Letters to the Editor 11-21-13

Look into our hearts
Editor: The following is addressed to the citizens of the 5th District regarding Efren Carrillo:
Efren has been an excellent supervisor for our district. We could make a long list of the many constructive actions he has taken to promote environmental and humanitarian causes. He has made two terrible mistakes this past year and has had a real “wake-up” call. He is now in recovery.
I am writing for those of us who believe in Efren and support him to continue to be our Supervisor. I am deeply concerned that those who are insisting he resign are vindictive — without compassion or understanding. I imagine he is in a legal situation where he is not allowed to give further reasons or “explain” what happened. It is not really necessary that we have further explanation. He knows that his actions were serious errors and he has taken steps to change the causes for his errors. Let’s keep him accountable to his recovery.
We have had famous politicians who have made outrageously terrible behavioral mistakes — John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton to name two. They continued to give us good leadership.
Let’s look into our hearts to find compassion and understanding while holding Efren accountable and allowing him to continue to be one of our effective leaders.
Natalie Rogers
Sebastopol
Honorable?
Editor: Efren Carrillo has distinguished himself by being a major embarrassment to Sonoma County, a huge black mark on our Board of supervisors, and a total disgrace for the fifth district. Underwear and socks? Peeking?
He is actively pursuing every ploy to discount his behavior. The honorable action on his part would be to resign. Is he honorable?
Meg Brittan
Sebastopol
Sebastopol needs signs
Editor: As a new employee at Taylor Maid in The Barlow, I talk to a lot of people. Many are from out of town. They’re excited about the buzz from the recent Barlow opening and are looking for things to do. Others just can’t find their way around.
I love this town with all my heart, I am proud to call it my home and I want to tell everyone who visits how amazing it is.
It would be so great to have an information area in The Barlow where visitors could go to get a map of the rest of the town, talk to a knowledgeable person about things to do and see in Sebastopol, or even just have better signage around town.
I’ve spent some years living out of the country and now that I’m back I’ve gained perspective on how amazing and truly unique Sebastopol is. If I could welcome every person who came to visit I would, but since I can’t, I’d like to know that my city is doing it for me.
We can’t assume that everyone who comes to visit already knows what to do once they get here. I worry that we’re losing opportunities every day to better introduce new visitors to our town.
Loren Hansen
Sebastopol
Good public art
Editor: I am not always a fan of public murals, but have to say that the wave with coyote is stunning. When it was underway, I expected to see a surfer messing up that beautiful curl so when the coyote appeared, it made my day. I have heard that Molly Eckler did the coyote and it reflects her attention to detail but the other artists, whose names I don’t know are also masters of the brush and deserve our deepest thanks.
Dan Smith
Sebastopol
Opportunity Sebastopol
Editor: It’s not often we get a real chance to make meaningful decisions about our community’s future. Even more rare are opportunities to frame those questions. Cittaslow Sebastopol’s open house at the Center for the Arts on Oct. 29 was just such an event.
I attended primarily to investigate the home/farm stay aspect of Sebastopol’s tourism future. What I encountered was a fun, lively, well conceived, organized and run visionfest for Sebastopol. I came with a narrow idea of one possible path for our town, and left amazed at the expanse of ideas and people eager to contribute.
The room was filled with discussion tables on topics including eco-tourism activities, new business opportunities, city signs and directories, traffic and parking, sustainability and home/farm stays. For each topic, we were invited to either select two ideas from those suggested or offer ideas of our own. Limiting the choice to two forces one to prioritize carefully.
And it’s careful prioritizing that is at the heart of Cittaslow. I would invite anyone and everyone who is interested in responsible growth that reflects our West County culture to avail yourselves of a once-in-a-community’s lifetime opportunity. Find out how we can preserve and foster what we already do well, while encouraging and developing what we’d like to become. Thanks to all the Cittaslow organizers and volunteers.
Robert Butler
Sebastopol
Plastic produce bags
Editor: In regard to the Guest Commentary about the carryout grocery bags (“Reusable carryout bags,” Nov. 14): If everyone is so concerned about the plastic single-use grocery bags, how about the many times more numerous plastic produce bags?
These are lighter, so fly up into the air easier for birds and other wildlife to ingest, get tangled in, or otherwise hurt.
Seems this is a more harmful product than the heavier grocery bags.
Why isn’t anything being done about this?
George Taylor
Sebastopol