Nation: Synthetic pot Business: 49,000 members of the Local: So where will Trump’s Sports: Time to change found in some vapes. A2 United Auto Workers out on strike. C7 Bay Area fundraiser be? B1 the Levi’s narrative. C1

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111 Volume 169, issue 90 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 24/7 COVERAGE: MERCURYNEWS.COM » $1.50

SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE MIDDLE EAST Conservation group’s ‘prize’ — Trump massive land of ancient giants Nonprofit to pay $15M points for 530-acre privately owned sequoia forest

By Paul Rogers [email protected] A Bay Area conservation finger group has signed a deal to purchase the world’s larg- est privately owned giant se- quoia forest, a primeval land- scape in ’s Southern with massive at Iran trees that soar 250 feet tall, span up to 80 feet around at President says U.S. military their trunks and live for more than 2,000 years. action not yet planned after The 530-acre property, attack on Saudi oil facilities known as the Alder Creek, is roughly the same size as Muir Woods National Monument By Robert Burns The Associated Press in Marin County. Located in Tulare County 10 miles south WASHINGTON » President Donald Trump of , it declared Monday that it “looks” like is home to 483 trees that are Iran was behind the explosive attack larger than 6 feet in diame- on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. But he ter — four more trees than the stressed that military retaliation was famed Mariposa Grove at Yo- not yet on the table in response to the semite National Park. strike against a key U.S. Mideast ally. “This is probably the most Oil prices soared worldwide amid the coveted sequoia conservation damage in Saudi Arabia and fresh Mid- opportunity in a generation,” dle East war concerns. But Trump put said Sam Hodder, president of the brakes on any talk of quick military Save the Redwoods League, a action — earlier he said the U.S. was nonprofit group based in San “locked and loaded” — and he said the Francisco that has agreed to oil impact would not be significant on pay $15.6 million to purchase the U.S., which is a net energy exporter. the property. The Saudi government called the at- “It’s not any single tree,” he tack an “unprecedented act of aggres- said of the landscape, which sion and sabotage” but stopped short of eventually will be open to directly pinning blame on Iran. the public. “This is an al- Iran denied involvement. pine landscape covered with Trump, who has repeatedly stressed iconic, breathtaking, cinna- avoiding new Middle East wars, seemed mon-barked trees that are sur- intent on preserving room to maneuver rounded by pastures. It is such in a crisis that Secretary of State Mike a superlative representation of Pompeo had immediately called Iran’s nature. This is the prize. This fault. Pompeo said Saturday, “Iran has is the best of what’s left. It’s a now launched an unprecedented attack very special place.” on the world’s energy supply.” The league, founded in Trump, too, had talked more harshly 1918, signed a purchase agree- at first. But by Monday afternoon, he ment with the Rouch family, seemed intent on consultations with al- who has owned the land since lies. the 1940s. The family’s patri- “That was an attack on Saudi Ara- arch, Claud Albert, bought the bia,” he said. land for its logging potential “It wasn’t an attack on us, but we just before World War II, said would certainly help them,” he said, not- his grandson, Mike Rouch, of ing a decadeslong alliance linked to U.S. Fresno. oil dependence that has lessened in re- “When they bought the cent years. The U.S. has no treaty obli- property there was not even a gation to defend Saudi Arabia. road to it,” he said. “They had Trump said he was sending Pompeo to ride horses.” to Saudi Arabia “to discuss what they Over the generations, the VICTORIA REEDER — SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE feel” about the attack and an appropri- family cut down sugar pine, The Alder Creek property in the Southern Sierra, 10 miles south of Sequoia National Park, is the ate response. SEQUOIAS » PAGE 5 world’s largest privately owned giant sequoia forest, with 483 trees larger than 6 feet in diameter. IRAN » PAGE 5

