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Empowering the people of Napa County to Build a Brighter Future Together

Eyes on Napa: A New Candidate Emerges; Keep Politics Out of Ground Water Management

Elections, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Solar Panels, Uncategorized, Water

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Join Us for a Seminar on Holistic Land Management and Regenerative Agriculture

Erosion Control, Featured, land use and General Plan, Preserving our natives, Uncategorized

In support of its mission to protect and preserve the land and environment of Napa County for agriculture, ranching, and residents, Napa Vision 2050 is presenting a classroom and in-the-field seminar by Spencer Smith on Saturday, Nov 2. Smith is a field professional for the Savory Institute and a master verifier for the Jefferson Center… Read more »

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Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District Statement on Skyline Wilderness Park

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Skyline Park, Skyline Wilderness Park

This document offers an excellent summary of what is at stake and of the implications of what acquiring public parklands for affordable housing would mean. POSD Open Space summary of Skyline – affordable housing

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Eyes on Napa: Skyline Wilderness Park is in Trouble

democracy, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Skyline Wilderness Park

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Local Hero Kellie Anderson: Going Up Against PG&E’s Destruction

Climate Change, deforestation, Erosion Control, Eyes On Napa, Featured, PG&E

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Eyes on Napa: Good News! Citizens Prevail on Groundwater Plan

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Groundwater Alt Plan, Water

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Patrick Higgins: Climate Change, Upland Development, and Napa’s Drinking Water Reservoirs

Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, deforestation, Erosion Control, Eyes On Napa, Featured, land use and General Plan, Timber Conversions, Water

Climate change is causing toxic cyanobacteria proliferation world-wide including in Australia, China, New Zealand, North America and even in the Bay Area. Commonly known as blue-green algae, cyanobacteria are actually ancient organisms that are photosynthetic bacteria. These organisms thrive in warm water and, while not all cyanobacteria are toxic, species capable of producing toxins are… Read more »

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Napa Vision 2050 Letter to Director Morrison and Board of Supervisors: Small Winery Ordinance

Featured, small family wineries and farms, Uncategorized

July 18, 2019 Dear Napa County Board of Supervisors and Director Morrison, Re: Proposed Small Winery Protection and Use Permit Streamlining Ordinance. We are very concerned about this proposed ordinance and see it as further erosion to the Agricultural Preserve, a shortcut to more urbanizing influences that degrade our environment and bring more traffic and… Read more »

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Letter to Director Morrison and Planner Hade: Second Revised CAP

Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, Featured, land use and General Plan

2nd Revised CAP and DEIR comments NV2050

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Eyes on Napa: Rural, agricultural and quiet quality of life in Napa County under attack

deforestation, Eyes On Napa, Featured, land use and General Plan, Quality of Life, safety

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Eyes on Napa: Napa’s Climate Action Plan: We need a Firehose, not a dripping faucet!

Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, deforestation, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Walt Ranch

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Your Turn: Napa County needs bolder plan to fight the climate crisis

Biodiversity, Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, deforestation, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Uncategorized

By Aruna Prabhala, Center for Biological Diversity Scientific studies warn that if drastic steps are not taken, the climate crisis will irrevocably harm Napa County’s drinking water quality, wine industry, wildlife, and natural spaces. While the community waits for the county to come up with an adequate climate plan, time is running out. Read the… Read more »

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Eyes on Napa: Taking Climate Change Seriously

Biodiversity, Climate Action Plan, Climate Change, deforestation, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Uncategorized

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Eyes on Napa: Urgent: Deadline on Comments on Climate Action Plan

Climate Change, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Uncategorized

Click here for the newsletter. Use this link to sign up for Pop-up The Biggest Little Farm fundraiser for Napa Vision 2050.

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Eyes on Napa: Residents’ Succeed in Vallejo! And what are we doing about the climate?

Climate Change, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Quality of Life, Vallejo Marine Terminal/Orcam Cement Project, Water

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Eyes on Napa: Important meetings this week: Tuesday and Thursday

Biodiversity, Climate Change, deforestation, Eyes On Napa, Featured, small family wineries and farms, Water

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Napa Students’ Call to Climate Action Resolution

Climate Action Plan, Eyes On Napa, Featured

J_1_a_ClimateChangeActionResolutionNo1929_0

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Eyes on Napa: Yes this is a Climate Emergency!

