¶ Open let LaPlata BoCC - re anonymous letter(s?) - February 28th, 2018

An open letter to the La Plata County Commissioners

Brad Blake

Julie Westendorff

Gwen Lachelt

February 28, 2018

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Hello County Commissioners,

I live in rural La Plata County and yesterday I was called by a neighbor about an unsettling anonymous letter received in their mail.  The letter isn't threatening per se but it does intimidate, 'we know who you are, where you live, and we don't like what you say in public!' sort of thing.  Besides the intimidation, its content is vague, inaccurate and directed at the wrong people. An angry myopic venting that deserves a response.

It’s not worth calling the sheriff, but on the other hand it is certainly worth reporting and making a big deal about since I believe it's another example of outside forces bringing high-powered ruthless political practices into our community.  It's pure poison.

Stoking hostility and misunderstanding and yes intimidation is not the American way to go, that’s the stuff of totalitarianism and hopeless conflict.

Our current land code planning controversies can only be resolved by recognizing that time does change our reality.  Our population has been exploding and population densities do matter a great deal, no matter how much our nostalgia wants to wish it away.  

Dreaming about the freedom of a bygone wild era, when the nearest neighbor was a mile or many miles away, are not going to help us deal with today’s down to Earth problems and moving into the future.  That past is gone.

¶ Breen LandUseCode Community Meeting - This Is What Democracy Looks Like !

The following column was written for the March issue of the FourCornersFreePress out of Cortez.  I usually try to wait until the column comes out before posting what I've written, but in light of a curious anonymous letter going around, I think Gail will understand me putting it up now.

This is an example of democracy in action, as opposed to anonymous letters meant to intimidate, which are nothing less than totalitarian tactics !

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Children of the Intellectual Enlightenment, liberals, progressives, seekers of objective facts and rational learning based on constructive debates, believers in our pluralistic society and our democratic way of government, please look around and take note. We are in deep trouble.

For decades while we’ve been distracted with our own concerns, the Koch brothers and friends have been busy spreading their tentacles ever deeper into USA’s election process and they are getting poised for a hostile take over bid this election season.

They are consolidating their forces and targeting liberal bastions for take down. Once targeted their strategy is to find a local issue that raises blood pressures. Then they feed anxious people their Libertarian Siren Song which is heavily dosed with contrived hostility and misinformation.

Here in Durango we have an example unfolding that I want to look at. First the set up. The Koch front group, Americans for Prosperity, opened a recruitment office, some would call it a brainwashing center, since they don’t listen. Like over the top evangelicals brimming with self-certainty, they tell you what to think, accept it or become a bad guy.

Then another outfit calling itself “SaveLaPlataCounty.com" pops up. Followed by yet another, this one calling itself the LaPlata Liberty Coalition which set up a blog and Facebook page boasting the wonderfully vague libertarian mission statement: “A Coalition of ‘We The People’ Working to Protect and Preserve the Historical and Constitutional Rights of the Citizens of La Plata County.”

What’s that even mean? Historically we had the Right to cruise local roads drinking beer and it wouldn’t bother anyone, but decades sneak by, landscapes that used to be wild and free, are full of homes and septic tanks and traffic and kids and all that jazz.

K.Francis: Big oil and gas behind county commissioner attacks - Nov. 17, 2017

There was a Durango Herald opinion piece that needs to be shared in this collection since it touches on SaveLaPlataCounty.com's pretense of being independent of American For Prosperity and the Koch network of stealth organizations masquerading as local groups.  I thank Ken for his permission to repost his Durango Herald column.

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Francis: Big oil and gas behind county commissioner attacks

Ken Francis  |  Nov. 17, 2017  |  Durango Herald  |  https://durangoherald.com/articles/195280

I read with interest Matt Dempsey’s column (Herald, Oct. 28) attacking La Plata County Commissioner Gwen Lachelt and misconstruing as an apology her well-reasoned explanation of her nonprofit work (Herald, Oct. 14).

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Note: Matt Dempsey is another example of the convoluted connections between SaveLaPlataCounty.com and the Koch machine - check out his bio at the end of this article.

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Dempsey, the opinion editor of Western Energy Alliance’s “Western Wire,” condemns Lachelt’s dual role as public official and executive director of the nonprofit Western Leaders Network.

Masquerading as the ethics police, Dempsey demands the network disclose the source of its funding. As a nonprofit organization, the organization is legally required by the IRS to annually and publicly disclose its funding.

Yet Dempsey’s moral code does not seem to apply to Western Energy Alliance. For example, the Alliance invited a rather unique Washington political consultant, Richard Berman, to speak at its 2014 annual meeting. Berman’s signature move is to launch smear campaigns against his clients’ opponents – such as environmentalists – through nonprofit front groups that are insulated from having to disclose donors.

Lachelt: Transparency regarding environmental venture - 2017

In doing some more reading I came across this October 14th article Gwen Lachelt wrote for the Durango Herald explaining her, much villainized, environmental 'activism'.  In light of the malicious hysteria that Dave Peters' and his SaveLaPlataCounty.com group keeps trying to stir up, I believe Gwen's side of the story deserves a fair hearing.  

It would be the American democratic thing to do.  Democracy Use It or Lose It!  Lordie knows some are actively trying to steel it from us.
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Lachelt: Transparency regarding environmental venture

As a county commissioner, I am charged with protecting public health, safety, welfare and the environment.

Since my first campaign in 2012, I made clear I would do all I could to reduce toxic pollution in the San Juan Basin. Indeed, many La Plata County voters chose me for that reason, and for my 30-years of first-hand experience with the community impacts – both good and bad – of oil and gas policies and practices.

As a defender of the public interest, my positions have long drawn the ire of an oil and gas lobby that does not similarly prioritize the welfare of La Plata County residents. Most recently, I am being attacked for my work with the Western Leaders Network.

I founded WLN this year to unite local and tribal elected officials across the Interior West – regardless of political affiliation – to more effectively defend our communities against organizations backed by multibillion dollar multinational corporations. Against the power of their dollars, WLN – and La Plata County as a member – has power in numbers; the organization made an impact when more than 120 local and tribal officials across the West supported the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane Waste Prevention Rule.

Kochs' Weaponized Philanthropy Machine - MapLight.org - 2018

I fear most don’t have any conception of what’s been happening so far as the Koch machine’s hostile takeover bid on our government, with its many tentacled infiltration of local politics as exemplified by the malicious and deceptive Lachelt Recall Petition - and if you think about it, there's something downright totalitarian leaning about the multilayered smarmy operation.

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Koch-Linked Dark Money Organization Seals 2016 Tax Return Section From Public Scrutiny

Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Andrew Perez | January 17, 2018 | Maplight.org

https://maplight.org/story/koch-linked-dark-money-organization-seals-2016-tax-return-section-from-public-scrutiny/

A conservative dark money organization linked to billionaire libertarian brothers Charles and David Koch is refusing to disclose information about the size of its donations, defying IRS regulations that govern the tax-exempt entities.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the flagship political organization of the Koch brothers, spent at least $13 million to help elect Republicans during the 2016 election. It raised almost $64 million in contributions, according to its tax return.

The organization, however, last week formally rejected MapLight’s request to release a redacted section of its annual tax return that lists any donations of more than $5,000. MapLight, a Berkeley, Calif.-based money in politics watchdog, has filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service.

“AFP is secretly influencing our government and elections through more than $60 million in dark money and refusing to comply with even the minimal transparency law still applicable,” said Daniel G. Newman, president and co-founder of MapLight. “Americans have a right to information about the efforts to influence our political process by unelected, anonymous billionaires.”

¶ “O the irony!” says "Save"LaPlata's front man, Peters. The irony indeed.

Durango Herald's February 22:  “O the irony!” said Dave Peters, another (Lachelt) recall organizer, in the news release. “It turns out the queen of outside dark money is actually Commissioner Lachelt herself.” Recall supporters created a website, Save La Plata County, which explains why they are seeking her removal from office.”  

Oh the irony indeed!

What about The Rest Of This Story? 

What about SaveLaPlata.com’s many ties to unabashedly oil loving, environmentalist hating outfits with their vast amounts of Koch DarkMoney ready to be lavished on any go-getters ready to join their fabricated war on rationality and raise hell in their communities?

A network that Ken Francis alluded to in his thoughtful November 17th, 2017 Durango Herald opinion piece,” “Big oil and gas behind county commissioner attacks.” https://durangoherald.com/articles/195280 (at the end of this I share his insightful final paragraphs.)

Where is SaveLaPlata.com getting their funding from?  No hint at their blog.  I’ve sent Mr Peters an email requesting that information, we’ll see if I get a response. I will keep you updated.

Here we look at the brain-trust three locals depended on to fabricate their malicious effort to do an end-run around the democratic voters' will. 

(click on images for clearer view)

To begin with, isn’t their summary title a bit hysterical? 

