A Community Wellness Workshop was held on April 6, 2011 at
Cotati’s City Hall. De Novo Planning Group, Sonoma County Department of Public
Health and Bay Area Air Quality Management District all gave presentations. The
Council Chambers was full and it would seem the “Community” Workshop was a
success until it became clear that only a handful of citizens were in
attendance, while the others were stakeholders, business owners,
representatives for the Lung Association, the planning commission and staff.
Bringing attention to the lack of private citizen presence, I
asked the gentleman from De Novo Management District how they were reaching out
to the community. How many of you read the flyer that comes inside of you
PG&E bill? Well, that is one way they advertised this workshop.
When Lynn Waldon, Healthy Communities Section Manager, Sonoma
County Department of Health Services, Public Health Division made her
presentation, I noticed it mirrored the Healthy Eating Active Living (H.E.A.L.)
resolution Cotati adopted. Here are some
of the slides she presented that would support the changes that will soon be
implemented in the plans for Cotati, but without the spin.
Here is a
link to the presentation:
Slides of obesity trends among U.S. adults from 1985 – 2009
were shown and numbers emphasized so the next slide would get the full impact
intended.
It’s true that obesity is a major health issue in our country
and the statistics on childhood obesity is heartbreaking and it must be
addressed. But are you willing to have Cotati become your Nanny? Our Government
was never intended to dictate how we should and should not live our lives and
this government worker from Sonoma County Department of Health Services, Public
Health Division manipulated these slides to make it seem that we need
Government to rid us of obesity.
We can see in this slide a quote from Bay Area Regional Health
Inequities Initiative. They believe in
and are pushing social engineering.
It was this slide that threw me into what seemed like another
dimension. Poverty, stress and racism seem to be the key to all of our nation’s
woes. These are not issues in Cotati and why are we talking about fixing them
based on “Theory of Change”?
This is nothing more than propaganda. Yes, we do have unpaved
sidewalks and that is to be expected in the more rural parts of Cotati and
children are able to ride their bikes on the streets. What about the condition
of Old Redwood Hwy and other streets that is in need of repair? The city of
Cotati has already spent millions on the Downtown Specific Plan, purposely
neglecting the repairs that at some point may become safety issue.
“It is unreasonable to expect that people will change their
behavior easily when so many forces in the…….” There is truth to this in the
sense that we are influenced by advertising, but we are responsible for our own
lives. Parents, teach your children well. It is our duty as parents,
grandparents and friends and neighbors to teach our children by example. This
slide is an attack on capitalism and continues in upcoming slides. Our
Government continues to blame Coca-Cola, McDonald's, smoking and drinking for
health issues and even death, rather than placing responsibility on the
individuals. This is what propaganda looks like folks.
In this slide, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and
tobacco used to begin eliminating businesses they feel are not suitable for
Cotati. They will begin fining businesses who are selling goods they consider
to be “poor or inadequate nutrition” and those who sell “alcohol and tobacco,”
all for the good of our “youth.” Need I remind you Downtown Cotati’s main
businesses are bars?
Community gardens are going to be pushed on us while our
neighborhood stores and bars will be pushed out for their sales of unhealthy
foods, liquor and “unhealthy advertising.” Our convenience stores are an
inconvenience to their Downtown Specific Plan.
The absence of buffer separating cars from walkers and poorly
maintained sidewalks and roads are unsafe and are being used as talking points
for this project, when in reality, the City is neglecting these issues as tools
to implement their visions. Our safety is NOT their priority; their Nanny State
Downtown Specific Plan is their priority.
Millions of tax payers’ dollars have already been spent on
this plan and is a part of a plan much greater than the one they lay out for us
to see…well, those of us who are interested. Below is a slide that was on the
presentation that was brought before the Council to sell them on adopting the
H.E.A.L. resolution. This is an attack on these businesses. The elimination of
these thriving businesses is a huge part of the Government.
Please take a look at this next slide and ask yourselves if
our Government has any right to intrude on these areas of our lives?
Americans are beginning to pay attention to what is happening
nationally because it is clear we are a Nation who is in trouble and the issues
are now having an effect on the individual. Those who do keep up with the
current events of our country are frustrated because they feel helpless and
want to do something, but are not sure what it is they can do. As impossible as it may seem, there continues
to be a majority of individuals who do not know or care to know what is
happening in our Nation. What is it that
needs to be done to wake them up?
I see people stepping up and locking arms with others who are
aware that this is not about POLITICS. There are Democrats and Republicans who
are working on local issues together because they understand what it is that
must be done. They realize the magnitude of our National problems and KNOW that
we MUST begin right here in our own backyards!
It is in our local City Halls that resolutions and ordinances
are being implemented. Our Mayors and Council members are putting these plans
in place at the instruction and encouragement of outside entities, and it is up
to each of us to get this information out to our communities.
Here is where our battles begin. We are fighting for our
INDIVIDUAL liberties and freedoms. I know that the resolutions and ordinances
that have been passed in Cotati have been passed or will be passed in your
city. Go onto your City’s website and begin your education! Don’t wait for
someone to do something that you are capable of doing for yourself….for your
family. There are individuals who are willing to stand side by side with you
and share the information and tools you will need to arm yourselves with the
knowledge you need.
Leave a comment right now….don’t wait another day. We can
make a difference. Let your children see
you taking an interest and being active in your communities and lead the way
for our future generations.
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