Agenda-Item-Number-2-Piala-Appeal-Report_8-31-2022_part-2-public-comments — Sebastopol City Council, August 31, 2022 (part 1 of 2)

From: Freddie Francis <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 6:50 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom; John Jay
Subject: Fwd: Lowell Sheldon liquor license
Public comment from Elizabeth Kurtz, Camp Meeker.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Keep Freestone Safe <[email protected]> Date: Tue, May 31, 2022 at 6:49 AM
Subject: Fwd: Lowell Sheldon liquor license
To: <[email protected]>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Lisa Kurtz <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, May 30, 2022 at 4:02 PM
Subject: Lowell Sheldon liquor license
To: <[email protected]>
To whom it may concern,
I am writing in regards to the liquor license appeal submitted by Lowell Sheldon, regarding Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave.)
I have personal experience with Lowell Sheldon which I believe to be relevant. He took large sums of money from my mother, calling the more than $100,000 over about 2 years a “line of credit” for the restaurant which she paid in advance with no written agreement. I don’t know how long this had been going on before I was alerted by her financial advisor in 2015.

My mother moved to Sebastopol in 2008, after the recent loss of both her son and husband to cancer. She was at the time 74-81 years old. She developed a serious drinking problem for the first time in her life.

When I became aware of this situation, I met with Sheldon to ask him to provide me with paperwork for their arrangement. I was met by a cold and dismissive response and was told that he would not be providing any receipts or paperwork as I requested. I also told him how concerned I was about my mother’s drinking and asked if he would please ask his staff to not offer or encourage the alcohol. I told him I did not expect anyone to police her drinking but any help with this matter would be appreciated. Again, he was very dismissive and uncaring. I left that meeting feeling sad and frustrated. It was very clear to me that there was no emotional connection to her in any way, yet he seemed to have a clear conscience about taking money from her and seemed inconvenienced to talk to me.

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in 2017. At the end of her time at the complex located behind Sheldon’s restaurant, he was having open wine delivered to her door at 8:00 in the morning. Although I never pressed charges and he remained in business, the thoughtless and reckless nature of his behavior was the source of much pain for myself and my family. I have heard of his sexual harrassment and drug abuse and because of my experience with him, believe the accusations stated by his victims. His toxic behavior makes me believe that the city of Sebastopol would be avoiding future ethical and legal problems by standing behind those who have been traumatized by Lowell Sheldon.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth (Lisa) Kurtz
--
freddie francis
503.367.8395
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 7:43 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon/Alcohol License for Piala LLC(7233 Healdsburg Avenue) From: Frank Dice III <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 5:56 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon/Alcohol License for Piala LLC(7233 Healdsburg Avenue) Good evening. My name is Frank Dice III and I was the lead bartender at Underwood Bar And Bistro from 2003-2017. During that time, I witnessed Lowell Sheldon first hand all too often.

He was consistently disrespectful, and exhibited behavior that could be described as boorish at best. He was also more often than not intoxicated, conniving and even insidious. I eventually stopped serving him around 2013 at The Underwood(though he wasn’t formally 86’d I made it clear to him he wasn’t welcome anymore)mostly because he was so incredibly disagreeable and made the rest of my clientele uncomfortable.

I’ve been in the restaurant/bar/winery business since 1991 and Lowell Sheldon remains one of the most disreputable individuals I have ever come across.

In closing, I would strongly recommend against granting the man a liquor license.

Regards,
Frank Dice III
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 7:57 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon
From: LeAnn Kurtz <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 7:34 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon
To Whom it May ConcernI believe that Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol license and here's why. I understand he has a long history of sexual abuse, but this is something entirely different that I believe is illegal as well.

My mother owned one of the condos on the Florence St. property where Lowell's Restaurant was located. She ate nearly 100% of her meals there. At the time, my father had recently passed away and she was having a struggle with her alcohol consumption. She would regularly drink a bit too much and also, due to her advanced age, (in her 80s), her judgment was often impaired. She has a lot of money, and Lowell was aware of this. He told her she could run a "tab" and charged her $50,000.00 upfront, TWICE!!! After that, he would let her eat there and never once offered receipts or any evidence of how much she'd spent. When he said her first $50,000 had run out, he did the same thing again. Is this even legal?
I believe my sister asked for receipts and he was unable to produce them. I also have a hard time believing that this could be a legal way of doing business.

Due to the sensitive nature of the circumstances and my mother being a very private person, I am leaving her name out of it. I just wanted to make you aware of possible illegal money transactions as well as sexual offenses.

My name is LeAnn Kurtz, phone number 707 389-5089 and I live in Sebastopol.

Thank you for your time.

Cheers,
LeAnn Kurtz
[email protected]
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:18 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Upcoming Public Hearing re: Piala
From: Danielle Connor <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, May 27, 2022 10:24 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Upcoming Public Hearing re: Piala
Hi Kari, please share my letter with the Planning Commission staff and any relevant parties. --
I wanted to reach out to you and the Planning Commission staff regarding the denial of Piala's PNC letter for their ABC license. It's my understanding that this is going to be in front of the Planning Commission soon at a public hearing, since Lowell Sheldon has appealed this decision. I plan to speak publicly as well but was hoping you'd hear me out on a personal level too.

I employ several of Lowell's former employees and sadly have also experienced his harassment first hand at Retrograde as a customer, and on a personal level. I am very concerned about him opening up another business in town (near a school, no less) with access to alcohol and being in a continued position of power that he has time after time abused. He repeatedly failed to uphold his duties as a business owner to protect his employees, as have his management and business partners. I know that work culture is led from the top down and Lowell has no interest in protecting his employees. He has a heavily-documented decade+ long history of sexual abuse, assault, harassment and clear workplace violations that have all involved alcohol, including giving alcohol to minors. He has profited financially from the abuse of others as this forced his previous business partners (Fern Bar, Handline, Khom Loi) to buy him out of his shares, earning him profits well over 6-figures. He has also been banned as a customer from these businesses for the abuse he has forced their employees to endure and used his position as a partner to manipulate them.

Before everything went public in the Bohemian and SF Chronicle last year, he had made inappropriate comments toward my employees and been a horrible customer for years. He would repeatedly "forget his wallet" and never return to pay for goods he pressured my employees into giving him, even though we have a strict policy against that. Multiple team members privately expressed concerns to me about him making them feel uncomfortable and making inappropriate comments to them, which was the final straw. We asked him not to come in anymore, which prompted him to call me late at night (I've never given him my cell number), email me repeatedly and have his family members and friends threaten me and my business. They sent me emails, messages on social media and plastered my business with negative reviews on Yelp (which I have since had removed thanks to their help). I know there is nothing that can be done about this by the PC, but it speaks to his character and the character of the people who choose to work with him. These are all huge red flags and further show he does not understand or respect boundaries. I fear retaliation again for speaking out against him but cannot allow him and his behavior to attempt to silence me.

As an employer, it is our legal responsibility to protect our employees from the very abuse he forced them to endure. I know first hand from employing his former employees that he has psychologically Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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traumatized them and fostered horrible work environments. Many of his former employees are afraid to speak out against him. As someone who is trying to foster a positive, trusting work culture, it is very hard to do so with what his employees have endured. There is no way for anyone to guarantee that he is not part of daily operations and I fear that with access to alcohol, this will again become the norm at his new business and continue to have a negative impact on youth, women and workers in our community.

I fear for innocent employees who may not know his history or read the first-hand events of what he has done, as many Sebastopol workers come from all over Sonoma County to work in the service industry here. Most of my employees, for example, do not live in Sebastopol.

As a contributing community member, it is our responsibility to keep fellow members safe as much as we can control. You can help prevent future victims of workplace harassment by upholding the Planning Director's decision to deny Piala and Lowell Sheldon the PNC letter they need to obtain an ABC permit.

This might be one of the biggest decisions in front of you this year and I empower you to do the right thing. I appreciate your time.

Thank you,
Danielle
--
Danielle Connor she/her
Co-Founder, Head of
Operations, Retrograde
Coffee Roasters
(707) 827-8065
[email protected]
www.retrograderoasters.com
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From: Madeline Miller <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 10:40 AM
To: Freddie Francis
Cc: John Jay; Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Re: Public comment from Madeline Miller
actually residing in Belfast, ME for the time being. thanks! On Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 10:13 AM Freddie Francis <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi John and Kari, I'm sharing the following public comment on behalf of Madeline Miller, who is CC'd (so you know she is real) but who does not wish to be contacted/receive any related followup. Let me know if you have any Q's. Thank you!
- freddie
-----
I am a former employee of Lowell Sheldon who spoke to the SF Chronicle in September 2021 about witnessing and experiencing several instances of Lowell's inappropriate behavior including sexual comments and unwanted kissing. I maintain that these events are true and I support the efforts to deny his new alcohol permit.
-- Madeline Miller,
Formerly of Sebastopol; now residing in Tucson, AZ
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 11:58 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon
From: Natalia Chamaki <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 10:31 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon
Good morning,
My name is Natalia and I am from Graton. I am writing you in regards to whether an alcohol license ought to be granted to Lowell Sheldon. It is of my strong opinion that he should not be granted one. Lowell is a predator. In either 2016 or 2017, I had secured a job at Peter Lowells, however after two weeks on the job I was offered a position at Ramen Gaijin which I jumped. I found Lowell to be so creepy and off-putting. During my short stint at Peter Lowells, Lowell had a prolonged gaze, would walk and stand too close, and brush up against me, not necessarily in a sexual way, but he had plenty of room to avoid me. I made no complaint (except to perhaps my mother) and began looking for a new job. When working at Ramen Gaijin, Lowell frequented the restaurant. I would watch him make women extremely uncomfortable at the bar, he was always lurking over them or putting his face too close to theirs. If I were walking past him he would put himself directly in my path, and once while I was at the bar waiting for someone's drink order he leaned in behind me, pinning me against the bar and himself. Overall, that man is a creep. I always wondered why nobody said anything about his disgusting and downright rapey vibes. Then I saw Leah's statement about Lowell, and all the other women coming forward with their sexually abusive experiences they had with Lowell. It all became clear. Lowell was using his position of authority to sexually abuse women, and a tool he frequently used was alcohol. People like Lowell are not going to change, they do not see what they are doing as wrong, or they simply do not care. Granting Lowell the ability to utilize one of his preferred tools he uses to get women at their weakest moments is empowering an abuser, and it would be a damn shame. I know these are just accusations, and he has never been convicted of sexual assault, but waiting for a conviction before the community finally puts up safeguards for women against this predator would be such a disservice to every person who has ever been a victim of sexual assault.

Thank you for your time,
Natalia Chamaki
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 1:17 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Denial of alcohol permit to Lowell Sheldon From: rachel kulinski <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 12:19 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Denial of alcohol permit to Lowell Sheldon
To whom it may concern,
Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave.

I have firsthand knowledge of Lowell’s abuse towards close members in the community and have also witnessed his inappropriate behavior towards women first hand at social gatherings.

I, Rachel Kulinski (a local business owner) 100% support denying an alcohol license for someone who has a 10+ year heavilydocumented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol.

Rachel Alyn Kulinski
10439 CA Hwy 1
Jenner, CA
95450
707.865.2251
[email protected]
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2022 3:06 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Alcohol License for Piala LLC (7233)
From: Aaron Purtill <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2022 2:14 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Alcohol License for Piala LLC (7233)
Hello, my name is Aaron Purtill. I am a former employee of the now closed Peter Lowell’s and a long time resident of Sebastopol.

I believe that Lowell Sheldon should not be responsible or have power at a business that serves alcohol.

There is an undeniable pattern of abuse and inappropriate behavior by Lowell at his previous businesses, which was often fueled by alcohol. He has proven time and again that he will offend, apologize, and repeat. I believe it is a huge sign that all previous restaurants he was a partner in have bought him out and cut tie — this shows that they feel it is unsafe to their employees to keep him as a partner due to his patterned behavior. I also see a huge red flag that Piala has already publicly separated him from day to day operations; I believe they know who they are in business with and realize they are at risk from his behavior.

Thank you for your time,
Aaron Purtill
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Sebastopol City Commissioners,
If I can be of help in any way, please get in touch. My contact info is at the bottom of this letter.

My name is Dustin Andres. I am a former resident of Sebastopol and Graton. Though I moved to Washington D.C. a few years back, I visit West County a couple of times every year because I love the community and feel a deep sense of home there.

I write today in support of the change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine, on behalf of Lowell Sheldon.

Lowell has been my friend for almost two decades. We met as university students in Seattle and I've watched him grow up. With a dedication, grit, and community ethic that I admire, he built three restaurants from the ground up in Sebastopol - businesses that employed hundreds of people; paid taxes; and pleased countless diners.

Those efforts required years of behind-the-scenes work: False starts. Stalled projects.

Construction disasters. Razor-thin profit margins. The personal toll of running multiple businesses: On one's relationships, on families, and on one's own well-being.

Though Lowell won't have any supervisory role in Piala, I know he put his heart into planning the new project. I am very much looking forward to sampling the Georgian cuisine that will add a whole new flavor to the food palette of West County.

I'm not here to tell you that Lowell is a perfect person. He has certainly made mistakes. But he isn't the cartoonish villain that recent media coverage makes him out to be. I've personally seen Lowell be a good manager, a civic-minded employer, and a very generous member of the community, supporting numerous non-profits.

These past two years, he has faced a storm of public scrutiny, difficult private conversations, and severance from his existing businesses. By any measure, it's been an intense period.

In Lowell, I see someone who is working to learn from his flaws - in therapy, in restorative justice efforts - and in a number of other community projects.

Lowell is a native son who wants to apply his skills to support his young family, and a successful change in ownership will allow him to do that. While some would pick up and choose a new city - he truly loves Sebastopol and would like to do the work to repair his relationship with his hometown.

Thank you for reading.

Best regards,
Dustin Andres
202-550-9026
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From: Amy M. Fox <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2022 1:32 PM
To: John Jay; Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon and Piala Georgian Cuisine
Dear Mr. Jay and Ms. Svanstrom,
I recently read the linked item from KSRO (https://www.ksro.com/2022/05/26/lowell-sheldon-seekingto-open-new-restaurant-in-sebastopol/) informing the public of Lowell Sheldon’s intention to petition the city to reverse its decision regarding ownership of Piala Georgian Cuisine. I would strongly urge the city to hold to its decision.

Mr. Sheldon has shown himself to be a predator and a threat to the women of this community. While I do not know Mr. Sheldon personally, in fact my one encounter with him was a positive customer service resolution to an issue at one of his restaurants, I firmly believe as a community we have to believe and take seriously the claims made by his former employees. His inability to act appropriately when alcohol is involved should bar him from being the proprietor of an establishment with a liquor license. Believe and protect the young women of this community.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Amy M. Fox
Sent from my iPhone
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:18 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Alcohol License of Lowell Sheldon
-----Original Message-----
From: Anna Frattolillo <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2022 9:01 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Alcohol License of Lowell Sheldon
Good Morning Kari and Planning Commissioners of Sebastopol, Thank you to you and the Planning Commissioners for receiving comments previously and not approving Lowell Sheldon’s alcohol license.

As someone harmed by sexual abuse and assault as a child and adolescent, I write to ask you to ask consider to not approve this license again. As a customer of Lowell’s for years, I got the sense that Sheldon was the owner by his posture, sense of entitlement, and predatory energy. While the food was delicious, I always hoped he would not be there. I took this as a sign of my own wounding and trauma at the time, rather than reaching for others who may have been impacted. For this I am deeply sorry. As someone who has dappled in worker and community organizing, I stand alongside workers who have been exposed to his power over them; having to choose the need to make a living over safety and dignity. As a mental health provider with youth in Sonoma County communities for the last eight years, I know that people have been through so much over the last 5 years in this county, in particular.

I ask you to reduce the harms that may fall upon this community if Sheldon were to be granted an alcohol license.

I wonder if there are any alternative ways Sheldon may be able to contribute meaningfully to this community. I wonder what transformative processes he may engage with, so that his own healing and that of the collective can begin. I wonder what resources have been offered to those who have been harmed by his sexual assault, and I wonder what they may be needing.

I wonder about the role of the Planning Commission. How do licenses, zoning and land use of the city contribute to more safety and dignity for workers and community members of all classes, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and documentation statuses? I don’t know but I thank you for your expertise, and for your time in reading this.

Anna Frattolillo
Occidental CA
707-273-4273
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:20 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Public Comment Re: Lowell Sheldon Alcohol License From: Becky Maguire <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2022 1:56 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment Re: Lowell Sheldon Alcohol License Hi there,
My name is Becky Maguire. I live in Santa Rosa, close to Sebastopol. I have close ties with several survivors of Lowell Sheldon's numerous abuses/instances of harrasment. I am saddened that he continues to seek power in restaurant spaces when his behavior is likely to be repeated. I believe he should be denied an alcohol license for many reasons, the most important of which many of his abuses have involved alcohol.

Thank you,
Becky Maguire
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 2:38 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Support letter for Lowell Sheldon
From: Beth Brown <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2022 2:06 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Support letter for Lowell Sheldon
Dear Ms. Svanstrom:

I am writing in support of letting Mr. Sheldon continue his plans to open his establishment, including obtaining a valuable liquor license. I want to be clear that I do not know this man nor have I ever eaten at any of his establishments. I have no economic or personal interest in him obtaining his liquor license.

Like most women, I have experienced sexual harassment personally throughout my life and I know how frustrating it is to move in environments dodging bad behavior/boundaries. That being said, I do not understand withholding a liquor license, as this sounds like arbitrary punishment for his past behavior. Did he commit a crime related to holding a liquor license? While the complaints about him and his work environments are problematic it seems that he has acknowledged his mistakes and has owned his past immature behavior. I do not see the point of men recognizing and apologizing for their mistakes if it means nothing. Otherwise, there is no point to them showing contrition. I also do not believe people should be prevented from working/making a living. While clearly the women who he hurt are angry and believe he has not shown enough guilt (what is enough guilt and who decides the measurements?) - there comes a point where we need to move forward. If we do not believe in people changing, or moving on from their mistakes, then we should just exile them to some vacant island.

To me it would be best letting him move forward with his business plans. The best measure of his behavioral changes are: 1. If he is able to hire and retain high quality, happy staff, 2. If the public opts to give him a second opportunity, patronizing his establishment.

If we were to cancel every man who failed to act properly toward women and girls, every institution from govt to hospitality to religious establishments etc would be closed. I do not know anything about the situation other than from what I have read. But it comes down to if these women want to pursue criminal or civil cases against him that is one thing but short of legal cases directly related to his behavior we need to allow people, such as Mr. Sheldon, opportunities to move on, practice their art, and support his reintroduction to the community.

Sincerely,
Beth Brown
Santa Rosa
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:18 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: comment re: do not approve Piala alcohol license From: Casey Lanski <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2022 9:55 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: comment re: do not approve Piala alcohol license Hello,
My name is Casey Lanski and I am a resident of Santa Rosa. I first met Lowell Sheldon at my business in Sebastopol, Retrograde Coffee Roasters.

My personal recommendation is to deny Lowell’s alcohol license. As an owner-operator in Sebastopol for over 5 years, I have come into contact with Lowell as well as those he has harassed and mistreated.

We have/had professional relationships with these individuals, as well as the businesses working with Lowell.

When the accusations went public, I was shocked at the quick and presumptuous progress/healing that Lowell claims to have made on his own. Equally appalling was the lack of compassion and inaction by the companies where these allegations are based. Lowell has been removed from these companies, and my rhetorical question is: how could a conscious mind give him the license to an extensive haul of alcohol and grant him the opportunity to create a toxic culture where he can abuse more employees? I do not think Lowell has realized his specific problems with alcohol/drug abuse, which are clearly documented in the recent press in 2021. Similarly, Lowell has not acknowledged his problematic workplace behavior, and the subsequent exodus from his business partnerships were done without recognition that harassment had occurred. It simply is not up to Lowell and his colleagues to decide the definition of harassment.

At Retrograde Coffee Roasters in 2019, Lowell was upset that he would not be allowed to have a cappuccino without providing payment. Being told there is no special treatment, he began to use body language and eye rolling as bad behavior, and retorted that he “knew the owners” as if to convey his power over my employees. This type of behavior is not uncommon in the service industry, but it is completely unacceptable that a “renowned” entrepreneur would treat another business, and it’s entire organization with disrespect.

It goes without saying that alcohol will exacerbate personal problems, and Lowell is no exception. I don’t believe Lowell is planning a wholesome and community-minded business; that will serve as a space that supports women, workers, and survivors of assault. This community would be better served knowing that the accusations have been heard and we are listening to the collective message: we cannot allow Lowell to repeat history.

Thank you,
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1 June 1, 2022
City of Sebastopol
Planning Commissioners
Paul Fritz, Kathy Oetinger, Zachery Douch,
Linda Kelley, Evert Fernandez and Deborah Burnes
Kari Svanstrom, Planning Director
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
RE: Reject Applicant’s Appeal of Denial of Alcohol Transfer and Alcohol Use Permit, File 2022-020
Dear City of Sebastopol Planning Commissioners and Planning Director, The purpose of this letter is to respectfully ask that the Planning Commission reject the appeal of Denial of Alcohol Transfer and Alcohol Use Permit, for Piala LLC. The Planning staff have provided defensible grounds for this denial based on corroborated reports. The community now looks to the Planning Commision to exercise your judgment and discretion, and refuse the applicant’s appeal.

As way of background, I retired to West County from a career in land use planning and entitlements where I worked for the public and private sectors across California. My profession exposed me to a plethora of multi-disciplinary professional challenges and during my career, I garnered best planning principles and practices based on tough lessons learned. I suspect that the City’s planning decision makers share some of those principles that are relevant to the matter before you.

A proposed project description is defined by verifiable facts, not last-minute assurances and empty promises that may not or cannot be fulfilled. Owner Lowell Sheldon claims he will not be involved in the operations of his business, suggesting that his established pattern of at-risk behavior will be mitigated. How can an owner be barred from his place of business, especially when allegations include after-hours Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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2 events with repeated instances of sexual harassment, assault and other inappropriate behavior, particularly in the context of alcohol use? Conditions and mitigations placed on a project must be enforceable, and if the agency is unable to enforce such conditions of approval, the project must be judged by the facts sans mitigations. In this case, no one can ensure the community that Lowell Sheldon will not enter the premises of his business as Sheldon suggested, including after-work hours when much of his persistent unprofessional (e.g. the service of alcohol to minors), illegal (e.g. drug use) and abusive (e.g. sexual harassment) behaviors allegedly occurred.

In evaluating a project, look for trends. In reading Lowell Sheldon’s letters to the community, it is apparent that he can own “making some of his employees feel uncomfortable”. And the purported self-work that he pursued over the past few years presumably was about this seemingly minor transgression. However, Lowell Sheldon resolutely does not own the repeated instances of sexual harassment, assault, serving alcohol to minors, and other inappropriate behavior, and therefore it is unlikely that he has accomplished any authentic reform. Many of us have witnessed first-hand a reformed individual; that individual does not place themselves back into that same risk environment. Moreover, Sheldon dismisses the allegations in stating his decade-long behavior “did not meet the standards of today”. This quote alone speaks for itself.

Address the actual problem. Previous business partners of Sheldon and survivors of his harassment have corroborated the risks to the community of Sebastopol.

Sheldon himself asserts he will be removed from operations. An alcohol-serving environment owned by Sheldon with vulnerable workers from our community is the problem. The risk to workers, minors and other community members in an alcohol-serving business cannot be mitigated.

I trust the Planning Commission will use its discretion to deny approval of a license allowing Mr. Sheldon to engage in the sale and service of alcohol in the City of Sebastopol.

Respectfully,
Marylee Guinon
Freestone, CA 95472
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:13 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Deny alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon
From: Claire McCaffrey <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2022 4:10 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Deny alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon
Hello,
My name is Claire McCaffrey. I live in Santa Rosa and I stand with the survivors who have been sexually assaulted and harassed by Lowell Sheldon. I do not believe that someone who has a 10+ year heavily-documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol should be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave).

Thank you,
Claire McCaffrey
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 4:30 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Piala LLC, 7233 Healdsburg Ave.
-----Original Message-----
From: CYNTHIA STRECKER <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 4:23 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Piala LLC, 7233 Healdsburg Ave.

