Focus on issue, not on personal attacks
EDITOR: This is my response read to the Cloverdale City Council during public comment at the April 10 city council meeting. I am here speaking personally tonight, to address a letter sent by Council member Brigham to the school board. It was my ethical and moral duty as the board spokesperson to put the proposed location’s proximity to the school and future skate park on the table for your consideration. My duty to come forward is imposed on me by my public service position not by any personal interest in the matter.
Brigham posted her letter online as well as sent it to the school board. Ipolani Bovee sent a letter to the city council and school board as well that same evening; both were full of libelous statements about myself and my wife.
I have no interest in Quonset Botanicals, California Wellness nor any other cannabis applicant. The buildings I hold leases on or own will not have dispensaries or manufacturing of cannabis.
Rumors are many, but my sole connection is to a friend who is involved in California Wellness, who my wife and I serve as a personal reference for. I would vouch for Dave Parnall’s integrity and values at any cost, which is all I have done on their application. I have not written a letter of recommendation as alleged nor do I have any financial interest in the venture as alleged.
I have not taken, nor will I take a position on the cannabis applications of anyone. And if you read the reference section in their application on my wife’s position it clearly states, and I quote from the record, that “Ms. Conner is a longtime and close personal reference for California Wellness consultant David Parnall. She is, however, not in favor of cannabis legalization.”
I don’t know how much more clearly you can state that you will serve as a personal reference, but you don’t support the cannabis application.
Read the facts, not the spin Mary Ann Brigham has put on the truth. It is unacceptable that Mary Ann has made a truthful, factual presentation I made about the school district’s position on the location of a dispensary into a personal attack on me and my family. I came forward because it is my duty to put another perspective on the table and represent the best interests of our youth who have no vote come election day.
I know I fulfilled my duty to the children of our community to make sure their interests were represented and put before you for your consideration during this difficult time.
Mary Ann has made the cost of public service personally punitive which is unacceptable in the democrat ethics of which I was raised. Mary Ann, I will remind you of the council policy on every agenda: “We may disagree, but we will be respectful to one another. All comments will be directed to the issue at hand and addressed to the city council. Personal attacks are unacceptable.” You have violated every one of those tenants.
Mary Ann – I know you and your supporters will probably redouble the personal attacks, but it is entirely in your power to return this to a civil discourse; to stop the libel, stop the slander, stop threats that my family are being subjected to. Focus on addressing the issue – the proposed location – not personally attacking those you are in governance with.
Preston Addison
Cloverdale
Settling differences in a time of great change
EDITOR: A comfortable majority of California voters approved legalizing marijuana. The state laid down laws, counties have put their own touch on them, and then cities and towns added their refinements. Unfortunately now things seem to be getting increasingly difficult.
Cloverdale folks are concerned about how close a cannabis outlet is located to a school. I believe the legal distance is no closer than 600 feet. Strangely enough, the access to alcohol, not only beer and wine but hard liquor, is much more available. Perhaps alcohol is considered safer than cannabis, but alcohol-related accident statistics would seem to prove that wrong.
The walkway where the potential dispensary (Quonset Botanicals) would be located is not nearly as traveled as the main sidewalk in the downtown area near the stoplight at Cloverdale Boulevard and First Street. I’ve worked in both areas for years at a time and observed that in the half hour just before and just after school there is a stream of young students walking to school and returning home past several outlets that sell alcohol.
Children are allowed in grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores and gas station marts, all of which sell alcoholic beverages. Children are not allowed in cannabis dispensaries and all customers must show ID proving identity and age. I am confused as to how a cannabis dispensary following the legal distance requirements and where only adults are allowed entry is a threat to our children.
I have known Mary Ann Brigham for more than 30 years and have worked with her a number of times in different positions with her businesses. My last year in seminary I was called upon to preside at her son Ted Brigham’s memorial service; he was murdered in a marijuana garden.
That service for my friend’s son, a young man who graduated from high school with my son, was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Like Mary Ann, I believe that legalization can help bring the already widespread cannabis industry out of the shadow of criminalization and eventually eliminate the high risks involved. Anyone who knows Mary Ann knows she would never put any child at risk. Even the implication of that is insulting and outrageous.
Just for transparency’s sake, I am not against alcohol and enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer. At 71, I am also a cannabis consumer. After beginning medical cannabis treatment six months ago, I have been able to eliminate two long-time prescription drugs and my blood pressure is the best it’s been in years. My doctor has been quite pleased with the results.
This is a time of great change, not only locally, but in the country and around the world. I hope that our small community can settle our differences with humility, honesty and respect.
Pamela J. Tinnin
Cloverdale
Not the place to air grievances
EDITOR: At the school board meeting on April 11, remarks were made by several people regarding the Quonset Botanicals cannabis dispensary. City councilwoman MaryAnn Brigham, who is connected with the dispensary, made disparaging comments about the president of the board of trustees for CUSD.
At the March 27 city council meeting, the school board president spoke on behalf of the school board, opposing the Quonset Botanical site location as being too close to the Washington Middle School. Superintendent Decker also spoke, reiterating the school board’s position.
In my opinion, the school board meeting is not the place to air personal or business grievances. I believe she was acting in an immature and unprofessional manner when confronting the school board president. Ms. Brigham may be better served by separating her business and civic interests.
