Letters to the Editor 10-30-14

Don’t pinch pennies
Editor: Please join me in voting for Measure R and Measure M on our local ballot. It seems that nobody likes tax increases, and I cringe when my tax dollars get spent on another expensive toy for the military industrial complex, but some taxes are for the common good. The closer to home my taxes are spent, the better I like it, which is why I am voting in favor of these two measures.
Measure R is a tax on utilities, TV, garbage and telephone and the money raised goes into the Sebastopol coffers to help pay for police and fire, improving roads and other expenditures of the city. When I see the new pedestrian crossings that were recently installed, I know that the city council is spending my money wisely in ways that improve our town. I appreciate money well spent.
Measure M is a 1/8 percent raise in the sales tax to benefit Sonoma County libraries. That means that for every $20 of taxable items you buy, you will be paying an additional 2 cents, but that will generate almost $8 million for our county library system. Our library services have been severely cut in the past few years and will continue to deteriorate if this tax is not passed. Come on now folks, 2 cents on every $20 for an expanded library system is money well spent, and you won’t even feel the pinch.
We are lucky to live in a rich and vibrant community that recognizes the need for quality services that we all can enjoy. Let’s not pinch pennies and deny ourselves these vital services. By all means vote “yes” on Measure R and Measure M.
Jim Corbett
Sebastopol
Euphemisms
Editor: Per my Merriam-Webster, euphemism: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive phrase for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. Thus the Sebastopol City Council tells us they want to “modernize” our utility tax, rather than saying they want to double or (in my case) more than triple the amount of utility tax we pay. The sample ballot gives no real explanation other than they just want more money. No listing of amounts, uses or any good reason.
I strongly recommend a no on Measure R.
David Little
Sebastopol
WSCUHSD election
Editor: In the election for school trustees, the race in the West Sonoma County Union High School District has three candidates who have shown themselves to be strong advocates for our teenagers.
Having served with David Stecher and incumbent Kellie Noe on the school board, I know how diligently they work to sustain the type of education that is necessary for our teens to succeed now and in the future.
Lori Bruhner’s experience in working for the school district, coupled with her enthusiastic commitment to our community, will bring a fresh perspective to the board.
Please join me in voting for the future of our teens.
Diane Landry
Guerneville
Vote for the incumbents
Editor: The children and parents in West Sonoma County deserve the very best. That’s why I am urging all West County residents to vote for three of the candidates running for West Sonoma County Union High School District Board of Trustees. It matters who is elected. I have known all four candidates for over a decade. There are three who are qualified as responsible, thoughtful people, considered of sound mind, and who are highly respected by their colleagues. These three have no “axes to grind” but offer the very best in clear thinking and decision making skills needed as school board trustees. These three are well respected by parents, administrators, certificated and classified employees of the school district. These three are also respected and work cooperatively with the local businesses and the police department. These three bright and conscientious candidates will continue to provide the kind of leadership that distinguishes this high school district in Sonoma County. After working in this district for over 37 years, I know intimately what kind of people best serve our students. Three of those people are currently candidates. They are deserving of your support and vote on Nov. 4: Kellie Noe, Lori Bruhner and David Stecher.
Sandy Reynolds
Sebastopol
An honor to serve
Editor: It has been my honor over the past eight years to serve the students, parents, teachers and voters of the West Sonoma County Union High School District as a Board Trustee. Our collective accomplishments are many, and there is still much work to do. We’ve built solar projects, saving the district money while showing real leadership in protecting the environment; we continue to weather the storm of the national economic recession and declining enrollment while still offering a wide variety of art and music, enrichment and sports activities; and our students and high quality education are always our focus.
There are few things that I’ve experienced in my life that have been as gratifying as handing out diplomas to graduating high school seniors. The inspiration and enthusiasm felt by participating in this ceremony every year makes me proud to say I am a Trustee. My passion for education policy extends beyond the Board into my career, where I have the pleasure of overseeing Cradle to Career Sonoma County (C2C), a collaborative partnership sponsored by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. Our driving goal at C2C is to assure every student in Sonoma County has equal access to the quality education opportunities they need to be successful and prepared for college and a career.  
