Your Letters
(The Santa Ynez Valley Journal invites you to make your voice heard on things that matter to you! Please submit letters or news you’d like us to cover to: editor@syvjournal. com, info@syvjournal.com, or you can fax a letter to 805-688-1694. Letters to the Santa Ynez Valley Journal are the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher. Although we welcome the opinions of all, it is the SYV Journal’s policy not to publish personal attacks, and reserves the right to edit for length and content)
Deprivation Permits Allow Winery Owners to Shoot Deer?
It has recently been revealed to me that local wineries have been obtaining permits called, “deprivation permits”. If I understand correctly these permits allow winery owners to shoot deer that eat grapes on their property. If this is true, what happens to the deer that are killed? How many deer can each winery shoot? Is their a limit? Can they shoot females that have fawns? Have the wineries sought any other solutions other than killing? Please let me know what knowledge you have regarding this matter. I do appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
- Trish H.
Yes, this is true but it’s called a depredation permit and Fish and Game issue them. Ranchers can get them too for problem animals like coyotes or lions. Killing deer because they’re eating the vines is horrible in my mind too. The wineries that don’t kill them build eight inch fences which deprive them of habitat unlike our deer-friendly fences. Be sure to look for our next issue for a full article on this topic.
- NCH
Correction of the March 29th Los Alamos Development Article
The article in your March 29 edition headlined “LAPAC Proposes 116- Home Development in Los Alamos” contains some inaccuracies I would like to correct. I am the chair of the Los Alamos Planning Advisory Committee (LAPAC), appointed by the Board of Supervisors to give advice on developments proposed for Los Alamos, and to prepare an update to the existing 1994 Los Alamos Community Plan.
The headline itself contains two inaccuracies. First, LAPAC did not propose the Los Alamos Commons development, the landowner did. LAPAC has been asked to consider an expansion of the existing urban boundary; as such an expansion is a pre-condition to the County’s consideration of the development.
Second, the Commons developer is proposing 196 new residences, not the 116 reported.
The article asserts that “ten-year population growth goals of the 1994 Los Alamos Community Plan went unfulfilled.”
It is true that the Commons developers describe their project as an opportunity to “complete” the 1994 plan, but such a characterization is inappropriate because the 1994 Community Plan contains no quantitative growth goals or timetables for the community.
The article correctly states that residents desire more local retail services. The Los Alamos Commons developers claimed that their project would add enough households to push the town past a “tipping point” of retail demand, enabling the economy to support a hardware store, a drug store, a grocery and a doctor’s office. However, a preliminary study by the retail economics research firm Strategic Economics concluded that significant new retail would require about 4000 more households than our current 600 (your article incorrectly stated 400 new households would be required). According to Strategic Economics, which was hired by the County, significant new retail demand is more likely to come from visitors, not residents.
Finally, although the land in the proposed urban boundary expansion is zoned agricultural and contains a significant amount of Class 1 and Class 2 (best) soils, these soils might not be present on the entire parcel as your article implies, and a complete analysis of the agricultural viability of the land is still to be done.
The LAPAC members, County staff and the whole community are working collaboratively to construct a vision for the future based on fact and good analysis. That is why I believe it important to correct these inaccuracies in your March 29 article.
- Chris Wrather
Los Alamos
Thank you Chris for sending in the corrections, we apologize for the misinformation on who was proposing the development. What we said in reference to the zoning of the land was, “Complicating matters is the fact that the land the Commons would use does not fall within the existing urban boundary line is zoned agricultural and made up of class one and two (the best) soil. Changing the way that land is used would be very difficult, as policies are in place to discourage development on “agricultural land.” Our intent was not to suggest 100 percent of the land was agricultural.
Sincerely,
- SYVJ Staff
To Publisher Nancy Crawford-Hall,
My goodness! A huge thank you for your “Valley Journal!” A friend brought me by a copy dated 29 March- April ’07 and I was ecstatic with what I read. You are a blessing to Santa Barbara County but, especially to your beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. If ever there’s a cause to fight for, it’s the Valley- there is no place as grand in this world. When you go the 154 get to the top and look over that expanse of Valley. You can’t help but get religious. The Valley is sacred. Thank you greatly!!!
Articles- p. nine “it’s Just My Opinion” p. 10 “There was not a problem until the Casino”
p. 10 “Chumash Expansion continues
p. 11 “Wake up residents”
All priceless and outstanding!!!
With sincere gratitude,
- Kathy L.
Thank you Kathy, we truly appreciate your support!