Dear Commissioner Svanstrom,
I am writing to ask you to DENY a liquor license to Lowell Sheldon for his planned wine bar at 7233 Healdsburg Ave. I live in the greater West County and am therefore not always aware of what’s happening in Sebastopol, but I began hearing about Sheldon’s sexual advances and thoroughly inappropriate behavior last spring.

After looking into the matter a bit more thoroughly and reading several newspaper articles about him I realize his behavior has gone beyond what I had heard about. At least 11 young women have come forward to tell their stories of a toxic working environment complete with lewd sexual innuendos and illegal drug use by their boss, Lowell Sheldon, both after and in some cases during the working day.

This is a man who regularly drank alcohol with his employees after hours. Even with an underage employee. He also appears to have used cocaine and in one instance tried to get one of his employees to consume mushrooms. This man clearly has no sense of boundaries, is thoroughly unprofessional and exhibits very poor judgment. Alcohol and poor judgment are well known to be a dangerous combination.

Surely the most despicable incident I read about involved his forcing himself onto a young woman and ultimately, without her consent, ejaculating in her mouth. This is abusive, predatory behavior pure and simple.

Three other restaurants in town in which he was a partner learned of his behavior, took steps to distance him from their staffs and limit his contact with them then ultimately eliminated him as a partner by buying him out. They appear to have realized that while Sheldon may be a talented restauranteur he is nevertheless bad for business. Allowing him to open an even more alcohol related business will be bad for Sebastopol and, indeed, the reputation of the entire West County.

His behavior has been going on for a number of years. At a number of points he has made apologies and has sworn to change his ways. Apologies and promises of this sort are an integral part of the cycle of this type of violence. They often buy the perpetrator time to re-group and do it all again.

The situation now is that Lowell Sheldon has acted in such a vile manner over a period of years that his former business partners no longer want to be associated with him. They have therefore bought him out. This leaves him with a large pot of money which he wants to invest. Please…do not let him do it in Sebastopol. DENY his liquor license.

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Thank you,
Cynthia Strecker
21850 Duncan Rd.

P.O. Box 238
Monte Rio. CA. 95462
Sent from my iPad
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From: Freddie Francis <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 4:35 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom; John Jay
Subject: Supporter letter from Dani Martinez
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dani Martinez <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Jun 9, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Subject: public comment to support survivors
To: <[email protected]>
Planning Commissioner Kari Svanstrom:

I write to you to ask that Lowell Sheldon be denied an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave). Sheldon has a decade long, documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse. These instances have particularly happened when involving alcohol. I was horrified to read in the North Bay Bohemian’s coverage “Rotten Core: Former Employees Say Farm-to-Table Restauranteur is Toxic and Abusive” that Sheldon regularly pressured staff, including an underage worker, to drink, and that this behavior was often a precursor to assault.

Given this history, it is clearly evident that Lowell Sheldon has shown repeatedly lacks the professional and moral character to be allowed to operate an alcohol-related business.

Your office has a duty to help ensure the safety of Sebastopol residents, workers, and visitors from abuse of alcohol. I urge you to make Sonoma County a safer place and deny this alcohol license.

Sincerely,
Dani Martinez, 21850 Duncan Road, Monte Rio, CA 95462
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2022 7:16 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Hearing of Appeal for alcohol license
From: Denise Zukowski <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2022 10:51 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Hearing of Appeal for alcohol license
Dear Planning Commissioner;
I have lived in Sebastopol since 1996, I have raised my children here, active in parent school organizations, and worked in Sonoma county as a nurse since 2001.

I have seen Peter Lowell's restaurants thrive and be successful. I used to think he was an adept business man and an admirable member of our local community. Now, since reading and hearing more than a dozen women come forward with his sexual predatory behavior, I have changed my mind, he is a CREEP!
Why does Sebastopol continue to allow him to do business here? Recently he was denied an alcohol license for another new restaurant, and now he is appealing.

Denying him an alcohol license is an appropriate consequence for Lowell who has a 10 year plus heavily documented history of sexual assault, harassment and workplace abuse involving alcohol.

If you are going to allow him to open a new restaurant, the least you can do is continue to deny the alcohol
license on his appeal. I know what the rest of the community is going to do :
boycott !
Denise Zukowski
2391 Burnside Road
Sebastopol, CA
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:54 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Denial of liquor license
-----Original Message-----
From: Betha MacClain <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2022 9:34 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Denial of liquor license
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to convey my position on granting a liquor license to Lowell Sheldon, a well documented sexual predator who uses alcohol to create the context for his pattern of rape and abuse. He should not be granted a liquor license for any business in which he is a partner.

I am not one of his victims but I know several of them, including former students and colleagues whose characters I know well. The restaurant and hospitality business, which I worked in for many years, creates an environment that is similar to theater. You have to trust each other while working in stressful, sometimes chaotic circumstances, all the while conveying calm and ease to the customer. In addition, many people in restaurant and hospitality work are young and still developing their understanding of what is right and wrong in the workplace, how to collaborate and work as a team even with people you may not know well or trust, and how to set boundaries. These factors are relevant because it is part of why Sheldon’s pattern of predatory behavior has been so successful. Will you keep giving him more opportunities to cause trauma and harm? The allegations against Sheldon are criminal, and to allow him to continue to run businesses that give him access to young women and alcohol is to give him your permission to continue the abuse.

My position as a resident in your community is clear: NO. Please vote in a manner that supports the safety and health of those in your community who have been, or may become, Sheldon’s targets if you continue to allow his pattern of abuse via business model.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth MacClain
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:13 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon Alcohol License
-----Original Message-----
From: Em Armstrong <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2022 8:30 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon Alcohol License
Hello,
I’m a resident of Sebastopol and I was upset to find out Mr Sheldon is appealing his denied permit to open yet another business that serves alcohol. His abuse of power and documented workplace sexual harassment is inextricably linked to alcohol being served at his businesses.

Our community does not need yet another wine bar—much less one that stands to make Mr Sheldon richer after harming so many people and suffering zero consequences. I’ve heard of his substance abuse with and around employees (first hand accounts from friends, illustrating an erratic and volatile workplace) since he first open Peter Lowell’s over 10 years ago.

We cannot allow this person to continue to cause harm our community. I’ve personally been in alcohol recovery for over two years and I understand the risk of allowing an abuser to be surrounded by the very thing that makes them makes them lose control. It just doesn’t make sense to grant him another alcohol license. I hope he can get help and be an example of healing for others.

Please stand with the survivors of his abuse and don’t allow this appeal to happen.

Thank you for your time,
Emily Armstrong
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From: Frances Bailin-Petzel <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 3:42 PM
To: John Jay
Cc: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon
Dear Mr Jay and Ms. Svanstrom,
This is written in support of Lowell Sheldon receiving any city permits he is requesting.

I and my husband have known Lowell Sheldon for over 15 years. I have been a regular customer at his excellent restaurants as well as a friend of his. I have consistently found Lowell to be friendly, generous, on top of his business activities and participatory in any community needs his restaurants could get involved with. His product has always been excellent. The environment in his places of business has always been relaxed including his well chosen employees.

Lowell is the father of two beautiful boys that he is involved with and supports wholeheartedly.

I am aware of and were surprised by the accusations. We both know of Lowell’s efforts to examine himself through this process and are comfortable that he has done all he can. Lowell has used these events as a learning experience whereby he has seen his mistakes and has made appropriate corrections. We are confident that these issues will not reoccur.

Although inappropriate behavior was publicized, we are also questioning one of the accusations where the accuser did not acknowledge her own role. Everyone makes mistakes. Do we learn from them or just repeat them? Again, I am confident the behavior will not reoccur.

I feel very strongly that since charges were not filed or legal action pursued, Lowell should not be denied his right to permit. Lowell is not a convicted criminal. Putting up impediments or punishment to his earning an income should not be the role of the City of Sebastopol.

Please grant him permits.

Thank you for your consideration. Please feel to contact me with any further questions.

Frances Sima Bailin Petzel
280 Pleasant Hill Avenue North
Sebastopol, California 95472
707 328-7142
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:52 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave)
From: glynda <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 2:02 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave) Planning Commissioner;
My name is Glynda Cotton. I live in Sebastopol and, due to that, I’m aware of the sexual assault harassment & abuse and workplace abuse that Lowell Sheldon has perpetrated on his employees—both adults & minors—the majority of which occurred while Mr Sheldon was abusing alcohol and/or illegal drugs.

I know that he’s left the workplaces/restaurants that he *was* involved with, due to the same, and I cannot, for the life of me, understand why you would allow him to do the same thing to a new collection of employees. His application for an alcohol license should be denied.

I have been a victim of exactly this kind of workplace and it was awful, demeaning, and unacceptable in every sense of the word. I do not know the victims, personally, but I have had conversations with those that do and, of course, I know what working in that kind of environment is like.

Additionally, I was domestically partnered to a restauranteur in another city, who I knew since I was a teen, who lived a secret (from me) life full of alcohol & drug abuse, who ended up fired for exactly the same reasons: sexual assault, abuse, & harassment—from more than one restaurant. He ruined my life (pre-firing) and is the reason that I now live here in Sebastopol, having rebuilt my life, far from that unethical, abusive man and far from the people who supported him, within a new community, full of kind & good people who have supported me in my rebuilding a new & gorgeous life.

I want to live in—and I believe in—a community that supports women, workers, & survivors of sexual violence. We will not be that community if you permit an alcohol license to Lowell Sheldon.

I want you to deny his application for an alcohol license—it is an appropriate consequence for someone who has a heavily document history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alchohol; it’s appropriate for our town; it’s appropriate for the workers, which you’ll be protecting by removing alcohol from the premises; and it’s appropriate for the survivors of, not only his actions, but all the survivors of actions like his.

Please deny the application for alcohol by Sheldon Lowell for Piala, LLC (7233 Healdsburg).

Sincerely,
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Glynda Cotton
Resident of Sebastopol
--
* only bad witches are ugly
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2022 7:16 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Sheldon Lowell
From: Jane Shelly <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2022 8:38 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Sheldon Lowell
Please deny this abusive, toxic person a license to sell alcohol at his restaurant in Sebastopol.

Respectfully,
Jane Shelly
Bodega Bay
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From: Freddie Francis <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 4:36 PM
To: John Jay; Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Support letter from Jesse Strecker
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jesse Strecker <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 1:43 PM
Subject: Reject Piala LLC's Alcohol License
To: <[email protected]>
Planning Commissioner Kari Svanstrom,
I'm writing to ask that you deny an alcohol license for Piala LLC at 7233 Healdsburg Ave. Lowell Sheldon, a major player in the plans to create Piala, has a history of sexual harassment, abuse, and otherwise inappropriate and unsafe behavior that stretches at least a decade. Growing up in west county, it was an "open secret" that Lowell behaved this way, yet he was powerful enough that too many in the community let his bad behavior slide. But the time has come when we must no longer tolerate sexual harassment and abuse, particularly by those in positions of power and authority in our community.

Lowell Sheldon has shown that he lacks the responsibility to open an establishment serving alcohol. I hope your office will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves, and deny Piala the alcohol license.

Sincerely,
Jesse Strecker
Born and raised in Monte Rio, currently residing in Richmond, CA.

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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:48 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Piala LLC alcohol license
From: Joey Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 10:10 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Piala LLC alcohol license
Hi,
Thank you for reading this and taking it into consideration. I know that I'm not alone in these thoughts, and I felt compelled to write to you.

This is in regard to Piala LLC, specifically Lowell Sheldon. I appreciate that the request for an alcohol licence was denied, but am concerned about Sheldon's appeal and rallying of certain friends to help overturn the decision.

I am among many who think it would be a mistake to grant an alcohol license to Piala LLC for the following reasons:

I'm sure you've read the articles in the SF Chronicle. But just in case you haven't in a while:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Sebastopol-restaurants-Lowell-Sheldon-fern-bar16486266.php.

I read about this behavior in the North Bay Business Jounral and the Press Democrat, as well.

I think it's important to Believe Women when they come out, and there is a solid trail of harassment claims against Lowell Sheldon. Abuse of alcohol was involved in the majority of these allegations, and I think this is the key reason to pause and reflect, and ultimately, deny the alcohol license.

I'm also concerned at Sheldon's lack of accountability - he has deflected and denied which makes me think the odds are higher that this may happen again. While he mentions he made people uncomfortable, he still won't own up to harrassment.

Personally, I want the community I live and recreate in (I'm a lifelong Sonoma Countian) to be one that supports women and survivors of sexual violence.

Please deny the alcohol license for Piala LLC. Let's stop any abuse before it occurs.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Joey Smith
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From: Julia Hsieh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 1:08 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: Re: Lowell Sheldon and new Georgian restaurant Dear Mr. Jay,
I am writing to you today to voice support for the new Georgian restaurant Lowell Sheldon is planning to open in the former Peking Chef location.

As someone who has been an avid tourist of Sebastopol over the years, one of the major draws for our trips up north has been the restaurants Lowell have created, as they add so much to the food landscape in Sebastopol and are a shining highlight my family and I look forward to. Over the years of visiting Lowell's restaurants, we've gotten to know him, and have always found him to be kind and generous and his largesse of spirit really contributed to the overall experience of being in one of his restaurants.

They're upbeat, friendly places with excellent food.

As the negative press about him swirled in recent years, I didn't know what to make of it since it really countered our positive perceptions of him - he seems to be dedicated to his community, dedicated to his craft, and a genuinely good person.

But I'm not here to take sides on the issue and judge what's true or not true, but I will say that even in the worst case scenario that he did all the things he's accused of, that doesn't change the fact that people make mistakes and can learn from them and change for the better. Lowell seems to be more than capable of that, and shouldn't be prevented from moving on with his life and making a living doing what he does best.

Allowing him to carry forth with the project only adds to the overall culture of Sebastopol, making it a more attractive place to visit. We can all benefit from more dining options, that's for sure. I know nothing about Georgian food or wine, but I am eager to find out more! I genuinely hope you will change your mind about allowing this project to move forward. Thank you for your consideration.

Yours truly,
Julia Hsieh
Oakland, CA

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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:49 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Public Comment
From: Manjula Martin <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 1:25 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Public Comment
Hello,
I'm writing with a public comment for the upcoming meeting about whether to uphold the denial of a liquor licence for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave).

My name is Manjula Martin and I live in unincorporated West Sonoma County. Sebastopol is where I go for most of my dining needs and services. I encourage you to uphold the denial of a liquor license for this establishment. One of the partners in Piala, LLC, Lowell Sheldon, has a well documented history of sexual harassment and worker abuse as an employer in the local restaurant industry. These abuses have been documented by many former employees, as well as recent investigations by the San Francisco Chronicle, Press Democrat, and North Bay Bohemian. Use of alcohol and illegal drugs were involved in the majority of these incidents.

Many women have come forward sharing their stories of these abuses, and Sheldon has shown neither remorse nor any attempt to reform his behavior. Denying an alcohol license is a completely approrpriate response to an application by a person who has a 10+ year heavily documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol.

I want to live and dine out in a community where the workers of that community are safe and respected. Allowing this new venture of Sheldon's an alcohol license would not be in line with those values, or the values of Sebastopol and West County. Please uphold the denial of this license.

Thank you,
Manjula Martin
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 3:01 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Piala LLC ABC license
From: Mark Mellander <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 2:36 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Piala LLC ABC license
Dear Sebastopol Planning Commissioner:

A brief note about why Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave). It would be impactful if you deny an alcohol license. It is an appropriate consequence for someone who has a 10+ year heavily-documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. Please support all the women who have suffered over aggressive & persistent unwanted sexual behavior. Denying Lowell Sheldon an ABC license will diminish the chance of this occurring again for them or any other employees he has in the future.

Joyce Mellander , Freestone CA
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2022 7:16 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: No, no, no!
From: michael Yezbick <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2022 2:56 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: No, no, no!
Lowell Sheldon is not a person who should have power over other people. He has demonstrated, many times over many years, that he will use his power to sexually harass female workers in his employ. Do not let him have a way to get back into the restaurant business, in any capacity whatsoever. If you do, and he continues to sexually harass female workers, you will be responsible for allowing this to happen. Don't give him an inch, because he will take a mile, and his white male privileged background will allow him to get away with more of the same.

Remember, he is a serial harasser and only you can stop him. Don't give an inch! Thanks, Michael Yezbick
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:45 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: No alchohol license for Lowell Sheldon
-----Original Message-----
From: Morgan True <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2022 7:46 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: No alchohol license for Lowell Sheldon
To whom this concerns,
My name is Morgan True, I lived on Barnett Valley Rd in Sebastopol throughout the pandemic and my mother has lived there since 2016. I am perturbed by the thought of Lowell Sheldon owning a liquor license after hearing the stories of the survivors of his abuse first hand. Denying an alcohol license is an appropriate consequence for someone who has over ten years of heavily documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. I am adamantly against Lowell Sheldon being granted a liquor license For Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave) as it is just down the hill from my family home. I refuse to watch members of my community fall victim to his abuse after a clear pattern was identified and no one did anything to stop it.

Please hear the voices of the victims and put an end to the cycle.

Sincerely,
Morgan True
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From: Otis Hsieh-Lappetito <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 2:16 PM
To: John Jay
Subject: Lowell Sheldon / Piala Restaurant
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this email to show my support for Lowell Sheldon and the new restaurant he is building out in Sebastopol. I believe it's called Piala.

I've been a longtime fan of Lowell's establishments. I enjoy visiting wine country and Sebastopol and his hip farm-to-table spots really fit the whole ethos of the region, and I am excited to see how this project will shape up. I will be the first in line when it opens.

I was saddened to hear what happened with him in recent years, but despite that I hoped he would come out of it intact. It's a shame how we can so easily destroy someone's reputation these days in the age of cancel culture, even though from what it seems, these were allegations and stayed allegations.

I sincerely hope that hearsay will not be the determining factor that spells the end of a man's career.

That would be a huge disappointment to me and many people like me who have enjoyed Lowell's restaurants and hope to see more from him.

Sincerely,
A longtime fan
Oakland, CA
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2347 LOMBARD STREET | SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94123 | PHONE: 415-474-9400 REALTYEQUITIES.COM | [email protected]
Delivered Electronically
Chair, Paul Fritz
Planning Commission
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
May 31, 2022
RE: New Restaurant at 7233 Healdsburg Avenue (File 2022-020) Dear Chair Fritz and Commissioners:

Our subsidiary Sebastopol Center, LLC is the property owner of the retail center which includes the proposed restaurant (Piala Georgian Cuisine). This location has continually operated as a restaurant serving beer and wine for the entirety of our ownership beginning in 1998. During the pandemic the previous restaurant was forced to close and after significant effort in trying to sub-lease the restaurant space, Lowell Sheldon and his partners proposed to open a new Georgian style restaurant serving beer and wine.

While we understand that there has been confusion surrounding the use of the premises, I wanted to provide further clarity to ease any of your concerns with regards to the use. Due to this location’s long history as a restaurant, we wanted to make sure that the use would remain as a restaurant. Our sublease and lease agreements with Piala, LLC restrict the agreed use of the premises to a “sit-down restaurant serving beer and wine”. We believe that this new restaurant will add to the vibrancy of Healdsburg Avenue and serve the community with a cuisine that is unique in Sebastopol.

We also understand that the planning department has concerns with the workplace safety of Piala. In speaking to Lowell and his partners at Piala we are confident that they have implemented best practices with regards to workplace safety and security and have demonstrated their sincerity in making sure Piala is welcoming to all. While we don’t have a personal relationship with Lowell, he has acted with the utmost professionalism and integrity throughout the leasing process.

We respectfully ask that you approve the proposed restaurant use with beat 7233 Healdsburg Avenue.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Peter Squires
Realty Equities
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2022 7:13 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon should be able to get a permit to serve alcohol Kari Svanstrom
Planning Director
From: RJ Stovebags <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 29, 2022 11:47 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon should be able to get a permit to serve alcohol Hi Kari,
I have known Sheldon as an acquaintance and customer at his restaurants over the years. I have read the news reports and the various charges leveled against him and I find his response satisfactory.

Remember, these are unsubstantiated allegations which have never been investigated in any real way.

There were real life negative consequences as a result of the publicity and it seems Lowell does have contrition.

Please grant him the right to continue to improve himself and do what he does best, own and run great world class restaurants in our town.

Thank you
Russell Sutter
Sebastopol
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 9:49 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: Lowell Sheldon
From: Sandy Campbell <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 12:22 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: Lowell Sheldon
Hello,
My name is Sandy Campbell and I live at Burbank Senior Housing in Sebastopol. Please do not give Lowell Sheldon a liquor license because I believe the reports of his sexual harrassement are well documented. Please protect working, young women in our community.

Thank you,
Sandy Campbell
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From: Kari Svanstrom
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 7:40 AM
To: John Jay
Subject: FW: ETOH lic. For Lowell Sheldon
-----Original Message-----
From: Yvonne <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 5:23 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]>
Subject: ETOH lic. For Lowell Sheldon
I do not think that adding alcohol in the mix for a person who has a history of abuse of both substances and people should even be a discussion.

People quickly lose their inhibitions with the consumption of alcohol. It was wise to not grant the license in the first hearing. Please to not let him manipulate the planning commissioner.

Thank you for your time.

Yvonne Bethune
Sebastopol.

Sent from my iPad
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May 23, 2022
Dear Sebastopol Commissioner -
I am a 14 year old student from Summerfield Waldorf School living in Sebastopol. I am writing you as a local caring person who would like Lowell to be able to open restaurants here in town.

I loved going to his restaurants since I was small, eating breakfast and lunch at Lowells. I believe he stands for good quality food, a good place to work, and a business that benefits our community. Everybody would win with his local business and I support his projects and new restaurant.

As long as I’ve known him, he has been professional and caring. I believe the changes he has made are sufficient in demonstrating his understanding of the concerns about his character.

Please support this project and help him to open his restaurant.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Citizen of Sebastopol -
Anonymous due to fear of retaliation
Child male, 14 years old, student of Summerfield Waldorf Gates Drive, Sebastopol, CA
May 23, 2022
Dear Sebastopol Commissioner -
I am a local therapist and longtime resident of Sebastopol.

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I have known Lowell through his various businesses over the years and have loved every one of them. Also, I fully endorse his current project and believe it will benefit the community.

His character as I know it is and has always been professional and caring.

Additionally, although I am aware of the issues at hand, I believe the remedies he has undergone are sufficient in demonstrating his understanding of the issues and his integrity.

I firmly believe he should be supported and allowed to opening a restaurant that will help the community. All of Lowell’s restaurants I have ever visited have been good for employees as well as local farmers, businesses, and residents.

Please support this project and recognize the positive impact of his work.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Citizen of Sebastopol -
Anonymous due to fear of retaliation
Adult female, 49 years old, married mother of 1
Gates Drive, Sebastopol, CA
May 23, 2022
Dear Sebastopol Commissioner -
I am writing you as a concerned and longtime Sebastopol citizen and restaurant owner of multiple restaurants in San Francisco.

I have known Lowell through his local business operations over the years and have always loved and appreciated his creativity and offerings: Quality, sustainable, and locally produced. I firmly endorse his current project and believe it will benefit the community significantly.

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His character as I know it is and has always been professional and caring.

Additionally, although I am aware of the issues at hand, I believe the remedies he has undergone are sufficient in demonstrating his understanding of the issues and his integrity.

As a free citizen, and local entrepreneur, I firmly believe he should be supported and allowed to opening a restaurant that will help the community. All of Lowell’s restaurants I have ever visited have been good for employees as well as local farmers, businesses, and residents. Without his projects this town would be a lesser place to live. Please support this project and recognize the positive impact of his work.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Citizen of Sebastopol -
Anonymous due to fear of retaliation
Adult male, 51 years old, married father of 1
Gates Drive, Sebastopol, CA
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We respectfully ask that you approve the proposed restaurant use with beat 7233 Healdsburg Avenue.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Peter Squires
Realty Equities
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Stuart G. Gross
3800 Twig Ave.