BAYCopyright AREA (c)2019 The Mercury News, Edition. Please review new arbitration language here. 09/17/2019 September 17, 2019 7:39 am (GMT +7:00) 50,000 MORE REQUESTED Powered by TECNAVIA California pipeline: How Coalition urges president illegal guns end up here to boost housing vouchers Hundreds of thousands “If you want a Appeal comes after come from places that have machine gun, that recent threat to crack fewer gun restrictions might be more down on homelessness (money). If you want By Nate Gartrell and Anda Chu a silencer, that might By Emily DeRuy Staff writers be more. It’s supply ederuy@ bayareanewsgroup.com In August 2018, convicted felon and demand, like Dereke Holden of San Jose sold everything else.” Days after President Don- $13,200 worth of guns to an under- ald Trump hammered Califor- cover police officer within a matter — Jill Snyder, special agent with the nia for not solving its home- federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, of days. Firearms and Explosives lessness crisis and threatened Background-check laws prevented to get the federal government him from purchasing a firearm le- involved, Gov. Gavin Newsom gally, so Holden came up with a two assault rifles to an undercover is urging him to help boost workaround that federal authori- police officer. Last November, the the supply of affordable hous- KARL MONDON — STAFF ARCHIVES ties say is part of a statewide trend: two were indicted as part of a large ing. The Bay Area has seen a major uptick in the number of people He recruited a friend to buy guns in federal and state investigation tar- The California State Asso- who can’t afford the region’s expensive housing costs. a place with fewer gun restrictions geting gun and drug trafficking in ciation of Counties, the Cal- than the Bay Area — in this case, Las the South Bay. ifornia League of Cities and sue 50,000 more housing also wants the federal govern- Vegas — and bring them back. The case pales in comparison to mayors from the biggest cit- vouchers, which low-income ment to increase the value of It was through this method that the scale of several Bay Area gun ies in the state joined the gov- families rely on to subsidize vouchers and provide incen- Holden and 22-year-old Jose Soto- rings that have been busted in recent ernor Monday in urging the the cost of renting on the pri- tives to landlords willing to mayor came to sell nine pistols and GUNS » PAGE 5 Trump administration to is- vate market. The coalition NEWSOM » PAGE 5

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MONO CO. S.F. Map thick brush and trees, Sequoias area INYO CO. which the National Park Bishop Service regularly does at FROM PAGE 1 Los Angeles Mariposa Grove in Yosem- 395 ite, reduces the risk of se- whitefir,redfirandother Kings vere fires and increases the treestomakeframinglum- Canyon likelihood that when fires National ber for houses and other Park do start, they will burn products. But they left the FRESNO CO. Mt. more moderately along the massive sequoias largely Whitney forest floor, allowing the untouched. Sequoia fire-resistant trees to sur- TULARE CO. “Lessthanadozenwere National vive. ever taken,” Rouch said. Visalia Park “Our goal is to make sure “I’m 62, and there’s never thepropertyisfireready,” beenonecutdowninmy 99 Alder Giant Hodder said. “The age-old lifetime. They could have Creek Sequoia belief that no matter what property Camp National gotten fence posts or roof Nelson Monument you throw at giant sequoia, shakes out of them. But I 20 miles they are going to survive, thinkmydaddeepdown we now know that’s not the recognized how beauti- BAY AREA NEWS GROUP case anymore.” fultheywereandhedidn’t Rouch, who works as a want to take them.” quoias. Known as the Red building contractor, said Acousinofthecoastred- Hill property, that 160-acre fivegenerationsofhisfam- wood, which is the world’s forest is about 8 miles south ilyhaveahistoryonthe tallest tree, giant sequoias oftheAlderCreekproperty. Alder Creek property. It is arethelargestlivingtreeby Theleagueplanstotransfer sellingitnowbecause,like volume, a prehistoric spe- both parcels to the U.S. For- MAXFORSTER—SAVETHEREDWOODSLEAGUE many families, each gener- cies that lives up to 3,000 est Service over the next de- The redwoods league plans to transfer the Alder Creek property to the U.S. Forest Service. ation has more heirs, which years. Giant sequoias exist cade, so that they can be in- makes for complicated es- todayonlyin73grovesfrom cluded in the Giant Sequoia farmers, loggers, miners in the winter, the property time, scientists plan to draw tate planning and succes- the Tahoe National Forest National Monument, a part andotherstoraisemoney ishometomountainlions, up public access plans. They sion. to the Sequoia National of Sequoia National Forest for the construction and black bears, coyotes and also will work with logging Henotedthathehas Forest east of Bakersfield. set aside for special protec- financingofschools.So abundant bird species. crews and government offi- never visited Yosemite Na- Nearlyalloftheremain- tion in 2000 by President the parcels were called Alder Creek forest is fa- cialstothinoutareasthat tional Park, a two-hour inggrovesarepreservedon Bill Clinton. “school lands.” mous for the Stagg Tree, a have grown unnaturally drive from his house. public land within Yosem- Mostofthelandinthe Thepracticeledtoa 250-foot-tall giant named thick after generations of “We have this property. I ite National Park, Sequoia- areaisownedbythefederal checkerboard ownership after Amos Alonzo Stagg fire suppression. haven’t needed to,” he said. Kings Canyon National government. patternintheSierraand (1862-1965), a pioneering They will not cut down But that all will proba- Park, Calaveras Big Trees TheAlderCreekprop- other rural areas. footballcoachattheUni- any ancient sequoias, Hod- blychangenow.AndRouch StateParkandSequoiaNa- erty, which is 5,800 to Rouchsaidthatoverthe versityofChicagowhore- der said. Rather, workers said,heisgladtheenor- tional Forest. 