Efren Carrillo votes for Dutra, against Petaluma

[Barry]

Thanks, Barry. Obviously I haven't payed enough attention to Wacco lately!

I noticed that. You've been missed!

[Peace Voyager]

Dear Wacco Community,

Please be aware that Gratongirl is Susan Upchurch, Efren Carillo's staff; her personal best interest is tied up with her comments.

She has been deeply involved with Eric Koenigshofer and the wine & development interests who got Efren elected. They are still pulling Efren's strings. Eric's support of being "Green" turned a sickly shade of yellow years ago, but some folks are fooled by the thin veneer that looks Green on the outside.

Am I the only one who knew that Carillo and Obama were just acting environmental and progressive?

There are many who proclaim to be Green, but unless you follow the votes, actions and money, you are falling for a scam with very dangerous consequences.

I have been very vocal in supporting a recall of Efen, and removing Susan from her position; they are shameless, they are corrupt.

When you all find out what's really behind the Sonoma County Grand Jury report on the Graton Community Service District, Efren and Susan will not be able to wash the stink from their hands.

Just put together a list of his campaign supporters and match that with a list of those getting a "free" pass to amend our General Plan, Zoning, EIR, etc. standards.

If you think the Best Family Winery deal was bad, you should pay close attention to the corruption regarding Hobbs winery, across from Harmony Farms.

Not only should these people lose their jobs, they should be in jail.

This corruption has infected all the Supervisors.

We need to organize.

Will the folks who are REAL environmentalists, and lovers of our West County quality of life, work to focus your anger into effective action?

I, and others I know have been harmed by being vocal about this corruption. Eventualy the full truth will come out. How much more harm will be done until that happens, is up to you.

Please wake up, I know it's hard; but if you don't, the plans for disneyland for winos will be in full swing paving over our paradise while they pull out the apple trees and put in wastewatered wine factories.

A few good actions by a Supervisor does not outweigh the atrocities of the rest of their votes. Efren has been groomed by the non-progressive democrats, and party loyalty has many folks blind to the corruption. The plans for his enabling of souless development and other special unhealthy interests will not be limited to just this County, unless we stop him first.

No peace without justice - we are a long way from justice. Please take a stand.

Thank you,

Colleen Fernald

Candidate for PEACE!
Sebastopol City Council
campaignforpeace.org

I'm not sure what you mean here, Sara. The Annapolis Road yard remains open during the Winter months due to Efren's efforts? He's also actively working with the Feds on making sure there is a site to replace the post office there...

[Barry]

Dear Wacco Community,
...
Colleen Fernald

Candidate for PEACE!
Sebastopol City Council
campaignforpeace.org

Just to be clear, Colleen is a candidate for the Sebastopol City Council.

[Sabrina]

Even though I thought Efren was so handsome and cool, young and energetic, he and Rue were not my voting district; I would have voted for her had I been living west county.

Hopefully, Efren is O U T come next election. (don't even know why west County voted for him anyway -- too bad they had to learn the hard way. Rue Furch was an avowed environmentalist who would have turned Dutra down flat.)

[riverosprey]

I noticed that. You've been missed!

Hi Barry,

I spose I should add my 2 cents in on some of these great issues as well. Been busy trying to make a living and haven't posted for a while...

Hopefully I wouldn't cause too much of a ruckus.

Tom Lynch

"Every little act of kindness is the hope of the world."
Actor Ed Flanders as Dr. Nathan Fell in "The Ninth Configuration"

[Sara S]

Well, even though I've been disappointed by some of Efren's votes lately, and I do wish that President Obama was a miracle worker, the truth is that to survive in politics requires some concessions; it is sooo easy to find fault with someone whose every move is in the public eye, and to imagine that I could have done better. I don't spend much time really investigating every side of every story (or vote), so I'm willing to wait until all the votes are in, so to speak. And I don't work for anybody, and I'm not running for anything.

Dear Wacco Community,

Please be aware that Gratongirl is Susan Upchurch, Efren Carillo's staff; her personal best interest is tied up with her comments. ...

No peace without justice - we are a long way from justice. Please take a stand.

Thank you,

Colleen Fernald

Candidate for PEACE!
Sebastopol City Council
campaignforpeace.org

[elienos]

https://pulse-of-petaluma.blogs.peta...asphalt-plant/

no

[elienos]

https://pulse-of-petaluma.blogs.peta...asphalt-plant/

no

And I don't think they can whether the lawsuit. https://www.saveshollenberger.com/20...-dutra-in.html

But the truth is that if it isn't voted in by Jan when the new Supes come in, Efren will be the lone YES on the project.

And of course River Montessori Charter School is up in arms. Who wants a playground with an asphalt plant as the horizon?

