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A Sebastopol restaurateur who was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women is asking former employees and friends to petition the city of Sebastopol to grant him a change of ownership for a new restaurant. KSRO has obtained a letter written by Lowell Sheldon that was sent to Sheldon’s friends and former employees. The letter urges them to contact the city’s Planning Commission to reverse a decision that denied Sheldon a change of ownership application for Piala Georgian Cuisine, which would take over the former location of Peking Chef. In the letter, Sheldon asks his supporters to write to the city and say, quote, “a citizen should not be blocked from opening a restaurant serving beer and wine because former employees demand as much.” He also states, “Speak directly to my character as you know it, not as reported in the media.” In 2021, Sheldon was accused of sexual harassment by 6 women. He has since been removed from ownership of three of his restaurants, although he is a partner in Freestone Hotel, about seven miles west of Sebastopol.