LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 8-2-12

Respect city staff
Editor: The following was sent to the Sebastopol City Council:
Since moving to Sebastopol 13 years ago, one of the things I have admired is the quality of our city management team and city service departments. The staff have spent countless hours providing information so that you, the Councilmember, have accurate information to utilize in your duties as City Council members. Having served on a public board, it is the staff that continuously work behind the scenes to protect and serve their community. I am distressed that the Council has been silent with regards to the comments from the anti-CVS supporters at the April 17 council meeting. If you can state your support and trust for the integrity of the Design Review Board, you could do the same for your dedicated and professional staff. It is no wonder Jack Griffin has left our community because of lack of support by the City Council for the city management team and their professional recommendations.
I can only imagine what it must feel like to work tirelessly on this project with all the participants, CVS and City Council committees, for over 2.5 years only to be vilified by a minority group. What’s even more demoralizing is what this says to all of the other city staff members present, including the fire department and police department. No one commented or acted to reduce the discomfort they must have felt when “one of their own” was attacked publically. I realize that all of you are under considerable pressure to “do the right thing,” but please take this opportunity to realize the quality of service you have in the city management and publicly express your support of their efforts.
At the July 19 meeting, Mayor Guy Wilson instructed all present to keep public remarks to the agenda items and refrain from verbal attacks and to treat staff and each other with decorum. I was appreciative of those instructions and also that everyone in the room respected that request except for one. That one and only person who didn’t listen to Mayor Wilson was Helen Shane who spent her three minutes of public fame defaming our city planner. Shame on Shane for taking advantage of a well-respected city staff member who has always demonstrated respect to the City Council, its committees and to the public.
Linda Johnson
Sebastopol
Act reasonably
Editor: It is time for the Sebastopol City Council to act in a reasonable and lawful way to disavow the acts of the Sebastopol Design Review Board. The DRB is a flawed body. The DRB is biased, witnessed by the comments of Lynn Deedler and Bob Beauchamp. The DRB takes its cues from Small Town Sebastopol. The DRB has tried to use design to stop use of property. This is wrong and everyone knows what they’re doing: they are taking cues from Boss Shane and John Eder. Now is the time for the City Council to be a fair broker in this process to let the CVS /Chase  project go forward. Many people against this project have gone out of their way to vilify the Pellini Family and the architect involved in this situation. Helen Shane’s opening remarks at the hearing at the City Council meeting attacked the planning director Kenyon Webster. This was followed up on a local blog by recent New York transplant and trust fund baby Jonathan Greenberg who after being here a short period time wants to tell those of us who have lived here for 40-plus years what our city should be like. Thank you Jonathan but I don’t need you to tell me what the town that I’ve lived in for over 40 years should look like.  Jonathan Greenberg and self-proclaimed Sebastopol icon Shepherd Bliss speak and write about openness and fairness yet these are the two who tried to pull a Pearl Harbor on many of us in Sebastopol with the leaf blower ban. Now they’re back again calling for more transparency when they do not use transparency in issues they favor. Everyone is watching the Council and if they will they act in a lawful manner or up the emotion of Occupy and Small-minded Sebastopol. I again wish to point out if Helen Shane and her group did not fight against the Northeast Area Plan, her issues of density on this property would be a rule to be followed. She did not want a plan to cover this area, now she does.
Martin M. Webb
Sebastopol

Yes SEP, no CVS
Editor: I fully support Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project (SEP). I oppose CVS / Chase on the Pellini Chevrolet corner.
I believe holding and promoting both: 1) local business development in Sebastopol, and, 2) CVS/Chase project development at the Pellini corner site are opposing and irreconcilable. Thus, I urge a “no” vote on the project going forward. (Councilmember) Kathleen (Shaffer), I leave your reasoning for a no vote, to you, to parse out, however, always believing you are best promoting Sebastopol city interests, and local business interests, by your work in SEP.
You, Kathleen, would be undermining your SEP work, tarnishing a legacy you rightfully deserve, if you were to vote yes on the current CVS/Chase development project in our town, at the Pellini corner lot.
CVS remains as it is, at its current location. Deny Chase the Pellini location to do business, per Armstrong Developer current proposal, on the basis of DRB and Planning Commission, as well as General Plan considerations. Chase can go somewhere else to do business, no harm done to them.
Yes, Pellini has a right to sell its property. The City of Sebastopol also has a responsibility to its principles and policies that guide a decision as to what is developed at that site. Once CVS/Chase is denied, finally, other, local business interests will step forward, will give Pellini their due as sellers, Sebastopol city interests will be far better served, revitalizing downtown and the gem that corner lot represents for all of us.