["Mad" Miles]

If Torliatt loses to Rabbitt, that'll be at least two votes for the Dutra II plant.

I hope she wins. There's been a lot of sliming of her in the PD, the letters to the editor, the editors endorsements, the electoral coverage.

The Syar vote is indicative of the long term historical trend on the board of Sup.'s. Pay lip service to environmental protection, while running cover for the development/building/business community.

How many coho are left? What does sedimentation do to an aquatic ecosystem? What does digging out the gravel on the banks of a river at low flow, do to the riparian ecosystem when the winter rains raise the level and flow rate?

Even if you can countenance diesel exhaust, gravel trucks shredding the roads, and clogging them, new roads built onto the "private property" next to the river and back out to, where? West Side Road? East Side Road? Once the gravel is "skimmed", the truck traffic will abate, the roads might be left to decay and the land eventually in a hundred or more years, be allowed to return to it's natural state. (Yeah, right! Dream on...)

The effects on the riparian web of life, will by necessity be long term, perhaps permanent.

Remember the troll who thought we could all get our fish dinner out of our local waterways? As ludicrous as those claims were, gravel mining is a guaranteed blow to the fish and other critters, including the local bipedal species.

I am not anti-business. I am anti-destructive, unsustainable, business and jobs at the expense of the natural world and future generations.

The best way to understand how a candidate for office will represent the public interest, is to look at who is contributing to their campaign. Generally they'll say anything to get elected. But they vote for the interests of those who paid for their campaign. This has become transparent with Efren Carrillo. It's obvious with President Obama.

It's not what they say, it's what they do. And the first part of doing is paying for their ads, mailers, consultants and office staff.

I was once again reminded of the complete hypocrisy of mainstream politics, when Rabbitt disavowed any knowledge or involvement in the recent mendacious slam mailer against Torliatt, and in the same article a few paragraphs later, his campaign consultant is quoted that they support the ad, its use in their strategy, and he pretty much admits to knowing that it was going to sent out by one of their cutout organizations.

Given the way campaigns are organized, it would be extraordinary if they didn't orchestrate the mailer themselves. But with the compartmentalization allowed by current electoral law, we'll probably never see proof that they did. Except for the blatant admission of the consultant, totally contradicting his bosses denial. If a candidate is unwilling to take responsibility for his campaign, just how responsible is he going to be in office?

I wasn't surprised, shocked or amazed. But I certainly was angered.

The problem is that the vast majority of voters, which are at best half of those qualified to vote, don't pay attention to such details. They just decide based on the hype, their own perceived self interest, and are swayed by whichever interest groups they identify with and the most effective psychological manipulation that whichever side can come up with. Now, that's a fascinating subject of study!

I keep getting well meaning messages, from sincere people, to, "Just be sure to vote!" In our conflict avoidant culture, they don't advocate for any particular side.

I think the logic, if there is one, is that the more people who vote, the better it will be for the Democrats. Given the lack of attention that most voters exercise over their choices, I'm not too sure I can get behind that message.

Mine would be, "Vote, but only if you have a grasp on the issues and what the candidates stand for and who backs them. Then vote for the planet, future generations, and social/economic justice. If you're voting the way your crazy constitutional fundamentalist uncle who parrots Glen Beck and wants to take the country back from the Socialists who have taken over our government? Then, please, Don't Vote! You'll only be doing more damage to your community!!!"

Thus endeth the lesson.

[elienos]

Yikes. You are right about Rabbitt. I want to pretend that Torliatt will win, but the truth is that I am not so sure. Rabbitt is a weasel. He emailed me once, and I couldn't even stand the way he emails. There is a very anti-progressive group here in Petaluma and I just hope hope hope that they are they vocal majority and the silent majority overcomes....but I don't know if that is just wishful thinking.

I hate elections where I feel like I am voting against somebody, rather than for. Much of this election (not Torliatt, I like and respect her) is just that. I feel the need to vote against so many of the people running. Before I would have just not bothered voting.

[Imagery]

Why not simply recall him and boot him out of office? He obviously doesn't give one whit of concern to reading up on things, and has someone pulling his strings. Pro-business, anti-conservation, he has no business representing the people of West Sonoma County.

Perhaps if we recall him, then we can find someone (possibly Rue Furch??) who will listen to the INDIVIDUALS who make up her constituency instead of listening to the special interests and big business who so obviously pull this puppets' strings.

Efren - wake up and listen to the individuals, because they can remove you nearly as quickly as they elected you.

Shame on Efren. Good thing for us that he didn't grow up next to a nuclear power plant.

