Letters to the Editor 2-25-16

Jewel or ghetto?
Editor: It is worth noting that a heated discussion regarding increased hangar fees ensued at the February 2 Airport Subcommittee meeting. The city’s proposal, after five years of no increases, is to raise current hangar rents by seven percent each year for the next four years.
While it seems a somewhat feeble attempt at closing the usually significant airport deficit, which local taxpayers are forced to pay, the pilots who house their planes at the airport were incensed.
The source of their infuriation is the decrepit state of the airport facility. Various pilots called the airport a “ghetto” and likened the city to a “slumlord.” It’s nice to know we are finally in agreement about the state of our airport.
Except, aren’t these the same folks who – for the past several months, in the face of possible airport closure – have been wringing their hands in an almost patriotic fervor, calling the airport “the jewel in the crown of civil aviation,” “the pride of Cloverdale” and “our community treasure?” So, which is it: the jewel or the ghetto?
It’s important because these same people recently convinced the majority City Council to start spending another $270,000 in FAA grant funds to redesign the airport taxiway, which upon installation is expected to reach a total cost (design and construction) in excess of a million dollars.
Be aware: The City of Cloverdale (aka taxpayers) will be on the hook for 10 percent (or $100,000) of that cool million, not to mention nearly doubling our current FAA grant obligation from $1.2 million to at least $2.2 million. Our FAA grant debt plays into the hands of the few who use the airport because the bigger the debt the less likely we will ever be able to offload the economic albatross the airport has become.
Does our little “ghetto” (their word) airport really warrant a $1 million-plus taxiway? While skilled pilots in Europe and elsewhere regularly take off, land and taxi on turf, ours are worried about hairline cracks in the tarmac.
They want the airport; they just don’t want to pay for it. Meanwhile, those footing the bill live with potholed streets, meager city services, an outdated sewage treatment facility, aging police car fleet, spare social programs, overused parks and at-risk kids, up to 18 percent who identify as gang members.
If this situation troubles you, I urge you to contact our City Council and ask that they do what it takes to make the airport self-sufficient, stop the extravagant airport spending, and realign this community’s priorities.
An aside: Kudos to Bruce Reuser and Tyris Corporation’s Andrew Zamberlin for forging an agreement that paved the way to rezoning 12.3 acres in the Alexander Valley Resort. More of that kind of cooperation, collaboration, compromise and civic-mindedness will stand our community in good stead. Thank you for your fine example.
Lisa Brew-Miller
Cloverdale
Community garden theft
Editor: Late last week, more than one person came into the garden and took $1100 worth of parts to our solar energy system: an amp meter, a volt meter, a 20 amp inverter with lid, a 30 amp battery charger, a 12 volt deep-cycle battery, and two sets of battery jumper cables. It had taken us over a year to gradually accumulate the parts to get it all together. We were just ready to completely get off the grid. It is very sad when people prey on a nonprofit that is doing good for the planet, community and individuals. If anyone has any information at all concerning this, please call the police department. If anyone would like to donate to our cause, please call 894-2736.
Mardi Grainger
Cloverdale