Koch Brothers Exposed [2014] Robert Greenwald documentary

Here's a look at what the Koch Brothers were up to until about 2014, their investment seems to be paying off handsomely.  These are not "libertarian" defenders, they are predators and taking over our government is their goal.  At least that's what all the evidence consistently points to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLvpwrCfqFI  |  55 minutes  |  Robert Greenwald

Koch Brothers Exposed - 2014 Edition - challenges David and Charles Koch's abuse of money in politics. Robert Greenwald's updated film has new stories on corporate greed, environmental abuse and the buying of elections.  ______________________________________________________________________

¶ SaveLaPlataCounty's "Facts" Tainted by Koch's DarkMoney Tentacles

Examining the fundamental deception being foisted on us by “SaveLaPlataCounty” and the 

Koch DarkMoney funded web they are a part of.  

   

(click on image for clearer view)

To begin with, isn’t their summary title a bit hysterical? 

La Plata County doesn’t need saving.  Look around at our country, we are amongst the luckiest people in America, in the world.  What La Plata needs saving from is a ruthless, contrived campaign intent on injecting misunderstanding and divisiveness into local politics.

Second, they repeat idealistic sounding phrases, but show little concern for accurately representing facts, their own, or their opponent’s actual position.  Their narrative breaths contempt for environmental problems and safety regulations that benefit all of us, along with all who are concerned with those issues.  

Third, there’s nothing homespun or grassroots about SaveLaPlataCounty.com or their recall effort.  It is part of a national strategy to make end runs around “liberal” bastions of our country, and eject us from what they feel entitled to.  “All of it!”

Please consider the four references "SaveLaPlataCounty.com/the-recall-effort/" provides for supporting evidence of their claims.  Look at them.  None contain specific evidence or charges.  Instead they are agenda driven ‘news’ articles of carefully crafted word-salad.  Full of insinuations, attitude, but nothing solid except for links to Koch’s DarkMoney octopus and a distain for environmental safety standards. 

1, 3)  Western Wire Reports

Facing Recall, New Questions Emerge For Lachelt Ahead Of COGCC Hearing”

  -  By Michael Sandoval, February 12, 2018

Ethics Questions Continue To Swirl Around La Plata County Commissioner

  -  By Michael Sandoval, July 17, 2017

Western Wire is a project of Western Energy Alliance, a non-profit regional oil and natural gas association based in Denver, Colo., and active across 13 states. (http://westernwire.net/about/)

Michael J. Sandoval is a contract Energy Policy Associate Analyst for the Independence Institute.  Before that an investigative reporter for The Heritage Foundation and he is a 2013 graduate of the Koch Associate Program.   (https://i2i.org/about/our-people/michael-sandoval/)

Speaking of transparency, do you know who Western Energy Alliance is?

“Western Energy Alliance: The Voice of the Industry in the West - focuses on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental, public lands and other policy issues. We represent the voice of the Western oil and natural gas industry in a variety of ways.” 

https://www.westernenergyalliance.org/alliance/who-we-are/staff 

          https://ballotpedia.org/Western_Energy_Alliance

https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2018&cmte=C00426569

  

The Coors-funded Independence Institute is a free-market, libertarian think tank based in Denver, Colorado. The non-profit is a member of the State Policy Network. 

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Independence_Institute

2)  Free Range Report Depicts Lachelt’s Lobbying Activities

By Marjorie Haun  |  http://freerangereport.com/index.php/about/

The author Marjorie Haun has written for American Thinker, the Heritage Foundation’s Daily Signal, Watchdog.org, and Colorado Peak Politics…

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Thinker

          https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/american-thinker/

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Heritage_Action_for_America

          https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Family_Foundations

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Heritage_Foundation

watchdog org

Watchdogorg is a project of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a non-profit organization dedicated to the principles of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.  (As part of our 501(c)3, non-profit mission, which is where the DarkMoney is)

Franklin Center Top Donor Is Right-

Joe Strupp   |   February 22, 2013

https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2013/02/22/franklin-center-top-donor-is-right-wings-dark-m/192770

Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity  -  Background

https://www.desmogblog.com/franklin-centre-government-and-public-integrity

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Franklin_Center_for_Government_and_Public_Integrity

3)  Colorado Peak Politics Article

“RECALL! Environmental Whacko Faces the Ax By Voters”

February 9, 2018   |  Colorado’s Conservative Bully Pulpit

poor job performance  -  A LIE !  -  https://gwenlachelt.com/commission-record/

double-dipping  -  A LIE !  -  https://durangoherald.com/articles/207192 

“No substance to the Lachelt recall effort”

repeatedly leveraged our public office for her private gain  -  A LIE !  -  https://durangoherald.com/articles/208122

“Recall effort: Blaming unpopularity of land use code on Gwen Lachelt alone is misguided”

That article is pure biased angry inflammatory bullying.  Venom filled words, but in the end very little substance and what there was of that was misrepresented.  This is precisely the kind of emotional vitriol that destroys the democratic civility we depend on to keep our society functioning.  Exactly what the oligarchs want, this cynical recall attempt is doing their bidding.        