Sebastopol, CA
95472
May 31, 2022
Sebastopol City Planning Commission
Re: City’s Denial of Change of Ownership Application – Piala Georgian Cuisine Dear Planning Commissioners,
I write to support the change of ownership application of Piala Georgian Cuisine and to, more specifically, address the City of Sebastopol’s ground for denial of the application based on the involvement of Lowell Sheldon in Piala. I have known Lowell personally and professionally for seven years and, while Lowell is not without his flaws (and who is without them?), I strongly disagree with the premise that Lowell’s involvement in Piala would make Piala’s operation “detrimental to the health, safety, peace, morals, comfort, or general welfare of persons residing or working in the area.” Independent of my opinions of Lowell and Piala, I also have significant concerns regarding the apparent process and bases on which a contrary determination was reached by the City and what that means for the basic due process rights of persons wishing to pursue business in Sebastopol, as well as the broader character of Sebastopol going forward.

In 2015, my wife Alina and I moved from San Francisco to Sebastopol. Lowell was one of the first people we met in town and is one of our best friends. Like many people probably, we met Lowell at his restaurant, Peter Lowell’s. Lowell’s was the place we would g, many Friday nights, and we felt welcomed into the warm familial atmosphere of the place, sitting at the bar, eating an amazing meal, while talking with Lowell and others working behind the bar and those sitting to our left or right. It was a very special place that I still miss and that I have never experienced before in any place I have lived.

Our friendship with Lowell expanded beyond the restaurant, with him inviting us to dinners and gatherings at his house, Handline when it opened, and other places. He brought us into the community and is responsible for making the connections we now have with many of our local friends. And when we had our first child exactly two weeks ago, it was Lowell who first brought us over dinner, which he then repeated a few days later.

Is Lowell a little weird? Yes. Does he rub some people the wrong way? Yes. Is he a bad person? No. He is a good person, and a close and good friend, whom I am glad will be in my son’s life as he grows up in this community.

I have also known Lowell professionally, and my experience in that capacity has indicated that Lowell’s empathy and concern which are demonstrated in his personal relationships are also Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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2 expressed in how he does business. I’m an attorney with experience handling commercial torts, and in the immediate aftermath of the flooding of The Barlow in 2019, Lowell reached out to me to inquire, not whether I could help just his business, The Fern Bar, but whether I could help all of the affected businesses in The Barlow. Lowell took it upon himself to organize meetings with all of the affected businesses, with the goal of sharing information and forming a unified strategy to gain compensation for the losses that all suffered. That effort resulted in my firm attaining millions of dollars in compensation for those businesses, including some of the most beloved in Sebastopol, which has allowed them to continue and prosper, and the effort catalyzed a reassessment by The Barlow of how it addresses flooding that will have a very real and substantial benefit to public safety and welfare in the future. That would very likely not have happened without Lowell.

The effort that Lowell took to make this happen is part of a consistent pattern that I have witnessed of him taking actions to assist other members of the local business community. When I reviewed the photos of the aftermath of The Barlow flooding, Lowell repeatedly appeared in cleanup photos of other people’s businesses. And when The Nectary recently had its lease renewal denied by The Barlow, it was Lowell who reached out to Barney Aldridge on its behalf.

Lowell is a dedicated and significant asset to Sebastopol’s business community. That is clear from the fact that he was involved in the three most important restaurants/bars to open in the last ~5 years, Handline, Fern Bar, Khom Loi, as well as Peter Lowell’s, which played such an important part in so many people’s quality of life in Sebastopol for so many years. And it is clear in how he conducts himself with regard to other businesses and their owners: he recognizes that in a community like Sebastopol success is not a zero-sum game; everyone’s success benefits everyone.

This leads me to the process by which the City apparently made the decision to disregard all of the above and deny Piala’s application based on the unadjudicated accusations of approximately four people. The accusations of these four people should be treated with respect—and I know Lowell has done so—but they are accusations. No case has ever been brought based on those accusations and thus there has been no determination of their truth. This is important. We live, hopefully still, in a country of law and due process. And, more specifically, we live in a community that places high value on democratic principles and open-mindedness. Nobody anywhere should be denied the ability to pursue a livelihood simply on the basis that some people accuse her or him, and that the City of Sebastopol, with its proud liberal tradition, would potentially do so is very disappointing.

Finally, I want to make mention the fact that while the City’s decision to deny the application is based on certain people’s opinions about Lowell, Piala is not going to run to Lowell, but by Jeff Berlin and Irma Hernandez. I’ve been lucky to become friends with Jeff over the last couple of years, and he is a very good and kind person, who has more love for his three sons than anyone I’ve ever met and is a wicked good chef and connoisseur of Georgian wine and food. Jeff successfully ran a restaurant in the East Bay for many years and is exactly the type of person that we who live in this area should want to bring his skills here and enrich our lives.

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3 For all of the reasons above and many more that are unstated, I respectfully request that the commission reverse the denial of Piala’s application and let the community enjoy what Piala will bring to it.

Sincerely,
Stuart G. Gross
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IN SUPPORT OF
Pialla and Lowell Sheldon
May 25, 2022
City officials
Planning Departments
City of Sebastopol
County of Sonoma
Dear Commissioners,
We are writing in the hopes of you approving the transfer of ownership application for Lowell Sheldon and the Pialla project.

My wife and I met Lowell and his former partner at a child birth class. Our boys ended up at school together and we became friends. We have enjoyed getting to know each other, spending time our families, and a mutual appreciation of good food.

Lowell has been involved with at least four establishments in Sebastopol that we are aware of. These establishments have all added tangible value to our community. They have brought countless people together, created many jobs, paid living wages, all while maintaining a focus on sustainability and quality.

We don’t believe in cancel culture. People need to be able to learn from their mistakes and be allowed to earn the trust and confidence of their chosen community. Lowell needs to move forward, support his family and stay in a town where his culinary influence is valued.

Sincerely yours,
-Adam & Jennifer Almquist
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3607 WALLACE RD. SANTA ROSA,CA 95404 917-685-2753 [email protected] Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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Dear Commission,
I grew up in Sebastopol and have fond memories of dining at Peter Lowell’s. In fact, when I think of home cooking, Lowell’s menu is as much a part of those memories as the food prepared by my dad and mom, who were juggling careers and single-parent households. My mom and I dined at Lowell’s on a regular basis (multiple times a week) and my dad and I dined there on special occasions, including many birthdays, post-ballet recitals, school events and graduations… Lowell’s Café served wonderful food in a sunny family environment.

During my countless visits to the restaurant, I witnessed Lowell's professionalism, kindness and strong work ethic. My mom and I were regulars there for nearly the entire duration the restaurant was open. Lowell always gave us a wave and a smile and would make a point to come chat with us or just say hi if the kitchen was busy. When I was younger my first business venture was with Lowell! I sold chicken eggs to the restaurant, and can still remember Lowell’s warm smile when I would bring in the eggs every week as a terrified eight year old.

Throughout the years I also got to know a lot of the staff, who were always personable, kind and seemed to enjoy their working environment. From what I know of Lowell and his previous restaurants, Piala will be a wonderful addition to Sebastopol and Sonoma County cuisine. I do not believe that this exciting new venture should be blocked and urge the commissioners to support this new project.

Amelia Levin-Sheffield
London, England
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I have known Lowell Sheldon for over 10 years . He is talented, respected, committed to his community and collaborates with others who share similar interests in business through out west county . Lowell is an asset. I worked for him for 5 years. He was fair and implemented good employee policies.

Sexual Harassment is a complicated issue, it’s engrained in our culture and like many other societal challenges will take hard work to change the course. If we care about the people in our communities, we work together. We show up, we’re accountable and we take responsibility for our actions as individuals. Women are simply not always the victims.

Women participate in the culture of harassment but this isn’t talked about. My point is we can not throw out people who demonstrate poor judgement and bad behavior , we work to correct it. City and county governments need to work with local business owners and come up with guidelines to address an issue like harassment in the workplace. It’s time communities think outside of a box we’ve been in for far too long . Defamation and ostracizing someone is not a healthy solution to an issue we all agree needs to be addressed.

Anonymous Female
(Fear of retaliation)
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To Whom it May Concern,
I have worked for Lowell Sheldon for a collective five years, and nowhere in that time did I feel harassed by him. My time as a sous chef at Lowell's Restaurant was the best time of my culinary career. I often think to myself about how much I miss working at that particular establishment. Lowell gave me a chance when I had no experience and taught me so much in the half decade I worked for him. I would also like to point out that I have been open about not having any issues in relation to Lowell in my workplace at both Handline and Lowell's Restaurant, I've even talked to journalists that chose to leave my statements out because it "didn't really fit the story". I have given writing this letter a lot of thought as it does feel strange to go against the opinion of so many fellow women, but at the end of the day I am choosing to support this new restaurant because I feel in my heart no women (or men) are at risk in this establishment. Aside from Lowell, I personally know Chef Irma Hernandez, I know she is excited for this opportunity, and certainly deserves it. Having a Georgian restaurant in the community would be amazing and unique. Punishing the many other people involved in this business would be utterly unfair, and truly an ironic consequence as it would be taking away an opportunity for a female chef, because of a movement started for women empowerment.
(I would like to remain anonymous thank you)
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Dear City of Sebastopol Commissioners,
I am a longtime resident of Sebastopol, writing to ask you to allow the owners of Piala Georgian Cuisine at 7233 Healdsburg Avenue to operate their new restaurant. I understand that the City of Sebastopol has given in to peer pressure from several former employees of Lowell Sheldon and denied Piala’s change of ownership application, and I believe this decision is unjust and unwarranted.

I am a woman in my thirties and have known Lowell Sheldon, one of the three owners of Piala, for over 15 years. I worked in his restaurant, Peter Lowells, and have spent time with him, his family and children, outside of work. I know Lowell to be honest, caring and generous. He is receptive to criticism, and someone who strives to learn and improve himself. I have been a working professional for 10+ years, and some of my happiest work memories are from the time I spent as Lowell’s employee on the team at Peter Lowell’s. Lowell was a straightforward and fair boss and created a positive work environment. I never experienced anything remotely close to the salacious tales spun by the media in 2021.

Lowell has made mistakes in his past, and paid dearly for them. Unlike many people in our society, he has done everything in his power to learn from his mistakes and to become a better man and community member. By giving in to peer pressure and hearsay from a small group of people and denying him the possibility of opening a new restaurant (of which he will NOT be an operating partner), you are denying him the chance to show that he has changed his ways. You are also denying two hard working, thoroughly kind and creative community members, Jeff Berlin and Irma Hernandez, the opportunity to earn a livelihood doing what they love; offering our community a delicious and unique food and wine space.

There are people in our town who have decided to dedicate time and energy to destroying not only Lowell’s livelihood and future, but that of his associates. As a resident of Sebastopol and former employee of Lowell Sheldon, I would ask you to grant Piala the opportunity to move forward and open its doors. It will add a dynamic and valuable dining option to our town, and provide a livelihood to deserving community members.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I will remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, ostracisation and abuse on social media from the people opposing this project.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Sebastopol Resident
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Dear City of Sebastopol Planning Commissioners,
I am writing regarding your denial of Lowell Sheldon’s change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine at 7233 Healdsburg Avenue. As I am sure you know, Lowell has founded or been involved with several restaurants in Sebastopol already, each of which has been a great addition to the town in its own way. Although he has lately been on the receiving end of much bad publicity, it hardly seems a valid excuse to deny him and his new partners Jeff Berlin and Irma Hernandez the chance to create something new and special for Sebastopol and its residents. Is it right to deny someone their livelihood based on a few angry voices? It seems particularly two-faced when we know the city coffers have already benefited greatly from Lowell’s previous successes. I have known Lowell for several years now and I know him to be a hardworking, committed and generous person, and someone who has made tremendous effort to learn from his mistakes and do what is right moving forward.

I will remain anonymous at this time, due to the vicious and retaliatory nature of those trying to cancel Lowell and those associated with him. I urge you to reconsider your decision, for the benefit of all of us and our town.

Sincerely,
Anonymous, Sebastopol, CA
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May 30, 2022
City of Sebastopol Planning Commission
710 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol CA 95472
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon and his business partners to open Piala restaurant.

I have known Lowell for over ten years, meeting when I was an almost-daily breakfast regular at Peter Lowell’s. I do not know what happened between Lowell and some of his employees, but I do feel that I have enough insight into Lowell to see that he has sincerely and humbly undertaken deep self-reflection since he was made aware of the harm that a few of his employees experienced from their interactions with him.

Lowell is an imperfect being, as are we all. Unlike many of us, however, and despite the vicious, humiliating, and sometimes gratuitous public exposure of his flaws, Lowell has openly, ongoingly, and actively sought to understand himself, to rectify the damage done, and to ensure that he never again makes the same mistakes.

The restaurants that Lowell has co-created – Peter Lowell’s, Handline, and Fern Bar – and his pioneering contributions to the local artisanal food scene are significant elements in what makes Sebastopol a vibrant place to live.

I encourage you to be rational and fair-minded in your decision, and to let Lowell and his partners bring what will undoubtedly be yet another fabulous restaurant to Sebastopol.

Regards,
Alysson Baker
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May 28, 2022
Sebastopol Planning Commission
RE: Piala Georgian Cuisine
Dear Commissioners,
I’m writing in support of the change of ownership application for the partners of Piala Georgian Cuisine, which includes Lowell Sheldon. My understanding is that various members of the community are seeking to block the application due to Lowell’s involvement. I’m writing as a fellow community member in support of this application.

I have known Lowell Sheldon since 2013. I first met him at his restaurant, Lowell’s, shortly after taking up residence in Sebastopol. Lowell’s quickly became a favorite place to dine and get to know the local community. I dined there with my husband nearly every week were we often spoke with Lowell and members of the staff. Lowell’s was the kind of place that invited its patrons to relax and mingle and become a part of the community. During all the times I visited the restaurant I only witnessed the most positive of work environments. The interactions I observed between Lowell and staff were always kind and professional.

I understand that allegations have been made against Lowell regarding his management of this and other restaurants. Based on my personal observations of Lowell as he conducted his business and my strong belief that a community member should not be blocked from participating in a business based on allegations alone, I fully support the application for ownership change. It would be a shame if the efforts of Jeff Berlin and Irma Hernandez two individuals seeking to bring a new small business to our community were derailed for this.

Sincerely yours,
Robert (Bart) Magee
Sebastopol CA
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Whom it May Concern,
I am writing this note on behalf of Lowell Sheldon, to speak of his character and my experiences with him and his establishments.

I first met Lowell almost 9 years ago shortly after moving to Sebastopol. I was a frequent diner at Lowell's Restaurant and over time got to know Lowell and many of his staff, both professionally and socially. I am an interior designer and when Lowell was opening Handline Restaurant, he asked my advice on table and bench design. Apparently that went well because Lowell then asked me to design the Fern Bar Restaurant. It was a great experience all around and again, I got to know more of the staff.

Never in any of my interactions as a patron/vendor/friend did I ever witness, experience or hear of any improperly treated or angry employees. In fact it was quite the opposite. What I know of Lowell personally is that he is very invested in his community. His farm to table ethos and restaurants provide jobs for the community and wonderful dining options for local diners (and tourists). It is not, in my opinion, necessary to block the opening of Piala or any Lowell venture based on the alleged experiences of three former employees. From what I know, Lowell has gone above and beyond to "right" any perceived "wrongs" that he may have done.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Brian Anderson
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To Whom It May Concern,
Lowell Sheldon is creative and has vision. He is a hard worker and makes things happen. He is a real leader and cares about doing the right thing for his community, for his employees, and for the environment. Sebastopol has benefited tremendously from his entrepreneurial spirit and his indefatigable work ethic, just like it did from the contributions of his late father, Steve Sheldon. If the proposed new venture, Piala Georgian Cuisine, is anything like Peter Lowell’s, Handline and Fern Bar before it, it will undoubtedly be a real asset to the Sebastopol dining scene. I sincerely hope it comes to fruition.

I have been going to Lowell’s since it first opened in 2007. In the early years, it was apparent that Lowell was working around the clock to make the restaurant not only a successful business venture, but also a real community hub for the town of Sebastopol. Lowell and (later with Natalie) worked tirelessly to make sure they thought through every detail…from the sustainability of the materials used in the restaurant buildout and expansion, to the hyper-local sourcing of their ingredients, to the fair wages of their staff. They were conscientious and thoughtful in how they approached decisions, at every turn trying to be equitable, socially and environmentally conscious, fair and excellent.

Not only was the food at Lowell’s restaurants delicious, but the atmosphere at the restaurants was a ton of fun. It was clear that there was a lot of camaraderie among the staff. On several occasions, I was invited to socialize with Lowell, Natalie and their staff, after hours. It appeared to me that the group had a lot in common, really enjoyed each other’s company and had a shared sense of purpose in providing Sebastopol with deliciously prepared local food in a relaxed, convivial atmosphere. Lowell’s restaurants, in my opinion, seemed like an awesome place to work.

As you know, Lowell is no longer associated with any of his former restaurants as a result of his former employee’s allegations over his inappropriate behavior. He has now paid for this behavior. This has been a huge learning experience for him and quite humbling. He is not the young, egotistical restauranteur of the past. Lowell has learned from his mistakes, faced consequences for his actions, and is well-aware that his behavior hurt others, even if inadvertently. He has apologized and repented.

There is no good or fair reason why Lowell should not be able to do business in the restaurant industry in the city of Sebastopol moving forward. He poses no threat to anyone and there is no doubt that any future venture of his will be operated in the most professional manner possible. Yes, Lowell made mistakes. But again, he has paid for them. Justice requires we all acknowledge this, let Lowell, his former employees and the town of Sebastopol collectively move on, and allow him to make a living, bettering community in which he lives in the process.

Respectfully,
Brody
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Dear commissioners:

As a person raised in Sebastopol for my childhood and young adult life I wish to express my strong support for Lowell's new restaurant. I have had both personal and professional relations with Lowell for forty years and have strong faith in his character that has not wavered during that time. I have followed the media and social media over the last year and do not believe his actions or alleged actions warrant the city not allowing his permit. I also do not believe he has been treated fairly. I understand the situation is challenging given the political and social scene, but I strongly believe in his integrity.

Lowell has added substantially to the food scene in Sebastopol through his sincerity to the mission, his dedication and hard work, and I wish that this can continue and we will all continue to benefit from it. While we all undoubtably have our weaknesses and areas to improve upon, I give Lowell a strong thumbs up and would fully trust him with my own family and thus I would also trust him to be a representative of the Sebastopol community.

Please approve this application.

Chris Hall
Oakland, CA
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To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing this letter in support of the new restaurant Paia receiving approval for their permitting. I have known Lowell Sheldon, professionally and personally, for the last 12 years. In that time, I have known of his evolution of a single restaurant owner to a partner in a multifaceted hospitality operation. He has had numerous employees and relationships within the community. Many of which are showing support.

The recent allegations and information that has been brought against him has shown the effect that his behavior had on employees and the community. His actions that have been revealed, were inappropriate, hurtful and will have lasting impacts. Lowell has been vocal about hearing these effects and doing the work to make the necessary changes. Learning the true effect his words and actions have on others. These are also allegations that have not been proven in a court of law. He was found guilty of public opinion, not the judicial system.

I am a believer in second chances, and people learning from their mistakes. I am also a supporter of those who learn from their mistakes being advocates and voices, so these behaviors are removed from our culture. Giving Lowell this opportunity could allow him to use his influence in the community for the benefit of others.

Thank you
Anonymous Sonoma County Resident and Business Owner
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May 24, 2022
I first met Lowell Sheldon in 2007 and worked with him at both “Peter Lowell’s” and ‘Handline”.

I have always found him to be respectful, supportive and genuinely interested in my personal success by making sure I had what I needed to be a team player and contribute to the overall success of the restaurants.

Lowell has always been friendly and very approachable when I had questions and or concerns about policy or procedures. I found him to be open to any ideas I brought before him and I feel I learned a lot from him over the years we worked together.

I am aware of his alleged misconduct. While there are always two sides to such a story, I believe there is a third side as well. That side is where we identify the problem and correct it, forgive and move forward. Not judge, shame and punish while denying room for growth. Isn’t showing understanding and compassion always the right thing to do? Mistakes come with being human and it is our responsibility as conscious people to lift one another up. While a small portion of our community has taken it upon themselves to punish him by petitioning against his every move to start anew, it's simply unfair and counter productive.

I do not agree that any individual should be held back from contributing to the betterment of the community he has given so much to. Lowell has done the work required to reach a deeper understanding of his role and position both in his businesses and the community. We all are deserving of a second chance to improve ourselves and step up. That is all he is asking and I believe he is deserving of the opportunity to prove himself worthy.

We are so lucky to have his talent and passion in Sebastopol.

I believe without a doubt that this new intended restaurant Piala, if granted a beer and wine license will be a smashing hit and offer us and our many visitors a unique and outstanding experience that people will want to return to.

Please give this man the opportunity to set an example of self improvement and awareness, one we can all be proud of.

With respect,
Deborah Snow
Sebastopol, Ca
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I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon and his plan to participate in the opening of the Piala Georgian Cuisine restaurant. Although I do not know Mr.

Sheldon personally, I was a big fan of the former Peter Lowell's restaurant, with its delicious locally-sourced food and the lovely ambience. Of course recent allegations against Lowell re: his treatment of some restaurant employees are now blocking the permit application for Piala which seems over the top to me. While his actions were not always professional, they were not criminal. Also Lowell has acknowledged that he made mistakes in his management of his first restaurant and has since done therapy and training to gain awareness and insight into how to move forward. Please let him do that with this new endeavor that can enhance our community and bring joy to our stomachs!
Sincerely,
Delora Porter, Sebastopol CA
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Dear Sebastopol Planning Commission,
This letter is is strong support of Piala, a newly proposed restaurant in Sebastopol. We have known and worked with Lowell Shelton for almost twenty years. During our long association, Lowell has been professional and a pleasure to work with. I have never seen any bad behavior from him.

According to some Lowell has made mistakes in the past; but he has received counseling and training. Additionally, Lowell does not have an operational role in Piala, its being managed and run by his partner, Jeff Berlin.

Everybody deserves a second chance, especially when the accusations against Lowell were never proven, and he was never convicted. Let’s stop the witch hunt and move on.

Piala will be a great addition to our local community. I am happy to share further thoughts and help with Piala’s approval process in anyway.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Ken Freeman
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To Whom It May Concern,
I have personally known Lowell Sheldon for almost his
entire life. My family, friends, and I frequented his former restaurant, "Peter Lowell's" and found the environment
welcoming. We were always received warmly by the staff
and thought that the employees were happy there.

I strongly believe that Lowell Sheldon should not be
denied a beer and wine license because he is not in any way involved in the day-to-day operations of the
restaurant. If Lowell's main contribution to the restaurant is design and tenant improvements, then I can't see any logical reason to deny a beer and wine license.

Since I have never eaten at a restaurant that offered food from the Republic of Georgia, I believe that this type of restaurant would be a very positive addition to Sebastopol; especially culturally.

I hope that you will consider issuing a beer and wine
license so that Lowell and his partners can move forward with their business model and concept.

Respectfully,
Rick Genstil
Santa Rosa
805-794-9389
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Nathan Gheen
655 Goettingen Street
San Francisco, CA 94134
415-309-6986
[email protected]
28 May 2022
Planning Commission
City of Sebastopol
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing in strong support of Piala Georgian Cuisine and Mr. Lowell Sheldon. I have known Mr. Sheldon for 20 years. When we first met he was working in a small Italian restaurant in Seattle with a dream and vision of one day creating his own restaurant in his home town of Sebastopol. It was a privilege and a wonder to witness Lowell transform this dream, over years of extraordinary dedication and hard work, into reality.

Over the years I have spent countless hours alongside Lowell through every stage of opening and running his businesses and witnessed his conduct and relationships with business partners and associates, farmers, winemakers, restaurant staff and customers, as well as being a regular customer myself. What I witnessed is a visionary, forward thinking business owner who cultivates real relationships, cares deeply about Sebastopol and the impact of his businesses, and creates overwhelmingly positive experiences for customers and staff alike.

In addition to my personal experience of Lowell and his businesses, my brother Jordan Gheen was employed and mentored by Lowell when he was a young cook just beginning in the restaurant industry. Lowell cultivated my brother’s love of food and restaurants and greatly expanded his skill and knowledge. My brother went on to a successful career as a chef in the Seattle area and credits his accomplishments in large part to his experience working with Lowell.

Over 20 years of friendship I have witnessed Lowell face many challenges, professional and personal. A powerful desire for personal growth and self-improvement are elements at the core of Lowell’s character. Lowell’s striving and real work to be a better citizen, community member, business owner, father, and friend has been a constant. Please allow this exceptional man to continue his life’s work creating and contributing to the food and wine experience in Sebastopol.

