Photos from indybay.

On Thursday, February 9th, at 8:45am — the Fresno County Planning Commission (PC) will deliberate on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) submitted to permit the Cemex Corporation to blast strip mine Jesse Morrow Mountain for the next 50 years. We assume this will be the first of potentially dozens of local foothill strip mines in the coming years once this precedence is set. The public is urged to speak at this meeting.

Find attached the PC meeting Agenda. JMM is agenda item #3.

Unfortunately for ‘we the people’, the vote for Cemex’s strip mine has apparently already been pre-approved by the Planning Commission. From the Planning Department’s own “Staff Report”  issued publicly last week, it appears as if the PC has clearly made up its mind, and will summarily vote YES to Certify the FEIR and approve the mine. All that’s needed apparently is a fill-in-the-blank certification of who voted YES. We ask: Why is it only in Fresno County that your citizen voice, in what is supposed to be a democratic process, where votes should be cast after hearing public testimony from citizens not decided behind closed doors, why has your voice been so thoroughly put aside in this pre-arranged decision?

The precise wording of this ‘projected’ outcome (which the county itself has written into the record) is in Exhibit 8, p.88 of their own “Staff Report” which they provided for the PC meeting
regarding the findings and statement of overriding considerations - last week!

 http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/viewdocument.aspx?id=49927

Go to p. 87-88 of the pdf. It states verbatim:

“The County of Fresno proposes to approve Cemex…” p.87 & etc, then on p.88 at the top:

“On February 9, 2012, the Fresno County Planning Commission considered and heard testimony on the Project from the Project proponents, the general public, and the Commission’s staff. The Commission of February 9, 2012 voted to recommend certification of the EIR and approval of Reduced Alternative 4 by a vote of INSERT VOTES FOR AND AGAINST.”

Note the past tense of this outcome of a meeting not yet held! Was this really written some time ago by the Planning Office to pave the way for their pre-approved YES vote? Absolutely! And unambiguously, they state the county has approved this vote before the vote. Is this the standing operational procedure in Fresno?

Duh. Right again. Standard procedure. Unfortunately in this case, it would appear that employees at the county development office, as well as among the Planning Commission itself  (doubtless too at Cemex all in cozy cahoots) — together in their rubber-stamp process, they are apparently able to time travel into the future, assign their fill-in-the-blank YES vote proactively to a meeting not yet held, and return back to the present to let ‘we the citizens’ know, via this off-hand bureaucratic statement on page 88, the outcome of their prearranged certification of a strip mine at a meeting still several days hence before any of the rest of us have even had a chance to show up, let alone voice our concerns! Jimminy cricket. Read that sentence again then go back and read their report. Is this what the democratic process in Fresno County has fallen to? Apparently so.

PLEASE COME DOWN TO THE HALL OF RECORDS ON THURSDAY NEXT AND BE ON RECORD IN YOUR FIRM OPPOSITION AGAINST THIS MOUNTAIN-TOP BLAST STRIP MINE THAT WILL SIT ADJACENT TO OUR CITY FOR 50 (LIKELY 100) YEARS — FIRST STRIP MINE AMONG MANY WE HAVE NO DOUBT TO RUIN THE WESTERN SIERRA ONCE THIS FIRST APPROVAL IS MADE  — AN UNENDING BLIGHT AT THE VERY GATEWAY TO TWO OF AMERICA’S MOST TREASURED NATIONAL PARKS, A MOUNTAIN SACRED TO THE TRADITIONAL CHOINUMNI INDIANS, AND A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER-STREWN MOUNTAIN AT THAT.

GO OUT TO SEE IT BEFORE IT IS DESTROYED SOME STAR-STREWN NIGHT THIS WEEK, TAKE YOUR SWEETHEART FOR A VALENTINE’S RIDE UP ALONG THE BLOSSOM TRAIL ON THE GENERALS HIGHWAY ON THAT LONELY OPEN ROAD TO THE TWIN PARKS. PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PAST MINKLER  AND LOOK UP IN WONDER. IT’S BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT A LOVELY MOON-DAPPLED MOUNTAIN IT IS!

