Uhhh, Larry Evans and Mark Lovelace don't have, repeat, DON'T HAVE a plan
But the slick mailer arrived in mailboxes yesterday is designed to bamboozle the public and set the stage for an Al Gore-like squeal about the public's will being denied in order to continue the attacks on whichever of the entities who DO have plans in front of the bankruptcy court, Hurwitz or no Hurwitz. The villain will just change faces. That's one way to look at this.
The other is that Lovelace/Miller/Evans/et al continue trying to find a backdoor way to acquire Palco lands. Mark didn't put in all that time working on the Community Forest for nothing. He knew the endgame was coming, and that was just on-the-job-training. And this is a nice little political plug just at a time when - surprise, surprise - Mark is running for Supervisor. Or is it President of the Send Us Your Money Coalition?
What's more - The Governor of California and Congressman Thompson have come out in support of Mendocino Redwood plan - in fact, it looks like everyone is supporting the Mendocino Redwood Plan.
Even EPIC cares more about the employees of Pacific Lumber than Lovelace does. despite his crocodile tears some months ago.
The Eureka Reporter's coverage: Schwarzenegger backs MRC plan for PALCO reorganization (TS is in the link above)
The Mirror has it along with some interesting tidbits - like the GreatRedwood website was registered a few days before the mailer came out - on April Fool's day, no less.
If ever you needed proof of the organizational shell game these guys play, and how it is the same little group of players, this is a very clear example.
This is a hugely important milestone for our community when our federal and state elected officials, along with business AND environmental groups rally around a sensible, feasible and **sustainable** plan to keep our timber industry alive and well.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope that the bankruptcy judge sees it the same way and is not dissuaded by the REAL special interests you mention.
Good job on summarizing this, Rose!!
I knew it! When I got this in the mail yesterday I knew it was a Lovelace scam. What kind of group is so deceitful to hide behind such a mailer! These people make me want to vomit!
ReplyDeleteD.
Yep -
ReplyDeleteLarry Evans
Ali Freedlund
Art Harwood
Tracy Katelman
Mark Lovelace
Kathy Moxon
John Rogers
David Simpson
Don Kemp
the "executive committee"
"Our partners include private investment firms and national conservation organizations. We seek input from a broad cross-section of the community to help us achieve our goals."
And what goals would those be?
Oh, did I mention, one of their 'affiliates' is asje?
ReplyDeleteSurprise surprise.
so who does everyone here support to take ownership of PALCO, its timberlands and the town of Scotia? from reading the posts here, i get more confused to what the people of Humboldt want. please be clear when posting...
ReplyDeleteto be honest, the only thing i can tell so far is that rose and a few others dont want a guy named lovelace to have any part in it.....im i reading this right? i dont need long anwers. just tell me what you want to happen to PALCO. i could care less about the fascination with lovelace. i had never heard of the guy until recently, how powerful or evil can the guy be?
Rose,
ReplyDeleteSince you are so interested, why not do a biographical piece about some of these people and their ties to this community. Like Kathy Moxon and John Rogers.
Just who do these people think they are, anyway? I mean, if the Judge in Texas lets the timberland go to auction, how DARE these people even THINK about making a bid on it. It would be much better to let a big bank on the east coast buy this timberland and manage it for maximum profits, money that would leave our county.
How selfish of these rabid environmentalists to propose that Humboldt County timberland could be owned by people who live and work here, and the profits from the company could stay here.
What is the world coming to, Rose?
And...just where does the money come from to fund Lovelace's/Evans' disruptive power-play?
ReplyDeleteJust when it was starting to make some sense?
An auction would be disastrous.
Dog,
ReplyDeleteWhere does the money come from?
Haven't you heard of the Nature Conservancy? Big money there, but probably not as big as the banks.
Of course an auction would be disastrous and if it goes to auction it will be the judge's decision. The people waiting to make a bid have no say about it going to auction or not.
If you plan to make a business move, does it not make sense to get public support first? Note that MRC had three public meetings to woo everybody. What makes this mailer any different?
This plan is not competing with the MRC plan and the judge is not considering the community forestry plan. Only if it goes to auction will this even be relevant.