Sincerely,
Nathan Gheen, RN
Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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To: Planning Commission, City of Sebastopol
From: Gregory Haynes, 507 Ragle Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Re: Letter of Support for Piala Georgian Restaurant/Lowell Sheldon Date: May 25, 2022
Dear Commissioners,
As a long-time Sebastopol resident, I urge you to reverse the decision of the Planning Director and to approve the transfer of the beer and wine license for Piala Georgian Restaurant.

I believe that Lowell Sheldon will be a responsible Sebastopol citizen and that the proposed restaurant will be run professionally. I have personally known Lowell for many years and have been a regular customer at his previous businesses. His positive character attributes vastly out-weigh any weaknesses that may have shown up in the past.

Thank you for your consideration,
Gregory Haynes
Cc: Lowell Sheldon, [email protected]
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From: Matthew Williams <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2022 8:43 AM
To: [email protected]; John Jay
Subject: In support of Piala
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my support for the approval of the business license transfer for Piala Georgian Cuisine. While I take the accusations against Mr. Sheldon seriously and do not discount others experiences and feelings, I cannot in good faith support the denial of his & his partners ability to contribute, participate and earn a living based on accusations that have not been proven in a court of law and seem as if they are being litigated through social media and a war of personal attacks and hearsay. I also am strongly opposed and deeply troubled that a taxpayer funded office, whose job should be perfunctory is interjecting personal bias and public rumors into the process and fear it will set a poor precedent moving forward that could lead to other discriminations.

It is my personal experience in 10+ years of knowing Lowell Sheldon in both a personal and professional capacity that he is a person who is kind, generous & thoughtful. Lowell has flaws, as we all do, but I believe he is capable of genuine self reflection and self work and I believe that he has done the necessary reflection and work that will allow him to be a good faith contributor to our community.

I am signing this letter anonymously out of fear of retaliation from those who oppose Mr.

Sheldon doing business in Sebastopol.

Thank you for your consideration,
A Concerned Citizen
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To whom it my concern ,

My name is Irma Hernández through this letter I would like to express my experience working at Peter Lowell restaurant at the beginning I was worried of not knowing Mr.

Lowell but once we started working together I got to know him better. As a person and as a boss since he was the one teaching me the job, he was very patient never crossed the line from being a boss I’ve never felt disrespected or harassed. I knew it was a good place to work. I worked at Peter Lowell for 7 years from 2012 to 2019 and I never felt disrespected or uncomfortable. If I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Lowell again I would without any hesitation
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Dear City of Sebastopol,
It has come to my attention that Lowell Sheldon seeks to open a new restaurant.

Awesome! I respect Lowell & have loved taking my family to his restaurants since they were little kids. The loss of Peter Lowell’s was sad for our family; we have many happy memories of eating there! I’m confident that Lowell will continue to make outstanding contributions to this community.

I understand that there has been some controversy around Lowell. As there was no crime committed, however, I am guessing that this is really a “relationship” problem, an issue of broken trust. By saying this, I’m not diminishing the situation; in my view, these are essential and important matters. And accordingly, I hope those involved in the controversy work things through as rational, caring adults who can admit wrongdoing, make amends, heal, and move on.

Moreover, if this is an issue of broken trust & inappropriate behavior (and not of a crime committed), then it is for the people involved to repair — without the interference or oversight of a city council or any other legal body.

In my view, people will always break and repair trust; it’s a big part of how we grow and learn as humans. When a person makes a mistake and then takes clear responsibility & obvious steps to learn and rebuild — that effort counts for something. People often do dumb things, learn hard lessons, and go on to make great contributions to society. An incident of broken trust or inappropriate behavior should never be the basis for denying someone a right to open or be involved as a partner in a new business.

I urge you to green light Lowell’s new business idea!
Yours in solidarity,
JB
Sebastopol resident since 2008
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Members of Planning Commission
I have personally known Lowell Sheldon for approximately 20 years.. My family, friends, and I frequented his former restaurant, "Peter Lowell's" and found the environment welcoming. We were always received warmly by the staff and thought that the employees were happy there.

I strongly believe that Lowell Sheldon should not be denied a beer and wine license because he is not in any way involved in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. If Lowell's main contribution to the restaurant is design and tenant improvements, then I can't see any logical reason to deny a beer and wine license.

I am aware of the media coverage and accusations. Lowell has acknowledged and taken very seriously his past mistakes. Lowel has made full efforts to learn and correct those mistakes, through personal therapy, weekly meetings concerning Restorative Justice, and training to understand and address sexual harassment in the workplace.

He is a great example of what a person should
do under his circumstances and should be held up to the community as such.

I believe there are no other restaurants offering Republic of Georgia cuisine in Sonoma County, and this type of restaurant would be a very positive addition to Sebastopol and Sonoma County; especially culturally(at a time culture sharing is crucial).

Lowell's involvement in several restaurant ventures in Sebastopol has created significant revenue for Sebastopol and made the town more attractive to residents and tourists.

I hope that you will consider issuing a beer and wine license so that Lowell and his partners can move forward with their business model and concept.

With respect, Sebastopol resident for over 25 years and frequent diner out, Jerry Terhune
Sebastopol, CA
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Joseph Petzel May 24, 2022
280 Pleasant Hill Avenue North
Sebastopol, Ca.
95472
707-481-2332
To Whom It May Concern:

I have known Lowell Sheldon for many years. I have been a regular consumer in his many restaurant ventures. I never saw any unacceptable behavior on his part in any of my visits. I know people who worked for him and heard no instances of illegal, unethical or personal abuse by Lowell.

I am a retired Psychotherapist, working in Sebastopol for many years. After the “news” of the complaints broke in the Post Democrat, he called me and we met. Our conversation was deep. He was truly sorry for any harm he might have caused by his behavior. He was confused as none of the complaints seemed to me to be actual sexual abuse. He admitted to an insensitivity and some verbal mistakes. He seems to understand how his words were insensitive and has taken it upon himself to correct the situation. I could feel his remorse and confusion. I was also taken by the actions he was taking to understand what he did to upset some employees.

It seems very arbitrary, cruel and probably illegal for him to be denied the right to restaurant in Sebastopol. I could understand if he was convicted of a crime, but he’s not. Are a few letters enough to rob him of his right to make a living in our town? Sure if he was convicted of a crime that relates to his running a restaurant, the town should be protected from such a person. HE HAS NOT. If this decision is not overturned, I will be voting to remove any elected officials behind this violation of his rights.

Feel free to call me if you need any further info.

Joe Petzel
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City of Sebastopol Planning Commission:

It has come to my attention that this body is going to deny the application for change of ownership to Piala Georgian Cuisine, presumably because the transaction involves Lowell Sheldon. I would like to voice my disapproval of the drastic step the City has decided to take in denying what should be a routine application. Is this done at the urging of a few of his former disgruntled employees? How would that be appropriate? I suppose due process is not one a concern of this body, but this appears patently unfair. I am not justifying how Lowell previously managed his restaurants; indeed, he made many mistakes, but I also find the character assassination of him to be very distasteful, even dangerous. Lowell deserves to have the complaints against him resolved in the proper forum, where he would have an opportunity to defend himself and this body is NOT the proper forum to resolve such complaints. Blurring those lines is dangerous.

I have known Lowell since I was a baby, and I went to school with him through High School. We were friends growing up and continue to be friends to this day. I know he and his family well and I have frequented the many wonderful restaurants he has been involved in, including most notably Lowell’s, FNA Peter Lowell’s. Me, my wife and our two children used to eat there almost on a weekly basis. It was a great place to bring the family and we always found the atmosphere to be congenial, friendly, and professional – in all, it appeared to be a positive work environment.

Since Lowell and I have been friends all our lives, I can attest that Lowell is a person of good character. He has certainly made mistakes as we all have, however, he, unlike most of us, has recognized his mistakes and taken appropriate action to ensure he does not repeat them. This should be rewarded not punished! Lowell has done a lot to bring world class dining to Sebastopol and support the community. Gratitude would be more appropriate than disdain here.

Please approve the application of Piala Georgian Cuisine and allow Sebastopol to have another fantastic dining option. It is good for the City and good for the community.

Johann Hall, Sebastopol, CA
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Planning Commission
Sebastopol, CA. 95472
RE: Character reference for Lowell Sheldon and endorsement of Piala Restaurant Dear Commissioners,
My name is Jonathan Racherbaumer and Lowell Sheldon and his partners at Piala Restaurant have asked me to write a letter to the commission as testament to Lowell Sheldon’s character to which I am happy to oblige.

I have known Lowell Sheldon for approximately 13 years and consider him to be a dear friend. I first met him at Peter Lowell‘s restaurant in 2009 as my family and I began frequenting the establishment and were amazed by its menu and consistency of service. I personally became a regular breakfast customer and got to know many of the employees and customers. One could say I had a front row seat to the evolution of PL’s. Never once in the several hundred visits to the establishment had I witnessed any improper conduct of Lowell, or the management and employees. My family and I considered it our favorite restaurant in Sebastopol. In my perception, the team with its family atmosphere at Peter Lowell’s restaurant not only executed a fine dining experience but transformed how restaurants serve their community. I was saddened when Lowell’s restaurant had to close it doors.

With regards to Lowell’s character, I have witnessed first hand Lowell to consistently be the first to make amends following any transgressive behavior… apologize… show humility and ultimately hold himself accountable especially when it counts to another persons feelings. I make this point with emphasis because Lowell and I have had a few pointed differences throughout our friendship. In my experience when conflicts arise with friends and other relations, I find conscientious, non-defensive, pro active behaviors to be out of the norm. I have seen Lowell exhibit these traits regularly.

My wife, Vayya, made the point (and I agree) that he is an unusually loving person… always sweet and kind…always saying “I love you”. I have observed a caring and tolerant father towards my own children as well as other kids.

No one is perfect by any stretch and we are all learning and growing….I believe Lowell has faced the scrutiny of public opinion with a humble will to change for the better. It will be a sad day for the Sebastopol community and the greater North Bay to be denied Lowell Sheldon’s talents as a restauranteur.

In closing, I am aware this reference letter may be seen as biased in that I am a family friend and care deeply for Lowell and his family. However, I believe my perceptions to be fair and in good faith. Hopefully this letter will provide some valued input that aids in the commission’s decision.

Respectfully, JONATHAN RACHERBAUMER, D.C. • 1380 Tilton Rd. SEBASTOPOL, CA 95472 • Phone 707 322 2875 Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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To Whom It May Concern,
I have known Lowell Sheldon for over two years. He was
the employer of my partner at Peter Lowell’s
restaurant. In these past few years I have developed a
close friendship with Lowell, his two young sons, the
mother of his boys, his family and many of his friends.

I have witnessed a kind, thoughtful and giving
community man and father. Lowell is trustworthy,
considerate and attentive to his friends and family.

Especially to his sons. I have only the highest praises for Lowell and believe strongly in him as a friend,
father and business owner.

Best wishes,
Juliana Thomollari
Occidental
310-913-7032
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Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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Dear City of Sebastopol Planning Commissioners,
I am a Sebastopol homeowner residing at 370 Neva Street. I am writing regarding your denial of Lowell Sheldon’s change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine at 7233 Healdsburg Avenue. I am not a personal friend of Mr. Sheldon rather a longtime customer of Lowell’s, his previous restaurant. I have observed Lowell as a customer for over five years and have found him to be professional and courteous at all times. My observations do not excuse the inappropatiate behavior he has allegedly displayed with staff and something I cannot comment upon. Lowell has been a successful business owner managing restaurants in our community for years and his establishments have brought distinction and notoriety to Sebastopol including reviews in the NYT. The planning commission represents the city not the victims of his alleged inappropriate behavior and I feel it is not the commissions role as our elected officials to set precedent as the morality police. Lowell has apparently taken restorative action to grow and learn from his self inflicted experience and clearly understands the pain he may have caused others. Punishing Lowell doesn’t serve a purpose in this setting in my opinion should be a decision for a civil court if those on the receiving end choose to pursue. I enthusiastically support his application and hope you will seriously reflect and reconsider your decision. Punishing Lowell will deny the community employment, impact others livelihood’s and withhold the community his creativity in the culinary arts
Sincerely,
Lance Stone
Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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To whom it may concern:

This letter is in support of Lowell Sheldon and his proposed restaurant, Piala. I met Lowell when I began working with him as an engineer on the design of Peter Lowell's restaurant. My relationship with him has been mainly business. I always found him to be honest and straightforward and he could also be warm and friendly. I enjoyed dining at Peter Lowell's and never observed any negative interactions or attitudes among him and the staff.

Through his restaurants, Lowell has brought business and life to Sebastopol and raised its profile as a dining destination. By replacing tipping with a set 20% surcharge, the restaurant contributed to the staff’s financial security. I believe any future venture will be a positive contribution to the city.

I have read of the accusations against him, and also of his efforts to accept responsibility, learn, and grow. He has stated that he will not be involved in the daily operations of the business or its employees.

He is establishing policies to ensure the safety and security of the staff. I see no reason to deny him any business opportunities in Sebastopol.

Sincerely,
Paul Larkin
Sebastopol
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Dear Planning Commissioners
I write in support of the new restaurant.

As a former patron on Pete Lowels restaurant I have confidence in the creative and community focus of the creators.

Please allow the them the opportunity to contribute their creativity and efforts to our city as they bring forward a new restaurant concept.

Respectfully,
Lawrence Jaffe
Sebastopol CA
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Letter in support of Lowell Sheldon
I have known Lowell for the better part of a decade. I worked with him as a supplier of wine, meat and produce. We met professionally many times and communicated often while he ran Peter Lowell’s and later Handline Restaurant. I always found Lowell to be polite, professional and friendly. I could see that he ran his restaurant as a group of friends and equals which appealed to my sensibilities. Lowell’s business was driven by a singular passion for preparing and promoting local food and wine. I always had the sense that he employed people who also believed in this vision which is one that remains fairly unique.

My observations of Lowell’s business operations were sometimes as a customer but most often I would see the “back of the house.” I would either come in and conduct a wine tasting for Lowell or deliver wine, lamb or vegetables into the kitchen. I never observed anything unprofessional take place. By all accounts it seemed like a positive work environment, especially considering that many restaurants are operated in an unprofessional manner. This never seemed to be the case at Peter Lowell’s or Handline.

In my estimation, Lowell’s restaurants have always had a positive impact on the town of Sebastopol and the broader community of food and wine. A strong argument exists that Lowell’s endeavors have made the Sebastopol food scene what it is today and helped other businesses as the waters rise. I do not believe that Lowell should be blocked from opening a restaurant that serves beer and wine. I do not believe that this is appropriate. Furthermore I believe that Piala would be a wonderful addition to the Sebastopol restaurant scene.

Lowell has elevated the restaurant scene in Sebastopol and he ought to be allowed to continue doing this. Lowell is very talented and it would be a mistake to drive his talent out of Sebastopol. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about any of my statements.

Sincerely,
Ken Blair
Preston Farm and Winery
707-758-2531
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Dear Planning Commissioners,
I am writing regarding the denial of Lowell Sheldon’s change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine at 7233 Healdsburg Avenue. I was surprised to learn that it had been denied.

I have known Lowell since my family moved to Sebastopol over a decade ago. He is a hardworking and generous guy who has dedicated his life to bettering this town. He is a talented chef who has opened the most beloved restaurants in Sebastopol, benefiting its local farmers, wine producers, residents, tourism, and our region’s economy.

Lowell was born and raised here, attended local schools, and he and his family are part of our community. He is a hardworking and generous guy who has dedicated his life to bettering his hometown. In addition to all of this, he has volunteered his time to helping local nonprofits.

My family first met him when he was on a gleaning outing in our neighborhood and asked if he could harvest fruit from our yard, which we loved. I imagine many other homeowners had similar visits. We have enjoyed many hours with Lowell at his restaurants.

Although I can’t speak to the concerns voiced by former employees, Lowell has said he did make mistakes and has taken it upon himself to address and learn from them. Like all of us, he has the capacity to learn and grow. I respectfully urge you to reconsider your decision.

Sincerely,
Deirdre Holbrook
Sebastopol
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Jeff Berlin
306 Bohemian Hwy
Freestone, CA 95472
925-360-9131
[email protected]
Friday, May 27, 2022
Letter in Support of Lowell Sheldon
To Whom it May Concern - Sonoma County Planning Commission, I am writing as a friend of Lowell Sheldon, as his business partner in the proposed Piala Restaurant project, and as a concerned citizen of Sonoma County. Having known Lowell personally now for several years, I can confidently attest to how genuine and heartfelt his efforts have been towards repairing the damage his past behavior has caused. It should be emphasized as a testament to Lowell’s character that his response to the accusations made against him and the tremendous public scrutiny that he has faced, has been that of humility and willingness to openly admit his errors, as well as a continued determination to learn and evolve, both personally and professionally. Lowell has worked exhaustively through personal therapy and specialized programs emphasizing restorative justice training and has made many attempts to engage in conflict resolution with his aggrieved detractors. I feel strongly that Lowell has taken every possible step towards improving and educating himself and trust him completely in our new business venture.

Lowell has contributed significantly to the prosperity of his community by creating a restaurant culture that supported local family farms, breweries, wineries, creameries and other artisans and trades, as well as promoting environmental sustainability in as many aspects of the construction and operation of his businesses as possible. In addition to being able to continue along this trajectory with the development of a new project, there exists also the opportunity for Lowell to demonstrate how an individual can learn from his failures and become a conscious and progressive member of society once again, and an example of how dealing with our societal problems through constructive communication and professional mediation can produce real change that benefits us all.

Lowell is a kind, compassionate and generous man, father and friend, and more than deserving of the opportunity to prove his worth in our collective struggle for equality. I stand by him as a friend and as someone who believes that we are all capable of redemption.

Sincerely,
Jeff Berlin
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05/28/22
To Whom It MAy Concern,
I have known Lowell on both a personal and professional level for a number of years, and have found him to be a loving, caring father, and one who has always taken great pride in the businesses he runs, and I fully support his attempt to open the restaurant Piala with his partners. Lowell has provided the town with a number of successful restaurants and was a pioneer in the farm to table concept which has been pivotal in helping Sebastopol develop into the culinary destination it is today.

I understand the concerns given the recent allegations, but that is exactly what they are, allegations. I don’t believe an individual's livelihood should be taken away based on a “he said/she said” philosophy. Lowell has been extremely proactive and has taken this opportunity for self reflection given these perceived transgressions. He has sought advice from professionals and has an HR company overseeing the operation.

It is also my understanding that he will not be the face of the business, and will be taking more of a background role, leaving the daily duties to Jeff Berlin and Chef Irma, who’s careers a livelihood we also need to consider.

My belief is that Piala will provide a great addition to Sebastopol’s thriving restaurant scene and that Lowell Sheldon has taken the appropriate steps to improvement both as an individual and as a business owner.

Regards,
Mathew
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Regarding: Piala Georgian Cuisine
As a 42-year resident of the Sebastopol area, I have appreciated the amazing improvements in restaurants and eating establishments that have evolved in our community. From the initial run of hamburgers and pizza, our city now has a reputation for numerous distinctive palettes and prize winning plates. This latest offering of a Georgian menu will add another to our diverse cuisines and tempting choices. Sounds like a good choice I will support!
During all this time, I have observed Lowell Sheldon as he became a dedicated chef and restaurant entrepreneur - also as he matured as a loving father, became an organic farmer, and an active member in his community. However, I have no direct information regarding the situation that arose several years ago with his employees.

What I have heard him say is that he “made mistakes” and has been actively seeking professional help to be able to correct his behavior so as to avoid any similar misunderstandings in the future. I can praise Lowell Sheldon for his honesty and depth of self-understanding ,regarding the needs of himself as an employer, to admit his errors and be willing to take all the necessary steps to ensure that this will never happen again.

Sebastopol could also add this feather to its cap - as a part of a restaurant culture that has evolved to meet the needs of our modern times. I encourage you to give Lowell the chance to accomplish this.

Sincerely, Linda Banks, Sebastopol CA
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Darmiche Inc.
1749 Proctor Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
30 May, 2022
To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to add my voice to the many others advocating for Lowell Sheldon and his business partners to be granted an operating permit for their new restaurant venture – Piala Georgian Cuisine.

As a bookkeeper, I have worked with Lowell since the opening of Peter Lowell’s Restaurant back in 2007. For fourteen years our firm handled all of the bookkeeping and payroll duties for Peter Lowell’s and continues as the bookkeeper for Handline Restaurant.

Our firm has always specialized in bookkeeping for the Restaurant Industry here in Sonoma County, so our perspectives are based on a large sampling of local restaurants. Without doubt, Lowell’s businesses were always amongst the leaders in offering very generous Health and other benefits to their Staff. Their spending choices often put the compensation paid to the Employees ahead of the profitability of the business. Additionally, the company made significant Charitable contributions each year to Fire Victims, Food for Thought, and other organizations in Sebastopol.

Personally speaking, I watched Lowell evolve from a brash 26-year-old determined to conquer the culinary world, to the mature businessman that he is today. Anyone who knows Lowell will tell you that he can appear arrogant and/or aloof at times, sometimes poorly wording what he means to say. They will also tell you that last year’s experiences have certainly chastened him, and that his recent “sensitivity training” has taught him more professional ways to communicate.

Lowell has always been proud to be part of the community in Sebastopol. He and his late father, Steven, have already made notable contributions to the well-being of the town. Accordingly, I would urge the Planning Commission to approve the permit for this new business venture.

Best regards,
Michael Hirschberg

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May 30, 2022
To the City of Sebastopol, regarding the permit application for Piala Restaurant.

We have known Lowell Sheldon and his family, personally and professionally, for 20+ years.

He has contributed to our local restaurant and food scene in a uniquely positive way. We actually moved into town with the benefit of being closer to his (now closed) restaurant, Lowell's. Wolfgang worked on the construction of the Fern Bar and Lori has worked with Lowell and his father on real estate transactions.

We respectfully object to the denial of the permit to operate and serve wine/beer at the new restaurant, Piala based on the widely published allegations against Lowell. He spent the last few years to improve and prep himself to do better in his undertakings. We don't understand how allegations against a person that have not been litigated can be grounds to deny a person their way to make a living. Given the allegations and Lowell's efforts to improve upon himself, he has definitely earned the right to have a second chance.

We look forward to Lowell's new endeavor in our town and sincerely hope the planning commission will approve the application.

Sincerely
Lori Sacco
Broker/Manager, Vanguard Properties
Wolfgang Dilger
Owner, Bauhaus Construction
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June 4, 2022
To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon and his new attempted venture, Piala Restaurant.

I have known Lowell for over 20 years and he employed my son at Peter Lowell’s for 3 years when my son was a teenager. From my son’s reporting, Lowell was a fair and kind employer.

He clearly has a talent for creating aesthetically beautiful spaces, wonderful employees, and delicious and innovative food and wine combinations. He’s been a star in this community for these and more reasons.

In my view, when a person makes mistakes, they deserve an opportunity to make things right.

Lowell takes these issues seriously and has taken responsibility for his mistakes making every effort to correct those mistakes. Under the circumstances, I believe it would be wrong to deny the man the right to make a living in his profession. I believe the commission should reconsider denying him that, especially since his role would be operational only in this venture and that he has contracted with an outside HR company.

I implore the commission members to reconsider their denial and adopt a fair and rational decision in this matter.

Sincerely,
Anonymous
(to protect myself and my business from retaliation)
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26 May 2022
Dear City of Sebatopol Commissioners,
Lowell has taken big steps forward this year by hearing the concerns of others and initiating a positive change. It is now our responsibility to see that change through. Lowell works everyday to become the best citizen, father, listener, and leader he can be. He has taken immense strides in his personal growth, and he (not only he, but everyone) deserves fair consequences for their actions. This denial of transfer of ownership is unfair.

To those who voiced their opposition, I understand their frustration, hold their concern, and know that the past must inform but not dictate the future, which is why Lowell will not join Piala's as an operating partner. Our community will heal only when thoughtful, deliberate care is given to such matters, which is why I thank you for considering my support for Lowell, Irma, Jeff, and the opening of Piala Georgian Cuisine.

