Resnicks apologize, plan to donate land to SLO County

June 24, 2016
Stewart and Lynda Resnick

Stewart and Lynda Resnick

Statement from Lynda and Stewart Resnick

As the owners of Justin Vineyards & Winery, we try to instill in our local team a neighborly spirit, environmental responsibility and entrepreneurial independence, but when we learned of the terrible situation at our Sleepy Farm Road property, not to mention our poor reputation within the community, we were ashamed and are sorry.  We were asleep at the wheel.

Over the last few days, we’ve been conducting an internal review of the project and learned that while genuine efforts to meet county ordinances were made, unfortunately, there were absolutely unacceptable lapses of judgment. We’ve also talked to local residents to better understand the issues and our standing within the Paso Robles community and found that our actions are an embarrassment, and for that, we take full responsibility.

We are horrified by the lack of regard for both neighbor and nature that has been exhibited, especially the removal of native oak woodlands, and we hope that the community will accept our deepest and most sincere apologies and find it in their hearts to forgive us. We want to make things right, starting now.

Deforestation by Justin Vineyards

Deforestation by Justin Vineyards

We have already been in active and positive discussions with the San Luis Obispo County planning and building leaders and shared our plan to donate this 380-acre parcel of land at Sleepy Farm Road, and we’re actively exploring the best possible ways to make that happen, in addition to looking for other conservation opportunities in the greater Adelaida area.

As part of this preservation, we will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to conserve this land in cooperation with county and local officials. Also included in this re-mitigation process will be the implementation of immediate sedimentation and erosion control measures; the elimination of our pond project and restoring it to its natural grade; implementing measures to permanently protect oak woodlands from being removed on at least 100 acres of our property; and planting 5,000 new oak trees across our properties.

These actions are just the beginning of our commitment to being a better, more engaged neighbor, a true steward of the land, and a local voice that lives up to the spirit of Paso Robles. We want to walk arm-in-arm with our neighbors to ensure the future of sustainable farming in the region.

We know that proof of this will be in our actions, not just our words, and we look forward to working together to earn the support and trust of the Paso Robles community.

 


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I heard an encouraging report tonight on KSBY that Cal Poly would receive the property and use it to actively monitor underground water levels.


I read one headline that with this gift the county wont pursue them. Thats bullshit. Stay on it. There are other properties where there is many millions of water in ponds. There are hundreds of other acres of clear cut land. Calcoast and other news outlets have a chance to expose some crazy ass stores.


I think you are on to something. The Resnicks want this to go away. The last thing they want is to be in some kind of litigation for others to perhaps join in on as a Class Action.


This same situation ocurrs daily in our county. The only difference is the owners live in LA. Stewart is from the Central Valley. All these articles exhibit the reality of the central coast – come spend your money and leave. The only other issue is that the owners didn’t pay off the right political whores in the county I own the ranch next too the other property referenced herein and they cleaned up an eye soar. I am not in favor of grapes but it has brought a prosperity to our community we have never known. I will say this, if you can’t date your ancestry back to Spanish land grants than your are a tourist. Point being where do you draw the line.


Play that game and you have to date your ancestors back to Native Americans …. and be in a tribe, which I am…So get off my land.


WTF is SLOC going to do with these 380 acres? Another expensive boondoggle? At least Poly might be able to grow something on it…


Horseshit Resnick, what about the Hardeman Ranch near Creston? Was grazing land and now it’s 700 acres of grapes and your huge collection ponds.


Just thought of this: nice tax deduction, loss of property tax revenue for the county and an added tax burden to us. “I’ll get you my lovelies”


Hold on a minute.


SLO County Gov’t people may have suggested this route in order to stop any further need to pursue an ordinance that would prevent ANY water banking of the Paso Basin.


The Basin has undergone heavy discharges of excesses of 25% from normal for the past several years, five times monthly, which coincide directly with the Resnick’s Estate Vineyards LLC arrival to North County in 2010.


If water banking of the Paso Basin is allowed to continue, shallower wells will go dry and the ground levels may sink, just as has occured in the Central Valley, where Resnick’s water banking operations are said to be the main cause.


