I just received my property tax bill. I want to make sure that the County uses my tax dollars to support the planet and all its inhabitants. Do not use my tax dollars to support the fossil fuel industry and weapons of war not used in the national defense. Thank you

My name is Abraham Cohen, and I am constituent of Mendocino county living in Fort Bragg, 95437, where I grew up. I am a young homeowner, and my partner and I long to start a family to carry our community into the future. However, as for many folks in our generation, anxiety around climate change and widespread armed conflict significantly impacts our confidence about the wisdom of bringing children into this world. I do not support my tax dollars funding continued exacerbation of climate change and environmental degradation through investment in fossil fuels--nor the production of weapons designed to destroy human lives. Our county investment policy discourages investment in fossil fuels and weapons not used in national defense, and I want to see county officials living up to that policy. Please join other California counties by divesting in companies and financial entities that invest in the fossil fuel industry and weapons of war.

Thank you, Supervisor Williams, for sponsoring this agenda item.
While the Board did pass a Resolution to discourage investments in fossil fuels, the funds Mendocino County invests in the Royal Bank of Canada are definitely financing the fossil fuel industry globally. We should, without delay, divest from the Royal Bank of Canada. Sara Pierce, Acting Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, in her letter for this Agenda's Item 3g suggested the need to evaluate investments for social and environmental concerns. We must not be contributing to the dire threat that fossil fuels are causing to our lives now and in the near future.

As a 50-year resident of Mendocino County I speak up to request divesting our county's funds from the Royal Bank of Canada because many of its investments are in fossil fuels that cause great harm to our and the world's environment. The majority of county residents believe destructive global heating is caused by those fossil fuels and do not want our tax dollars to help cause more damage to our planet and its people. Please hear our voices and vote accordingly. Thank you. Tom Wodetzki, Albion

The upcoming opportunity in January for Mendocino County to divest its holdings in the Royal Bank of Canada presents the greater opportunity for the County to demonstrate—in action—its stated policy regarding investments in fossil fuels and weapons of war not used for national defense. Beyond this, here is an even greater, generational opportunity to act—in a manner within our power—against the present threat of climate collapse.
George Russell, Mendocino County resident since 2002

I support agenda item 4d sponsored by Supervisor Williams. I support requesting the County Treasurer to divest from Royal Bank of Canada.

I am a constituent and have lived in the 5th. District since 1983.

I am a mother, grandmother, and educator and believe that we need to do what’s right. Our children and grandchildren will thank us for doing what we believe is the right thing to do.

Royal Bank of Canada is among Mendocino County for Ethical Investing targeted investments because it reaches maturity in January of 2025, as well as for the following reasons:
• It is the 7th largest financier of the fossil fuel industry globally, providing over $42 billion US in funding.
• It helped to make possible the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline, stamping on indigenous rights.
• It is a large financier of Palantir, a surveillance company whose AI products are used to target civilians across the world, along with financing other large weapons companies Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.

The County’s Investment Policy reads, “Investments are discouraged in entities that
receive a significant portion of their revenues from the manufacturer of fossil fuels, tobacco
products, firearms, or weapons not used in our national defense.”

The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a Resolution that renewed the declaration of a
local emergency related to climate change. The Resolution states, “The severity and urgency of the climate change crisis necessitates swift and urgent action to protect the County’s residents, environment, and future generations; and the County of Mendocino must do everything in its power to encourage a swift transition to a low-carbon economy to mitigate economic risks and capture emerging opportunities in renewable energy and sustainable technologies, and to move towards an ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable economy.”

Why would we still invest in Royal Bank of Canada? It is high time that our investments align with our values and correlate with our Policies and Resolutions.

Funds could be reinvested in more socially responsible corporations, ideally closer to home. “Renewable energy and sustainable technologies” are much better investments. Certain “clean” investments have even been recognized as having better returns.

Other counties in California have stopped investing in fossil fuels that add to the climate crisis. Other counties in California have also stopped investing in weapons of war that kill civilians.
Let’s join them!

After you divest from the Royal Bank of Canada I hope that your Investment Policy can be strengthened by stating clearly that Mendocino County does not invest in revenues from the manufacturer of fossil fuels, tobacco products, firearms, or weapons not used in our national defense.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Annemarie Weibel, Albion

As Chair of the Coast Democratic Club, representing the Club Leadership Team, I request that the Board of Supervisors adopt the recommended action. We stand for environmental accountability. We encourage the County Board of Supervisors to support this request. Karen Bowers

I am Chad Swimmer, a long-time resident of Mendocino County, educator, and County employee for AODP in the 1990s. I am writing to express my gratitude to Supervisor Williams for bring Item 4d up for discussion, and to declare total support for our County divesting from RBC and strengthening the language of the otherwise commendable investment policy to exclude corporations that profit from fossil fuels and weapons of war. We must do this and continue to clean up our portfolio. Considering our present climate emergency, we must avail ourselves of one of the only avenues open to us: directing our investment dollars to places where it does not undermine the values of our County's residents. Thank you so much, Chad Swimmer

Honorable members of the Board of Supervisors,

I strongly support Supervisor Williams' proposal to divest from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). It is indisputable that fossil fuel corporations and their financial backers bear the lion's share of the responsibility for the climate crisis that we are facing, both here in Mendocino County and across the world. And, given the Board's unanimous support for Climate Emergency Declarations over the past couple years, it is entirely inconsistent with County policy to continue to maintain investments in any business entity directly involved in fossil fuel production or that provides major financing of said activity. Let's make sure that the County's investment policy is consistent with Mendocino County values and stated policy positions. Thank you.

Don Hess
Gualala

In 2022, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) was the world's largest banking funder of fossil fuel companies according to environmental accountability organizations Green Peace and Stand.earth. I urge the BoS to divest its holding in RBC.