

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-05-22_10-09-58.png

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-05-22_10-14-34.png

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https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-05-22_10-08-56.png

[photolite]

Curious that Noreen's chart nowhere states "S.E.I.U. $50,0000"
More than a little quid pro quo I'd say.

[Lisa Maldonado]

Um Because there was NO 50k donation to Noreen's Campaign by SEIU1021 .

As I have told you repeatedly that was an independent expenditure from us and by us to let voters know who the worker friendly candidate is. It's OUR expenditure campaign and Noreen Evans has no say in it and can not spend it because it is NOT a donation to her campaign.

I can't figure out if you are really that ignorant about politics or just being willfully obtuse because it serves your anti-union narrative.

In any case I know you will keep spreading the anti union lies here because you hope voters won't notice that Lynda Hopkins being bought by break estate developers, big wineries and Syar Gravel Mining.

[photolite]

California Form 496 records a donation of $49,671.41 by S.E.I.U. Local 1021 Political Action Committee to "support" Noreen Evans. You can parse out the semantics as you wish but if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck,.....

I've yet to see such a PAC contribution to Lynda Hopkins, though if there are any out there, I'd be interested to know of it.

You seem to assume so much about those you don't know but with whom you disagree. I imagine others, like myself, choose to ignore challenging your disparaging remarks and focus on the issues at hand. You assume I'm anti-union, pro-real estate development, pro-big winery interest and pro-big business. Yet I am none of those things. I just hold a different opinion about who will best represent our interests as a supervisor. There are many positions on which I agree with Noreen. I just trust that Lynda would make different choices than Noreen on certain other issues.

Please tone down the nastiness

...I can't figure out if you are really that ignorant about politics or just being willfully obtuse because it serves your anti-union narrative.

In any case I know you will keep spreading the anti union lies here because you hope voters won't notice that Lynda Hopkins being bought by break estate developers, big wineries and Syar Gravel Mining.

[Lisa Maldonado]

You seem to label any post that disagrees with you as " hate" " negativity" or "invective"
I am sorry if your feelings are hurt. But you have repeatedly attacked unions and anyone who supports unions, so yes, I call that " anti- union rhetoric."

It's true that I know nothing about you except what you say.l That is your choice. I have been absolutely open and transparent . I post under my name and I am proud to work for a union and for the working class. When you post under an anonymous name you can pretend to be anyone. So for that reason in going to decline to discuss politics with you until you post with an actual identity. Otherwise I would guess I am arguing with a winery lobbyist or a shill for real estate.

[mouse]

This Sonoma West article may be of some interest to you regarding sources of Hopkins's funding: https://tinyurl.com/zdoprpv

In addition to Syar, she has accepted a great deal of funding from the Ratto Group/Waste Management, the Sonoma County Alliance (according to their own website the endorsements went to those that were most likely to be supportive of business and economic development in Sonoma County.)

In total so far, $138,000.00 and counting....

[photolite]

My first and last names are listed under my profile, and you are welcome to address me by either should you wish.
I have absolutely no connection to the wine or real estate industries. I am, in fact, a working stiff myself.
I have not made a single statement here attacking unions, and you would be unable to provide one.
At its best, open discourse opens minds. That's what we need more of, regardless of positions taken.


...So for that reason in going to decline to discuss politics with you until you post with an actual identity. Otherwise I would guess I am arguing with a winery lobbyist or a shill for real estate.

[podfish]

... can't figure out if you are really that ignorant about politics or just being willfully obtuse because it serves your anti-union narrative....I gotta say, I'm with photolite here. I would normally lean toward your side, but usually you're wrapping your legit responses ("it was an independent expenditure.. Evans has no say") with inflammatory lines like "you're that ignorant or just willfully obtuse". Why?? it's not helping make your case, in the current season it sounds like Trumpeting, and I have to consciously fight the impression that your candidate and issues are tied with his. Usually that kind of insult and aggression is intended to bury the issue in emotion and distract from the argument. I don't think that's necessary here - I hope it's just your personal style and isn't reflective of the merits of the argument itself. But it does make me wonder, when before I didn't have the same concerns.

[Richard Nichols]

"Sounds like trumpeting", given who you mean, is not invective? You know damn well Noreen supporters have nothing to do with the trump. maybe you should look at your own negativity.

As for Lisa, given the anti-union BS from the right, i can't say I blame her for aggressively defending unions.


... in the current season it sounds like Trumpeting,...

[Michael Anthony]

...I am proud to work for a union and for the working class.

As a former operative master mason and member of the Detroit Cement Masons Union No.714, I will honestly say that I was proud to be a card carrying member of that union. Unfortunately, we now see how well unions preserved jobs for the working class in Detroit.

[Richard Nichols]

Please fill us in. Are you saying Unions destroyed jobs? I'm honestly ignorant about Detroit, except to say that when the car manufacturing closed, I thought that is what destroyed the economy there.


...Unfortunately, we now see how well unions preserved jobs for the working class in Detroit.

[Michael Anthony]

Please fill us in. Are you saying Unions destroyed jobs?

