LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 3-29-12

Support Green efforts
Editor: The Graton community has organized an effort to purchase the old Graton Fire Protection District (GFPD) station site at the corner of Ross Road and Graton Road for a community plaza for the use of all local citizens and visitors to the area, including people passing through on the adjacent Joe Rodota Trail. But big dreams are colliding with financial reality as the 2012 Real Estate Market rears its gnarly head.
Working through the Graton Green Group, a nonprofit organization formed in 2008, 70 members of our community have pledged to give $80,000 dollars over the next five years. This support allowed the Graton Green Group to submit a bid for the property with a five-year lease option to buy. That original game plan was to use the five years of property control to solicit grants and enough funds from other donors to be able to complete the purchase of the property during that lease-option time period.
Because the old fire station (previously train station) is considered to be selling for land value only, there is no possibility of going to a regular lender for a loan. And, because the charter of the GFPD is to serve the Graton area in times of fire and emergency, not to bankroll a community plaza, the GFPD Board of Directors say they are not allowed to sell the property on a lease option to buy, but need to receive cash now.
We believe that GFPD supports the benefits of selling their station to us for a park, rather than to private individuals. However, at the time of writing this letter we have no commitment from them to refuse other potential buyers.
After reviewing our offer of $350,000 and that five-year lease-option which we made in early December, they decided to list the station on the open market in February for $429,000. Several potential buyers have come and — lucky for us — gone.
That gives us an unknown, possibly very short, window of time in which to raise enough money to complete the purchase. So far we have raised $74,000 in cash plus $80,000 in pledges.
So we are looking around the community to find people and businesses who share our excitement for seizing hold of this rare opportunity to create a regional destination park that serves the West County Trail, visitors to the wine country and Graton, as well as local district residents.
We are looking for supporters to either 1) donate purchase cash right now, or 2) “be the bank” (make us a private loan at an affordable rate), or 3) pledge monthly sums.
Together we can create this heritage for countless generations to come.
For more information about how to contribute contact HolLynn D’Lil at 829-9440. (All donations are tax deductible, and can be anonymous if preferred.)
Sara Alexander
Graton and San Francisco
Thank you LoDolce
Editor: A big thank you to Nancy LoDolce for her plea (“Stop the nonsense,” March 22) for an end to the personal vitriol in many letters the newspaper has recently published (letters which, in my view, should be edited out). I would like to add to her voice the words of Benjamin Franklin:
“He who attacks the messenger reveals his ignorance, while he who addresses the message displays his knowledge.”
Holly Downing
Sebastopol
Metaphorical dust
Editor: As the metaphorical dust settles from the contentious CVS debacle, some observations emerge that might put things into perspective, and help us to better relate to future such situations.
It is no secret that, during this episode, our community divided itself into two distinct, opposing groups: Those in support of the project, whose interest was primarily related to issues surrounding the money, the revenue, the job opportunities, etc. that the project would generate on the one side, against those in opposition whose focus was primarily on the quality of our downtown environment.
A first irony existed when it became clear that no significant change in the revenue stream would result from the new store operations. Since there was already a CVS outlet in town, which would be relocated to the new building upon completion, the eventual financial result would be neutral. In fact, since the new facility would be smaller than that existing, such revenue would probably decrease. In addition, most funds gleaned from Building Department fees, etc., would primarily serve as reimbursements, and not disposable income. All in all, the profit argument was an illusion.
A second, less tangible irony existed with more profound implications. An approval of the project would satisfy the proponents, but still leave a very large part of the community in a relatively permanent state of dissatisfaction, perhaps even resentment and bitterness that would very probably have a deleterious impact on what is currently a vigorous community spirit.
On the other hand, now that we have a denial that is official, the door is now open to a more sensitive, informed developer with a vastly improved, approvable design.
When built and open for business, we would see not only an improved downtown, but a significant revenue stream as well. Both groups, the entire community, would thus be pleased and our civic pride, and cohesion, would be restored.
That concluded, I can’t help but feel that there’s one more deeper, perhaps completely subconscious, piece to this story. CVS represented, symbolically, all the real and imagined ills of corporate America, and served, perhaps, to trigger deeply felt reactions from many in the community.
Perhaps then, these reactions, in turn, triggered counter-reactions by those others whose exaggerated reverence to our exalted Keynesian economy seemed challenged in a life-threatening way.
Whatever; that part of the saga transcended reason and remains unresolved.
Robert Beauchamp
Sebastopol
Inadequate study
Editor: City approval of the CVS/Chase mall at Pellini corner in downtown Sebastopol required a traffic study and other reports concerning the environmental impacts.
The City traffic study said that even with 2,000 additional auto trips, simply changing the timing of one traffic light and placing no left turn signs at High Street and Bodega Avenue would mitigate the congestion. The study gave no consideration to the multiple new businesses (which all of us welcome) at the Barlow development and no consideration to the 145 new homes proposed for Laguna Vista.
No one who drives downtown can believe this study.
The Committee for Small Town Sebastopol believes that the traffic study for CVS/Chase is faulty and inadequate. For these reasons the Committee filed suit to have a proper traffic study done.
Although the City is named in the suit, the entire cost of defending against the suit is borne by the giant nationwide Armstrong Development; there is no cost to the City.
We value Pellini corner as an opportunity to develop a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and positive economical element to our downtown. We believe that the Sebastopol community deserves, and the law requires, a true study of the traffic consequences of the CVS/Chase development.
If you agree that the Committee for Small Town Sebastopol has a valid issue, please consider joining with other community members in their support of the lawsuit. We need to match a pledged $3,000 grant.
The Committee has opened a checking account at the Exchange Bank in the Redwood Marketplace. You can send a check to Committee for Small Town Sebastopol, c/o Exchange Bank, 720 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol, CA 95472, or you can donate through PayPal at www.paypal.com.
We welcome factual discussion of this opportunity for our town.
Helen Shane and John Kramer
Sebastopol
Palm Drive finances
Editor: Recently Palm Drive Hospital announced it had an $864,000 deficit for the year and was down to 15 days cash on hand. The board president’s response, according to one report, was “I don’t think we are in serious trouble at all.”
Unfortunately this is typical of the “head-in-the-sand” approach the board majority has been taking for some time regarding the hospital’s financial problems. The negative trend has been obvious for months to anyone willing to look at the financial reports without rose-colored glasses. When deficits continue to occur month after month and nothing is done to change the direction, a large cumulative deficit is the inevitable result.
Serious financial problems require serious action — the problems don’t solve themselves. While the affiliation with Marin General was a positive step, there was no reason to believe it would solve the short-term shortfalls. That required significant other actions.
Let’s see some action, board.
Jim Maresca
Guerneville