Wednesday, December 9, 2009

BIG Rio Nido meeting! Judd not, lest ye be judded ...

BIG RIO NIDO MEETING,
Saturday December 12th at 2:00pm
Rio Nido Lodge

Dennis Judd and the Rio Nido Home Owners Association have organized a town meeting to discuss plans and ideas for the Rio Nido Lodge property (recently purchased by Mr. Judd). The meeting will be facilitated by Rio Nido's unofficial mayor, Domenic Farnocchia. Panelists will include major local players, such as Mark Krug, community development manager of the Community Development Commission; 5th District Supervisor Efren Carrillo, RNHOA board member Doug Meisner, Planning Commission member Tom Lynch, local resident, Russian River Redevelopment Oversight Committee (RRROC) candidate Chris Auzten, and others.

Guess what? Some folks out here in Rio Nido -- including yours truly -- have tentatively decided to drink the Dennis Judd Koolaid. As improbable as it may seem, big things may be in the works for our poor, beautiful, eclectic and neglected little town. An unidentified source of mine believes that Mr. Judd is serious about building his healing retreat for cancer sufferers on the Rio Nido Inn property, and gotten the above-listed big kahunas' attention. There even appears to be some consideration being given to yours truly's fantasy about sprucing up the drab parking lot at Rio Nido's entrance and restoring "boulder beach" (which was destroyed years back during the landslides). Though that sounds like a major undertaking.

So it seems that many of us have made unfair assumptions about Mr. Judd's intentions, and we need to start being constructive, giving him the benefit of the doubt and working with him. We're danged lucky that this venerable but recently distressed property has been purchased by someone who actually cares about our community and what we think of him. Because, when push comes to shove, Mr. Judd's the 500-pound gorilla who can do whatever he wants.

3 comments:

Philip Keaton said...

If he's going to make it a "healing center," fine. I have difficulty imagining how he's going to get government money to open such a facility without the "affordable housing" angle, but whatever. I have no regrets about raising concerns: if we don't defend our community then who will?

I would disagree that "there's nothing we can do" and that Judd can do whatever he wants. Not true. However, if what he wants to do is something beneficial, then I say more power to him. If not, then he'd better be prepared to do battle. Is that fair? I think so.

Jaya said...

I read the article he wrote in the West County Gazette just the other day. He really seems like someone looking for win-win scenarios. It's your neighborhood, but it it was mine, I'd sure as hell be on his team. Rio Nido has gone rapidly down hill in just the 3.5 years I've been in the area. This can be your turning point. Collaborate and make it a win.

judi g said...

Mr Judd it's true loves win wins, and loves collaborating as long as you agree with his vision. It all goes down hill fairly quickly once it becomes clear you don't necessarily agree with his plan. He does not do well with dissention, even when it is well behaved.