When the economic vitality of Detroit started to decline with union jobs moving out of state or out of the country though NAFTA, being a working class member of a union was meaningless and served no purpose toward preserving one's job. For clarity, I will exactly restate what I wrote in my previous post; "Unfortunately, we now see how well unions preserved jobs for the working class in Detroit."

[Richard Nichols]

How was that the fault on unions? I don't understand what you are saying.

[beshiva]

i have no idea what your point is! please clarify. are you saying it is the fault of unions, or the fault of corporate greed, or??
just explain...thanks.

[beshiva]

tone down the nastiness! really- Wow- how thin skinned do we have to be to dialog on this post!
it's pretty pathetic if we can't point out who Lynda Hopkins might be beholden to after the likes of the Wine industry, and real estate are propping her campaign up! Obviously, you have not sat at many Board of Supervisor meetings to get a real flavor of the bought and sold candidates. those ducks are clearly ducks! and they don't pretend they aren't Ducks! Lynda Hopkins IS a duck, let's stop pretending ok- quack-quack!


...Please tone down the nastiness

[podfish]

tone down the nastiness! really- Wow- how thin skinned do we have to be to dialog on this post!...this thread's been great for OT digressions.

you really don't see the difference between "point(ing) out who Lynda Hopkins might be beholden to" and questioning whether someone is ignorant or just obtuse? In fact, there's a difference between saying someone's "beholden" and saying someone's "bought and sold". I really could care less if you want to turn this into a "my guy rocks! - your guy sucks and so do you!" but I again will gently point out that it's not a form of discussion that might win converts; it's actually pretty alienating. I've posted plenty of times without worrying about alienating people who disagree with me, but not if I'm trying to win supporters to a political candidate.

And I suspect I see in Richard Nichol's posts some history defending unions under attack - but I didn't see any attack in Michael's post - no statement that the unions were at fault for anything. I read it as a comment that they were ineffective in that case.
but anyway, my post was just advice - if you think the nastiness is working for you, carry on!

[Richard Nichols]

Your comment makes no sense to me. maybe I'm just thick headed.

this thread's been great for OT digressions....!

[Michael Anthony]

How was that the fault on unions? I don't understand what you are saying.

My position is and always has been pro union. Nevertheless, unions definitely played a part in the demise of Detroit.

"What Detroit does is give unions the keys to the treasury until nothing is left. That day has come, and their own success is killing unions... Detroit is already a union wasteland." Forbes Magazine February 21, 2013

(https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylesmith/2013/02/21/detroit-gave-unions-keys-to-the-city-and-now-nothing-is-left/#46e1e091cd92)
(https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylesmith/2013/02/21/detroit-gave-unions-keys-to-the-city-and-now-nothing-is-left/#46e1e091cd92)

[Michael Anthony]

...are you saying it is the fault of unions, or the fault of corporate greed, or??

"If the residents of Detroit want to blame any person or organization for its Chapter 9 filing, they only need to look as far as the unions that controlled labor there and the politicians who ran it the past four decades. Detroit earned its bankruptcy the easy way — through greed, the desire for political power and poor planning." USA Today July 19, 2013 (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/19/opinion-detroit-got-what-it-deserved/2567559/)

[rossmen]

I think we can all vote for our favorite of these five fine candidates, knowing than any of them getting a majority in the primary is unlikely. Will the top two be attack dog evans and big money hopkins? There is a chance the teacher, activist, or social worker will be in the running come november. For now, vote for who you think will be best, later we will choose from who is left : )

[Erik Perez]

I have no idea what caused Detroit's demise, but to point to unions as the cause and basing your stance on a few quotes from Forbes and USA Today is just shoddy research. Here's a few quotes that I found:

"Without unions, Detroit would not have risen to the heights it did. The real culprit in the city’s decline has been federal policies that put corporate health ahead of community health, such as free-trade agreements that sacrifice U.S. jobs for foreign trade." Washington Post - July 26, 2013 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-detroit/2013/07/26/132c2932-f478-11e2-9434-60440856fadf_story.html)

"Those who blame pensions confuse cause and effect — like blaming a personal bankruptcy on a pesky car loan after one’s salary was cut in half." Same article - Washington Post - July 26, 2013 (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-detroit/2013/07/26/132c2932-f478-11e2-9434-60440856fadf_story.html)

If your a Forbes kind of guy, here's another great article you can read:
The Unions Didn't Bankrupt Detroit, But Great American Cars Did - Forbes - July 21, 2013
(https://www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2013/07/21/the-unions-didnt-bankrupt-detroit-but-great-american-cars-did/#9ed0390604be)
And I suppose if you want a view from outside our own county, how about an article from the Guardian:

"Despite what the heroic sit-down strikes and other actions of the United Auto Workers (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/23/www.uaw.org/) had earlier won for their members, the auto companies' decision-making powers remained in the hands of major shareholders and their boards of directors. They used that power to evade, weaken and eventually undo what union struggles had won. The unions proved incapable of stopping that process. Detroit's capitalists thus undermined the middle-class conditions workers had extracted from them – and thus destroyed the "capitalist success" city built on those conditions." - The Guardian - July 23, 2013 (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/23/detroit-decline-distinctively-capitalist-failure)

Considering this comment has nothing to do with the 5th District Supervisor race, I figure I will end by getting us back on topic and away from Detroit's bankruptcy. Everyone who supports Lynda Hopkins and calls themselves pro-union, environmentalist, or a progressive, needs to look no further than Noreen Evans.