- NCH
No More Slots Response to SB News Press Commentary
No More Slots is not aware of any instances while collecting signatures, like the one described in the commentary by Frances Snyder in the Santa Barbara News Press on April 5, 2007.
To the contrary all the residents that have signed the petition have demonstrated support and encouraged us to continue as we all share the same concerns.
We certainly do not support this kind of inappropriate behavior. We have not been contacted by the Sheriff’s Office regarding a complaint against us.
Again, No More Slots is saying the battle is not against the people it is against the idea. The petition is between the Government and us, we simply want our voice and our opinion heard. This is our right.
In the U.S, the right to petition is guarantee by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution. This allegation is an attempt to discredit the local residents by using diversionary tactics to deflect the argument away from the main issue “No More Slot” machines.
Despite the extreme efforts of those who oppose our opinion, (flyers being torn down, volunteers harassed, inappropriate and disrespectful emails or phone calls, full-page advertisements calling us liars, TV and radio shows calling us “wackos”, and being followed or video-taped without our consent) we, 13,000 residents, continue our goal with a clear conscience as we will not engage in any type of negative behavior.
We are about community, not about fighting, name calling or harassment. We will hope that the gaming proponents cease the name calling and defamatory comments. We will continue our battle against the expansion of slots machines, as it would be a disaster to our small community not to do so.
We will continue to progress forward in this important message to our Governor. Please join us in peace in our battle against “No More Slots”.
Thank you.
- Elisabeth Galvin, Trace Eubanks, Marilyn Simandle, Jean Hollingsworth, Jennifer Sorensen.
Not Condoning Bad Behavior
POLO was very concerned and outraged by the commentary that ran in a local paper by Frances Snyder of the disturbing interchange she had with a citizen of the Santa Ynez Valley. POLO does not support and has never allowed any sort of disrespectful comments or actions.
We are proud of our membership and their ability and willingness to understand that the issue is about flawed Federal Law and not about any individuals. At all of our gatherings, we have always stressed that the dialogue will stay focused on the issues and will not tolerate any derogatory comments.
If the claim of this individual can be confirmed as a member of POLO, we will revoke their membership immediately as this behavior will not be tolerated. Again, POLO’s position is for respectful debate as it always will be.
- Doug Herthel,
President Preservation of Los Olivos
Unacceptable Chill
I was shocked and saddened when reading this mornings commentary by Frances Snyder and troubled by the exchange she had by a citizen of the Santa Ynez community. This sort of behavior is in no way the norm here in the valley and it is not something I would stand by without comment. As President of POSY, I take great pride in our position and the attitude of our members in dealing with this very complex issue of Indian Gaming.
We have always maintained and centered our focus that this is a Federal issue and our dispute is with the Federal Government and not about any individuals. I have enjoyed many respectful conversations with Frances Snyder in the past and I think we have learned that we appreciate that we have strong differences when looking at this issue.
Today we went to the Sheriff’s Department to see who this individual is that made this verbal assault, but the Sheriff’s office has not yet released this information as of this email. I cannot confirm if this is a POSY member or not. I just want to put on the record that POSY, in no way, condones this sort of behavior and pride itself on respectful debate of the issues.
- Jon Bowen
President, POSY
Naturalists Plan Ride
An article I saw a week or so ago, caught my eye. Apparently there is a group of “naturalists” who are planning a nude bike ride to protest “against the cost and dependence on oil.”
What a deal! Our Solvang Chamber of Commerce together with our City Staff and City Council should pursue this and bring these folks here. We barely have time to get this organized—they want to ride in early June.
Think of the exposure it will bring to out fair City. Oh sure, some of the thin-skinned among us will complain that it will do absolutely nothing for our clothing stores and shirt shops, but think of how much sun block and film we can sell. I bet your bottom dollar we will have thousands and thousands of gawkers—or tourist—come out of the bushes to watch this one.
We could call the event: “Mooners ride the Sunny Valley”. In the past I have been too busy to help with some of the other biking events we have held here in Solvang, but I’d give the shirt off my back to help with this one, especially if I could have first dibs on the Godiva chocolate booth. We need to get after this; no ifs, ands or butts. Let’s get a committee together that is willing to work their bins off for this event.
- Dave Jamisson
Well Dave, I somehow missed that article, but if what you say is true… I say “What about all the kids in town? Aren’t there nudist colonies for that kind of activity?”
