Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2014
Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/chico/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559
Author: Meredith J. Graham

SECEDE? AND WEED

Supervisors Take on a Variety of Topics

When news came earlier this month that Yuba County's Board of 
Supervisors had voted to support the State of Jefferson movement to 
secede from California, naysayers questioned just how much impact 
that decision would have on, well, anything. Butte County is in line 
to make a similar decision-to declare a desire to separate from the 
rest of the state, or to go with the flow.

"What we hope to accomplish is to have a declaration and a petition 
to withdraw from the state of California from Butte County," 
explained Mark Baird, a State of Jefferson spokesman from nearby 
Siskiyou County, which was the first to join the movement.

Baird spoke to the Butte County board during its Tuesday (April 22) 
meeting, which saw the chambers overflowing, many supporters clad in 
State of Jefferson T-shirts. He explained that one of the main 
reasons he's pushing for secession is to gain representation in Congress.

"We need better representation than we have now, which is one state 
senator for 1 million people," Baird said during a phone interview 
after the meeting. "That's four times worse than the next [most 
populous] state."

Thus far, in addition to Siskiyou and Yuba counties, Modoc and Glenn 
also have declared their support for the State of Jefferson. Baird 
said similar discussions are happening throughout the North State, 
and either informational meetings or votes are scheduled over the 
coming months in Del Norte, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sutter and 
Tehama counties.

"We'll not only be sending a message, but with these declarations we 
can cause legislation to be written," Baird said.

Dozens of supporters also took to the lectern, during the 
public-comment period, to voice their reasoning for wanting to create 
a new state.

One man told the board, "My wife and I discuss leaving this state 
every single day. The State of Jefferson is a new opportunity, a 
second chance. You ask, 'What do we have to gain?' I say, 'What do we 
have to lose?'"

Fernando Marin, a Paradise resident and former county planning 
commissioner, spoke passionately about his view that too many 
politicians stay in office too long, leading to little change in 
policy. When he surpassed his minute-and-a-half allotment of speaking 
time, Supervisor Doug Teeter told him so. He became irate, told 
Teeter, "You're going to get an education here," and was promptly 
escorted from the room.

Everyone took a few minutes to quiet down, but Sally Raposa received 
applause for her request that the board "Take the torch and light the 
way for us."

Ultimately, Supervisor Bill Connelly said he signed the petition to 
join the State of Jefferson "early on," and made a motion to agendize 
a vote to join the cause in June. Supervisor Larry Wahl also voiced 
his support, and the board voted 4-1, with Supervisor Steve Lambert dissenting.

In other news, the board once again took up discussion of an 
ordinance passed in February to amend restrictions regarding the 
cultivation of medical marijuana. Because those against the ordinance 
successfully gathered enough signatures to stop the measure, 
supervisors were faced with the decision of whether to rescind it 
altogether or put it to a vote of the people.

After about a dozen comments from the public, most of which had 
little bearing on the actual decision (one woman asked the board, 
"Why do you want people to have cancer?"), they chose the latter. It 
will be added to the November ballot.

The ordinance restricts the number of marijuana plants that can be 
grown by limiting the square footage of each garden.

"I'd like to create an ordinance that makes everyone happy," said 
Supervisor Maureen Kirk. "But that's just not possible. We ought to 
let it go to a vote."

Kirk said she wanted to balance her desire to ensure patients have 
access to their medicine with being able to keep cartels and other 
illegal growers from harassing neighbors. She, Teeter and Lambert 
discussed the advantages of dispensaries.

"I'd be willing to stick my neck out for dispensaries," Teeter said.

That discussion was too little, too late, however, as Lambert noted, 
"We got rid of those in our county."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom