I support removing all the eucalyptus. In areas where it’s been done, the native oaks immediately start to thrive. I support weekend AC transit buses that would take people from the flats in Oakland/Berkeley up to their local EBRPD parks.
Amazing that whether to remove fire prone, non-native eucalyptus is even a discussion.
Casey is great. She cares deeply about good and effective government, and has been working in it for years, in both professional and volunteer positions.
I voted for Casey Farmer as the most balanced of the three candidates. The job of running a large park system is embracing the need to balance competing needs. In a candidate forum hosted by the Piedmont LWV I was not impressed with the other two candidates: Lynda Deschambault who came off as arrogant saying something like "I've been doing this job already" (by being on 30-person an advisory committee) and insinuating that she had the support of the local Sierra Club chapter (actually just "members"). That's a red flag for me because the local chapter has taken extreme positions and is quick to file lawsuits to get what it wants, including suing the District (which costs us all millions of dollars). Shane Reisman is the other one running. He doesn't have as much experience in government as the other two and badly fumbled some of the forum questions. Subsequently he published an article in this publication stating his goal to wall off large areas in the parks for wildlife. I do not support that viewpoint and feel that our regional parks are spaces for humans AND animals and cannot feasibly be made into wildlife sanctuaries.
Feel free to fact check, look closely at endorsement lists, and Watch the full League of Women Voters candidate forum here and let the voters decide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vVlUWyWJ4E. All the best to all candidates who put so much amazing time, energy and dedication in to running for election for this volunteer position!
I was generally agreeing with what I was reading until I saw that Casey considered Wilma Chan her mentor. Chan was the most Woke, anti-police progressive on the Board. I know, that's not a parks concern, but something to consider.
A consideration for me and some others is which candidates received the most financial support from the public employees union that represents the employees of that organization. Invariably the unions will get payback at salary negotiation time.
concerning homeless encampments in parks, especially the growing encampments at Lake Merritt. How can we maintain a beautiful, healthy, welcoming park and preserve the bird sanctuary’s and animal life when Lake Merritt is used as a toilet and fires are a constant problem at the Lake due to cooking and fires for warmth?
1. If Dan Grassetti had not fought the eucalyptus removal for decades, we would be so much safer as a community.
2. I think Casey is a strong candidate, but I am troubled by her work for the charter school industry in Oakland. Charters are a huge part of why Oakland Public Schools have been bled of resources needed to support special needs students, and charters have not been effectively held accountable for fiscal or educational responsibilities in Oakland.
I support removing all the eucalyptus. In areas where it’s been done, the native oaks immediately start to thrive. I support weekend AC transit buses that would take people from the flats in Oakland/Berkeley up to their local EBRPD parks.
I do too!
-Casey
Amazing that whether to remove fire prone, non-native eucalyptus is even a discussion.
Casey is great. She cares deeply about good and effective government, and has been working in it for years, in both professional and volunteer positions.
Thank you for all you do!! Good luck.
See you around.
I voted for Casey Farmer as the most balanced of the three candidates. The job of running a large park system is embracing the need to balance competing needs. In a candidate forum hosted by the Piedmont LWV I was not impressed with the other two candidates: Lynda Deschambault who came off as arrogant saying something like "I've been doing this job already" (by being on 30-person an advisory committee) and insinuating that she had the support of the local Sierra Club chapter (actually just "members"). That's a red flag for me because the local chapter has taken extreme positions and is quick to file lawsuits to get what it wants, including suing the District (which costs us all millions of dollars). Shane Reisman is the other one running. He doesn't have as much experience in government as the other two and badly fumbled some of the forum questions. Subsequently he published an article in this publication stating his goal to wall off large areas in the parks for wildlife. I do not support that viewpoint and feel that our regional parks are spaces for humans AND animals and cannot feasibly be made into wildlife sanctuaries.
Feel free to fact check, look closely at endorsement lists, and Watch the full League of Women Voters candidate forum here and let the voters decide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vVlUWyWJ4E. All the best to all candidates who put so much amazing time, energy and dedication in to running for election for this volunteer position!
I was generally agreeing with what I was reading until I saw that Casey considered Wilma Chan her mentor. Chan was the most Woke, anti-police progressive on the Board. I know, that's not a parks concern, but something to consider.
A consideration for me and some others is which candidates received the most financial support from the public employees union that represents the employees of that organization. Invariably the unions will get payback at salary negotiation time.
I would like to know your policy
concerning homeless encampments in parks, especially the growing encampments at Lake Merritt. How can we maintain a beautiful, healthy, welcoming park and preserve the bird sanctuary’s and animal life when Lake Merritt is used as a toilet and fires are a constant problem at the Lake due to cooking and fires for warmth?
1. If Dan Grassetti had not fought the eucalyptus removal for decades, we would be so much safer as a community.
2. I think Casey is a strong candidate, but I am troubled by her work for the charter school industry in Oakland. Charters are a huge part of why Oakland Public Schools have been bled of resources needed to support special needs students, and charters have not been effectively held accountable for fiscal or educational responsibilities in Oakland.