Art Harwood owns Harwood Products in Branscomb, CA
ReplyDeleteKnow anything about their mill Rose? Why would they throw their hat in with Loveless?
My point exactly 4:36.
ReplyDeleteAnd the fact that NC has been talking with MRC, outside the scope of banjo maker should mean something. I know your theme, and your stake. I'm talking about a resolution that benefits a community and does not necessarily further a cause.
An auction would be disastrous. You want another Maxxam?
The money behind the Lovelace consortium comes in large part from the Strategic Investment arm of Banc of America. (Yeah I spelled it right. Must be some European spin-off.) So another bank would own it, one just as interested in maximizing profit as the hedge fund operators looking to sell it now, or the Texas financier who drained every penny from the asset in the first place. Despite the careful language in their glossy mailer, these people don't know shit about managing a timber operation and are fighting in court to block discovery of their intentions. From where I sit, this is "democratic" in the way the Clintons use the word. Sounds nice, pacifies the masses, and buys them cover to go out and behave in truly undemocratic ways.
ReplyDeleteAnd, nobody's impugning Kathy Moxon's character or motives.
ReplyDeleteWhat we are talking about here are the people with a history of creating euphemistically titled "groups" (orgs) out of thin air and calling them a coalition. We're talking about people with a long history of a single-minded attack on one company, intent on stealing the land.
Why was a new name necessary? WHY NOT SEND OUT THE SAME GLOSSY MAILER WITH HUMBOLDT WATERSHED COUNCIL'S NAME ON IT?
WHY?
Kathy's gotten hooked by the grant money connections pulled into the county by groups like these plus most everyone on staff at county gov are radical enviros belonging to these same slippery groups. In the short term grants look good to needy agencies and bankes hoping for growth. They are much like welfare. Only an unproductive band-aid.
ReplyDeleteMark is gambling on a post-bankruptcy auction. but the likely outcome is that the hedge fund operators keep it, parcel it off and sell it in pieces to the highest bidder. He, apparently is willing to risk this community, the entire company, and all the employees.
ReplyDeleteA worst case scenario.
And anyone who believes that these guys intend to keep up logging even IF they managed to get their grubby paws on the company ought to have their head examined.
This is - and it is ironic! - Timber Yes! (Mendocino Redwood) FRAUD NO! (Lovelace.)
If it flies like a duck,walks like a duck,swim likes a duck,quacks like a duck, it's probably a candidate for a non-profit grant so Mark could see if it just might be and endangered species. God Bless those grant possibilities!
ReplyDeleteYes, 6:19... Art Harwood?!! Surprised me to see his name on that list, too. Harwood Products is in dire straits... fighting going on the auction block in June. The bank has issued a notice of public auction... Art says it isn't going to happen.
ReplyDeleteim still not hearing what people WANT to happen with PALCO...i see lots of people saying what they DONT want to happen, but thats not productive.......
ReplyDeletethere are two ironies here that i see:
1. No talk about jobs on this thread, just talk about people that you dont like. hobs dont seem to be an issue here.
2. These same people who are now so concerned about the ownership of PALCO defended an out of state company that aquirred PALCO with JUNK BONDS, cut its pensions and laid off the workers.
to tell you the truth, i think this is more of a smear campaign on lovelace than it is a post about the future of PALCO.
You may think that, Theo, but unless you are a Necromonger, Miller and Lovelace have no business getting anywhere near Palco.
ReplyDeleteHere's the deal, Theo, the Mendocino Redwoods Plan that is before the Judge will preserve the jobs. That is one reason why people are lining up behind it. They appear to care about the future of the company, and have the ability to actually keep it operating.
The Noteholders Plan deals only with one piece of the company, ScoPac - NOT the bulk of the employees of the Pacific Lumber Company, nor does it take care of the local creditors (of which there are many) of the Pacific Lumber Company. Those creditors will lose millions of dollars if the Noteholder plan is approved.
So to answer your question - pretty much everyone is in SUPPORT of Mendocino Redwoods prevailing BECAUSE it actually IS a "Timber Yes" plan.
Lovelace, on the other hand - DOESN'T EVEN have a plan in front of the judge, has attempted to cobble something together, lure you with the name Nature Conservancy, make promises about keeping it in production that you have to realize are contrary to the anti-timber, cease all logging on this planet factions he is (albeit remotely, Miller more directly) associated with.
