HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Chris Sommers - No Marijuana Business in Oroville Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Bennett, Robin
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 12:32 PM
To: Menchaca, Clarissa
Cc: McCracken, Shari
Subject: FW: No MJ Biz in Oroville
Please see the attached email BCS correspondence from Chris Sommers for your record.
RoAat Ecomem
(530), 872-6304 rbenn.ett&buttecotay'y.stet
Beelte Couray SuIoTrisor's Office
SulwrilisorDoug, 7'evier.
District 5
747 1�111 oil Road
1"aradisel, CA 95969
From: chris@mwaranch.com <chris@m!waranch.com>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2018 12:19 PM
To: Lois Miller<miIIerbIossoms@comcast.net>; Sandy Linville<slinville@orovillechamber.com>;
contact@orovillestrong,org; Honea, Kory<KHonea@buttecounty.niet>; info@buttefarmbure,au.com; Connelly, Bill
<BConnelly@buttecounty.net>;Wahl, Larry<LWahI@buttecounty.net>; Kirk, Maureen<M Kirk@ buttecounty.net>; BOS
District 4<District4@buttecounty.net>;Teeter, Doug<DTeeter@buttecounty.net>; Ida himeier@cityoforoville.org;
Ramsey, Mike <MRamsey@buttecounty,net>; blagrone@oropd.org; abyers@oropd.org; Chris Nicodemus
<cnicodemus@oropd.org>;Jeanne Cecchi <jeannececchi@comcast.net>; Andrew Coolidge
<and rew.coolidge@chicoca.gov>
Subject: No MJ Biz in Oroville
Dear All,
I want to second everything which Lois and Jeanne have written below. I've written my own letter to the
Oroville City Council expressing my views; many of you received copies. As most of you know, I was
deeply involved in the "Alphabet Measures," helping with the campaign for A vs.B, and basically leading
the campaigns for G,H and against L. My position was not coming from an idealogical position on M3. It
was from basic survival. My little town of Bangor was being invaded by out-of-town pot-growing dirtbags.
Our safety was threatened by menacing individuals and groups. Fighting these battles brougiht me into the
world of Butte County politics,, government and law enforcement. I made many friends alongi the way and
don't regret the journey. It made me really care about Butte County.
One thing which stood out clearly was the overwhelming support for our position by People of Quality
against the rampant MJ industry, legal or otherwise. By People of Quality, I refer to;
- Butte Co. Board of Supervisors
- Law Enforcement - Sheriff Honea, D.A. Mike Ramsey, Chico Police Chief O'Brien, ex-Sheriff's Smith and
Re,niff, Peace Officer's association!
- Congressman Doug LaMalfa, Assemblyman James Gallagher
- A majority of the Chico City Council and Downtown, Bus., Association
- Butte. Co Farm Bureau, Butte Co. Cattlemans Assoc., CA Caittlemans Asssoc.
- Well-known agricultural, ranching, educational, medical and other professional leaders
- Many long-time, solid residents who gave money, time and words of support
I
Many of these same people have expressed their concerns before Oroville City Council and were snubbed
by the "Gang of Five."
In contrast, who was on the side of the MJ trade in Butte Co. during the Alphabet campaigns?
- Andrew Merkel, a hostile and arrogant drug dealer
- Dan Levine, a mentally unstable drug dealer/manufacturer
- Rob Mackenzie, a lawyer working for the pot heads
- Jessica MacKenzie (no relation to Rob above), a paid shill for the drug trade, and her husband
- Alan Chamberlain, an over-the-top hostile megalomaniac who uses intimidation tactics and hyperbole
- A bunch of rag-tag losers, stoners, drug dealers and opportunists
- Judith Schroeder, a holistic medicine practitioner
- A few seemingly sincere patients and many more whacko "patients" screeching their demands
Similarly, in the Oroville City Coucil meetings, the few supporters were mostly uneducated slobs who
couldn't even understand the difference between Prop 64 and local ordinances. They were vastly
outnumbered by articulate and educated upstanding people, pastors, politicians, etc. Anybody from
outside would look at the resulting vote and wonder "WTH happened?" Either the Gang of Five are
colluding or they've become Pod People.
