Letters to the Editor 10-27-16

Agent of harmony
EDITOR: Most of my generation of Sonoma County’s political leaders have retired; leaving us saddled with massive unfunded retirement obligations, paid for with higher taxes and fees, along with major cuts in services and infrastructure. Present solutions for affordable housing are responsible for an exodus of workers and families from our rural communities. Social service cuts have created a zombie-land of homeless, shuffling our streets and draining large amounts of resources from our first responders and criminal justice system. Our leaders are failing to bring the disparate elements of our communities together toward common purpose, and some purposely sow division between environmentalists and labor, business and agriculture.
In order to restore services once provided for generations, we need to reinvent local government, as a convener enlisting and involving all the elements of our community toward innovative and creative solutions.
My wife Svetlana and I will vote for organic farmer Lynda Hopkins, to represent us as our next Fifth District Supervisor.We can no longer abide the failed policies of the past. We believe Lynda Hopkins has the courage and vision to be an agent of harmony, toward a sustainable future for Sonoma County.
Tom and Svetlana Lynch
Guerneville
Very important
EDITOR: The election of three new Board members for the Palm Drive Health Care District is a very important decision for the taxpayers within the district.  The history of the district is full of trials and tribulations that have resulted in many management changes for the hospital and a large debt stretching on for many years.  There also have been two bankruptcies, one of which has yet to be resolved.
It is clear that new thinking and a honest evaluation of how the district can move forward is needed.  To achieve that goal, we believe that Jim Horn is a clear choice to serve on the district board.  He and his wife live in Sebastopol and he owns a successful engineering business.  He currently serves as a trustee of the Gravenstein Union School District.  We urge everyone to support Jim Horn for director of the Palm Drive Health Care District.
Carolyn and Gary Harris
Forestville
Evans no policy
EDITOR: Look at Noreen’s page or talk with her in public (hard to do if you don’t have millions of dollars to attend her private gathering with the Codding family and such) you will notice she avoids all questions with one answer, “I have been a humble servant to the government.”
She won’t focus on policy because she knows that she has nothing. To pay for housing with pension money is illegal, it can’t be done. Pot for potholes, well the money from that will not go to the district supervisor. Read the proposition, it goes to a fund in Sacramento, which Gavin Newsom picks what to do. Noreen has no control of that. She says education matters but there is no plan. Pensions, again Noreen relies on the marijuana tax that she will not gain. Transparency, she posted Lynda Hopkins money but not her own. Let’s see her record and where her money comes. [Joel Evans is a SEIU member and her son.] Evans says she cares about rent control but isn’t backed by people who created Section 8 housing. Roseland will probably be her inactive area. Evans’ claim of creating the GMO ban is outrageous. Noreen has lied about where she lives, taken money from Monsanto, Wells Fargo and pharmaceutical companies in unethical ways, took money from tribal casinos and didn’t show up to the legislature often or costal conservatory meetings. Vote no on Evans.
Steven Butler
Sebastopol
Disingenuous leaflets
EDITOR: It is deeply disturbing to us West County natives to learn that candidate for Fifth District Supervisor, Lynda Hopkins, has now received huge financial backing from an outsider, namely John Dyson: a New York multi-millionaire, who was a Republican Donald Trump supporter and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s Deputy Mayor. The smear campaign of leaflets against Noreen that has now started with this funding is disgustingly filled with lies, because there is no scandal at all in Noreens sterling track record of serving our community for 20 plus years. For example, saying that Noreen was absent from Coastal Commission meetings, when it was not her job at all to attend those meetings, and when she was in fact instrumental in stopping offshore oil drilling here, is a pathetic attempt to undermine her character. These disingenuous leaflets and outsider money certainly raise a red flag of what we might expect if Hopkins gets elected through this smear campaign. We do not need inexperienced, unqualified people in public office whose campaigns are based on lies, and who want to simply buy themselves into positions of power — we need neither Donald, nor Lynda. Please vote for proven integrity, vote for Noreen Evans.
Lois Stopple
Guerneville
No to the status quo
EDITOR: We have an opportunity this election to say “no” to the status quo operations of the Palm Drive Health Care District. After 16 plus years of fiscal irresponsibility, lack of transparency and a revolving door of administrators, it’s time to call our Board of Directors to task. LAFCO even questioned the district policies and operations over the lifetime of the district when unanimously voting 7-0 to detach three river area communities from the district. With three positions up for grabs, I support Jim Horn, Eira Klich-Heartt and incumbent, Marsha Sue Lustig. While these three candidates support an open hospital, they are all realistic when it comes to the ever-changing healthcare climate and that it just might not be sustainable. 