It's not an attempt to smear Mark - actually, most people really like Mark (I was one of those).
I hope that helps. Ii think most people believe that IF Hurwitz is out of the picture there is HOPE for healing in this community.
wow, im a forester and i dont even have that strong of opinions about the matter.
ReplyDeletei personally think that the judges and creditors should hash out the matter among themselves. the creditors are really the ones who have alot to lose. to be honest, the public's opinion shouldnt be taken into consideration. its a private company, with private debt holders.
people will always harvest timber. whether one company owns the entire landholdings seems irrelevant.
theo therme -
ReplyDeleteI would like to see a timber company with the finances, skills, and experience to run PALCO. Green Diamond, Mendocino Redwood, SPI. I don't care who, as long as it is not some non-profit who will cut the jobs, put the land into a non-taxable situation and close the mill.
wow, im a forester and i dont even have that strong of opinions about the matter.
ReplyDeletei personally think that the judges and creditors should hash out the matter among themselves. the creditors are really the ones who have alot to lose. to be honest, the public's opinion shouldnt be taken into consideration. its a private company, with private debt holders.
people will always harvest timber. whether one company owns the entire landholdings seems irrelevant.
8:00,
ReplyDeletewhat jobs will be cut? i think that about 100 jobs remain...are you saying that a non-profit will be able to run a mill, a power plant, a town and its timberlands with NO employees? Maxxam has tried that tactic, it doesnt work.
i do agree with you that a new owner should have experience in the lumber industry. i hope for that too. but hoping is like praying, it doesnt have much teeth......did maxxam have prior lumber history? i dont think so.
sometimes the smoothest talker, or the guy with the fattest wallet prevails and the public suffers. ive lived long enough to know that life isnt "fair" im my eyes all of the time. ya just gotta work with what you are dealt..
the trees arent going away, the mill isnt going away, the workers are still here. things will work out in the end. maxxam will be gone soon. or we can pray at least.
i dont mean to beat a dead horse, but here is how i see this:
ReplyDeleteimagine that you had a piece of real estate or a company for sale. wouldnt you want as many offers on the table as possbile to choose from? i would. and even though other people may try to give you input as to who you should sell to, the final decision is with the seller, or in this case the bankruptcy judge.
i guess we just have to have SOME faith in the judges here to pick the best plan....if i was gonna put my money anywhere, i would be betting on MRC...
theo
ReplyDeleteI would think that if a non-profit bought the whole thing, couldn't make it work since they don't have experience in a commercial enterprise they would have to do something. When they are being funded by the nature conservancy it isn't that far fetched to say, "oh well, we tried" and throw the land into a trust, open a museum where the mill is, and get grants for restoration from time to time. No, I would rather see an enterprise who has a vested interest if their plan fails take ownership. Somebody who will lose a few hundred million dollars will work damn hard to make it work out.
Well theo you answered your own question. Harvest Timber. The nature conservancy is the slickest con job around. Hurwitz could learn a lot from them. Hell,he's probably a hidden part of the NC. They are run by Fortune 500 leaders. They gobble up the best resource land in the world getting the lemmings to literally "buy" in to pay for it. When they get ready to harvest these natural resources they will, in any way they want.No one will be able to stop them. In the mean time the real nut jobs like Evans,lovelace & crew will reap local political power. Will they help a timber buisness to thrive? Will they help any buisness to thrive? No harbor,no railroad,no freeway developement,further stiffle timber production,no support for value added lumber and pulp industry the last 30 years. The list of their negative history will make a book. Yes,they can grow dope and file waistful law suits. Now there's an industry to hang your hat on. Wake up theo and support real buisness.
ReplyDeletesupport real business? do you think that we get to vote on this matter? get over yourself...
ReplyDeletealso, the last post was wholly posted out of fear of change and ingorance of the timber industry....get a CLUE!!!!
And that's exactly it, Theo - WE don't get a vote in this matter, that's why this mailer is SO disingenous - no, make that SO DISHONEST in its implications.
ReplyDeleteMost people won't look beneath the easy rhetoric.