THIS, A BLAZING MOUNTAIN-TOP STRIP MINE?

Fresno County is your democracy, dear friends, you make the call (not the cozy pre-arranged back door politics of the all-too-typical development-at-all-costs business-as-usual planning process we see in abundance here.)

Prepared by the Coalition to Save Jesse Morrow Mountain

www.jessemorrowmountain.com/

This mountain is sacred to the Choinumni. Endangered animals inhabit this mountain. Stop Cemex.

~V

(Source: sans-nuage)

@3 months ago with 3 notes
#jesse morrow mountain #JMM #sacred #fresno county #fresno #occupy fresno #OF #cemex #earth first #indybay #environment #strip mine #occupy the mountain 

day 16 of arrests.

i left early last night because i was extremely tired, but apparently mike 5 was the only one to go in, and they didn’t arrest him until 4am. :/

i wish i had stayed to support him. ♥

he’s amazing though and if you bump into him, give him a giant hug because he deserves it.

we love you, mike 5! ♥

@6 months ago with 5 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #occupy #fresno #california #arrests 

day 14 of arrests

today would have been day 14, but luckily, nobody was kidnapped. we still continue to maintain a 24 hour presence at the park. we kindly thank the sheriffs for wasting money and stopping all the crime ever. michelle made quite a lovely speech about how useless the sheriffs are. hopefully, we can have that footage up soon. it was enjoyable. ;)

tomorrow (or today, saturday) is going to be a very exciting night and we encourage everyone to come out and hang out with us. C:

we’re holding a VERY special general assembly. we’ll also be showing michael moore’s film capitalism: a love story, at 8pm.

pleeeease come out and join us! spread the word! bring a friend, and dress warmly. it gets very chilly out there. :)

we hope to see a lot of people out there! ♥

@6 months ago with 8 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #OF #fresno #california #arrests #general assembly #GA #special GA 

day 12 of arrests

i was not present at the time, but i believe there was only one arrest: mike 5. i had been in san francisco, and i was tired so i went home instead for the night. he was let out around 5-6am, if i’m not mistaken.

@6 months ago with 6 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #OF #fresno #california #arrests 

day 11 of arrests

last night, day 11, three were arrested. joseph, pat, and myself. they walked us to the underground parking garage where they keep their cars and we rode to the jail. pat was the last one out this morning. i’m not too sure what time he got out, but i got out around 630. we were arrested around 1215ish. i was super pissed because a woman with a DUI was processed after me and released hours after me.

my arresting officer was incredibly friendly and knew all of my information. he said the first time he arrested me, the computer glitched and he had to retype all my stuff like a 100 times.

@6 months ago with 3 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #fresno #california #arrests 

day 10 of arrests.

2 kidnapped from OF tonight: michelle and pat. Pat wanted to go for round 2 since they were released within a couple hours of being arrested. -___-

Occupy Fresno stands in solidarity with occupy wall st. They got hit, hard. Stay strong, OWS. ♥

@6 months ago with 4 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #fresno #california #OWS #arrests #occupy 

also:

#occupyfresno is standing in solidarity with oakland.

stay strong. ♥

@6 months ago with 5 notes
#occupy wall st #occupy fresno #occupy oakland #occupy together #oakland #fresno #arrests #california #east bay 

day 8 of arrests.

five arrested. one of the five was actually walking home. they ran after him, grabbed him, kicked his legs out from under him and slammed him into the sidewalk. then they charged him with jaywalking and impeding an officer. :|

last night was just full of bad vibes. our people were followed by sheriffs, as they walked through the park. people are being followed home by unmarked vehicles. the sheriffs are citing our people left and right for tedious things, but turn a blind eye when someone who isn’t associated with us does the same thing.

anyway, this is very important:

if you’ve been arrested at the gazebo, please email me your info, which includes contact info, citations, name, date of arrest, etc. our lawyers want the information.

my email is occupy559@gmail.com

thanks!

