Posted in reply to the post by Magick:
On Dec 9, 2010, at 10:06 PM, Magick wrote:
Everyone is asking: “WHAT CAN I DO?” to stop the Dutra asphalt plant
(Please also read Dennis's statement from the Sonoma County Conservation Action at the end of my post)
We the people must take back our government. There has never been a stronger case for stopping of a project on the grounds that it is in violation of the will of the people. Thousands of signatures were gathered by petition, and 5 other city councils galvanized in support of the unanimous opposition to Dutra by the Petaluma council. This is unprecedented.
We have worked diligently through all the normal channels and we are still not being heard or acknowledged.
It is quite clear to many who have attended and spoken at these meetings, that the most trying part of the Board's job is to listen to US. It is written all over their faces. They sit through this "ordeal" fully prepared to give away our protections guaranteed by the General Plan to the highest bidder. Just look at the campaign donations, just follow the money. We in West County know that Rue Furch was the candidate of the people with years of experience, but a smear campaign put in office the candidate groomed to serve big business and he is now about succumb to Dutra’s pressure.
Now you in Mike Kerns district, and it will still be his district if we don't stand up, have had to see Pam Torilatt, another woman of the people, defeated for showing compassion to the hard working Latino community, on whose backs so many fortunes have been made in this county. A smear campaign that used racism, false assumptions and conclusions, to defeat the campaign of an honest courageous woman is a travesty.
If everyone is sincere about asking what can we do, then let's do something. It's not a done deal, except in the minds of those who believe, in the middle of the holiday season, they can sneak by this final vote.
It is a common tactic, by the way, to use this time of year to disregard all that is sacred to our people in an unholy alliance with the greedy.
So they want an Asphalt plant to cement the continued corrupt ties between business and gov't?
Let's all be there! Ready to stand up for the Truth!
Read Norman Solomon's article in the current Bohemian, and stand up for what you care about. Its never over, they have not won, everyone in their right mind knows this deal stinks and I have heard all of you explain in great detail what is wrong with this plan. Come and speak, witness and applaud your fellow concerned citizens. We will not be managed and treated like tolerated children.
All of us know, on a global level, that we are in the midst of a major upheaval that must bring down the old ways where money reigns supreme. It is time for a government of the people, by the people, for the people and that means the people who speak also for all of creation. The world is not a resource it is source.
Norman quoted the old adage, when the people lead the leaders will follow. I sincerely hope so, but we can't wait or have faith in that, we need new leaders and we have them amongst ourselves.
How much proof of the will of the people do we need?
The Board can not be allowed to deny our voices any longer.
If you are with me, let's meet and strategize. A new trail was blazed in the creation of Shollenberger Park, we must blaze a trail right through the lies and manipulations, and give the Board a wake-up call they can't ignore. If they want a cement plant to keep maintaining our roads, how come they aren't going to maintain our roads?
When the people are activated we can tap into the deep roots of our collective will and amazing things can happen. Si! Se Puede! Yes, We Can! And yes, we will!
Hat's off to Julian Assange, for his courage, let’s dig deep and find ours. The money machines have filled the deep pockets of our politicians. But the depth of our courage and our will to stop the madness is deeper and life affirming in this critical juncture of our evolution as a people.
The time is now, there will be no tomorrow, unless we imagine it in all its natural, healthy and tenacious beauty!
If you need faith to carry you through, to give you courage, look to life's resiliency, look to how nature never stops giving no matter what we do.
Can we have the generosity of spirit and the gratitude for all that is, to do the right thing? I think we can. I know we can.
In the small town of Sebastopol we stopped a disastrous Northeast plan, that would have been devastating, especially in this economic downturn. It took years and 100's of meetings, and an election to do it, and now we are one of the most financially solvent cities in the country.
But remember, Sebastopol is not like the County, where millions are poured into campaigns, to keep the rich happy. They have been seriously corrupted. Paul Kelley and Mike Kerns are trying to do their final damage to this community, let's not let this happen. Yours in solidarity with all the truthsayers, Magick
How about meeting Monday night? Can someone in Petaluma step up and organize it?
My name is Dennis Rosatti, Executive Director of Sonoma County Conservation Action.
My comments today pertain to frustration that I and many others are feeling in the environmental community about this current Board’s pushing through of a resource extraction agenda, prior to losing two members to retirement. In the next 8 days, this board is poised to approve Dutra Asphalt Plant in Petaluma, Syar Gravel mining project in the Russian River, the Berrella rock quarry on Roblar Road, and the wine industry’s self-regulated Frost Protection Ordinance. It is a slap in the face of the Sonoma County voter to rush these major, decades long impacts through the process just to capture votes that may or may not be on the Board come January.
I would like to voice Conservation Action’s disapproval of these actions, and say that you can do better. I’ve heard from many of my own members and colleagues over the past few weeks/months, and there is a general feeling of discontent with the way the County is being run. The message the citizen or advocate is getting, is that the Supervisor’s are going to do what they want, extract the resources, and if the public has an issue with that, sue us. What kind of government is that? It’s certainly not the one that the voters thought they were electing when casting votes on Election Day. And by casting these votes in lame duck session, there is no accountability going forward for the two who are retiring, yet the projects and their decades-long impacts remain, and the public must deal with them.
I would offer a challenge, to the three Supervisors who will remain on the Board to change course; at a minimum slow down the process. Do not allow the public of Sonoma County, who have time and time again expressed their preference for the environment, at the polls and through various programs and initiatives, to be marginalized by industry and big money interests that seek to profit off the natural resources we enjoy here in Sonoma County. You all project an image of being a friend of the environment during campaign time- now is an excellent time to prove it. You were not elected to serve resource extraction industries, even if they gave you contributions in your campaigns. The voter elected you to do the people’s business, and to steward the local environment in a way that promotes and protects what are the commons- the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the landscape we enjoy. Please alter the course you are ! on away from this resource extraction agenda.
