Daniel Garcia
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word “read” this way: look at and comprehend the meaning of written or printed matter by mentally interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed.
My headline for this blog is directed to Pacific County Sheriff Daniel Garcia and conerns Matt Winters’ editorial in today’s Chinook Observer. In clearly presented topic-by-topic style, Winters’ words offer some very specific suggestions to our young law enforcement leader — should Sheriff Garcia read them. And, more importantly, should he comprehend their meaning, pointed out by the OED as an integral part of the reading process. Or, as Nyel often said when flummoxed by the actions or comments by someone who should know better: “There’s no substitute for brains.”
Garcia’s recent interactions with the John Birch Society even caused a discussion here in Oysterville at last Friday’s traditional get-together — a group of friends and neighbors who have been informally gathering here each week for more than twenty years. No matter who comes — and there have been many with disparate beliefs and passions — we seldom, if ever, cross that socially acceptable line of discussion regarding politics, sex, or religion. Last Friday we did.
Shades of Yosemite Sam?
Mostly, remarks focussed on the John Birch Society (JBS) and our incredulity that they had apparently surfaced in Pacific County. I credit my cousins — both with California backgrounds — for remembering (along with me and several others in the room) the horrors brought about by the Birchers in Orange County in the 1960s. Perhaps you, too, remember their successful efforts to pass “Prop 14.”
Editorial – July 26, 2023
California Proposition 14 was a November 1964 initiative ballot measure that amended the California state constitution and nullified the 1963 Rumford Fair Housing Act. Prop 14 allowed property sellers, landlords. and their agents to openly discriminate on ethnic grounds when selling or letting accommodations, as they had been permitted to before 1963. Fortunately, in 1966, the California Supreme Court in a 5–2 split decision declared Proposition 14 unconstitutional.
Those of us who lived through those years in California — even in Northern California, as I did, hundreds of miles from the John Birch epicenter — will never forget. The thought of our sheriff (or any of our community members and neighbors) going to “private meetings” with JBS members is downright frightening. Bravo, Matt Winters, for your editorial! And even if our Sheriff can’t or won’t read it and take it to heart, I hope the majority of our citizens do!
Amazing to think that almost half a century later, we are still dealing with this. Will it never end?
I now know of six households fleeing the Peninsula or Pacific County because our public servants (and, yes, they are public servants) are refusing to fulfill the most basic requirements of their jobs.
In Sheriff Garcia’s case, his job is to uphold the law. As you have said, it is not to make laws, or to let his personal beliefs interfere with carrying out his duties. Any other public employee who refused to fulfill their job responsibilities because they thought that it was “not their job”, they “felt uncomfortable doing it” (those first two apply to a couple of our Commissioners) or because they didn’t think that the duty should be performed would be fired immediately.
Yes, Catherine, I couldn’t agree more! What bothers me more than all the problems with our elected officials that you mention is that I don’t see any newcomers entering the fray. I would vote in a heartbeat for Kelly Lucero for a position on the Port of Peninsula — she’s the only one who doesn’t come close to being one of the “good ol’ boys” (and besides she was a second grader in my class at Ocean Park School eons ago and I know her to be a sincere, hard worker.) But, alas! I am not in the right Port district to vote for her.
I so hope that things change for the better before it’s too late. I was so happy to read your thoughts! Thank you for responding! Sydney
Thank you, Sydney.
I was a Public Servant for many years. I took pride in that title, and also took it seriously. Despite the usual slings and arrows that most government employees dodge daily (that “feeding at the public trough” and all), they are the most demanding jobs that I ever held. That includes small businesses, nonprofits, and corporations.
The overwheming majority of Pacific County employees with whom I have dealt–including some in the Sheriff’s Office– during the past 15 years are amazingly competent and helpful. It makes me sad to see them undermined and demeaned by “officials” who will not do their own jobs.
I saw that in the paper that he made his officers go to the JBS meeting with him!! This is not a good practice. We have a big problem in the current sheriff – not sure what can be done since he was elected in – need to now elect him out!! Deb
Sydney, I just saw the post on FB this morning from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office and was thinking that the style of communication was in itself very unprofessional and confusing. My first thought was “I bet Sydney might have some wisdom about this.” Sure enough, I found your discussion and everything was a lot clearer. Thank you and I’ll be wishing the best for Pacific County. There have been some scary trends with rural sheriff leadership lately….