Letters to the Editor 4-11-13

Get involved
Editor: Earlier this month, President Obama announced the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, a $100 million dollar partnership that seeks to understand all facets of the brain. His announcement was well timed: April happens to be Parkinson’s Awareness Month. The President is not the only one who helps bring about better treatments at a faster pace. It happens in our own community through ordinary people taking the extraordinary step of volunteering in studies. As a Parkinson’s Disease Foundation Research Advocate, I have spoken with many people – those with Parkinson’s and those without – who are excited to find out how they can get involved. If you want more information, you can call me at 431-8767.
Marc Alexander
Healdsburg
Healdsburg on Bikes Day
Editor: It is with great and sincere appreciation that the Healdsburg High School Mountain Bike Team, their coaches, sponsors, parents and supporters say thank you to the Healdsburg City Council for their recognition of April 25, 2013 as “Healdsburg on Bikes” Day! The City of Healdsburg Proclamation validates the team’s enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to this sport.
We look forward to everyone in the community riding their bikes on April 25, 2013; even if only for a short spin!
And for those that are so inclined, join the team and filmmakers on April 25, 2013 for a free, all ages ride at 4 p.m. starting at Spoke Folk. Then on to the Raven Film Center at 7 p.m. for a screening of “Single Track High, a film about Kids Who Ride.” $15 donation. Tickets at www.singletrackhealdsburg.eventbrite.com.
Cycling is a lifelong sport and this team is inspiring many people to get out there and ride!  
Thank you again Healdsburg City Council, just another reason we love living in Healdsburg!
Monika Besancon
HHS Mountain Bike Team Parent
Traffic flow
Editor: I love ya Ray Holley, but I disagree that Foss Creek Circle should not be one way. There will be no need for speed bumps, speed dots nor a speed trailer.
Prior to making it one way, traffic piled up at both the entrance to the post office drive-up and the general parking areas, and occasionally when folks were waiting to turn left into Parkpoint. The general width of the road makes one way with on street parking the correct option. It’s flow should be counterclockwise, considering the location of abutting driveways, to make ingress and egress possible without having to crossover traffic.
Then, once the truck driver that is unable to back in to a loading dock (whether it’s on his left or right side should not matter) receives his additional training, all should flow quite well.
John Lloyd
Healdsburg
Still wrong
Editor: I must both agree and disagree with Mr. Strobl’s letter, published in the April 4 Tribune.
I agree that there are people who have gotten used to it. I myself have had no problems doing so. And I’m several years older than Mr. Strobl is.
I disagree with everything else in his letter. It’s the people who haven’t gotten used to the backward configuration, after several months, who worry me. And comparing the one-way fiasco to the planned roundabout at the southern entrance to town makes no sense at all. The roundabout will be designed by professionals who have designed these kinds of things before. There will no doubt be challenges due to the railroad tracks running through the middle. There will be people who have trouble getting used to the very concept of a roundabout. However, roundabouts are in place and working very well in many parts of the country as well as in other countries.  One-way streets, on the other hand, traditionally go counter clockwise, not the way Foss Creek Circle goes. I’m not 100 percent sure of this, but I suspect that the one-way solution was designed by Healdsburg city employees.  I’m sure their intentions were good. But the results are bad.
Once again, my contention is that they solved a problem that didn’t really exist. The correct answer is to go back to a two-way street and prohibit parking on one side.
Ray Holley said it very well in his April 4 Main Street column, “…it came down to the stubbornness of a single Councilman, a good guy who can’t let go of a bad decision.”
Al Loebel
Healdsburg
Just a dream?
Editor: In the past five months it seems that more letters to your newspaper have concerned the conversion of Foss Creek Circle than any other issue, ever. And by a large margin, at that! Here is one more.
I’ve heard rumors, or maybe I dreamed these, of several other changes being considered by our city council:
Because there are some left-handed players, all Healdsburg Little League batters will now run the bases clockwise. Additionally, the proposed traffic circle at Mill Street will also require clockwise driving, just for fun.  There will also be a $2 toll imposed upon drivers to enter Foss Creek Circle, in order to punish that Uncooperative Post Office.  Lastly, the council is considering changing ALL of the streets in town so that we will drive on the LEFT side of the street, just like drivers do in England. This would make our town a more quaint and novel destination for tourists.
This sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Unless…it was only a dream.
Marty Cablk
Healdsburg
Working it out
Editor: I understand Shaun McCaffery and Tom Chambers are willing to change Foss Creek Circle back SO “Don’t stress — we can work this out.” When it comes time to vote again, vote the other rascals OUT.
Jody Wilson
Healdsburg
Pension problem
Editor: Is the city of Healdsburg going bankrupt? I ask you this question because according to the Santa Rosa newspaper, the city of Healdsburg had a $435,000 deficit last year and has only $2 million in reserves.
I realize that most of the council promoted a .5 percent sales tax increase to increase revenues. Is this extra tax money enough to put Healdsburg back into a positve cash flow?
In today’s paper there was a disturbing article about the bankruptcy of Stockton, California. The bond holders (creditors) are upset because Stockton did not reduce its pension payments to Calpers. The bankruptcy judge will decide if the pensions are safe.
I put it to you that if the judge rules for the pension holders and against the bondholders, every city and town in California will have to pay high interest rates on any bond they issue as they will be viewed as junk bonds.
I realize that Mayor Jones and councilman Gary Plass receive generous pensions. All I’m saying is that if the city council does not balance the budget your pensions are at risk.
I recommend that you dump the Memorial Bridge restoration project ($1 million and the bridge is closed for two years — let Caltrans handle it). And perhaps the ending of the water fluoridation program could save more money.
These are just suggestions. My advice is what you paid for it.
Protect your pensions. Balance the city budget.
Tim McGraw
Healdsburg