Kate Bria
Cloverdale
History project
EDITOR: I am working on an historical timeline of the LGBTQ communities from 1970-1990. We are in desperate need of original photos from those years. Especially needed are images of SCRAP 6 at work on the Brigg’s initiative as well as those of PRIDE parades/activities. We are also interested in photos that show any buildings, events or activities within the LGBTQ community during those years. If you have photos, please contact Tina Dungan, [email protected].
Come see the timeline display at the Sonoma County Gay PRIDE celebration, which will be in Santa Rosa this year at the new Old Courthouse Square on the weekend of June 1-3.
Tina Dungan
Santa Rosa
Indivisible’s intent
EDITOR: We feel compelled to respond to Harry Martin’s comments about the intent of the Indivisible groups around the country. We are certainly in agreement that we need fewer walls and more bridges in our society. Hopefully, we can also agree that there are many issues we as a community need to address.
Indivisible groups were formed after Donald Trump became president to resist the harmful and divisive agenda he set out for this country. We are truly concerned for the health of our planet, our children’s future and those who are most at risk of being economically disabled or stripped of their legitimate aspirations as residents of the United States.
Speaking up for more justice, truthfulness and science isn’t building a wall — it’s what caring, responsible people feel called to do. Thus, it’s incumbent upon those of us who want to change the direction of this administration to work to elect representatives who reflect our values.
One of the bright lights in this dark time has been the many people who have become energized to participate in the political process. We know that our democracy is a fragile experiment and is being threatened as never before. Our democracy will not endure without an informed, engaged electorate.
Educating our community and our elected officials is not about building walls, rather it is the important and difficult work necessary to preserve our democracy and create a society where all are respected and all have a shot at the American Dream.
Vicky Groom, Niranjana Parthasarathi, Brooke Greene, Pam Browning, Virginia Greenwald
Steering Committee, Cloverdale Indivisible
Supports Essick
EDITOR: Being a resident of Healdsburg for 40 years and working 20 years in the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, Public Administrator Division, provided me the opportunity to observe the many successes and some failures of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
We will soon be electing a new sheriff. The best candidate must be chosen. Captain Mark Essick is that person, for the following reasons. He began his career with the sheriff’s office in 1994 as a correctional officer, subsequently serving as deputy, detective, field training officer, bomb squad sergeant, patrol sergeant, lieutenant personnel/internal affairs, and from 2015 to present field services captain/administrative captain.
In 2007, working with the Sonoma County Mental Health Department, he developed and directed the much needed crisis prevention program, and in 2015 he served as the only law enforcement member on the Community and Law Enforcement Task Force. In 2015, again with mental health, he helped form the mobile support unit.
His volunteer work includes coaching little league and youth soccer and serving on the board of each, as well as being a member and volunteer of PTA.
He has demonstrated that he cares about the safety of our community and the relationship between its residents and law enforcement. The conflicting state and federal laws of recent years make it imperative that our new sheriff is not only experienced but firm, straightforward, fair, diplomatic and able to make wise decisions.
I have known Mark Essick personally for the last few years. I believe he has the experience, character, integrity, strength, and temperament to lead the sheriff’s office. He has my vote
Olive Robinson
Healdsburg
Prove me wrong
EDITOR: To claim that the opinion section of this paper is a playground for Trump haters would be an understatement. Even the anti-Trump New York Times throws Trump a bone once in a while. I have yet to see a pro-Trump story in this paper. It is well within the rights of this publisher to print what they choose. I believe they are making a big mistake.
It does not matter that this paper has managed to keep the actual news separate from the opinion section. I believe that the opinion section being so one-sided anti-Trump has altered the reputation the paper to no longer being a news source that is in the middle, being fair and impartial, but a news source that is a left-wing favored publication.
I’m not saying this is a proven fact, just my opinion. I leave it up to the readers to research and draw their own conclusions. With that being said, I believe that providing content that fits their agenda and ignoring the other side would only limit their customers, a loss from half to a third. That’s a lot of readers and subscribers. The platform might be provided for opposing views, but to see it in print is another story.
Although, I do not currently live in Cloverdale, I did grow up there and have friends and family that currently live there. I cannot and will not speak for them and in no way do I claim they share my same opinion, but what I can tell you is that common sense tells us not everybody in the town of Cloverdale has the same political opinions. There are people who are Democrats, liberals, Republicans, you name it.
What I can tell you, and I can only speak for those around my generation and their parents, is that we all were taught that you never want to see a U.S. president fail, no matter if you voted for them or not. To promote the idea of the failure of a sitting U.S. president would be a mistake.
That might work in cities like San Francisco or L.A. where they are overrun with liberals, but not in patriot towns like Cloverdale. Wanting your president to fail would be like shooting yourself in the foot every day before you started your day.
Not a good idea to burn half your potential customer base, unless that is your motive. A gain or loss of readers and subscribers would be direct evidence of proof. I would really like to see this make to print because I would really like to see someone prove me wrong.
Brian Andrew Humphrey
Modesto
Editor’s Note: The Reveille is neither liberal nor conservative, Democrat nor Republican. As a community newspaper, we aim to serve, listen and report on the entire community and not embrace a singular political view. Since Sonoma West Publishers has owned the Reveille, we have never refused to publish a letter containing a political perspective that differs from the personal beliefs of the publisher or editor. We agree that we publish more opinions that question the current administration, for the simple fact that we receive more. We welcome all points of view.