7,800feetinelevation,not years, his family has al- tired to Stockton. The tree willremovepine,firand mous sequoias he grew up Conservation groups far from Golden Trout Wil- lowed friends and acquain- is believed to be the fifth- cedar trees in some places. with will be preserved so have worked for genera- derness, is an unusual ex- tances to camp on the prop- largesttreeintheworldby Overthepast20years,sev- that future generations will tionstosecurepermanent ception. erty,whichhasanetwork volume. eralbigforestfiresinthe enjoy them. protections, acre by acre, Inthe1800s,toen- of trails and a few cabins. Hoddersaidhisorgani- Sierra Nevada — includ- “We’veusedtheland,”he foreachgrove. courage settlement, Con- Early in its ownership, the zation hopes to transfer the ing the Pier Fire in 2017 said.“Butwehavetriedto Last year, Save the Red- gress granted federal land familyalsoallowedaru- RedHillpropertytothe andtheRoughFirein2015 takethebestcareofitthat woods League spent $3.3 to California and other ral development named ForestServicein2022.But —burnedsohotthatthey we can.” million to buy the world’s states in the early West. Sequoia Crest to be con- the league will retain the killed several dozen giant second-largest privately The states could then structed on about 100 acres. Alder Creek property for sequoias. ContactPaulRogersat owned grove of ancient se- sell that land to settlers, Covered with deep snow up to 10 years. During that Removing unnaturally 408-920-5045.

the Saudi caution reflects anysignfromtheAmeri- U.S. reimposed sanctions Iran the kingdom’s wariness of cans which has honesty in that sent Iran’s economy taking on Iran. it, and if the current state into freefall. FROM PAGE 1 “Idon’tthinkthere’sa continues there will be ab- Theweekendattack great independent Saudi solutely no chance of a halted production of 5.7 OneU.S.official,speak- capability to respond,” he meeting between the two millionbarrelsofcrude ing on condition of ano- said. “You don’t want to presidents,” spokesman Ali aday,morethanhalfof nymity to discuss internal startawarwithIranthat Rabiei said. Saudi Arabia’s global daily deliberations, said the U.S. you don’t have an idea how Downplaying any talk of exports and more than 5% was considering dispatch- you’regoingtoend.” imminent U.S. military ac- of the world’s daily crude oil ing additional military re- InNewYork,thenewU.S. tion, Vice President Mike production. sources to the Persian Gulf ambassador to the United Pence’schiefofstaff,Marc The U.S. and interna- butthatnodecisionshad Nations, Kelly Craft, con- Short, told reporters at the tional benchmarks for been made. The U.S. al- demned the attack and said White House that Trump’s crude each vaulted more ready has the USS Abraham that “emerging information “locked and loaded” was “a than 14%, comparable to aircraft carrier bat- indicatesthatresponsibility broadtermthattalksabout the 14.5% spike in oil on tle group in the area, as well lies with Iran.” the realities that” the U.S. is Aug. 6, 1990, after Iraq’s in- as fighter jets, bombers, re- At the Pentagon, Defense “safer and more secure do- vasion of Kuwait. connaissance aircraft and AFP/GETTY IMAGES Secretary Mark Esper sug- mestically from energy in- U.S. stocks were down air defenses. AsatelliteimageobtainedMondayfromPlanetLabsInc. gested Iranian involve- dependence.” but only modestly. Major Trump, alternating be- shows damage to oil/gas infrastructure from weekend ment,too.Inaseriesof The new violence has led stock indexes in Europe tween aggressive and non- drone attacks at Haradh Gas Plant in Saudi Arabia. tweets after meeting with tofearsthatfurtheraction also fell. Markets in Asia violent reactions, said the Trump and other senior on any side could escalate finished mixed. U.S. could respond “with machinerytohitwithin patternofdestructionsug- national security officials, a confrontation that’s been Atanewsconference, an attack many, many thesprawlingSaudioilpro- gested Saturday’s attack did Esper said the administra- raging just below the sur- Saudimilitaryspokes- timeslarger”butalso“I’m cessing facility at Abqaiq to not come from neighboring tion was working with part- face in the Persian Gulf in man Col. Turki al-Maliki not looking at options right cripple production. Yemen, as claimed by Ira- ner nations “to address this recent months. There al- said,“Alltheindications now.” But“satelliteimagery nian-backedHouthirebels unprecedented attack and readyhavebeenmysteri- and operational evidence, U.S. officials released sat- can’t show you where the at- there. A Saudi military al- defend the international ous attacks on oil tankers and the weapons that were ellite images of the damage tack originated from,” said legedthat“Iranianweap- rules-based order that is that Washington blames used in the terrorist attack, at the heart of the king- Joe Bermudez, an expert at ons”hadbeenused. beingunderminedbyIran.” onTehran,atleastonesus- whetherinBuqayqorKh- dom’s crucial Abqaiq oil theCenterforStrategicand TheSaudisinvited Iran rejected the allega- pectedIsraelistrikeonShi- urais, indicate with initial processing plant and a key International Studies who United Nations and other tions, and a government ite forces in Iraq, and the evidence that these weap- oil field, and two U.S. offi- examined the images. international experts to spokesmansaidtherenow downing of a U.S. military onsareIranianweapons.” cialssaidtheattackersused “What the photos in- help investigate, suggest- is “absolutely no chance” surveillancedronebyIran. Russia’s Foreign Minis- Copyright (c)2019 The Mercury News, Edition. Please review new arbitration language here. 09/17/2019 multipleSeptember cruisemissiles 17, 2019 and 7:39 dicateam (GMT is+7:00) that someone ingtherewasnorushto of a hoped-for meeting Thetensionshavein- try,Powered while by expressing TECNAVIA “grave drone aircraft. planned a sophisticated, co- retaliate. between Iranian Presi- creased since Trump pulled concern” about the attack, Private experts said the ordinatedattackthatreally Jon Alterman, the chief dent Hassan Rouhani and theU.S.outofIran’s2015 warned against putting the satelliteimagesshowtheat- impacted the production of Middle East expert at the Trump at the U.N. General agreement with world pow- blameonIran,sayingmili- tackers had detailed knowl- oilatthisfacility,”hesaid. Center for Strategic and Assembly next week. ersthatcurtailedIranian tary retaliation against Iran edge of which tanks and The U.S. alleges that the International Studies, said “Currently we don’t see nuclear activities and the wouldbeunacceptable.

other homeless programs. recently.“Itisnoteven AccordingtoTheWashing- on his claim that Hurricane solves sleep, but only hous- Newsom In contrast, your admin- recognizeable (sic) lately. ton Post, the administra- Dorian was heading for Al- ing solves homelessness.” istration proposed signif- Somethingmustbedone tion has considered refur- abama. Inanewsrelease,the FROM PAGE 1 icantcutstopublichous- before it is too late.” bishing government facili- Homelessness has bal- governor’s office said ing and programs like the AndatarallyinOhio, ties to house the homeless, loonedinCaliforniainthe homelessness was a top accept vouchers. Community Development the president said, “Nearly although the White House pastseveralyears,withcit- priority for Newsom, “Weallagreethathome- Block Grant.” half of all the homeless peo- has not announced specific ies from Oakland to San pointing out that his first lessness is a national crisis Trump has repeatedly plelivinginthestreetsin plans. Franciscoseeingmajorup- budgetsetaside$1billion decades in the making that blastedCalifornia—and Americahappentolive Local officials reacted to ticksinthenumberofpeo- for cities and counties to demandsactionatevery specifically Democratic in the state of California. thenewswithskepticism plewhocan’taffordthere- tackletheissueand$1.75 level of government — lo- HouseSpeakerNancyPelo- What they are doing to our and largely dismissed the gion’s expensive housing billiontoincreasehous- cal, state, and federal,” the si’s San Francisco district — beautiful California is a dis- moveasapoliticalploy. costs. According to the Cen- ing stock. groupwroteinaletter.“In for failing to adequately ad- grace to our country. It’s a “Thisisn’taproblem teronBudgetandPolicy Theappealcomesas California, state and local dress homelessness. shame.” that the president can re- Priorities, around 300,000 Trumppreparestovisitthe governments have ramped “Speaking of failing Last week, Trump dis- direct with a Sharpie,” San families in the state re- BayAreatodayforareelec- up action to lift families badly, has anyone seen what patched a team to Los An- Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo ceived housing vouchers in tion campaign stop. out of poverty by invest- ishappeningtoNancyPe- geles, which alone has more wroteintweet,referencing 2016. inginbehavioralhealth, losi’s district in San Fran- than 36,000 homeless res- Trumpshowingamarked- “Mr. President,” Mon- ContactEmilyDeRuyat affordable housing, and cisco,” Trump tweeted idents,tostudytheissue. upmapashedoubleddown day’s letter reads, “shelter 408-920-5077.

