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Opinion
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- Written by: Susanne La Faver
Several savvy Lake County destinations are leveraging a prestigious Bay Area event by donating silent auction wine and lodging packages to attract new guests and customers.
The San Francisco Public Relations Round Table’s annual holiday lunch and scholarship fundraiser is Tuesday, Dec. 4, at St. Francis Hotel on Union Square from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Scholarship funds benefit public relations students at Golden Gate University, where I teach, and San Jose State University.
My personal thanks for generous scholarship fund silent auction donations go to Chasewater. Inc., wine company and olive mill; Edgewater Resort; Harbin Hot Springs; Langtry Estates; Tallman Hotel; and Twin Pines Casino.
Founded in 1939 by the titans of PR in San Francisco’s bustling business community, the San Francisco Public Relations Round Table serves senior-level public relations practitioners who meet regularly to hear fascinating speakers, share information, stay on top of trends in industry, business and the media, and enjoy the company of colleagues with similar interests.
Guest speakers Dec. 4 are CBS political analyst Phil Matier and fellow journalist Andy Ross. They co-write a news column for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Event sponsors include Wells Fargo Bank, Burston-Marsteller, BusinessWire, Landis Communications, TOBIN and Associates, Delta Dental, The Hess Collection and Harden Communications Partners.
There is still time for Lake County organizations to donate unique products, services or experiential opportunities like fishing trips, vineyard tours, private cooking lessons, nature walks or hard hat tours, etc.
To make donations, please contact Whitney Greer,
Susanne La Faver is public relations professor at San Francisco’s Golden Gate University, www.ggu.edu . She lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Rebecca Curry
The promoters of Proposition 32 are bombarding the airwaves, saying it will “keep special-interest money out of politics.”
It won’t, and it was never meant to.
Proposition 32 is a trap that sells California politics to corporations.
If it passes, union members won’t be able to contribute to political campaigns, even if they want to.
The voices of working people will be driven out of politics.
Meanwhile, these “people” will still be able to make political contributions: LLC’s (limited liability corporations), LLP’s (limited liability partnerships), REIT’s (real estate investment trusts), sole proprietorships, SuperPACs, various kinds of investment firms like hedge funds (Bain Capitol, anyone?).
Super PACs undermine democracy no matter which side they favor, and campaign finance reform is an absolute necessity.
Anti-labor interests are already outspending unions nationwide by a ratio of more than $15 for every $1 spent by unions.
Between 2000 and 2011, that amounted to $700 million spent by anti-labor forces, while unions spent just a little more than $284 million.
Could Wall Street risk-takers, CEOs and the one-percenters use this measure as a vehicle to channel millions of dollars to candidates?
Of course they could.
Do they have the money and talent to set that up if it doesn’t already exist? Of course they do.
If you liked Citizen’s United, you’ll love Proposition 32.
It needs to be stopped on Nov. 6.
Rebecca Curry lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Eva Johnson
I recently saw a draft expenditure plan on the potential use of funds that will be generated by the Measure E sales tax proposal.
The majority of the monies would be spent on the quagga mussel prevention, and the weeds and algae part will be the same old process that has been done these past years, which is not working!
The invasive species (quagga) expenditure was very specific, but the algae process was very vague and the weed program is much the same we have been doing.
Nobody is thinking of trying something new – like maybe a pilot project of nutrient removal so weeds and algae don’t grow.
I can’t vote for this kind of increase in the sales tax without some assurance that there will be some change in the process and accountability.
The Clear Lake Advisory Committee has monthly meetings and I have been attending. I was told by my supervisor they are checking on the lake and advising the board. Is the Board of Supervisors listening?
If you care as I do about the Clear Lake (our jewel) contact your supervisor and ask questions before we commit to something we have no control over.
The CLAC meets on the fourth Friday of the month at the supervisors chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport, at 9 a.m. It next meets on Oct. 26.
See you there – ask questions and find out what’s going on before you vote to pass this measure.
Eva Johnson lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Nola Montgomery
Judy Conard is running for Judge on her qualifications. I’ve decided to vote for her because in my assessment, there is no question she has the broader, more comprehensive, experience to offer.
No ill intended, but Judy’s opponent does not have the full range of experience I think we need in a Superior Court Judge. He does not have prosecutorial experience at all while Judy has worked both as a prosecutor and a public defender.
Also, Judy’s taken many jury trials to verdict and it seems her opponent has not – at least from what I’ve been able to determine from reading his campaign literature.
Another thing that really impresses me about Judy is how hard she’s worked to get where she is today. Imagine earning a law degree at night while raising a family and working full time as a teacher? That takes a high degree of commitment and dedication, two important attributes she will bring to the judiciary.
I checked Judy’s website and noticed that she’s been endorsed by a cross-section of people in our county, including two judges, the superintendent of schools, attorneys, teachers, peace officers and people from all walks of life.
I also noticed she was evaluated by the California State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees. I looked them up on the Web and found out that this is the commission that vets candidates for the governor’s judicial appointments. That tells me her experience and background was subjected to a lot of scrutiny. To me, that speaks volumes.
If you got a mailer from Judy’s opponent or saw his recent ad, you may wonder about the issue of Judy being sanctioned by the courts. This is a distraction. In fact Judy was doing her level best to represent her client and she’s standing by her decision. That’s what an honest, dedicated, ethical attorney does.
Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between candidates. Not in this case. Judy Conard is clearly the most qualified candidate for Superior Court Judge.
Nola Montgomery lives in Lower Lake, Calif.