By Branden Bieber – February 1, 2022 Our State representatives and local governing boards are not just stealing our tax money, their actions resemble characteristics of human traffickers, drug pushers, and child abusers. The COVID narrative has emboldened our righteous local leadership to implement and be complacent with inaction and lawlessness, while trampling on our civil liberties. Parental rights and a person’s body autonomy are not bargaining chips for wealthy Unions. Our local leadership needs to recognize People’s Constitutional Rights and stop wagering the health of our citizens in budget allocations. Del Norte County will be healthier, and become more united when our government ends the COVID Hysteria propaganda. It must “STOP NOW” as the consequences of the imposed State of Emergency are as great or greater than the risk of catching this strain of “cold.” Crime is on the rise. Prosecuting criminals is declining. Critical local road and infrastructure upgrades are stalled. Children are being victimized in schools that condone violence, disrespect and bullying. Or, kids are being discriminated against for not wearing a masks that can inhibit respiratory development. The homeless and transient problem is in crisis mode. Inflation is out of control. Local commerce is being regulated into extinction. Our American Freedoms are under assault! It’s time to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Stand up for yourself, and your family!! Contact your local leaders, picket the County, City and School board: and sign the circulating petitions for School Choice, and repeal of the 1% County Sales Tax. Express your freedoms by saying “NO” to the mandates, as individual justifications are undeniable. It’s time to share our stories from the past two years, here’s mine: I’m blessed to have been born and raised and Del Norte County, and now I’m ashamed to be raising my family in the same community. How has our County declined over the past two decades, while our natural resources and potential have never been greater? I am a general contractor, and now working for the State of California. Since the reinvention of Covid, I have been subjected to an ongoing hostile work environment within my department. I’m constantly being threatened with my job for not vaccinating, or I’m being directed to violate OSHA regulations and wear a N-95 respirator without being fit tested. The hypocrisy in the policy is glaring. California has historically championed inclusion. Now, the State wants to chart your every medical procedure and question, judge, and record people’s religious affiliations. My wife was forced into teaching two and a half years ago when the school district decided to discriminate against my kids based on their appearance. In many ways, it was a blessing my boys refused to wear a mask at school. Although challenging for our family, my boys have thrived academically. My concern, is the lack of social engagement. Life lessons are learned through interactions with peers, and cannot be taught virtually or in a book. Frustrated, stressed, and depressed I began listening to our local school, city, and county board meetings hoping for clarity. Instead, the arrogance and authoritarian governance displayed by our leaders was revolting. My engagement began when I heard Dr. Stutz respond to a question from retired 1st Supervisor Roger Getlin. The question was posed to Dr. Stutz and his answer (via zoom) infuriated my senses. Mr. Getlin asked Dr. Stutz to compare the mortality rate from Covid to Pre-Covid statistics. Instead of acknowledging that the mortality rate isn’t dramatically different, Dr. Stutz referenced the difficulty in explaining statistics in rural communities. Then at the next school board meeting Dr Stutz dismissed himself (again attending via zoom) in the middle of the meeting while dozens of parents, grandparents, and students expressed their concerns with his public health ordinance. Dr. Stutz The outcry from the community at the school board meeting regarding the masking of athletes was countered with another Health Ordinance provided by Dr. Stutz and Heather Snow on November 3rd. This Ordinance did not require athletes to wear a mask, but it unlawfully threatens to separate families for not wearing one. I called Mr. Hemmingsen in November to inquire about the health ordinance. Mr. Hemmingsen acknowledged the Nov. 3rd health ordinance was overreaching, but expressed his inability to do anything in the wake of the imposed “State of Emergency.” With claims the Health Officer has ultimate control of our schools, our government, and our economy, we agreed to disagree. Supervisor 4th District, Gerry Hemmingsen At the January 11th BOS meeting Mr. Hemmingsen played ignorant when I asked about the health ordinance, lying that he had not seen it. Am I wrong to think the Chairman of BOS should know what’s on the boards agenda? The BOS is using the old health ordinance on their agenda to enforce masking. Despite his antics, Mr. Hemmingsen knows the basis of the Nov. 3rd health ordinance is unconstitutional. Then at the January 25th BOS meeting, Dr. Stutz disrespectfully doesn’t attend. As Del Norte County government avoids it’s departmental responsibilities and cancels more programs, the BOS Chair decides to skip the Covid update as a scheduled item on the agenda. Also, at this meeting Mr. Hemmingsen had to apologize for celebrating that senior citizens are the fastest growing population in the homeless community. Clearly embarrassing for the entire board. It’s obvious Chairman Hemmingsen doesn’t listen to his constituents, but he should have the dignity to pay attention when his board members are speaking. This BOS has no check’s and balances and are at best, “RUBBERSTAMP TRAMPS.” A person could never run a household or a business the way our governing boards are directing governance. At the past two BOS meeting, the board members voted on over 40 consent items. With two votes, all 40 items were approved. Multi-million dollar allocations, county administrative pay increases, hiring’s, resignations, name changes, constitutional infringements, good service certificates, you name they approve it. And when the public requested deliberation on an consent item, the constituent was ignored and all items are rubberstamped “yes.” The last couple month’s I’ve e-mailed the board several times and made requests in BOS public comment. In these interactions, I have requested clarification to the health ordinance. Finally on January 28th, Board Member Short kindly responded to my inquiries. He claimed a new health ordinance is being administered but hasn’t been released yet. Hopefully, this new ordinance doesn’t threaten to throw neighbors in jail for not wearing ineffective masks. January 27th, The County Rec Department cancels youth basketball, while across the country tens of thousands of people gather daily at large arenas. The Elitist Hypocrite Governor from California even attended the NFC football game in LA without a mask, while our local leadership quivers in fear of the maskless. This decision to cancel youth basketball probably won’t have long lasting consequences, but it might. Personally, I know the value the D.N Rec. Dept. had in my life. The skills, sportsmanship, competition, and friendship I gained as a participant in the program is still benefitting me today. I was able to attend college solely because I was able to compete in athletics (greatly developed by our local rec dept.,) now those opportunities are being deprived of my children. On January 28th, our County County Administrative Officer (CAO) Neal Lopez informed me that the County will be fined if a County Department operates without masks. Sooo, in light of our communities grievance against the mask mandate the Rec. Dept. retaliates against minors and continues it’s victimization of our youth by cancelling youth basketball. I am sorry Mr. Lopez, but the rights of my children are not a bargaining chips, and not for sale. Expressing American Freedoms and body autonomy are not subject to monetary fines. This kind of pimp mentality, and authoritarian leadership must be stopped. CAO Neal Lopez We should start knocking on our representative’s doors, write them an e-mail, give them a call, and definitely sign the various petitions circulating the community. Whatever your opinion, find your voice and tell your story. Our community can begin to heal, when our government stops administering health perspectives and get’s back to the work of the people. We need to demand the County remove the COVID propaganda from the County web site. Health care statistics should be documented and made available by medical providers, not government. If the expansion of Government is not stopped, Government is all we’ll have left. Scary, considering most of our boards resemble optics from China, not America. “It may be true that the government that governs best governs least. Unfortunately, the same is also true of the government that governs worst” Jane Elizabeth Auer