Letters to the Editor

Thanks Mr. Music
Editor: I would like to compliment Jim Corbett on his column (“Dear, sweet Frederick Ernst,” April 24), which gave us all insight into who this man was, and what he stood for. I also loved the clean, endearing ending, calling out to the woman who hit him, and reminding us all to forgive.
Barbara Doyle
Sebastopol
Good luck Sebastopol
Editor: Good luck to Sebastopol in revising your General Plan. A word of advice. Write it so that your Planning Commission and City Council cannot ignore what you want.
Here’s a lesson from the town of Sonoma: We have a terrific and well-thought out plan put together by a large number of people. When a permit was sought, which was clearly against the General Plan, the Planning Commission ignored the plan. When the decision was appealed to the City Council, the Council sided with the Planning Commission in ignoring what was in the city plan. Our city plan spells out that a tavern is not an appropriate use for an establishment in the Broadway corridor. It doesn’t just hint at that. It uses the word “tavern” in spelling out this is not a place for one. This meant nothing to the Planning Commission. When the appeal got to the city council one of the councilmembers, Ken Brown, at the time had a radio show and one of his frequent guests was his “good friend” Emily Kaplan, who was the person wanting the music permit for her tavern.
Did Ken Brown abstain from voting because of this obvious conflict of interest? He did not.
Beware Sebastopol and learn from Sonoma and find a way to make sure your vision of Sebastopol will survive.
Kassandra Miller
Sonoma
Media circus
Editor: Now that the “media circus,” as Frank Robertson put it, has left town (“Beyond a reasonable doubt,” May 1), let’s look at the outcome. Efren Carrillo is not guilty said the jury of his peers (10 women and two men).
Rather than take a plea, Carrillo testified before the public in a jury trial. He was excoriated, humbled, embarrassed and apologetic. He accepted responsibility and recognized his failings.
Bravo. That took courage. His behavior which brought him to trial was reprehensible. He gets that. However, it appears that the vaunted liberal, progressive philosophy of those in the Fifth District, the philosophy of compassion and forgiveness extends to everyone except Carrillo. I have seen Internet postings and newspaper letters that are vulgar or crude, sexist, anti-semitic, racist and violent.
These people are stricken with a sickness called hate, whether it’s gender, ethnicity, or political. Their letters and their postings tell us more about these people than about Carrillo. They need counseling
Meanwhile, Carrillo goes back to work, representing the Fifth District and doing a fine job, for example his work on Sonoma Clean Power.
If you don’t like him, don’t vote for him in 2016. He won’t be recalled and he won’t resign. Why should he? He’s not guilty. I will vote for him again. Stay the course Efren. Hey haters: get a life.
Ed LaFrance
Sebastopol