Climate Change, Eyes On Napa, Featured, glyphosate/Roundupphosate, Quality of Life, small family wineries and farms, Uncategorized

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Eyes on Napa: :Planning a Future

5 G Cell Towers, Biodiversity, deforestation, democracy, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Quality of Life, Timber Conversions

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Eyes on Napa: Farming the Future

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Mountain Peak Winery, Quality of Life, small family wineries and farms, Watershed Initiative

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Urgent: Napa City 5 G Cell Tower Meeting Tuesday!

5 G Cell Towers, Eyes On Napa, Featured

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Eyes on Napa: Regional County Climate Plan

Climate Action Plan, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Solar Panels

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Mountain Peak Winery and Glyphosate Usage in Napa County

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Mountain Peak Winery, Uncategorized

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Eyes on Napa: Small Reasons to Not Cut Trees.

deforestation, Erosion Control, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Water, Watershed Initiative

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Eyes on Napa: Protecting Our Water from Glyphosate

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Mountain Peak Winery, safety

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Mountain Peak Update Press Release, April 3, 2019

Atlas Peak Fire, Featured, Mountain Peak Winery

Soda Canyon Group v. County of Napa, et al. Case No.: 17CV001063 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: April 3, 2019 Contacts: Mark Wolfe, Esq. (mrw@mrwolfeassociates.com); Anthony Arger, Esq. (anthony@nvlawyers.com), Soda Canyon Group. STATEMENT OF SODA CANYON GROUP ADDRESSING NAPA COUNTY’S EFFORTS TO REVERSE A COURT ORDER REQUIRING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO RECONSIDER APPROVAL OF MOUNTAIN… Read more »

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California licensed Pest Control Advisor Tony Norris on gyphosate/Roundup

Featured, Pesticides near schools, Uncategorized

We interviewed Tony Norris, a California licensed Pest Control Advisor (“PCA”) since the mid-80’s, about glyphosate and Monsanto’s Roundup. Although Tony is retired, he continues to renew his license every two years, taking a minimum of 40 hours of approved courses related to biological sciences and pesticide laws and regulations. Although retired, he continues to… Read more »

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Eyes on Napa: BoS approves limp ordinance: Time to Act!

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Strategic Plan, Water, Watershed Initiative

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Letter to State Senator Dodd and State Assembly Aguiar-Curry re: Senate Bill 20: Napa County Regional Parks and Open Space District re: Skyline Park

Featured, Skyline Park, Uncategorized

Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry California Assembly Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: Senate Bill 20 [Surplus State Property: Napa County Regional Parks and Open Space District] Skyline Wilderness Park, Napa, California POSITION: SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS Hon. Dodd and Hon. Aguiar-Curry: Napa Vision 2050 is a public benefit corporation formed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the… Read more »

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Eyes on Napa: ReCap of PC Vote on Trees and Water and Caldwell Winery Hearing

Biodiversity, Caldwell Winery, democracy, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Watershed Initiative

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Darms Lane Winery: Yet Another New Winery on a Quiet Country Lane! Our recommendations.

Darms Lane Winery, Featured, Public Comment, Quality of Life, Water

by Kathy Felch and Gary Margadant Yet another new winery is proposed for a yet another quiet country lane. “Darms Lane Winery” would produce 30,000 gallons of wine, have a two-story production building in the viewshed, a 3,303 square foot accessory building, a commercial kitchen and an 11,771 square foot cave. This all comes with… Read more »

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Eyes on Napa: Early March: What’s Up

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Strategic Plan, Watershed Initiative

Click here for the newsletter.Click here for our recommendations on Darms Lane Winery.

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Eyes on Napa: Le Colline: You have until Monday, February 25, to comment.

