Letters to the Editor 10-25-12

Thank you to HDH
Editor: Wanted to give a heartfelt thank you to all who took care of our mother. I can’t say enough about the ICU and the wonderful nurses most especially to Cheryl and Bryan and Dr. Gude so very caring, compassionate and informative throughout our mother’s short stay. Healdsburg District Hospital has what they call “comfort care.” Where the nurses again were very helpful. We were able to be with our mother during her last days in a comfortable situation. We could come and go all day and night. And to Karen the hospital’s Case Manager, she was there to hold hands, listen and advise throughout.
She rests in peace October 11, 2012.
Cherie Kelsay, Robert Rehmus, Jim Garrett and Susan Williamson,
children of Sharon Hill
No on Measure V
Editor: Healdsburg officials promoting Measure V claim they have made all reasonably possible cuts. Have they really?
Healdsburg faces an unfunded pension liability of $26 million, an obligation we pass on to our children. We spend 83 percent of our annual budget on public safety services and 22 percent of public safety payroll is earmarked for pensions. To put that in perspective, Sonoma County acknowledges the 20 percent of payroll costs it pays for employee pensions is unsustainable and has set a goal of reducing that figure to 10 percent, where it was 10 years ago.
Facing the same obstacles to pension reform we face in Healdsburg, Sonoma County set a goal of reducing overall payroll costs by 3 percent. That approach recognizes that current salaries remain negotiable even if pension benefits are not. Some may argue that the county’s goals are too timid, but at least the county is moving in the right direction. Healdsburg, on the other hand, isn’t moving at all. Council has set no such goals and complains instead that pension reform is out of its hands.
Labor contracts for both police and fire were renewed this year. In neither case, however, did city officials exact any reductions in compensation, health or pension benefits.  Current employees will continue to enjoy for two more years the same levels of pay and benefits that created the problem.  
To be fair, police officers and firefighters agreed to pay a larger portion of their share of pension costs, but that only begs the question, why weren’t they paying it all along? Why were we paying both the employer’s share of pension costs as well as shouldering the load for the employee’s share?
City officials will also point to newly implemented “two-tiered” plans, but make no mistake, two-tiered plans simply impose lower pay and benefits on our children who are tomorrow’s police officers and firefighters.  Two-tiered plans are a recipe for workplace strife as newer workers working side by side with older workers and performing the same job as those older workers become increasingly resentful of their second-class status.  Placing the burden on future generations so that current employees can continue enjoying their unsustainable compensation packages is not pension reform, it’s kicking the can down the road.  
Contrary to their claims, city council simply hasn’t done enough to justify the imposition of more taxes. Vote no on V.
Dan Drummond
Executive Director,
Sonoma County Taxpayers’ Assoc.
Too many left turns
Editor: I would like to comment on the recent conversion of Foss Creek Circle to a one-way street, if I may. It was an excellent decision on the part of the city, except for one detail: the traffic flow is in the wrong direction. A counter-clockwise flow would have made much more sense from almost every point of view.  
There are 11 driveways on the outer perimeter of the curved street, and only two on the inner perimeter. This means many more left turns into driveways, and more potential conflicts with vehicles turning left into and out of these driveways, most especially in the area near the Post Office. In addition, anyone wishing to use the outside mail drops at the Post Office must now make a complete circle to drop mail and re-enter Foss Creek Circle.
Confusion is also caused by the circular nature of the street. This may be because traffic circles, or roundabouts, always have a counter-clockwise traffic flow, in order to eliminate the left turn conundrum. People may unconsciously associate a curved street with a traffic circle. Many more drivers than might ordinarily be expected to are heading the wrong way on this street. Of course, the signage indicating the correct direction is rather inadequate.
Perhaps the City Council members were feeling nostalgic for the days when traffic flow was slowed by cars turning left into the old Post Office parking lot from Center Street.
Marty Cablk
Healdsburg
Supporting McCaffery
Editor: I am writing in support of Shaun McCaffery for City Council. I have known Shaun through his volunteer activities in Healdsburg. He is warm, thoughtful, kind, a hard worker, and committed to whatever he takes on. He loves this community and continues to give back through his responsible involvement with the Jazz Festival, the Rotary Club, the Food Pantry and many others. He is an engineer and he runs his own successful business. He is a financial conservative who understands the many challenges facing our city. If elected, his primary goal is long-term budget stability. Shaun has the passion, vision, and the ability to lead Healdsburg to an even better future.  
Gail Ginder
Healdsburg
We’re not all tourists
Editor: I’ve read everything I could on the Healdsburg City Council candidates, talked with a couple of them who came to my door and also read what Bob Fraser had to say on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce.