I am seeking a third term on the School Board, and I am also supporting two other people who will be excellent additions to our district as trustees — Lori Bruhner and David Stecher. I have served with David Stecher on the WSCUHSD Board and feel absolutely confident in his ability to keep the needs of the students and parents first and foremost. Lori Bruhner has served the District as an employee and now wants to bring this knowledge along with the experience of having two children whom recently graduated from our high school to the board. I am confident she will put in the time and energy to perform the duties of a trustee.
I humbly ask for your support for re-election, and I hope you’ll join me in voting for David Stecher and Lori Bruhner on Nov. 4.
Kellie Noe
Board President
Candidate for WSCUHSD board of trustees
A fresh mind
Editor: As a West Sonoma County and Sebastopol resident, and former Santa Rosa Junior College student, please join me in electing Jordan Burns this Nov. 4 to serve on the SRJC board of trustees.
We are so lucky to have a nationally renowned junior college nearby. And it’s relatively affordable, though the cost per unit has more than doubled since I attended. Keeping higher education affordable is key to sustaining for future generations what we love about our community — social progressivism, a strong economy, flourishing arts, natural beauty.
To keep education affordable for all, we must innovate. We need fresh minds, like Jordan Burns, on the board. Jordan is our candidate for exploring new industries and making transportation to the JC possible, especially for us West County residents.
I met Jordan over two years ago and he’s never failed to impress. He is involved in our community, and even founded a non-profit organization helping kids in Africa go to school. As a passionate education advocate and UC Berkeley grad, Jordan has what it takes to help SRJC stay a leader in this country and stay accessible for all of us.
Jordan has always had my vote, but the icing on the cake was Sen. Noreen Evans’ endorsement. Community builder, passionate leader, innovative thinker — please join me in electing Jordan Burns to SRJC Board of Trustees.
Angie Monette
Sebastopol
Time for a change
Editor: Sometimes old things need a little change. There is clearly a choice between the conservative incumbent Republican Bob Burdo and liberal progressive Democrat Jordan Burns both from Sebastopol in a contest for the Santa Rosa Junior College District Board. The District represents much of the West County. I would like to hear more discussion on how the JC is addressing sustainability issues, climate change and energy independence, as a part of the $400 million bond issue. Some thought on how the Junior College can establish greater relationship with the community.
That is why I am supporting Jordan Burns for SRJC Director. As a former student and elected student trustee to the SRJC Board, Jordan Burns understands how the Junior College works. He will add dialogue on energy sustainability, and add a broader community and consumer perspective to the SRJC Board. I have respect for the incumbent and his years of service. Rarely does a qualified, motivated candidate emerge to challenge an incumbent in a Junior College trustee contest. Jordan Burns is that person and will only add to the credit of the Junior College.
Ernie Carpenter
Sebastopol
Palm Drive realities
Editor: A 2014 study by Harvard and UCSF found that residents of an area where their emergency room has closed (like us in West County) are 15 percent more likely to die of a heart attack and 10 percent more likely to die of a stroke.
Since Palm Drive closed in the last six months, there have been 450 times when one of the ER’s in Santa Rosa was so overwhelmed they had to divert ambulances to another more distant hospital, regardless of your need.
Due to licensing requirements, if the hospital does not reopen in the next 30 months it never will.
Our taxes will remain the same if the hospital reopens or stays closed.
The Foundation is the only group proposing to reopen the hospital, but needs approval from the five-member Palm Drive District Board to do so. On Nov. 4 two of the five seats on the board will be selected
We need those two Board members to be totally committed to reopening the hospital. That is why I am supporting Dennis Colthurst and Dr. Powers in the upcoming election; they will find solutions instead of obstacles.
