LETTER: Self-served interests?

Editor: What a disappointment to see the Sebastopol City Council
made up of “not in my backyard” self-serving decision-makers. While
all of us support increased affordable housing in our community, we
never expected Council members to reject the recommendations made
by staff to share access to this proposed housing project with
their neighbors and Palm Drive Hospital District. It is an
embarrassment to those of us who believed we had fair, responsible
leaders in Sebastopol.
All of the project studies and city staff recommended the
Council consider a compromise which included several safety factors
in finding solutions to the traffic problems. Since three City
Council members (Linda Kelly, Sam Pierce and Larry Robinson) live
in the immediate neighborhood, would you say they have a
self-serving interest in this project? You bet they do.
Palm Drive Hospital District access and safety factors for our
citizens should be a part of a successful housing project.
We can, and we will, expect more from our leaders. This issue
comes before the Council again Aug. 1.
Be there and let them know you expect more from them if they are
to continue to represent you. There is an election in November.
– Heidi Gillen & Michele Filshie, Sebastopol