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Mendocino County Today: Thursday, Mar 17, 2016

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PSYCHO DRAMAS at Tuesday's Supe's meeting included the agenda item that was supposed to be a vote on a code of conduct for the Animal Shelter, a code of conduct much more comprehensive than visiting rules at the County Jail.

THIS SHELTER item was scheduled for 9am and should have been concluded quickly. But a parade of Shelter critics shoved the discussion wayyyyy off topic into a general critique of the Shelter's alleged deficiencies, with a banned volunteer going totally to pieces at the mike and others rambling on wayyyyyy past their allotted three minutes.

Garland
Garland

(SPEAKING of precarious mental health, Obama's Supreme Court nominee, based on his maudlin and weepy expression of gratitude on national television today, would also seem to be in serious need of getting a grip on himself. But, then, maybe it's time for all of America to just sit down and have a good cry.)

SUPES BOARD CHAIR Dan Gjerde, should have cracked down on the animal people, but Supes meetings often deteriorate into weirdly off-kilter free-association sessions. It's past time to limit discussion to the alleged agenda item supposedly under discussion. The Shelter item was not public input time, but rather a specific agenda item regarding Shelter rules.

THE SPEAKERS want to privatize the Shelter — turn its management over to a private Sonoma County animal group dominated by the wealthy Montanos family, patron saints of tweaker-abandoned pit bulls.

SUPERVISOR HAMBURG, fully alert, pointed out that problems at the Shelter, should be sorted out by Shelter management, not the Supervisors.

AS IF THE SHELTER discussion was insufficiently surreal, as Shelter speakers rambled on to no particular end, the room began filling up with the next batch of concerned citizens — the medical marijuana brigade — a colorful mix of older groovy guys in Berks and flowing tunics, beard braids, garlands of woo-woo beads. (The women, too.) These holdouts from The Summer of Love were leavened by No Bullshit millennial grower types out to make a nice buck from the looming corporatization of the holy weed.

MENDOCINO COUNTY! There's no show like it!

* * *

FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL

The time is 11:17a.m. in the Mendocino County Coastal town of Fort Bragg, California. The date is March 16, 2016. It’s a beautiful clear day with just a bit of a breeze coming out of the south.

The March 14, 2016 Fort Bragg City Council meeting was held at Town Hall located on the corner of Main St. and Laurel St. at 6:00 p.m. The entrance to Town Hall is located on Main St. however it is possible to enter on the south side of the building where two other doors are located. Once in Town Hall seated to the front center of the room was: (left to right) Tom Varga-Public Works Director, Charles Gilchrist-Fort Bragg Police Department Lieutenant , Doug Hammerstom-Councilman, Scott Deitz-Councilman, Mike Cimolino-Councilman, Lindy Peters-Councilman, Vice Mayor, Dave Turner-Mayor, Linda Ruffing-City Manager, Scott Schneider-Adminstrative Services Director and Chantell O'Neal, Administrative Assistant.

The Fort Bragg City Council meeting was opened with Mayor Turner leading a salute to the flag. The flag is located in the south west corner of the meeting room.

The first item on the agenda was the Proclamation Acknowledging Lynda Bengtsson-Davis, Mateo Ortiz, and Rob Buch for their Work in Completing the Downtown Wi-Fi Project. Councilman Deitz read the Proclamation and thanked Mateo, Rob and Lynda for the many hours they worked to make the Downtown Wi-Fi project a reality.

During public comment on non agenda items Fort Bragg resident Jay Rosenquist brought it to Council’s attention the date on the video from the February 22, 2016 meeting was incorrect. The date on the video was January 22, 2016. Council assured her they would check into it. Jay also informed the Council and community that all the paperwork is finished and anyone wishing to donate to the YES ON MEASURE U campaign can do so by sending checks payable to “YES ON MEASURE U” 100 N. Franklin, Fort Bragg, CA. 95437

Next to speak was Fort Bragg resident Judy Valadao. Judy had attended a Downtown Watch meeting and was curious why the group and Chief Fabian E. Lizarraga would like to install surveillance cameras in the downtown business area. Chief Lizarraga said money from the asset forfeiture fund could be used to pay for the cameras. Judy asked if there had been problems in the area that the community isn’t aware of. If no problems exist in the downtown area why would the group and Chief feel the need to install cameras?

