West Marin Citizen still baffled after all these weeks.
How long should it take?
August 28, over one month following a July 25 letter announcing almost 1/2 of the ranchers belonging to the Point Reyes National Seashore Rancher's Association had resigned, and 3 weeks after the 'West Marin Citizen' posted it on their own Facebook page (August 7), they today can only describe the letter as "baffling" and that information is "hard to get." It seems quite apparent that Drakes Bay Oyster Company and Mr. Lunny decided "Association" meant being a memeber did not require including other ranchers in his actions taken in the name of the the Association.
Good reporting sells papers. Good reporting takes more than "welcoming comments and information."
Investigative reporting is difficult and takes effort, and when done well sells papers. However, in a small community such as that served by this paper, what is more "baffling" is the inability of the local press to come to grips with what objective reporting is supposed to be. Clicking on the rancher's letter found on WMC's Facebook site reveals a clear reason why those ranchers chose to resign from the Association.
Why the resignations by half the membership of Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association? Because the owners of Drakes Bay Oyster Company have twice misrepresented the ranchers association.Good reporters don't just "tweet" for information. They go out and find it.
On June 5th "The [Point Reyes] Light" reported that the "Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association delivered a dense 32-page public comment letter" - in response to the park's Ranch Comprehensive Management Plan (which "The Light"'s latest editorial fails to mention although the editorial scolds the park for inaction and lack of leadership.)
But that public comment letter, after having been circulated for signature by ranchers, was amended by the owners of Drakes Bay Oyster Company, and their lawyers, and then submitted to the park without review by the ranchers who had already signed the document.
On July 31st "The Light" reported, "The Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association is asking the National Park Service to delay any demolition of the buildings soon to be vacated by Drakes Bay Oyster Company..."
But that letter, dated July 23rd on ranchers association letterhead, was composed and submitted by the owners of Drakes Bay Oyster Company without input or review by other association members.
"Reckless" is the adjective "The Light"'s latest editorial uses to describe environmental groups working to protect from commercial development what has always been intended as wilderness. But reckless is how Drakes Bay Oyster Company has behaved, disregarding the ranchers with whom they share our publicly owned Point Reyes Peninsula.
Good reporting relies more than just "tweeting" or putting out a request on their web site for somebody to help give them information (see end of column below). It takes energy to get on the phone, to get out, to find out what's really going on behind the curtain. It's why some reporters get Pulitzer Prizes and others fade away with their publications.
Posted on August 28, 2014 by West Marin Citizen
Baffling letter appears on social media, information hard to get.
In a July 25, letter addressed to Ted McIsaac, President, Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association twelve ranchers representing six or seven ranches on the Seashore wrote:
“Dear Ted,
Thank you for listening to our concerns about the Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association. We, the undersigned, hereby resign from The Association effective immediately.
It has become increasingly evident that our styles of communication in matters pertinent to the Point Reyes National Seashore are very different. This was most recently evidenced by the letter dated July 21, 2014, which was sent on behalf of The Association to Superintendent Muldoon and various elected officials. We felt that we had inadequate time to review and respond and consider the implications of such a letter being sent.
We realize it is difficult to maintain cohesiveness in a group as diverse as the Association. We appreciate all of the efforts of those creating and maintaining the Association over the past several years. However, we feel it is in the best interest of all the ranchers if we left the group.” This letter was signed by Robert McClure, Tim Kehoe, Thomas Kehoe, Mike Kehoe, Daniel and Dolores Evans, Julie Rossotti, David Evans, Betty Nunes, Joe Mendoza (now retired from running L&B ranches), and Robert Giacomini and Elmer Martinelli (who both have small pasture grazing leases on Seashore land).”
This letter began circulating on social media two weeks ago. [Note: This letter was posted on West Marin Citizen's Facebook August 7.]
The Citizen has attempted to learn what motivated this surprising move, coming so soon after a recent show of unity and consensus in the Ranchers Association’s scoping comments on the new General Management Plan for the Seashore.