Noreen has a PROVEN track record on all accounts. I have no idea why we are trying to justify electing someone with NO record and NO true experience working in public policy. In a situation like that you can only throw the dice, and hope you get lucky. Lots of people can go get a degree in something (like Lynda's degree in Land Use Policy), but you still have to prove you can apply that knowledge in the real world. I am sure Lynda has some good intentions, and is probably smart, but before we go and elect her to the highest elected office in the county, she needs to go get some real life experience somewhere else. I for one, feel much more comfortable going with the safe vote...I feel comfortable voting for someone who I can trust will have our environment's best interests in mind, someone who will not choose development and big business over the unions, someone who has proved time and time again that she is a TRUE progressive, that person is Noreen Evans!

[Richard Nichols]

The reason unions came up on this thread is because people, led by Tom Lynch, are trying to pin our economic problems on pensions and unions, and Noreen is a big supporter of workers. Don't expect that attack position to end because the Alliance, Farm Bureau, real estate and construction interests, really are afraid of the progressive positions taken by Noreen. They want to keep control of the supes.

Thanks to Eric and Lisa for taking on this stuff.

[riverosprey]

Good Morning Richard,

I'm not trying to pin anything on Unions, the members are as much a victim of our own devices as anyone else. The problem is of course our political leaders (especially Noreen), gave enhanced benefits WITHOUT FUNDING THEM.

Around 2003 the City of Santa Rosa (Noreen) and the Board of Supervisors, approved 50% retroactive, unfunded pension increases, to the first wave of retiring baby boomers. The 1000's of union workers retiring before this got NOTHING, ZERO, NADA (including no more cost of living increases for County retirees). Two years ago this increase was rescinded for all new hires. IF there is a retirement system when the next generation retires, they will get 1/2 what the current workers get, much later. Let's keep in mind the retirees that get the most are the upper tier.

So Richard, my problem with unfunded retirement benefits Noreen approved, and her subsequent failed efforts to increase pensions even more, and protect unfunded retirement benefits by restricting municipal bankruptcies, is we have now seen a five-fold increase in retirement benefit costs and corresponding decreases in all the social programs and infrastructure needs Sonoma County was once able to fund for generations but can no longer.

So if I am to be tagged with this idiocy of being a hack for business and ag interests, because I tell the voters the present union leaders like Lisa Maldonado, failed miserably protecting older union retirees, younger new workers (with new tiers), that we have lost thousands of new union jobs to fund these retirements, and have virtually destroyed many of the programs once available for education, for the poor, for the least of thee among us, so be it. The truth hurts.

Noreen and Lisa have never acknowledged we have a problem with unfunded pension obligations (first step toward finding a solution is to acknowledge we have a problem), they have both failed to respond to the challenge of finding a sustainable solution, and Lisa simply resorts to demagoguery and name calling, which does not serve the interests of the SEIU union. Does she think the Fifth District voters are so stupid, as to believe others are in the pocket of special interests, but says SEIU and Union contributions of over $75,000, doesn't taint Noreen's possible future votes, with most assuredly more of the same failed policies she's been part of for 20 years of failed government? Oh well...C'est la vie...

love,
Tom


The reason unions came up on this thread is because people, led by Tom Lynch, are trying to pin our economic problems on pensions and unions, and Noreen is a big supporter of workers. ....

[jeremysgold]

Thank you Richard for this post.
This disparity in pensions and benefits is the dark side of unions, of which I am generally strongly in favor of, along with too many people at the top making fat pensions we can't afford.
I think this tips the balance away from Noreen for me.


...I'm not trying to pin anything on Unions, the members are as much a victim of our own devices as anyone else. The problem is of course our political leaders (especially Noreen), gave enhanced benefits WITHOUT FUNDING THEM....

[rossmen]

What's really a turn off about many evans supporters is the whole us vs them ideology for a local position where we need a person who can listen to all 5th district concerns. Evans supporters tout her forum answers here and the local papers yet when I listen to them she consistently comes across as the least informed, most ridged, and out of touch with the people and place she wants to represent.

Her answer on groundwater for example. All she talked about was the state law she signed which helped create the sr basin management plan which should help. Nothing about all the other groundwater basins in West county, the state water resources board actions targeting homeowners and giving Vineyards a pass, ect. All the other candidates were better informed more thoughtful and caring in their answers.

I have yet to hear any explaination besides burnout for why she quit the state senate. She still seems burnt out, content to run on her laurels and political connections. Her idea of listening to constituents is town hall meetings on specific subjects? Maybe Jonathan listened to her answers to the presupplied questions and realized she doesn't have much juice left for politics.

[rossmen]

I still think you are Lisa m, the writing is so similar.


So I was expecting this, but I figured I could maybe get my questions answered if I thanked you in advance. Since you sidestepped most of my questions, I retract my thank you....