And, I think what you are looking at is less than 100 jobs with ScoPac and about 400 jobs with Pacific Lumber, not just 100 jobs as you mentioned above.
With Lovelace's scheme, the 400 are shit outta luck, it seems, much as he professes on his listening tour that he cares about the workers.
And don't buy the asje bs either - they are part of the get Palco crew from WAY back. they just wear a nice disguise.
Like you say, we can hope the judge also looks favorable on Mendocino Redwood, and we can hope that finally this horrible chapter in Humboldt County history is put to rest.
No harbor, no railroad, no freeway development, further stiffle timber production, no support for value added lumber and pulp industry the last 30 years. The list of their negative history will make a book.
ReplyDeleteTheo therme, how does pointing out that sorry history equate to fear of change and ingorance of the timber industry....get a CLUE!!!! ?
If you received one of these flyers don't just throw it out. Take the time to fill it out, explaining you don't support their scheme, tape the postage pre-paid card to a brick and send it back to them.
ReplyDeleteTheo,I've been in the timber industry for over 50 years. Did not support Hurwitz but do support PL. These people you are supporting,make no mistake about it,you support them are the ones that know nothing about our industry.Don't try your crap with me kid. Everything changes. I don't fear change. I'm close to my end,a big change and I don't fear that change either. You still can't out work me in the woods theo and it is abundantly clear not in brain power either.
ReplyDelete11:57,
ReplyDeletei dont support anyone except my family...as far as PALCO goes, i would be happiest with the plan that brings the most jobs, at the highest rate of pay....
if i did have a vote in it, it looks like the MCR plan would get it from the looks of it so far....
"No harbor, no railroad, no freeway development, further stiffle timber production, no support for value added lumber and pulp industry the last 30 years. The list of their negative history will make a book."
ReplyDelete10:12,
please be specific to whom you are blaming the above problems on. i want to hear who exactly you think is responsible for each of the problems seperately. names please......and dont just say "liberals"...
rose said: "And that's exactly it, Theo - WE don't get a vote in this matter, that's why this mailer is SO disingenous"
ReplyDeleterose,
as in most business deals, the highest offer will prevail...money will be the deciding factor...
if these idiots want to spend thier money on trying to influence people who dont even have a say in the matter, that is thier problem. if i were them, i would be putting my money into sweetening my offer, not trying to become popular.
i wouldnt call it disingenuous, id just call it a waste of money.
Well - there are alot of questions to be asked - Harwood Products started off with glowing intentions, according to their website - ...working to create a system of "sustained development" which fosters equalibrium with their communities, resources and environment.... To improve its position in an ever more competetive industry, Harwood Products has embarked on a $20,000,000 expansion of their production facility. Already in their fourth year of this expansion, Harwood added a trimmer/optimizer to the sawmill in 1995, a new planer in 1996 and installed a new head-rig in 1997. An edger/optimizer, originally scheduled for 2000, has been delayed due to economic conditions. The edger/optimizer will be followed by a sorter for the sawmill and other capital improvements which will double Harwood's production capacity and turn the Harwood plant into a first class production facility
ReplyDeleteThe mill has been closed all winter but it is said that it's supposed to reopen on May 1 with just one shift, no insurance benefits, etc...
There was a rumor that there was a "group of investors" that didn't work out...
But now it appears to be for auction
HARWOOD PRODUCTS
9AM - TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY - JUNE 3rd & 4th
Preview 10am - 4pm, Monday, June 2nd
14210 Branscomb Road, Branscomb, CA
Sawmill, Rolling stock
So what's the deal?
Forgot the link to Harwood Products.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to click on its "Affinity Sites" link - which includes, among others, CERES, and that includes among others, at least one of Shellenberger's orgs, as well as the Rose Foundation. What does that all mean? Maybe nothing. Who knows?
I'll just give you a few theonut. EPIC&EARTH FIRST&TREES FOUNDATION&NEC&LOCAL SOLUTIONS&HURWITZ&BAYKEEPER&JOHN WOOLLEY&WES CHESBRO&DAN HAMBURG&HUMBOLDT CO PLANNING& ECOLOGICAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION&REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK&FOREST SERVICE&US FISH&WIDLIFE SERVICE&HUMBOLDT WATERSHED COUNCILE & HEALTHY HUMBOLDT just to name a few. Theo you are lame. We see your game. Go to the HCDCC and you will find soul mates to eat up your dribble.