Judy also asked if someone on staff is monitoring projects funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The California State CDBG Regulation page 44 states the projects shall be monitored.

http://www.hcd.ca.gov/financial-assistance/community-development-block-grant-program/docs/adopted-state-cdbg-regulations-aug-2012.pdf

Judy also asked about an agreement between the City of Fort Bragg and Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center to implement The Giving Garden employment training program was authorized by Council Members and Linda Ruffing Fort Bragg City Manager on February 9, 2015. The amount of the grant was a total of $186,047.00.

https://cityfortbragg.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=3516923&GUID=249F528D-2E28-4684-B950-1AB1B5B4240C

Exhibit B Scope of work 3 of 3 tells of the Vocational Training Program and is signed by Anna Shaw. The agreement also says “soft skills” training including work habits, grooming, interpersonal communication skills, etc. will be taught at the Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center by the Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center staff.

https://cityfortbragg.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=3516924&GUID=C6B94F5C-AE58-4DA9-9275-37AA534A675A

On February 8, 2016 Gary Johnson Board member of the Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center said in a report to the Fort Bragg City Council “the Giving Garden program is not designed for job training but instead teaches grooming, punctuality and how to interview for a job.” Judy asked if this project has been monitored and reported. If so where can we see the report?

The problem as I (Judy) see it is: a CDBG was given to the Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center for the use of The Giving Garden. The garden project is (according to wording of the grant/contract) is a vocational training program. Mr. Johnson says it is used to teach grooming, punctuality and how to interview for a job. Really? Did the City of Fort Bragg Council and Staff know about this? After all, the entire project is supposed to be monitored by the Grantee.

Tom Varga-Public Works Director gave a lengthy presentation on water and the Pudding Creek Dam (located to the east of Pudding Creek Bridge). At one point Councilman Hammerstrom appeared to be sleeping. The City of Fort Bragg will be checking into issues with the Dam and if it would be a “money pit” to purchase with the intention of using for water storage. I’m sure we will be hearing an update on the Pudding Creek Dam at a future Fort Bragg City Council meeting.

The meeting ended and Council members and Staff went into a closed session to discuss anticipated litigation.

To be fair and get as much information as we could Jay Rosenquist and I met with Jennifer Owen - Housing & Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Fort Bragg. We met at Fort Bragg City Hall located at 416 N. Franklin St. in Fort Bragg on March 16, 2016 at 9:45 a.m.

Jennifer stated that the grantee is actually the CDBG program and not the City of Fort Bragg. On page 44 of The California State CDBG Regulations you can read: Grantees shall monitor the performance of grant-supported activities to assure that time schedules are being met and the milestones in the work schedule are being accomplished. This review shall be made for each activity in the approved grant agreement.

On page 2 of definitions you can read: "Grantee" means a unit of general local government which has been awarded funds provided pursuant to this subchapter to carry out a program.

http://www.hcd.ca.gov/financial-assistance/community-development-block-grant-program/docs/adopted-state-cdbg-regulations-aug-2012.pdf

And the beat goes on.

* * *

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CRISIS RESIDENTIAL GRANT?

It’s always interesting how the Board of Supervisors glosses over major blunders by staff rather than asking staff why such blunders occur. The latest to come to light was yet another failure of the Health and Human Services Department’s Mental Health staff (presumably the former Director Tom Pinizzotto whose blunders and favoritism toward his old boss Ortner Management Group continue to echo in the Supervisors chambers).

On Tuesday, the Supes had an item on their consent calendar to process a $500,000 crisis residential mental health grant that could have gone a long ways toward keeping Mendo’s mentally ill from being shipped out of county, away from family and support, at huge expense. Ortner’s facility in Yuba City got a lot of County business. Supervisor McCowen asked Ortner several times about their development of a residential crisis center which Ortner shined on time and again, but it indicates a high priority — and still the mental health staff failed to act.