[Barry]

I still think you are Lisa m, the writing is so similar.
From the technical data, while it is possible Erik is Lisa's sockpuppet, IMO, it's not likely.

[Erik Perez]

I still think you are Lisa m, the writing is so similar.

LMFAO!

I can assure you that even though Lisa M. and myself have very similar views and a great Chicano sense of humor, I am not Lisa.

As far as our writing being similar, I take offense to that :wink:

I don't make gramatical errors and I don't mispell words:

"...belong to Administrative Directors and Managers NOT seiu1021 rank and file workers." (Adminsitrative Directors and Managers should not be capitalized and seiu should).

"...six figure pension- HE is MANAGEMENTS-not the working class." (No "s" on MANAGEMENTS).

Sorry Lisa, no offense :heart:

[Michael Anthony]

Today, I received a mailer promoting Noreen Evans that was paid for by Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Candidate PAC. I researched how much money the SEIU contributed (by donation or independent expenditures) to Ms. Evans' previous campaigns from 01/01/2004 thru 12/31/2014. The answer is ZERO (0).

My question for SEIU Local 1021 director Lisa Maldonado is this; if Noreen Evans is the candidate that stands with the working class citizens as you have claimed many times, why didn't the SEIU support her previous campaigns?

After 10 years without giving a penny about Noreen Evans, for the SEIU to all of the sudden spend large amounts of money supporting Ms. Evans for supervisor appears suspiciously advantageous to the union should she be elected. What can Noreen do for the SEIU now that she could not do in the Senate?

These questions are reasonable and warrant an answer.

[podfish]

As far as our writing being similar, I take offense to that :wink:

I don't make gramatical errors and I don't mispell wordsI don't know - in the movies the guy writes ransom notes with his left hand to fool everyone. This could be the interwebby equivalent!

(in case it's not obvious --- :wink:)

[rossmen]

Yes you do, and I don't care, grammatical errors that is. You have been challenged to prove you are not lisa"s doppelganger and chosen to blow it off. Not an effective response. I just want to know who I am reading. It helps me understand you. It is a curious distraction and I try to honor the intent of the thread. Would you like to write about the info 5th district candidates have provided about issues they might actually vote on?


LMFAO!...I don't make gramatical errors and I don't mispell words:...

[rossmen]

OK erik, the Sonoma west letter has cred. Or maybe it's because we seem to agree on swmc. Noreen's answer to detachment? It's problematic. She is the most likely candidate to keep throwing our money at a failing and unnecessary hospital.

[riverosprey]

Appreciate folks concerns about campaign contributions. With SEIU's latest report showing $64,040 from SEIU PAC supporting Noreen, along with an additional $16,000 direct from labor organizations, Noreen has received $80,000. I have to agree with the Press Democrat's assessment, "Noreen Evans, who did more harm than good in helping local governments work through their financial challenges due to bloated pensions. Voters have little reason to expect anything different if she wins a seat as a supervisor."

I am a progressive Democrat not beholden to any special interests...my number one concern is restoring as much of the services, this county once provided for generations, but can no longer, due to five fold increases in unfunded retirement costs. I'm also deeply concerned about the lack of affordable housing available in the Fifth District, and would be a strong advocate of owner occupied homes being able to add a "junior second dwelling unit', similar to Marin County's, with zero impact fees, hook-up costs and affordability covenants.

kind regards,
Tom Lynch
www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com (https://www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com)

:vote::vote::vote::vote::vote::vote1::vote1::ew::ew::wavatcha::jig:rofl2::dance:
36083

[Michael Anthony]

Today, I received another 9" X 12" mailer supporting Noreen Evans paid for by Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Candidate PAC. And yet, my questions to Lisa Maldonado remain unanswered. For easy reference for Ms. Maldonado, my original post is herewith attached below.

Speaking of disregarded, that is exactly what the SEIU did with the facts about the special interest donations to Ms. Evans' previous campaigns. In the latest SEIU mailer it states; [I]"WARNING Follow the Money. Big Business interests, real estate PACs, developers and Russian River gravel miners have given tens of thousands of dollars so far to... Lynda Hopkins,..." Those very same interests [absent the gravel miners] plus big wine and big casinos, are the money behind the campaigns that brought Noreen Evans to power and elected her to the Senate. So yes, "Follow the Money" and any intelligent person will see that it leads right back to Noreen Evans.

Lisa Maldonado and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 know this to be true, facts that Ms. Evans has admitted to and have been clearly documented here on Wacco. And yet, the SEIU under poor directorship, elected to ignore those facts and instead turn them against Lynda Hopkins. Such tactics give the SEIU a bad name and if the members of this union were smart, they would throw their director out of office for wasting the members monies on mailers that are misleading and full of trickery.


Today, I received a mailer promoting Noreen Evans that was paid for by Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Candidate PAC. I researched how much money the SEIU contributed (by donation or independent expenditures) to Ms. Evans' previous campaigns from 01/01/2004 thru 12/31/2014. The answer is ZERO (0).

My question for SEIU Local 1021 director Lisa Maldonado is this; if Noreen Evans is the candidate that stands with the working class citizens as you have claimed many times, why didn't the SEIU support her previous campaigns?

