Page 6 - Sonoma County Gazette March 2017

Photo: Lynda Wilson
Funky Fridays $50,000 Bene t Local Parks
The Lytton have had an application in with the BIA since 2009, it is still pending/not-approved. A tribal representative said last month “we’re still working on the legal justification for taking the land into trust”. So, the BIA will have to find some new legal justification before approving the application. Due to the new administration, there is currently no Interior Secretary nor a Secretary of Indian Affairs (BIA), which may further slow down the Bureau’s applications.
Funky Fridays, the beloved summer concert series staged in 2016 at Hood Mansion, raised $50,000 for the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. The Parks Foundation staff and board members have reviewed funding requests and will provide support for the following projects:
Legislatively, a special act of congress would need to be passed for the land to move into trust. Rep. Jared Huffman’s bill HR2538 did not move forward and “died” in the close of 2016 congress. Rep. Jeff Denham, who does not represent our area, placed a new bill HR597, onto the House floor in January 2017. It is basically the same text as Huffman’s previous bill. It has many hurdles to pass, before it could be approved. If it does get approved, it could be completely changed (or “stripped” of many of its protections), so it does not give any guaranteed protection against gambling or large commercial development.
• Bear Aware Program for Hood Mountain Regional Park and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, including bear-proof garbage containers at campsites, bear aware signage, and interpretive programs to educate the public about black bears.
The county signed a Memo of Understanding with the tribe (MOU) two years ago, which only go into effect if the land gets moved into Federal trust. It offers, some limited agreement for no gambling (but only for 22 years from the signing- or 20 years in the future, and only in a specific area).
• Hood Mansion Interpretive Panels to provide permanent interpretive information related to the history of Hood Mansion and surrounding properties.
Not all Indian tribes have a legal right to Federal trust land, there are very specific requirements. At this time, if has not been proved that the Lytton meet these requirements.
• Red Barn Campsite construction, to help Team Sugarloaf create three new backcountry campsites at the historic red barn compound near Bald Mountain.
Additionally, the Lytton Rancheria has recently purchased the Salvation Army Lytton Springs property for $30.0 million, which was $6.0 million more than the asking price. They have owned the San Pablo Casino since 2002, which has been reported to earn more than $260.0 million a year.
• “Sugarhood” Shuttle Service that will facilitate one-way hikes through Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Hood Mountain Regional Park, with hikers then taking the shuttle back to the parking lot.
• Sonoma Valley Hike-Ride-Trek Brochure to highlight outdoor recreation opportunities in the Sonoma Valley.
Please let me know if you need any additional information. I hope you have a nice weekend, and feel much better quickly.
• Sonoma Valley Family Programs, supporting outdoor programs for families from the Springs area.
Best regards, Betsy Mallace
In addition to these parks programs, the Parks Foundation will pay
for significant upgrades at the Hood Mansion property to improve the Funky Fridays experience for the summer of 2017. Guests will enjoy a more amphitheater-like experience, with the stage moved to the south end of the lawn. Responding to requests from many of last year’s attendees, Funky Fridays also will install a new dance floor in front of the stage.
OPEN LETTER to the Citizens Advisory Committee’ strong message to the Sheriff
UPDATE: Lytton Rancheria on the west side of Windsor/rural Sonoma County
I wanted to give you an update on the Lytton Rancheria desire to move land on the west side of Windsor/rural Sonoma County into Federal trust.
There are only two legal ways for Indian owned land to move into Federal trust, one is thru the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the other is a special act of congress, passing an approved bill.
“The Parks Foundation is deeply grateful to Funky Fridays – including its organizers, Linda Pavlak and Bill Myers, and all of the Funky Fridays guests and bands – for raising this substantial amount of money for our parks,” stated Melissa Kelley, executive director of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. “We appreciate all the time and energy contributed by Funky Fridays volunteers, and the attendance and generosity of the audience.”
The CAC’s action demanding that the Sheriff stop cooperating with federal immigration agents is absurd. He must obey the law when the feds have probable cause or a warrant of arrest. That is the law. And the U.S . Supreme Court stated that is the law enforcement standard for constitutional conduct by law enforcement.
“These Funky Fridays events encapsulate one of the things we love about public parks,” said Richard Dale, executive director of Sonoma Ecology Center, which helps manage Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. “It brings people outside together and lets them relax in nature. We’re thankful to Bill and Linda for their hard work in creating this highly successful concert series, and for giving back to Sonoma Valley’s open spaces.”
The CAC is chasing a political agenda and not doing the work to improve relations with the Sheriff’s office.
Funky Fridays’ positive impact on local parks is even greater than this grant award indicates, though. The Parks Foundation partnered with the Rotary Club of Glen Ellen – Kenwood to serve wine and beer at the events. The Rotary Club chose to direct its fundraising to Shaw Park in Kenwood. As a result of this support, future improvements at Shaw Park will include oak restoration, an upgraded pathway, new signage, additional trees and fencing improvements. In addition, the Parks Foundation has begun to save a portion of the Funky Fridays funds for future maintenance projects at Hood Mansion.
The CAC expects law enforcement to respect and follow the law and at the same time the CAC wants the Sheriff to ignore the laws the CAC does not agree with. This is hypocritical and shows the true goals of the CAC to be a liberal drum beater not a real advisory group.
The concert series will kick off on May 26, 2017 with The Bruthas, with concerts held from 7-9 p.m. each Friday through September 1. Tickets are $10 for adults; free for children 18 and under. Parking is $10 per vehicle or free for Regional Parks members. Information and tickets are available at http://www. funkyfridays.info.
No law enforcement officer or department in this county enforces immigration laws based on immigration status or ethnicity. Law enforcement is so busy with other issues.
The CAC claims it wants justice. Justice is for everyone including the Sherriff and Law Enforcement in general who are required to insure that everyone obeys the law.
The majority of the public does not want law enforcement to let known criminals released if customs has warrants or probable cause.
Regards, Joe Romano, JD Retired Deputy Sheriff and Former CAC board member
Sponsorships - please contact Susan Bryer-Shelton at (707) 565-3190 for details or sonomacountyparksfoundation.org/sponsoropportunities/.
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