Sincerely,
John Fairchild
Los Angeles, CA
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May 30, 2022
To: Sebastopol Planning Commission
Re: Piala Georgian Cuisine Change of Ownership Application I am writing this letter in reference to the Planning Commission’s decision to deny a routine change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine. I have known Lowell Sheldon for over two decades as a close family friend. While none of us are perfect, Mr. Sheldon is a compassionate, thoughtful, and socially conscious person. He cares deeply about the Sebastopol community and has invested in the region’s vitality with multiple successful restaurants. Those business ventures have been more than popular places for social gathering:

They have put social, environmental, and economic justice principles into action by sourcing local, organic, and nourishing foods.

My family has been to each of Mr. Sheldon’s dining establishments. Food service is demanding work, but I have always found the staff to work in a positive and professional environment. I understand that not all previous employees had that same opinion and that Mr. Sheldon has engaged in professional assistance to ensure an accountable, safe, and supportive work environment for any of his future projects.

Finally, as someone who follows local government closely in my own community, I find it to be a dramatic overreach by the Planning Commission to interject their own subjective standards into a routine license transfer process. When local governments react to allegations in the media, they become courts. That is not the role of the Planning Commission and it sets a troubling precedent for future decisions.

Sincerely,
Michael of Bellingham, WA
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May 31, 2022
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter on behalf of Lowell Sheldon and Piala Restaurant and all future projects that Lowell may be involved in.

Lowell has been a business partner, friend, and boss to me over the course of the last decade. He gave me a chance early on in my career when I was only just getting started. In those early days of opening my own business, he helped me connect with the community and made several key introductions that extraordinarily helped me get my feet off of the ground as a young business owner. Over the years he has continued to open doors for me, and I have seen him do this sort of thing for many other small businesses in our community.

I am aware of the allegations made against Lowell. I feel that Lowell has taken responsibility and knows he has made mistakes in the past. He has apologized thoroughly. The accusers, in my opinion, feel power hungry and blindly driven to destroy Lowell at any coast and without any recognition of the amazing things he has done for this community or recognition for their own part in this story.

I feel very strongly that Lowell has brought an incredible amount of opportunity to this community and has much more to give. I feel that He should absolutely be allowed to continue to give to this community in the form of restaurants and other projects. He’s a kind person with good intentions and does an incredible amount of good for our community.

Sincerely,
Anonymous due to fear of retaliation as fellow business owner Adult female, 37 years old, mother of 1
Born and raised and still live in Sebastopol, CA
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May 30, 2022
Planning Commission
City of Sebastopol
7120 Bodega Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
RE: Piala Georgian Restaurant
Dear Members of the Planning Commission and Concerned Community Members:

I have known Lowell Sheldon through both a personal and a business lens for nearly a decade and a half. Lowell has dedicated himself to Sebastopol’s food industry and has contributed in significant and positive ways. I write this letter in support of his latest enterprise because I believe he will demonstrate that he has learned from his past errors in judgment and will operate Piala pursuant to the highest standards of professional conduct.

As a young man steering a restaurant enterprise, Lowell did not always demonstrate the best judgment when relating to his employees and others in his social circle. The public exposure of his shortcomings as a business leader is feedback that I have witnessed Lowell take seriously.

He is earnest about reflecting on how his conduct made others feel and about putting in the work necessary to create a work environment free of sexual harassment. As he moves forward with his life, I believe that his apology is heartfelt and that he is ready to contribute to the community with the same fervor for fine cuisine, as well as with an improved self-awareness and care for his greatest asset, the people who make his restaurants possible.

Sebastopol, like society in general, should be supporting young people who strive to learn and grow from their mistakes. If we are honest, none of us would be where we are today if we were not given the chance to learn and grow from our mistakes. We should not, as a community, banish Lowell because a group of individuals do not want to give him a second chance.

Lowell’s latest endeavor, the Piala Georgian Restaurant, offers Sebastopol a new, unique type of cuisine. I support Lowell in this project and request that the Planning Commission do the same.

Sincerely,
Anonymous Sebastopol Resident
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To Whom It May Concern:

I have known Lowell for many years, being a good friend of his Mom’s. I am very impressed with the work he has done and is doing to bring more healing and harmony into his life. Our family really loved his restaurant - Peter Lowells and was sorry to see it close. I knew a few of the employees who seemed happy there and it felt like it was a good environment.

I don’t know much about this new restaurant, but Lowell’s success has been very apparent with his other places of business and don’t see why this new endeavor should be denied. Sincerely, Marcia Larkin-a Sebastopol resident Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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Sebastopol, California
5/30/22
To the City of Sebastopol
Commissioners,
We are writing to support Lowell Sheldon and his petition to open a new restaurant in our community. We have known Lowell for 14 years, having patronized his restaurants since 2008.

In addition to dining frequently at Peter Lowell’s, Lowell’s, Handline and Fern Bar, we have hired Lowell and his team to cater numerous events in our home over the years. We have always found him to be professional, respectful and appropriate.

We were loyal customers not only because the food was quite delicious, but also because the environment was warm, welcoming and cheerful. We appreciated the progressive values that Lowell’s restaurants embraced. In particular, he boldly eliminated tipping and incorporated the extra percentage into the cost of an entree. This way the entire staff could benefit from each customer’s bill, rather than just the servers. This is just one example of many ways in which Lowell made it his brand to support the personal success of his employees.

We were very disappointed, even sickened by the news of the accusations against him. We take it very seriously and we believe the women. It’s important that harassment is identified and addressed. And appropriately, he has lost a great deal as a result of his disturbing behavior.

However, we also strongly believe in redemption. People deserve the opportunity to learn and grow. We feel that Lowell has taken extensive steps to do just that and feel his contrition is quite sincere. To our knowledge, there were accusations, but no actual police reports or legal charges filed. It is not appropriate to deny Lowell a permit, based on extensive bad press. We must offer the opportunity for change and forgiveness. That is the Sebastopol we want to live in.

Sincerely,
Melanie Born and Madeline Duva
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May 24, 2022
City of Sebastopol and Planning Commission,
I am writing because I understand Lowell Sheldon is running into difficulties with the City in having a new venture approved.

Lowell’s restaurants have been great additions to our town. He has been generous with local schools and organizations, participated in community events, and provided Sebastopol with significant business revenue. I am aware of the bad publicity and troubles he has brought down upon himself, but I do not think he should be prevented from working in Sebastopol.

He has paid dearly for his mistakes and I am pleased to see he is creating a new business.

It strikes me as cowardly and wrong for the city to deny approval for this new restaurant.

Raise your hand if you have never made mistakes. Count yourself lucky if you have not been publicly shamed and humiliated, deprived of your livelihood.

I urge you to approved this new venture.

Sincerely,
Michaela Miller
781 Dufranc Ave.

Sebastopol
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Molly Joy Martin
Sebastopol, CA | [email protected]
May 27, 2022
To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon, whom I have known as a friend for the past 3 years, and in support of Piala, an exciting new restaurant project. I have never worked with or for Lowell, but I have spent a lot of time around him and his family, enough to confidently vouch for his character in the areas I will explain in this letter. I know Lowell to be honest in all matters, even and maybe particularly when it does not serve him. In my observation, Lowell cares about doing the right thing- in his business dealings, for his community, and for the environment. This ethos, reflected in the community of Sebastopol as a whole, is part of why I love living here.

I also know Lowell to be flawed. I was upset by the allegations, and in no way do I wish to minimize the experience of those accusing him. I believe that there should be consequences for treating other people poorly, which Lowell experienced when he was divested from the businesses he built. Lowell continues to experience loss, both personal and professional, as he faces this reckoning. As I watched Lowell being very publicly confronted and condemned, I saw someone who is able to hear criticisms of himself, is willing to accept responsibility for the impacts of his behavior, and who truly wants to do better. I know he has put in work to be a more sensitive, respectful, and self reflective person going forward, both with professional trainings and by engaging in conversations and requesting feedback from those around him.

I believe in second chances and redemption, and I think those values are shared in the Sebastopol community. Lowell should be allowed to use his talents in a way that is positive and healthy, and also reflective of the community standards. It is my understanding that Lowell will not have any operational involvement in Piala. That role will be filled by Jeff Berlin, who has previously had very successful restaurants in the Bay Area (A Cote, among others), and whom I also know personally. Jeff is eminently qualified to run a restaurant and manage people. To deny permits to Piala because Lowell is involved in the creation is unfair and unwarranted. Lowell should be allowed to redeem himself in the community and I know that he has something valuable to share with the creation of Piala. I urge you to reconsider the denial of permits to Lowell and his partners.

Sincerely,
Molly J. Martin
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5/24/2022
Dear Sebastopol Planning Commission,
I am writing this letter in support of my brother, Lowell Sheldon, and his change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine in the former location of Peking Chef. As his brother, I know Lowell’s character and temperament better than most, even if I am admittedly biased. Lowell is a kind, passionate, fun-loving, and generous individual who cares deeply about social justice and making the world, including the food service industry, culinary world and city of Sebastopol, a better place for all.

Yes, he can also be quite exacting, occasionally pushing both himself and those around him ways that might cause some to chafe at his high expectations. And like all of us, he can occasionally become stressed out, overwhelmed, or irritable and inadvertently make others feel uncomfortable, offended, or bad – events which I know he always deeply regrets, introspects on, and attempts to learn from.

That said, I have spent countless time in his various restaurants over the years, interacting with his many employees (most of whom I got to know personally), and I can honestly say that at no point in time did I hear or perceive anything but positivity, laughter, and good will among his staff and customers. Yes, I am aware of allegations made by a small group of his former employees regarding the work environment at one of his former restaurants. And I have no reason to doubt, for the reasons mentioned above, that Lowell might have said or done things (albeit perhaps inadvertently) that made these specific employees upset with and resentful toward him. It was his first restaurant, and he was quite young, with room to grow as a restauranteur, when he started it. But even if some of the allegations are accurate, my understanding is that Lowell has since made a sincere and concerted effort to reach out to these individuals to apologize, make amends, and seek their forgiveness for any harm he might have caused. Lowell has also done considerable work to improve himself in the intervening years.

For all this, he should be commended.

Lowell has been an outstanding and generous member of the Sebastopol Community for his entire life and this new restaurant will add a unique and culturally valuable new dining option to the Sebastopol dining scene. It is an establishment which will benefit all. Proportionality and fairness require that we all receive a chance at redemption and second chance to be our best selves, and Lowell is no exception. I trust the Sebastopol Planning Commission will decide wisely and fairly in this case and allow this generous, moral, and deeply committed member of the Sebastopol community to continue to enrich the culture of my beloved hometown and county for years to come.

Sincerely,
Oliver Sheldon, Sebastopol, CA / Maplewood, NJ
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May 31, 2022
Planning Commission – City of Sebastopol
7120 Bodega Ave.

Sebastopol, CA 95472
RE: Piala Georgian Cuisine change of ownership to Lowell Sheldon Dear Planning Commissioners,
On behalf of Lowell Sheldon, it is my pleasure to provide this letter of support to request that the Planning Commission grant the change of ownership of former restaurant Peking Chef to Lowell Sheldon, so that he may open up Piala Georgian Cuisine at 7233 Healdsburg Ave. The improvements that Lowell Sheldon is envisioning for the location is a smart opportunity for the City of Sebastopol to achieve goal #3 of the cities strategic plan and further enhance the culture of the community at large.

I have had the privilege of knowing Lowell Sheldon for over two decades. He is one of the few individuals I know who is guided by values and vision. I have spent the past 20+ years watching Lowell learn how to create sustainable change and how to do it effectively. Lowell has always believed that there is a better way that we could be living and a better way that we could construct our society, that would produce more positive outcomes for people. Lowell has an incredibly strong internal drive to make the changes that would lead to this “better version” of how we live. And lastly, Lowell knows how to connect with peoples hearts and has a foundation of love.

This combination of factors – along with a belief that life has meaning and that each of us has a purpose – leads Lowell on a continuous exploration both personally and professionally of how he could best use his talents to help create this “better version” of society and himself. He has owned and managed restaurants in Sebastopol and established his vision and defined his path (desire lines per se) to produce better outcomes both for the people working there, those providing for it, and for the people using the services. He is driven to go as far and as wide and as deep as he can with the resources that he has. He has a unique talent and ability to align systems, resources, and people to create change.

Over the last few years, I have witnessed Lowell lift his perspective up a level so that he can see the full context. He invites people in to problem-solve and listens more carefully than ever. I have a deep admiration for his ability to approach the challenges he has faced over the last few years with an open heart, all while keeping a commitment to his goals. I have not seen anyone acknowledge the truth of others’ experiences quite as he has.

I would be excited to see and support Lowell in leading Piala in partnership with Irma and Jeff to create a unique experience for the community of Sebastopol, and to give Irma and Jeff the opportunity to make their vision become reality and expand what either of them may have ever thought was possible.

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As Lowell begins to reconnect with his community, I urge the Planning Commissioners to give him the opportunity to engage with staff, patrons and partners differently. And to give him the opportunity to build upon all that he has learned and to come together in partnership with his community.

It would be a tremendous loss to the community and City of Sebastopol to not allow this vision to become reality for those who really believe in it, can see themselves in it and who will have a hand in creating it.

Sincerely,
Pia Gheen
655 Goettingen Street
San Francisco, CA 94134
(415) 309-6830
[email protected]
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Dear Commissioners:

This is a letter in support of Piala Georgian Cuisine and its design-and-buildout partner, Lowell Sheldon, who I have known for many years and now call a close friend. First and foremost, I believe Piala will be an excellent addition to the culinary landscape in Sebastopol. As with all of Lowell’s previous restaurants, Piala is conceptually unique and stands to offer delicious, locally sourced food in a warm environment that welcomes everyone. I have no doubt that he and his operating partners will run the restaurant professionally, with the utmost care for food, and for their employees and diners.

As long as I’ve known Lowell I’ve been impressed by (and envious of) his relationship to food, which is really a form of caring about people. He shows his love through food, and I have happily been the recipient of that love countless times. What I witnessed as a long-time customer of Peter Lowell’s—from the restaurant’s inception to eventual closure—was a culture of fairness and inclusion, where the owner/operator offered both living wages and health care to his employees, a first in the Sebastopol restaurant scene as far as I know. Which is to say, I know Lowell as a creative, empathetic, and deeply intentional person. A person who makes things and the people around him better.

Lowell is also a fallible person—as well all are. Full of the idiosyncrasies that make up any personality—and thank god for that. I shudder to think of living in a world where none of us makes mistakes, none of us has a chance to right our wrongs, where only some people live in glass houses. I’m aware of the allegations regarding his misconduct. I have read the newspaper articles and take what’s been reported seriously. There’s no excuse for the pain he has caused others to feel. But I believe his strengths as a person outweigh his weaknesses by a landslide, and that the personal work he’s done in the last several years to correct his behavior bears this out.

He’s listened and acted, and made lasting changes. For the City of Sebastopol to block the change of ownership request for Piala Georgina Cuisine leaves no room for that growth and change to be seen and felt in the community.

I urge you to take a step forward with him by approving the change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Andrew Touhy
Graton, CA
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June 2nd, 2022
From:

Josh Woodlander
Sebastopol, CA
707 477 9683
Regarding Planning Approval for Piala Restaurant and Witness Testimony of Lowell Sheldon’s Conduct at Peter Lowell’s Restaurant
I was the owner and proprietor of 1stWave Interactive, a web design and UX consultancy, located in the same building and directly adjacent to the Peter Lowell’s Restaurant for the period of September 2008 to April 2022. I was a witness to the comings and goings of restaurant patrons, employees and management for the entirety of the restaurants 10+ years of existence. At no time did I witness unwanted sexual jokes or inappropriate behavior on the part of management or employees. Specifically, I did not witness any behavior on the part of Lowell Sheldon that was sexually inappropriate with employees.

What I witnessed was a restaurant culture of employees and management fraternizing in the mode of a “collective” friendship driven business. Chefs, wait staff, and managers would hangout together for long hours after closing time, eating food and drinking wine together. From the outside, the appearance was that of a group of young people having fun and enjoying themselves.

I read the news articles of the accusations of inappropriate behavior on the part of Lowell Sheldon and his management style. Though I did not witness this behavior during the hundreds of hours directly observing and engaging with the restaurant, I do not dispute any of the women who stepped forward with their own personal accounts. My own personal observation and what I overheard from time to time from others, was that Lowell Sheldon could be “moody” and “aloof” on occasion — very friendly one day and curt and distracted the next day.

Peter Lowell’s was a beloved restaurant and local favorite widely known for spearheading the use of local organic food and establishing strong relationships with local farmers.

Piala Restaurant should be allowed to do business in Sebastopol. Lowell Sheldon, despite personal faults, has been a visionary creator of unique restaurant experiences in Sebastopol and has brought much value to the town and it’s culture with his focus on Organic farm to table cuisine. Patrons and residents of Sonoma County should have the freedom to support or not support Piala restaurant based on the way the business conducts itself and treats employees.

Sincerely,
Josh Woodlander
Owner
1stWave Interactive
7385 Healdsburg Avenue, Suite 201
Sebastopol, CA 95472
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Dear Sebastopol Planning Commissioners,
I am writing to support the Lowell Sheldon in opening a restaurant. I have been a resident of Sebastopol for 18 years and have known Lowell since 2007. Most recently my address was 620 Live Oak Ave.

I have been a regular, 2 to 3 times per week customer at Peter Lowells and Handline since it opened. During this time I have known Lowell as a conscientious person with high standards. He was a pioneer in providing health insurance to his workers, and took a big risk in eliminating tipping at his restaurant, which is in my opinion demeaning, especially towards women.

I believe in the power of redemption and in everyone’s right to earn a livelihood.

Through his sincere apologies and willingness to undergo serious therapy and retraining, Lowell has demonstrated contrition. I believe he will not repeat past mistakes and he deserves a second chance. He has repented and fully deserves to get on with his life and earn a living. We do not need to go medieval on Lowell.

I hope you allow the restaurant to open. Please call me at 707-849-1419 if you have any questions.

Sincerely, Rajesh
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To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon, Jeff Berlin, and Irma Hernandez, and of their current project, Piala Georgian Cuisine.

I know Lowell well and have had the opportunity to meet Jeff and Irma, and I have absolute confidence that Piala will operate at the highest levels of professionalism and care. It will be a valuable and unique addition to the dining options in Sebastopol, and bring a venue for natural wines to Sonoma County.

I have known Lowell and his family since childhood, but in the past several years I have come to count Lowell as a friend. He is a deeply caring community member, a kind and generous friend, and a loving father. I have had the great pleasure of dining at his restaurants with my family, and still miss the food and camaraderie of Lowell’s. As a regular and a friend, I witnessed his commitment to providing health care to his employees and living wages to his kitchen staff. He has contributed immeasurably to the City of Sebastopol, helping to build its reputation as a destination for food and wine, and participating in countless non-profit events and fundraisers.

Like many others who know Lowell personally, I was disappointed and saddened by the allegations and media reports. I take them seriously and my support is not intended to refute or minimize the real pain and damage he has caused. At the same time, I have witnessed the level of reflection and personal growth Lowell has undertaken since then. He has listened and acted with humility, acknowledged his mistakes, and taken concrete steps to learn and change. I would not hesitate to work with him as an employee or business partner and I believe Piala deserves the chance to succeed or fail on its own merits. I urge you to approve the beer and wine license for Piala Georian Cuisine.

Sincerely,
Rose Haynes Touhy
Graton, CA
I’ve known Lowell for several years now and I’m friends with his kids. I really miss the food from Peter Lowell’s and I think Lowell deserves another chance to make a wonderful and delicious environment for Sebastopol. I still go to Handline almost every week. I believe that his new restaurant could be just as great.

Anonymous, Age 10
Graton, CA
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Greetings to Whom It May Concern:

My name is Nancy Samuels and i have known Lowell Sheldon, and his family, for many many years. In fact, my son and Lowell went to school together.

I am writing because i believe Lowell has paid for his mistakes and has taken a good, long look at himself this past year and has changed in a very positive way.

I do not think he should be punished further by the community and not be allowed to open this new establishment. He won’t even be working with the public, but will be behind the scenes. I think PIALA will be of great value to sebastopol and to the people who live there.

My family and i ate at his previous restaurant, Peter Lowell’s, countless times and i never saw or felt anything other than friendliness and good vibes. I loved eating there and the staff always seemed happy to be working there. In fact, i still miss that place.

In summary, i hope you will issue a license to Lowell and his partners so they can sell beer and wine and some nice food at PIALA.

If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call me. Sincerely, Nancy Samuels
707.529.4941
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Wednesday May 25, 2022
Dear Sebastopol City Council Members, I am writing to strongly support the change of ownership application from Peking Chef at 7233 Healdsburg Ave to Piala Georgian Cuisine, which was submitted by Jeff Berlin, Irma Hernandez and Lowell Sheldon.

As a friend of Lowell Sheldon’s parents, I was among the first to dine at Peter Lowell’s Café in 2007. And it is not an exaggeration to say that I (and my little family) dined at Lowell’s numerous times a month from 2007 to 2013, until we moved from Sebastopol to San Francisco. The reason we dined regularly at Lowell’s for six years is because the food was terrific, the environment was friendly and communityminded (attributes that cannot be faked in small open floor-plans), and the ethos was creative, sustainable (supported humane meat and farm to table experience), and progressive (staff received benefits and a living wage).

Furthermore, my daughter, Amelia began raising chickens when she was five years old. Three years later, Amelia had grown her flock to 30 chickens and wanted to sell the eggs. Acquainted with Lowell from eating regularly at his restaurant, eight-year-old Amelia (with knees knocking) asked Lowell if he would buy eggs from her. Lowell respectfully asked Amelia the same questions he’d ask any food vendor and then agreed to purchase her eggs. Amelia sold a small quantity of quality eggs to Peter Lowell’s restaurant for four years and from that experience she learned about business, developed math and marketing skills … and most of all—Amelia gained confidence in herself and abilities.

Lastly, after moving back to Sebastopol from San Francisco in 2017, I lived for over a year in a Florence Loft condo, which shares property boundaries with (now formerly) Lowell’s Café. And, with my daughter off to college, I consoled and gave myself a break from being a mom-home-chef by eating at Lowell’s Café almost on a daily basis; it was wonderful!
Like all my previous experiences dining at Lowell’s Café, during the year I spent eating there on a daily basis I never, NOT ONCE, witnessed any type of unprofessional conduct from Lowell Sheldon. No doubt Lowell has made mistakes and has regrets like all of us. Nevertheless, in truth, he is a pillar of this community. In addition to Lowell’s Café, he has been a part of many other restaurant endeavors—directly and as a mentor—and each of those restaurants (or business) has contributed to the vitality of this community through taxes, as places for people to meet and form bonds, and by establishing a uniquely Sebastopol food scene that has attracted other businesses and tourism.

Lowell Sheldon is above all else an ethical and thoughtful person, generous and wildly talented—a creative force in the restaurant scene—both locally and nationally. I am grateful for his contributions and look forward to dining at Piala Georgian Cuisine. Please, I urge City Council members, on behalf of the greater Sebastopol community, to give the Piala project your full support and assistance.

Sincerely, Sandra Sheffield
Post Office Box 123, Sebastopol, CA 95473
Tele: 707-495-1831
Ps. I am a feminist and victim’s rights advocate, and greatly distressed that a handful of former employees (out of the hundreds that worked at Lowell’s Café) have been allowed to receive their 15- minutes of fame by slandering Lowell Sheldon. If it weren’t for their attacks on Lowell, none of the supposed victims would have any agency or celebrity. Please do not allow a few disgruntled employees using McCarthyism style bullying to continue to make news by ruining the career of a much beloved local business leader. Worst of all, when people make false accusations (and in this case, mountains out of mole hills) this leads to the disbelief of people who have faced real workplace harassment or abuse.

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Dear City of Sebastopol Commissioners,
I write to urge you to reconsider your decision to deny the transfer application of Piala Georgian Cuisine and to express my unequivocal support for the addition of this restaurant to the Sebastopol community. The denial of a beer and wine license transfer to a prospective establishment like Piala is effectively a ban of the business entirely, a measure that you as elected officials should exercise in only the most clear cut situations. I hope that you will give this and other letters in support of Piala equal weight to those previously offered in protest to this application and grant Piala's transfer application.

As a feminist and someone who has known Lowell for over a decade, I am dismayed by the rush to characterize him in such damning and sexist absolutes without any attempt to hear from him, paint a complete picture, or accord even a modicum of due process.

