Respond and react

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has been sued (again) for police brutality but demands the case be thrown out because the victim — rousted from his legally parked car, in Windsor — was “slow to respond” to commands to exit the vehicle. The incident occurred on July 9, 2019. Officers went to the car to check on the sleeping man, La’Marcus McDonald, a 34-year-old African American. The original suit claims he was subjected to excessive and deadly force that knocked out a tooth, caused facial cuts and bleeding, and left him unconscious. Sheriff’s lawyers counter that McDonald, “was disoriented and did not comprehend his contact with [the officer], and that he slowly responded to the officer’s commands to exit the vehicle.” The resulting charge: obstruction. McDonald’s legal team isn’t buying it, and says the department has a history of similar brutality incidents. “The county position that an arrest for obstruction of a police officer, and use of deadly force, because Mr. McDonald ‘was slow,’ is appalling and shocks every sense of human rights,” said Reed Kathrein.

You never really expect to get back that five or ten-cent “deposit” you pay on recyclable beverage containers. And you probably never bothered slogging your 25-can limit into the grocery store for the instant payout (or even knew that was the law). So it might not matter that because of Covid, all in-store redemption is on hold. But the fee, of course, remains firmly in place. And since Californians buy more 25 billion CRV-eligible drinks every year, that’s a lot of unspent cash pouring into Sacramento. Bottom line: If you had a nickel for every nickel you’re owed, you’d have a lot of nickels. 

Wanted: people to change the world, one Zoom meeting at a time. Supervisor Susan Gorin and Sonoma County are looking for committed volunteers to serve on official boards and commissions. Seats are open on the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission, the Springs Municipal Advisory Council, and the County Human Rights Commission, among others. Gavel not required. For details contact District Director Pat Gilardi at 707.565.3752 or [email protected].

Sonoma Valley Hospital will again offer no-cost mammogram screenings for uninsured and underinsured Sonoma Valley women, age 40 and older, during October. Project Pink screening is funded by a special grant from the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation and uses the hospital’s new state-of-the-art 3D technology. Contact 707.935.5215 or Sonomavalleyhospital.org.

Springs John has been on severe self lock-down since March, emerging from his compound only occasionally, to stock up on supplies (last seen in the wine aisle of Safeway) and chase the dog. But he’s excited about football season, and has even invited vetted, non-symptomatic guests to watch the 49er game. Through the window. 

— Val Robichaud, [email protected]