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Le Colline, Public Comment

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Angwinites Beware! The Stated Traffic Impacts in the LeColline EIR are False and the Mitigations are Unrealistic and Inadequate

deforestation, Featured, Le Colline, Public Comment, Timber Conversions

By Elaine De Man I think the people who prepared the Draft EIR are assuming that no one is going to really read it very carefully. But I just took a closer look at the so-called traffic impacts and mitigations they are using to justify this deforestation proposal and am somewhat shocked by some of… Read more »

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Some Talking points on County Staff Recommendations for Watershed Protections, Strategic Plan (from Jim Wilson)

deforestation, Featured, Strategic Plan, Timber Conversions, Uncategorized, Water, Watershed Initiative

“It’s critically important for our environment that we let trees grow old.”–Jim Wilson Letter from Jim Wilson to Supporters: (See talking points in letter) Dear friends and supporters of Measure C, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the past year with gratitude. Since the beginning, our work has only been possible because… Read more »

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Kellie Anderson: End Deforestation Now! Write our Board of Supervisors before Tuesday.

deforestation, Erosion Control, Featured, Public Comment, Timber Conversions, Uncategorized, Water

Hello Friends, I have reached out to you over the years seeking your participation in shaping Napa County land use policy to protect the forests and watersheds of Howell Mountain. At one time or another, I have asked most of you, to write a letter, attend a public hearing or contact your Board of Supervisor… Read more »

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ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM TAKES DETERMINATION AND PERSISTENCE

democracy, Featured, Timber Conversions, Uncategorized

Last week, after several years of controversy over Napa County watershed development, Pacific Union College placed 864 acres of forested land into a conservation easement after working with the Napa County Land Trust. As the new PUC President Bob Cushman said in a recent interview, “ ….the forest is an integral part of the education… Read more »

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Save the Date: Important Court Hearing on Mountain Peak Winery – Jan. 11, 2019

Definition of Ag, Erosion Control, Featured, Mountain Peak Winery, Quality of Life

The September 2017 lawsuit filed by Soda Canyon residents against the County for its abuse of discretion in approving the Mountain Peak Winery project is set for a hearing on Jan 11, 2019 starting at 8:30am in Dept. I of the Napa County Courthouse. The outcome of this hearing and case will have far-reaching impacts… Read more »

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COUNTY SUPERVISORS, KHASHOGGI AND THE ANGWIN COOKIE JAR

Compliance, Featured

Below is a letter to the editor of the Napa Valley Register by George Caloyannidis Editor: On December 4, the Supervisors are scheduled to adopt the so called Winery Compliance Resolution. If this sounds reassuring, think again. The way the County defines winery compliance is far from what the common man understands under this label…. Read more »

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Quasi-Utilities Defined: An illegal use of our Ag Lands?

Featured, Public Comment, Quality of Life, Solar Panels, Uncategorized

by Laura Tinthoff We have been informed by several County officials as well as County Counsel Laura Anderson that the General Plan Policy AG/LU-29 “contemplates” allowing public utility uses in appropriate locations. In an e-mail dated November 16, Laura stated, “As to your first question, it’s difficult to reply to your hypothetical because all projects… Read more »

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Update: American Canyon Solar Project being rushed through the planning approval process.

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Quality of Life, Solar Panels, Uncategorized

From Napa Residents for Smart Planning We have not succeeded in persuading the Developer, Renewable Properties, LLC. to withdraw the application for the Palm Drive Solar Project. In a political compromise, the American Canyon Solar project is currently being rushed through the planning approval process by the same Developer. Similar to Palm Drive, this project… Read more »

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Endorsement: Geoff Ellsworth, Mayor of St. Helena

Endorsements, Featured

Napa Vision 2050 endorses Geoff Ellsworth for Mayor of St. Helena. His ongoing work to bring water security and economic balance to the city of St. Helena and to larger Napa County is commendable. He is an uncorrupted advocate for the citizens of his city and of our county. Candidate Statement: My name is Geoff… Read more »

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Planning Commission: Wait! We need a plan on solar before we set any precedents!