- MLM
Bravo SYVJournal
for your complete and unbiased coverage of the Town Hall meeting held in March. It was refreshing to see a news publication actually reporting the truth of what happened at the Town Hall meeting. I was pleasantly surprised at the positive reaction from too many people to count, at being able to get educated on the topic of possible Chumash Casino expansion plans. Most everyone appreciated the time and effort of those that participated but most made an effort to emphasize that they liked the straight business approach of presenting the facts and being able to walk away from the meeting with the proof and information as reference material.
Despite the opposition repeatedly tearing down our posters and the rainy weather, you filled the Vets Hall and sought out the truth! To those that attended....share what you have learned and implement your action plan to exercise your voice in this matter. It is your right to do so and remember that knowledge is power!
Many thanks to all that helped and contributed to a successful and informative event!
With admiration to you all,
- Teri Harmon
It is our goal to bring un-biased truth to the community, so that it may make informed decisions.
- NCH
Political Opinions
Dear SY Valley Journal Editor, I am responding to the letter vilifying Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Bill Clinton. It is obvious that the letter writer did not have the courage of their convictions enough to even put their name to the letter. This is probably because the letter is based on lies.
I could go point by point to discredit the alleged crimes. But, I think it is safe to say that both of the Clintons were thoroughly investigated by the Republicann Congress between 1994 and 2000, and the only allegation that was substantiated was the President’s lie under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. These investigations were carried out using tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer money. If there was something to be found, it would have been found.
This “unknown” letter writer even tries to blame the Clintons for the corruption being weeded out of the Congress right now. This is even more preposterous than the regurgitation of the unsubstantiated allegations levied against the Clintons over a decade ago.
The “unknown” letter writer ignores the fact that the corruption is being carried out by the exact persons responsible for bringing the allegations and ultimate impeachment of President Clinton. Their leader, Newt Gingrich has just confessed to having an extramarital affair (he’s on his third, or is it fourth?, marriage) while he was impeaching Clinton for his. The treachery that began under the leadership of Newt Gingrich in the Republican party has grown exponentially over the last 13 years, and has brought this country to a Constitutional crisis.
It is time to quit focusing on nonsense, and devote our time to fixing the real problems created by the real criminals. Hillary Rodham Clinton is no saint. But, she is not the evil person the “unknown” letter writer makes her out to be. Though I believe she has what it takes to get our country out of the dire straits it has been put in by the corrupt Republican congress and Bush administration, she is not my first choice to be our next president.
We need someone willing to stand up to the big money and make real change in our political process. Unfortunately, the odds of someone that would be willing to make these changes winning the election are very poor.
- Anita Elovitz
Response to Hillary Clinton Letter
Your by line states:” Your Valley, Your News!” and in the letter policy you say...” it is the SYV Journal’s policy not to publish personal attacks...” I would suggest you adhere to that policy and avoid the recent ‘unknown author’ kind of attack on Hillary Clinton. The innuendos and half truths all came from proven right wing political journals and have no place in your Valley Newspaper. It is your right to believe such trash, but it is your responsibility to publish verifiable facts and follow your own edict about personal attacks. It may be a better policy not to publish letters unless the writer has the courage to stand up for their convictions. Letters of this ilk are not letters but rather editorial opinions.
- Ian Bernard
It is our policy to not publish letters from people who do not identify themselves. There maybe occasions where the author is not identified to the public.
- MLM
Letter to the Editor
It’s been a long time since I last wrote about the war in Iraq. I never dreamed we’d still be sending our young men and women to be blown to bits in a war that we should never have entered. But then, George Bush had a lot of practice sending people off to die when he was Governor of Texas. I think the count, of Bush-approved executions there, is around a hundred and forty. He got good at it.
Today, seven years later, after the present count of our youngsters killed in Iraq stands around three-thousand two-hundred fifty, he’s sending in twenty- thousand more. The Iraqi deaths are in the hundreds of thousands. I told you he was good at it. All of us should pay close attention to what’s happening now in Iran.
Apparently some British military sailed into Iranian waters last week and were detained in Iran. Prime Minister Tony Blair is highly incensed and wants them released, etc. etc. This is a perfect case where George W. Bush will probably jump in soon, to help his old pal/puppet Tony Blair, and insist on sending some of our kids to Iran...thus opening yet another door to lose even more American lives.
God, how I hope I’m wrong. But just in case I’m not, please watch this current action and at the next indication that we’re going to be involved, write to, or call your congress people and forcefully insist we stay out of it, and while you’re at it, tell them you want our troops back from Iraq now. Just remember, he’s good at it!
Let Freedom Ring
- Marty Clausen