John Moise
Sebastopol
El Molino and dog & pony
Editor: I just watched the El Molino Junior Varsity football team get slaughtered 63-0 by the Analy High Junior Varsity team. How could this lopsided win happen? Easy: Analy High School has over twice as many students to field a team from than El Molino. They have so many students that they have a dedicated freshman team, a JV team and a Varsity team. Analy’s JV team has no freshman on it while El Molino’s JV team is 90 percent freshman. That is how you get a lopsided win. One cause of the difference in student enrollment between the two schools is something called an “intra-district” transfer. This practice allows a student to transfer within the district to a school that they prefer. There are students attending Analy High that live within walking distance of El Molino. Everyone knows that this practice continues and the superintendent and board pay “lip service” to correcting this inequity. So El Molino gets the short end of the tax dollar.
It brings to mind that the same situation exists with Palm Drive. We taxpayers from the Russian River area get nothing for our tax dollar and the “dog & pony” show people just lie about how we will be served. It soon will be a year since Palm Drive closed. It is time to start a “class action” lawsuit against the County for continuing to collect the parcel tax. Anyone want to join me?
Gary Harris
Forestville
Answers, not slogans
Editor: “The Doc and The Cop.” It certainly rolls off the tongue more easily than “The Mechanical Engineer with impeccable financial analytical skills and extensive knowledge of hospital infrastructure and operations.”
We have three nice guys running for the Palm Drive Health Care District Board of Directors. The key question we should be asking is, “Which of them possesses the most relevant skills and knowledge needed at this critical time in Palm Drive’s history?”
Unfortunately, it appears as if this crucial question has been lost in the bumper sticker-driven popularity contest that this election has been simplistically reduced to.
The Foundation’s latest proposal paints a rosy picture. Of the three candidates, only Jim Horn has been asking, “Where are the numbers to back it up?” as he seeks to separate facts from fiction. Jim is in favor of reopening Palm Drive, if financially feasible, but he understands that a hospital cannot survive on rhetoric and “projections” alone.
He has been demonized for not being an obedient true believer — for questioning “The Plan.” Because he has had the courage to ask tough questions, he has been labeled an “obstructionist” and “opponent of opening the hospital.”
Jim knows how to watch your parcel tax dollars closely and is committed to doing so. He brings 12 years of financial management and oversight experience from his tenure on the Gravenstein Union School District Board of Trustees.
Jim recognizes that West County residents comprise the vast majority of the Palm Drive Health Care District. He is the only candidate that consistently considers the needs of those beyond Sebastopol’s city limits.
If you break your arm, call a doc. If you see a bad guy, call a cop. But if you need to financially resuscitate a dead hospital, call someone with the experience and essential skills needed to get the job done. Call Jim Horn.
John Eder
Sebastopol
Benefitting Sebastopol
Editor: Ms. Shane’s recent comments about Mr. Greenberg in this newspaper may be true (“Setting the record straight,” Oct. 23), but her passing reference to SebastopolCitizens.org was incorrect.
SebastopolCitizens.org has never held the position that CVS “would benefit our town.” The position of our organization was, and is, that CVS was operating within the law. That position was justified in the recent legal settlement agreement between CVS, the city and Small Town Sebastopol.
And, unlike Small Town Sebastopol, we have never sued the town we love and then profited monetarily by that suit.
But she is correct about Mr. Greenberg being a poor choice for any City Council seat.
John Necker
SebastopolCitizens.org
Many layers
Editor: Thank you for your editorial in the Oct. 16 edition (“The many layers of Palm Drive and CVS”) pleading for less “sour and crude” in Sebastopol’s political debate including Sarah Glade Gurney’s personal attack on the Pellini family.
During Gurney’s time on the City Council, Sebastopol has hosted a series of planning consultants all of whom pointed to other small towns that have changed their planning processes and zoning to ensure outcomes that more closely match what the citizens of the town want. To date, nothing visible has come of these ideas.
The planning process is so lengthy, expensive and contentious that a developer has to have deep financial resources or find loopholes. For example, the Barlow project came about because the owners of this property used the remodel code to bypass the Planning Commission and Design Review Board and go directly to City Council. Perhaps we Sebastapudlians would have wanted apple processing warehouses to become a high-end tourist destination partly in a flood zone, but we didn’t get a chance to have a say.
The Pellinis and the developers who bought their property didn’t seek a loophole but followed the zoning and planning rules in place. After an ugly public process, Sebastopol ends up with the CVS project, and, after virtually no process, we get the Barlow.