Featured, Solar Panels

The “Napa Residents for Sensible Planning…No on Palm Drive Solar” are diligently working to stop the Palm Drive Solar project. We are “rounding up” the support of several local organizations and meeting with County Planners and Supervisors on a regular basis. A new “twist” has evolved that is of utmost importance to address. The developer… Read more »

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Napa Vision 2050 November 6 Election Endorsements

Endorsements, Featured, Uncategorized

Napa Vision 2050 has endorsed these local candidates. We encourage you to contribute to their campaigns… soon! Amy Martenson, for Napa Valley College, District 2 trustee http://www.amymartenson.com/ Xulio Soriano for Napa Valley College, District 4 trustee https://www.xuliosoriano.com/ Geoff Ellsworth for St. Helena, mayor http://ellsworth4mayor.com/ Donald Williams for Calistoga, city council http://www.donaldcalistoga.com/editorials.html

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Why it’s Important to Support the Suskol House Project

Biodiversity, Erosion Control, Featured, Quality of Life, Water

Suscol Intertribal Council is fundraising to build Suskol House, a meeting place on a 20-acre site in the Chiles-Pope Valley in northeastern Napa County. The purpose of this beautiful, quiet spot is “to preserve, disseminate and protect the Native American traditions, songs, dances, basketry and ceremonies of indigenous people of the Americas”. Development is experimental,… Read more »

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Your attention is needed: Winery/Vineyard Projects Up Before the Planning Commission October 3, 2018

Definition of Ag, Erosion Control, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Quality of Life, safety, Uncategorized

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, the Planning Commission will hear three applications for major modifications, all with variances, road exceptions and/or mitigated negative declarations. In light of the groundswell of citizen concerns for our community and our environment, please study the following projects and join us Wednesday in telling our Commissioners what you think. We remind… Read more »

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Heads Up! Is a PG&E Army Coming to a Tree Near You?

Featured, PG&E

This last week we heard that PG&E is flying in out-of-state crews to Northern California to enter properties without permission to cut trees within the PG&E right of way. We asked the Supervisors about the truth of this and received the following from Executive Director David Morrison. We advise you to contact either David Morrison… Read more »

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Impose moratorium on new slope vineyards until regulations are amended

Erosion Control, Featured, Groundwater Alt Plan, Timber Conversions, Wastewater Treatment, Watershed Initiative

Chris Malan Letter to the Editor, Napa Register September 2, 2018 A few weeks ago, the Napa County Board of Supervisors had a robust discussion about beginning a strategic plan process for the county and the public is encouraged to participate. Traffic, housing, children’s services, code enforcement, unchecked growth and the environment are top priorities… Read more »

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What’s Happening in Our Watersheds??

Erosion Control, Featured, Timber Conversions, Uncategorized

Become a Watershed Warrier! Get the facts on the ground! Join Kellie Anderson on a tour of the permitted hillside conversions to vineyards in Angwin and on Howell Mountain. Bring your camera and your notebook. We can do better than this! Let’s enter the discussion on policy change to protect our fragile upper watersheds. Be… Read more »

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Measure C: What Next?

Featured, Quality of Life, Watershed Initiative

Letter to the Editor, Napa Valley Register. George Caloyannidis, Calistoga Measure C was defeated by a mere 600 or so votes among the 36,000 cast. In the face of an extraordinarily high 47 percent voter participation for a primary election, the issue – far from resolved – is at its tipping point, serious enough for… Read more »

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An Open Letter to the Board of Supervisors: Re-Planting Acorns is Not Enough.

Featured, Timber Conversions, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

Caption for Picture: Napa Vision 2050 and RCD, November 2017, Re-oaking savanna above Dry Creek Road An Open Letter to the Board of Supervisors (LTE, Napa Register, May 26, 2018): I applaud your decision supporting the planting of oaks in Napa County, as well as considering the replanting of conifers lost in the October fires… Read more »

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Duane Cronk: 1924 – 2018

democracy, Featured, Timber Conversions, Uncategorized

The rural hamlet of Angwin has lost a presiding spirit. Duane Cronk is gone. Duane was a founding member of Save Rural Angwin. He was our mentor and good friend. As our senior advisor, he helped us to see the long view and to understand the fleeting nature of success or failure. He was indefatigable,… Read more »

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Follow the Money: Who is funding No on Measure D? Who is funding Bill Dodd?

democracy, Featured, Heliport Initiative, Uncategorized

The Bill Dodd/ Palmaz Connection: Christian Palmaz has already taken over 1200 hours of Napa County Planning Department time on his private heliport application, which has been turned down by the Planning Commission (4-1) and the Airport Land Use Commission (6-1). He has appealed the decision to the Board of Supervisors postponed until July after… Read more »

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Get A Grip Gazette: Yes on C; Yes on D

democracy, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Heliport Initiative, Quality of Life, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

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Video: Yes on D: Keep Landings Where They Belong: not in your backyard!

