LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A small price to pay
Editor: What is Sebastopol coming to. Come on, let’s put on our
“smart caps.” Parking has been a very big issue for a very long
time in Sebastopol. Many people do not come to Sebastopol because
of this. And we will never get rid of the major traffic backup
problems until a bypass goes in. Taking away parking spaces and
vehicle lanes is not a smart thing to do. Sebastopol is going to
end up with a few happy bicycle riders and a lot of irate drivers.
“Parking inconvenience,” in contrast to what Lupien said, is a very
big price to pay and I don’t see how this could benefit the
city.
Been around for 53 years and hoping to find an open parking
spot.
Lori Todd
Forestville
Appeal to Wes Chesbro
Dear Assembly member Chesbro,
My wife and I are the parents of a 27 year-old-daughter with a
developmental disability. With support from her service agency,
Becoming Independent, our daughter lives a happy and productive
life, employed by Food Maxx.
Governor Brown’s proposal to deal with the state budget crisis
includes a measure to reduce funding for the Department of
Developmental Services by $750 million. Such funding cuts would be
further impacted by a loss of matching federal funds. In real
terms, such cuts would permanently eliminate many of the agencies
that provide services to thousands of citizens like my daughter. In
many instances it would literally turn disabled people out of their
jobs and homes.
This measure, which is moving along quickly and quietly,
proposes to begin correcting the state’s fiscal crisis on the backs
and at the expense of the most vulnerable among us. This action
should be ethically reprehensible to most fair-minded
Californians.
I am contacting many families and friends affected in Sonoma
County, urging them to contact their state representatives about
this matter. I am writing to request that you act as an advocate
for the disabled and use your office to stop this measure.
Jerry Fabiano
Sebastopol
Frivolous use of funds
Editor: Our new governor is faced with a $25.4 billion budget
hole. One of his first proposals is to shift $1.8 billion from
redevelopment funds around the state to plug some holes.
We also learn that redevelopment agencies — including our own —
are looking for ways to dump their bankrolls before Jerry Brown
“grabs” them.
According to your reporter (Frank Robertson, Sonoma West Times
& News, Jan. 27 “Redevelopment funding recommended for Rio Nido
beach acquisition.”) the Russian River throw away is to purchase an
all but useless strip of riverfront land in Rio Nido to be
developed into a beach and recreation strip. The unanswered
questions are: developed by whom, with what, and for whom?
The kindest thing that can be said of such thinking is that it
is frivolous. The worst is that such thinking is childish, petulant
and likely immoral.
Redevelopment funds were never intended for the fanciful whims
of a handful of citizen activists.
The record of redevelopment agencies around the state —
including our own — has been spotty, and in many instances wanting.
On the River we have little to show for the 10 years, the hours and
the money spent on administration. The investment has been major;
the benefits minor. It is time Guerneville now has a public toilet
in the wild underneath the old bridge.
Let’s hope the RRROC knows when the time has come to pitch their
tents, and not act in any last-act folly.
The state’s needs are a lot bigger than one more beach on the
Russian River, a river for anyone swimming these days is at
risk.
Paul Lorch
Guerneville