After 10 years without giving a penny about Noreen Evans, for the SEIU to all of the sudden spend large amounts of money supporting Ms. Evans for supervisor appears suspiciously advantageous to the union should she be elected. What can Noreen do for the SEIU now that she could not do in the Senate?

These questions are reasonable and warrant an answer.

[Michael Anthony]

Today, I received yet another 9" X 12" mailer supporting Noreen Evans paid for by Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Candidate PAC [that makes three (3) in one week]. I also received on this day a mailer supporting Lynda Hopkins.

In comparing the two mailers I make the following observations:

The SEIU Noreen Evans mailers are based largely in negative fear mongering using terms like "WARNING" and naming the source of that fear; Lynda Hopkins, a 32 year old mother with two children.

On the other hand, Lynda Hopkins' mailer prints no words to illicit fear but rather, excites positive ideas similar to the New Deal which "brought together democrats and republicans, labor unions and private businesses, farmers and conservationists..." and that she "will work with traditionally-divergent stakeholder groups and organizations... to turn today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities." Lynda's mailers do not name nor attack her opponents.

Personally, I believe that fear mongering campaigns no longer serve the greater good of the United States and that we should do locally, everything that we can do to stop this detrimental and disrespectful pattern. Evidently, the SEIU feels differently and by their actions we see that they want to perpetuate this destructive cycle.

I like Noreen Evans, and Lynda Hopkins, and Marion Chase, and Tim Sargeant, and Tom Lynch. They are all caring members of our immediate community who desire to publicly serve our citizenry and as such, they deserve to be treated respectfully, regardless of our personal opinions and differences. I suggest that if we can acheive this, then by example, we will change our country for the better.

[Bill95446]

I received a 20-page large-format piece from Lynda yesterday. It was probably the best political/election advertisement I have ever received in over 50 yers of voting. It laid out her platform clearly and extensively. While it was a lot of reading, I learned a lot about this area in doing so - it was definitely worth the effort. Thank you, Lynda!


Today, I received yet another 9" X 12" mailer supporting Noreen Evans paid for by Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Candidate PAC [that makes three (3) in one week]. I also received on this day a mailer supporting Lynda Hopkins.

In comparing the two mailers I make the following observations:

The SEIU Noreen Evans mailers are based largely in negative fear mongering using terms like "WARNING" and naming the source of that fear; Lynda Hopkins, a 32 year old mother with two children.

On the other hand, Lynda Hopkins' mailer prints no words to illicit fear but rather, excites positive ideas similar to the New Deal...

[jbox]

I received a 20-page large-format piece from Lynda yesterday. It was probably the best political/election advertisement I have ever received in over 50 yers of voting. It laid out her platform clearly and extensively. While it was a lot of reading, I learned a lot about this area in doing so - it was definitely worth the effort. Thank you, Lynda!


Yes, what a difference. Noreen's two mailers, (or did she have nothing to do with it, Lisa Maldonaldo?) were glossy slogan pieces with some specific jabs at Hopkins containing no real substance about district 5. It demonstrated that Noreen is a tired Santa Rosa and Sacramento retread establishment politician who just can't quite give up the power she once had.

Hopkins mailer was full of specific references and positions on the issues the 5th district faces, and not one negative word about her opponents. The choice between these two is quite clear.

[mouse]

I received a mailer from Tim Sergent this week. It's the only one I've received from him because he didn't take all that money from special interests (like Hopkins did from gravel mining Syar, Ratto Group/Waste Management, large wine businesses) to send a steady barrage of mailers and private newspapers. Please consider him to represent us. He is our best choice, and unlike Hopkins, he is running a real grassroots campaign. He works for a living, he as lived here for 20 years, even though he was not gifted a farm.

Hopkins' money comes from the 4th district (not the 5th!), and so much of it. $138,000.00 and counting. This woman has a lot of nerve (or ignorance) and money thinking she can buy the 5th district with 4th district money.

Please don't be fooled buy her shiny assault on your mailbox.

Here are a few of candidate Tim Sergent's resume highlights that voters may want to consider as they make informed decisions at the ballot box.


He is a US Army veteran.
He put himself through school, attended Santa Rosa Junior College, then transferred to and graduated from UC Berkeley.
He served as a Congressional Liaison in Washington DC. (He bounced back from that I believe):Yinyangv:
He came home to Forestville after that; he's lived in the 5th district for almost 20 years.
He's been public school Teacher at Maria Carrillo High School for 10 years. (You lead a classroom full of freshmen, you have a fighting chance with that Sonoma County Board of Supes!)
He works full-time while running this truly grassroots campaign.
Plays guitar and speaks Spanish even.:thumbsup:
His campaign is been funded solely by his own teacher's salary and the small donations from regular working people in the community.

In addition to a pretty sweet resume, he has a real sense of this community, who we are, what we value, and an ability to cooperate and lead. He has not taken money from the big dogs, so if he is elected he won't owe them (unlike the two whose names I just don't feel like saying anymore). He is not just 'for us,' he's one of us.

