From: George
To: Albin-Smith, Tess; Godeke, Jason; Norvell, Bernie; Peters, Lindy; Rafanan, Marcia; Sanchez, Diana Subject: Public Comment for today"s Closed Session meeting at 4:30 Items 2 a & 2b Date: Monday, January 08, 2024 1:43:59 PM
Honorable City Council Persons,
I write to you today regarding the two Closed Session items on today’s special meeting agenda.
The overwhelming majority of our coastal community support the Fort Bragg City Council’s lawsuit against Mendocino Railway. It is crucial that Mendocino Railway/ Sierra Railway/Sierra Northern Railway–what ever they are calling themselves this afternoon–obtain permits for any and all work done on the Headlands and in the Pudding Creek watershed. It has come to the community’s attention that MR/SR/SNR is misrepresenting the long history of work and community participation that has characterized the mill site reuse efforts. They are consistently blaming all sorts of nonsense on the Fort Bragg City Council. This sort of bad faith behavior, on the part of MR/SR/SNR, is very unfortunate and must be opposed with all the tools at your disposal.
In my opinion, MR/SR/SNR do not have our community’s best interests at heart.
State and local oversight of these profit seekers is essential for the well being of our community and its health and safety. Building a regional vision of partnership, within our community, with Nature and with the wider world that is positive, cooperative and economically beneficial is the correct path forward. There are exciting opportunities for community building, learning from our Indian community about Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and building upon one of our great regional strengths and our beautiful natural environment.
A more robust cleanup is necessary. The realities of Climate Change and SLR demand no less. Our community’s desire to restore the creeks and establish an estuary that will change and adapt with what is coming is necessary.
Creating an environment of education, innovation and restoration that compliments our strong tourist economy is possible and I would say necessary.
Let’s reinforce the health and wellbeing of our town and region by encouraging the concept of a Blue Zone life style. To its credit, Adventist Health has embraced this idea, and we should double down on this concept by building on the healthy lifestyle choices that many in our community already are adherents of.
We need a low impact, environmentally restorative, planning for the future, development of the Headlands. One that is community driven. We don’t need a fake new depot and rails hither and yon just to pretend that you know who is above regulation by local authorities.
Concerned, and confident that you will stand strong,
George Reinhardt