The Pellini family has contributed to the vitality of Sebastopol for generations. But even if this was not the case, it is completely inappropriate for an elected official to blame an entire family for trying to sell their property. To begin with, Gurney should make a public apology to the Pellini family. Secondly, it would be wonderful to see leadership from the entire City Council to improve the tone of public debate. And finally, as the world economy kills off Sebastopol’s historical economic mainsprings such as apple processing and auto dealers, to take positive leadership to create planning and zoning processes that encourage new businesses and new excitement in downtown Sebastopol.
Chris Anderegg
Sebastopol
Energizing city council
Editor: I won’t speculate on why Helen Shane has spent so much time and energy trying to discredit Jonathan Greenberg (“Setting the record straight,” Oct. 23). Let’s just say I have a very different opinion. I’ve worked with Jonathan on several issues over the past few years and found him to be a great team player. He always listens carefully and respectfully to what others have to say. He very committed to collaboration and building consensus.
Jonathan is an investigative journalist, and like others in that great tradition he has a passion for spending untold hours digging out the facts from places — like city budgets — that most of us haven’t the time or talent to look into, and bringing his findings to public attention, even if that makes some people in high places uncomfortable. That ability is a plus, not a minus, for an elected official.
I think Jonathan’s presence on the City Council would energize that body and help make it an active participant in reopening the hospital. I think his record as a public advocate speaks for itself. He is a dedicated public servant and would be a great asset to Sebastopol on the council.
Peggy Karp
Sebastopol
A lot of questions
Editor: I’ve got a lot of questions regarding Jonathan Greenberg, candidate for Sebastopol City Council. I’ve heard plenty of rhetoric and quite a bit of bravado as to what he’s done as a lawyer and “investigative reporter”; ranting passionately about re-opening Palm Drive Hospital and keeping our libraries open longer; both very important issues that could serve as a mandate if he were running for Board of Supervisor (BOS) or the Palm Drive District Board. But he’s not. He’s running for a seat on the Sebastopol City Council and both of those issues fall outside the authority of that body.
It is unclear to me exactly what Jonathan Greenberg brings to the table. Okay, I know he’s sued a mayor of a major American city. And he has upset a lot of people by claiming credit as a leading political activist. And I know he spends a lot of time defending himself online. But I have yet to hear him say anything about how much better off Sebastopol would be if he were elected. What is his plan to make life here better?
He’s clever. He uses a lot of words and to some that makes him seem like he has an agenda. But what are his ideas to make the city function better? I’ve read a quote by Mr. Greenberg where he said one of his goals was to make the city council more transparent. What? Really? I’ve not seen a more transparent council since I’ve lived here. And from where I sit I wish the U.S. Congress accomplished as much, by discussion, exchange of ideas and arriving at consensus the way our council has.
So you can’t just insinuate the problem, Mr. Greenberg. You need to define it and be clear about how you’re going to fix it. That’s where you fall short. Way short.
Bill Shortridge
Sebastopol
Support for Slayter
Editor: I would like to strongly support Patrick Slayter as a candidate for Sebastopol City Council and to encourage others to vote for him in the upcoming election. Pat has previously served three years on the Sebastopol Planning Commission. More recently, he completed a four-year term on the City Council. In both capacities he has shown common sense and good judgment regarding the important business of Sebastopol.
The Slayters are longtime residents of Sebastopol and have a firm commitment to our shared future, a future that should be decided by people with a belief in compromise and cooperation. Patrick has the qualities we need to navigate the challenging future facing Sebastopol: insight, analysis, an ecological sensitivity, good judgement and experience. Hoping others will want a councilman with a practical and sensible view of our town, I urge everyone to vote for Patrick Slayter. He will continue to serve Sebastopol well.