The Lowell I know -- both as a frequent diner in his restaurants and through our shared community -- does not at all square with the image presented by a handful of vocal former employees in recent months. Lowell is a creative, hard working, principled, and thoroughly kind and generous person. As is often the case with young entrepreneurs, Lowell's talent and vision outpaced his professionalism, and at times he blurred personal and professional boundaries. But he isn't a menace. His restaurants were built around a core commitment to community -- with an emphasis on sourcing from local farms, paying a living wage and providing healthcare, and contributing to the professional growth of others in the community -- and I personally felt this shared sense of community among his teams. I have known several people who've worked in Lowell's restaurants over the years -- and spent countless nights with them during and after hours -- and what they expressed and what I experienced first hand was unequivocally positive, supportive, and safe.

If you are going to consider anything about Lowell's character in determining the outcome of Piala's application, you need to consider all of who he is, including what I think stands out most about him: his willingness to hear and engage with clear and direct criticism (even when it's hard), to introspect on it, and to become better. I am not sure I know anyone who would have taken the sort of character assaults Lowell experienced this past year and responded in the manner that Lowell did, with a sincere openness and a deep desire to improve himself and repair any wrongs felt by the community. Lowell and I have talked extensively over the past several months about the allegations that have surfaced -- and rather than dwelling on the falsity and exaggerated nature of many of them, his primary focus has been on how he can learn, grow, and mend. This is a quality we should look for in all business owners and employers.

It is in this spirit that Lowell has approached the Piala project he's partnered with Jeff and Irma on, putting in place all the necessary guardrails to ensure others in the community will feel comfortable with his involvement in a new restaurant, regardless of whether he actually poses any risk. The Piala partnership expressly provides that Lowell will have no involvement in the operational management or staffing of the Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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restaurant in any capacity, and that partners, restaurant veterans Jeff and Irma, will oversee all operations, staffing, and management. I know Jeff and Irma personally to be respectful, professional, and kind. I understand they have also undergone harassment training and that Piala has taken the additional measure of having a specialized HR firm handle those matters for the business.

Given all of the above, there is no legitimate basis for you to deny Piala's transfer application and effectively bar Piala from opening its doors to the Sebastopol community. Please reconsider your decision and grant Piala the transfer application it is seeking.

Sincerely,
Sarah Jackel
Oakland, CA
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Dear Commission,
Over the last 14 years I have enjoyed Lowell’s restaurants with incredibly regularity. What he creates in this town is valuable and makes this town better. As local business owner I can attest to the learning curve we must all walk on as we grow and engage with employees and the public. It is not an easy task. As you have read in the media, he has not always succeeded in making every employee appreciate who he is. He has not always succeeded. His failures are human failures. We can all relate to such shortcomings.

This, however, cannot be the basis for how our city governs use permit applications. We must not govern based on personal attacks online or in the media. We must govern based on facts and fairness for all. After talking with him I have learned that he has never been sued for his mistakes or investigated by the police. This leads me to believe there are two sides to the story and what you are hearing from his detractors does not add up.

In my personal interactions with Lowell he has always been fair, honest and respectful. I know him to be a good person who always wants to do better. Please approve his transfer of alcohol permit and help make Sebastopol a more fair place for all.

Sincerely,
Scott Gibbs
Sebastopol Plumbing
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To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to my express my support for Lowell Sheldon’s participation in the new Giala Restaurant in Sebastopol.

I have been a very regular customer in Lowell’s restaurant ventures over the years.

I have very much appreciated these restaurants and the contributions that they made to the community. I have interacted Lowell many times over those years. In those many visits I always found him to behave with a professional demeanor. I never personally witnessed any behavior by him that would make me support the denial of a permit for a new venture. In fact I was always impressed by the staff in general and found them to be efficient, pleasant, and seemingly happy in their job.

I think a new restaurant opened by experienced restauranteurs will be an asset to the community on a number of positive levels. It’s always great to have a new restaurant to dine at, especially one with interesting cuisine. Also, this community really needs business that will draw more people out into the downtown. This will have a domino effect on the local economy.

Lastly, I’ve seen the press and the accusations and have always taken them seriously.

While I’m not qualified to comment on them, it does appear that Lowell has gone to substantial lengths to better himself and to make amends. I think that after a point, justice is served and that a life sentence in this instance is unfair and unreasonable.

Respectfully,
Glenn Siegel
Sebastopol, Ca.

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> Dear Members of the Planning Commission,
>
> I’m writing in support of Lowell Sheldon, as a non-operational partner in a threeperson partnership, to open Piala in Sebastopol. I have known Lowell since he was in Kindergarten and throughout his education, including college, as well as his endeavors initiating food culture into Sebastopol that can continue to support our town. >
> I am aware of the media coverage and accusations. Lowell has acknowledged and taken very seriously his past mistakes. If every person in his situation would make the effort to learn and rectify those mistakes the way Lowell has -through personal therapy, weekly meetings concerning Restorative Justice, trainings to understand and address sexual harassment in the workplace -then there might be much more awareness from all employers in the workplace.
>
> But for me, more importantly, is his character. As I said, I’ve known Lowell since he was a child. Basically, within, he is a sound and well-meaning human being. That is evidenced already by what he is doing to amend the damage that he caused. >
> I do not believe that any citizen should be blocked from opening a business because former employees demand it.
>
> Piala will be a wonderful addition to dining in Sebastopol. Lowell brings the worldliness and expertise to these ventures.
>
> I ask you to be open and allow his venture to go forward. >
> With best wishes,
>
> Sandy Smith
>
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To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing to voice my support for Lowell Sheldon as a business owner and restaurant entrepreneur.

I was a devoted customer of Peter Lowell's restaurant and was truly sad to see it close. There is no substitute in Sebastopol or the county. Lowell's vision and his high standards for cuisine are unmatched.

I enjoyed the ambience at the restaurant--Lowell was always welcoming-- and I recall that there were several long-term employees. Whatever complaints former staff had, I was not aware of anything untoward.

Sebastopol needs great food and great restaurants. Lowell is a proven leader in the industry and I support his right to work here at his chosen profession.

I trust that Sebastopol will be the richer for Lowell's continuing efforts to expand and grow his restaurant offerings.

Sincerely,
Janine Sternlieb
Sebastopol, CA
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Dear City Council:

In the spirit of fairness and due process, I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon and his effort to open Piala restaurant.

While the allegations against Lowell are very troubling, they have not been proven in a court of law and yet Lowell has undertaken significant work to address what he admits was inappropriate behavior. He has undergone three years of therapy, six months of weekly work with an organization specializing in restorative justice to better understand his impact on others, three two-hour trainings on consent and power dynamics, and two other trainings specifically to better understand and address sexual harassment in the workplace. He did this voluntarily.

This is a good outcome of a bad situation. What would denying the business transfer accomplish? Lowell should not be barred from earning a living in Sebastopol. He deserves the chance to prove himself. Those that find him objectionable need not work at Piala or dine there.

The planning commission’s denial raises a number of questions:
• Has the planning commission denied business transfers to others based on individual requests?
• Will the commission review all transfers granted to ensure the parties are held to the same standard it is seeking to hold Lowell? What is that standard? • If similar allegations are made about other business owners, will their business standing be revoked? If not, why not?
• Is the commission establishing a new policy that those who have been accused of appropriate behavior may not own businesses in Sebastopol? What is the legal basis of this?
• Given the planning commission’s effort to deny a business transfer to someone about whom unproven claims have been made, will it also prohibit business transfers to those who have been convicted or cited for crimes? If not why, not? It’s worth noting that Lowell has been a pioneer in local and ethical purchasing in Sebastopol and was the first restaurateur in the city to enact a diner surcharge to give employees health insurance. Further, his role at a Piala is to design and execute the concept. He is not an operational partner. Given Lowell’s proactive, voluntary efforts to better himself, just what is the planning commission seeking to accomplish with its denial? I urge the city council to grant approval.

Sincerely,
Stett Holbrook
Sebastopol
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To the Sebastopol Planning Commission,
I am writing in support of the opening of Piala restaurant.

I have known Lowell Sheldon since 2006, and witnessed his hard work, creativity, and focus on healthy, local, organic food. Lowell initiated a trend in the restaurant industry in Sebastopl which has benefited many businesses and the city in general. Peter Lowell's, then Lowell's, was a wonderful restaurant which thrived for many years. Lowell volunteered his time and supported many non-profit initiatives.

I do not think that a business owner should be blocked from opening a restuarant, or serving beer and wine, because of former employees accusations. First of all there were no convictions or any legal actions. Second of all, there are business owners locally who were convicted felons and run restaurants and bars! Every human being deserves the opportunity to redeem themselves!
My understanding is that Lowell will not be an operational partner, and that he has gone through many trainings and counseling since the incidents first came to light three years ago.

I would urge you to allow Piala to open and support Lowell's commitment to the highest standards by using Personal Perspectives to handle all HR related issues.

I absolutely think that as a society we should not destroy people's lives through a 'cancel culture', but rather support them in their continual growth and striving.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Tracy Saucier
Petaluma, CA
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To Whom it may concern,
I am writing in support of the change of ownership application for Piala Georgian cuisine and owner Lowell Sheldon. There are two points of emphasis that I would like to convey in this letter. First, I feel very strongly that the city Planning Director Kari Svanstrom’s decision to deny the application based on a letter from former employees of Lowell is short sighted and unprofessional. While she cited a weak secondary claim of the establishment not being a restaurant (a claim easily shown to be untrue), Ms. Svanstrom was quoted in a recent Press Democrat article as saying she ”basically denied it on the content of the letter.’’ To think that a city official would use her position to punish a business owner and its potential employees based on a letter signed by 18 people is maddening. To simply accept that account as fact absent any criminal charges, or even a civil proceeding, and without asking for input from any other former employees, shows a striking willingness to bow to a small special interest group in setting city policy.

That is a dangerous slope to go down in terms of how the city interacts with potential new businesses and proprietors. Is the city going to investigate and judge every new business owner’s past before they are allowed to set up shop? That strikes me as decidedly outside of the duty of our city employees, and presents an inhospitable regulatory environment for prospective businesses.

My second point of emphasis in writing this letter is to provide a contrasting view of the character of Lowell Sheldon. I have known Lowell for about 20 years. I saw him grow from a young, inexperienced restauranteur, into a leader of the local food movement that honors the valuable work of our local farmers and ranchers. His restaurants also led the push to give workers a living wage, and operated with a heightened commitment to community building and support. Not just as a patron, but as a friend, I have interacted with him in many ways over the years. Our children went to pre-school together and continue to be close friends, and I have come to know a man who is a wonderful father and generous, caring friend.

I don’t claim that Lowell is a man without flaws. The birth of his first restaurant came during his 20’s, and he has admitted to being unprepared for the role of owner/manager at such an age. He has taken responsibility for the hurt he caused and mistakes he made. I fully support the right of any person who feels like they have been treated inappropriately to be heard and their experiences acknowledged. It is especially important that women feel safe and empowered to speak openly, without fear of retribution, if they feel uncomfortable with interactions with a boss or coworker. I do believe that the individuals who did speak out were standing in their truth and should be acknowledged. Having worked in the restaurant industry for many years, I know all too well an industry that is male dominated, with top-down management structures, staffed primarily by young men and women who often turn to alcohol and drugs after long and stressful shifts. It doesn’t excuse bad behavior in any way, but these are industry norms that we should be striving to address. Having known many of the former employees of his restaurants who enjoyed working for him, I believe that the accounts presented don’t represent the complete story of Lowell as a boss. I think he has learned from his mistakes, and building on his successes, is committed to creating a restaurant that will live up to the ideals of equity, respect, and transparency. I implore this commission to do the right thing and allow him the chance to prove that we are a community of growth and change.

Respectfully,
Tucker Hemquist
Occidental Rd., Sebastopol
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To whom it may concern,
I’m writing this letter to express the good character that Lowell Sheldon has exhibited to me, my family, and my co-workers over the last five years. It seems unnecessary to be doing so, but apparently there has been an attempt to prove otherwise. I’ve known Lowell since 2018 when I moved here to be the chef at his restaurant Lowell’s.

What attracted me to working for him was the community he seemed to have coaxed into existence from a small little restaurant in a small town that I wasn't used to or familiar with. I didn't know anyone aside from my best friend that I moved to the area with, who worked as a server the entire time I was employed with the restaurant. Lowell and his family counted us as a family member and I counted them the same.

Working with Lowell was always great, always fun, and sometimes challenging. He had a standard of operation and I fell in line nicely to uphold the standards I was responsible for. When an issue arose we always talked about it in a respectful and constructive way. I saw him demonstrate the same method with the others I worked with. There is a necessary rigidity to upholding these standards that is crucial for a restaurant to function as seamlessly as Lowell’s did and I always respected his ability to do so. Respect was granted from my first conversation with him and it hasn’t ever changed since.

I noticed that Lowell loves his sons and is a good dad from my first few interactions with him and his family. I could also tell that he loved his work, bringing what I believe to be the best food that I had the privilege to serve in Sonoma county.

I fully support him in his new venture, with all that that entails and hope with my whole self that he is permitted to do so. If it is one thing that Sebastopol is lacking, it is restaurants that offer something special that only he has been able to deliver. Please reach out with any further questions as I would love to answer or clear any doubts.

With sincerity,
Griffin Wilson
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To whom it may concern;
I am writing this letter in support of Lowell Sheldon, to assure any present or future projects be considered with a more complete representation of the person that I have known and respected my whole life. I grew up with Lowell and his family, and have worked professionally with Lowell's father Steve, as well as Lowell for over 10 years. The projects that first Steve, then later Lowell have brought to this community by any measure have made a lasting positive impact on the community as a whole. I have maintained contact and communication with Lowell throughout these past few years. I have seen him address these issues and grow from them. He has taken to heart all of the concerns that have been raised, and done more than most to try to remedy each and every one of them. I have 100 percent confidence in Lowell's ability to grow and become an even better member of the business community. Because of a fear of retaliation, I believe his support is much more broad than his critics would like you to think.

After all it is a hallmark of this great nation of ours, that people are capable of change, growth and deserve the opportunity to show as much.

Vladimir Gortinsky,
Petaluma
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To: Planning Commission, City of Sebastopol
From: Will Haynes, PO Box 1018, Sebastopol, CA 95473
Re: Letter of Support for Piala Georgian Restaurant/Lowell Sheldon
Date: May 27, 2022
Dear Commissioners,
As a born and raised Sebastopol resident and land holder, I suggest that you reconsider the decision of the Planning Director and approve the transfer of the beer and wine license for Piala Georgian Restaurant.

I worked as a server at Peter Lowell’s restaurant between the years of 2011 and 2014, and contrary to how some individuals would like to paint a picture of the work environment as toxic, my experience was very different. The establishment was a pillar of the community providing healthy food, supporting local and organic farmers and winemakers, creating jobs, and bringing people together. Me and my team of other employees both male and female looked forward to going to work and had a great camaraderie. Things were run smoothly and professionally, and any reports of partying in the workplace or underage drinking etc. were not something I witnessed, and would have been isolated incidents not the norm. The newspapers never came to interview me or many of my coworkers for an alternate
perspective, and I think the narrative is warped and inaccurate.

Lowell Sheldon was a good boss in general. Though sometimes lacking in social graces causing people to feel a little awkward Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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at times, I always felt his intentions were good and that he cared deeply about the well-being of his employees and the
community. He strove to take care of his staff in a way that was unheard of in the industry, offering things like health insurance to full time employees and a living wage to those that worked in the kitchen. I believe his ideals came before profits, and ultimately caused the untimely end of an establishment I often still miss in Sebastopol.

Since that time I think Lowell has continued to grow both personally and professionally, and that the proposed restaurant will be run according to the high standards of the time we live in. If approved it will be a real benefit to the Sebastopol community and economy.

Thank you for your consideration,
Will Haynes
Cc: Lowell Sheldon, [email protected]
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Letter in support of Alcohol Use Permit application appeal for Piala Georgian Cuisine Date: 6/2/22
To whom this may concern at the licensing board:

I write to urge you reconsider and approve the previously denied application to serve alcohol at Piala Georgian Cuisine in Sebastopol.

It is my strong belief that this restaurant will be as upstanding and valuable addition to the Sebastopol dining and libation scene.

I understand that you have concluded that one of the owners involved in this venture, Lowell Sheldon, has a reputation based on allegations and press articles that disqualifies him from being able to be trusted with such a license. I believe you have come to this conclusion without the full story, and hope that my sincere letter can also be taken into account. I was born and raised in Sebastopol, and will always consider it a home. I have frequented Lowell’s restaurants from the very beginning, and had good friends who worked at them for many years.

Over the many years in the challenging business of starting and running or helping to run 3 vital restaurants in Sebastopol, Lowell undoubtedly made mistakes and errors in judgement, and he has already paid a stiff price and had to grapple with the severe damage to his reputation in deep and painful ways. I have seen him do this work, continue to do this work, and believe he is ready to be trusted as one involved in such a new venture as this. He deserved to have a reckoning, but not to have his reputation and livelihood destroyed forever.

With these many letters of support, I believe you will see that the community of people around Lowell, who know him well, continue to support him wholeheartedly. We have not abandoned him, and never did, and we are composed of scores of strong, progressive women and men who believe in fair treatment of employees and respect for women. We know Lowell, know he has made mistakes like all of us, have listened to the accusations and general negative picture painted of him, but said we know a different Lowell than that. Some of what we have read and heard we believe, but much of it we simply believe has been exaggerated and distorted to paint Lowell in the most negative light possible. He simply is not a predator or danger to society, and I believe the truest evidence of this is the fact that so so many community members/supporters completely rejected that picture of him.

The Lowell we know, with new tools and support, good partners, and a better understanding of how not to blur the personal and professional, is ready to once again be involved in a restaurant venture in Sebastopol.

Sincerely,
Will Sheldon
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Dear Commissioners,
I am disappointed that the Sebastopol City Council is taking such a narrow-minded and meanspirited position with respect to Lowell Sheldon and his business endeavors. Lowell has made substantial contributions to the economic, social, and cultural life of Sebastopol. He transformed the Foster Freeze eyesore (with the help of his dad Steve) into a beautiful site that draws more customers than any other restaurant in Sebastopol. All of his enterprises have incorporated fundamental Sebastopolian values- sustainability, using locally sourced ingredients and beverages, concern for the environment, and providing living wages for his employees.

I have known Lowell since he was seven years old. I can tell you that he has taken seriously the allegations that were brought against him and he has done a lot of soul searching. He is a changed man. And he deserves a second chance. Open your hearts and your minds and allow him to continue doing what he has already proven he does so well. He is an asset for our community.

Randall Willens
707-542-1470
restaurant, but Lowell’s success has been very apparent with his other places of business and don’t see why this new endeavor should be denied. Sincerely, Marcia Larkin-a Sebastopol resident
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To Whom It May Concern:

I was a dedicated patron of Lowell’s Restaurant (formerly Peter Lowell’s) for all the 12 years it was in business. I found it to be a one-of-a-kind establishment that served healthy food which appealed to many varied diets and had an ethic that supported local farm-totable, ecological concerns – which I and my friends found at NO other restaurants around here. The community rallied around it and made it one of the most successful eateries in West County. I, personally, found it to be graciously and professionally run. A large number of people I know felt similarly and were sad when it closed. Many still say they miss it and that there is nothing to replace it.

Lowell went on to found two other successful restaurants in Sebastopol. He has done more for the food scene in this town than practically any other person. People came from far and wide to eat in Sebastopol because of him. He started running his first restaurant at a very young age, was inexperienced, and I hear there were mistakes made and SOME employees upset. But remember, there were hundreds of workers and patrons who, alternately, enjoyed working and eating there and have positive things to say about him as a business owner. And he has admitted his faults and has strenuously and continuously striven to correct them and make amends, which is admirable.

I truly feel that Sebastopol would be remiss in not giving him a chance to launch this new endeavor. With his intention to do it RIGHT, with a new-found knowledge demonstrated by a rigorous personal and professional focus on the issues facing him, he will surely be an asset to the community once again! And since he is not the one who will actually be operating the restaurant anyhow, why is this avenue to his uniquely gifting the community and making a living here being blocked? He has apologized to the women who are now trying to “punish” him (for actions which didn’t ever even come to the level of proven culpability), he has accepted responsibility for making anyone uncomfortable, and he has taken steps to correct any future errant workplace behavior. What else can he do? I hope he is given the opportunity to move forward and prove his worth once again.

I have also known Lowell for his entire life growing up in Sebastopol, and have seen him to be a hard worker and a fair and kind person, one with high principles who comes up with creative solutions to problems. He is essentially a good man and should certainly not be penalized indefinitely. Please allow him to open up this business he has been working quite hard on and which will surely draw more people to our town.

Sincerely, Leslie Young – 7261 East Hurlbut Ave., Sebastopol Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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May 24,2022
To Whom it May Concern
I am writing this letter of support for Lowell Sheldon regarding his role in the build out and design of the proposed Piala Georgian Cuisine in the former location of Peking Chef.

I have known Lowell for over 15 years and worked with him on the launch of his first restaurant Peter Lowell's. We have remained friends ever since and have admired his strong sense of community and his business acumen. I know the true character of Lowell and I know he has always tried to foster a positive work environment and has been supportive of his employees.

We all make personal mistakes, and when one takes responsibility for these mistakes as Lowell has, they deserve to move fonvard in their lives and livelihood. No one should be prevented from opening a business, even one serving beer and wine, because of the demands of a few former employees.

We all need more dining options and I feel Piala will add value to the Sebastopol community.

Sincerely.
,€"6 r#)&
Rob Akins
Forestville, CA
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1 Kari Svanstrom
From: Alexandra Lopez <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2022 11:33 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Sheldon/Piala Public Comment
Attachments: Public Comment.pdf
Dear Director Svanstrom,
Please see my attached public comment regarding Lowell Sheldon's appeal.

Kind Regards,
Alexandra Lopez
Hopland, Ca
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2 Kari Svanstrom
From: Angela Jackson <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2022 10:59 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Cc: [email protected]; Leah Engel
Subject: RE: Piala Alcohol License Appeal Hearing,
Attachments: Piala Hearing Letter.docx
Hello! My name is Angela Jackson and I'd like to submit this letter for consideration in preparation for the hearing for Piala's appeal after they were denied an alcohol license the first time and why no business of Lowell Sheldon's should be allowed to serve alcohol in any sort of near future. Thanks so much for the time taken to read my letter and please feel free to reach out if y'all have any other questions.

Best,
Angela
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Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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3 Kari Svanstrom
From: Timothy Ryan <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2022 9:21 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: PIALA WINE BAR PROTEST LETTER /// SEBASTOPOL, CA /// PLEASE READ Dear Planning Commission of Sebastopol California,
My name is Timothy Ryan and I'm writing to voice my gravest concerns as a West Sonoma County community member and ex-employee of one of Lowell Sheldon's businesses.

First and foremost I'd like to state that when I met Lowell Sheldon at Handline back in 2016 my first impression was that he was intelligent, charming and talented with his restaurant concepts. I liked him. We got along in many ways. I was grateful to gain employment at the new much-talked-about restaurant in Sebastopol, Handline. Handline had an ethos with regard to the local food products they sourced and their beverage program which was inline with mine. I did not work with Lowell directly very often because his role was not related to daily operations. He was often in the establishment making additions to infrastructure, repairs, landscaping, or hanging out with friends. He would always make it clear that he owned the place by acting as the general manager or proprietor. He would often be engaged in hyper-vigilant behavior which made many employees irritated. After he hired me we got along rather well in the beginning.

The talk among the town was that he was talented at what he did. Yet there was always a qualifier after this statement.

People would tell me that he is socially awkward and has a serious issue with boundaries. After which they would dismiss it as "it's just Lowell's spectrum-like awkward behavior." On many occasions some people warned me that he was "a creep"and to stay away. Other people seemed to overlook these notions which they had about Lowell because he's a local figure in a position of power who had multiple popular restaurants/bars (his dad built much of this community–as most of the locals know)
I often frequented the establishment which he managed down the road named after himself–Lowell's. For years I'd eat and work on my laptop there for lunch, multiple times a week. I enjoyed the good food and company of the employees, many of whom I had a casual friendship with. During the years of working with Lowell and patronizing his eponymous restaurant, I got to know and observe him in the work environment. He liked to push boundaries and test his dominance over employees in multiple ways. Whether verbally or physically, it always made me feel uncomfortable to witness. I could see the discomfort within the employees and they'd often tell me how difficult it was to work with him. While this did not include all of the employees, it included many. He had a way with building people up, charming them and then tearing them down.

