Letters 10/20/2016

Measure R for next generation
Editor: I have been a part of this community for over 60 years and I see the concern my friends and neighbors have about our housing challenges. I am as confused as anyone about the available options. I appreciate that many in my generation have looked after this town with such great stewardship and care.
But Measure R is about the future of Healdsburg, not its past. For those of us who have lived here a long time, or bought our homes decades ago, we have had the good fortune to be a part of this town, to raise our kids here and to connect with our neighbors to forge lifelong friendships. I want that to continue for future generations too. I look at the young families, the bright new businesses and even the established businesses trying to make it work in this town. I love the renewed energy and the fresh ideas they bring to Healdsburg. I regret that young families, including my own children, are not able to have a future here.
Measure R is an initiative for the next generation. Its positive benefits will not be felt for several years. But we have to start now if we are going to constructively change the dangerous, elitist path we are on; a path that will continue to drive away families and new businesses. I want to open the door to a new future. For that reason I will be voting yes on R. I hope you will too.
Diane Bertoli
Healdsburg
Fitch Mountain party Saturday
Editor: It took 25 years to reach a deal to protect the crown jewel of Healdsburg – Fitch Mountain, and this Saturday, Oct. 22, we’re coming together to celebrate this environmental landmark and countdown to opening day of Sonoma County’s newest park happening in 2017.
Join us starting at 11:30 a.m. for Fitch Mountain Forever. This spectacular afternoon event will be filled with a ton of kids games hosted by the City of Healdsburg. Ken Rochioli will cook up his famous BBQ paired with local wine and brew, we’ll have live music to get your boots scootin’ and we’re hosting a guided hike to the peak of the mountain that you won’t forget.
The event proceeds will benefit the local nonprofit organization, The Fitch Mountain Fund. The fund was founded by local community members to benefit park improvements and enhancements such as building trails and vista points, nature hikes for students and the community, wildfire suppression, park operating expenses and more.
You can purchase event tickets at FitchMountainFund.org or simply come on up to the Villa Chanticleer this Saturday. We’ll have plenty BBQ for you and your entire family.
Thanks for considering this invite. We look forward to seeing you in person as we celebrate Fitch Mountain and this amazing new park and open space.
State Senator Mike McGuire
Healdsburg Mayor Tom Chambers
Student endorsements
Editor: We are both writing as Healdsburg High students who support and have taken a huge interest in Measure R. After we attended the Healdsburg City Council Candidates Forum, we both have been committed to support our town by knocking on Healdsburg residents’ doors to get them to vote. We also have been working with Joe Naujokas who is currently running for city council. We both have different reasons why we support Measure R. Here is why we support it:
My name is Jesus Flores, I have been raised in Healdsburg. I have been very lucky to see Healdsburg grow as a town. Healdsburg is a very beautiful, spontaneous town. The only downfall is, the staggering low rates of the houses for low income housing and families. I have a family member who lives in Healdsburg who is a single mother and has three wonderful children. She works long shifts to make a decent amount of money to barely make enough money to pay rent, let alone raise money to buy a house. As a Healdsburg resident, I would also want to live in this city. Knowing the rising rates on housing, I feel that when I decide to buy a house, the rates will be well over my income. Housing is getting too high, which is making several Healdsburg residents move out. I strongly agree that with more housing to benefit the lower income families, it will help Healdsburg’s future residents, and our economy because #werhealdsburg.
My name is David Briano I have been raised in Healdsburg for many years now. My siblings and I have seen Healdsburg grow day by day. However the only problem about Healdsburg is the housing costs. People who work full time in Healdsburg can barely afford monthly mortgages and rent, especially for lower income families. I live with my parents, my dad works five days a week and sometimes my mom cleans houses with my aunt. My aunt who lives with us, supports us with our rent and bills while working in a low paying job at Dollar Tree. I feel like without my aunt my family wouldn’t have had the opportunity to live in Healdsburg. Without her, I don’t think we would’ve had the support economically and financially to continue living in Healdsburg. As I follow my career to make a living, I want to be able to come back to Healdsburg with my peers. I agree with Measure R because it will benefit both old and new residents. #werhealdsburg
Jesus Flores and David Briano
Healdsburg
GutBuster
Editor: We want to thank the Healdsburg Tribune for recently publishing our press release regarding the GutBuster Fun Run and Walk. Please go to: gutbusterfurun.com for full information and to register. The event will be held on November 5 at the Healdsburg Plaza starting at 8 a.m. We will have three courses to choose from, a 3K flat course around town, 10K around Fitch Mountain and a 12.5K partial trail course over Fitch Mountain with terrific views of the Russian River and Healdsburg to the south of the mountain.
