"I am not a public meeting enthusiast, but a public watchdog," said Mr. Sawatsky, who I just spoke with minutes ago. He attends The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meetings regularly and other government agency meetings.
There is a HCOAG (Humboldt County Association of Governments) meeting starting at 4 p.m today. At that meeting, Mr. Sawatsky just called and threw the gauntlet down challenging 5th District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg. He said he is considering a recall against Supervisor Sundberg for "his position on cannabis issues."
Before calling me, Mr. Sawatsky went to the Humboldt County Elections Office and got the criteria for a recall."In the 5th District, I need to get signatures from 20 percent of 15, 465 voters."
"I am questioning whether it is necessary to initiate a recall for 5th District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg, " said Mr. Sawatsky. "Weed greed and children do not mix."
Mr. Sawatsky claims that Supervisor Sundberg does not return his calls. Mr. Sawatsky agreed with remarks by Karen Brooks and Uri Driscoll given during this Tuesday's meeting on commercial cultivation of cannabis. Mr. Sawatsky does not want grows on TPZ land and he wants limits placed as requested by environmental groups.
Mr. Sawatsky said he intends to contact Richard Salzman to get his input on this recall.
"I don't return his calls because he calls every day," said Supervisor Sundberg. "I also met with Natalynne DeLapp and Jen Kalt last week."
Supervisor Sundberg called Mr. Sawatsky "an ineffective bully."
"Kent tries to bully and threat when he does not get his way but it doesn't work." Supervisor Sundberg also said that Mr. Sawatsky lives in Supervisor Mark Lovelace's district and in Trinity County.
Ryan is well-respected in the Fifth District. And deservedly so. I'm no fan of the phony medical-marijuana scam, (it would be better to just legalize it nationally), but elected officials being forced to grapple with the whole stupid complex mess is no reason for a recall.
ReplyDeleteRyan did not pass the recent legislative framework. As Rose noted above the law in its previous existence was a joke. I have litigated under the current law and it is terrible and confusing for both sides. I have not read new law. I have not read the new county proposal. My hunch is the new law and the county law will make it a whole lot easier for a whole lot of people to grow marijuana. If Kent is opposed to that, then that is fine. That is no reason to single out one local elected official and then try and recall him because he is trying to do his job.
ReplyDeleteExactly right.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Rose would have a different opinion if Kent was singling out Gallegos or Lovelace
ReplyDeleteI have read the new laws and I talk with my lawyer on the new laws quite regularly, and they are not going to make growing medical marijuana any easier, actually, when the new laws are in full affect it is going to make the industry extremely difficult to navigate. The number of agencies that are involved and the seed to sale tracking system, fees, and taxes... Workmans comp insurance, the list goes on and on. I have been in Humboldt for 20 years growing medicine, most people are not going to make the cut and a lot are not even going to try. The harder the superviser make it the more diesel generator grows will pop up, and more black market. Lets get real. When this medicine get legal, Humboldt is not the best climate to grow pot. It is the best place to hide and grow pot. The land grab to grow legal meds is going to be grass valley, sanoma, and places down there where the rains come in late and there is more flat land as well as water... Those of you who are in denial about marijuana and its importance in the community really need to wake up and embrace the change instead of lying to themselves. I thank Ryan Sunberg for being real about the change and for doing his best to save what really makes Humboldt survive, because it is not the logging, or wing boats, or any other industry that bring in money. Talk to the banks, they are the ones that know how much cash is brought in from the marijuana industry.
ReplyDeleteKeeping grows small will help maintain safe communities and be easier to enforce. It will also be easier for growers unaccustomed to the red tape that will accompany regulation. Grow Small or Go Away.
ReplyDeleteIndustrial grows should be done on industrial sites.
I think our supervisors are working hard on this but I also think they are missing a simple solution. Sure it will effect some of the large growers but so will the huge grows we are likely to see in the central valley.
Certainly I don't agree with Ryan on everything but he has been very good about willing to talk things out. There is no reason to recall him.