~v

@6 months ago with 5 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #fresno #california #arrests #legal 

day 17/18 of arrests.

actually, there were no arrests the last couple nights. we’ve been very tired, being in and out of jail. but we’re still going strong. it just kinda sucks with the holidays coming. it’s like the movement wants to take a break. -___-

i don’t celebrate xmas so i’ll be out there. :)

@6 months ago with 4 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #occupy #OWS #fresno #california #arrests 

day 15 of arrests

we had an amazing turnout of folks, both kidnapped and in support of the occupiers. there were 15 of us this time, bringing the arrest total to 93, i believe. the sheriffs were either unprepared, or didn’t believe it was necessary to begin arrests until 145-2am. the last of us got out a little after 6am.

since it took them so long to get to us, those of us at the freedom fountain began playing games, such as patty cake and ninja. when the sheriffs marched toward us, we all started humming the star wars imperial stormtrooper theme. it. was. epic.

while we were being processed, they apparently forgot to uncuff one of our girls and when they called her up to sign for her belongings, i made a comment along the lines of “you should probably uncuff her first.” and sheriff little, one of the deputies in the booking area asked me for my name. when i told him, he said “okay, well i’ll make sure you get out last. don’t tell me how to do my job.”

i was one of the first out. ;)

we had a nice group of occupy fresnans waiting for us to get out with donuts. :)i think our three new arrestees appreciated it.

our occupation is as strong as ever, and last night proved that. thank you, everyone, for coming out and supporting, and to those who were arrested with me, you made jail a lot better. :) ♥

ohhh. the editor of the community alliance and one of his reporters played ninja with us, and i was told they were scolded by the sheriffs after we were hauled off. what a joke. they threatened them with arrests, saying they weren’t media but occupiers if they continued interacting with us that way.

@6 months ago with 4 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #fresno #occupy #california #OF #arrests 

day 13 of arrests

last night, there were three kidnappings: michelle, mike 5, and a new face, lyn. they were snatched at 1230am, and released around 630am. i noticed they’re keeping us in longer.

earlier today, a group of us went to fresno state for a meeting about the cuts and the merging of departments. it was quite an interesting meeting. there were a lot of pissed off staff members who came up to us after to thank us, as occupy fresno, for being there.

after the meeting, we used the people’s mic in front of the madden library and passed out fliers. we used the people’s mic again at noon in the student union. then a third time on the balcony of the student union. it was very exciting.  ;)

i absolutely loooove the people’s mic. it’s my favorite kind of mic.

@6 months ago with 3 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #occupy fresno state #arrests #peoples mic #fresno #california 

occupy sf

today, a group of us went to san francisco for occupysf.

it.

was.

amazing.

i almost didn’t come back. the energy was incredible and the people were so awesome. we rallied against the cuts and merging of departments in the CSU systems, but we found ourselves in front of a BofA. we occupied the hell out of BofA, and so many riot cops showed up. i was almost hit with a baton and arrested. we created a human barricade in front of the entrances, and then in front of the paddy wagons. it was intense and a little scary, but so exhilarating. i had gotten arrested earlier today in fresno, and i was down to get arrested in sf.

i hadn’t been to any other occupies since the movement started and i’m sooo glad i went to OSF. they had so many amazing chants and really neat ideas for us to bring back to OF.

i’m so stoked, i can’t wait for tomorrow’s GA so we can talk about it. C:

occupy fresno forever stands in solidarity with occupy san francisco. ♥

@6 months ago with 5 notes
#occupy wall st #occupy fresno #occupy sf #occupy san francisco #OSF #OF #OWS #occupy together #fresno #san francisco #sf #california #BofA #bank of america 

a msg from our lawyer

i just received the Order from Magistrate Judge Austin approving all the in forma pauperis applications, so OF and all the individuals are officially plaintiffs against the Fresno County defendants.  I expect the summons to be issued sometime later today, and the defendants will be served. 
i am officially a plaintiff against the county of fresno.

@6 months ago with 5 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #fresno #california #occupy #lawsuit 

day 9 of arrests.

there were six kidnappings. five of them were at the freedom gazebo, and the last one was at the city sidewalk. they came over to him, wrestled the american flag from his hand and arrested him. i was told it was fresno PD that arrested him. apparently, the sheriffs and PD are in cahoots.

we filed our lawsuit and restraining order today against the county. a press release is scheduled for sometime after 5pm.

we’re not going to make it easy. not at all.

