Letters to the Editor 9-11-14

Supporting Ziedrich
Editor: I am happy to offer my whole-hearted endorsement of Eric Ziedrich’s candidacy for Healdsburg City Council.
Eric will bring his special brand of experience and leadership to the council. He has been a part of the fabric of our community for decades, raising three daughters who attended local public schools and running a successful business here during that time. Eric is honest and knowledgeable, and his background in finance will bring important perspective to the issues which Healdsburg is now facing. As we grapple with ongoing water concerns and balance growth management issues with the need for moderate-cost housing, we will benefit from Eric’s ability and willingness to navigate complicated matters. His commitment to listen to diverse voices and opinions will be an asset as we continue to consider the sometimes competing interests of tourism and our local residents.
Eric Ziedrich has a proven track record of listening, leading and serving. I hope you will join me in voting for him for City council.
Jerry Eddinger
Healdsburg
Where’s our town?
Editor: I have lived in Healdsburg since 1973. My husband was born and raised here. His family’s roots go back to the late 1880s and they are considered one of the oldest families in Healdsburg.
The town that we love has changed drastically. I am bothered by things I see in our town. I feel that our city council is not transparent enough when making decisions that affect tax payers.
Here are some of the items that have me scratching my head:
1. The lack of parking spaces when shopping downtown or going to a restaurant. Why isn’t parking a priority since it’s the decision makers who want the tourists to come to our town? Why isn’t the Purity Chemical Building considered for a parking lot? It only makes sense to me; one block from main street, the building has been empty for years. I understand it’s considered a historical landmark, then I say, keep the front panel, make it a three-story parking lot and give people three hours of free parking. This way, we, the citizens of the town, can actually find a parking space at our Safeway store on the weekends.
2. Street corners. I’m wondering who approved the corner of North and Center Streets. They have the sidewalk so far into the traffic lane, I can’t see a large truck making a turn into the north-bound lane. Center Street is an important street for locals. What were they thinking?
3. Is there no design review in our planning department? Is the planning department so eager to hand out building permits without regard to what’s being built? Example, the house on Piper and University. I’ve labeled it the “Mel’s Drive In” house. This house reminds me of a drive-in restaurant. Many of the homes were built on Piper Street in the Queen Ann Cottage style — with delightful front porches which one might see in a Norman Rockwell painting. I wonder how the planning department members would like to live across the street, looking at this house being built. This house belongs on top of a hill outside the city limits. By the way, where is this house going to get the water to fill their Olympic-size pool? Why am I asked to cut my water use by 20 percent? Why is our sewage bill increasing if I am using less water?
4. I am deeply disturbed by the news of the senior transportation being contracted out from our town’s local approach and service. Our senior citizens deserve more from our town. They are worth the extra effort and time to transport in a safe and considerate manner. Healdsburg has a legacy of respecting its elders. What happened, city leaders?
If you are feeling as frustrated as I am, please speak up as a taxpayer of Healdsburg and make your vote count when selecting our next city council in November.
Suzie Buchignani
Healdsburg
Experience counts
Editor: This fall Jim Wood and Susan Jones will retire from our city council and take valuable experience and institutional memory with them. It will be important to replace at least one of them with someone who has the same kind of experience and perhaps even more. Eric Ziedrich is that person.
Eric and his wife Janet have lived in Healdsburg for over 30 years and raised their three daughters here; all three attended our public schools. Through the years Eric has been what can only be described as a civic dynamo. He served on the Healdsburg Planning Commission in the 1980’s and was president of and served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce. During that time he also served two terms on the board of the Healdsburg Unified School District. From 1996 till 2000 and again from 2006 till 2010 Eric served on the city council and was Mayor of our town in 2000 and 2009. During his years on the City Council he also served on the board of the Sonoma County Transit Authority and was a board member of the Golden Gate Bridge and Transit Authority. While doing all this he also worked at his day job as owner of Healdsburg Lumber Company and grew the business from a small single location to a company with three operations in Healdsburg and one each in Gualala, Napa and San Rafael.
Being a member of our city council is a complicated job which, if you want to do it well, requires a lot of time and effort. A new member of the council will need a good deal of time to learn the ropes and become well informed, particularly about budgets, financial forecasts and the spending of our citizens’ tax dollars. We are very fortunate that we have a candidate like Eric Ziedrich, willing to step up to the plate one more time to serve his community. Eric doesn’t need to learn about what the city council does, he knows how it works, he knows how to read a budget and he knows how to run a successful business. In today’s environment of tight budgets and tough choices we need a man like Eric. He has been there and has done that.
I recommend Eric Ziedrich for city council.
Henk Peeters
Healdsburg