“For California, it’s its Whenever it can, the ATF Bay residents traveling to Winn was sentenced to 14 ecutors wrote in sentenc- Guns ownsourcestate.Mostof tracks the “time to crime” the Sacramento area, bur- years in federal prison for ing memos in Winn’s case. thegunsweseizehavebeen — from when a gun is ille- glarizinggunshopsfor leadingagunringcaught “The middlemen picked up FROM PAGE 1 purchased in another part gally trafficked to when it dozens of weapons and re- traffickingdozensoffire- thecashandgaveittoyet of California,” Snyder said. turnsupinacriminalin- sellingtheminAlameda arms throughout the Bay another level of conspira- years, but the modus ope- “Wedohavecases,though, vestigation. Agency records County,yetallbutonewas Area. tors who purchased the fire- randiwasthesame.Federal wherefirearmsaretraf- made public in federal sen- sentencedto33monthsor Federal authorities arms in Nevada — herein- authorities estimate that fickedfromNevada.…It tencing memos in a gun less in prison. linked the guns to more after, ‘the straw purchas- hundreds of thousands of dependsonthetypeofgun traffickingcaselastyear The defendants were than a dozen crimes, writ- ers.’ The Oakland-based guns have been brought to you want, it depends on the note that one pistol sold brazen — one burglary in- ingincourtrecordsthat co-conspirators traveled the Bay Area from Nevada areayoulivein,iftheguns on the streets of Oakland volved driving a pickup they were used in three ho- fromOaklandtoRenovia and even rural places in are accessible. If you want wasusedbyagangmem- truck through the front of micides and four attempted Greyhoundbus,pickedup California that have fewer amachinegun,thatmight ber in an Auburn homicide agunstoreandgrabbing murders. the guns and brought them restrictions for gun dealers. be more (money). If you 90 days later. Another was guns as the burglar alarm Authorities say Winn back to Oakland.” Jill Snyder, a special want a silencer, that might used in an attempted mur- blared — and a gun store andhisco-defendantsle- ButWinn’ssentencewas agent with the federal Bu- bemore.It’ssupplyandde- derinSanLeandrowithina ownerwroteastatement gally purchased the guns in longer than most because reau of Alcohol, Tobacco, mand, like everything else.” dayofbeingacquired. saying the thefts put him Nevada and brought them ofachargeofrobberyaf- Firearms and Explosives, Traffickers who oper- OnSept.6,afterplead- out of business. back to Oakland for resale, fecting interstate com- saidthatin2016,moreil- ate solely within Califor- ing guilty to selling guns Acountofconspiracyto taking Greyhound buses merce, from a gas station legalgunswereseizedin niatakeadvantageofdif- without a license, Soto- sell firearms without a li- withthegunsintheirlug- robberyinOaklandcom- California than in any other ferences in gun laws be- mayorwassentencedtotwo cense—acommoncharge gage — a travel method au- mitted within 24 hours of state. tweenruralpartsofthe years,sixmonthsinfederal levied against gun traffick- thorities say reduced the acquiringthegunheused. Shesaidgunsarebrought state and cities such as Oak- prison. Holden has pleaded ers—carriesasentenceof risk of being arrested. SeveralofWinn’sco-defen- to the black market in two land,whichhaspassedsev- guilty as well and is await- upto10yearsinfederal “The Oakland-based dants, convicted of gun traf- main ways: gun store bur- eral strict gun control ordi- ingsentencinginJanuary, prison. Certain federal drug conspirators paid the mid- ficking charges, were sen- glaries and “straw purchas- nances in recent years. according to court records. distribution charges, by dlemen for the gun or- tenced to as little as three ers” who buy the weapons California as a whole also When gun traffickers contrast,cancarryamaxi- ders prior to the purchase months of probation. from so-called source states hasmorestringentagere- are caught and charged, it mumtermoflife. ofthegunsviaMoney- and transport them to an quirements and other re- isrelativelyeasytoescape Oneexceptioncamein Gram money orders wired Contact Nate Gartrell at areawheretheycanbesold strictions limiting gun seriousjailtime.One2016 November, when Oakland to MoneyGram locations 925-779-7174 and Anda at a profit. sales. case involved several East resident Andre Martel in Nevada,” federal pros- Chuat510-908-2109.