Perhaps he'd pretend he couldn't read the "Nuclear Free Zone" sign at the edge of town as he would vote for the nuclear power plant to be built in Sebastopol - because someone jingles thirty shekels of silver in front of him. Jobs, they cry - tax revenue, they whisper, all because they know that in this economy, they can simply fool the ignorant with the "key words" that excite politicians into voting for whatever crap they feed us.

["Mad" Miles]

The chances of recalling Efren are slim to nil. He has a strong Latino base in Southwest Santa Rosa (i.e. Roseland) where he's a hero, a local boy made good. (By boy I mean he grew up there, not in the patronizing sense of the infantilization of non-white men during the era of blatant Racism and segregation. Or perhaps I mean it in the sense of buey!)

He's also doing the job his campaign contributors paid for, and they have deep pockets. The only thing to do until 2012 is to keep lobbying him and bide our time until he's up for reelection. He's intelligent, he's capable of weighing the costs of backing dirty and raw extractive development, against his chances of getting reelected. That's the leverage we have.

There is hope, if Torliatt gets in, combined with Brown and Zane, they might hold the Good ol' and good young "dudes" in check. Ojala.

[boB Phelps]

Why not simply recall him and boot him out of office? He obviously doesn't give one whit of concern to reading up on things, and has someone pulling his strings. Pro-business, anti-conservation, he has no business representing the people of West Sonoma County.

Perhaps if we recall him, then we can find someone (possibly Rue Furch??) who will listen to the INDIVIDUALS who make up her constituency instead of listening to the special interests and big business who so obviously pull this puppets' strings.

Efren - wake up and listen to the individuals, because they can remove you nearly as quickly as they elected you.



Perhaps he'd pretend he couldn't read the "Nuclear Free Zone" sign at the edge of town as he would vote for the nuclear power plant to be built in Sebastopol - because someone jingles thirty shekels of silver in front of him. Jobs, they cry - tax revenue, they whisper, all because they know that in this economy, they can simply fool the ignorant with the "key words" that excite politicians into voting for whatever crap they feed us.

I began attempting to contact Mr. Carrillo, following his his vote on the new wine facility on Hwy. 116, in Sebastopol, which is very close to where I live. All attempts to contact him were met with stonewalling and a complete failure, on his part, to respond. Don't be fooled by him. This guy is no idiot. He knows who butters his bread. His liberal, evironmental platform is an absolute smokescreen for this pro-development political climber. He may have had humble roots, but he knows who where the big money comes from. I sent him an email, some time ago, questioning how far he could go, disregarding the wishes of his constituents and supporting big business and growth. His secretary, in a very terse statement, said that he would get back to me soon. This, of course never happened. Effren is the perfect example of an unethical politician, using false promises, to climb the political ladder. Let's make sure that he's voted out at the first opportunity.

[elienos]

So guess who was at David Rabbitt's victory party?

Aimi Durta.

And guess who she was talking to?

Efren Carrillo.

[Imagery]

So guess who was at David Rabbitt's victory party?

Aimi Dutra.

And guess who she was talking to?

Efren Carrillo.

Doesn't surprise me a bit. What else wouldn't surprise me is if he was quietly handed an unmarked envelope...

...selling out for the 40 shekels of silver. Perhaps an investigation into his financial affairs might be more effective in removing him from office.

[fafner]

I can't believe he did it. And his reasoning "I grew up by an asphalt plant and so can you!" That was in the 70's guy, now a days we fight for our communities and our neighbors.

We live in a democracy? Yeah right.

No one wants it but industry people and the two supervisors who aren't going for re election. What gives? Why did you guys vote this crazy in? I don't see why he can't see his actions as political suicide. We don't need this plant (who in the world told him that? we have more than enough asphalt plants), and we don't want it next to our park and our schools.

What is worse is that they have done two straw votes against the thing and Dutra just keeps coming back, until they get their way. If they get one yes vote, they will and we loose. They are also trying to rush the final vote in before Kearns and Kelly leave in January, because there is no way this project would go through once those two are out.

https://www.petaluma360.com/article/...s-tentative-OK

Just think what Rue would have done.

[riverosprey]

Presently Petaluma gets much of its' asphalt from an old plant in the middle of one of the poorest neighborhoods in Sonoma County (go to google maps for Bodean Asphalt in Santa Rosa). Much of the aggregate comes from quarries near Forestville.

Part of the ARM plan (Aggregate Resource Mining) was to develop other sources of aggregate in order to stop the problems associated with instream mining of the Russian River. The citizens of Forestville have been involved for many years trying to reduce production and all the associated impacts near their community.

Part of the effort to reduce green houses gases is to create local sources of materials instead of hauling it in from afar. We also reduce GHG through green shipping and rail, much less GHG emissions with these forms of transport. The closer to Hwy 101 the asphalt production, the easier it is to deliver the material, also reduces GHG.