There’s a lot of conversation about CHASSA, lower income housing and “encouraging high quality development.”
Whoever gets elected, whoever is in on the discussions I would ask you to keep in mind that there are a lot of people who live in the Healdsburg area 12 months of the year.  They aren’t all wealthy and they don’t all drink wine.
I do understand that rents are high, and have heard that only the wineries can afford them, but a tasting room on every corner and then some is more than enough. I know that some landlords have done remarkable things in taking financial cuts to keep some businesses in town. We need more of that.
I would hope that the locals will have some places to shop that are affordable, with parking and with some of the necessities of life. To have to drive 20 miles or more to buy affordable undergarments for men or women is not helpful to the locals or the local economy.
The population of this country and this area is aging. Where will the older folks shop if they can no longer drive and there’s no one to drive or shop for them?  
Marie Salerno
Healdsburg
No on Prop 36
Editor: The Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association urges you to vote NO on Proposition 36.
Proposition 36, known as the Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012, weakens the current Three Strikes Law by limiting the application of the third-strike sentence. The initiative also authorizes the re-sentencing of nearly 3,000 offenders currently serving a life sentence. When released, these inmates will become the burden of our local probation department and law enforcement agencies.
Under the existing three strikes law, offenders may receive a life sentence for any new felony conviction if the offender has two or more previous convictions for a serious or violent felony – crimes such as murder, rape, and robbery. However, Proposition 36 would allow some of these inmates to be released early and not serve out their properly imposed sentence. Historical recidivism data suggests that over 75 percent of these released felons will re-offend. This will put our communities at risk.
We believe the current law is working well because the District Attorney and judges can use their discretion appropriately in charging and sentencing Three Strikes cases.
Your local law enforcement leaders stand with Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, District Attorneys, and Victim Rights groups across California in opposition of this initiative and urge a NO vote.
Bret Sackett
President, Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association
Thanks for support
Editor: The family of Roy Davis wishes to express their gratitude to family, friends, co-workers and especially the Ledbetter and Tankersley’s for all of their love and support over the past few months.
Nancy and Michael Davis
Healdsburg
Setting a new tradition
Editor: The Healdsburg Junior High PTO held its first Annual Run for Funds event on Friday October 19. Students were led by County Supervisor Mike McGuire, down Fitch Street, around the plaza and back to the school. Over half the teachers ran with the students. Parent volunteers, in special vests with arrows, directed the students at the various intersections. Back at campus students enjoyed music, popcorn, apples and water after the run.
Thanks to the hard work of our students and our wonderful community we have raised over $12,000 in pledges. This was $4,000 more than what the HJH PTO had projected in their original budget, an amazing success especially given it was our first year. The money raised will go towards field trips, assemblies and a new outdoor PA system.
The PTO would like to thank the following businesses for their financial or in-kind donations: Bear Republic, Wine Industry Network, Spencer Solutions Tax Service, Options, Bella, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, Sport Authority and Marmot. We would also like to thank the students for working so hard and diligently in getting pledges. Many went door to door through various neighborhoods, collecting $1 to $5 dollar pledges. Barbara Pinney’s Leadership Class was instrumental in making pledge packets, posters and setting the school momentum. Thank you to Mike McGuire for providing inspiration to our student body at our Kick-Off Assembly as well as the actual event. Finally, thank you to: our wonderful teachers; school office staff; Principal Deborah Hall – who always finds a way to make it happen; students and families – without them, this event would not have been possible.
Tara Smith
HJH PTO Vice President
Healdsburg
Social responsibility?
Editor: Pinot on the river turns away designated drivers. Responsible designated drivers are being turned away from the event festival unless they buy a ticket to drink wine. Where is social responsibility at this event? I drove four friends up from Marin to participate and as the designated driver I was turned away unless I bought a glass. This charity event should encourage social responsibility. I was told, “too bad, buy a glass and drink up and enjoy!”
Albert Barsocchini
San Anselmo
Scary dogs
Editor: To the owner(s) of the two dogs – one black and white, one brown-ish, both likely pit bulls, according to a neighbor – that were running off-leash on Grant Street on Friday night, September 14, at about 11 p.m.: your dogs would have killed my cat if the neighbor hadn’t saved her life by intervening.
After the attack, Luna ran away and hid. I spent two days searching for her, hoping that she wasn’t injured and suffering, praying that she’d be found.
She came home on Sunday night, the 16th, dirty, terrified, and so weak that she could hardly walk, with a nasty wound on her back, bruises and puncture wounds on her belly, and a badly herniated intestine. The damage, caused by one of your dogs picking her up and shaking her, was so severe that the surgery took twice as long as expected.