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Gwen has been working for her constituents !  I copied this from 

https://gwenlachelt.com/commission-record/

Gwen Lachelt’s Work as La Plata County Commissioner, So Far:

• Re-ignited the Comprehensive Plan conversation and pursuit with the Planning Commission

• I supported the creation of the La Plata County Water Advisory Commission to aide the county both in planning for, and protecting, our waters.

• I sponsored the Public Lands Resolution, which passed unanimously, calling for maintaining federal ownership of our public lands.

• I advocated strongly in DC for passage of the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act, critical to our tourism industry.

• I supported convening a Fiscal Sustainability Steering Committee to help the commissioners plan for the county’s financial future.

• I led the county in developing strong state air quality standards and the nation’s first rule controlling methane emissions from oil and gas operations.

• I testified in Washington DC in support of the BLM’s Venting and Flaring Rule to reduce emissions and protect the US Treasury.

• I served as co-chair of Hickenlooper’s Oil & Gas Task Force and fought hard to maintain the authority of local governments to regulate O&G operations.

• I have been serving on the boards of San Juan Basin Health and Housing Solutions for the Southwest.

• I advocate daily for diversifying our economy so we are not so dependent on any single industry.

• I’ve worked with residents and local businesses to strengthen our local foods economy, support community garden projects, and promote sound food policy by creating the Herbicide Carryover Working Group to educate growers and the community about the risks certain herbicides pose to gardens and farms in our region.

• I promoted the first community solar garden development on the Boys & Girls Club rooftop.

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Bonus, a couple peeks inside their master plan.

Follow the Money: Koch Brothers Back Pruitt to Head EPA  

By Elliott Negin | January 30, 2017

https://www.ecowatch.com/koch-brothers-pruitt-epa-2225721522.html

The two dozen nonprofit groups and Senate committee members defending Scott Pruitt, President Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, have at least two things in common.

Like Pruitt, they're climate science deniers. And, like Pruitt, most of them are funded by Charles and David Koch, the billionaire brothers who own the coal, oil and gas conglomerate Koch Industries.

Koch's Marriage with BigTobacco-1993-Citizens for a Sound Economy-Jeff Nesbit 

Adapted from Poison Tea: How Big Oil and Big Tobacco Invented the Tea Party and Captured the GOP, copyright © 2016 by Jeff Nesbit

https://americansforkochsprosperity.blogspot.com/2018/02/big-tobacco-koch-citizens-sound-economy.html

History is important, and its amazing how much history Koch’s Americans for Prosperity has.  Here I share some details from Jeff Nesbit who wrote: Poison Tea: How Big Oil and Big Tobacco Invented the Tea Party and Captured the GOP, which is followed by tips and links to 10 other articles about various aspects of this long running strategic campaign aimed at an ultimate hostile take-over of our United State of American’s government of the people, by the people and for the people, by a few wealthier than god oligarchs. 

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This is a personal unaffiliated effort to educate neighbors regarding Americans for (Kochs) Prosperity

citizenschallenge at gmail

Commissioner Lachelt Recall Is Unfair - L.T. - 2/15/18

Yesterday I read a good Letter To The Editor of the Pine River Times that nicely explains the upset that I, and many others, are feeling towards this contrived Recall Petition.  Today I called the author and she gave me permission to reprint it and include her name.  More thoughtful letters to the editors of local papers would be good.

Commissioner Lachelt recall is unfair

Feb. 15, 2018  | pinerivertimes.com/articles/52457-commissioner-lachelt-recall-is-unfair

The majority of La Plata county voters did not vote for our current president. And we hear constantly from his supporters that we should deal with it and get over it. 

Yet it is these same people who now mount a recall against Commissioner Gwen Lachelt, duly elected in 2016 in a fair open election. Duly elected! And these people of the recall won't do what they tell everyone else to do, accept results, deal with it and get over it. 

Gwen has done what she told this community she would do. She did not misrepresent any of her positions or beliefs; and people said, this is who we want as commissioner. We want a commissioner who has worked for years to hold the oil and gas industry accountable for their impacts. We want someone who will oppose a polluting industry, and now that industry wants her gone. We want someone who will fight for clean air and public health, who will not cave to pressures to shut up and sit down like a good woman should, who will be our voice in Denver and DC. 

Gwen Lachelt is under assault and by any measure, La Plata County is under assault (see Jonathan Romeo's Jan. 30 (Durango) Herald article on Americans for Prosperity). 

It is up to the people who supported Gwen in 2016 to support her now. She has been there for you and now you need to be there for her. This recall is totally wrong and must be opposed.

Liza Tregillus

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