Letters to the Editor 10-4-12

Yes on K
Editor: The recent economic downturn has taken its toll on government funding for public services at the local, state and federal levels. State funding for public elementary and secondary schools in California has been cut nearly twenty percent in the past five years. The West Sonoma County Union High School District relies on a local parcel tax for part of its funding. Since 1998, funds raised by a local parcel tax have allowed Analy, El Molino and Laguna High Schools to continue toprovide outstanding instructional opportunities including counseling and library services, music, fine arts, drama, science equipment, and technology. The current parcel tax generates approximately $530,000 in revenue to the West County high school district annually. The current parcel tax was approved in 2005 for an eight-year period, and expires in June 2013.
The West Sonoma County High School District Board of Trustees has placed a parcel tax renewal, Measure K, on the Nov. 6, 2012 general election ballot. Measure K is an eight-year $48 parcel tax. The Measure K ballot language specifies that funds from the measure will be used to keep school libraries open; maintain and improve shop, art, music, drama, culinary, technology, and other career education classes; maintain and improve college prep courses; and maintain student counseling services. Measure K would yield approximately $900,000 to support West County high schools annually. Measure K funds would not be used for administrative salaries, facility upkeep or other purposes not specified in the ballot language. By law, all parcel tax funds must be spent locally and cannot be taken by the State. Measure K would provide for an exemption for any parcel owned and occupied by a person 65 years of age or older. Measure K revenues and expenditures would be reviewed annually by an independent auditor and reported to the public.
Local volunteers have formed the “K for Kids –Yes on K Committee” to provide the community with information and urge passage on Measure K.
Jim Walton
Yes on K Committee Chair
Already in the door
 EDITOR: It is always interesting to read the letters in the newspapers around election time. You can always find things to laugh at, letters to disagree with and letters that have no basis in fact. I am not sure how CVS and Chase Bank, already located in the city, will suddenly “get a foot in the door,” by moving to a new location, when their doors are already here.
This letter is to voice my support for Councilmember Kathleen Shaffer who is seeking re-election and for Kathy Austin, a former council member. Sebastopol needs these two women to win the election for the future of our city and the future of our children. Both understand the commitment involved in public service unlike Mr. Eder, who quit the Cotati City Council half way through his term and Mr. Jacob whose positions depend who will support him and his cannabis business in Sebastopol.
Linda Rouse
Sebastopol
The law of interpretation
EDITOR: One or more members of the Sebastopol City Council have stated that they had to vote to approve the CVS/Chase project because they had to “follow the law.”
The Planning Commission and the Design Review Board, comprised of citizen appointees, considered this project and concluded that they were following the law, that is the Sebastopol General Plan, when they rejected the proposal. They voted, respectively, 6-1 and 4-1 against CVS/Chase after their lengthy deliberations. Yet the narrow Council majority of three, members Shaffer, Slaytor and Wilson, concluded that the Council was compelled to “follow the law”  and approve the project.
All of these governing bodies had the same Planning Director, City Attorney and General Plan to consider, yet the City Council threw out the work of the DRB and Planning Commission, and decided that the Council’s interpretation was the correct one.
It’s true that the General Plan is open to interpretation, but council member Shaffer seems to have made up her mind early in the process (before January 18, 2012, according to her “under the radar” email), and she continually worked to get the project approved. It may not be coincidental that the development company, Armstrong, brought an attorney and a court reporter to the meetings as a form of intimidation to swing other members their way.
The Council had a perfect right to interpret the General Plan as they saw fit, but to say that they were compelled to come to only one conclusion — approval — makes a mockery of our governmental process. Why bother with a General Plan or zoning laws for that matter, if the Council is going to cherry pick certain provisions so that they can say that they were compelled to follow the law. The Council’s action leaves the City and its citizens powerless in the face of formidable corporate interests.
Brenda Nichols
Sebastopol
Confused
EDITOR: I read Councilmember Shaffer’s  recent letter to the editor saying “the project (CVS/Chase) was not what you wanted.” You’re confusing me.
Every time this project came before the Council (five times since July 2011, four votes for design only) you voted for it. You actively worked “under the radar” to support it before it was even before the Council last February. You specifically said you were rallying “the community to express support for the project.” Why would you campaign for a project you didn’t want? and when it wasn’t before the Council? My head’s spinning.
And what rules weren’t followed? Who didn’t follow them? You said the Council had “final authority” to decide the CVS appeal. How did you honor the process and the law and others didn’t? I’m not following.
Help me here, but this CVS/Chase project will forever change our town, create, traffic problems, and isn’t wanted by most residents (now, including you.) Sebastopol’s Design Review Board voted against the CVS/Chase design. CVS appealed. Are you with me here? As you said, the City Council had “final authority” on that appeal. You voted yea. But you didn’t want it? I don’t understand.
You always voted yea even though you really didn’t want to? You campaigned for it too, even though you didn’t want to? Why?
You said you only voted for it because of money. So, you’re willing to change the face of the town, vote for a generally unwanted project — one you don’t want — for money? Why would you do that?
