Windsor Town Councilmember Sam Salmon spoke at the February 23 meeting of the Windsor/North County Democratic Club. Mr. Salmon described what he termed “the trials and tribulations” of representing a minority position on the Council for the past three years. Often the lone dissenter on issues related to town development and growth, he shared his strategies for navigating that political reality.
Having served on the Council since 1994, Mr. Salmon has chosen to vote his conscience while advocating for his position in a collegial way. He has consistently opposed recent housing developments and is concerned that related traffic issues have not been adequately addressed. The removal of oak trees on the Oliver’s Market and Windsor Oaks projects played a significant part of his opposition to these projects adjacent to the Town Green.
Political contributions to the campaign of candidates in the 2016 Town Council election cycle is another concern of this long-serving council member. Mr. Salmon cited contributions from development interests to the campaigns of Deb Fudge and Bruce Okrepkie as further evidence of the problems of money in politics. Additionally, Mr. Salmon sees no real upside for growth in Windsor. He contends that Windsor offers few employment opportunities and that growth should happen in larger Bay Area cities where more jobs are generated and available.
Mr. Salmon addressed the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians’ proposed tribal homeland on 564 acres located west of Starr Road, east of Eastside Road, and south of Windsor River Road. A bill (HR 2538) introduced by Congressman Jered Huffman in May 2015 to create the homeland by an act of Congress, rather than an administrative act by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was not voted on by the end of the legislative session in January 2017. A new, similar bill has been introduced by Republican Congressman Jeff Denham of Modesto. Mr. Salmon is unclear as to what actions will be taken by the new administration, but feels that the Town of Windsor was given misleading advice regarding the inevitability of the creation of the Lytton homeland by either the Congress or the BIA. In retrospect he feels that the Town, when counseled that the outcome was not in doubt, rushed to make the best possible deal with the Lytton Band. He now concludes that the federal government may not approve the proposal.
Finally, Mr. Salmon looks forward to the adoption of a new Windsor General Plan in 2018. After that is done, he will consider his future on the Council before deciding whether to run for reelection in November 2018.
Also at the meeting: the Windsor Indivisible group, organizing around the principles outlined in the Indivisible Guide, to resist the Trump agenda, announced that their kickoff meeting will be on Tuesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. at the Windsor Round Table Pizza. For more information e-mail to windsorindivisible@gmail.com or follow Windsor Indivisible on Facebook.
And also at the meeting: Denise Dixon provided information about what is happening with the immigrant community she is in touch with at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Windsor. She said there are two non-threatening (to immigrants) ways that the rest of us can get involved: work at one of the food distribution centers, and volunteer with Catholic Charities for one or more of the immigrant-related services provided by that organization.
— Barry Hirsch
