MINUTES OF GREEN PARTY MEETING 9/12/11
On Sunday, September 12, nine Greens and three Democrats gathered for a countywide general meeting at the Ping Pong Palace in Willits from 3-5pm. Special guests were third district supervisor candidate Holly Madrigal and her campaign manager Jennifer Poole.
Chairperson Ruth van Antwerp ably chaired the meeting, which took actions a quorum being present. Congressional candidate Carol Wolman was not present, being out of town.
Holly spoke for most of the meeting sharing her experience on the Willits City Council, her “office hours” tabling at Farmers Markets, the Harris Quarry, the Willits Bypass, her support for Proposition 19 on the statewide November ballot, and her position that marijuana prosecution should be phased out. There was extensive discussion about options for marijuana regulation for both the county and the City of Willits should the measure pass.
Holly stated that studying the quarry issue, there was no worse place for an asphalt plant than on the ridge between Little Lake Valley and the Noyo River watershed. She supports the jobs the project would bring from expanding the quarry but would prefer to see the asphalt plant sited on already industrial zoned land somewhere else. The project includes a Combining Zone Overlay that would allow all quarries in the county to apply for processing facilities. The quarry is located in the Fourth District, but the Golden Rule mobile home park and ranch is located in the Fifth.
With regard to the bypass, the Army Corps of Engineers refused to grant a crucial permit on time, so the project has lost all hope of funding for the next four years. Holly said there would be a meeting of the Willits City Council on September 22 at 6pm to discuss withdrawing $32 million in local transportation funds from the bypass and using it instead to fund local transportation improvement alternatives that create local jobs.
The
Green Party of Mendocino with due notice endorsed both Madrigal and
fifth
district supervisor candidate Dan Hamburg, who had sought it.
LAURA
WELLS, GP CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR
California
Green Party gubernatorial candidate Laura Wells will be speaking
in Fort Bragg September 29th from
7 PM – 9 PM at the Redwood Coast Senior Center located at 490 N.
Harold
and on September 30th from 12 PM – 2 PM at the Clear
Lake
Riviera Community Association building located at 9689 Soda Bay Road,
Kelseyville. There will be food available at each location. Any
questions
please contact David Crowningshield at im4green@hughes.net
With regard to state ballot propositions, the Green Party of Mendocino took the following positions:
• Proposition
19:
Marijuana Personal Possession . Initiative Statute [link to full
text
of
California
Proposition 19]
- YES
• Proposition
20 : State Office Redistricting
Commission
Amendment [link to full
text
of
California
Proposition 20]
– YES
•
Proposition 21: $18 Vehicle
License
Surcharge to Fund State Parks and Wildlife Programs . Initiative
Statute. [link
to full
text
of
California
Proposition 21]
– YES
Proposition 22: Prohibits Legislature from using Transportation, Redevelopment or Local Government Projects or Services for other uses. NO POSITION
Proposition 23: Suspends Air Pollution Control Law AB32 Requiring Major Sources of Emissions to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops Below 5.5% for a Full Year – NO.
¶ Proposition: 24 Repeals Recent Legislation That Would Allow Businesses to Lower Their Tax Liability. Initiative Statute [link to full text of California Proposition 24]—NO POSITION
• Proposition 25: Changes Legislative Vote Requirement to Pass Budget and Budget-Related Legislation from Two-Thirds to a Simple Majority. Retains Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment – YES [link to full text of California Proposition 25
• Proposition 26 Requires That Certain State and Local Fees Be Approved by Two-Thirds Vote. Fees Include Those That Address Adverse Impacts on Society or the Environment Caused by the Fee-Payer’s Business. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. NO. [link to full text of California Proposition 26]
• Proposition
27 Eliminates State Commission on Redistricting.
Consolidates Authority
for Redistricting With Elected Representatives. Initiative
Constitutional
Amendment and Statute :
NO, NO, NO! [link to full
text
of
California
Proposition 27]
•