Jim Horn has been, and will continue to be, a voice of reason in representing the District taxpayers and his current grasp on the district finances surpasses anyone currently on the board. While new to the operations of the PDHCD, Eira Klich-Heartt is not new to healthcare and understands the fiscal responsibility that is placed on the directors. Likewise, Marsha Sue Lustig understands that she has an obligation to district taxpayers and is working toward making the board more transparent and is passionate about community healthcare. All three are willing to think outside the box.

 We need more leaders like Horn, Klich-Heartt and Lustig and they have my vote.
Barbara DeCarly
Guerneville
Read the records
EDITOR: This is in response to Frank Robinson’s Sep. 14 column “All We Are Saying.” He stated it was “curious” that Fifth District Supervisor candidate, Noreen Evans, held a fundraiser at the home of Connie Codding, the widow of Hugh Codding, “the big Santa Rosa developer” because “Evans has been telling us for months that she’s the one who’s fighting big developers,” not her opponent, Lynda Hopkins, who has huge support from real estate and vineyard developers. Well, to set the record straight regarding Connie Codding’s priorities, she is and has been one of Sonoma County’s largest philanthropists. It is her passion to support and promote social justice and environmental preservation. A few of the recipients of her generosity are the Pediatric Dental Institute for deprived youth, The Dream Center, which promotes cultural education and leadership programs for young people, Social Advocates for Youth and the Center for Climate Protection. She supports the Pepperwood Preserve, Farmster (a community farming project in Rohnert Park) and was on the Board of the Laguna Foundation, the Board of Advocates for Planned Parenthood and Osha Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State. These are just a few of the good causes she supports and donates to. Another way she is trying to support our county’s environmental causes is, apparently, to hold a fundraiser at her home for Noreen Evans, the only candidate for the Fifth District Supervisor to have a long and successful legislative history of protecting the environment. Hopkins has zero experience. Please read the actual records of these two candidates, not just the mailers and ads put out by their supporters, before you vote.
Lily Berkeley
Sebastopol
Open letter to Koenigshofer
EDITOR: Eric, you should be ashamed of yourself, a distinguished County Supervisor, stooping to a last minute hit piece and riddled with misstatements besides. Has it really come to this? Actually, it is a great compliment to Noreen that your clients are willing to spend all that money to keep her off the board. But you should know by now that Fifth District voters are pretty savvy and trying to buy an election in this way is pretty transparent. You cozy up to the wrong people and you are out. Ask Doug Bosco.

 At least the cards are on the table and we can finally see who the power players are.


Pieter S. Myers

Occidental
Community, environment and people first
EDITOR: I have known Lynda Hopkins intimately for 14 years and been married to her for six. We met while in Stanford’s Earth Systems program, where we studied land use, climate change, marine science and environmental economics.

 We took our values with us when we moved back to the property where I grew up along the Russian River. Lynda and I started an organic vegetable farm. Despite intense pressures, we never used a single nonorganic product on our fields. We chose to grow vegetables, grains and livestock because that was our vision for the community, not because it was the path of least resistance.


While farming, Lynda also served as Executive Director at Farm Trails and as a community journalist with Sonoma West Publishers. She has always taken the path of serving the community and put her values ahead of doing what was easy or profitable.

