Another view of the Carnacchi issue
EDITOR: I attended the Sebastopol City Council meeting on Dec. 4, wanting to be present to support the incumbent winners of the recent election. All three incumbents have served us and have run our town government well for the many years they served. Our votes, through the democratic process which we are so lucky to have, have rewarded them accordingly. They handily won reelection.
I’m also aware of the careful deliberation our council members make on all governing issues that arise, have supported (and continue to support) the way the council has run our town government and am grateful for their willingness to take on these responsibilities, voluntarily and for no pay. In my experience and view, these people are mature adults who do not make frivolous decisions. For that, I am grateful.
I also watched the vote for the vice mayor that day and have read the Sonoma West article, Mr. Carnacchi’s letter and the subsequent letters from other citizens. With all due respect, I have to say I disagree with Mr. Carnacchi and the writers of the other letters. I winced at Mr. Carnacchi’s letter. I understood that he felt badly, but he did not look good by the letter and by the way he responded to his colleagues and their vote. He publicly blamed the other council members, without giving any indication that maybe they had cause, maybe the vote said something about him.
I was curious about the underlying reasons for such a vote and talked to one of the council members. As a result, I remain confident that, as mature, reasonable adults, the council members had their reasons for their vote and continue to. I respect their decision to do what they think was best for our town. I never thought there was any intent to “purposefully humiliate” Mr. Carnacchi or that the vote was “unjustified,” “elitist,” “lacked integrity or honor” or that any council member is of “low character” or “out to get” Mr. Carnacchi because of it. And, yes, this is not a “popularity contest.” Our city manager explained in the Sonoma West article how the process for the position of mayor works. It is not a turn-taking job.
I too am sorry Mr. Carnacchi felt disrespected and hope that, in the future, he will show the maturity to discuss with his colleagues what went wrong and why they do not see him as vice-mayor or mayor material. I would rather our council members make the hard vote in a direction that they believe is best for our town than succumb to public pressure to please a few and vote out of political fear. I am grateful that each one of our council members, including Mr. Carnacchi, chose voluntarily to put themselves in that position. They are doing what we elected them to do. For that, I am very appreciative.
Nancy J. LoDolce
Sebastopol
Do what you can
EDITOR: The very existence and viability of local community journalism has become seriously jeopardized in small towns throughout our entire country. We are fortunate that the publishers of our local newspaper, Rollie Atkinson and Sarah Bradbury, have generated the resolve, the creativity and the grit to offer a unique new business model for keeping our newspaper alive. Their courage, vision and commitment deserve our support. We must not, sometime in the future, regret letting our newspaper disappear. It is imperative that we participate in supporting our town’s local newspaper, contributing now in every way we can before it’s too late. Here are some of the ways we can help:
1. READ our local newspaper!
2. Patronize the newspaper’s advertisers!
3. Buy a weekly subscription or buy the newspaper!
4. Become a regular advertiser!
5. Become an investor!
6. All of the above, starting as soon as possible.
If you are already doing some or all of these things, that’s great. Now, please tell your friends.
If you are not doing some or all of these things, please do not wait, thinking that someone else will do it. Our newspaper is critical to creating and maintaining community. Perhaps a local newspaper is taken for granted because it is so familiar, always there, quietly appearing on the news racks every week. Perhaps we lose sight of its extraordinary importance to what we hold dear: freedom of an independent press, coverage of local events and happenings, researching, investigating and reporting on significant local topics, providing a forum for dialogue about meaningful issues and celebrating our local heroines, heroes and champions. National and international events may seem more exciting, but it’s local government, covered by local journalists, that impacts our daily lives and is shaped by our participation. We sustain our community by sharing important information and having thoughtful conversations. Our newspaper is an elemental glue that connects us and serves us, week in and week out.
Please, do what you can now. Thank you.
Mary Luttrell Cuoio
Forestville