Rene Peron
Sebastopol
Our Hospital
Editor: Most people who’ve lived in West County long enough can recant a good story about Palm Drive and a family member. I’ve long felt that I supported a local emergency room and voted to institute the parcel tax. My concern now that it’s closed is can it reopen? Looking at the statistics we, each parcel owner, are contributing $155 amounting to over $3.6 million annually in perpetuity. Over the past 13 years, Palm Drive Hospital has operating losses of over $60 million — almost $5 million annually. The hospital has been on the brink of bankruptcy virtually the whole time. The Palm Drive Board, hospital administration and Palm Drive Foundation have had multiple chances to get it financially sound. They struggle to collaborate. There seems to be plenty of guilt to pass around for bad decisions and hindsight is blinded by egos.
Open Our Hospital, the banner around our town, plays to our emotions but belies the service needs. Hospital records show that over 85 percent of the ER patients could be served by a 24-hour clinic. The hospital services are currently being picked up by Kaiser, Sutter and Memorial without a blink.
I believe the Foundation’s plan being passed around has some serious holes. In the past 12 years, they have raised a total of $1.5 million for the hospital and now they expect to raise over $10 million in one year? They’re chasing rainbows.
If their plan is accepted, the current elected board’s responsibilities will be diminished and the unelected Foundation Board will take over. I’m not comfortable with that or the conflicts of interest they may have.
We need clear tough decisions made at the elected board level as to what to do with the tax revenues. For now it’s going to pay off past debt. It needs to be spent for long-term health needs for all 60,000 West County residents. Support sound decisions and an independent voice at the elected Palm Drive Board level — vote Jim Horn.
Craig Boblitt
Sebastopol
Editor: I am concerned about future conflict when I consider the conduct of CVS and its attempt to override the clear imperatives of our General Plan and the Down Town core element.
Sarah Gurney has stood up for our community’s values against the approval of the project by the previous council and has introduced an approach for future solutions regarding appropriate development.
For example, the Diamond Lumber/ Tractor site with the owner’s participation (Item 6 on the City Council Meeting, Oct. 21) calls for a “recruitment” brochure based upon community input and owner’s OK.   
Additionally, on Oct. 9, Sarah proposed the council establish a task force to review our map for opportunity sites, not just empty lots, examine our processes and devise strategies to that we never face a conflict like this again.
This proactive approach is not about the former owners, nor even the previous council. It is about the citizens of Sebastopol who have a right to demand excellence, quality, and representation for major development decisions and respect and deference to our General Plan which, after all, is our Constitution.
Clare Najarian
Sebastopol
Not ‘emotional’ to want hospital open
Editor: Several years ago my daughter swallowed a handful of Tylenol, believing it would cure her teenage angst. That landed her in the emergency room at Palm Drive Hospital, where she was quickly whisked into an examining room, and then wheeled to the ICU for a drip that prevented the Tylenol from reaching her liver.
The next day a local doctor who had treated her for measles as a baby checked her out and sent her home.
I’m sure some of Palm Drive’s detractors will dismiss my comments as “emotional,” but it is no exaggeration to say the quick, efficient and genuinely warm treatment we received made all the difference in our experience.
We need more hospitals like Palm Drive, not fewer. Wise business heads, people who have successfully operated their own medical-related company, have helped to craft a plan to operate Palm Drive as a 21st century facility.
We have to keep paying our parcel tax anyway, to retire the debt run up by the current board majority, so let’s put that money to work. Vote for Dr. Richard Powers and retired police officer Dennis Colthurst to reopen our world-class hospital.
Lois Pearlman
Guerneville
Misstated facts on R
Editor: I received in Wednesday’s mail a flyer urging me to vote yes for Sebastopol Measure R, the Utility Users Tax. Again, the proponents, misstate the facts and claim that there is a low income exemption. They want us to believe that those in need will be granted an exemption for all the taxes levied by Measure R. The advocates are too clever by half.
The only exemption available is for PG&E charges under the Public Utilities Code. And even then, one must apply, qualify and be accepted for the program. Imagine having to deal with both PG&E and a state agency.
Your cable, garbage and cell phone bills will be taxed at the full rate without exemptions for anyone.
The Mayor and the city’s Administrative Services Director are shameless as they attempt to mislead the citizens. This last minute half truth does a disservice to the rate payers of Sebastopol.A little transparency and honesty is in order and the advocates have failed in that regard. A No vote on Measure R is warranted.
Ken Foley
Sebastopol