@6 months ago with 4 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #occupy #fresno #california #arrests 

OUTERNATIONAL visits #occupyfresno

:)

@6 months ago with 2 notes
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #fresno #california #Outernational 
3 months ago
#jesse morrow mountain #JMM #sacred #fresno county #fresno #occupy fresno #OF #cemex #earth first #indybay #environment #strip mine #occupy the mountain 
day 17/18 of arrests.

actually, there were no arrests the last couple nights. we’ve been very tired, being in and out of jail. but we’re still going strong. it just kinda sucks with the holidays coming. it’s like the movement wants to take a break. -___-

i don’t celebrate xmas so i’ll be out there. :)

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #occupy #OWS #fresno #california #arrests 
day 16 of arrests.

i left early last night because i was extremely tired, but apparently mike 5 was the only one to go in, and they didn’t arrest him until 4am. :/

i wish i had stayed to support him. ♥

he’s amazing though and if you bump into him, give him a giant hug because he deserves it.

we love you, mike 5! ♥

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #occupy #fresno #california #arrests 
day 15 of arrests

we had an amazing turnout of folks, both kidnapped and in support of the occupiers. there were 15 of us this time, bringing the arrest total to 93, i believe. the sheriffs were either unprepared, or didn’t believe it was necessary to begin arrests until 145-2am. the last of us got out a little after 6am.

since it took them so long to get to us, those of us at the freedom fountain began playing games, such as patty cake and ninja. when the sheriffs marched toward us, we all started humming the star wars imperial stormtrooper theme. it. was. epic.

while we were being processed, they apparently forgot to uncuff one of our girls and when they called her up to sign for her belongings, i made a comment along the lines of “you should probably uncuff her first.” and sheriff little, one of the deputies in the booking area asked me for my name. when i told him, he said “okay, well i’ll make sure you get out last. don’t tell me how to do my job.”

i was one of the first out. ;)

we had a nice group of occupy fresnans waiting for us to get out with donuts. :)i think our three new arrestees appreciated it.

our occupation is as strong as ever, and last night proved that. thank you, everyone, for coming out and supporting, and to those who were arrested with me, you made jail a lot better. :) ♥

ohhh. the editor of the community alliance and one of his reporters played ninja with us, and i was told they were scolded by the sheriffs after we were hauled off. what a joke. they threatened them with arrests, saying they weren’t media but occupiers if they continued interacting with us that way.

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #fresno #occupy #california #OF #arrests 
day 14 of arrests

today would have been day 14, but luckily, nobody was kidnapped. we still continue to maintain a 24 hour presence at the park. we kindly thank the sheriffs for wasting money and stopping all the crime ever. michelle made quite a lovely speech about how useless the sheriffs are. hopefully, we can have that footage up soon. it was enjoyable. ;)

tomorrow (or today, saturday) is going to be a very exciting night and we encourage everyone to come out and hang out with us. C:

we’re holding a VERY special general assembly. we’ll also be showing michael moore’s film capitalism: a love story, at 8pm.

pleeeease come out and join us! spread the word! bring a friend, and dress warmly. it gets very chilly out there. :)

we hope to see a lot of people out there! ♥

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #OF #fresno #california #arrests #general assembly #GA #special GA 
day 13 of arrests

last night, there were three kidnappings: michelle, mike 5, and a new face, lyn. they were snatched at 1230am, and released around 630am. i noticed they’re keeping us in longer.

earlier today, a group of us went to fresno state for a meeting about the cuts and the merging of departments. it was quite an interesting meeting. there were a lot of pissed off staff members who came up to us after to thank us, as occupy fresno, for being there.

after the meeting, we used the people’s mic in front of the madden library and passed out fliers. we used the people’s mic again at noon in the student union. then a third time on the balcony of the student union. it was very exciting.  ;)

i absolutely loooove the people’s mic. it’s my favorite kind of mic.