Apparently Pinizzotto — now gone from county employ — dropped the ball (or intentionally missed it, we don’t know because nobody ever asks). So now the County has to scramble to find a way to spend the $500k or lose it in just a few months.

PS. No mention was made of the Sheriff’s sales tax initiative which is now slated for the November ballot. (See below.) The Sheriff's plan would provide much the same kinds of mental health service, albeit on a larger scale. (Nobody ever connects any dots in Ukiah when it comes to the many sub-components of Mental Health. The Courts have a piece, the DA and public defender have pieces, the jail has big a piece, patrol deputies have a piece, the mental health department employees have a piece, various contractors have various pieces, the County Counsel’s office has a piece… Probation (?). But nobody ever asks: How does it all fit together? Apparently no one cares.)

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Board of Supervisors Agenda Item 4f. March 15, 2016

Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Director to Accept the Senate Bill (SB) 82, Investment in Mental Health Wellness Grant Program Final Allocation Third Round Funding (Crisis Residential Treatment (CRT)) Grant Award of $500,000 from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA)

Summary Of Request: Senate Bill (SB) 82, the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Act of 2013, established a competitive grant program to disburse funds to California counties or to their nonprofit or public agency designates for the purpose of developing mental health crisis support programs. Specifically, funds wll “increase capacity for client assistance and services in crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, crisis residential treatment, rehabilitative mental health services, and mobile crisis support teams.” The grants from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) support capital improvement, expansion, and limited start-up costs. Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) applied for, and was awarded, the allotted amount of $500,000 to develop a Crisis Residential Treatment Program. We plan to establish ten (10) beds for voluntary crisis service placements by adding a Crisis Residential Treatment (CRT) facility. The CRT will provide additional movement throughout the Crisis Continuum of Care, providing law enforcement increased opportunity for a warm hand-off to trained personnel for persons in mental health crisis. Ongoing funding sources for sustainability will include appropriate Federal Medi-Cal reimbursement and increased billing potential with the implementation of the Affordable Care/Medi-Cal Expansion Act.

Recommended Action/Motion: Adopt Resolution authorizing Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (BHRS) Director to accept the Senate Bill (SB) 82, investment in Mental Health Wellness Grant program final allocation third round funding (Crisis Residential Treatment (CRT)) grant award of $500,000 from the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA); authorize the BHRS Director to enter into and sign the grant agreement, including all documents, subsequent amendments or renewals that do not affect the total amount payable under the terms of the agreement; and further, authorize Chair to sign same.

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Supervisor John McCowen: “We are adopting a resolution accepting the grant for crisis residential treatment. This is a grant that was applied for and we were awarded about a year ago or more. So I just wanted to clarify that this is not a new grant, this is simply completing the paperwork for the one that has already previously been awarded. But apparently there was an oversight in adopting a resolution — or for not adopting it.”

Mental Health Director Jenine Miller: “We are in the process. Like Supervisor McCowen said it is something we were granted and we do need to spend the money by July 1. We are looking at — we are working with a couple of current contractors about what the options are to do a crisis residential for Mendocino County. We're working with — we've spoken to other crisis residential programs to see what it looks like, how they did it, how they fund it, how are they funding it. Many of them use HHSA and Medi-Cal dollars to fund it. So we are in the process of really researching it to get it up and running by July so we can use the money by July 1. We have had a couple of interested parties interested in putting a proposal in to look at doing crisis residential for Mendocino County.”

(Ed note: A proposal to “look at doing crisis residential"?)

Supervisor Dan Hamburg: “The concern that was raised about this grant and the reason there was even some hesitation about accepting it was certainly not about the start-up money, it was about sustainability. I would just like to know what the latest thinking of the department is. If we — we have a fairly tight timeline to expend the money and get a facility up and running, Do you anticipate, does the department anticipate that there will be sufficient reimbursement dollars to sustain it?”