Let’s see what our County government does about it.


Thank you to the Resnick’s for donating the land to SLO County, 380 acres in a valuable area is not only noble but truly shows you do what you say. I respect that, and owning multiple businesses in various locations, it is hard to keep tabs on everthing that goes all the time. There was no ordinance against cutting down the trees, and im sure your local managers were making decisions based on growing a business, and simply made a bad judgement call. I encourage the Resnicks to join the local commmunity, get involved in some service organizations, and use the example of George Hearst, who was the most giving, quiet, and respectful person that the Paso Robles community has ever had. Writing this apology was a great start, and shows me that you have recognized errors and are committed to improvement.


*!@#$%P(*&&&&&&&&&@@@#$$$####


Get real.


That will never happen (“service community”).

As for Hearst (yellow journalism and inflammatory war rhetoric), just as it was for Alfred Nobel (inventor of dynamite), spent the rest of their lives making amends with the money they made; hence, why they were so quite later in life. The Resnicks are a different breed of greed, but not by much.


“Bad judgement” calls come from higher-ups where valuable profitable area is concerned, not from managers. I took a look at the deforestation from the air, and can say it looks really bad. No amount of apology will make up for it.


Their apology “concernedcitizen” was to make you take the view you have written. Look again at their historical record. Just because there is no ordinance from raping the land does it allow one to avoid responsibility for long term actions taken, or consequences… common sense would dictate to be smart about it. They failed to do so, and they knew the errors of their ways and committed them for personal improvement and not for the the Paso Robles community as they have in the past.


concernedcitizen… Are you employed by Resnick? Every business has to be responsible for their actions, big and small, and should hire competent people to manager or pursue the tasks assigned. Are you saying this manager just went out there and did his own thing? Me think not, he was definitely told what to do. We they brought this they knew there were hundreds of oak trees that had to go for their vineyard. They are fully at fault for this action as they have left a trail everywhere they go including. They don’t get a pass on this as this is the one they got caught at but they have done this on all the sites. Greed at its best. The Resnick’s are worth Billions and they don’t do anything with profit and cause.


TelaFlowers, Justin and Landmark wines, Wonderful Products: Halo’s, POM Drinks, almonds, pistachos, and FIJI water are some of the Wonderful Products owned by this wonderful couple. Mrs. Resnick also wrote a book: Rubies in the Orchard: How to Uncover the Hidden Gems in Your Business.


Do not trust or blink for a second with these people.


SLOBIRD, I am not employed by the Resnicks. In fact i was born and raised here, the difference is that I have the ability to accept an apology and watch the Resnicks actions moving forward. And thank god we live in a capitalist society, its the lesser of all evils. Im sure the oak wood will make someone very rich during winter season when your buying it in bundles from trader joes (hopefully thats ok with you)


“planting 5,000 new oak trees across our properties”


And in 100-200 years, all of us will be able to enjoy their full beauty again.


How many have you planted?


Hopefully each of us will have planted at least one tree in our lifetimes. Most of us will never acquire the same amount of acreage with thousands of trees as the now infamous Resnicks. We will not have the option to clearcut thousands of trees that we “own.” Therefore, we will not feel “pressured or coerced” to plant 5,000 new oak trees or 5,000 of any other kind of trees. Either you respect and protect the land or you rape the land.


what does that have to do with my comment?


Perspicacious , you do understand that the planting is strictly Image Control. Right


You are belittling their effort to make the world a better place for the nexq 100-200 years.


If you want to belittle their efforts, focus on the ones that harm us, not the ones that help us.


Racket, Racket, Racket – what if you went to the hospital for a surgery to remove your gallbladder – you signed a “release” to allow your surgeon to remove your gallbladder. As you were coming out of the anesthesia, you realized your surgeon had amputated your left leg. Gone! Your “butcher” surgeon might apologize until he is blue in the face, he could offer to purchase you a prosthesis, pay for all your rehab, and even compensate you for lost wages – BUT your limb is gone forever! The new little trees the Resnicks say they will plant will NEVER be the same as the ones they so callously removed! These people are the ultimate butchers!!!