Nancy LaDolce
Sebastopol
For Austin and Shaffer
EDITOR: My wife and I have resided in Sebastopol for over fifteen years. Our children benefited from Sebastopol’s schools, parks and community facilities. We appreciate this town for its diverse and eclectic nature to include unique stores, fine restaurants and an active artist community.
For the past two years we have taken an active interest in our city council and our experience has been mixed. We have witnessed that some council members are zealously devoted to specific agendas and concerns voiced by a minority of the residents. In several notable instances transparency and a balanced approach to the issue at hand has suffered.
As my wife and I pursue our careers and the demands of family, we need to know that we are represented by council members who will consistently exercise balance and common sense while addressing issues brought before them. For this reason we will confidently cast our votes for Kat! hy Austin and Kathleen Shaffer. Both candidates bring to the table a great deal of experience as well as a willingness to look at ALL facets of any given issue brought before our council.
Dan Swedenborg
Sebastopol
Whine club
EDITOR: The current city dissociative disorder, no longer Leaf-Blowers, NEAP, Pellini’s 2 acres AKA: CVS, having been voted for, the usual suspects are wishing it will fail. So much schadenfreude.
“Sustainable” Sebastopol has been overruled. Kramer, Bliss, Morabito, out of towners all, whine the loudest, they don’t vote in Sebastopol City, though they want to influence the voters that do vote. These gasbags would want to make Don Quixote seem like a navy seal.
They wish to keep the City Council divided to do their rigid, stale, myopic vision and add two unqualified wannabes who will do their ideological bidding. The DBR, also, acted like tin pot despots supporting the minority opinion of the City Council.
The two City Council members who lost the Pellini property improvement vote are campaigning hard to unseat Kathleen Shaffer and deny Kathy Austin a seat. They harbor ill-spirited personality conflicts with the aforementioned. How small of them. Fortunately, they represent a passé, moribund, isolationist view. Did they do their internship in Bolinas? Okay everyone, let’s take a deep breath and let this go until our next schism.
Fortunately, the heart of Sebastopol City are the quieter majority who feel these self-serving ill-fits can have their hissy fits, tantrums and let them feel condescending, elitist, and morally superior, while we vote in Shaffer and Austin. These two candidates envision an expanded downtown, safe streets, clean parks, and excellent schools. They speak for a self sustaining city economy.
Paul T. Pera
Sebastopol
More sustainable than thou
EDITOR: The concept of “sustainability” is being misused by a new group calling themselves “Sustainable Sebastopol.” They support the unsustainable CVS/Chase development proposal and City Council member Kathleen Shaffer and City Council candidate Kathy Austin, both ardent supporters of the project.
True sustainability takes into account the environment, social justice and economic health in determining what is appropriate in a given situation. According to these precepts, the CVS project offers little sustainability. In order for a development to be truly sustainable, it must take every aspect of the Sustainability concept into account in equal amounts; not giving precedence to one over the others, but balancing all three as necessary components.   
As a resident of downtown Sebastopol living on Bodega Avenue, I can speak firsthand about the current nightmare of traffic on the street in front of my home. The CVS/Chase project will further degrade our downtown environment with significantly increased traffic congestion and air pollution. CVS has continued to show their disregard for our environment by refusing to install solar panels, which is one of Sebastopol’s leading edge city goals. Their profits will continue to leave Sonoma County and be sent to Rhode Island. Increased economic benefits are questionable, considering that CVS already generates sales tax revenue and pays local employees at their existing location in Sebastopol.
There are other revenue-generating businesses that are interested in that corner which are more eco-conscious than CVS, thereby meeting the goals of the “Sustainable Sebastopol” group. Let’s consider them.
Linda Hauser
Sebastopol
Votes for Jim Maresca
EDITOR: Our Commmunity will elect three new members to the Palm Drive Hospital Board of Directors in November. This is an opportunity to choose a Director who has a proven record of valuable business and financial experience.
One of those people is Jim Maresca, who has held leadership posistions in a number of West County organizations and businesses. He has provided leadership on the West County Community Services Board, Occidental Center for the Arts, local school boards and he is now offering to help move our Hospital District into a bright and successful future. Let us not lose his enthusiasm and his commitment to our health care community. His professional skills encompass all of the qualities we have been working so hard to provide for Palm Drive. He is a leader who will build partnerships. Our Distict Board needs his strong collaborative leadership and financial wisdom. I hope you will join us in voting for Jim Maresca, a strong leader for our hospital.
 Heidi and Bob Gillen
West County Residents
A meaningful Plan
EDITOR: I live downtown and support John Eder and Robert Jacob for Council. Our town is planing an update to our General Plan, so it is critical we have a Council that envisions a vibrant, pedestrian friendly Sebastopol, not a suburb of parking lots, drive-thrus, and chain stores.
John Eder donated countless hours illustrating better alternatives for the Chase/CVS development, all superior to what was approved. Many of his ideas became conditions of approval. We need this type of vision and leadership.
