Dear Honorable Supervisors,
On behalf of the Mendocino Cannabis Alliance (MCA), we submit the following comments regarding Agenda Item C27 and the proposed acceptance of $364,959 from the Northern California Coalition to Safeguard Communities.
MCA supports the continued availability of resources to address egregious environmental violations, and other serious and violent crimes stemming from unlicensed cannabis cultivation in Mendocino County. As additional grant funding is accepted, MCA believes there should also be clear accountability and transparency regarding how these funds are used and the results they produce.
MCA respectfully asks for continued assurance that grant-funded enforcement efforts are explicitly directed toward the serious and violent crimes stemming from unlicensed cultivation in Mendocino County, and monitor for “collateral damage” that Sheriff Kendall indicated might befall licensed operators. It is important to foster transparency, ensure accountability, and quickly implement course correction if needed.
MCA also recommends that the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office provide the Board with at least quarterly reports regarding cannabis-related enforcement grants. These reports should account for each grant individually, while also providing a collective overview of available funding, expenditures, enforcement activities, and measurable outcomes. Additionally, funds used to support specific aspects of the program, such as direct victim assistance, should be enunciated in reporting to assist in assessment of the effectiveness of each grant goal.
Ultimately, enforcement funding should produce measurable results. Without effective investigations, prosecutions, and consequences for those responsible for illegal commercial operations, enforcement actions alone may provide limited long-term deterrence. MCA encourages continued coordination among the appropriate agencies and consideration of whether existing enforcement tools and consequences are sufficient to meaningfully discourage illegal operations in Mendocino County.
MCA supports the acceptance of these funds and respectfully asks the Board to ensure that their use is accompanied by appropriate oversight, regular reporting, transparency, and measurable outcomes.

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
The Mendocino Cannabis Alliance