I'd see him out at the local bars after work with employees and other industry folks. The lack of respect for boundaries was apparent in this setting as well. He often asked folks to sit on his lap.

I had some very uncomfortable encounters with him myself between working at Handline and frequenting Lowell's. On several occasions he grabbed my hips and pressed his pelvis into me from behind while at work. He stuck his tongue in my ear while working. He grabbed my ass. It was a game of power and "fun" for him I suppose. My way to combat it was to fight fire with fire and act like I was beyond it all. I'd had more experience in the industry than he did and came from SF, which afforded me some respect and more leeway with him. I noticed a darkness in him beyond the charm. I'd nervously laugh off many of his indiscretions as did many others. He would regularly massage employees and patrons at his establishments without solicitation. A few of his friends were fine with it but most were not. I know someone who actually included these unsolicited massage encounters into his stand-up routine at Hopmonk's open mic. He said it was Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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4 an awkward and provocative bit but that it got nervous laughs because people all knew Lowell's regular disregard for boundaries. Many folks won't say this on the record about him because they don't want to disrupt the status quo or get mixed up in "these kinds of affairs." The fact that people (myself included) could dismiss this behavior and then offer him more power in the form of a new bar frightens me. We've all read the SF Chronicle, Press Democrat and Bohemien articles investigating the horrific accusations of sexual assault and misconduct within our community against Mr.

Sheldon. When I distill my direct experiences of Lowell with the experiences others have relayed to me in confidence, I am left with one unequivocal calling: SPEAK UP!
Previously I've dismissed this behavior out of fear of standing up to a local figure in power. Someone who had access to all the top wine producers, venues, restaurants, other powerful and charming figures. I didn't want to disturb my reputation in the community. I shouldn't have dismissed this. I regret this with heartbreaking remorse. I knew that he was playing these power dynamics with his employees and others. I may have been able to prevent the abuse of strangers and people I care about had I spoken truth to power. Demanded accountability. That is why I'm writing this letter to you now. If Lowell Sheldon gets to own another bar in this county it would be shameful, disgraceful and dangerous.

I grew up working in restaurants nearly my whole life in San Francisco. This type of predatory behavior is par for the course. Sadly, it's expected. To avoid embarrassment and/or losing your job, you laugh it off or just grit your teeth and let it happen, repeatedly. This behavior is so rampant and normalized in the service industry (and many others) that people in a position of power have carte blanche to do what they please without accountability. I used to see Lowell nearly bring employees to tears just for the sake of toying with them, over a napkin on the ground. Because he could. I sincerely pray that you take all of this into consideration.

We have an opportunity to do the right thing here for our community by pleading to the Planning Commission of Sebastopol to NOT GRANT Lowell Sheldon access to a permit for PIALA wine bar, or any other future establishments.

This is my plea. For the safety of our community please do the right thing.

Best regards,
Timothy Ryan
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5 Kari Svanstrom
From: Shivani Hawkins <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 9:05 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Re: Freestone Hotel
Sorry, I forgot to mention - my husband Nicholas Hawkins also co-signs this. Thank you! Best,
Shivani
_____________________________
Shivani Hawkins
www.livingsanskrit.com
www.studiofreestone.com
On Jun 22, 2022, 9:00 PM -0700, Shivani Hawkins <[email protected]>, wrote:

Hello,
We live at and own a commercial property just around the corner from the Freestone Hotel that Lowell Sheldon owns and wants to turn into a tavern and hotel. We are naturally in support of appropriate and respectful commercial development/uses of properties in Freestone, but it is impossible to support this proposed use, for so many reasons.

We moved here because of the quiet serenity and warmth of this community, and intend for this to be our permanent home. We have a young daughter whose only place to ride her tricycle or explore in her stroller is down Freestone St… the hotel occupying that entire street destroys what little shared community/pedestrianfriendly space that we have. The proposed plan would also create noise, disturbances, and other hazards that are likely to occur in places where heavy drinking late into the night is promoted.

The proposed water usage, noise, parking issues, and traffic would dramatically impact us and turn our beautiful historic town into something it was not intended to be and dramatically change its character. I would love to see something happen there at that hotel, but this is not it, nor is Lowell Sheldon the right person to lead that project.

Like most in our community, we were horrified to learn about all the more than ten years of sexual harassment, assault, and worker abuse issues, as well as the credible allegations of rape. I don’t see how giving him an alcohol license in a place with lodgings is not just turning a blind eye to the very real harms that these women and other employees have suffered at his hands, and effectively ensuring that the same situation will happen again. As residents, commercial owners, and parents in Freestone, we can not sit idly by and let this happen around the corner from where we are raising our children.

We would love to see the Freestone Hotel be restored and put to use in a way that is respectful of this community, our resources, our guests, and our employees working here. The current project is not that. Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
Shivani
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7 Kari Svanstrom
From: Miro Andre <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 6:56 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: No Alcohol License for Lowell Sheldon for Piala LLC I am writing on behalf of survivors of sexual assault, not only in this instance, but locally, nationally, globally. i am writing on behalf of all those who are harmed and affected by rape culture and patriarchal systems of domination, which is everyone. Everyone is harmed and affected, and everyone has a part in prevention and accountability, especially men who time and time again are by far the largest demographic of perpetrators AND those who perpetuate rape culture by remaining apathetic and silent when it comes to demanding change and accountability. The accusations and accounts against Lowell Sheldon are numerous and clear. Lowell’s behavior is unequivocally unacceptable and has demonstrated many clear violations and a lack of accountability. I believe in Lowell’s ability to reckon with his actions, BUT only if there is real accountability. Granting an alcohol license to a person who has been accused many times of severe harm and acts of violence against many of his employees is NOT accountability. That is skirting it. That is perpetuating rape culture and rewarding this inexcusable behavior. Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol permit for this proposed Freestone Hotel. That is a concrete action and one step you can take to demand accountability and prevent the potential for further harm. Rape culture affects all of us and it demands action from all of us, that is how we begin to change and attempt to heal.
sincerely,
concerned citizen living near occidental
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8 Kari Svanstrom
From: Mario Lopez <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 5:27 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Opposing Lowell Sheldons instrument of abuse
HI,
My name is Mario Lopez. I live in Hopland Ca. I am a food service veteran and husband of Alexandra who is a witness and victim of Lowell Sheldons sexual abuse.

I can speak to the direct harassment by Lowell Sheldon of my family. Sheldon let my wife know he “thinks” about her every time he drives past our house. This threat isn’t even veiled, its as clear as consommé.

I believe that giving this permit to Lowell Sheldon is tantamount to giving a serial rapist a mask, tranquilizers, rope and a key to the front door. His business's that serve alcohol have been his roofie and if there isn’t someone stepping in to protect these employees and guests, it will continue to happen.

I ask that everyone stop and think about Lowell Sheldon’s letters of support he has received. He has asked family, friends and colleagues to ignore his dirty secrets that came to light. He has asked them to ignore the truth and support the bright and shiny side. Basically, he has asked a vegan to write a review of the fennel and arugula salad at the steak house. A review where they share their experience on a tiny portion of the menu and ignore the rest of menu that they don’t agree with. Selective narrative is not safe in this case. We have to see the entire picture, unadulterated.

Please deny this alcohol license for it will be used as a weapon of sexual assault.

Mario Lopez
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12 Kari Svanstrom
From: Freddie Francis <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 1:29 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom; John Jay
Subject: Public comment for 6/28 hearing re: Lowell Sheldon alcohol license Attachments: FF public written comment against LS.pdf
Hello there,
Attached please find my written public comment asking the Sebastopol Planning Commission to uphold the denial of an alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon/Piala LLC.

Thank you,
Freddie
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13 Kari Svanstrom
From: Raisa Yavneh <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 12:48 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon - Alcohol License
To whom it may concern,
I'm writing to urge the Planning Commission to reject Lowell Sheldon's appeal to be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave). The denial of an alcohol license is an appropriate consequence for a man who has a welldocumented 10+ year history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. To grant Lowell Sheldon an alcohol license in light of the numerous substantiated accusations against him would be incredibly negligent.

If this license is granted, the Planning Commission would be complicit in any and all ensuing assault and workplace abuse – which, given Sheldon's track record, is a certainty.

There is no better metric by which to anticipate this man's behavior than to look at the decade-plus of harm he has caused to women and workers in our community. I ask you: is this the culture we wish to foster in our small town? One where workers have to endure unwanted touching and other forms of sexual assault and harassment in order to earn a living? One where survivors' stories are silenced and ignored, and the man who perpetrated harm against them is granted the ability to continue doing so?
You, the Planning Commission, have the power to take a stand against sexual violence in this community. You are in a position to listen to the 750+ citizens who signed a petition demanding that Lowell Sheldon never be granted an alcohol license in our community. You made the right decision in denying this license the first time around. I implore you to hold fast in this decision.

Raisa Yavneh
Sebastopol resident
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14 Kari Svanstrom
From: Ash Hay <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 11:52 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Block Lowell Sheldon's liquor license
I am writing to you today to ask that you deny Lowell Sheldon an alcohol license on future endeavors. Many ony friends and community members have been victims of Sheldon. He has a well documented, heavily reported history of sexual harassment, assault, worker abuse, and endangering minors as an employer. Abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs were involved in the majority of these allegations.

He has had numerous buisness throughout sonoma county and has similar reports of abuse from employees across all establishments. This shows Lowell Sheldod lacks the professional and moral character to be allowed to operate an alcohol-related business. He has denied many of the allegations Over 750 concerned citizens signed the petition demanding not only that Sheldon be removed from the Freestone Hotel project, but also that he not be granted an alcohol license for future endeavors. Our community has spoken.

I want to live in a community that supports women, workers, and survivors of sexual violence.

Denying an alcohol license is an approrpriate consequence for someone who has a 10+ year heavily documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol.

Please harness your power and responsibility to this community and keep our resturaunt and service workers safe.

Cheers
Ash Hay
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15 Kari Svanstrom
From: Kellen Kaiser <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 11:27 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public comment regarding Lowell Sheldon
Hello,
I hope you are having a good day. I am reaching out to ask that Lowell Sheldon not be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC(7233 Healdsburg Ave). Given his history of sexual assault and harassment, it is not in the best interest of the community to enable any future misbehavior. Abuse of alcohol and other drugs were involved in the majority of allegations against him.

He has proven through his actions that he cannot be trusted to handle alcohol in his businesses in an appropriate manner and nothing he has done since then has proven his behavior has changed. He has not taken responsibility for his actions or shown remorse. He has shown in a variety of ways that he lacks the professional and moral character necessary to operate an alcohol related business.

While I am not a resident, I am a frequent visitor and consumer of Sebastopol services/hospitality. I want to feel safe as a woman in your community and know that the folks who live there want the same.

Thank you,
Kellen Kaiser
Hopland,California
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16 Kari Svanstrom
From: Lowell Sheldon <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 11:21 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Fwd: letter of support
See attached letter.

Best,
Lowell
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jennifer W <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Jun 22, 2022 at 11:08 AM
Subject: letter of support
To: <[email protected]>
to whom it may concern:
i am writing in support of lowell sheldon's ability to open and run businesses in sonoma county. i do not know lowell well nor have i worked with him, however i have had casual social contact with him over the years as he is part of my greater community in sonoma county. he strikes me as intelligent, fun, ambitious, adventurous, creative, pioneering, self-involved and possibly socially awkward. not all of us are born with an innate understanding of how to operate smoothly in the human world, it takes years of work to learn it. i was disappointed to read about his indiscrecions in the running of his businesses, and saddened that there was emotional harm done to his employees and shocked and horrified at the allegation of sexual assault. the media and social media that has surrounded the allegations have been fierce and seemingly thorough, however the ensuing campaign to ban him from running businesses i feel goes too far. certainly his reputation has been forever marred and all who choose to work with him will be cognizant of his scarlet letter. plus, i believe he is, as they say, "doing the work" to unlearn his incorrect social assumptions, and learn correct ones. i understand that he has been in therapy and professional workplace training in an effort to more deeply understand his role as a leader in the community. this is the restorative work that one would hope someone in his position would do to learn and grow. personally i hope he has reached out to those who felt victimized by his actions, however that is not my business as it is between them.
if we as a community hold restorative justice as a value, certainly it should be extended to all members of our society. destroying a person's name, livelihood and passion because they make mistakes is not social progress, it is punitive and small. as for the sexual assult allegations, that needs to be settled in a court of law, not the town square stoning. i believe lowell if given the chance will contribute greatly to our community of businesses and to the larger community. i believe he deserves a chance to get it right. after what he's gone through publically, there's no other way forward for him but to take the high road. our greatest teachers are those who have seen the darkest days. thank you for your time,
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17 keeping this anonymous for fear of retaliation
--
Lowell Sheldon
707.338.5456
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18 Kari Svanstrom
From: Rosa Jerez <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 9:42 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon liquor license
Hello. I’m writing to support the victims of Lowell Sheldon. Well-documented creeps shouldn’t be allowed to continue about their super-privileged business as usual. Please consider denying his liquor license. Thanks for your time.

Rosa Jerez
Sebastopol
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19 Kari Svanstrom
From: Hilary Go <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 9:04 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public Comment in Support of Surivors
Hi my name is Hilary Go, I live in Sebastopol and I'd like to submit a public comment about why Lowell Sheldon should not be granted an alcohol license for Piala, thank you:

It is toxic and dangerous for Lowell Sheldon to be granted permission to conduct business, especially with an alcohol license. Sexual harassment, assault and worker abuse cannot be tolerated under any circumstances, and Sheldon is guilty of all of the above involving the use of alcohol. Please keep our community safe by denying Sheldon his licensewhich is a just consequence for his heavily documented history of workplace abuse! Agenda Item Number 2 Agenda Item Number 2
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20 Kari Svanstrom
From: Lowell Sheldon <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 8:38 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Fwd: Piala Letter
Attachments: Brenna Churma - Piala.pdf
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: brenna churma <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, Jun 18, 2022 at 8:12 PM
Subject: Piala Letter
To: <[email protected]>
Hi Lowell,
How are you?
Here's my letter for the Planning Commision. If you notice any errors please let me know :) To help
protect your
privacy,
Micro so ft
Office
prevented
auto matic
download of
this picture
from the
Internet. Piala
Best,
Brenna
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21 Kari Svanstrom
From: Lowell Sheldon <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 8:23 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Fwd: letter of support
Attachments: Prena - Letter.pdf
Hey Keri,
I see John is out of town. I have a few more letters that are coming in and wanted to forward them along.

Best,
Lowell
Begin forwarded message:

From: Preena <[email protected]>
Subject: letter of support
Date: June 21, 2022 at 9:52:11 PM PDT
To: [email protected]
Dear Planning Commission,
I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon. I have known Lowell and his family for over 20 years. I have worked with Lowell for periods of time on and off throughout those years. I believe Lowell to be an intelligent individual who learns from his mistakes. He is passionate about the environment, hospitality, and serving food that is responsibly-sourced. He can be a little awkward in social situations. He does not always say the right thing which can come off as pretentious at times. However I believe he is dedicated to making Sebastopol a better place through supporting his community, both personally and through the lens of his businesses. He is a good person overall. We all have our struggles.

I think the feedback he has received has been harsh but necessary and I believe he has listened to the community. I think it is time we move forward in a constructive way with this issue. There are many challenges facing our community, yet this salacious story keeps popping up in the media. By now it should be obvious it is a one sided hit piece concocted by a very small group who are determined to get him to stop operating in Sebastopol because they don't like his character. He has obviously made some mistakes in regards to how he made certain people feel within the workplace, he has apologized, and has taken steps such as therapy, management courses, power dynamics, etc. to learn and grow. The restaurant industry has been a hotbed for inappropriate behavior fueled by alcohol and drugs for decades, this is not an isolated case, merely part of a much broader problem, and I am glad to see things are changing for the better in the industry. People need to be given the opportunity to learn, change and grow with the times.

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22 I support Piala Wine Bar opening in Sebastopol and I believe the partners involved made the right decision in hiring an HR consulting firm to handle issues if they arise. I believe it is unjust to prevent someone from operating a wine permit when they have been convicted of nothing. The city is making decisions based on opinions and hearsay, which I find disturbing. What precedent is being set by the city in regards to allowing public opinion to determine the permitting process in Sebastopol? I believe that we owe the women who came forward in this story a show of gratitude, as they risked so much in bringing this inappropriate behaviour to light. I believe that change is already taking place, perhaps not in the ways exactly as they had hoped, but we will overcome together in an inclusive, constructive, and peaceful way to make Sebastopol a better place.

Sincerely,
Anonymous (for fear of retaliation) Sebastopol, CA
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23 Kari Svanstrom
From: Xochi La <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 9:41 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public comment in support of survivors
Planning Commissioner
I am writing to advocate to NOT approve an alcohol license to Lowell Sheldon for his new restaurant Piala LLC. As a local born and raised in Sonoma County I have observed and heard from close friends of his mistreatment of his staff and of his sexaul assaults and harassments of multiple women in the community for many years. Given the information known about Lowell it is clear that this person is not responsible or safe under the influence of alcohol and drugs. It seems irresponsible and counterproductive to grant this person yet another alcohol licence to continue to assault and harass women and other members of our community. I want to live in a community that supports women, workers, and survivors of sexual violence. Please consider not allowing this continued community harm to happen.

With appreciation,
Xochi Lubin-Amaya
--
Xochi Lubin-Amaya MA, AMFT, RYT
She/Her/Ella
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24 Kari Svanstrom
From: Rio Scharf <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 8:20 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public Comment re Lowell Sheldon
Hello,
My name is Rio Scharf and I live in Santa Rosa, CA. I write to recommend that Lowell Sheldon be denied an alcohol license for Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave). As someone with loved ones in the Sonoma County hospitality industry, I believe that there are credible accusations of sexual misconduct against Lowell Sheldon. Creating a safe community requires treating these accusations seriously and working to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Based on his public comments, Mr. Sheldon is allegedly working to address mistakes made in his past. If true, that is commendable. Yet, it does not mean it is appropriate for him to be granted an alcohol license at this time and put in a situation similar to that from which he caused such harm in the recent past. No one is entitled to an alcohol license; it is a privilege. I cannot imagine a more compelling reason to lose access to that privilege than to have used alcohol and a position of power to cross boundaries, sow discomfort, and violate others' autonomy.

Respectfully, I urge you to deny Mr. Sheldon's request for an alcohol license.

Best,
Rio Scharf
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25 Kari Svanstrom
From: Bob Engel <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 8:57 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon Liquor Establishment License
City of Sebastopol
Public Comment
I am writing to express my opposition to the granting of a liquor license to Lowell Sheldon because of his documented history as an irresponsible business owner.

I was for almost twenty years the executive chef at Russian River Vineyards in Forestville. During that time I saw dozens of young people pass through as employees. They were in high school when they started, maybe it was their first job, they might come back to work summers after they went to college. I felt that we had a responsibility to these young people to provide a safe place for them to learn how to be in the work world.

Restaurants can be fun places to work, but fun does not include offering alcohol to underage employees, or creating a toxic environment in which women are valued as commodities by those with the power that comes with ownership or management.

I have found the reports of abuse by Sheldon's employees to be credible, and I find his apologies to be inadequate. His admissions of errors fall far short of the standard for genuine contrition, which is one that recognizes and fully accepts responsibility for the harm done to others.

Sheldon hasn't shown the maturity and sense of community responsibility that are required to own and run an establishment that serves alcohol.

Bob Engel
Residence: 3156 Edison, Graton
Business Office: 101 Morris St., Suite 207, Sebastopol
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26 Kari Svanstrom
From: marylee guinon <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2022 7:50 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom; John Jay
Cc: marylee guinon
Subject: Re: Lowell Sheldon liquor license
Attachments: PLP21-0021 Status Letter 6.7.22-1.pdf
Greetings Kari and John,
For your information, I have attached a letter from Sonoma County Permit Sonoma to Applicant Lowell Sheldon regarding his Proposed Freestone Hotel, Bar and Tavern. Your office can decide if this is relevant to the proposed Sebastopol Piala project, but I thought it important that the City be informed of the County's intention to use its discretion and follow the General Plan policy, zoning and code.

Thank you for your professionalism and effort on the Piala matter.

Kind regards,
Marylee Guinon
Marylee Guinon LLC
354 Bohemian Highway
Freestone, CA 95472
On Wed, Jun 1, 2022 at 8:00 AM Freddie Francis <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Kari and John,
Just circling back to include Jesse and Marylee, who will be the leads on being in touch with PC members who are willing to meet with us.

Thanks again for your help.

Best,
Freddie
On Tue, May 31, 2022 at 2:47 PM Kari Svanstrom <[email protected]> wrote:

Correct.

Kari Svanstrom
Planning Director

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30 I have personal experience with Lowell Sheldon which I believe to be relevant. He took large sums of money from my mother, calling the more than $100,000 over about 2 years a “line of credit” for the restaurant which she paid in advance with no written agreement. I don’t know how long this had been going on before I was alerted by her financial advisor in 2015.

I was unable to put a stop to this situation until I threatened him with an elder abuse charge and took my mother from the condo where she was living and moved her to a retirement community in 2017. At the end of her time at the complex located behind Sheldon’s restaurant, he was having open wine delivered to her door at 8:00 in the morning. Although I never pressed charges and he remained in business, the thoughtless and reckless nature of his behavior was the source of much pain for myself and my family. I have heard of his sexual harrassment and drug abuse and because of my experience with him, believe the accusations stated by his victims. His toxic behavior makes me believe that the city of Sebastopol would be avoiding future ethical and legal problems by standing behind those who have been traumatized by Lowell Sheldon.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth (Lisa) Kurtz

--
freddie francis
503.367.8395
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32 Kari Svanstrom
From: Pat Engel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 7:49 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Deny Lowell Sheldon an Alcohol License
I have lived in Sonoma County for almost 40 years. My husband and I raised our two children here.

Like many young people, both of my children worked in the food service industry as one of their first places of employment.

I am writing to urge the planning commission to uphold its decision to deny Lowell Sheldon the privilege of operating a business that serves alcohol (Piala LLC, t7233 Healdsburg Ave). In former restaurants that he owned and worked at, Mr. Sheldon served alcohol to underage employees, just one extremely troubling behavior in a list of troubling behaviors that include his unwanted touching of employees, touching of a sexual nature.

Now that Mr. Sheldon's illegal and highly inappropriate actions have finally been brought to light, the commission must insure that Mr. Sheldon is never allowed to operate another business in Sonoma County from which he can continue his destructive and amoral behavior. Please protect our young workers.

Pat Engel
Graton, CA
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34 Kari Svanstrom
From: Barbara Krukar <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 4:35 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon
I support denying alcohol license to Lowell Sheldon, it is an appropriate consequence for someone who has a 10+ year heavily-documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. I am neighbors with the mother whose daughter was sexually assaulted by Lowell Sheldon, it has left lasting negative impact on the daughter and daughter's friends who were similarly treated.

Sincerely
Barbara Krukar
Cherry Ridge Road
Sebastopol
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35 Kari Svanstrom
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 12:50 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Sebastopol Planning Commision
Dear Ms. Svanstrom:

I am a resident of Sebastopol. My name is Barbara Arbunich.

I am writing to support the denial of giving Lowell Sheldon a permit to open a bar/ restaurant in Sebastopol.

I know one of the woman who was harassed and she is still traumatized by his inappropriate, unsolicited advances. From what I have read and heard, he demonstrated this behavior in all the establishments he has been involved.

I question his ability to appropriately supervise young work staff and to remain professional due to his business being one which serves alcohol and his history.

Thank you for reading this.

Barbara Arbunich
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36 Kari Svanstrom
From: Barbara Hom <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 9:17 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Lowell Sheldon
Attachments: Letters to Sebastopol Planning Commission.pdf

I am a 44 year resident of Sebastopol with a daughter who was one of his victims. I strongly support the denial of the use permit for Lowell Shelton's new restaurant on 3 levels.