Miller: “Based on what I have been told from other programs that are operating in Marin and Sonoma, they are able to sustain it with — and do it with HHSA and Medi-Cal funds. If their models work for us then yes we will be able to.”

Hamburg: “Have any locations being considered at this point since we are only about four months out?”

Miller: “I know that one agency does have a location that they are looking at and they are putting a proposal together for that agency for us. So they are putting something together and they do have a building in mind.”

McCowen: “Part of Supervisor Hamburg's concern if I understand correctly is we want to make sure and do this right rather than do it quick. My belief in a previous discussion that I had with Director Cryer was there was some thought we could apply for an extension just to make sure that we do have time to effectively use these funds and with so many other changes going on, that might actually be a wise move since we are in the middle — or rather at the beginning of a very extensive transition process.” (I.e., getting rid of Ortner and cleaning up the mess.)

Miller: “That is correct. They said we can apply for it but they cannot guarantee that they will give it to us. We are planning in March to do a report to them and that will be part of the report which is requesting the extension, but they have let us know there is no guarantee that we will get that extension, so we are operating on, If we get the extension great. We're going to ask for it. But if we don't — we don't want to lose the dollars for bringing a crisis residential to Mendocino County. So we are operating to do the best we can, you know, get it together, and if we get the extension that will give us more time.”

* * *

MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF TOM ALLMAN formally launched a mental health initiative Tuesday that he and a dozen citizens have been working on for several months, and is expected to begin starting the process of collecting the 2,502 signatures needed to put it on the November ballot.

Called the “Mental Health Facility Development Ordinance of 2016,” it would enact a temporary five-year half-cent sales tax for the purpose of revitalizing mental health services throughout Mendocino County.

Allman has said county auditor figures show that $22 million could be pulled in from such a measure.

The tax would be used to develop facilities to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and addiction recovery, according to Allman. Specifically, the measure would pay for a local locked inpatient facility. That would reverse the flooding of local emergency rooms with mentally ill patients and decrease the time law enforcement - both police and sheriff’s departments - spend dealing with the mentally ill who are in crisis or acting out. It would also save the county the money it now spends on sending local patients to mental hospitals out of county, something the recent Kemper report on mental health services said the county needed to do.

Allman said the proposed initiative also includes the development of a training facility for mental health and public safety professionals, along with citizens.

Currently, no locations have been identified for the locked psychiatric health facility, but the idea has been floated of utilizing the old Howard Hospital site in Willits, which Allman fully supports.

The initiative also provides for a “politically independent oversight committee,” to keep track of all spending of the proposition funding.

Allman envisions an 11-person team comprised of: five citizens, each selected by one county supervisors; a member representing the county Behavioral Health Advisory Board; the county mental health director, or representative; county auditor or representative; county CEO, or representative; sheriff, or representative; and a representative from the Mendocino County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“We look forward to working with the Board of Supervisors on this, developing a location where we will be able to have mental health services provided to the citizens where law enforcement is not going to be as instrumental as they are now in identifying and transporting mental health citizens,” Allman said.

(Courtesy, the Ukiah Daily Journal)

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A LEGGETT HOME on Drive Through Tree Road burned to the ground Tuesday morning. A dead woman was found inside, according to Cal Fire. Fire personnel described the destroyed structure as one in which "suspicious activities" had occurred. The identity of the dead woman has not been released.

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DEPT. OF UNINTENTIONAL HILARITY

Does Ukiah Need An Upscale Hotel Downtown?

by Justine Frederiksen

UkiahUpscale

(The victorian house located on the corner of Pine and West Stephenson streets was the location of the Sanford House Bed & Breakfast Inn in Ukiah. Chris Pugh-Ukiah Daily Journal.)

* * *

The Ukiah City Council tonight will discuss the need for an “upscale hotel” downtown, and specifically whether it wants the city to pay for someone to investigate the viability of such a business.

According to the report prepared for the March 16 meeting by Senior Management Analyst Shannon Riley, city staff has identified a need for a “higher-end” hotel in the downtown area and believes the best way to attract this kind of development is to conduct a $30,000 feasibility study.

