From: Michael Benedetti <
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 5:20 PM
To: Kelly Betts <[email protected]>; Laura Sparks <[email protected]>; Ben Ford <[email protected]>; Susan Harvey <[email protected]>; Sylvia Lemus <[email protected]>; Kay Rivers <[email protected]> Subject: Cotati Resolution - OPPOSE Measure J
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Dear Mayor Sparks and Councilmembers of the City of Cotati, I am a resident of Santa Rosa, not Cotati, but my grandfather Gene Benedetti was a staunch Cotati resident as are many of my friends and family.
I am writing to urge you to take a position to oppose Measure J.
This misguided ballot measure, initiated by outside activists, will not implement any animal welfare requirements or strengthen any environmental protection rules. What it will do is close some of the finest humane-certified, multigenerational, organic dairy farms in the nation. This will cost jobs, irreparably harm our local food supply, and hurt our Sonoma County economy.
As the Sr. Director of Quality, Regulatory, and Sustainability for Clover Sonoma, I have the privilege of visiting and inspecting our 28 family dairy farms and seeing them in action throughout the year. If you'd like to hear from our farmers themselves, here is a quick 5 minute collection of their comments and some of their achievements (solar panels, no-till planting, rotational grazing, generational stewardship of land and animals). https://youtu.be/UGKgLv9KvsU?feature=shared
I am proud that over 24 years ago Clover recognized that humane standards and third party certification were important to dairy lovers - and our dairies in Sonoma County have been humane certified by the American Humane Association since the year 2000! I stand with the Sonoma County Family Farmers Alliance, the Sonoma County Supervisors, a diverse group of organizations, and a broad coalition of Sonoma County residents who oppose this measure. I proudly support our local family farms and the role they play in sustainably managing the land while providing our communities with locally sourced vital nutrition and economic opportunity.
Sincerely,
Michael Benedetti