I didn’t want to write this letter until I knew whether Luna would live. Thanks to the skill of Memorial Beach vets Dr. Shafer and Dr. Dell and the attentive care of their staff, she’s making a good recovery. Saving her was worth the $3,000 its cost me, though it’s been a serious financial hit for me at a time when I’m unemployed.
But if you make a habit of letting your dogs run free, there may be other people in Healdsburg who aren’t as lucky as I am, whose pets go missing and never come home, or who can’t afford to pay for the injuries that your animals cause.
It’s illegal in Healdsburg to have dogs off-leash on city streets. On the night of the 14th, you broke that law. Please, never do it again.
Owners of all this town’s beautiful dogs, please remember that there are good reasons for our leash law. And cat owners, I’ve learned that our pets are safer indoors, or at a minimum, confined to a deck or a secure back yard. I deeply regret not having done that for Luna in the past. I will certainly be doing it for her in the future.
Nancy Roberts
Healdsburg
A bunch of malarkey
Editor: Regarding Mel Amato’s recent Letter to the Editor (I can read a Thesaurus 1018/12) Mr. Amato’s should look up the word “malarkey.” How stupid does he think people are? Either he is a one percenter, a lapdog for the rich or just loves seeing his name in print. I am not going to comment on his Thesaurus BS and focus on the facts.
He like every other conservative extremist in this country likes to twist the facts to pander to likeminded ignorant and prejudiced people. The reason the deficit has increased over the past four years is because our economy is working through the worst recession since the Great Depression. The deficit had to rise to help people and businesses get through these though times on shrinking tax revenues. When Obama took office the economy was in a free fall. His administration implemented a stimulus package which helped stop the slide in the summer of 2009. In retrospect no one knew just how bad this recession really was and that the stimulus package was actually too small. Obama has since tried several times to get a jobs stimulation package through congress but has been stymied by congress at every turn. They have no intention of trying to stimulate the economy they only want the “black” man out of the “white” house.
Mr. Amato would be doing the local community a great service is he would recalculate his figures from the summer of 2009 forward. The reason food stamp dependency is up is also a result of the crashed economy. The unemployment rate has improved considerably since the bottom of the recession.
Another reason the recession has lasted so long is because of the housing market. Traditionally the U.S. has been lead out of recessions by housing. This time, because of the largest building boom the world has ever seen and subsequent crash, it has taken longer to get out of the mess the previous administration got us into with deregulation and two unfunded wars which benefited only the U.S. military industrial complex.  
The current administration has steered us through the hard times. The economy appears to be improving. Consumer debt is the lowest in six years. The housing market looks like it’s healing with modest price increases, lower foreclosures and short sales, increased builder confidents and higher traffic to new home subdivisions. Not only does Romney have no real plan to further simulate the economy if he gets elected guess who’s going to take the credit for the improving economy.
As the president said Romney has no “five point plan” his only focus is to pander to the wealthy. The richest four hundred families in the U.S. saw their wealth increase by over four hundred percent over the past 10 years while the middle class has lost over two trillion dollars in the past three years – that’s trillion as in trillion! And if Romney gets elected the Republicans will continue to squeeze the middle class to pay for more tax deductions for the rich. This is no way to promote growth. Just look at the Middle East where in most countries the lack of a strong and vibrant middle class has led to stagnation and extremism. Our system of government was set up by our founding fathers to prevent Mr. Amato’s type of ideological extremism.
If Mr. Amato truly believes in what he is saying about adhering to our “founding principles” and turn back “our stampede down the Marxist road” he should send his Social Security and Medicare checks back to the government. And while he’s looking up “malarkey” he should also look up “oligarchy” and “hypocrisy.”
Michael Haran
Healdsburg
Incomplete nonsense
Editor: It’s flattering to see that my letters-to-the-editor are actually read and invoke reader reactions. Mr. Brian Geagan characterized my reference to President Obama’s “Marxist income redistribution ideology (increasing entitlement programs)” as “complete nonsense” and invited me to “explain it more fully.” It’s not surprising he ignored the substantive economic indicators presented in my letter but rather chose to cite programs I never mentioned. Mr. Geagan’s defines entitlement programs as comprised principally of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In my view, his comment is “incomplete nonsense” since it ignores the largest and fastest growing entitlement program – Welfare.
I did not specifically mention Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid in my letter. Most economists agree that these programs must be reformed since they are financially unsustainable and will be bankrupt in the not too distant future. However, that’s a topic for a separate debate. In response to Mr. Geagan’s invitation, I’m pleased to provide some little-published facts relative to that behemoth of all entitlements – Welfare.