“We hear over and over again that Ukiah needs a high-end hotel downtown,” said Riley, explaining that the city’s “highest-rated” hotels are currently located on Airport Park Boulevard, a mile and a half away from the Ukiah Valley Conference Center and the downtown core’s restaurants and shops.

“Visitors will say, I want a glass of wine and I don’t want to drive,” she said, describing that desire as good for fellow drivers and the restaurants within walking distance, but it won’t bring business downtown and likely won’t lead to return visits, since visitors are less likely to come back to Ukiah when they are “not exposed to the more unique parts of the community,” such as the downtown.

And while there is at least one hotel in the downtown area, Riley said the discussions regarding a need for an “upscale” one has been held in the open, and the fact that their hotel is not considered “high-end” should not come as a surprise to any property owners. In fact, she said any moves made toward adding a new hotel should be considered an opportunity by all current property owners.

A bed and breakfast operated years ago at the corner of Pine and West Stephenson streets in Ukiah, but the Victorian building was bought by a local businessman and transformed into a private home. Guests who stayed there had easy access to city hall, the conference center, and to downtown restaurants and shops.

Identifying hospitality as “an increasingly important source of revenue and jobs in Mendocino County,” Riley argues further that a “new hotel would provide much-needed employment opportunities,” and would “also serve the expanding hospital and the new courthouse.”

Despite all the evidence she already provided, Riley said a feasibility study would likely still be necessary to prove that Ukiah is typically populated by far more people than its official population numbers of around 16,000 suggest.

“It is not widely understood that Ukiah’s weekday population swells (to up to 40,000),” and that more than 104,000 shoppers live about a 30-minute drive away, making Ukiah the “business, education and service hub for the entire county, as well as parts of Lake County “ and other areas, Riley notes.

“In terms of benefit to the community, the multiplier effect of tourism is tremendous,” Riley writes. “An upscale hotel would help secure inland Mendocino County’s position as a wine-country destination that rivals Sonoma County, (attracting and serving) the more affluent visitor and providing lodging to match the high-end weddings that are coming to the area.”

Riley said that “no particular site is identified for this development,” but that the study may “assist with attracting financing for the rehabilitation of the Palace Hotel,” and if not, “there are city owned properties that may be viable for this development, as well as other existing facilities and privately owned properties.”

When asked for specific sites that might work, Riley said the city owns property near the Railroad Depot and parking lots downtown. Also, it would be possible to add at least two more stories on top of the conference center, she said. Though not city-owned, the former post office building on North Oak Street is another example, she said.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. tonight in the council chambers at 300 Seminary Avenue.

* * *

AV HEALTH CENTER INVITES THE PUBLIC TO A STRATEGIC PLANNING DISCUSSION, MARCH 31ST

The Board of the AV Health Center is now embarking on creating a strategic plan for the next 3 - 5 years. We invite the community to attend a preliminary discussion as we begin to develop new goals for the Health Center. Help us to understand how we can better serve you and our community. We have hired a professional facilitator to guide the plan's progress and assist us in drawing up a comprehensive roadmap by early summer. We invite all AVHC stakeholders - clients, patients and residents - to a meeting on March 31st at the AV Grange. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to meet the board and AVHC staff and let us know how we can increase and improve services to the Valley. Come, bring your friends and participate in this public forum. We would love to hear from you.

Ric Bonner on behalf of the AVHC Board

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Warren
Warren

JURY TRIAL RESULT: A mistrial was declared yesterday after a jury returned from its deliberations to announce they were was unable to reach unanimous agreement on the two misdemeanor counts they had been tasked to decide. Robin Ivey Warren, age 62, of Willits, stands charged with driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol of .08 or greater.

This matter will be undergo the standard review by senior prosecutors next week. The parties will be back in court on March 25th and it is expected that a trial with a new jury will be rescheduled at that time. The prosecutor who presented the People's evidence at this week's trial was Deputy District Attorney Houston Porter. The investigating law enforcement agencies were the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Justice Crime Laboratory in Eureka.