The 5th district is full of smart people who read up and make informed decisions. I thought I'd give you all a bit more food for thought.

https://www.sergentforsupervisor.com/about_tim

[wildflower]

I haven't noticed any ridges on her! ("ridged")


... Evans supporters tout her forum answers here and the local papers yet when I listen to them she consistently comes across as the least informed, most ridged, and out of touch with the people and place she wants to represent. ...

[rossmen]

Thank the goddess for spellchecker programs. Otherwise all would be subjected to my phonetic predicaaliction. Computers are no more perfect than their creators, they are a super bright, unrelenting mirror of us. Is Noreen ridged or rigid? In the pidgin polyglot of my native lingo, I entertain both, further info will come as she runs to represent, I am still listening. Yes I have already voted, but two of the five will still be in the run, I am almost sure....

I haven't noticed any ridges on her! ("ridged")

[wildflower]

Sonoma County supervisor contests will determine balance of power
(https://sonomasun.com/2016/05/27/sonoma-county-supervisor-contests-will-determine-balance-of-power/)
SONOMA SUN
The Community's Independent Voice
May 27th,2016
Sonoma County supervisor contests will determine balance of power

Opinion by Ben Boyce

While the national media attention is consumed with the fascinating and unprecedented presidential election, we have a consequential election right here in Sonoma County for our most powerful political body, the Board of Supervisors. The two races that will determine the ideological direction of the Board are in the 1st and 5th Supervisory Districts. The balance of power between progressive Democrats and ‘moderate’ (business) Democrats is what’s at stake.

My wife and I attended the 1st District Supervisor candidate’s debate last week at the Sonoma Charter School in Boyes Hot Springs, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Springs Community Alliance sponsored the debate. A lively audience of about 100 attended the event. The League moderator did an excellent job of moving the debate along and setting a civil tone. Three candidates were on the stage: incumbent Susan Gorin, challenger Gina Cuclis and perennial message candidate Keith Rhinehart. For the large number of young people present, the debate was a good model of civic participation.

Parsing local politics in Northern California is challenging for the casual outside observer, because the conventional Democrat/Republican party labels are not an accurate guide to a candidate’s positions. The Republican Party has collapsed into a vestigial entity in this region. They do run protest candidates just to get their message out, but the real action occurs within the Democratic Party. Just voting for ‘the Democrat’ is no guarantee that you are voting for a candidate who actually shares your values.

North Bay Democrats come in two main flavors: ‘progressives’ and ‘moderates.’ A number of so-called moderate Democrats who have run in recent years were registered Republicans in their home state before moving to California. The progressive wing of the Northern California Democratic Party is generally associated with powerful environmental and labor organizations, while the centrist Democrats are endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce, large real estate and agriculture interests, and the major business-oriented regional newspapers.

Centrist or moderate Democrats are the new stealth brand of what used to be the regional Republicans. Since you can’t get elected to almost any office with an ‘R’ in front of your name, local conservative-leaning political consultants advise ambitious political actors to run as Democrats. They differ from orthodox conservative national Republicans in their de-emphasis on culture war issues and a greater concern for environmental conservation and quality of life issues. What they have in common is the core belief that the primary role of government is to facilitate a ‘healthy business climate’ and a dedication to deregulation, and diminishing the role of the public sector unions.

The most reliable indicator of a candidate’s political allegiances is to look at who is funding their campaigns. One caveat is that large business organizations like The Chamber will spread their bets if a progressive incumbent is a sure winner, thereby maintaining access. The axis of conservative power in Sonoma County is the Chamber, the Sonoma County Alliance, and the Farm Bureau. The axis of progressive power is groups like Sonoma County Conservation Action, the North Bay Labor Council, and conservationist groups like Greenbelt Alliance. The primary political tensions are rooted in land-use and development issues.

Sonoma County has a decades-long history of resistance to the inexorable development pressure emanating from the expansion of the Bay Area megalopolis. The environmentalists can take credit for maintaining the green belts between cities, preserving agricultural land and preventing Sonoma County from getting built out wall-to-wall like other Bay Area counties closer to the main urban center of the region. The public sector unions have largely resisted imposition of extreme austerity budgets and the privatization of public assets and services favored by the North Bay Business Journal types.

Unfortunately, opposition to almost any proposed development is a hard-wired reflex for many rank-and-file environmentalists and conservationists in Sonoma County.

I have long argued (at some personal cost) for a carefully designed regional urban planning consensus, based on a large body of academic research, that concentrates on coordinating energy, transportation, and land-use systems. Twenty-first century urban planning seeks to preserve urban growth boundaries and open space districts; encourages in-fill mixed-use commercial/residential development; living wage businesses; and affordable housing located near public transit hubs. The conservationists, due to their professional class status, are often functionally indifferent to pressing social and economic concerns, like housing for service sector workers and weighting project approvals based on the wage structures and labor practices of proposed business developments.

The political landscape outlined here is complex and there is a continuum of views within each of the two major political camps in county politics. That is why identifying the best candidates for local office requires a degree of discernment. What’s at stake in the 2016 county elections is the balance of power between progressives and centrists on the Board of Supervisors.