Featured, Heliport Initiative

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Video: Don’t Cut Them Down! Vote Yes on C!

Featured, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

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The Initiative Process as Provided for in our State of California Constitution

democracy, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Heliport Initiative, Watershed Initiative

Article II, section 1 of our California Constitution provides “All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require.” Section II goes on to describe the initiative process as one of the… Read more »

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The Word’s Getting Around!– Time to Pull Back!!

Featured, Quality of Life, Watershed Initiative

The following Letter to the Editor appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle after the April 9 front page article, “Napa’s Split over the Land’s Future”. Our voices are so important! Don’t let Big Money decide the fate of our hillsides and watersheds.

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Press Release: “NO ON C CAMPAIGN THROWS IN THE TOWEL, AGREES TO ACCEPT COURT ORDER DIRECTING IT TO CORRECT FALSE AND MISLEADING STATEMENTS IN BALLOT ARGUMENTS”

democracy, Featured, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 6, 2018 CONTACT Nina Erlich-Williams for Yes on C C: 415-577-1153, nina@publicgoodpr.com Per state law, the court can only approve changes to ballot arguments that have been shown to be objectively false and misleading Napa, Calif. – The Napa County Superior Court today ordered that five objectively false and misleading statements… Read more »

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Interview with Measure Yes on D Author George Caloyannidis: Why We Need to Stop the Permitting of Private Heliports

Featured, Heliport Initiative, Quality of Life, safety

What is your history in the Napa Valley? I moved to the Napa valley in 1998 from Los Angeles where I lived in the Hollywood Hills across from Universal Studios where I still maintain a home. And this is where the story begins. What inspired you to author the initiative to stop private heliports? The… Read more »

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Duane Cronk: Eyes on Napa, May 2016: Can the Vote Defeat Big Bucks?

democracy, Featured, Walt Ranch, Watershed Initiative

Photo: Duane advocating in another year Duane Cronk wrote the following article for Eyes on Napa for the May 2016 newsletter. We reprint it here, in our remembering Duane Cronk series. His message has only proven to be more relevant. –Editor Today, Napa Vision 2050 is working diligently to elect someone who will represent our… Read more »

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Bill Hocker on Property Rights.

democracy, Featured, Heliport Initiative, Watershed Initiative

The following Letter to the Editor to the Napa Valley Register addresses an all too familiar argument against Measure C (watershed and oak woodland protections), and we might add, Measure D (no private heliports): the impingement on private property rights. Hocker puts this argument in context of objections from landowners 50 years ago, when the… Read more »

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Berkeley James Conaway Reading: Napa at Last Light

Featured, Heliport Initiative, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

Wake up, Voters! It is not too late! Corporate and wealthy interests need not eclipse the environment and the needs of the community. Educate yourself! Use the ballot! This is James Conaway’s message in the latest book of his trilogy, Napa At Last Light:America’s Eden in an Age of Calamity. At his reading at the… Read more »

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Thumbs up to the Planning Commission!

democracy, Featured, Quality of Life, safety, Tourism and Traffic, Uncategorized

On Wednesday, March 7, in a stunning vote of 4-0, the Napa County Planning Commission sent Caldwell Winery back to the drawing board after Coombsville residents objected to a number of issues, including a faulty traffic study, fire danger, and an increase of 700% visitation in an area that is residential. “While we, of course,… Read more »

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Beware! What to do if you get a call for your opinion: Yes, they are using push polls!

democracy, Featured, Uncategorized

What’s a “push poll”? These are neither polls nor research and are a very expensive, controversial, negative political campaign practice. The big-money corporate wineries that are working to defeat a measure they see threatening their profits are already using American Directions Research Group, a Washington, D.C.- based firm to conduct them, right here, right now,… Read more »

