Friends of Gualala River Protecting the Gualala River watershed and the species living within it
In the middle of the second-growth redwood forest Artesa plans to clearcut.
Artesa’s spokseman, Sam Singer, posted the following tweets alleging that Friends of the Gualala River is misinforming the public:
- “@gualalariver made many false statements about Artesa Sonoma vineyard, changing its story every time. Wonder why they cant get facts right?”
- “@gualalariver knowingly spreads misinformation about #artesa. Read the real story and get the facts: artesasonoma.com protects land”
With Singer as their spokesman, Artesa argues that there is no forest at their proposed vineyard site, even though there is a 50-70 year old regenerated forest with over a million board-feet of timber which they plan to clearcut.
Take a look at the photos here: Forest, or not a forest?
and decide for yourself who is misinforming the public.
Artesa’s property in foreground, forested ridges in background
Friends of the Gualala River has opposed Artesa’s plan to clearcut forestland to plant a vineyard for a decade. We have hired numerous scientific experts to comment on the plan, and base our own comments on careful science.
We encourage the public to read what we and our experts have written about the Artesa Sonoma project, read the material Singer points to on artesasonoma.com, read the Environmental Impact Report itself, and come to your own conclusions.
About Sam Singer
Sam Singer is president of Sam Singer Associates, Inc, a public relations and public affairs firm based in San Francisco specializing in “crisis communications.” His agency’s website quotes the San Jose Mercury News calling him, “The Fixer.”
- Sam Singer works for Artesa Winery.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Sam Singer represented Chevron in crisis communication about its 2012 oil refinery fire in Richmond, CA. Contra Costa Times
- Sam Singer represented the Bohemian Club.
New York Times - Sam Singer represented the San Francisco zoo when a tiger killed a teenaged boy. San Francisco Chronicle
- Sam Singer has been criticized for attacking Goldman Environmental Prize winners. ChevronToxico
For additional information, see:
Artesa Sonoma forest-to-vineyard conversion
CAL FIRE has approved the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Artesa Winery’s controversial plan to clear-cut 154 acres of coastal redwood forest to plant a vineyard in Annapolis. The EIR claims that the project will have no significant environmental or cultural impacts.