You’ll get no argument from me that the doc was a quack and should be beaten about the head FOR THE BOTCHED SURGERY.


Boycott Justin all you want for playing loose with the rules, and dozing hundreds of trees. That was a bad deal from nearly every angle. But don’t indict them for planting trees.


You and I have used our talents, abilities and resources to get to a different place in our live than the Resnicks. Perhaps our place doesn’t include the ability to “plant 5000 trees across our properties.” But that doesn’t give us standing to poo-poo those who do have that ability.


You and I (perhaps) could have worked hard, studied hard, gotten lucky, and/or sold our souls, and found ourselves in the position to plant 5000 trees. We didn’t. But we’ve done other meaningful things that we are proud and satisfied with.


Well said ‘Perspicacious”.


It’s not about how many trees one has planted. It’s about enjoying the landscape that currently exists. And you are right that many of those Oaks were over 100 years or older.


The Resnick’s have shed a bitter tear. If you cannot understand the poem, I understand, you went to Paso High.


“The sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all his might:

He did his very best to make

The billows smooth and bright —

And this was odd, because it was

The middle of the night.


The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun

Had got no business to be there

After the day was done —

“It’s very rude of him,” she said,

“To come and spoil the fun.”


The sea was wet as wet could be,

The sands were dry as dry.

You could not see a cloud, because

No cloud was in the sky:

No birds were flying overhead —

There were no birds to fly.


The Walrus and the Carpenter

Were walking close at hand;

They wept like anything to see

Such quantities of sand:

If this were only cleared away,’

They said, it would be grand!’


If seven maids with seven mops

Swept it for half a year,

Do you suppose,’ the Walrus said,

That they could get it clear?’

I doubt it,’ said the Carpenter,

And shed a bitter tear.


O Oysters, come and walk with us!’

The Walrus did beseech.

A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,

Along the briny beach:

We cannot do with more than four,

To give a hand to each.’


The eldest Oyster looked at him,

But never a word he said:

The eldest Oyster winked his eye,

And shook his heavy head —

Meaning to say he did not choose

To leave the oyster-bed.


But four young Oysters hurried up,

All eager for the treat:

Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,

Their shoes were clean and neat —

And this was odd, because, you know,

They hadn’t any feet.


Four other Oysters followed them,

And yet another four;

And thick and fast they came at last,

And more, and more, and more —

All hopping through the frothy waves,

And scrambling to the shore.


The Walrus and the Carpenter

Walked on a mile or so,

And then they rested on a rock

Conveniently low:

And all the little Oysters stood

And waited in a row.


The time has come,’ the Walrus said,

To talk of many things:

Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —

Of cabbages — and kings —

And why the sea is boiling hot —

And whether pigs have wings.’


But wait a bit,’ the Oysters cried,

Before we have our chat;

For some of us are out of breath,

And all of us are fat!’

No hurry!’ said the Carpenter.

They thanked him much for that.


A loaf of bread,’ the Walrus said,

Is what we chiefly need:

Pepper and vinegar besides

Are very good indeed —

Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,

We can begin to feed.’


But not on us!’ the Oysters cried,

Turning a little blue.

After such kindness, that would be

A dismal thing to do!’

The night is fine,’ the Walrus said.

Do you admire the view?


It was so kind of you to come!

And you are very nice!’

The Carpenter said nothing but

Cut us another slice:

I wish you were not quite so deaf —

I’ve had to ask you twice!’


It seems a shame,’ the Walrus said,

To play them such a trick,

After we’ve brought them out so far,

And made them trot so quick!’

The Carpenter said nothing but

The butter’s spread too thick!’


I weep for you,’ the Walrus said:

I deeply sympathize.’

With sobs and tears he sorted out

Those of the largest size,

Holding his pocket-handkerchief

Before his streaming eyes.


O Oysters,’ said the Carpenter,

You’ve had a pleasant run!

Shall we be trotting home again?’

But answer came there none —

And this was scarcely odd, because

They’d eaten every one.”