The Citizen spoke with McIsaac who expressed disappointment in the resignations but assured us that the majority of ranches remained committed to the Association. He did not offer any specific reasons for the decision but did mention the concern many ranchers feel over the future of ranching in the Seashore and the importance of maintaining a good relationship with local Park personnel.
McIsaac also spoke of problems that several ranches are having with free-ranging elk, and the frustration that no immediate solutions are being offered by the Park Service. McIsaac and Kevin Lunny, who also spoke with the Citizen, indicated possible “political” motives and differences in priorities of the signees compared to other members of the Association., such as the resigning ranchers not having the problems with elk other ranchers are coping with.
Both expressed disappointment over the split, coming from life-long friends and fellow-ranchers. “We think we’re stronger if we can be unified, and we were,” said Lunny. McIsaac echoed similar thoughts. “We still think it’s a very useful organization. It’s a tool to meet and keep each other up on what’s happening…All the people who’ve been active for a decade are still active. Our commitment to help everyone in the seashore is still here.”
Mr. Lunny said the ranchers who resigned didn’t give the association an opportunity to discuss the issue before they gave the letter to Mr. McIsaac.
The Citizen welcomes comments and information from other ranchers and the public on this matter.
Linda Petersen-Publisher
“Dear Ted,
Thank you for listening to our concerns about the Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association. We, the undersigned, hereby resign from The Association effective immediately.
It has become increasingly evident that our styles of communication in matters pertinent to the Point Reyes National Seashore are very different. This was most recently evidenced by the letter dated July 21, 2014, which was sent on behalf of The Association to Superintendent Muldoon and various elected officials. We felt that we had inadequate time to review and respond and consider the implications of such a letter being sent.
We realize it is difficult to maintain cohesiveness in a group as diverse as the Association. We appreciate all of the efforts of those creating and maintaining the Association over the past several years. However, we feel it is in the best interest of all the ranchers if we left the group.” This letter was signed by Robert McClure, Tim Kehoe, Thomas Kehoe, Mike Kehoe, Daniel and Dolores Evans, Julie Rossotti, David Evans, Betty Nunes, Joe Mendoza (now retired from running L&B ranches), and Robert Giacomini and Elmer Martinelli (who both have small pasture grazing leases on Seashore land).”
This letter began circulating on social media two weeks ago. [Note: This letter was posted on West Marin Citizen's Facebook August 7.]
The Citizen has attempted to learn what motivated this surprising move, coming so soon after a recent show of unity and consensus in the Ranchers Association’s scoping comments on the new General Management Plan for the Seashore.
The Citizen spoke with McIsaac who expressed disappointment in the resignations but assured us that the majority of ranches remained committed to the Association. He did not offer any specific reasons for the decision but did mention the concern many ranchers feel over the future of ranching in the Seashore and the importance of maintaining a good relationship with local Park personnel.
McIsaac also spoke of problems that several ranches are having with free-ranging elk, and the frustration that no immediate solutions are being offered by the Park Service. McIsaac and Kevin Lunny, who also spoke with the Citizen, indicated possible “political” motives and differences in priorities of the signees compared to other members of the Association., such as the resigning ranchers not having the problems with elk other ranchers are coping with.
Both expressed disappointment over the split, coming from life-long friends and fellow-ranchers. “We think we’re stronger if we can be unified, and we were,” said Lunny. McIsaac echoed similar thoughts. “We still think it’s a very useful organization. It’s a tool to meet and keep each other up on what’s happening…All the people who’ve been active for a decade are still active. Our commitment to help everyone in the seashore is still here.”
Mr. Lunny said the ranchers who resigned didn’t give the association an opportunity to discuss the issue before they gave the letter to Mr. McIsaac.
The Citizen welcomes comments and information from other ranchers and the public on this matter.
Linda Petersen-Publisher
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