Other candidates want “fairness.” I want good design and a meaningful General Plan. One thinks there will be an increase revenues at CVS. I want a Council that can do basic math and knows that any increase in CVS revenue will come from decreased revenues at other stores. Two candidates think CVS/Chase “followed the rules,” so should be approved. I want officials who demand development that makes our town better.
Some think supporting friends is more important than making decisions that benefit the community. I want Council members with the courage to tell their friends when they are doing something harmful. Some candidates are supported by a narrow slice of the community, mostly members of a service club. I want elected officials who represent a range of our community. One sitting member thinks we should avoid offending Rohnert Park. I chose to live here, not there, and am not interested in watching Sebastopol fade into suburban nothingness.
Please join me in supporting John Eder and Robert Jacob.
Ted Luthin
Sebastopol
Another judgement call
EDITOR: Kathleen Shaffer’s integrity is not being questioned. Her judgment is.
Was it good judgment, for her to send, way back in January, an e-mail message “under the radar” (Kathleen’s own words) to a pro CVS/Chase friend in which she enclosed a four- page color brochure that invited readers to contact CVS/Chase agent McDermott for more information?
At the very first hearing at the Council on July 5, 2011, she fought to prevent the Planning Commission denial of the project and voted to grant Council approval of CVS/Chase.
When the town rallied to oppose the design, council member Shaffer organized “her” supporters to turn out for the hearing and many of her apparent followers tried to shout down those who didn’t share their opinion. Is that good judgment?
She conferred openly with the CVS/Chase developer after the last council meeting. She sat with the CVS/Chase folks at public meetings while the matter was still unresolved. Is that good judgment?
Why was she working under the radar? As a Councilmember, she is supposed to be impartial and to listen with an open mind to public testimony. Because she couid not reveal that her mind had been made up before the process ever began. Is that good judgment?
The question now: Does Sebastopol want people with good judgment on the City Council that will oversee the updating of our General Plan?
If your answer is yes, vote for John Eder and Robert Jacob for Sebastopol City Council.
Helen Shane
Sebastopol
Vote for Sebastopol
EDITOR: Regardless of the outcome of the Pellini corner development, the issue has turned a glaring spotlight on the vision of the Sebastopol City Council candidates’ respect for and interpretation of our General Plan … long referred to as Sebastopol’s Constitution.
Both City Council incumbent Kathleen Shaffer and candidate Kathy Austin have, from the outset, held that the application of CVS/Chase/Armstrong should be approved and that they be given the green light to move into one of our town’s most prominent and traffic intensive corners, even though some traffic studies predict they would bring more than 2000 cars into the downtown (and more drivers would surely attempt to avoid that corner by driving through our neighborhoods).
Both candidates are good citizens and have made many contributions to the town, but the welcome mat they laid out for CVS/Chase defines their vision as shortsighted.
Two formula businesses plopped on opposite corners of a 2.45 acre site do not translate to a pedestrian friendly or walkable downtown. They do not support local businesses. The bank will not produce any sales tax revenue; CVS will close its successful store on Gravenstein and send its profits out of town to company HQ in Pennsylvania.
Our General Plan, the Downtown Plan and the Downtown Portfolio call for pedestrian friendly, walkable streets and the support of local businesses.
Candidates John Eder and Robert Jacob understand this. They have spoken publicly against the CVS/Chase plan and for local businesses. If you share their vision, please vote for Sebastopol.
Vote for John Eder and Robert Jacob
Skye Ashley
Sebastopol
Support for small business
EDITOR: Let the record be clear on Kathleen’s accomplishments, her support for small business, and our community.
Just four short years ago, at the pinnacle of the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, Kathleen , former Councilman Larry Robinson, Councilman Patrick Slayter, and other local volunteers took action. They worked to build and develop a business incubator focused on fostering local businesses – The Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project. Today Sebastopol is one of a very few small towns that have an active incubator.  
SEP recently celebrated one year of operations. To date SEP has worked with over 60 local businesses. By design these companies fit our community hand in glove. Businesses like Not Your Mom’s Granola – a health food company, Switch Vehicles — low environmental impact electric vehicles, Raw-Kit Fuel – re-fueling for body, mind and spirit, M3 Organic Waste Management – large animal waste manure management, and Mariposta —web publishing for mere morals.  
As State Senator Noreen Evans recently said “Kudos to the City of Sebastopol and SEP founding members Larry Robinson and Kathleen Shaffer for your commitment to a vibrant local economy.”
Kathleen’s other efforts include helping to revitalize the Downtown Business Association, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and serving on the city’s Business Outreach Committee.  She has worked to make our downtown a better place to shop. Benches have been painted, and a beautiful mural is under way on Edman way.  She was able to raise money through private donations for our downtown holiday lights and to get PG & E to donate the electricity.  Through her efforts, the whole community was able to enjoy a festive holiday downtown.
A vote for Kathleen is a vote for supporting not only the business community but all those residents who call Sebastopol home.
The SEP Executive Committee
Beth Moise, Bill Seidel, Bill Takacs, Bob Green, David White, Ian Kalember, Jeffery Schmidt, Mark Swedlund, and Mike Baldus