#43 OCT. 12TH RALLY! They haven't poured the cement yet....

 

            It’s hard to be in the position of begging a bully to let up even for a minute, but that’s where we are at when it comes to trying to prevent the total destruction of the Little Lake Valley wetlands. Since Caltrans has plowed through the valley and created its “boot print” for the future onslaught of more fill and cement, we are hoping to at least reduce the northern interchange from a 4-lane set of on-and-off ramps (see photo below of the Caltrans plan)  to 2 lanes. That would reduce the impact on the wetlands where that interchange is being built, and it would reduce the impact on the general environment of so many extra truck loads of fill and cement, etc.

4-lane northern interchange, Caltrans Plan

            A good rationale for that scaling back exists in that a 4-lane freeway is built for 40,000 cars, according to the Federal Highway standards that Caltrans relies on, but Caltrans data show that only 8000 cars enter and leave Willits to the north on an average daily basis. So is asking for 2 lanes really too much to ask?

2 lane alternative interchange plan

         Some of our city council thought so. Councilwoman Madge Strong had written a letter to the governor asking for a work change order on the northern exchange, with excellent analysis. She wanted the Willits City Council to endorse the request—the very least that our political representatives could do to reduce the huge impact on the valley by Caltrans. About 20 citizens spoke in favor of Strong’s letter to change the work order. Two spoke against.
            However, one councilman insisted that he actually didn’t really care about the bypass because he is only concerned with water and sewage as they impact the city. This statement created a cry of surprise from the audience, given that the destruction of 40 acres of wetlands and the drilling of wickdrains 85 feet into our valley floor will conceivably have a huge impact on our water supply, flooding, aquifer, and more.

Flyover photo by Steve Eberhard of Caltrans work on
the northern interchange--former wetland

            The other councilman present called Strong’s letter a “frivolous” request, and he noted that if we want political change in our society, we either follow the rule of law (which, one might say, was the purpose of Strong’s letter, appealing to our legal authorities) or “you can go out and shoot people.” Gasp, gasp!
            Needless to say, the divisions of ideology and communication in this town run deep.


Former wetland, now a "wick field"
(Photo by Steve Eberhard)

           



     In order to rally support for scaling back of the northern interchange and to have some ceremonial closure to the end of Caltrans’ season of destruction, Save Our Little Lake Valley is co-hosting a Rally for the Wetlands on Oct. 12. The rally will take place on land right across from the wetlands—or our former wetlands—and will feature music, poetry, speakers, and peaceful civil disobedience. One speaker is going to be Julia Butterfly, who sat in a redwood tree for over 2 years in order to protest the cutting of old growth redwoods. She was an inspiration to our Warbler who occupied a ponderosa pine tree for two months starting in late January and kicked off our movement here to halt the Caltrans bypass.
            Other featured speakers will come from the local Pomo Sherwood Rancheria. A Pomo

Willits Pomo site on older map of Native lands

archaeological site was supposed to be protected from Caltrans plans to dump fill in the area, but someone changed the plan without consulting the tribe—or apparently even reading the plan!—and so the Native folks must endure having three feet of fill on top of their sacred site, yet another outrage by the white man.
            Using numbers found on a petition signed by over 1481 people earlier in the year protesting the Caltrans bypass, I called and emailed about 50 people to inform them about the upcoming rally. Given that Willits has about 5000 people within the city limits, 1481 is a good chunk of the adult population against the bypass. I got to talk to a few people and asked them what they thought about the bypass.
            One woman had clearly changed her feelings since she signed the petition. “Those protestors are costing us millions of dollars. When Caltrans came in, they gave us jobs, like for my son who’s a contractor. They discussed the plan enough for twenty years, so let them build it.” I did not try to argue with her.
            Others had this to say: “I’m dismayed by the bypass, but what can you do when it comes to taking action against a big corporation?” Another said, “There’s not much we can do about it now.” Said one woman, “I have five kids I’m trying to take care of, so even though I don’t like what they’re doing to the environment, I just haven’t been able to be involved.” Another man was wistful. “I wish they’d stop because they’re having an awful impact on the wetlands and we need those wetlands.”
            There it is: Many who have read the news and care about what’s happening have not done much to make it stop, either because of their own pressing and real obligations to work and family or because they feel powerless, a David facing a Goliath without even a slingshot to defend himself with.
            I told them all, Here’s one more chance to raise your voice. We are not alone and weak when we are together and inspired.
            So let’s hope lots of people show up, write letters, and realize that we can still have an impact.

Swath of the boot print thus far for the Caltrans' 6-mile long bypass (Photo by Steve Eberhard)

           Radio programs continue to feature the problem and provide opportunities for some of our most knowledgeable citizens to speak on the issue. One featured on Time of Useful Consciousness radio had an excellent interview with the Willits Environmental Center’s Ellen Drell and another local traffic analyst Christopher Martin, called A $300 Million Freeway Bypass Built on Wetlands - and on a Lie."
            Meanwhile, our larger society faces a huge government shut down. A local Congressman continues to get paid his $175,000 while other federal workers earning far, far less are out of their paychecks and children in Headstart programs are denied their food. Of course, a lack of caring for community and the environment is not limited to Willits by any means.