 As co-treasurer for Lynda’s campaign, I can’t tell you that the campaign has received over 500 donations below $250 most of them below $100 from ordinary community members. Anyone elected to supervisor is going to have to answer to supporters and donors who they may disagree with at times. But I’m proud to say that Lynda will have far more small donors to answer to and I know that she has the strength and values to follow her conscience. Lynda will always put the needs of the West County community, environment and people first.
Emmett Hopkins
Forestville
With or without a hospital
EDITOR: I’ve served on the Palm Drive Health Care District for the past four years, these have been very trying times for the district. Closing the hospital in 2014 was a difficult, yet necessary decision, given the failing financial situation of the hospital. Opening the hospital again last year gave us hope that a small community hospital could succeed. But it soon became apparent that, despite a generous donor, the hospital was not doing well. We have been fortunate to find a partner with significant experience with distressed hospitals. We hope to have the scenario of a small successful community hospital. I am not continuing on the district board but I am supporting three candidates for the district board. I believe a nurse is a good match to the needs of the institution, so I am supporting Eira Klick-Heartt, who is a doctoral prepared nurse teaching at SRJC. Eira has the clinical background and local hospital experience to assist the hospital to achieve the quality levels that we want in our community hospitals. I also support Marsha Sue Lustig, who is the incumbent candidate. She is fair-minded, extremely hard working and cares about the health of West County. My third candidate choice is Jim Horn, who has been a constructive critic of the district. I believe Jim wants to see the district become less hospital-centric and more community-centric, which is the direction that healthcare is going. These candidates value the health care the district can support with or without a hospital.
Sandra Bodley
Sebastopol
Outstanding service
EDITOR: We, the undersigned members of the Gravenstein Union School District’s Board of Trustees, have worked closely with fellow Board Members Desire Beck and Gregory Appling, who are both seeking reelection. Desire joined our Board four years ago and has devoted substantial additional time to our Gravenstein and Hillcrest Modernization site committees.   Gregory joined our Board in May 2016 and quickly became a valued board member, devoting substantial additional time on our Gravenstein Modernization construction committee.   They both have brought analytical skills and abilities, thoughtfulness, and a collaborative and professional demeanor to our board. We ask you to join us in voting for both Desiree Beck and Gregory Appling so they can continue their outstanding service to our Gravenstein school district.
Jim Horn
Jeff Weaver
Sandra Wickland
An independent voice
EDITOR: Lynda Hopkins is a fresh, authentic, independent voice running for Fifth District Supervisor. She’s smart, tough, and loves West County. What a Natural. She’s energetic and creative, with a passion for government transparency. A delight at Town Hall meetings, she listens to everyone, takes new ideas gracefully into consideration, is flexible, reasonable, open and direct. Her background in Land Use and Environmental Studies is a perfect fit for the Fifth District. She will protect our coast, assure free access to our beaches, maintain our rivers, parks, roads and enhance our schools, libraries and social services. She’s got what we need and are looking for. Join me in voting for Lynda Hopkins for Supervisor.
Ann Maurice
Occidental
Most qualified
EDITOR: Jim Horn is the most qualified of all the new candidates for the Palm Drive Healthcare District Board.  Jim has served on the board before and will be an independent voice supporting the people of West County.  He has shown that he understands the financial problems that the Sonoma West Medical Center is facing and if they are solvable problems he will work to solve them.  He has served on other county boards and understands the way boards should operate and that they are representatives of the voters of the district, all the voters.  My vote will be cast for Jim Horn and Marsha Sue Lustig, join me in supporting these fine people for our Healthcare District Board.
Frank Mayhew
Sebastopol
Dishonest attack
EDITOR: Last week a campaign brochure arrived in my mailbox. It was from a PAC supporting Lynda Hopkins, which consists of wine, real estate and construction trade groups. The brochure charged that Noreen Evans failed to attend meetings and vote on important matters while she was on the Coastal Conservancy. In fact, Evans was a member of a six-person oversight committee. She was not a voting member of the Conservancy and was not expected to attend meetings, which were held all over California so that citizens had the opportunity to attend. None of the other oversight members attended more than Evans. Neil Fishman, who worked for the Coastal Conservancy for 30 years and was it’s Chief Deputy Director, totally debunked the false attack in the Hopkins brochure. He stated in a letter to the editor in another publication that “Noreen was and is a great supporter of the Conservancy and the coast.”
In this tight race, with the election just a few weeks away, this deceptive and grossly misleading Hopkins mailer could determine the winner. It also pops up as a paid advertisement (cookie) during internet searches. If Lynda Hopkins wants to run a positive campaign, as she states, she should publicly denounce this blatantly dishonest attack on her opponent. Call Lynda Hopkins at 707- 785-4450 or email her at [email protected].
Brian Barta
Sebastopol
Counting her buds
EDITOR: As prop 64 closes in we must inspect how our local politicians will handle the influx of marijuana (and new laws). Noreen Evans has suggested that she will fix the Fifth District potholes with pot. The problem is if you actually read the proposition, it states the money will not be going to a general fund and likely will not be of use to fix Sonoma County roads. If you read the proposition, the money will not be dispersed like Colorado or other states (although Noreen publicly states she believes she will have access).
It will be up to the state to decide. This proposition also creates new harsher legal enforcement for youth, which includes jail time and loss of educational support. While Noreen Evans only plan on fixing infrastructure relies on drugs, Lynda Hopkins offers the idea that we must be prepared for the legal ramifications and if money is actually allocated we use it to battle any legal consequences. Hopkins knows that funding must be found in other places, while Noreen is relying almost exclusively on funds that she will never see. Looks like someone (Noreen) is counting her buds before they grow.
David Stork
Sebastopol
 