In 1996, President Obama’s new found friend, President Clinton, in collaboration with a Republican Congress, passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act to “end welfare as we have come to know it.” As a result, welfare dependency, child poverty and children born out of wedlock dramatically decreased. Between 1996 and 2006, welfare roles contracted by over 56 percent. Unfortunately, Obama has reversed that very favorable trend.
Our federal government now has 83 overlapping welfare programs with an annual cost of about $750 billion. As a budget line item, federal welfare spending is higher than Social Security, Medicare or non-war defense spending. Since 2008, under Obama’s reign, dependency creating welfare spending increased over 32 percent and now accounts for 22 percent of all federal spending. Compare this to 4 percent under JFK. The total of federal and state welfare spending is over $1 trillion (with a t). Recipients of food stamps, the second largest welfare program, mushroomed from $27.7 million in 2008 to the current record level of $47 million; an increase of 70 percent under Obama.
Earlier this year, without Congressional approval, Obama effectively set aside welfare work requirements specifically written into the 1996 legislation which had previously led to a significant decrease in government dependency. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that states could apply for a waiver of the law’s clearly stated work requirements.
If space allowed, I could delve into some of the other 83 welfare programs but I think you already get my point about how federal entitlement programs foster dependency.
Mel Amato
Healdsburg
Very deserving couples
Editor: On Nov. 13 two very deserving couples will be honored with the Wetzel Award by the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County for their community service at a lunch at the Vintner’s Inn in Santa Rosa.
First honored are Tom and Kay Reed. Tom’s service to our nation is legendary and Kay’s is special too. Kay played a key role in the hospital’s parcel tax election campaign and went on to co-chair with Dave Anderson the foundation’s multi-million dollar fund raising effort to help revitalize the hospital.
John and Kim Lloyd have quietly helped so many things ranging from the Shared Ministries Food Pantry over many years to recently our local schools and the hospital through their ongoing support of the Healthcare Foundation.
I will miss the lunch on the 13th due to a longstanding meeting obligation in Southern California but I hope there is an overflow crowd there to honor these very deserving couples
For those in the North County who have not yet gotten your lunch tickets, you can call the foundation at 473-0583
Kurt Hahn, Board Chair
North Sonoma County
Healthcare District
What I’m supporting
Editor: The 1996 Urban Growth Boundary Ordinance has been very effective and successful allowing Healdsburg to retain its rural quality of life by restricting and limiting unwanted development growth within the city. It is performing as intended. However, the URB Ordinance is facing challenges because Healdsburg is at an exasperating confluence with the proposed re-development of the southern “gateway” entrance when a major commercial/industrial land use owner departs. A Growth Maintenance Committee has been formed with discussion efforts attempting to modify, adjust or re-interpret the conditions in the URB such as the allowable number of building permits per year. The URB should be extended permanently. YES on Measure W.
Vote for Vern Simmons, Tim Meinken, and Tom Chambers if you want to retain the quality of life in Healdsburg by resolving the financial noose of unfunded pension liabilities. As voting taxpayers we must first realize the current city council has failed to produce a manageable budget with no real alternatives in resolving the unfunded liabilities calamity negatively impacting Healdsburg. Despite losing the political cash cow of redevelopment funds Healdsburg which, is the jewel of northern California, is a vibrant and commercially robust town attracting visitors from around the world. The 8 percent sales tax and other revenues should provide adequate services yet we are operating at an $800,000 budget deficit with the city council not offering or projecting viable alternatives to have a balanced budget.  Their solution is to acquire more debt, increase taxes and decrease services. Vote No on Measure V.
Mr. Simmons has been keenly aware of the financial issues facing Healdsburg for many years with the professional leadership and problem-solving skills to steer Healdsburg back into the black with a stable financial future. To augment this opportunity of having Mr. Simmons on board is Tim Menken, a local business owner with expertise in international pension benefits. Even with the experience of these two accomplished and dedicated gentlemen a three vote majority is needed to bring about positive change. I believe Mr. Chambers recognizes the need for change and would probably vote for an intelligent resolution to solve this problem. Mr. Plass, a Republican has the entire Democratic machine including the unions supporting him. He, Susan Jones and Jim Wood will continue kicking the can down the road exacerbating financial problems with tax increases and fees as the only hope. Once the council is elected they do what they and their special interest groups want. By electing representatives who will represent all taxpayers you can make a difference. Voting is an opportunity for the taxpaying resident to have equity and ownership in determining Healdsburg’s bottom line and ultimately it’s future.
Kevin J. McCann
Healdsburg