Letters to the Editor 10-22-15

Library support
Editor: The Friends of the Cloverdale Library wishes to thank student volunteers from Cloverdale High School for loading, unloading, unpacking, and helping to organize donated books for our recent book sale. Andrew Brook, Lily Ryan, Katie Edwards, Xochilth Saldana, Lupita Gonzales and Julie Edwards did an amazing job. Thank you to all the wonderful and loyal volunteers who work to make the sale possible: George Wilson, Susan Brook, Phil Brook, Dick Navone, Susan Clark, Linda Clapp, Corrine Hensley, Sherian Pardini, Betty Kroeze, Cheryl Miler, Judy Pudoff, Cecile Clabaugh, Nancy Rivas, Jean Bennetts, Sally Evans, Mary Ann Larson, Valerie Jordan, William Wagy, Irene Dodd, Donna Ferguson, Charmaine Trumper, Nena Reiners, Pat Soberanis, Cynthia De Martini, Susanah Forno, Jaquelyn Garcia, Carol Lucchesi, Mary Weber, Ann Mahon and Vivan Tamyo. Many thanks to the library staff for their kind support. Thank you to our wonderful community for making this sale a big success.
Penny Navone, Friends of the Cloverdale Library
Airport noise
Editor: Finally, some sanity in the House of Representatives. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) has introduced the Quiet Communities Act of 2015. In her own words: “The FAA has failed … it continues to ignore the borough (Queens NY) by making no real attempt to decrease the excessive aircraft noise over the area. I believe that the Environmental Protection Agency is better suited to handle the problem, and this bill is the best way for the agency to take control of it. Noise is an environmental issue and the EPA has handled mitigation efforts in the past. It’s time to take noise control away from the FAA, and give the EPA a try.”
“Meng’s legislation would restore the EPA’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control, which previously oversaw the nation’s noise control activities until it was defunded by the Reagan Administration in 1981 due to budget cuts. The measure would also require the EPA Administrator to conduct a study of airport noise and examine the FAA’s selection of noise measurement methodologies, health impact thresholds, and abatement program effectiveness.” (from Meng’s website)
Both the EPA and the CDC have determined that excessive noise is both physically and emotionally harmful. Enhanced interrogation techniques using excessive noise is also forbidden under the Geneva Convention, but seems to be allowed here in Cloverdale.
I ask that all who are negatively affected by the excessive noise from the operations of the airport to write in support to Congresswoman Meng of her legislation. I would also suggest that we all also write to Rep. Huffman to ask him to support and co-sponsor this legislation. This fight won’t be easy. I’m sure that a couple of City Council members, along with their Republican allies in Congress will do everything they can to block this much needed legislation. A couple of members of the City Council have learned well from their mentors, the Koch brothers, and always support one percent of the population to the detriment of the other 99 percent.
To show your support, keep in continual contact with Representative Huffman’s office to follow how the legislation is progressing. Letters to Senators Boxer and Feinstein won’t hurt either. If we are going to let the FAA decide on what level of noise near airports is acceptable, why don’t we let Exxon or BP deciding what minimum clean air standards should be?
C Jeff Kennedy, Cloverdale
Citizens for Bernie
Editor: A group called Cloverdale Citizens for Bernie hosted a debate watch party on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Ruth McGowan’s Pub in Cloverdale. It was the first Democratic Party Presidential Debate for the 2016 campaign. Approximately 50 persons attended what turned out to be an exciting event with good food, drink and conversation. The group would like to thank the McGowan’s Pub management for allowing the event to be held there. The Cloverdale Citizens for Bernie organization meets at the pub every Sunday at 3 p.m. and interested residents are welcome.
Jim McGiffin, Cloverdale