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Caloyannidis to BOS: Thank you for reopening the public hearing on the Blakeley Initiative.

democracy, Featured, Public Comment, Uncategorized

Dear Napa County Supervisors, I am pleased that you decided to reopen the public hearing on the Blakeley initiative at tomorrow’s hearing. It is the only way the public has the opportunity to opine on this unusual BOS decision. I was highly concerned over the rationale Introduced by Supervisor Dillon and adopted by Supervisors Ramos… Read more »

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got Water? Better Vote Yes on Measure C!

Featured, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

The Good News First! The 2018 Watershed and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative is now Measure C on the June 5 ballot! On February 27, the Board of Supervisors okayed the Measure for the Ballot. Now the bad news. The Board of Supervisors hired the law firm of Miller Starr Regalia for the legal analysis of… Read more »

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A wake up call for democracy in Napa

Featured, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

From www.protectnapawatersheds.org: Is This Better Informing the Electorate, or a Corrupt Waste of Taxpayer Dollars? The election code requires that an independent analysis of ballot initiatives be commissioned to better inform voters and the Board of Supervisors on the impact of the measure. There are law firms that do these kinds of analyses, and it… Read more »

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Protect our Air and Peace and Quiet: Yes on Measure D

Featured, Heliport Initiative

Heliport Initiative:Measure D Q: What does the Helicopter Initiative do? A: The Helicopter Initiative would prohibit private helicopter landings and take-offs to and from residences. They would still be permitted at two airports at either end of the county, one in Angwin and one south of Napa. Q: Why is it important to limit helicopter… Read more »

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Who Saved the Napa Valley Since 1968?

Featured, Heliport Initiative, Public Comment, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

Letter to the Editor, Napa Valley Register. George Caloyannidis 2/15/18 When Senators and House members run for reelection, they invoke the number of successful bills they have sponsored. Such bills, for better or for worse shape the future of our country and our lives. If you think about it, why would anyone run for office… Read more »

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Walt Ranch Update

Featured, Uncategorized, Walt Ranch

There was a great turnout at the February 13th hearing on the merits for Walt Ranch in the Napa Superior Court before Judge Warriner, a visiting Judge from Placer County. The Court issued a Tentative Decision denying all three petitions prior to the hearing. Thomas Lippe, attorney for Living Rivers Council, presented his oral argument… Read more »

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Mountain Peak Winery Hearing and the Atlas Peak Fire

Atlas Peak Fire, Featured, Mountain Peak Winery

During the County hearings on the Mountain Peak Winery project, numerous Soda Canyon residents and other Napa citizens implored the County to significantly reduce the project size. With the requested 14,575 annual visitors bringing 40,000 additional vehicle trips to the very end of the 6.75 mile dead-end Soda Canyon Road, the proposed Mountain Peak Winery… Read more »

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Threats to Public Comment Avoided?

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment, Uncategorized

The Rules of Conduct for Napa County’s Planning Commission are 10 years old. In early December, staff brought forth suggested updates to time limits on verbal comments as well as submission guidelines for written and electronic media. Pretty straight forward on the surface. All Commissioners agreed to staff’s suggestions. The discussion then focused on how… Read more »

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A Collaborative Effort Between Vintners and Environmentalists Goes a Distance in Protecting our Water Supply and Our Environment

Biodiversity, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Tourism and Traffic, Watershed Initiative

Although Climate change is a huge global issue we have an opportunity to positively address it at our local level. Two Napa residents, Jim Wilson down valley, and Mike Hackett in Angwin, have collaborated with conscientious members of the wine industry to write a balanced initiative that acknowledges both the environmental and economic value of… Read more »

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Death of Democracy? Napa County Planning Commission brainstorms ways to be more efficient

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Public Comment

Many of us who have participated in County Planning Commission meetings agree that there should be a better way to have our voices heard, have confidence that our concerns matter, and balance the time and process given to the applicant and the public. The Planning Commission met on Dec 20, 2017, intending to devise a… Read more »

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Napa County Oak Woodland Watershed Protection Initiative of 2018

