From: [email protected]
To: webCityClerk
Subject: Jovita Mendoza
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 1:20:35 PM
CAUTION – EXTERNAL SENDER
To the City Clerk and the Members of the Brentwood City Council, I am writing you to share with you an issue that has arisen as a result of an election flyer mailed out to the citizens of Brentwood by Jovita Mendoza, a member of your Council. The flyer in question was brought to me by a citizen of Brentwood which shows me standing alongside Mrs. Mendoza in the uniform that I wear as the Lead Chaplain for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. I am also the pastor of one of the largest faith communities in East Contra Costa, St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church, Antioch.
The flyer gives the impression that I support and endorse Mrs. Mendoza for a seat on the City Council. At no time was my permission or consent requested for this flyer. Had Mrs. Mendoza sought my permission and consent, I would have immediately informed her that it is not possible as my Bishop and the Catholic Church have a strict policy that we may not endorse or support anyone running for public office in order to remain neutral, to encourage our parishioners to exercise the privilege of voting, and to honor their conscience in making candidate choices. The same holds true for the Fire Department and our Chief, that we remain politically neutral through the election process. I sent a letter to Mrs.
Mendoza through her city email requesting that she revoke the flyer and correct the impression she has given that I support her efforts to be reelected to your City Council. To this date, I have received no response to my request. I now have been contacted and informed that her followers and supporters are fueling this issue by declaring it "fake news." I can assure that this is anything but "fake news." I believe that her failure to take responsibility for not seeking my permission to make use of the photograph in question nor apologizing is grounds minimally for a Censure from your Council. Her actions are a violation of election ethics through false advertising on her campaign flyer. and which jeopardizes my integrity and standing before my superiors and community.
I hope you will hold her accountable.
Sincerely,
Father Robert Rien
Pastor, St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church
and Lead Chaplain, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members,
My name is Jessica Enos and I am the president of Harvest Time in Brentwood. Harvest Time in Brentwood is a non-profit organization with the purpose of marketing for and promoting our Harvest Time Members. We currently have over 60 member farms that include UPicks, Farmstands, Country Stores and Wineries. I am writing in regard to Agenda item Number I.6, the request for using Ag- Enterprise or Art Enterprise funds towards the interpretive center at John Marsh House, on this evenings agenda.
Harvest Time is an active participant in the Ag-Enterprise Committee meetings and when the presentation for the Interpretive Center was brough forth in 2022 we were able to discuss the presentation with the current board members as well as the John Marsh House group. During that discussion it was decided by the board that the Interpretive Center did not meet the criteria of the Ag-Enterprise fund use.
In the past all agriculture related projects seeking funds have gone to the Ag-Enterprise committee prior to asking for approval from the City Council. We believe this is a vital step for all potential projects to go through to ensure these funds are used to promote the future viability of agriculture in our area. We ask that the council please request John Marsh House group to follow the same path. We recognize the importance of the John Marsh House to the history of the Brentwood area and we look forward to learning more about the groups project.
Thank you for your time,
Jessica Enos
President- Harvest Time in Brentwood
From: Barry Margesson
To: =yCouncil Members
Subject: Agenda Item I.6 A request from Vice Mayor Meyer requesting the consideration of using Ag-Enterprise and/or Art Enterprise funds for John Marsh House
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 3:29:08 PM
CAUTION – EXTERNAL SENDER
Honorable Council Members and Mayor Bryant,
To add support to tonight's agenda Item I.6, the John Marsh Historic Trust would like to make the following points:
The story of John Marsh and his Rancho los Meganos is at the center of Agriculture's development in East Contra Costa County.
John Marsh established a 50,000 acre Cattle Empire encompassing all of the East County cities.
John Marsh introduced dry land wheat farming to the hills near Brentwood. The resulting wheat boom fed much of California’s population during the Gold Rush.
Upon purchasing the 10,000 acre remnant of Marsh's Rancho in1910, the Balfour Guthrie Company brought irrigation water to our fertile Diablo Valley lands. The resulting growth of stone fruit orchards made Brentwood the Apricot Capital of the World.
All of these stories can be explored and experienced upon completion of a new Interpretive Center located in the shadows of John Marsh's 1856 Stone House.
Thank you for your consideration,
Barry Margesson
JMHT President