ReplyDelete8:31,
ReplyDeleteso i should switch my party registration? too funny....
so the national parks and john wooley are responsible for the loss of the railroads? funny how you dont mention a lack of economic viability in your argument. you must expect BIG BROTHER to build you a train to play on.
and the fish/wildlife department is responsible for lack of highways?
and the forest service is to blame for not enlarging the port?
and hurwitz is responsible for stiffling timber harvest? funny how you didnt know that the California Department of Forestry is responsible for assigning timber harvest plans.
what in the world was your list supposed to represent? are you THAT shallow in your knowledge of the local economy?
i asked you to tell me SPECIFIC people who affected SPECIFIC issues. i clearly said not to claim that "all liberals" are the problem....typical small-mindedness...why did you even bother to respond? to show me what an ignoramous you are?
theo you are a slippery apologist. no one said what party you were in ,just that the hcdcc would love your excuses. truth is all the libs mentioned are reasponsible for much of our decline. Directly. You carefully skirted the mention of Hurwitz as a contributor to our decline. Slick theo but very transparent. Quit trying to cover or minimize the damage these fools do. I never defend Hurwitz. I'm sure you're much better educated than me and are in tune with all the groovy new age positions. You still couldn't pack my lunch pail in the woods kid.
ReplyDeletetheo said:
ReplyDelete"and hurwitz is responsible for stiffling timber harvest? funny how you didnt know that the California Department of Forestry is responsible for assigning timber harvest plans."
10:01 responded:
"You carefully skirted the mention of Hurwitz as a contributor to our decline. Slick theo but very transparent. Quit trying to cover or minimize the damage these fools do."
i would include hurwitz as a major contibuter to a decline in PALCO jobs. that seems pretty obvious.
so what groovy new age postions are you talking about? what is the "new age"? are you talking about the supernatural? i dont believe in ghosts, gods, goddesses, magic, miracles, higher powers, horoscopes, witchcraft, angles, or any of that stuff....
ReplyDeleteill bet YOU are the one praying to imaginary ghosts in the sky.....
Oh, Theo, I think you DO believe in angles.
ReplyDeleteMaybe not angels, but angles, yes.
'Course I could be wrong...
rose,
ReplyDeletemy geometry teacher probably would have disagreed. but yes, i do believe in angles. every last one of em.....when i am long gone, and the earth is a frozen rock in space, those angles will still ring true....
Rose,is theo really as goofy as he seems? Or does he have blood sugar issues? Sometines he makes sence other times I think he's fighting wind mills or maybe invisible spirits. We get this kind of weirness from the likes of Larry Evans, A nut at all times but theo has rational thoughts at times. What's the deal?
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic that a guy who is counting on getting a company at auction himself has his own company going on the auction block.
ReplyDeleteIt's also ironic to me that a guy who wants to be supervisor is so cavalier about the truth. Won't tell you he's a payed lobbiest. Has a direct line to planning. Supports the harsh code enforcement raids. Is in bed with the likes of Larry Evans. Is for all progresive issues. Today that means trambling on anyone rights to force us into inner city blight.
ReplyDeleteOld Hippie, after seeing you type PAID as PAYD so many times, it is obvious that it isn't a typo. Your spelling is as bad as your logic.
ReplyDeleteLogic and spelln - payn and teln. Could it be u are corect8:34? Could it B you ain't? Many unanswered questons. Is it eyes,age,aurther-itis or deceeptun? Since you are the masters of fraud, may just B. Is it any distrackkkkkton from the phony Humboldt's Future Hangs in the Balance ..... 3rd district run for Stupervisor? Not at all. We know he was bought and paaaayyyy'ddd 4 lock,stock and barrel by U. Better luck pedlun your BS at the HCDCC. Vote foe honest men and women. Vote for Paul
ReplyDeleteYour illiterate rant is very convincing. You would do a better job for Paul if you pretended to root for another candidate.
ReplyDeleteOh.my God! Rose you must be hitting them in the right spot. When they have nothing they attack spelling. Wow! some real issue based debate.
ReplyDelete