November: Season of Gratitude • State Audit Did Not Justify Firing County Fair CEO • Why Push Pricey Septic Rules?

November: Season of Gratitude

At BirchBark Foundation, we are fortunate to witness and experience gratitude year-round. We see it in each family who receives support through one of our programs, and we see it reflected in each donor who is inspired to pay forward a bit of the love they’ve cherished in a family pet.

This year, we are grateful to partner with Santa Cruz Community Credit Union for their Return the Favor campaign, ending Nov. 30. This campaign is an opportunity for our community to show their gratitude by returning the favor with a gift -- a gift that Santa Cruz Community Credit Union will match, dollar for dollar.

Show your gratitude by Returning the Favor!

See https://www.grapevine.org/ fund/3QsO0/Birchbark-Foundation-Inc

Return the Favor!

When George the cat badly needed dental work, you were there for him. His mom wrote:

“This is a gift to me this Christmas to have George. Every day when I look at him I think back how stuck we were. It was one of the most challenging times of our lives. We are so grateful for BirchBark.”

Gratitude expressed only engenders more gratitude. Thank you for your show of love that enables pet families to stay together.

— Sarah Stender, interim director, Birchbark Foundation •••

State Audit Did Not Justify Firing County Fair CEO

On October 4th, CDFA Deputy Secretaries Michael Flores and Haig Baghdassarian committed the most egregious and arrogant act of forcing the 14th DAA Board of Directors to terminate longtime CEO David Kegebein. The manner in which they carried out this act was possibly illegal and certainly outside of normal policy procedures. It was definitely not in the best interest of the 14th DAA or the community.

Based on false complaints aired by three disgruntled Livestock Committee members, CDFA undertook a compliance audit “out of the blue” for the first time in 10 years. The audit evaluated processes that have never been explained or had procedures demonstrated for 14th DAA staff or management.

The audit revealed procedural deficiencies, none of which indicate financial discrepancy or intent to defraud the DAA or CDFA. The disallowed expenditures are simply reported on the wrong forms or unclearly defined by formal agreement between Mr. Kegebein and the Board. There is no claim by the auditor of fraudulent behavior.

George the Cat • November: Season of Gratitude

Deputy Secretaries Flores and Baghdassarian rushed to judgment with no intention of allowing correction of alleged compliance discrepancies. Nor did they take into consideration any of Mr. Kegebein’s tremendous accomplishments since assuming the leadership of the once nearly bankrupt 14th DAA ten years earlier. Instead, the two men forced a closed session meeting of the DAA Board before Mr. Kegebein saw the audit.

The day of the meeting they arrived with five armed law enforcement officers and a small group of F&E staff. During the public comment period, more than a dozen community members expounded on the merits of Mr. Kegebein and the collective assertion that the 14th DAA would have failed had he not come aboard. In closed session Flores and Baghdassarian forced the Board to fire the CEO. Two long-time Board members voted against firing and were dismissed of their positions a week later. One other has resigned.

Deputy Secretaries Flores and Baghdassarian have left what was one of California’s most popular and successful DAA’s in shambles. For what reason? In 2020 Gov. Newsom floated the concept of allowing local nonprofits to assume control and manage for community benefit certain DAA-managed fairgrounds. It appears now that CDFA officials are reversing that directive and exerting control over DAAs from Sacramento.

This heavy-handed bureaucratic takeover of the 14th DAA must be investigated. Santa Cruz county citizens deserve a clear explanation and full apology by CDFA officials at once. Cruz County Fair floriculture committee and a member of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, sent this letter to State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), with copies to: Gov. Newsom, Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture Mark Stone, Sen. Robert Rivas, CDFA spokesman Steve Lyles, the Senate Ag Committee and Assembly Ag Committee •••

Why Push Pricey Septic Rules?

Bruce McPherson, our Santa Cruz County Supervisor for the 5th District was the featured columnist in the November 2022 issue of the Scotts Valley Times.

In his column, Supervisor McPherson wrote, “The new septic rules (LAMP) are triggered when systems are replaced, if there is a major remodel or bedroom additions, or if the property is sold.”

According to Supervisor McPherson, the LAMP rules requiring the installation of a very expensive wastewater management system may still apply to anyone who wants to: • Replace an old septic system • Remodel their home • Add a bedroom • Add an ADU • Sell their home

This is not what the Supervisors voted on during their Oct. 18 public meeting of the BOS regarding the LAMP. So even though the public stated very clearly at that meeting that they strongly oppose the LAMP, our supervisors want it anyway. My question is … why? — Tom Decker, Ben Lomond