The current behavior of the council is unfathomable. We can't stand by while moneyed interests destroy
Oroville, which will cause a domino affect all over the county. This is not an "Oroville problem." This is a
cancer invasion which will metastasize throughout the county and entire region. The evidence is in
Colorado.
Please do what you can to help prevent this from happening.
Regards,
Chris Sommers
Bangor
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: I absolutely agree with Jeanne Cecchi Re: Colorado 5-year
result study
From: Lois Miller <millerblossoms(o)comcast.net>
Date: Fri, March 16, 2018 10:46 am
To: Sandy Linville <slinville@orovillechamber.com>,
"contact@orovillestrong.org." <contact@orovillestrong.orq>,
"Khonea@ buttecount .net" <Khonea@buttecounty.net>,
"info(ftuttefarmburea,u..com" <info@buttefarmbureau.com>, "Connelly, Bill"
<BConnelly( buttecoun_y.net>, "Lwahl@buttecounty.net"
<Lwahinbuttecounty.net>, "Mkirkp_buttecounty.net"
<Mkirk(c buttecounty.net>, "District4(cb Buttecounty,net"
<District4(&Buttecounty.net>, "DTeeter(cbbu,ttecountv.net"
<DTeeter@buttecounty.net>, Ida hlmeier(�cityoforoville.org, Chris sommers
<chris@mwaranch.com>, MRamsey(&buttecounty.net, blagrone(d)oropd.orq,
abyers@oropd.org, Chris Nicodemus <cnicodemus(&oropd.orq>, Jeanne Cecchi
<jeannececchi@comcast.net>
Hello good people in charge,
I'm supporting and weighing in on Jeanne Cecchi's email below.
I agree 100% with Jeanne. Her points of concern are the
same as mine.
2
Furthermore, where ARE the City people, the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business
Association members on this marijuana over the counter drug sale decisions by your City
Council? I can't vote in city limit issues, but i can decide where to drive, stop, park and
shop! I've written my letters to your City Council "Five" expressing my concerns.
Just what do people think will happen with an influx of more dope related individuals to this
town? It's a mess now!!! I can't believe the transients I see openly walking around smoking pot as
I drive, through on city streets.These are not Butte County people coming through here. What's
next?
Who stands to make the most money on dope? It isn't this city or county. All of us in the county
will pay the clean up price for more crime, illness, court, probation, accidents, addiction and
environmental damage costs related to dope.
Meanwhile every single day, the city taps into county fire and county sheriff resources that
county taxpayers fund. We fight hard to keep county deputies in patrol cars and our precious
county fire stations staffed and open, yet the City Council, residents and non residents are
entitled" to county first responders and judicial system, without remuneration?
Butte County Admin works hard to keep the budgets funded, yet the city " takes"'without a care!
Its not fair.
Once these dope people cause accidents, problems or are arrested, they stay here on probation
and welfare which is more cost to county tax payers. Why ask and advertise for more trouble?
It's the domino effect with expensive consequences! There is no financial benefit.
I read that the city council is spending $40,000 for a lawyer to write dope sale ordinance,
meanwhile the city and county can't afford enough law enforcement and Firefighters/ medical
emergency response to cover needs. Nor
have they approved or spent the money to keep people safe from another dam spillway incident
or fire with a loud warning alert siren on the municipality auditorium, Its all upside down and
crazy.
Our roads are a mess and we can't afford to, fix damage and dangerous situations created from
the fires and floods in the city and county; yet, these "Five" City Council people expect us(
county tax payers) to pick up the tab for the crime, accidents, medical problems caused by the
out of town " dope shoppers" who get into trouble in city limits and incur that cost on our system
and limited county budget. Its outrageous.
Do city folk understand just why county taxpayers might be a bit miffed about this ludicrous plan
to sell pot over the counter? I'm more than miffed. I'm disgusted,
I'm not preaching to the choir here, I'm asking all of you, WHAT GIVES? I've written to all of the
City Council on this nonsense. They don't care. The audacity and arrogance of"The Five '" is
astounding. They should all be ashamed of their agenda and I've told them so in writing.
