Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Blogs have changed communications forever. Abby Sunderland, the California teenager who was rescued in the Indian Ocean as she tried to sail around the world, posted to her blog at sea from a French fishing boat on Saturday. She provided a first-hand, real-time account of the mishap without the “filter” of a journalist:

“Hey everyone,

“Sorry I haven’t written in so long as you probably already know I had a pretty rough couple of days. I can’t write much now as I am typing on a french key pad as well as trying to stay seated in a bouncy fishing boat.

“The long and the short of it is, well, one long wave, and one short mast (short meaning two inch stub.) I’ll write a more detailed blog later, just wanted to let every one know I am safe and sound on a great big fishing boat headed I am not exactly sure where.

“Crazy is the word that really describes everything that has happened best.

“Within a few minutes of being on board the fishing boat, I was already getting calls from the press. I don’t know how they got the number but it seems everybody is eager to pounce on my story now that something bad has happened.

“There are plenty of things people can think of to blame for my situation; my age, the time of year and many more. The truth is, I was in a storm and you don’t sail through the Indian Ocean without getting in at least one storm. It wasn’t the time of year it was just a Southern Ocean storm. Storms are part of the deal when you set out to sail around the world.

“As for age, since when does age create gigantic waves and storms?

I keep hitting the wrong keys and am still trying to get over the fact that I will never see my Wild Eyes again. So Ill write more later.

Abby”

Sure, there will be lots of questions, like the ones questioning her parent’s judgment or the timing of her voyage (the Indian Ocean this time of year is unforgiving). But the first-hand account shortly after the rescue, from the middle of the Indian Ocean, is very interesting.

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On June 8 I wrote that the project feasibility report stating “it is not viable” to renovate the downtown Nevada City courthouse on its existing site — and relocate it instead — is flawed, citing informed sources.

On Friday, the county confirmed the “grave mistake” in the report that I was referring to: It was never asked whether it wanted to relinquish space in the existing building, which would facilitate a new courthouse on the existing site.

“Unfortunately, there is a grave mistake in your project feasibility report,” the county letter reads. “The county was never contacted by your staff and asked if we would be open to relinquishing our space in the court house. In fact, this statement is very confusing as this was our desire and repeated request through the previous court house transfer process and negotiations.

“The county is still interested in discussing with the (state) both parties’ equity positions in the Nevada City and Truckee court houses.”

This is hopeful information for residents — and the ranks are growing — who want to renovate and expand the courthouse on its existing site — for cultural and economic reasons.

A community meeting is set for June 29 at 6 p.m. at Nevada City Hall to discuss the “save the courthouse” effort, I also learned on Friday.

Many hurdles remain to “save the courthouse,” but the state’s admission of an error in the report shows room for compromise and discussion.

Relocating the courthouse to the Rood Center or elsewhere could stifle Nevada City’s economy, because many jobs — all within walking distance of downtown — are tied to the building.

The district attorney’s office, public defender, probation department and defense lawyer’s offices all are located downtown, not just the courthouse.

“Refreshingly I received an apologetic letter from the state Administrative Office of the Courts that they made a serious mistake. In a phone call from their very sincere Senior Project Manager, Ms. Quinn, she said the state had assumed that we were like the large majority of counties who had taken the position of retaining equity,” County Executive Officer Rick Haffey said in his Friday memo.

Assumed? I always thought the report was more of a “cookie cutter” analysis of the state’s plan to build a new county courthouse. The AOC manages courts and a statewide plan to modernize them is being rolled out.

The state’s admission of a “grave error” in the report — not yet reported in the local media — gives the “save the courthouse” effort some needed “mojo.” This story — pitting a grassroots community effort against state bureaucrats — is a sleeping giant.

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