Biodiversity, Erosion Control, Eyes On Napa, Featured, Quality of Life, Uncategorized, Watershed Initiative

In June, our voters will have an opportunity to vote on the Watershed and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative to enhance protection that will maintain the balance that is needed to protect our water resources here in Napa Valley. The ballot initiative was developed collaboratively by a group of Napa area residents, interested in the long… Read more »

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NAPA VISION 2050 IS SPONSORING A HELICOPTER INITIATIVE IN THE UPCOMING JUNE 2018 ELECTION

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Heliport Initiative, Quality of Life, Watershed Initiative

THE INITIATIVE CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS: 1) This initiative will prevent proliferation, noise, pollution and accidents as well as the establishment of helicopter taxi services as in other communities.Private use helicopter landings and take offs to and from residences would increasingly impact the Napa valley quality of life as it has in other most desirable… Read more »

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After the Fires: Redwood Rustling on Our Hillsides. Who’s in Charge Here?

Eyes On Napa, Featured

Our supervisors need to hear from you! PG&E has hired teams of tree cutters and arborists from out of state to work on the right of way/easements for the PG&E power line. These hired-saws appear to have no idea about redwood resiliency after fires. A research study after the 2008 fires in the coastal redwood… Read more »

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After the Fires: Who “first responded” to you?

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Quality of Life

Napa Vision 2050 is concerned about the lack of alerts and promised safe egress in the October fires. Not only were there no Nixle alerts on Atlas Peak and Mt. Veeder, but there were no sirens. Furthermore, after being assured by County Fire Chief Barry Biermann during the appeal hearing on Soda Canyon’s Mountain… Read more »

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Congress, Don’t politicize our Forests!

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Timber Conversions

After the fires, our Northern California oak woodlands and forests need our protections more than ever. Much is known about how forests recover from fire; we need our governing officials to rely on the experts and not on political agendas. Our forests are integral to the health of our watersheds and to our water supply…. Read more »

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Wait! Not so Fast! Don’t cut those trees! They are important to our water supply!

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Uncategorized

Native oak woodlands and forests are critically important to our groundwater levels and surface runoff, and never more so than now in this time of changing climate. Being the most biodiverse ecosystem in California, oak woodlands provide abundant habitat for native plants and animals, including hollows in trees and snags from fire. The greater the… Read more »

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NAPA COUNTY WATERSHED AND OAK WOODLAND PROTECTION INITIATIVE OF 2018

Featured, Watershed Initiative

This Initiative provides vital environmental protections for Napa’s precious oak woodlands and watersheds. It is the product of years of discussions among a wide variety of stakeholders in Napa County, all of whom were interested in finding a common-sense approach to protecting our important natural resources and ensuring responsible development. Read the FINAL TITLE AND… Read more »

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Hope in Regrouping and Replanting: Acorns to Oaks

Eyes On Napa, Featured

Join Napa Vision 2050 and RCD (Resource Conservation District) on Saturday, November 11, from 10 am to noon, to plant acorns and hope in the hills west of Napa. We will be planting valley oak, black oak, and the most fire resilient of all, coastal oak acorns. After planting, enjoy lunch provided by Napa… Read more »

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Our Home, One Week Later

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Quality of Life

Recovery The Napa Valley is our home, not a destination. And while we don’t think anyone is trying to pretend the fires that ravaged Napa County didn’t happen, we can’t just let the last ember burn out and suddenly slap a “Now Open!” sign up, either. Society often engages with stories of intense human tragedy and despair… Read more »

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An Update

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Uncategorized

Hello Friends of Napa Vision 2050, We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Napa Valley community wanting to help those affected by the fires. We are forever grateful to the first responders, who are on the front lines of these fires protecting our community. Keep taking care of each other, as this isn’t over yet and for… Read more »

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Rescued Livestock Need Your Help!

