LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Opposed to Measure E
Editor: Regarding Measure E, the Senior High was remodeled twice within the last 15 years or so; and Fitch Mountain Elementary was built recently — and they already need repair! Make students aware not to vandalize what their parents paid for. Bonds increase landlords’ property taxes and subsequently tenants’ rent and buyers’ mortgages. Let’s avoid foreclosures and find fund-raisings that are fair to all.
Yolanda Lopez
Healdsburg


Tom Reed’s latest book
Editor: I have just finished reading local author Tom Reed’s latest book, The Tehran Triangle. It is a page-turner, especially the last half when it seems apparent that a nuclear device would be detonated by terrorists within the United States. Tom is certainly qualified to write about this, as he designed two H-bombs and watched as they were detonated in the Pacific. He also served as Secretary of the Air Force, and was a special assistant to President Reagan for National Security Policy. I highly recommend this book.
David Anderson
Healdsburg


Gratitude
Editor: Dani Barfield, who lived and worked in Healdsburg as a hair stylist for more than 40 years, passed away on Wednesday, May 2. In her life, she nurtured a community that in the end allowed her and her family to bask in the love that comes from a lifetime of giving.
“My family will forever be indebted to this amazing community for giving us the gift of allowing Dani to stay in her own home for the duration of her long illness, where she felt comfortable, where she was nurtured by skilled, loving caretakers, and where her friends could come and say goodbye,” says daughter Kellie Walker. “The gift was far greater than just helping our mom/grandmother. The generosity of the Healdsburg community allowed us to be there for our mom in a way that we couldn’t have done without the support of her extended family of friends.”
“My mom’s life was about love and friendship, and what came back at the end was a reflection of all that she gave. From our perspective, the love just keeps coming. The gift that was meant for my mom was in reality a gift for our entire family, as it allowed us to focus on being there for her in the ways that she needed us most. The greatest legacy mom has left for us is all of you,” continues Kellie.
Dani passed peacefully by the light of an almost full, incredibly close moon and surrounded by family and friends. Her long illness with cancer has inspired a realization that in the same way that it takes a village to raise children, it also takes a village to allow the frail and fragile to die with dignity. In this time of failing medical assistance, it was indeed a community effort that supported Dani to her last breath. With friends and family offering massages, meditation sessions, fresh, local organic delicacies, spiritual guidance, song, financial assistance, exquisite care, and immeasurable other forms of hope and inspiration, Dani died in the way that she lived — surrounded by love, grace and friendship.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you
Marie Gewirtz, on behalf of Dani’s family and friends
Healdsburg


Sidewalk for pedestrians
Editor: During the last week in April my husband was walking down Vine street directly across the street from City Hall. There were two bicyclists on the sidewalk talking with one another, drinking water. As my husband approached them he realized he could get by because they were blocking the walk way. He said,”excuse me”. One of the cyclists replied, “You can go around”. My husband had two options to get around these rude, arrogant, grown men. One was to walk out into the street and the other was to walk through the bark surrounding ankle high plants and shrubs. He chose to walk through the bark. If these two condescending men are reading this, I need to tell you that my husband is legally blind. I don’t know if that would have mattered to you. Would you have treated an elderly woman the same? You obviously had a chip on your shoulder bigger than the space you were taking up. The last time I checked, a sidewalk was for the pedestrian’s use. I know it’s not illegal to talk on a sidewalk with your bikes close at hand. Most people would have shown a little common courtesy and moved when they realized they were blocking a pathway for pedestrians. Oh, and by the way. The next time you decide to chit chat on a public street, drinking from your plastic water bottles, take the empty bottles with you and dispose of them in a trash can instead of leaving them on the sidewalk for someone else to clean up after you.
Geri Tapparo
Healdsburg


Government problems
Editor: While your editorial on the “Stupid economy” correctly explained supply and demand, the rest seemed a bit confusing. Let me defend the free market.
In a free market, no one is in charge of setting prices. Prices are not “concocted.” Rather, the laws of supply and demand that you explained so well guide the market towards prices that allow the market to function efficiently.
Apple Computers is the highest valued company in the world because it has done such a good job of providing consumers with high-priced products that are worth standing in line for. General Motors builds the Volt that requires a huge government subsidy to get consumers to buy. Apple is highly valuable because it is highly profitable.
It is simply incorrect to claim that “the cost of things was once based on how much labor it took to make them.” Instead, “the cost of things” has always been what we give up to gain those “things.” It is easy to just think in terms of prices, but what we actually give up is the next best use of our resources (time, money, equipment wear and tear & opportunity).
In a market economy everyone gets “a fair share of the profits,” because if they didn’t they would change their circumstances. If a worker isn’t being paid enough, a greedy entrepreneur will attempt to find that worker and pay them more, just as surely as that worker will be searching for higher pay. Remember, it is in both their best interests to do so. It matters not which spot you hold, investor, entrepreneur, administrator, or worker, if you are not getting your fair share you will move on.
Most wonderfully, the free market works very well even in the face of hoarding, corrupt practices (fraud, etc.), speculation, or over-regulation. Henry Ford once decided to over-regulate and allow his customers to only purchase black automobiles. Ford Motors quickly dropped into second place in car sales. The free market works very well precisely because it is free. It only fails to work well when government intercedes. It matters not whether government officials are corrupt and intend to help themselves and their friends, or whether their intentions are to write “good” regulations. All such interference hampers the market and reduces prosperity.
Since one woman’s needs are another woman’s wants, it is a complete waste of time for a third party (Czar, legislator, or busybody) to try and figure which is which (hint: the individual will discern their wants from their needs). Likewise, it is a waste of time to figure out prices (hint: individuals will use prices to guide their actions based on their own values). And, it is a waste of time to worry about fairness (hint: the individual will judge and take appropriate action).
We do have a “stupid economy,” but only because government controls so much of it, trampling the hopes and dreams of 300 million Americans.
James R. Oglesby
Santa Rosa


Cost savings continued
Editor: The recent commentaries on “Cost Savings” by councilmembers Plass and Chambers were very gratifying and did provide a unique insight as to how the council is proceeding to address the pension problems within the city. After reviewing the approaches being taken, it appears that the issues/alternatives defined are necessary to address the problem but are probably insufficient to fully resolve this $1.0 million dollar issue. As addressed in the “Healdsburg pension reform” article by Abramson, et al, a key to addressing the current deficit is to reduce the percentage of final salary to be received by the retiring employee and extending the retirement start age. These changes must apply to current employees and future employees and must be based on the base salary and not include overtime and related “pension spikes”. The council should keep in mind that a number of city functions can be contracted out while still retaining the full range of city services with a potential for long term savings. These are important issues and I am pleased to see the council is addressing the problems but there needs to be additional approaches and real innovative thinking to reach a long term solution to these difficult problems.
Vernon Simmons
Healdsburg