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LAKE COUNTY MAN ACCUSED OF POSING AS A GIRL ON FACEBOOK

Pippert
Pippert

A Lake County man was arrested for allegedly using a social media site to sexually exploit a child, the Fort Bragg Police Department reported. According to the FBPD, last November officers were notified by a parent concerned about inappropriate activity seen on his or her child’s Facebook account. When an officer began investigating the report, it was determined that the person had created a fake account and was pretending to be a young girl. The suspect reportedly exchanged several inappropriate pictures with the victim, including one that featured male genitalia. The FBPD then launched into a months-long investigation of cell phone records, Wi-Fi Internet access and IP addresses, and on March 12 served a search warrant at the residence of Douglas C. Pippert, 46, who was living in a travel trailer in the Upper Lake area. When officers entered his home, they reportedly found other evidence of child pornography and child exploitation in “plain view,” and placed him under arrest. Pippert was then booked into Lake County Jail on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a child, communicating with a minor with intent to commit specified offenses and of sending harmful material to a minor. He was booked into jail under $1 million bail, and will reportedly be transferred to Mendocino County to face multiple felony charges. This investigation is ongoing."

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NAMI MENDOCINO PTSD FORUM

NAMI Mendocino is holding a PTSD forum. A panel of experts from the VA clinic will speak about PTSD: WHAT IS IT? on Wednesday, March 30 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, 293 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Sponsored by NAMI Mendocino, all people interested in Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome are invited to attend. For more information call 468-8632 or 391-6867. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your consideration and time.

Donna Moschetti. NAMI Mendocino, 707-391-6867. 707-462-2206

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CATCH OF THE DAY, March 16, 2016

Brown, Dungan, Herriot
Brown, Dungan, Herriot

DAVID BROWN, Ukiah. Battery.

PAULINE DUNGAN, Covelo. Probation revocation.

JAMES HERRIOT JR., Albion. Burglary, controlled substance, parole violation.

Hill, Langenderfer, Lopez
Hill, Langenderfer, Lopez

VINSON HILL, Ukiah. Under influence, controlled substance, paraphernalia.

THOMAS LANGENDERFER, Albion. Burglary.

JUAN LOPEZ, Willits. Community Supervision violation, probation revocation.

Mabray, McNally, Meloy
Mabray, McNally, Meloy

DAVID MABRAY JR., Greenwood/Willits. DUI.

YVETTE MCNALLY, Redwood Valley. Protective order violation.

MARCUS MELOY, Point Arena. Parole violation.

Miller, Ornelas, Palacios
Miller, Ornelas, Palacios

SHANE MILLER JR., Ukiah. Under influence, probation revocation.

TASHA ORNELAS, Ukiah. Under influence, probation revocation. (Frequent Flyer)

JOHN PALACIOS, Ukiah. Under influence.

Reed, Rozek, Thompson, Zarate
Reed, Rozek, Thompson, Zarate

DANIEL REED, Willits. Probation revocation.

ZACHARIA ROZEK, Redwood Valley. Controlled substance, probation revocation.

CHRISTOPHER THOMPSON, Ukiah. DUI.

ROGELIO ZARATE, Ukiah. Ex-felon with firearm, brandishing where children gather.

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1984 REVISITED

"Establishment" is now a meaningless word, with one faction of the establishment accusing another of being "establishment." Another co-opted term. In the 60's we knew all of it was the establishment - politics, business, military. The guys in suits and uniforms with the Stepford wives. One republican or democrat calling another "establishment" is absurd. It's too late, kids. If one republican is "establishment" but another is not, the term is really dead. Just as "progressive" is dead when every democrat claims it.

Reading 1984 again, realizing I was a bit young at 14 to really understand it the first time. Orwell was dead-spot-on, whether you see his nightmare society as right or left wing, the wings belonging to the same bird, to paraphrase the anonymous native American quote circulating on facebook. That bird is The Establishment, portrayed as 1984's "hierarchical society." Orwell predicted intrusive technology and mass media propaganda, but being British, he could not have imagined the American redneck "good ol' boy" thing that gave us George W Bush or the celebrity culture that gave us OJ Simpson, the Kardashians, the Super Bowl, Reagan and Schwarzenegger, or "evangelical" mega-monster-churches.

