This mediator for Family Court Services and beaver-appreciating Martinez resident sent me a copy of her letter to the council and I thought it was worth sharing. Remember that Martinez is the County Seat so we get beaver supporters in Family Court, Juvenile Court, Criminal Court, Law Enforcement, Social Services and Water Quality (to name a few)..
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Dear Martinez City Council Members,
I am a Martinez resident. I am also one of those lucky rare-breeds in the Bay Area that gets to work in the same community in which I live. I work in downtown Martinez as a family court custody mediator for Superior Court. There is much that I love about Martinez. I love the farmer’s markets every thursday and every Sunday. I visit Starbucks each sunday and then take a stroll around downtown and up in the hills. I walk daily at lunch. I play on a bocce league every sunday evening. I ride my bike downtown. I attend the Willows Theatre cabaret and Armando’s concerts. I frequent local restaurants. I attend downtown street festivals and other special events. And always, I hope for a resurgence of downtown, to somehow capture and add to all that I find magical about this town.
In spite of all of that, this is only the 2nd time that I have endeavored to write to you. The first was last fall, when the fate of the Martinez beavers became a hotly contested public issue. The second is now, as we approach the revisiting of the fate of our now famous beaver family.
I am a beaver fan from afar. I am not an involved activitist, as sadly my schedule allows for little of this. I have expressed interest in helping in some small way, if possible, perhaps as a beaver docent, but as yet the opportunity has not yet formally arrived. And yet I feel myself very connected to our furry downtown family.
My daily walks take me by the beaver lodge and dam each day – and sometimes twice or three times. I am a regular visitor of the beaver website and a supporter of those who have photographed, videotaped, and written about them. I wear my “save the beaver” t-shirt to the gym and always receive approving nods, smiles, and questions. My office in family court displays a “save the beavers” cap, and I am often fielding questions about this from the families that visit me. I have pointed many a parent and child in the direction of Bertola’s and the beaver lodge.
I am writing to express my hope that the city council does the right thing. You have been given an opportunity, a fabulous opportunity, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to forever change and shape the future of Martinez. All of this may rest in the fate of one family of beavers downtown. Do the right thing.
Much has been written and said about the revitalization of downtown Martinez. Yet one family of hard-working beavers has accomplished more for a city then any fancy developer or organized planner ever could. We owe these beavers a great debt. They are not even on the city payroll!
Martinez needs to realize this opportunity and capitalize on this. Any monetary investment in the beavers to support willow restocking and dam flow plans will be more than regained. We have the public interest, we have the non-profit formed. Martinez- home of John Muir and one hard-working Beaver family. I see “Beaver Park” signs by the lodge. I see an organized education program. I see educaitonal opportunities for students from grammar school on up. I see a town logo. I see signs on the freeway. I see an organized marketing campaign throughout downtown stores and restaurants. I see a beaver festival. (I see Bertola’s perhaps quadrupling their cash flow). This is money and time well spent. Wasn’t it just New Year’s Day 2008 when the Contra Costa Times, in their annual “welcome to the new year” article, stated as an aside “whoever could have guessed that Martinez and Beavers would become synonymous?”
I will be out of the country at the date and time of the next City Council meeting where the fate of the beavers will be discussed. You can bet that I will check the news the instant upon my return. I am hoping that the City Council does us all proud.
Thank you,
Martinez Resident and Worker
Thank YOU for sending this letter on our beavers’ behalf and for agreeing to let it be posted! I especially like the rousing “I see a beaver festival” section…which is a fantastic improvement on downtown’s current sixth sense impersonation…(“I see dead people”). Not to mention that since beavers mate for life there is an obvious subtext to a divorce mediator suggesting we need more beavers! Of course we do.
