Healing Ceremony On Bypass Site

On Saturday, Caltrans and the CHP allowed over a hundred protesters to enter the Willits Bypass construction site to conduct a healing ceremony. Julia "Butterfly" Hill was among those who crossed the 101 and entered the site that used to be wetlands before being destroyed by Caltrans.

Will Parrish Extracted After 11 Days in Crane

Little Lake Valley Defender, Will Parrish was arrested today after being cut out of his lockbox by the California Highway Patrol. Amanda Senseman was also arrested.

Day 8 of Crane Occupation

Press Release: For immediate release: June 27, 2013 Contact: Freddie Long 707-459-5267 or Jamie Chevalier 707-354-4796 Photo credit: Steve Eberhardt, Willits News High-res photos on request 707-354-4796 Daring Aerial Resupply Reaches Parched Crane-Sitter on Caltrans Tower In an action combining daring, danger and comedy, Earth First! activists succeeded in putting a climber atop the second wick drain driver, and stringing a traverse rope to the crane-sitter who had been without food and water for a week. The bold action was carried out in broad daylight Wednesday afternoon. To get to the tower, the climber had to cross a wide belt of bare earth, guarded by 2 CHP vehicles. In spite of floodlights and guards, the climber delivered his life-saving supplies, and vanished into the night. One week ago Little Lake Valley Defender and writer Will Parrish set up residence on a 2-ft wide plank halfway up one of the two 100’ towers. About 40 people entered the worksite Saturday evening to bring supplies to Parrish, who had run out of food and water and was facing cold wet weather. In a dramatic confrontation, CHP officers cut his supply rope. After a standoff of several hours, six people were arrested, including a mother and daughter who were grabbed while attempting to comply with CHP orders to leave. Concern for Parrish’s safety after four days without food or water has been mounting, and a medical team sought permission to bring water. Communication was cut when his cell phone fell from the tower the first day. During Saturday’s resupply attempt, Parrish called down from his perch: “I’ll starve before I’ll let this machine install another wick drain.” According to Parrish, who now has a phone, “I’ve just been resupplied by a real-life superhero. The machine operator started to lower the crane with him on it, and the CHP just watched.” Bystanders and press recorded the life-threatening incident on camera and video. Carrying supplies and gear, the climber scaled the tower, and attached his safety harness about 60’ up. CHP officers were preoccupied with the effort to extract one of their vehicles from the deep mud near the site’s entrance, about 100 yards away. The officers summoned several passing protesters to help them, apparently taking them for passersby walking their dogs. The protesters helped free the car, which then got stuck again. The patrol cars next to the machine were apparently unmanned at the time. Surveying the sea of mud left by three days of rain, long-time Willits resident Freddie Long observed: “This is a perfect illustration of why the wick drains are such a bad idea. This should be wetland, not a freeway.” Bypass opponents say they will stop protesting when Caltrans stops work on the current version of the bypass, which they maintain is environmentally destructive and fiscally irresponsible. Sticker price for the 6 miles of road is $210 million dollars, not counting bond interest and cost overruns, or the $300 million dollar phase 2 of the project, which Caltrans says will be necessary to bring the current project up to safety standards. Local citizens and civic organizations have long advocated a set of cheaper, less destructive alternatives. A meeting between opponents of the current project and Caltrans head Malcom Dougherty is set for July 9th.

Will Parrish on Third Day of Wick Drain Crane-sit

Will Parrish has been in the tower of a wick drain driver since Thursday morning. "We have seen the agencies involved in regulating this project roll over time and again. We have seen Caltrans install itself as a veritable occupying power in this Valley. In the last several years, it has used the threat of eminent domain - both explicit and implied - to gobble up 2,000 acres from valley ranchers to use for its sham 'environmental mitigation'
projects.

May 31 Protest in Willits

Anti-bypass protesters protested at three locations in Willits today.

Memorial Day Protest Against the Willits Bypass

Dozens of protesters came out in the rain to protest against CalTrans.

Three Arrested Today Protesting Bypass

The California Highway Patrol arrested three people in Willits today at two locations where protesters were trying to stop work on the Willits Bypass.

75 Protesters Shut Down CalTrans HQ in Willits

Two people were arrested Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at the Caltrans offices in Willits. 75 people protesting against the Willits Bypass shut down the building all morning. Two women were arrested by the CHP.

Bypass Tour

I went on the Ceremonial Bypass Lands Tour yesterday and took these photos.

New Tree-sit in Willits

A tree-sitter named Crow has established a new tree-sit in an alder tree above Haehl Creek, in another attempt to stop the Willits Bypass.

Rally Held to Stop the Willits Bypass

Willits, California- Over a hundred people gathered at a park in Willits for the Save Our Valley Rally on Saturday, April 6. Most of the tree sitters that were taken down and arrested last week by the California Highway Patrol, were there. Speakers thanked them for their efforts, and pledged to continue the protests against the Willits Bypass.

May Day at Richardson Grove

For more info call 952-215-4058

Photos from the Stop CalTrans Rally

Here are some photos that I took yesterday at the rally yesterday at the CalTrans headquarters in Eureka. One protester was arrested after climbing on the roof. She was hoping to lock to other activists, but the police took the ladder down before anyone else could climb it. Some of the protester then marched to the jail to demand her release, but she was let go before they got there.

Lawsuit Delays CalTrans Project

From saverichardsongrove.blogspot.com:

Federal case against Caltrans is awarded injunction until July 2011 in which project bidding may commence unless Caltrans is found to have violated environmental regulations. Which they have, in the Richardson Grove "Improvement" Project(RIP) Environmental Impact Report(EIR).

Bidding for the RIP cannot commence until July 2011 and any type of road work, vegetation removal, etc. for the RIP until after 30 days after the project goes to bid.

Many thanks to EPIC, CATS and The Center for Biological Diversity for their hard work on this very important matter. Please help support the Federal case against Caltrans by donating to these well respected non-profit environmental organizations.

It is very important to continue to put pressure on Caltrans with direct action to stop this project...