Residents launch
recall to oust planners
who voted for Blackwater
By Miriam
Raftery
The Alpine Sun
POTRERO — A coalition of concerned citizens has launched a
movement to recall all but one member of the Potrero Planning
Group.
“Our standing rules say that this board has to respect
the rules and views of the community,” said Carl Meyer, a farmer
who served members with recall notices at Thursday night’s
meeting.
All planners who voted in favor of Blackwater USA’s
proposal to build a military-style training facility in Potrero on
ranch land surrounded by national forest and Hauser wilderness
areas now face the prospect of a recall election, with the
exception of Emil Susu. (Susu was declared ineligible to serve
after residents learned he was not registered to vote in
California. He has since registered here and the planning group
renominated him at Thursday’s meeting. The County Board of
Supervisors must reconfirm his appointment.)
“Talk about timing,” Susu quipped.
Jan Hedlun, the lone planner opposed to the Blackwater
project, was also spared from the recall movement.
A minimum of 10 signatures was required to serve the
recall notices on each planner. Planners have one week to respond
to the reasons stated for the recall. Next, recall supporters have
ten days to prepare petitions and 40 days to obtain signatures
from 30 percent of the 435 registered voters in Potrero.
Since more than a third of the town’s registered voters
have already signed petitions opposing the Blackwater project,
recall supporters believe they will succeed in forcing a recall
election. By laws, any recall election must be held between 88 and
125 days after signatures are turned in and validated.
Asked if he believes the election would be held in time
for a new planning board to be seated and rescind its advisory
vote on Blackwater before the County Planning Commission takes its
vote, Meyer replied, “Yes, I think so.”
Earlier in the meeting, Potrero resident Barbara
Chamberlain presented a separate petition asking planners to take
a revote and oppose the Blackwater project. Chair Gordon Hammers
agreed to entertain a motion to reconsider the vote. Hedlun moved
for reconsideration and Jerry Johnson seconded the motion, which
passed 8-0. Reconsideration of the vote will be held at the next
PPG meeting on July 12. Duncan McPhetridge of Save Our Forests and
Ranchlands will also address planners at the July 12 meeting.
Planners Jerry and Mary Johnson accompanied Hammers on
a trip to Moyock, North Carolina, where they visited Blackwater’s
headquarters. All three spoke in glowing terms about Blackwater’s
positive impacts on Moyock and Camden County and insisted that
concerns about noise and traffic are exaggerated. Johnson noted
that a speed limit sign posted at Moyock warns drivers that anyone
caught speeding twice will be barred from driving on Blackwater
property in the future.
A handful of residents clapped and cheered in favor of
Blackwater. The majority of the standing-room-only crowd, however,
applauded for speakers opposing the project.
At times the exchanges turned testy. Ray Lutz, chair of
Citizens Oversight Panels, objected to planner Mary Johnson
wearing a Blackwater T-shirt at the meeting, noting that planners
are supposed to maintain impartiality.
“What are you now, the fashion police?” Johnson
retorted.
Lutz also noted that a computerized noise model cited
by those supporting Blackwater is not in the County’s records.
“There is no such thing until we see it,” he noted. Opponents of
Blackwater also maintain that December’s vote should be rescinded
because it was contingent on a live-fire noise test which to date
has not occurred.
Hammers read an anonymous letter asking if he was
receiving kickbacks from Blackwater. He crumpled the note, denied
the allegation, and stated that he had hired a private eye to
learn the letter writer’s identity.
Hammers took comments from citizens concerned about
impacts of Blackwater on wildlife, water, and community character
as well as noise, fire safety and traffic concerns.
“Can you explain to the group why Potrero needs
Blackwater?” one resident asked.
“No, I cannot,” Hammers replied.
But Potrero resident Andy Lindsay said he views
Blackwater as the “lesser of two evils.” He fears that if
Blackwater’s permit is denied, the property will be converted into
“a bunch of ranchettes like Campo” or “a dump, who knows?” Hammers
allowed Zoe Rossell to address the group. Rossell has filed a
lawsuit against Hammers, Potrero and County planners as well as
the Board of Supervisors alleging that Hammers violated the Brown
Act by refusing to allow her to speak anonymously at a prior
meeting. Hammers said the issue is a “gray area” that he wants to
see a judge ultimately decide.
Reactions of planners facing recall ranged from
defiance to dismay.
“I don’t mind being served,” said Hammers, noting that
he has previously survived having his house burn down and in
December, death of his wife. “If you can recall me, go ahead,” he
said, but expressed doubt that recall advocates could obtain
enough votes to succeed.
Jerry Johnson’s voice trembled as he discussed
prospects of being recalled in an interview after the meeting.
“I’ve been here, helping this community for over 35 years,” he
said. “I got this building built for Potrero. I got this road
paved… I was on the road commission for the County and worked for
a block grant. Now, I’m almost ready to quit.”
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