That said, Dutra's plant is superior to Bodeans when it comes to pollutants...it is enclosed with many additional pollution control measures (albeit there are still issues). The plant will barge in materials on the Petaluma River, may one day utilize the rail line to bring in aggregate, which may help fund the SMART train.

West County benefits with alternative sources of aggregate to the Russian River, with fewer GHG's and impacts from manufacture, and less impact from the shear volume of trucks trafficing through Forestville and beyond.

The problem is Dutra is located at the gateway to Sonoma County, across the Petaluma River from the rightly revered Shollenburger Park. There are aesthetic considerations as well as concerns citizens have of potential risks of industrial operations, which should include North Bay Corp (garbage/recycling), Shamrock Materials, the new eco-fuels plant, and Ghillotti Const. all sited across from Shollenberger at Haystack landing as well.

As one of Supervisor Carrillo's appointees to the Planning Commission I voted against the Dutra facility a year ago. I said then that the application had not gone far enough to satisfy concerns of the people of Petaluma. They since got rid of the asphalt/concrete recycling, built a higher sound wall, reduced the height of the batch tower, dropped the second barge dock to share with Shamrocks existing, and reduced the amount of asphalt production.

This was one of Supervisor Carrillo's most difficult votes but he felt it was in the best interest of the Fifth District and Sonoma County. For some on this thread to adopt tea bagger type innuendoes and characterizations of a young man that is working 100 hours a week to help the people...ALL the people...I would just say it doesn't suit those doing this. You are capable of better arguments than shekels of silver type nonsense.

I always liked the saying we must be careful in our search for monsters we don't become monsters ourselves.

Tom Lynch
Guerneville

[Imagery]

You are capable of better arguments than shekels of silver type nonsense.

I always liked the saying we must be careful in our search for monsters we don't become monsters ourselves.

Tom Lynch
Guerneville

So what would you call not listening to what the people MOST IMPACTED have to say? Considering in another thread here Sonoma County is talking about only maintaining 150 miles of roads throughout the county, why would we need to build a new plant to do that? Too much production, not enough demand - leads to simply clearing and developing (and destroying) property needlessly.

Is it merely coincidence that he's pro-development?

But as soon as I heard that Carrillo endorsed Rabbitt (64% of financial contributions come from Big Oil [much from Valero], asphalt, gravel and Development companies, plus he is just patronizing at least to me) I realized what would probably happen with the vote.

and Sara S:

...out here near the coast, where the roads are very bad, and the county closed the Annapolis Road Maintenance Yard, he voted for yet another winery/public tasting room, ignoring the fact that this will cause a whole lot more usage/damage to the roads.

How about the opinion piece from David Keller:

The Dutra Companies have a terrible legal and environmental record, stretching from the Port of Miami, Fla. to the Gulf of the Farralones National Marine Sanctuary, filled with illegal dumping, dredging, huge fines and settlements and bankruptcy. While Dutra has pitched its perfection to the community, the reality is unfortunately way short of the rosy pictures.

Dutra’s fabrications here have been unmasked. This includes trying to hide blocking of the Petaluma River’s navigational channel and falsely mapping PG&E’s high pressure gas pipelines — the kind that just blew up in San Bruno — out of the way and onto their neighbor’s parcel. Both of these we uncovered (no thanks to Sonoma County’s planning department). Dutra also has eliminated its barging of materials to the river front parcel: It’s unusable.

With assertions like this, perhaps the good (according to you) supervisor might take a closer look, and perhaps we can chip in a few bucks and send him to this "state of the art" plant to see what he's agreeing to build here.

The most reasonable conclusion I can draw to his lack of investigation of this company and why all these people are against it: Campaign contributions strategically placed by certain individuals or special interests.

To me, I believe that the analogy fits - some special interest lobbyist, company, or individual is contributing money, whispering "jobs and tax revenue - what could possibly go wrong?" into his ear. He's obviously listening, as noted in the quote of his speech (post 13):

You know when you look at technology the last two-three decades have seen an increasing improvement in technologies. You know, when Aztec says they’re going to build a state-of-the-art plant here in Sonoma county, we need to look at infrastructure of these facilities, whether they’re quarries, whether they’re asphalt facilities, and using new technologies.

Gee, anyone remember who else was using "new and improved technology" when the Deep Water Horizon blew up?? I don't suppose there could POSSIBLY be any risk of environmental damage caused by the asphalt plant, right??

[sd gross]

Just think what Rue would have done.

The way I see it is, Petaluma +Dutra+ The "Aye" Voters = THE PUTRA-FACTION