Trailer dealer seeks to supress news reports

 

The owner of a trailer sales business in Buellton that recently was involved in a spat over whether the city should permit a competing firm to conduct sales at an Avenue of Flags location moved shortly after New Year’s Day to suppress news reporting of the issue.

A letter demanding that the Valley Journal “cease and desist” from making “any implied or expressed opinions, references, or actions involving Santa Ynez Valley Trailers, America West Trailers, Inc.,” was hand delivered, and a copy was faxed to the Valley Journal office Jan. 4.

Signed by Gerri Bennett, president of America West Trailers, Inc., the letter also demanded that the Valley Journal make no reports concerning “any or all current or past employees, vendors, owners, agents or customers.” There were no attorney names or references on the letter.

 

In a telephone interview Jan. 3, Bennett complained about an article in the Dec. 21 Valley Journal describing a Dec. 13 Buellton City Council meeting during which affidavits were read into the record concerning two of five identical letters purporting to be from “Supporters of the City of Buellton General Plan” sent in October to City Planning Director Marc Bierdzinski and then-Mayor Diane Whitehair. The letters objected to the issuance of a permit allowing a horse trailer sales business to operate at 635 Avenue of Flags.

That business, All American Trailers, North, is a competitor of Bennett’s company.

The five letters were signed by G.A. Bennett, Aaron P. Bennett, Damon Devine, Miguel P. Robles and Fernando P. Robles.

 

The Robleses, who are brothers, both were employed by Bennett’s firm at that time, but they have subsequently said that their signatures were forged, according to the affidavits read into the city council record Dec. 13. The sworn statements were signed in front of a bilingual witness.

The letter to the Valley Journal from Bennett followed by one day a telephone interview initiated by Bennett during which she said that she had no knowledge of the letters.

The October letters, in four paragraphs, describe objections and opposition to the permit issued for the horse trailer dealership on Avenue of Flags, citing numerous general plan reasons for not issuing the permit.

 

The final sentence stated, “We oppose and protest the temporary and permanent land use permit at this location for the horse trailer dealership.”

The affidavits were read into the Dec. 13 City Council meeting minutes by Steve Bollinger of All American Trailers, North.

When contacted for comment about the Jan. 4 fax, the October letters and subsequent affidavits, Bollinger said he and All American Trailers, North have no comment about the matter.

But, he added, “All American Trailers, North, et al., and the Arellanos have suffered financial damages not less than $500,000 relating to loss of business and real property values. Accordingly, I cannot discuss or provide you with copies of any documents at this time pending completion of investigations and consideration of legal remedies, both civil and criminal.”

 

Steve Arellano is the owner of the property at 653 Avenue of Flags and has a permanent license to sell used automobiles on that lot.

The initial lease to All American Trailers, North was for five years, which has been amended because of the permit appeal and subsequent ruling by the Buellton City Council. The new ruling allows for a maximum of three years of business with the permit to be reviewed and possibly renewed every year.

During the Jan. 3 telephone interview, Bennett said she was concerned that the news article about the council meeting put her business in “a bad light.”

 

When asked if she had attended the meeting and listened to the statements that were read into the minutes, she said she had not been at the meeting. However, others attending the meeting reported that she did attend the session and that she stayed through the entire decision-making process.

Bennett’s Jan. 4 fax to the Santa Ynez Valley Journal added that the newspaper had published several articles “in which you make false statements naming Santa Ynez Valley Trailers. Your newspaper never contacted our company regarding any information that you published.”

Bennett could not be reached on Jan. 4 for further comment.