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Letters
- Details
- Written by: Linda Prather
According to Lake County Sheriff’s Department records, Mr. Crandell was arrested for hitting his then-girlfriend, Felisa Ramos, on the head. Ramos told the arresting officers that Crandell had choked her and then hit her on the back of the head. The arresting deputies found a bump on Ms. Ramos’ head, as well as an abrasion and broken blood vessels on her neck.
I believe the voters of north Lake County are entitled to hear from Mr. Crandell about the circumstances surrounding this terrible incident.
With all the sexual harassment scandals being uncovered in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, the last thing we need is an abusive politician here in Lake County. Mr. Crandell, I am awaiting your response?
Linda Prather lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
See EJ Crandell’s response here.
- Details
- Written by: Jim Steele
The large urban, suburban counties have fueled the state to the fifth largest economy in the world by the crush of their populations and strong economic enterprises. Rural counties survive through their natural resource attributes and quality of surroundings. A blissful difference.
Measure G on the June ballet authorizes the county to raise the general sales tax, 1.5 percent for 10 years in the unincorporated areas and develops an oversight committee and annual audits to keep track of the expenditures. The incorporated cities have already raised their taxes to the allowable limit and Measure G would match that level except the cities’ taxes are without a sunset clause. So why would cities and the county want to add extra income?
For the county, it’s a realization of significant shortfalls in the budget that support the services vital to the community. Lake County has always been frugal and balanced its budget according to the revenues supporting the General Fund. This fund is the area that the county can control as opposed to programs that the state controls, such as social services.
The income to the General Fund has declined because of a slow recession recovery, loss of homes and businesses due to six significant emergencies in three years, and a need to repair our roads above the meager support from the state. The short fall from recession incomes and unrecovered fire/flood losses begins at greater than 5 million and adds about one million per year increasing to $9 million total by 2022, even if we didn’t fix any roads. A road upgrade tax could easily begin at a one percent level by itself considering we are at the bottom of all counties in road condition index. This is one of the top complaint areas in my world and, even if the states’ new gas tax were not repealed, we would need more help.
By establishing the same level of sales tax as the cities, Measure G makes us all equal on the playing field of self-help during the budget shortfall. Being a self-help county puts us in a better position to ask for state and federal grants to improve infrastructure. They like people solving their own issues and of course paying the grant matching requirements.
In all, it’s about choosing between shrinking services while waiting for a recovery or doing what our two cities and 55 percent of other counties have done to keep pace with difficult times. It’s up to the voters.
Jim Steele is District 3 supervisor for Lake County, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Anna Rose Ravenwoode
This 1.5-percent sales tax measure was proposed after county officials related our financial problems, during recent visioning forums offered to the public. This proposal, if passed, would generate $4.5 million annually, for the general fund. As is typical with sunset measures, after 10 years it can be offered again for public approval (or not).
The general fund of counties that have undergone federal and state disaster designation, often become depleted. While federal/state disaster designation will assist with some emergency expenses, it does not cover all the costs of rebuilding. The general fund of Sonoma County is currently experiencing a serious general fund reduction due to the October 2017 fires that struck Santa Rosa.
Voting to support Measure G tax is a way of supporting the people in Lake County who were overwhelmed by the destructive 2015 summer wildfires. Think: Rocky, Valley Fires and Clayton fires that decimated Clearlake Oaks, Jerusalem Grade, Middletown, Anderson Springs, Cobb, Boggs State Forest, Adam Springs, Anderson Springs and Lower Lake.
Measure G will add funding to a depleted Lake County general fund to assist funding for public services, which includes disaster recovery: for roads, public safety, services for veterans and seniors, libraries, law enforcement, animal control, parks and museums.
If you have concerns about how Measure G money will be spent, then get involved. Be part of an active public to comment or email, the Board of Supervisors on proposed funding distributions. Or become a member of the advisory committee that oversees funding allocations to make sure funds are spent, as presented in the ballot measure. If not, you may be hurting the families in our Lake County community, who need our assistance.
Anna Rose Ravenwoode lives in Kelseyville, Ca.
- Details
- Written by: Susan Cameron
She is the only candidate with over 100 jury trials under her belt. The other candidate has never done a single felony jury trial. Susan Krones is a seasoned professional, with 32 years of varied experience, ready to lead. Her fellow deputy district attorneys have endorsed her. What better recommendation could you have than your fellow co-workers? She has spent nearly 20 years in the Lake County District Attorney’s office, prosecuting every range of crime. She knows the ins and outs of handling criminal cases, from the petty to the heinous. She earned her law degree from the University of California Hastings College of Law. Susan then spent seven years in the Army as a judge advocate general, defending accused soldiers. Impressive.
Compare that education and experience to the other candidate. He earned his law degree from Empire Law School and has practiced as a defense attorney for eight years.
Susan Krones has conducted her campaign ethically and honestly. Straight up; hold debates and visit groups to tell them about her qualifications. Laudable. Respectable.
The other candidate has been mailing glossy material from so-called groups such as Cops Voter guide. The fine print states “This organization does not represent any public safety personnel” So legally he’s covered. But ethically? Trying to deceive voters into believing cops support him? Not the kind of guy I want representing me in any elected office.
And as a matter of fact, Susan Krones has the endorsement of the Lake County Correctional Officers Association, as well as endorsements from many individuals who have worked or currently work in law enforcement. She is clearly the one for the job. Elect Susan Krones for District Attorney on June 5.
Susan Cameron lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.