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #occupy fresno state #arrests #peoples mic #fresno #california 
day 12 of arrests

i was not present at the time, but i believe there was only one arrest: mike 5. i had been in san francisco, and i was tired so i went home instead for the night. he was let out around 5-6am, if i’m not mistaken.

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #OF #fresno #california #arrests 
occupy sf

today, a group of us went to san francisco for occupysf.

it.

was.

amazing.

i almost didn’t come back. the energy was incredible and the people were so awesome. we rallied against the cuts and merging of departments in the CSU systems, but we found ourselves in front of a BofA. we occupied the hell out of BofA, and so many riot cops showed up. i was almost hit with a baton and arrested. we created a human barricade in front of the entrances, and then in front of the paddy wagons. it was intense and a little scary, but so exhilarating. i had gotten arrested earlier today in fresno, and i was down to get arrested in sf.

i hadn’t been to any other occupies since the movement started and i’m sooo glad i went to OSF. they had so many amazing chants and really neat ideas for us to bring back to OF.

i’m so stoked, i can’t wait for tomorrow’s GA so we can talk about it. C:

occupy fresno forever stands in solidarity with occupy san francisco. ♥

6 months ago
#occupy wall st #occupy fresno #occupy sf #occupy san francisco #OSF #OF #OWS #occupy together #fresno #san francisco #sf #california #BofA #bank of america 
day 11 of arrests

last night, day 11, three were arrested. joseph, pat, and myself. they walked us to the underground parking garage where they keep their cars and we rode to the jail. pat was the last one out this morning. i’m not too sure what time he got out, but i got out around 630. we were arrested around 1215ish. i was super pissed because a woman with a DUI was processed after me and released hours after me.

my arresting officer was incredibly friendly and knew all of my information. he said the first time he arrested me, the computer glitched and he had to retype all my stuff like a 100 times.

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #fresno #california #arrests 
a msg from our lawyer

i just received the Order from Magistrate Judge Austin approving all the in forma pauperis applications, so OF and all the individuals are officially plaintiffs against the Fresno County defendants.  I expect the summons to be issued sometime later today, and the defendants will be served. 
i am officially a plaintiff against the county of fresno.

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #fresno #california #occupy #lawsuit 
day 10 of arrests.

2 kidnapped from OF tonight: michelle and pat. Pat wanted to go for round 2 since they were released within a couple hours of being arrested. -___-

Occupy Fresno stands in solidarity with occupy wall st. They got hit, hard. Stay strong, OWS. ♥

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #fresno #california #OWS #arrests #occupy 
day 9 of arrests.

there were six kidnappings. five of them were at the freedom gazebo, and the last one was at the city sidewalk. they came over to him, wrestled the american flag from his hand and arrested him. i was told it was fresno PD that arrested him. apparently, the sheriffs and PD are in cahoots.

we filed our lawsuit and restraining order today against the county. a press release is scheduled for sometime after 5pm.

we’re not going to make it easy. not at all.

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy wall st #occupy together #OWS #occupy #fresno #california #arrests 
also:

#occupyfresno is standing in solidarity with oakland.

stay strong. ♥

6 months ago
#occupy wall st #occupy fresno #occupy oakland #occupy together #oakland #fresno #arrests #california #east bay 
6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #fresno #california #Outernational 
day 8 of arrests.

five arrested. one of the five was actually walking home. they ran after him, grabbed him, kicked his legs out from under him and slammed him into the sidewalk. then they charged him with jaywalking and impeding an officer. :|

last night was just full of bad vibes. our people were followed by sheriffs, as they walked through the park. people are being followed home by unmarked vehicles. the sheriffs are citing our people left and right for tedious things, but turn a blind eye when someone who isn’t associated with us does the same thing.

anyway, this is very important:

if you’ve been arrested at the gazebo, please email me your info, which includes contact info, citations, name, date of arrest, etc. our lawyers want the information.

my email is occupy559@gmail.com

thanks!

~v

6 months ago
#occupy fresno #occupy together #occupy wall st #OWS #fresno #california #arrests #legal