It was possible, no doubt, to imagine a society in which wealth, in the sense of personal possessions and luxuries, should be evenly distributed, while power remained in the hands of a small privileged caste. But in practice such a society could not long remain stable. For if leisure and and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; and when once they had done this, they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away. In the long run a hierarchical society was only possible on basis of poverty and ignorance.

Weren't the nazis the "National Socialist" party? Kind of a Doublethink thing, eh? Like "Citizens United" - sounds good, but which minority of "citizens" are united in that? In "1984" there is The Party, the Inner Party, the proles (proletarians, the lowest class of people - wage earners and such), and the Brotherhood - the resistance, including some inner Party members and managed by a shadowy figure named Goldstein - a Jew perhaps like Saul Alinsky, author of "Rules for Radicals" (1971), whose name is used by republicans to suggest the essence of evil in a world of free trade and market capitalism-as-God.

If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five per cent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated. The Party could not be overthrown from within.... But the proles, if only they could somehow become conscious of their own strength, would have no need to conspire. They needed only to rise up and shake themselves like a horse shaking off flies. If they chose, they could blow the Party to pieces tomorrow morning. Surely sooner or later it must occur to them to do it. And yet... Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.

The Big Lie - The expression coined by Adolf Hitler, when he dictated his 1925 book Mein Kampf, about the use of a lie so "colossal" that no one would believe that someone "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."

So here we are, folks. Right now.

* * *

HillaryAlien

* * *

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

Imagine the wresting match. Donald in an orange jumpsuit with a long American flag cape and Hillary wearing mom jeans and and a dashiki. Donald’s ringside manager is that shaved meth head who gives you the crazy eyes at the gas pump, and Hillary’s is the three piece suit with those entitled arrogant eyes from Wall St. The ringside announcer is Gerald Celente….. Now help me guys, I cannot think of a good ref or the title of the match.

* * *

"POETRY" ARTISTS' RECEPTION ON MARCH 19

March 19 - May 19, 2016

Hours: Friday - Sunday, 11-5pm

Artists' Reception:

Saturday, March 19 — 5-7:30 pm

204 N. Cloverdale Blvd.

Downtown Cloverdale

707-894-4410

* * *

THE MIKEY SHOW COMING TO UKIAH!

Coming up March 24 - Mendocino County Town Hall!

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying a bit of sunshine!

I wanted to let you know that our annual Mendocino County Town Hall meeting is coming up on March 24 — and I'm really looking forward to seeing you there in person. We've got an exciting agenda packed with local and state leaders ready to give you updates on issues affecting your neighborhood and our entire state — and ready to answer your questions. Please join us:

What: Mendocino County Town Hall hosted by Senator Mike McGuire

When: Thursday, March 24: 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Where: Ukiah High School Cafetorium, 1000 Low Gap Road in Ukiah

More Info & RSVP: (707) 576-2771 or Karlene.Rebich@Sen.Ca.Gov

Save Room: We're serving the world's best peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!

On the Agenda: Welcome & introductions: Senator Mike McGuire & Steve Scalmanini, Mayor of Ukiah. Mendocino County update: Dan Gjerde, Chair - Board of Supervisors and Supervisor John McCowen. Mendocino County Schools update: Associate Superintendent Paul Joens-Poulton. Sheriff's Office briefing, latest on Mendocino County area activity: Sheriff Tom Allman. CA Highway Patrol: Lieutenant Bruce Carpenter. Briefing on highway activity: Caltrans District Director Charlie Fielder. State of California update: Senator Mike McGuire. Questions & answers: Senator Mike McGuire.

I hope you can join us on Thursday, March 24 for our annual Mendocino County Town Hall meeting. Please spread the word and bring at least three neighbors!