The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of stomach cancer, the third leading cause of death in the world from cancer. Over 723,000 people die every year from stomach cancer and its estimated that there will be over one million diagnosed with that form of cancer this year. All net profits will go to two nonprofits. The first is No Stomach for Cancer. This organization raises awareness of stomach cancer that is usually diagnosed in late stages. The other is Sonoma County’s own Ceres Community Project. They treat food as medicine and provide it to people struggling with serious illness.
The Losh Family
Healdsburg
Housing for locals?
Editor: I have seen many of the signs pop up throughout town in favor of Measure R. They are touting “Housing for Locals” if you vote for the measure. I was curious how this was going to happen, so I decided to read the ballot measure myself. In the text of Measure R I have found no mention of housing that will be dedicated to locals. What I did find is that there will likely be more construction of a variety of housing. Here is my concern: if we do not require that this new housing to be bought by locals, I believe that we will just have more of the same that has gotten us to this point. Buyers from out of town purchasing second homes and either keeping them for their weekend place or turning around and renting it back to us “locals.”
I saw it happen last year with the house next door, where the two-bedroom, one-bath house sold to an Oakland resident (who we have still never met) and now is rented out to a local for in excess of $2,000 per month. In a way, Measure R might just make it even easier for out-of-town buyers to come in and outbid the true residents of Healdsburg. I believe that if we are really serious about housing for locals, the city of Healdsburg needs to become the developer (no profit incentive) and require that the houses are sold to local residents through a process that determines their eligibility.
Michael Efram
Healdsburg
Prove fluoride safety
Editor: Last week I read two letters to the editor from citizens in the dentistry field that were concerned about fluoridation being halted permanently in Healdsburg. The only reason the halt could be permanent is if fluoride ingestion cannot be proven safe. If it is safe, there should be no worries about Measure T passing, because fluoridation will resume once safety proof is provided. So what this says to me is that there may be no proof. Vote yes on Measure T to ensure our safety.
Brian Pardini
Healdsburg
Dems remove support for Measure T
Editor: As a coalition of dentists and public health advocates, we would like to thank the Sonoma Democratic Party Committee for reversing their support of Measure T. We were disappointed that we did not have an opportunity to speak on this issue when the committee first considered its support, and appreciate the committee’s openness to revisiting its position. What’s more, we were pleased to see that after hearing both sides of the issue and engaging in thoughtful discussion, they voted to reverse their support for the measure. No on Measure T.
Dr. Shawn Widick
Healdsburg
Preserve our future
Editor: I am the author of our voter adopted Growth Management Ordinance. My passion to protect the measure is as strong today as it was 16 years ago when I wrote it. As a matter of full disclosure, I have loaned our No on R campaign thousands of dollars to get our message out. I have no development interests in Healdsburg, and I have been retired for 26 years. I’ve seen how other cities have made mistakes through poorly managed growth and development. And, I’d like to help prevent those same mistakes from occurring in Healdsburg.
We seem to be at a crossroads, I ask myself what will Healdsburg look like in five or ten years if our GMO is eliminated. We have seen changes in our city as a result of tipping point tourism. I’ve seen special interest groups mining the wealth out of our bucolic city. If developers get their way, we will lose our quality of life and small town character forever.
We are not a bunch of “no-growthers.” Growth helps to make our community viable, it just needs to be managed in a responsible way. Our existing GMO does just that. The city wants to eliminate the voters from the process and leave all growth management decisions up to the city council. If Measure R should pass, the voters will lose their voice on how fast we grow. With just three votes from our city council future growth limits could be changed. Ask yourself, who do you trust—the voters or the politicians?
Did you know, if you follow the money, you’ll find the supporters of Measure R include, but are not limited to, contractors, developers, mortgage lenders, realtors, and a lumber yard owner—all businesses who derive their income through growth. Also, following the money has led me to Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek developers who are now actively donating to their campaign. Add those two to the already known outside developers from Escondido and Canada. Do you honestly believe these aforementioned donors and supporters are interested in the affordable and missing middle housing? Or, perhaps are they more interested in furthering market rate development and their own profits?
With regard to low income and affordable housing, the fact of the matter is we can have the same results with a No on Measure R vote, just at a slower pace.
On November 8, please vote No on Measure R to preserve our future.
Jim Winston
Healdsburg
Beth for HUSD
Editor: Cindy Beth has a proven track record of commitment to Healdsburg youth and would be a tremendous asset to the Healdsburg Unified School Board. She is a lifelong Healdsburg resident and raised her children here, a real Greyhound for life. She has volunteered with many organizations, from preschool to high school; HLL to FFA; and most everything in between. She is committed to continuing the great things happening in our district as well as building on and improving our programs. Cindy is hardworking, dedicated, organized and intelligent and will make a great HUSD Board member. Please join us in voting for Cindy Beth.
Nancy and Kevin Madarus
Healdsburg