Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

There’s a lot of excitement about the Soapbox Derby in Nevada City this past weekend, and some grandstanding from the participants.

We supported the event, and spent a long time at our home with the organizers discussing the plan. It was a block away.

There’s something missing here, though. The purpose was to raise money to help beautify and improve Pioneer Park.

How much was raised? Nobody has said.

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“WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will move the United States a step closer to ending the war in Afghanistan when he announces plans Wednesday to bring thousands of American troops home, beginning next month,” according to the Huffington Post.

“Administration officials said the president was still in the final phase of a decision-making process that has focused not only on how many troops will come home in July, but also on a broader withdrawal blueprint designed to put the U.S. on a path toward giving Afghans control of their security by 2014.

“Obama was given a range of options for the withdrawal last week by Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan. The military favors a gradual reduction in troops but other advisers are advocating a significant decrease in the coming months.

“While the president has said he favors a significant withdrawal, his advisers have not quantified that statement.

“Obama is expected to make Wednesday’s announcement in Washington.”

The rest of the article is here.

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This past weekend, our local newspaper ran a commentary “Grass Valley not a safe place for people of all races” by a visitor from Yuba City.

“Local teenagers were yelling racial slurs” at her family in Condon Park, it read concluding: “What my family experienced this weekend was terrifying, and we feared for our safety.

“I want other tourists to know that they should discontinue their support of Grass Valley in order to prove to the city management that this hatred and racism has got to stop.”

I received an email about this from Susan Copeland, a longtime resident and businesswoman, as owner of Flour Garden Bakery. She was upset and later sent out an email to a broad group of community leaders and members in response:

“Dear Community Members,

I wanted to write to you about my concern for the recent events at Condon Park.

Having grown up in Washington D.C., it was not surprising that I found myself at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial 48 years ago at what turned out to be a seminal civil rights demonstration.

What is shocking is that 48 years after that event, African-Americans are being terrorized in my home town while peacefully trying to celebrate a 65th birthday with their mother.

As a nation we understand the power to destroy that a few deranged individuals hold.

As a nation we have made huge sacrifices to stop terrorist attacks. Is it not also important as a community, to stop these terrorist activities within our town?

These days every town struggles to serve its constituents and especially to address the needs of its most challenging citizens.

That being said, I feel that we must stand up as a community and denounce this despicable behavior.

Sincerely,
Susan and William Copeland
Nevada City”

Thanks Susan for calling this out. Racism in our town — expressed in many forms — is an issue we have openly discussed from time to time on Sierra Foothills Report, and we have to stand up to it as a community.

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Though I’m a Giants fan after living in San Francisco for decades, I grew up listening to and rooting for the Dodgers. (Yes, a “purple” baseball fan).

I’d listen to Vin Scully announce the games, on the radio no less, as I drifted off to sleep as a child and go to some of the games. (Box seats were just $3.50 back then). The Dodgers’ longtime owners were the O’Malley’s — first Walter, then his son Peter.

Peter described his Dad’s management style: “As president, the way he ran the business, he believed in stability and very little turnover. It was the strength of the organization. The management team worked as well as the team on the field.”

This was evidenced in many ways, including the long tenure of both Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda as Dodgers managers and Scully, the broadcast voice.

But times changed. Rubert Murdoch owned the Dodgers and sold the team to its current owner, Frank McCourt. Here’s the latest sickening twist, a reminder why people hold rich businesspeople in such low self esteem:

“The Dodgers are closer than ever to a change in ownership after Major League Baseball rejected a proposed broadcast deal between the team and Fox Sports, denying the financially troubled ballclub a much needed infusion of cash.

“The decision handed down by Commissioner Bud Selig on Monday also invalidated last week’s divorce settlement between owner Frank McCourt and his ex-wife Jamie, which had been predicated on both parties — and their lawyers — receiving an immediate piece of the television deal.

“This ‘further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr. McCourt’ concerned Selig, according to a statement released by his office.

“The commissioner said it ‘would have the effect of mortgaging the future of the franchise to the long-term detriment of the club and its fans.’”

The rest of the article is here.

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