Warm regards,

Senator Mike McGuire

PS: Let's keep in touch! Join the conversation on Twitter: @ILike_Mike

13 Comments

    • BB Grace March 17, 2016

      James Marmon PhDSW?

      Why not?

  1. Alice Chouteau March 17, 2016

    Judy
    Excellent i fo! The links are greatly appreciated. With the City of Fort Bragg receiving a total of $14,619,550 in grant money last year, one would expect them to have a full time staff person monitoring their contracts.
    Do you have anu further documentaion of who the ‘grantee’ is?
    Keep up the fine work.
    AC

  2. Bruce McEwen March 17, 2016

    Irish Riddle (please don’t google the answer — either you know or you don’t):

    What’s the difference between a sham rock and the stone of scone?

    • BB Grace March 17, 2016

      hmmmmm the sham rock could be lucky and the stone of scone is definately unlucky?

      • Bruce McEwen March 17, 2016

        ‘Twere the luck o’ the Irish that a.) the baker got drunk with the cement finisher, and b.) put cement in place of flour in the scone and c.) flour in the concrete (reinforced with strips of newspaper, this is where paper-mache comes from and how Superman was able to hurl humongus boulders around on b&w TV). And how many tourists have broken their teeth on Irish scones? But the answer is d.) there is no answer to a Irish riddle. Google it all day, ye’ll find no answer.

    • Bruce McEwen March 17, 2016

      No takers? There’s a series of Scotts novels featuring a fellow named Bruce Anderson, by Alex McCall-Smith. It’s a updated sort of Sir “WALLY” Scott, in a way and yet …well, one wonders. The author is also an ethics professor — but, please, who bothers with such notions as ethics anymore? Here’s the thing. Sniff all you want, but something vital hath been lost. And no, bro, not to pin it all on the farmer, the fellow who sluices cow shit onto crops, nor yet the morality of pigs, and certainly not the chickens, which is to say, not the creatures we created, the nasty domesticated yardbirds whose means of lovemaking is plainly rape, derived from birds who previously had the most elaborate courting rituals — we — us — bred that coy and delicate impulse out of ’em intentionall… oh, and by the by, keep in mind that H. Sapien evolved copying the behavior of animals… Geez, dude, ya think there’s a connection?

  3. BB Grace March 17, 2016

    Ditto what Alice Chouteau posted.

    Thank you for the updates, reports and information Judy Valadao; And Thank you for the link in the above post. It clearly states in the first sentence: the CITY OF FORT BAGG IS GRANTEE.

    Also appreciation to Jay Rosenquist and the YES ON MEASURE U info: GOOD LUCK! BEST WISHES!! My only campaign contribution of the election goes to U.

  4. Judy Valadao March 17, 2016

    Thank you BB, I appreciate that.

    • BB Grace March 18, 2016

      One of the best reports on the issue Judy, worthy of tagging for future reference, and helps advance the understanding of what is exactly on the FBCC/ MCHC pork table.

      Also, following the story online AVA, what I like most about your article was how you stepped up to the plate and hit the ball out of the park.

      Let it never be said Judy Valadao can’t write an article and get the facts straight.

      I’m lovin’ it!
      Kudos ;)

  5. Judy Valadao March 30, 2016

    Thank you again BB. The truth needs to be told and it seems everyone wants to know what that truth is but don’t want to step on toes. Why not? Aren’t our toes being stepped on?

    I have to be very careful when I write because thee is a Civics teacher lurking in the background at all times.

    • BB Grace March 31, 2016

      Thank you Judy. When I came to the AVA a year ago, because I needed help getting answers about Mental Health, I never expected to virtually meet you and Alice C, who have been a real pleasure for me because I feel a communion, for lack of better expression. I have my fingers crossed and genuinely hope Measure U will prevail.

      The Kemper Report ended my quest concerning Mental Health as I don’t have any personal business, just a tax payer who is disappointed how taxes are spent. Kinda like being a grain of sand on Ten Mile beach watching the tides.

      GOOD LUCK MEASURE U!

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