Eric Boehm
Sebastopol
Weird farm vendetta?
Editor: I was shocked and dismayed to read about the second Farm Market opening at the Vets Hall at the exact same time as our existing and long-standing Farm Market at the Plaza. This can only be a display of political brinksmanship to try to destroy our beloved market. If the organizers truly want to give the community more options, why wouldn’t they hold it on a different day to give residents two times a week to buy local produce? If they truly want to support local farmers, why wouldn’t they have their market on a different day to give farmers two opportunities to sell their products to the community? Why make farmers choose and enter into this political game?
This is clearly an attack on our local market and perhaps fulfilling some weird vendetta. I don’t get it, but I won’t shop there. I am very disappointed.
Marty Roberts
Sebastopol
Proud of Sebastopol
Editor: This weekend featured one of my proudest moments as part of the Sebastopol community, where a group of 22 volunteers joined me in walking Sebastopol. Then, right after that we had my City Council campaign kick-off hosted by Craig and Laura Litwin and Erik and Lauren Ohlsen.
Framed by an abundance of fruits, veggies and aromatic plants, we first toured the permaculture garden, learning about the rainwater catchment and sustainable systems. Right from the get-go, my spirit was abuzz with inspiration.
Aided by 30 volunteers, more than 200 guests and I enjoyed homemade pizzas fresh from a wood-fired cob pizza oven; locally vinted, fermented, and squeezed beverages; and the joy of conversation and sharing among a diverse spectrum of the community.
Michael Allen, State Assemblymember and candidate, was kind enough to join us and I couldn’t have been more flattered by Councilmember Sarah Gurney’s support and introduction. I feel honored to have the endorsements and support of so many community leaders.
Besides a hearty thank you to my family, friends, and the community who made it possible, I’d like to call attention to the Sebastopol Community Survey postcard we distributed last weekend to nearly every home in town. Please take a moment to share your thoughts and ideas with me.
If you didn’t get a survey, let me know at Ro****@ja***********.com or fill it out online at jacob4council.com. Thank you for taking a moment to help me understand your priorities, your views, and how we can stay on the right track.
Thank you to everyone involved in the success of Saturday’s event and for reminding me why I love Sebastopol.
Robert Jacob
Candidate, Sebastopol City Council
Free to do whatever
Editor: So, PG&E has refused to abide by the Sebastopol City Council’s request for a delay until the Public Utilities Commission has reached a conclusion. Their rationale, according to spokesperson Greg Snapper, is that, “We believe that individual choice rather than community. …” PG&E thus gives itself permission to act while a legally appointed agency’s ruling is pending.
Following this example, my neighbor can remodel his home before he has a permit; a hotel can be built in a residential community while a zoning hearing is happening; a factory discharging chemicals into the Russian River can be constructed while an Environmental Impact Report is still pending; imminent domain over demolition of homes for a highway can happen while the Planning Commission is in the process of meeting.
Think of it folks. Everybody has permission, just like PG&E, to do whatever they please, whenever they please, however they please and to hell with the rest of the community, town, city, state, nation, world. It’s bad enough as it is. Do we have to make it worse?
Marylou Shira Hadditt
Sebastopol
Jacob earned her vote
Editor: I had the pleasure of attending an event this weekend at the Permaculture Neighborhood Center, a residential home and yard that has been transformed into an ecological paradise of edible landscape, wise water use and planned biodiversity to support bees, birds — and humans!
The event was the kick-off of Robert Jacob’s campaign for City Council. And given his policy priorities, it was the perfect venue. I have worked with Robert in the context of several civic activities. He clearly understands the importance of environmental sustainability: If we don’t do our part locally, there won’t be a global.
What I have also observed is his equally strong commitment to the local economy. As a small business owner myself, I am impressed with Robert’s understanding of the needs of Sebastopol’s entrepreneurs. The exemplary way he has run his own business — and contrary to conventional expectations, made it a pillar of wholesome community engagement — speaks volumes to the attitudes he will bring to the Council. Social entrepreneurship is alive and well in this candidate.
Lastly, I see in Robert a bridge-builder. The age diversity at his event was truly refreshing. Sebastopol is losing its younger residents. This does not bode well for our future. I’m pleased to see Robert stepping forward to assume leadership on a platform that resonates with old and young alike.
If you are looking for a creative thinker who knows business and respects the environment, I suggest you give Robert Jacob some serious thought. He has earned my vote.
Tasha Beauchamp
Sebastopol