Karen Pickett – Page 10 – Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters

Protester gets reduced charges ::<>::<>:: Bypass opponents to converge on Water Board meeting

January 28, 2014 by Karen Pickett

Update on trial of Caltrans Bypass protester, journalist and Crane-Sitter Will Parrish, scheduled for trial Jan. 28 and facing possible 8 years in jail: (See Jan. 21, 2014 post) After a hearing in Mendocino County Court Jan. 23, a settlement was reached that cancelled the upcoming trial, scheduled for Jan. 28. The particulars of the settlement are: *15 of the 17 misdemeanors were dropped, retaining two charges of trespass, which drop to infractions after a probation period of 24 months. *100 hours of community service *Two years probation, during which entry of judgment is deferred –i.e., …

Two court reports: Richardson Grove redwoods last week; Willits Bypass Protester in Court this week

January 28, 2014January 21, 2014 by Karen Pickett

Report Back from Jan. 15, 2014 Court of Appeals in S.F. hearing arguments to reverse the previous State Court decision in the Richardson Grove case EPIC attorney Sharon Duggan delivered excellent and compelling arguments before the 3-judge panel, showing that the potentially catastrophic impacts on the ancient redwoods were not addressed by Caltrans in their EIR, saying “there is nothing minor about 73 redwood trees being impacted.” This, contrary to Caltrans documents saying there would be “no significant impact” from their pneumonic spade equipment 2 foot deep excavation around the roots of the old growth redwoods. The Caltrans attorney …

Richardson Grove Court Hearing: Jan. 15, 9 a.m., Court of Appeals, S.F.

January 28, 2014January 9, 2014 by Karen Pickett

You are encouraged to attend a hearing at the State Court of Appeals that will hear oral arguments challenging previous findings from the State Court re. Caltrans’ plans to “realign” Highway 101 through the old growth of Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County. Lawsuits to stop highway work within the park were launched in both State and Federal Court. The injunction from environmentalists’ win in federal court have held off heavy equipment thus far–you will hear more about the federal case soon. The same environmental groups, however, lost in state court via an unfortunate decision by a judge in …

You Can Help Us Put the Brakes on Caltrans!

January 28, 2014December 10, 2013 by Karen Pickett

December 10, 2013 Dear Friend of the Forest, If a brave activist climbs high in a tree’s branches and sits there for two months, and trees fall around her, but no cameras are in the forest, does anyone hear? Tree-sits, crane-sits, hard-hitting stories on state wide TV and the LA Times, months of strategizing, scores of press releases, dozens of demonstrations and actions—it takes a community. We at Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH) are proud to be part of the community working to find a better alternative to the boondoggle highway project under way in Willits in Mendocino County, …

News Update on Caltrans Bypass campaign in Willits: Native American resolution

November 1, 2013 by Karen Pickett

National Congress of American Indians Passes Resolution Supporting Sherwood Valley Pomo Struggle with Caltrans The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the leading inter-tribal organization in the country. Among other activities, the organization employs numerous full-time professional lobbyists in Washington, DC. The group passed the following resolution at its October 13-18 national convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The resolution calls for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to suspend funding of the Willits Bypass unless Caltrans finally addresses the grievances the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians have been raising since April, calls on the US Congress to investigate Caltrans’ desecration …

Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters Alert: Richardson Grove Redwoods Need Your Help!

November 22, 2013October 14, 2013 by Karen Pickett

As we told you in a previous alert, Caltrans recently posted new documents in response to the April 2012 court order issued when EPIC and the Center for Biological Diversity prevailed in federal court and halted the Richardson Grove highway “realignment” project that we and our allies had been opposing, with their lawsuit in April 2012. The Federal Judge ruled that Caltrans had “arbitrarily and capriciously tried to justify the project with false data.” (their measurements of the trees and their mapping.)See our fact sheet on the Richardson Grove highway project at http://headwaterspreserve.org/2011/09/big-trucks-or-big-trees-what-do-you-wantCaltrans has defied the court order resulting from the …

Take a Stand for the Wetlands on Oct.12

October 24, 2013October 2, 2013 by Karen Pickett

Take a Stand for the Wetlands on Oct.12 with the brave people who have been sitting in trees, climbing cranes, stopping trucks and blockading heavy equipment to protest the Caltrans Bypass Join us in Willits in Mendocino County on Sat., October 12 to stand with the activists in this northcoast community against destruction of forests, wetlands and rivers by Caltrans big highway projects.There are alternatives! It’s not too late!Healing Ceremony and Peaceful Civil DisobdienceStarting at 12 noon the program will commence with music, speakers to include Willits tree-sitter Warbler, Headwaters tree-sitter Julia Butterfly Hill, activists representing the campaign for Richardson Grove and the Smith River preservation, an oak planting workshop with Cynthia Jeavons and …

Put the Brakes on Caltrans ! Tell Caltrans ~ No More Super Highways Where We Don’t Need Them !

October 22, 2013September 30, 2013 by Karen Pickett

Thanks to Caltrans intransigence, the threats to the old growth redwoods in Richardson Grove in Humboldt County are back on the horizon, along with more backward-thinking projects in redwoods and wild country in the Smith River area, on the far north coast. These renewed threats add to Caltrans’ poor performance in Mendocino County in Willits and the extreme damage heavy equipment has been wreacking on the wetlands and forests there. The new developments: 1) Richardson Grove: Caltrans has posted new documents in response to the April 2012 court order issued when EPIC and the Center for Biological Diversity prevailed in …

A Night for the Last Wild Buffalo, with legendary poet and activist John Trudell: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 pm

November 22, 2013September 29, 2013 by Karen Pickett

Join us at the Ecology Center in Berkeley – 2530 San Pablo Ave. at Dwight for The Buffalo Field Campaign’s 2013 Roadshow event. A night of spoken-word, video, music, and story-sharing about the plight of wild buffalo; the Buffalo Field Campaign’s effective efforts to defend them; the strong links between First Nations, buffalo, and BFC; and how you can become involved. This evening will feature video presentation and storytelling with Mike Mease, co-founder and campaign leader of the Buffalo Field Campaign. We are also honored to be hosting special guest John Trudell (http://johntrudell.com), acclaimed poet, national recording artist, actor and …

3 Arrests as Tree-Sitters are “Extracted” With Huge Show of Force

September 26, 2013September 25, 2013 by Karen Pickett

Two people were taken out of a large, ancient ash tree and arrested with a crew of 50 CHP cops using giant “cherry-picker” crane trucks on Sept. 18, but resistance to the Caltrans Bypass continues. The four month long tree-sit was in the last remaining grove of trees sitting in the path of Caltrans over-built highway construction of a bypass around the town of Willits in Mendocino County, California. The tree also sits near wetlands that Caltrans is draining and filling with 55,000 “wick drains” sunk into the soil and massive amounts of fill. Activists and local residents have been …