Letters to the Editor 8-29-13

City money
Editor: It is about time the city is going to do something about fixing the streets and potholes. A little while after the city passed Measure V in November, the city council asked the people what they wanted to do with the extra money from the half-cent sales tax. The survey of the residents, earlier this year, said re-paving roads, fixing potholes, and constructing new sidewalks, should take priority in how the sales tax money should be used.
I agree with the writer last week about those ridiculous extensions of the sidewalk corners on the downtown streets. They serve no purpose at all, and that money that could have been put to good use someplace else. Now that the city has so much money from Measure V, I would like to know why the medical exemption is no longer available for the electric usage. I, like many residents here in Healdsburg, have to have a life supporting oxygen concentrator plugged into the electric supply most of the time.
Milton Lipman
Healdsburg
Time to waste?
Editor: Let me get this straight. Gary Plass doesn’t think that the Healdsburg city council should be wasting their time endorsing a ban on assault weapons because “it would open the door to a variety of issues coming before the council presented by political parties on the right and the left.” Hello? Why should the council care about who brings a legitimate issue before the council. I would like to think that the council is intelligent enough to make a judgment on whether an issue is appropriate for city business. I know that Healdsburg is a small town but does that mean our city council should have small minds? It makes me proud that the rest of the city council saw endorsing a ban on assault weapons and for that matter same-sex marriage, as the right thing to do.
It’s a shame that Plass doesn’t have the time to support a national issue that he doesn’t think is also a local issue. Just ask Sandy Hook, Aurora and Columbine if it isn’t a local issue. But he has enough time to waste the town’s time and money on an ill-advised one-way street.
Michael Haran
Healdsburg
Dog scammers
Editor: I love Healdsburg. That said, I am tired of people who are entitled … those who think the rest of us should move aside for “them.” Why? Because those who lie about their so called “assistance dogs” have no consideration. You don’t need a dog you need a psychiatrist. What will happen? You sure look ok to shop.
In case of what? I went to three coffee spots yesterday. I’m always in Healdsburg and everywhere I went there were dogs. No, not a dog hater, just someone who believes that this addiction and scam is a health problem. Why? Well folks if you’re willing to sit with your bare behind in my shopping cart … then, you can put your dogs bare behind in it. What’s the matter with you?
My brother was blind. He never had a dog or cane. I happen to be a cancer patient. I am fighting for my life every day … so don’t need your dog’s bacteria along with everything else to stay alive. I do not have to have a dog and I can tell you dog scammers “boo hoo I’m a little anxious when I go out” types to get real.
If you’re so bad off then have a human being by your side “just in case” … at least they can talk and drive if you should keel over.
Where in the world do you all think all that feces and urine flows each time all 1,000 of your dogs use the public parks and buildings?
Elayne Logan
Petaluma
Lots at the museum
Editor: There is a lot to see at the Healdsburg Museum this weekend. We have held over our popular “Movie Stars Next Door” exhibit about actors Fred MacMurray, June Haver and the MacMurray Ranch on Westside Road. We have also opened a tasty new exhibit, “Farm to Table,” highlighting northern Sonoma County’s agriculture, past and present. Nydia Goode’s magical dollhouse is also on display, enhanced by seasonal decorations.
Fred MacMurray’s birthday was August 30 and he was a huge popcorn fan. In honor of his birthday, the Healdsburg Museum will be offering free popcorn all weekend. Come enjoy our entertaining and informative exhibits and audio tours–with free admission and free popcorn. The Healdsburg Museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., two blocks east of the plaza at 221 Matheson St. We look forward to seeing you.
Holly Hoods
Curator, Healdsburg Museum
Constitutional topics
Editor: Regarding the recent discussion by the City Council on gun control, I read that Councilperson Plass labors under the impression that a councilperson’s job is to get potholes filled and…well, I forget the other things. But that didn’t sound right to me for some reason, so I checked with City Hall, and I’ll be darned if the Oath of Office that Mr. Plass took says not a word about pot holes. It does say though, that Mr. Plass did solemnly affirm that he would “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies foreign and domestic; that (he would) bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California…” and some other equally high-sounding duties and obligations.   
I’m not a constitutional scholar and have never taken a civics course, but it looks like to me that Mr. Plass has a much more important job than he thought. I wouldn’t expect him to be defending the Constitution regarding interstate commerce, or the separation of powers, but it does seem reasonable that he is called upon to defend it against something, or he wouldn’t be required to take the oath in the first place.
I would suggest, and a little research might reveal whether I’m right or wrong (or common sense), that councilpersons are held to defend the clear, commonly-accepted, and court-adjudicated principles of the Constitution and its Bill of Rights as they apply to the local jurisdiction. So, assault weapons — local schools — local theater, yep, that seems to be just the place for Mr. Plass to defend our Constitution.
I wouldn’t want councilpersons to play Constitutional Whack-a-mole — they have to get those pot holes filled, after all; that’s up too us nutcases in the ACLU. But gun control, discrimination of any kind, equality of every kind — there’s a long list of wonderful Constitutional topics that can make our Healdsburg a better place.
Let’s hear it for the Constitution; it would be near-paradise if Americans believed in it.
Dave Henderson
Healdsburg