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The News in Brief

Judge rules to change SMART opponents’ language in Sonoma Co.

NORTH BAY – Deborah Fudge, vice chair of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit and mayor of Windsor, last week asked a Sonoma County Superior Court judge to remove statements from the voter information pamphlet by opponents of the SMART Measure Q commuter rail initiative on the November ballot.

The filing followed a similar action taken earlier in Marin. The Sonoma County filing, however, asked for only one statement to be taken off the pamphlet that contends SMART’s approval would lead to additional freight traffic and environmental damage in the Eel River Canyon.

“There is absolutely no connection between SMART and the Eel River Canyon. I can’t allow the opposition to deliberately mislead the public about SMART, and they cannot be allowed to use public funds to promote these misrepresentations,” said Ms. Fudge

Mike Arnold, co-chair of Marin Citizens for Effective Transportation, said that SMART does not want the voters in Sonoma County to know about the link between SMART and the freight companies.

“I can’t imagine why they are spending taxpayers’ money to try to hide the connection between SMART and the freight companies,” Mr. Arnold said.

“We stand behind everything that we have written,” he said.

Last week Judge Elaine Rushing ruled there was “clear and convincing evidence” that the argument to be in the voter information pamphlet against the Sonoma Marin Area Rapid Transit project has misleading information in the opposition’s fight against Measure Q and required a change in language.

The language was changed from, “Freight train operations and gravel mining, facilitated by SMART, would severely damage the Eel River and its threatened salmon and steelhead,” to, “NCRA freight trains and gravel mining, if facilitated by SMART, might damage the Eel River and its threatened salmon and steelhead.”

Ms. Fudge said, “I am very happy that the judge ruled in our favor.”

Ernie Carpenter, spokesman for the opposition, said the lawsuit was unnecessary and both sides agreed to the change.

Also on the opposition’s side, Joan Vilms said that though the language was changed, the goal was to shine light on the connection between SMART and freight, and they achieved it.

A similar hearing is scheduled in Marin on Tuesday, though a tentative ruling was expected to be released late last week after press time. Charles McGlashan, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit district board chairman, had filed paperwork asking a Marin Superior Court to remove seven statements issued by opposition.

Oculus looks for partner as it enters FDA approval phase

PETALUMA – Oculus Innovative Sciences is looking for a strategic partner as it enters the critical phase of FDA approval.

The maker of a super-oxidized solution intended to help prevent and treat infections in chronic and acute wounds, Oculus will have successfully demonstrated safety and efficacy of the therapy in treating mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers within the agreed-upon time frame. Its End-of-Phase II meeting with the FDA on Aug. 29 gave Oculus permission to move forward with U.S. clinical studies.

According to founder and CEO Hoji Alimi, Oculus will now look to partner with a large company.

“We have made the strategic decision to pursue ongoing development of the Microcyn Technology as a drug in the United States with a corporate partner,” said Mr. Alimi. “We believe this is the best approach for our shareholders and for the development of our Microcyn Technology, which has the potential to become the first FDA-approved topical anti-infective for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer infections.”

Oculus employs about 40 in its Petaluma headquarters.

Dominican career fair seeks employers  

SAN RAFAEL – Dominican University will host a career and internship fair on Oct. 15 at its campus in San Rafael. Employers are invited to register to participate. More than 350 Dominican students are anticipated to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 30 programs this spring. For more information, call 415-485-3235 or e-mail jennifer.armstrong@dominican.edu.