Firstly, as former General Manager of the Culinary Institute of America iin Saint Helena and also for former Food and Beverage Director and Executive Chef of the Sheraton Hotel in Petaluma, I can unequivocally state that Lowell Sheldon's behavior would not be tolerated in the corporate restaurant world. After the 1st allegation he would have been suspended and after the 2nd, he would have been dismissed. If he had been allowed to remain at his job, we would have been open to many lawsuits. Because Lowell's businesses were privately owned, the young ladies had no place to voice their complaints or get recourse. This would be the case if Lowell opened another restaurant.

Secondly, Mr. Sheldon has not really publicly acknowledged his sexual harassment of these women. He has used the terms "I ran the restaurant in a sloppy manner", "behaving inappropriately", "mistake", etc. I believe he does not really think he has done anything wrong. As a community elder, we are expected to keep our town safe. Three major restaurant owners have extricated him. We cannot let this predator back in our midst.

Thirdly and most importantly. my daughter was one of his victims. My daughter was born and raised here.

She went off to college in New York got a communications degree from NYU ,worked in Manhattan and then in Los Angeles as the managing editor of a national wine and spirits magazine. She was recruited by lo Sheldon to be director of communications and marketing for his restaurant group Lowell 's, Handlline and Fern Bar. She was sexually harassed by Lowell when she was out with her friends one evening . When the incident happened she spoke up loudly and sharply and said STOP. Because she was upper management, she gave courage to the other women who had been harassed by him. And the women came out in droves and spoke up of there Incidents. That was when they decided to stand together and make it known. The claims against Lowell Sheldon are not just allegations.. They are real as I have met some of the other young women and have heard their stories. My daughter has been irrevocably harmed by the incident and has had difficulties holding down a job since. Please please do not allow this man a restaurant in our community. Let's keep it safe for the future young women.

I am also attaching several letters from people in this community who are greatly concerned. Please read thim, especially the first one from Kathryn Fong, a former Human Rights Commisioner in San Francisco.

I appreciate your time.

Kindly,
Barbara Hom
707 328- 9950
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38 Kari Svanstrom
From: D Sotelo Escobedo <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 8:22 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public Comment for 6/28 Commission Hearing
Good afternoon Director Svanstrom,
My name is Davida Sotelo Escobedo and I am a resident of Sebastopol. I am writing to express my deep concern over the proposed alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon at Piala LLC. Lowell Sheldon has shown repeatedly that he lacks the professional and moral character to be allowed to operate an alcohol-related business. The community has spoken, with over 750 community members signing onto a petition demanding not only that Sheldon be removed from the Freestone Hotel project, but also that he not be granted an alcohol license for future endeavors.

I stand with the survivors of Lowell Sheldon’s many abuses who deserve to live in a community where abusers are held accountable. The Planning Commission has the power and the responsibility to deny an alcohol license as an approrpriate consequence for someone who has a 10+ year heavily documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. Stand with the community — should not be granted an alcohol license for Piala LLC.

Best,
Davida Sotelo Escobedo
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39 Kari Svanstrom
From: Lina Blanco <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2022 7:49 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public comment: Keep our community safe. No alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon (Piala LLC)
Dear members of the Sebastopol Planning Commission:

My name is Lina Blanco, and I am a resident of Sebastopol with community roots across West County. Several of my close friends live in Freestone.

I spent years working as a low-wage restaurant worker who regularly dealt with sexual harassment from guests and powerful clients at work. I’ve experienced first-hand when owners and chefs participate in, condone, and reproduce these dangerous cycles of assault. As a minor and student funding my own college education, I was too scared to say no to inappropriate advances from my bosses and their friends for fear of immediate repercussions or punishment like reduced hours, poor scheduling, or loss of work. I only gained the strength to quit my job in the restaurant after nightly harassment escalated to assault at the hands of the restaurant’s owner’s intoxicated close friend.

In Sebastopol, Lowell Sheldon has a well-documented, heavily reported history of sexual harassment, assault, worker abuse, and endangering minors as an employer. Abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs were involved in the majority of these allegations made by the brave young women workers.

It’s obvious that Lowell Sheldon lacks the professional and moral character to be allowed to operate an alcohol-related business, as his behavior repeatedly shows, despite denying many of the allegations I, along with over 750 of my neighbors, have signed the petition demanding not only that Sheldon be removed from the Freestone Hotel project, but also that he not be granted an alcohol license for future endeavors.

Our community has spoken.

I am proud to stand behind my neighbors and the women who courageously stepped forward to share their stories of abuse. We should not have to parade our stories of pain for the right thing to be done. Yet we know that if that’s the only way we can make a change, we will. I want to live in a community that supports women, workers, and survivors of sexual violence.

The solution is right in front of us. Denying an alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon’s Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave.) is an approrpriate consequence for someone who has a 10+ year heavily documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. Please do not add your stamp of approval to a man who has threatened the safety and well-being of young women in our community.

Sincerely,
Lina Blanco
912 Grandview Rd.

Sebastopol, CA 95472
--
Lina Blanco
+1 253 347 5130
[email protected]
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40 Kari Svanstrom
From: Rosalyn Fay <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2022 11:44 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Public Comment Regarding Lowell Sheldon's application for a liquor license To Whom it May Concern,
I am a resident of Occidental. I have recently learned that Lowell Sheldon is applying for an alcohol license to open another establishment, but this time, here in our backyard of Freestone. I am against him being approved for a license for the simple reason that it is inappropriate for someone to be given a liquor license who has a 10+ year heavily-documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol. I personally witnessed Lowell's lecherous energy toward female customers and staff several times as a regular customer of Peter Lowell's. Upon hearing the stories of sexual harassment that have emerged from his staff, I had no doubt they were true based in my own observations. I no longer support his restaurants and do not support him bringing that kind of energy to our community. Please deny Lowell an alcohol license. ~Rosalyn Fay
4535 Joy Rd
Occidental, CA 95465
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41 Kari Svanstrom
From: Allegra Wilson <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2022 4:12 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: Believe survivors & keep people safe
To Whom it May Concern:

I live in Santa Rosa and have friends and family throughout Sonoma County. I am very concerned about the potential liquor license for a project being proposed by Lowell Sheldon. Countless survivors who have faced abuse and harassment have spoken. This man is a predator. He has faced little to no consequence for his actions, and takes no responsibility for them. Denying an alcohol license is an appropriate consequence for someone who has a 10+ year heavily-documented history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol.

Please act to preserve the safety and integrity of our community, and deny Sheldon's request.

Sincerely,
Allegra Wilson
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42 Kari Svanstrom
From: Diana Badger <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2022 2:37 PM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: NO More Alcohol Licenses for Lowell Sheldon
To the Sebastopol Planning Commissioner:

While I have enjoyed dining at Lowell Sheldon’s restaurants in the past, after learning of his predatory and abusive behavior I absolutely support the effort to ban him from being granted any more alcohol licenses for doing business in the West County area. This includes at Piala LLC (7233 Healdsburg Ave) and in Freestone.

Denying an alcohol license is an entirely appropriate consequence for someone who has a heavily documented, 10+ year-history of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse involving alcohol.

I urge you to do the right thing for our county.

Sincerely,
Diana Badger
Sebastopol resident since 2000

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43 Kari Svanstrom
From: maureen donaghue <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2022 10:46 AM
To: Kari Svanstrom
Subject: thank you
hello
Please accept my thanks for the recent denial of an alcohol permit to an alleged abuser of women.

All cities need courageous leaders, and
in my experience, civil servant leaders are often overlooked.

So, thanks for your service and for standing up for women. ~Maureen Donaghue
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Dear Planning Director and Commission of Sebastopol,
My name is Alexandra Lopez, and I am a former employee of Lowell Sheldon’s. I am writing to urge the Commission to reject Sheldon’s appeal to pursue an alcohol license. The original decision to deny Sheldon’s Alcohol Transfer and Alcohol Use Permit application was based on well documented and credible evidence, and the commission recognized that Sheldon’s involvement creates the potential to be detrimental to the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community, including potential employees, customers, and other members of the general public, and not be in the best interest of the City.

As someone who has both witnessed and personally experienced Sheldon’s abuse and toxic behavior, I can unequivocally say that he has not learned from nor properly addressed his actions and therefore remains a threat to community well-being. There have been several occasions over the past few years where I have had to ask that Sheldon not contact me directly in any form, and yet he continues to demonstrate that my boundary is not important by sending me emails or allowing his family members to contact me. The most recent incident occurred on June 9th, 2022. In his correspondence he reminds me that we share a community and he thinks of me and my family when he passes my house. This is very threatening and manipulative language from someone who claims to have an understanding of the harms he has caused. He goes on in the email to bully us into ceasing our activism and attempting to gaslight us by saying that our work is “counterproductive” and how many are against our cause. He further attempts to intimidate us by including his letters of support.

This is not the behavior of someone who wishes to reduce harm or take accountability, but to intimidate his victims further for his own personal gain.

I would like to clearly state that if I believed Lowell to be a contrite and reformed individual I would not be writing to the Commission stating otherwise. I do believe in redemption and second chances. However this is not even close to being Sheldon’s second, or even third, chance. I do believe that people should be able to earn a living and I believe that right also extends to Lowell. But that right does not include being allowed to operate and profit from an alcohol based business where he has repeatedly shown that he does not hold the professional and moral character to operate such an enterprise.

I implore the Commission to stand by their original decision to deny Lowell Sheldon’s application for an Alcohol Transfer and Alcohol Use Permit.

Regards,
Alexandra Lopez
Hopland
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To whom it may concern~
Let me start by defining what this entire situation is about, because supporters of Lowell Sheldon seem to be confused -- no one is attempting to bar Lowell from the community. No one is saying that he cannot own a restaurant, no one is saying that he cannot make money or collect an income. Why these other things keep being brought up by supporters of Lowell is beyond confusing to me and seems to be an attempt at mudding the waters and taking attention away from the intent of what’s actually happening. We do not think that any business that has anything to do with Lowell should be allowed a liquor license or a legal basis on which they may serve alcohol given the ample examples of Lowell abusing his power and engaging in inappropriate behavior with his own employees and other community members when intoxicated and after offering and serving others alcohol in his establishments, often after hours (not during active operation).

My personal experiences with Lowell are few enough to be listed here, I will admit. In the last five years he very seldomly came into the coffee shop that I manage, though it seems that each visit carried something else vaguely problematic. He’s never treated any of our team members like they were anything other than a means to get him his order, and never like they were actual living and breathing human beings attempting to form a customer service connection with him, as that’s important to us here. He’d usually give a fake name for whatever reason, and the most common fake name he’d use is a Latino name that is not anything close to his actual name. Because he gave the name of a Latino man that is not him, he would typically not pick up his order when the name was called out. Once he came in while I was covering a break on the register -- he spoke on the phone throughout the entire transaction and once we reached the end of the transaction and had already begun preparing his order, he told me that he did not have his wallet on him but asked if it was, “cool,” because he, “knows the owners.” Not only is it not uncommon for folks in our community to know our owners because they are big on community outreach and make an effort to support other local businesses, but they are by no means friends or even really acquaintances as we’ve known about the problematic culture surrounding Lowell since long before any of the articles about him came out and they didn’t have much engagement with him even before that. There was no offer to come back and pay at a later date, no apology, and to think that he didn’t have Apple Pay on his phone in 2021 is absurd. Another time I was eating dinner with my partner at Handline and Lowell and his ex-wife spent 20 minutes out on the dining patio yelling at each other in front of us and other diners before leaving one of their large tables completely filled with half-eaten dishes.

Five minutes later, a Handline employee came out asking what had happened and said that no one had paid an over $300 bill for their meal. My last one-on-one interaction with Lowell was when I told him that he was no longer welcome to come into the establishment that I manage to ensure the safety and comfort of our team members and guests, as we have both team members and regular customers who have been abused by Lowell in the past. He didn’t look at me the entire time we spoke, then asked if I was, “for real,” before leaving.

To the folks who say he’s a great guy because he came by your table when you were a regular at Lowell’s: that is how owners of businesses typically operate. He wanted your money, and he showed you the face he wanted you to see when you were paying the elevated prices at his restaurant. To discredit folks who worked with him and knew him on a personal level because you had a shallow experience with him as his customer is hardly a credit to his character.

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To the folks who say he’s done great things for the county and the country when it comes to food and sustainability: sure. Other people are capable of picking up that torch but also Lowell positively contributing to the food industry does not require him to own a business that has a liquor license.

To the folks that say that Lowell will not have any managerial power or will not be operating any of these businesses: we have documented accounts from the people that he abused that many of the instances of abuse happened after hours. This means that Lowell didn’t need to be on shift all day, he does not need to be involved with business operations to show up after close and offer people alcohol. Furthermore, the obsession with obtaining a liquor license and the implication that serving alcohol is a necessity to his businesses after so many of the recorded instances of abuse happened after Lowell offered people alcohol, as their supervisor and owner of the business they were employed at, should raise more suspicion than it is.

To the folks who say that they will not speak out against Lowell in fear of online retaliation from the folks that Lowell has abused or their supporters: the only instances of online retaliation have come from Lowell’s own family members, like his mother and his brother who have both harassed people that I know personally, be it publicly over social media or privately via email.

Lowell’s family members have slandered the community members that Lowell has abused, saying they just want fifteen minutes of fame or that they’re just looking for money despite not seeking any monetary compensation for what has happened to them.

I have not been personally abused by Lowell Sheldon other than being mistreated as a customer service worker by him, though in my opinion the way that folks treat customer service workers says a lot about them. Regardless, I am a woman in our community that has been sexually abused, and a woman in the world that has been sexually abused by an employer in the restaurant industry. We know that this is not uncommon, or rather that it is extremely common and is something that is almost expected if you’re entering the restaurant industry. I do not accept this, and I think that we need to do everything in our power to change this. In many instances this abuse does not involve alcohol or drug abuse, but we have multiple personal accounts that claim that this is a huge factor in nearly every instance of abuse involving Lowell. This is why this discussion is being had, this is why his businesses should not be allowed to serve alcohol. I care about other people in this community, I have managed so many who have gone on to enter the restaurant industry and things like this make me feel concerned for their safety. This community loves to virtue signal at any opportunity, except for when it comes to holding their own community members accountable. We’ll show out for protests, hang flags and post signs in our yards for causes that do not actually directly affect our community, but when someone who was known as a pillar of food and farm culture in our county shows that he doesn’t deserve the trust y’all put in him you don’t want to take a hard look at that. If we’re going to pretend that we care about abuse happening to people we don’t know in other places, it’s time to start actually showing that we care about the abuse that is happening to our own community members, right here at home.

Angela Jackson
6/22/2022
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June 22, 2022
My name is Freddie Francis. I’ve lived in West County for seven years. Several survivors of Lowell Sheldon’s sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse are close friends of mine. I have been supporting them as they bravely have spoken out in support of creating a safer and healthier Sebastopol for all.

Anyone reading this knows about the multiple women and workers in our community who spoke out about their experiences of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace abuse at the hands of Lowell Sheldon. If you are reviewing these public comments, you have likely read additional accounts of harassment and manipiulation, including from my friend Lisa Kurtz, who shared her story of how Lowell Sheldon extracted $100,000 from her elderly mother without a written agreement, and with the use of alcohol as a tool of manipulation.

If you are reviewing these public comments, you are also hearing from Sheldon’s supporters, who in addition to victimblaming accusations of “seeking celebrity” and glossing over his 10+ year history of this behavior, make calls for forgiveness and redemption. I am all for forgiveness and redemption, and I strongly believe in the power of people who have committed violence to transform and heal. However, from what I have witnessed firsthand since September 2021 when articles in the SF Chronicle, Press Democrat, and Bohemian came out, it is clear to me that Sheldon is far from reformed.
● Lowell Sheldon has repeatedly breached consent by ignoring survivors’ requests for no-contact, including reaching out to victims’ family members, spouses, and friends in person, over email, and on social media.
● Summerfield Waldorf School requested that Sheldon wait in his car and have staff walk his children to his car for pickup. He at first agreed to these terms then stopped doing this after about 2 weeks, in spite of the fact that someone he sexually assaulted is also a parent at Summerfield.
● Sheldon abandoned a transformative justice process with Ahimsa Collective, and violated their written agreement to keep the process private by touting it as an indication of his reform while soliciting public comments. ● Multiple of Sheldon’s friends and family members have harassed the survivors, their family members, and supporters in person and online. Though Ahimsa Collective requested that Sheldon ask his family members to stop, the harassment has continued in the leadup to this hearing. ● On May 23rd, Sheldon sent out a letter intended to be seen only by his supporters that denied the breadth of his actions and urged them to submit public comments anonymously and directly to him “out of fear of retaliation [from survivors],” in spite of his ongoing harassment and retaliation of survivors and their supporters.

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● On June 9th, Sheldon sent a PDF of his supporters’ letters to the survivors as a means of intimidation and urged them to quit their advocacy, writing “your work to keep me from moving forward with my professional life is counterproductive. It turns many people in this community against your cause.” ● Sheldon has issued a number of contradictory statements, denying sexual harassment (with the exception of the single comment telling his employee to “come sit on daddy’s lap”) yet not denying the graphic and violent sexual assault reported in the Bohemian. In these letters he also made ridiculous claims about “no complaints ever being brought forth” during his management of Lowell’s in spite of heavily documented evidence to the contrary. He continues to emphasize how he will not be a part of Piala operations, in spite of the fact that many of his abuses and transgressions occurred out of the workplace, and when he was already banned from entering his former businesses.

Expressing the sentiment of remorse and taking accountability are different things. It’s great that Sheldon feels remorseful; that’s completely appropriate. But the work of taking responsibility, personal transformation, and integrating these lessons into his personal and professional life takes time, and Sheldon hasn’t for a second taken a pause in his entrepreneurial pursuits.

I am asking the Sebastopol Planning Commission to use their discretion in upholding the denial of an alcohol license for Lowell Sheldon and Piala LLC, out of concern for the safety of women, workers, and community members in Sebastopol and beyond.

Most sincerely,
Freddie Francis
Sebastopol
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Dear Planning Commissioners Paul Fritz, Kathy Oetinger, Zachary Douch, Linda Kelley, Evert Fernandez, Deborah Burnes
Subject: Piala
I have known Lowell as a family friend for over 10 years. In that time, I have known him to be an intent listener, deep thinker, and sensitive person. I have never thought his conduct to be inappropriate. In fact, I am consistently inspired by his determination towards ethical decision making with his businesses. Having worked in the restaurant industry for more that 16 years, Lowell’s position in the industry stands out as being among the most community minded that I have witnessed. He has been a champion for the local food systems and thoughtful aesthetic that is now an integral part of Sebastopol’s identity. Furthermore, when Lowell previously ran his restaurants, they were among the first to pay all restaurant employees fairly, and invest money from each sale to offset carbon.

With that said, Lowell’s growth and learning from his recent experiences means that his future endeavors (Piala), will go even further to move Sebastopol into a more equitable community. The incidents reported by Lowell’s former employees are indicative of a more serious societal problem regarding power imbalances and the unwanted sexualization of women. His business plan for Piala corrects his previous mistakes and ensures no employee will be left to feel powerless and without a voice. In this manner Piala will be ahead of many local businesses.

Lowell has taken responsibility for how he has impacted those around him and he has created a plan to redress the grievances. I am asking for the planning commision to appreciate the value of this restorative justice approach, and allow Lowell to once again share his talents with his community in a meaningful way. I am asking for the planning commission to not overstep their power, and to instead allow for the community to decide what businesses they want to support.

Kind regards,
Brenna Churma
San Diego, CA
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Dear Planning Commission,
I am writing in support of Lowell Sheldon. I have known Lowell and his family for over 20 years. I have worked with Lowell for periods of time on and off throughout those years. I believe Lowell to be an intelligent individual who learns from his mistakes. He is passionate about the environment, hospitality, and serving food that is responsiblysourced. He can be a little awkward in social situations. He does not always say the right thing which can come off as pretentious at times. However I believe he is dedicated to making Sebastopol a better place through supporting his community, both personally and through the lens of his businesses. He is a good person overall. We all have our struggles.

I support Piala Wine Bar opening in Sebastopol and I believe the partners involved made the right decision in hiring an HR consulting firm to handle issues if they arise. I believe it is unjust to prevent someone from operating a wine permit when they have been convicted of nothing. The city is making decisions based on opinions and hearsay, which I find disturbing. What precedent is being set by the city in regards to allowing public opinion to determine the permitting process in Sebastopol?
I believe that we owe the women who came forward in this story a show of gratitude, as they risked so much in bringing this inappropriate behaviour to light. I believe that change is already taking place, perhaps not in the ways exactly as they had hoped, but we will overcome together in an inclusive, constructive, and peaceful way to make Sebastopol a better place.

Sincerely,
Anonymous (for fear of retaliation) Sebastopol, CA
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Katheryn M. Fong
3800 Canfield Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
June 10, 2022
Planning Commission
City of Sebastopol
City Hall
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Re: Lowell Sheldon Request for Alcohol Transfer and Use Permit Dear Commissioners,
As a former member of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, I know the challenges you face in your re-consideration of the Alcohol Transfer and Use Permit requested by Lowell Sheldon. Having listened to and read testimonies of sexual harassment as a Human Rights Commissioner, I can say that incidents such as those reported by staff who worked for Lowell Sheldon do have lasting negative impacts on the victims. Post trauma recall and anxiety are real for subjects of sexual harassment. The allegations that have been brought forth by numerous former employees and Lowell’s own admission of “bad behavior” reflect the inappropriateness of this individual’s involvement with establishments serving alcohol.

As a current resident of Sebastopol, my family and I enjoy dining out in our community. We wish to do so in establishments that offer safety not only to customers, but to staff as well. I encourage you to uphold your original decision to deny the permit to Lowell Sheldon.

Sincerely,
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To the city of Sebastopol planning commission and California alcoholic beverage control:

I am writing this letter to oppose the permit application of lol Sheldon to open up a bar and restaurant in Sebastopol. In the past Mr. Sheldon has been accused of sexual harassment and serving of alcohol and drugs to underage employee minors after hours in his establishment.

Mr. Sheldon has demonstrated his lack of ethics and his lack of a real remorse in regards to the sexual allegations.

Mr. Sheldon claims to have apologized and done work to better himself. But he however continues to deny that the behavior constituted sexual harassment or assault. He also claims they were just allegations. As a family friend of one of the victims , I can tell you for a fact, the claims are real. My friend's daughter has been irrevocably harmed by the incident.

It seems that Mr. Sheldon's lack of real remorse is a signal that his judgement to operate a facility in Sebastopol with an ABC permit should prevent him from operating a facility in Sebastopol that may have minor employees, and his application should be denied.

Just the fact that employees have claimed that he served alcohol to minor employees after hours in his past establishments should be enough to disqualify him from ABC permits in the future and from opening an establishment in Sebastopol in the future.

For the above reasons I would request that he be denied a use permit and ABC license as requested in his current application..

Respectfully submitted,
Reuben Weinzveg
Sebastopol neighbor
[email protected]
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Dear Sebastopol Planning Commission,
I am writing to ask that Lowell Sheldon’s appeal for the use and alcohol permit be denied.

I have been a homeowner in Sebastopol for over 35 years. One of the women who was sexually harassed by Lowell Sheldon is the daughter of a friend of mine. I have known her since childhood and know her to be an honest person. The young women, who were sexually harassed and assaulted by Mr. Sheldon, are very courageous to stand up to this predator who abused his power as their boss. His behavior was unacceptable. In fact, even his former partners in three of his former restaurants have all severed ties with him because of his inappropriate behavior.

I have concern for any young women who work for him; especially because he is still not willing to understand or acknowledge the trauma he caused. He states that he has changed, but he still thinks the “inappropriate behavior” of which he has been accused is just the “mixing of my personal life with my business” as he stated to the Press Democrat in its May 27th issue. From his statements, I do not think he understands the severity of his behavior and that he sexually harassed and assaulted his female staff members over years while in his position of power. This wasn’t just one or two employees complaining. Twelve women came forward with great emotional distress and fear of losing their jobs and income to bring this out in the open and keep him from continuing this predatory behavior and harm. They are concerned that he is a threat to other female employees and the community, especially in an environment which sells alcohol.

I agree with the decision to deny Sheldon Lowell the use and alcohol license and I am asking for that decision to stand.

Thank you,
Jill Stocks
Sebastopol
[email protected]
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Sebastopol City CouncilAugust 31, 2022

Sebastopol City Council
August 31, 2022