Page 4 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2018

LETTERS cont’d from page 3
No commercial cannabis near homes
We voted to legalize adult recreational marijuana use, but we did not vote
to have it grown commercially in our neighborhoods.
already received $75,000 from no less than 426 individual donors, to save these classes for our kids. We are truly grateful and thank the community from the bottom of our hearts!
I live in a RR area near Penngrove and Petaluma. We have paid taxes to live in this safe, tranquil residential area, originally zoned AR, since January 1989.
The Board of Supervisors banned commercial marijuana operations in certain residential neighborhoods after listening to concerned residents. Many of us want the Board to make the same decision about Diverse Agriculture neighborhoods (which interweave residential zones) and restrict commercial cannabis grow businesses to industrial zones only.
The good news is that these funds allow El Molino to save critical elective classes. However, many sections in 2018-2019 will still be
lost – the current estimate is 17 – and district officials say more cuts will be coming the following year.
My neighbors and I absolutely
do NOT want the encroachment of cannabis growers in this area. None of us came here to grow anything that could disturb others, nor do we want crops near us that attract thieves and violence. Recently several out-of-state criminals came to murder in search
of marijuana. They did not murder to steal grapes or sheep.
Robert Guthrie, Sebastopol
You can still help by contacting Gov. Jerry Brown and your elected representatives in Sacramento to let them know it’s just not acceptable for California, the 6th largest economy in the world to be the 41st state in per- pupil funding, 45th in pupil-teacher ratios, and 45th in the percent of taxable income spent on education,
as reported by the California School Boards Association.
Devaluing our home properties for the sake of this jeopardizing product is wrong. Even allowing a cannabis store on Ely Road with no traffic light is extremely problematic, especially considering backed up traffic and the train tracks.
Industry sources say that so much is dependent on size of plant, etc etc. Marijuana Venture, an industry publication says that 50 plants will on average use 240,000 gallon for one harvest...indoor grows can produce 4 harvests a year...
Please continue to support the El Molino Education Fund! We raise money for classrooms to improve education for students. We conduct fundraising campaigns for specific academic projects and we are the hub that connects our alumni and our community to El Molino High School and to today’s Lions.
It is very hard to get an accurate number as to how much water is going to be used to produce on pot plant.
At an early BOS meeting, it
seemed that the BOS agreed that growers would have to stay in remote agricultural areas. Let the growers do their thing in those ag zones--NOT NEAR HOMES, preferably 5-10 miles away from the nearest residence.
So, just example.... my neighbor
who has transplanted himself from Minnesota is going to be allowed
to have 2000 square feet in a grow house...let’s say that will allow him to grow 2000 plants since one can grow 1 plant per square foot (also an industry standard)
If you haven’t yet joined our 600 Lions campaign, please do. Go to donations.elmolino.org. Or write a check to El Molino Education Fund, with 600 Lions at the lower left, and mail to 7050 Covey Road, Forestville, CA 95436.
Help us: NO commercial cannabis near residences!
So he can really grow 40 times the 50 plants mentioned above...that is 9,600,000 gallons per harvests...4 harvests a year will mean over 38,400,000 gallons used per year. . And this is a “small grow” allowed under the ordinance without any neighborhood input or review.
Nancy Chien-Eriksen, Petaluma
Hi. After reading Patrick Ball’s open letter to the BoS in your February issue, I’m inspired to write you about my personal story.
A Cannabis Business
At My Fence
On behalf of the El Molino Education Fund with heartfelt thanks,
This is happening all over Sonoma County. I urge the supervisors to halt the permitting process and revise the ordinance so that our water resources can be assessed before the permitting process is allowed to continue.
Mary Bracken, President El Molino Education Fund
Sonoma County’s commercial cannabis grow businesses should be allowed only in industrial zones, not in neighborhoods. One popped- up next door to me and turned my life upside down. This unpermitted operation sits on my fence line and is practically in my backyard. I can no longer enjoy my backyard, or live comfortably in my house due to the odor, noise, and fear from living within feet of a marijuana business.
Rachel Zierdt, Sebastopol
John Mutz may be all that is said in this campaign piece, but he is also and forever an LAPD guy who is now up here getting support from the local Socialists. So what kind of Sheriff
is supported by the Committed Socialists Evans and Combs? Mutz.
- Beef Mcwin
As a young radical protesting in the streets of Berkeley in the 1960’s, I could not have imagined myself ever endorsing a cop. As my political understanding has matured, I have grown to realize that the quality of law enforcement is a critical measure of social health in a community. We need good people with a strong ethi- cal commitment to rule of law manag- ing our police forces.
LETTERS cont’d on page 5
We called the Lions and
Six weeks ago we launched our 600 Lions campaign with a plea for emergency funds to meet district- wide budget cuts that threaten some of our most popular electives such as Dance, Wood Shop, Drama and French.
they came out roaring!
We Need a New Sheriff
Sheriff Endorsements
4 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 4/18
The response from our community and from donors from over 16 states has been overwhelming. We have
An LLC corporation owns and leases the land to a cannabis production company. Their parcel’s zoning rules allow their marijuana grow buildings to remain without
a property line setback. Employees come-and-go 24 hours a day and I hear their discussions, vehicles, activities.
Thank you so much for including El Molino High School’s SOS campaign plea on in the March Gazette. We were surprised and thrilled to see
Many neighborhoods face this problem. A marijuana business unexpectedly appears and outraged residents are left hunting for recourse.
it there this month. Several donors included cuttings of the ad so we know it really helped!
The race for County Sheriff is typically an uneventful campaign. This year is different. Former County Sheriff Steve Freitas resigned last year,