George Caloyannidis | Oct 29, 2015 on: APAC

[Received from Séamus Gurein, here on a Georgetown Research Fellowship to study Land Development & the Wine Industry in Napa Valley May-Aug 2015]

Dear George,

I am writing to you at long last with a summary of my research findings from this past summer. I apologize for the delay; there were plenty of hoops to jump through with my university before I could send this out.

From the summary:

The people of Napa have invited me into their homes and their places of work, and hosted me at their public meetings and community organizing events, and I am sincerely grateful for their hospitality. This work is dedicated to the people of Napa County, all of whom share a common vision for a sustainable Napa Valley: one that is environmentally, socially and economically sound for generations to come.

I am not a winery owner, nor a land-use attorney, nor a member of the Sierra Club, or even a Napa resident; but I have had the privilege of interviewing 17 residents of Napa representing a diverse range of perspectives. They all have this in common; they share a vision for the future of Napa that yields a healthy Valley, one that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable and improving. The road to this vision may not be easy nor straightforward, but the willingness of the members of APAC and the officials at the County level all demonstrate a commitment to the hard work that lies ahead.

And to that, we can all raise a glass.

I want to thank you again for your contribution to my project. I sincerely appreciate your time and your help.

Séamus Guerin
Lisa J. Raines Summer Research Fellow
Georgetown University

Government & Art History, Georgetown College
Georgetown University, Class of 2016
smg244@georgetown.edu