Stand with our hospital
EDITOR: The Sebastopol City Council and Palm Drive District Health Board need to stand with our hospital, the Sonoma West Medical Center. Instead, we have candidates running this November who will work to close this life-saving facility. Cronyism and misinformation are literally endangering our lives.

 What misinformation? For starters, most voters don’t realize that we pay the same tax whether the hospital with its life-saving emergency room stays open or is closed. Let’s get what we’re paying for.
Also, urgent care is not emergency room care. Urgent care facilities cannot by law accept ambulances or provide life-saving care. If our emergency room is closed, urgent care isn’t enough. It can’t take new patients and is not open seven days a week or at night. While their proposed actions may sound fiscally attractive, they are undermining the well being of our residents.

 The hospital can be successful. Most of the initial losses were due to the need to re-license and reopen the closed hospital after the former board majority made the irresponsible decision to close the hospital. We deserve the peace of mind of having a top-quality emergency room and hospital in West County.

Lynda McDaniel
Sebastopol
Set the record straight
EDITOR: I think the record needs to be set straight regarding the Palm Drive Health Care district board election. There has been a lot of disinformation coming from supporters of the Rob Carey and Gail Thomas campaign.
Dan Smith’s response to Sandra DeBella Bodley’s commentary, “Good health in our community,” (Oct. 20) is disingenuous at best when he claims that Jim Horn is running a campaign to close the hospital. Horn’s platform is one of fiscal responsibility, something the drive to reopen the hospital has sorely lacked, despite its mantra about the business acumen of its leaders.
Horn is one of the few people in this community who has raised uncomfortable questions and has not allowed himself to be bullied into submission by a well-financed group that has flogged anyone who has not followed its pie-in-the-sky script.
As to other members of the community who want Sebastopol city council to get involved, as Mayor Sarah Gurney patiently explained at the Oct. 18 city council meeting, council reached out to the hospital to offer assistance but received no response. Additionally, council and the PDHCD are separate government agencies that represent their own jurisdictions and constituents. It concerns me that a candidate for city council does not understand one of the basic structures of local government in Sebastopol, or chooses to ignore it.
The District currently has about $20 million in “secured debt” — bonds and certificates of participation — and is in the middle of a bankruptcy to the tune of about $8 million. Although the members of the “River Corridor” will still be on the hook for millions of dollars in public debt, debt that Mr. Smith helped acquire, the District needs to find a way forward and rethink its outdated charter on a much tighter budget.
Horn wants to move the District forward, whether or not the hospital survives, and put an end to the accumulation of debt that will take decades to pay off.
Vote for Jim Horn for fiscal responsibility for the Palm Drive Health Care District.
David Abbott
Santa Rosa