Eyes On Napa, Featured

Hello Friends of Napa Vision 2050, Thank you to all of our friends for the tremendous response and outreach we have received this week amidst the wildfires ravaging our area. We are grateful to the countless emergency responders who are here and for their tireless efforts to protect our community. We send all of our… Read more »

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The Last Train is Leaving the Station

Eyes On Napa, Featured

What Are THEY Doing to our sense of Place? There’s a deep sadness when we lose a friend. We miss the familiarity and good times we’ve spent together over many years. Similarly there’s a profound sadness when you no longer recognize what had been your home and your community. You no longer recognize it… Read more »

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Lawsuit filed against Napa County over Mountain Peak decision by Supervisors

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Watershed Initiative

A lawsuit was filed yesterday in Napa Superior Court by concerned Napa residents and property owners of the Soda Canyon Community challenging the County’s recent approval of the Mountain Peak Winery. MOUNTAIN PEAK WINERY – A Dangerous Precedent On August 22, 2017, the Board of Supervisors issued their final decision approving Mountain Peak Winery…. Read more »

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Napa Vision 2050 announces support for the Napa County Watershed and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative of 2018.

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Watershed Initiative

With great pleasure, Napa Vision 2050 announces our support for the Napa County Watershed and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative of 2018. Last year more than 6,300 citizens signed petitions to qualify the Water, Forest and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative for the November 2016 ballot. All those signatures were gathered by over 80 local volunteers… Read more »

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Bye, Bye Birdie!

Eyes On Napa, Featured

Napa Vision 2050 celebrates a win today: citizens’ voices were heard on the Palmaz Heliport! Yesterday, in a great win for the citizens of Napa County, the private Palmaz Heliport was denied a permit by both the Airport Land Use Commission and the County Planning Commission. Through the hard work of NV2050 and other… Read more »

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Have our Board of Supervisors Gotten Religion?

Eyes On Napa, Featured

“What I see before us is that next step in terms of taking compliance to the next level,” county Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said. This reported in the Wednesday, August 30, 2017, Napa Register regarding code compliance. Our Board of Supervisors say they are going to set deadlines for after-the-fact applications and get really tough. We… Read more »

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Want to get more involved? Your Community Depends on It!

Compliance, Eyes On Napa, Featured

What you Can Do Now. Two weeks ago we held a Town Hall meeting where over 125 engaged Napa residents turned out to express their concerns about the rapid growth of the tourism industry in our Valley and their ideas for possible solutions to its negative impact on our quality of life. Several suggestions were… Read more »

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Time to Take a Hard Look at Sustainability.

Eyes On Napa, Featured

California lawmakers met at the Napa Valley College Wednesday to explore two problems in the wine industry: sustainability and farmworker housing. State Senator Bill Dodd stated at the beginning that he hoped to “take away best practices and promote those practices across the wine industry and other agricultural sectors.” Ideas were exchanged and there were… Read more »

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When Governing Powers go Rogue.

Featured

A Challenge to the County’s Compliance with the Law by The Alliance for Responsible Governance In a letter dated August 11, 2017, the environmental law firm Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, representing The Alliance for Responsible Governance, a group “whose members are strong supporters of the sustainable economic growth in Napa County within the context of the agricultural… Read more »

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Concerns About Napa County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP)

Eyes On Napa, Featured

Concerns about Napa County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) (see the plan and comments at http://www.countyofnapa.org/CAP/)The CAP doesn’t provide a path for meaningful emissions reductions because: 1. It isn’t based on current climate science. • The CAP accounting method was selected “to maintain consistency with latest statewide inventory (for 2015) prepared by California Air Resources Board (CARB).”… Read more »

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Watershed Initiative set back

Featured

Dear supporters of the Water, Forest and Oak Woodland Protection Initiative, I’m very sorry to have to report this sad news. We received word yesterday that our appeal has been denied. Our attorneys disagree with the decision, of course, and are studying the opinion and considering our options. It is indeed annoying, and incredibly disappointing… Read more »

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A Community Vision- Napa County to Host Roundtable Discussions

Eyes On Napa, Featured, Tourism and Traffic

Napa County will host a series of local meetings throughout the valley to gather input and ideas for a community vision that can help shape the Board of Supervisors priorities. Meetings will be conducted in English and Spanish. The Register article on the first meeting is here: NVR 3/25/17: Citizens pepper Napa County leaders with… Read more »

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