With this brief power analysis of the Sonoma County political structure in mind, I offer my unsolicited endorsements for the Board of Supervisors. My clear pick for 1st District Supervisor is incumbent Susan Gorin, who has demonstrated an even temperament and a steady hand as Board Chair. Without reservation, I endorse former State Assemblywoman and State Senator Noreen Evans for 5th District. Noreen is a dedicated public official with a sound moral compass who will bring her deep knowledge of state and county government to benefit the Board.

[beshiva]

Of course Lynda Hopkins must write a 20page glossy- she must ramble on and on as to what she might do, wants to do, and hopes to do. (good luck) what else can someone say who has not been an activist to change a damn thing in this county. where has she been? what does she hope to accomplish after she clearly has stepped into a whole lot of doo-doo in aligning herself with the Wine and Real Estate Industry. this isn't even my gripe, actually (lol)..

She absolutely has no idea what Law Enforcement does in this county, who is in charge and that 51% of the budget goes to Justice Services and that doesn't seem to alarm her whatsoever! she doesn't pay attention, already has made some preposterous statements regarding LE, as in, we need More deputies on school campuses- damn, Really Lynda?!! why don't we militarize the whole damn County.

Freitas is a loose cannon, and the Board knows it! Why else would they have to write two long extensive articles in the PD to "help" the residents of SoCo try to understand the misunderstood Sheriff? Millions of dollars are spent paying off lawsuits in this county because of Sheriff Freitas, and Lynda Hopkins hasn't a clue or even a question why this seems so bizarre and not quite right!
i give up :(


...Hopkins mailer was full of specific references and positions on the issues the 5th district faces, and not one negative word about her opponents. The choice between these two is quite clear.

[sohemi]

For me, Community Officers and Community policing are not about the militarization of police, or wanting people to "understand the misunderstood Sheriff" as you put it. The concept is so the Sheriff' Department and their personnel, have a sense of Community, and they understand us and our lives. It is through cultural exchanges that we break down stereotypes and recognize the humanity in others.

JMHO

... we need More deputies on school campuses- damn, Really Lynda?!! why don't we militarize the whole damn County. ...

[beshiva]

too bad Erick Gelhaus didn't quite understand the "sense of Community"and recognize the humanity in others.
before this Deputy purged his site after killing Andy Lopez, he was ALL About Killing. and he is A Sheriff in
Sonoma County!

... The concept is so the Sheriff' Department and their personnel, have a sense of Community, and they understand us and our lives. It is through cultural exchanges that we break down stereotypes and recognize the humanity in others.

[pbrinton]

This is a masterful analysis of the local political structure. Barry if you have a best of list this should be on it (maybe deleting the time dependent part after this election.)

Patrick Brinton


Sonoma County supervisor contests will determine balance of power (https://www.waccobb.net/forums/showthread.php?117734-PD-Editorial-Lynda-Hopkins-for-5th-District-supervisor&p=202713#post202713) ...

[Barry]

This is a masterful analysis of the local political structure. Barry if you have a best of list this should be on it ....

It already is! It's a highly rated Barry's Pick. I haven't posted about this, but Barry's Picks are weighted, so that the best and most durable (not time specific) posts have a higher weight. This allows the higher weighted Picks to be displayed on the Barry's Picks widget on the right side of the website. The tabs allow you to select from my picks from the specified time frame. If you click the All tab, you'll get links to our all-time best posts. Feedback on the selections, both over-rated and under-rated is welcome. :waccosun:

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-05-30_12-52-35.png

[Lisa Maldonado]

...It does seem that there are real problems with the public pension funding ...Once again- there are not " real problems" with the public pension issue. And I am surprised that people continue to buy the lies that Tom Lynch and Ken Churchill post here from that Koch Brothers website- " Transparent California". I have heard Ken Churchill repeatedly called out for his incorrect numbers many times publicly (including once by David Rabbit- no friend to unions)

If you wish to know the truth about pensions simply go to the Sonoma County website and the SCERA (https://scretire.org/) pages. All of the real numbers are there.

Lynch and Churchill bring up this phony issue repeatedly because it's the only thing they can use to try to distract voters from the fact that Lynda Hopkins is being funded by the county's business and wineries and being used as a tool for their interest.

It's the same thing that right wingers and 1%ers have been doing on the national scene and Bernie Sanders has called out this politics of distraction repeatedly. I'm surprised to see progressives and people who should know better buying the lies.

[riverosprey]

Lisa,

I took your advice (see below), and simply went to SCERA's (Sonoma County Employee Retirement Assn.) Kelly Jenkins, and asked for ALL of the pension data--Names, Position, Years of Service, Retirement Year and Monthly retirement.

If anyone wants an Excel file with all this data (it's only 300 Kilobytes---less than an emoticon), I'll send it to Lisa and Barry, they can forward it on, or I will, OR you can go to www.transparentcalfornia.com (https://www.transparentcalfornia.com) and look for yourself.

Lisa ALL that DATA matches dollar for dollar what Transparent California posts for Sonoma County, Do you really think the Koch Brothers are manipulating the data at SCERA?