We worked very hard on what I call " The Alphabet Measures A, G, H,L" over the past 5 years to
control marijuana after the 99 marijuana plant ordinance debacle. Now the City wants to bring
MORE dope traffic into Butte County? The sad consequences are in other city reports where the
same mistake was made with dope sales,
It's just a disgrace. These 5 people and their" decision" to bring more drug traffic into this town,
will destroy the fabric of this community. These studies done by municipalities are not a joke.
People can legally grow what pot they need for personal use. I was hoping for the best only to
see this community blindsided by 5 Oroville City Council members who have no respect for the
law or people in the city and county who voted and pay taxes!
3
Clearly, in this travesty, what "The Five"' on the Oroville City Council are trying to pass is
AGAINST Federal law.
You, in business and government positions, all have to follow and obey federal laws, which you
respectfully do! We all, as decent law abiding citizens, follow county, state and federal laws and
codes.
Why doesn't the Oroville City Council? How are they getting away with this? What makes them
exempt from following rules? Rules prevent chaos. From the news, it seems like chaos has
descended upon City Hall.
I've asked for the $$$$ numbers of how many millions of dollars in over the counter marijuana
drug sales have to would take to give the city the money they need to stay afloat. AND, how
much of that" drug sales tax " would the city actually see after the machine in Sacramento gets
their admin take? To date, no response and I've yet to see those numbers discussed publicly.
People talk in circles without facts!
This situation is just ludicrous, criminal, immoral and downright stupid. Now, ask how I really
feel!
I've seen the crime, filth, stink, traffic and disruption caused from dope growing right by my
house in my sweet little neighborhood. It was an abomination. Measures A , G, H, with BC Code
enforcement and SEU, cleared the majority and the problem out for now. What happens in town,
spills out into the county.
So what happens next? Is this criminal behavior going to be permitted? These people in
government jobs are clearly breaking the law and are disrespecting the United States law,
What about county - city vote outcome on alphabet measures and no commercial grows here?
Is that next? Big grows in town limits? If THEY, City Council, don't have to abide federal law, why
would state, county laws and ordinances matter? When and how will this disregard for law by
govt officials end? What or who is behind all of this nonsense, big out of county dope interests?
Is the Butte County Grand Jury involved yet? Isn't their job to also monitor government?
I've written my letters to City Council, I've tried to helping keep this community safe too. What
is going on? Where us the check and balance in government here?
I might ask too many questions and am long winded, but I care deeply about the safety and
health of my family, friends, community and county. I support Jeanne Cecchi's spunk and guts
for her voice in expressing her opposition.
Something is very wrong here in the City of Oroville. How is it that our Mayor and one city
council
member, trying to be heard with an opposing voice of law and reason, are being bullied here? I
feel very badly for them. Our town is being politically ripped apart.
I truly hope and pray this travesty can be stopped by the government system of checks and
balances that should have been activated at the local, state and federal levels. There is nothing I
can do beyond hope the system doesn't fail us.
Lois Miller
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 15, 2018, at 10:23 PM, Jeanne Cecchi <jean nececch i(d)comcast.net> wrote:
4
I hope that the Chamber of Commerce and others take a good look at this
5-year study. It is a predictor of what could happen to Oroville and none
of it is good for the reputation or the future of Oroville.
-Youth and School Impacts
-Selling to Minors
-Social Justice
-Hospital and ER Visits
-The Black Market
-Crime
-The Workplace
-Impaired Driving
Branding Oroville with this type of reputation does not help the residents,
schools, children or businesses, and it DETRACTS from our beautiful
family recreational and farm areas. Since the City Council has decided
NOT TO ALLOW residents a vote on the matter, we all have to trust that
our Board of Supervisors, Chamber, Sheriff's Dept., Farm Bureau,
Downtown Businesses and residents will all come together to let the
Council members know it is NOT what the people in this County want.
We defeated Measure B, We passed Measures G & H, and we defeated
Measure L, despite being outspent by the other side. It ALSO VIOLTATES
FEDERAL LAW. What clearer indication is needed that Oroville is the
wrong place for the marijuana industry?
Jeanne Cecchi
<20,18StudyCOExecSu mma ryMAC-3-5.pdlf>