From: Liz Bell
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 8:42 AM
To: Kevin Patterson <[email protected]>
Subject: Oppose Measure J
CAUTION:EXTERNAL SENDER
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Good Morning. My name is Liz Bell and I am asking for your support to stand up against the Coalition to End Factory Farming and show your support for No on J. As a resident of Sonoma County and a small rancher here in our community, it is imperative that you stand up for our local farmers. I have lived in Sonoma County for just over five and a half years. I grew up in Upstate, NY, surrounded by family farm operations. The Agriculture that exists here in Sonoma County, was one of the main reasons I have chosen to call this place home. I have had the privilege to work for some of the highest quality wineries in Sonoma County. I have very close friends who own restaurants here that rely on products produced by some of the most caring and thoughtful farmers in the state. I have friends in hospitality who work at these restaurants and wineries that utilize products that our family farms produce. My wife and I own a small ranching operation in Sebastopol, producing quality beef and lamb. Both of us are first generation farmers. We started our business during the pandemic when the cards were already stacked against us. We chose to get into farming because we wanted to have a better understanding of where our food comes from and how to raise animals in the healthiest and most humane way possible. We care for our animals.
We treat our animals with respect and kindess. Health and quality of our animals is top priority. Farming in itself, is not an easy task. It requires patience, kindness, and often times putting your personal life on hold. Farmers are the backbone of our communities. We provide a product to our communities. It can sometimes be a thankless job. If this Measure passes, it will be a slap in the face to those families who have been feeding our communities for hundreds of years.
The folks who have brought forth this measure are not members of our community. These folks do not even live here. Most are based in Berkeley. The came into our community like a plague and have turned everyone's world upside down. From breaking and entering, trespassing, violating privacy of the families who raise and care for these animals, and most importantly violating the safety of our animals by spreading disease. There was a news story covered by ABC News 7 back in April that stated there was evidence to show that the spread of Avian flu could have been from their carless actions. Link to this story is included below. The toll these people have taken on our mental health has gone far beyond what any person who provides goods and services to our communities should ever have to go through. I am asking you, today, as you revisit taking a stand on this measure, please support our farmers. Stand up for our farmers, restaurants, and other community members whose businesses will be affected by this measure, if it were to pass. https://abc7news.com/california-state-department-of-food-and-agriculture-investigationfinds-activists-may-have-spread-avian-flu-sonoma-county-2023/14738288/ Thank You,
Liz Bell