Below is the top 500 pensions of the 4500 retirees Lisa, beginning with one who retired in 1991 (I removed their names). Guess how many retirees make the top 500 before Noreen Evans on SR City Council and the Board of Supervisors increased retirements by 50% without funding it?

20 retirees, who retired before 2003, are in the top 500 highest pensons, because Noreen and her peers approved massive unfunded retirement benefits in 2003. Noreen went on to represent every single bill the first wave of retiring baby boomers controlling the unions, gave her to rubber stamp, throughout her legislative career (fortunately her Democratic peers voted them down).

Sorry Lisa, I keep trying to educate you to the fact that the five fold increase in pensions, corresponds with massive cuts in all the social programs and union jobs once provided, and has put ALL Pensions on the road to insolvency, but you don't have a clue...I will not give up, I like you and I still believe one day you will learn what's going on in the real world.

kind regards, Tom Lynch
p.s. One more week you will see how smart the people of the Fifth District are. We do not need Noreen Evans failed policies destroying the last of the social programs we need for the least of thee among us.


[list of top 500 pensions removed by Barry for brevity. Contact Tom if you want the list ~ Barry]
<[email protected]>

...And I am surprised that people continue to buy the lies that Tom Lynch and Ken Churchill post here from that Koch Brothers website- " Transparent California". I have heard Ken Churchill repeatedly called out for his incorrect numbers many times publicly (including once by David Rabbit- no friend to unions)

If you wish to know the truth about pensions simply go to the Sonoma County website and the SCERA (https://scretire.org/) pages. All of the real numbers are there....</[email protected]>

[rossmen]

If you want to dismiss Churchill then you dispute his numbers. Rabbit didn't want him on the county budget committee cause rabbit is on the scera board and was elected in the last years of the sweet pension deal, he's looking out for number 1. He also wants credit for fixing the pension problem. All the BOS did was borrow a few hundred million and curb spiking. Brown did far more by rolling back the increases for new hires.

Churchill could be a union ally if the union wanted to really challenge supervisor and management bloat and salaries. Transparent California publishes public salaries and has nothing to do with Churchill and Co site new sonoma. Scera dropped the expected return .25%, it's still way to high, as demonstrated by past returns.

You continue to pump out misleading propaganda. Playing the partisan political game does not contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of government and gives the people you represent a bad reputation.


Once again- there are not " real problems" with the public pension issue. And I am surprised that people continue to buy the lies that Tom Lynch and Ken Churchill post here from that Koch Brothers website- " Transparent California". I have heard Ken Churchill repeatedly called out for his incorrect numbers many times publicly (including once by David Rabbit- no friend to unions)....

[jbox]

Lisa,

I took your advice (see below), and simply went to SCERA's (Sonoma County Employee Retirement Assn.)

Golly!! Maybe I made the wrong career choice. I wish I could get $60/hr for being retired like just about all deputy sheriffs who worked 30 years. Lots of retired county folks making $7,000 to $11,000 per month.

We do need to honor this though, that was the deal that was made in the past by our elected officials. I do see this as an unsustainable model, however, and it can't just go on the credit card. We are not the federal government, we just can't just print money.

Lisa Maldonaldo, care to comment or do we just get a little more warmed over baloney again?

[Lisa Maldonado]

Golly!! Maybe I made the wrong career choice. I wish I could get $60/hr for being retired like just about all deputy sheriffs who worked 30 years. Lots of retired county folks making $7,000 to $11,000 per month. ...

Mr Lynch- Deputy Sheriffs are NOT SEIU1021 members. The top pensions are exactly as I said - department heads, administrative managers and directors ( also NOT SEIU members) If you were truly interested in solving any REAL pension issue, you would join with seiu1021 workers who have been complaining about excessive management and administrative salaries FOR YEARS.

Your constant nonsensical ravings about " baby boomers" and "billions of dollars" and "unfunded liabilities" are just that- ravings. I guess you think that by screaming large numbers as if it were the apocalypse- you are going to distract people into thinking that "pensions" are a bigger issue than climate change, water issues, pesticides and GMOs and the lack of housing and income inequality that is destroying our country.

The words " unfunded liability" are themselves one of your scare tactics.
Most people understand the concept of unfunded liabilities as they do a mortgage- it's a big amount when you look at it all at once but you pay for it little by little.

And your argument that pensions are the reason we " can't have nice things" is equally specious.
As you may have noticed- there is always plenty of money for tax breaks for wealthy corporate wineries.

[rossmen]

I think hopkins is more realistic in her answers to these two questions, evans panders. The bos can't/won't ban roundup in soco, at least hopkins would try to start a process where the county would stop using it. Library funding is set by a percent of property tax. Evans seems unaware of this. Hopkins knows this, would check it out, and is honest enough to name higher budget priorities.

Do you want a representative who will tell you she will get what you want done, details latter, or a representative who says these are the challenges in getting what you want done, this is what is possible now, more will require this. No wonder business interests want to work with hopkins.

...I watched all the Sonoma Independent's videos (thanks to Jonathan for making them) querying the candidates and for me it's no contest--Evans gets my vote. Lynda Hopkins seems like a sincere person; very pro-organic ag and other good things, but Noreen is so much more solid, so much clearer on her positions. ...