Letters to the Editor 4-25-13

Railroad Forest actions
Editor: This letter is in response to the Letter to the Editor from Richard and Trish Power regarding the Railroad Forest work (“Proactive?” April 18).
The City of Sebastopol values the Laguna as a beautiful natural resource, worthy as an international eco-tourist destination. In that respect, the Railroad Forest is a special area that merits our attention and recently a volunteer effort was conducted to clean up the Railroad Forest to make areas accessible; remove invasive plants, and complete other low impact work. However, once underway, the City received notification from both the Open Space District and the State Regional Water Quality Control Board voicing concerns regarding this work, and indicating that the volunteer work may have been in conflict with the Open Space Easement and the conservation values of this riparian forest property. Once informed of these concerns, the City responded immediately to the concern of erosion and water quality impacts from the volunteer work, and immediately halted all work, other than erosion control. City staff then implemented storm-water control measures to address the potential for runoff in case of rain; and staff is in the process of preparing a stabilization and restorative plan in consultation with the Open Space District.
At the City Council meeting of April 16, City staff agendized an item to provide the City Council and public a status report of the events that occurred, which included photographs of the site after the volunteer work was completed and an update of future planned actions. As Councilmember Sarah Gurney summarized, City Staff was proactive in its response. The City Council will also be reviewing a long-term plan for this area at a future City Council meeting. In the short-term, though, actions will be taken to implement stabilization of areas where volunteer work occurred in the Railroad Forest. These items will be addressed at the City Council meeting of April 30.
Contrary to the opinions expressed in the letter to the editor, neither the Sebastopol City Council nor City staff has acted “with similar disregard for environmental laws and regulations,” but has acted responsibly and in good faith to beautify an extraordinary natural area to allow for public appreciation and enjoyment, while alleviating stated concerns of local agencies. The City of Sebastopol has not “made excuses” nor was “covering up” any situation, but has been transparent in its communications with the Open Space District and the Regional Water Quality Control Board as well as the public and will continue to work to restore the Laguna to its natural beauty to allow the citizens and visitors to Sebastopol to access the Laguna and enjoy the wonderment of this amazing landscape.
Robert Jacob, Mayor Pro Tem
Larry McLaughlin, City Manager
First Amendment
Editor: For me, it isn’t what Mario Savio spoke about (“Mario who?” April 18), but, rather, that he spoke, against many odds, about important things; subjects that needed to be spoken about, in the public square. It was about the fact that the Occupy Sebastopol group was allowed a form of free speech, and that, people gather freely and rally and march for something important to them, that they believe the public should know, and perhaps act on. It is about the 1st amendment Mario Savio is the epitome, the symbol, of free speech. Probably the most important facet of a democracy. Without the protection of the 1st amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, to gather, there can be no lasting democracy. Thank you, Mario Savio. Your courage and strength of resolve lives on in Sebastopol.
Helen Shane
Sebastopol
Dreaded ‘R-word’
Editor: Mr. Baumgardner’s letter (“Immigration Reform,” April 11) regarding the kinds of attitudes that we should have towards illegal immigrants represents only one side of the story. Opinions to the contrary about this particular topic, in our misguided culture, are quickly dismissed as the dreaded “R-word” and prevented from being an important part of any such democratic discussion. This issue, therefore can never be fully understood and without bias.
Robert James
Sebastopol
Hometown Reunion
Editor: Sebastopol, thanks for making the 67th Apple Blossom Festival the best reunion ever.
The Sebastopol Chamber recognizes that Apple Blossom is a big weekend for the town and in many cases it can be a big inconvenience. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and support with all the activities and preparations that take place during this time.
This is a huge undertaking for us from lining up of over 95 entries in a parade, to placing over 92 vendors, booking bands, finding volunteers, hauling tables and straw bales and the like. We have several thousand participants in the parade, which is a lot of people to manage in a short amount of time and space.
It looks great from the sidelines, yet most don’t see the efforts that go on behind the scenes to make it appear effortless. The hours of prep time, working shifts and clean up seems endless and every year we ask ourselves (and are asked) why we do this. After we are rested, and our bones are not too sore to move, we can answer with some clarity: We do this for several reasons. Yes, it is the major fundraiser for the Chamber and Visitor Center so we can continue to offer our business and visitor resources and services. We do it because it attracts visitors to our restaurants, hotels and store fronts in an effort to stimulate some economic vitality. We do it to show off Sebastopol and take pride in our traditions and our community assets. We do it for the people that come back year after year with a certain expectation of nostalgia as a reminder of their youth, their heritage and their community spirit.
We will evaluate and critique the whys and why nots of this event and then we will start all over again hoping that we can improve on the things that need it and maintain the things that work. You can help us with that by letting us know what you like about the event.
Special thanks to the City departments, Police, Fire and Public Works for all that they do. Thanks to Sonoma West for the great festival program. To our many volunteers for their hard work and dedication, who extend patience and calm to situations that might otherwise provoke different outcomes.
We’ll keep doing this until we can’t afford the cost to do it anymore or until you tell us to stop. Until that time we’ll say thanks to all the sponsors, attendees, vendors and volunteers for the support and help in making this Hometown event a wonderful weekend for all ages. Thank you to the Steering Committee Gio, Linda and John. Bravo! We’ll see you next year for another hometown experience.
Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce Board and Staff
Congratulations Chamber
Editor: I offer hearty congratulations to the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce for a fantastic Apple Blossom and Parade and Festival. They ordered up perfect weather, warm with no rain. The parade went off smoothly from my vantage point. Everyone was in high spirits and the crowds lining the route were delighted with our small town show-off of the variety of organizations that make up the community we all love.
My highest praise goes to the Apple Blossom Festival and the music lineup. My Luv Rustlers played as folks streamed into the park from the parade. All day Saturday, happy music pumped out from two stages. Sunday is traditionally slower than  Saturday, but Bill Bowker of KRSH changed that dynamic when he brought his Blues Festival to the park. A huge crowd at the main stage boogied down all afternoon. That was a brilliant move by the Chamber and I hope that the Blues Festival will be a Sunday tradition for many years to come.
Congrats to Teresa Ramondo and her staff for another wonderful Sebastopol party. There are lots of logistics for an event of this scale and many volunteers to pull it off. Thank you Sebastopol Chamber and all the volunteers, police force and community that show up to make this such a gem of an event for our town.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Jim Corbett
Sebastopol
An American patriot
Editor: In response to the naysaying “Who is Mario Savio?” letter (“Mario who?” April 18): he was a great American patriot. He helped end the reckless, immoral, and unwinnable American war against the people of Vietnam, which the vast majority of our nation came to protest in the great tradition of freedom on which our country was founded. He thus saved the lives of thousands of soldiers, women, and children.
The reserved, courageous Savio lived in rural Sebastopol, as his widow still does, and was a beloved teacher at Sonoma State University, where we also honored him last year by creating the Mario Savio Free Speech Corner.
I was an officer in the military, as were my father, grandfather, and generations of our men. Ft. Bliss, Texas was named after our family. I requested assignment in Vietnam, so I could move up the ranks faster. When the Free Speech movement — in which Savio was a leader — helped ignite my generation with the courage to speak truth to power and I then heard Martin Luther King, Jr. speak against that invasive war, I resigned my commission.
Savio contributed to the saving of at least my soul and possibly my life, as well as those of thousands of others, some of whom live here in Sebastopol and Sonoma County. It is not unusual for towns to have streets, parks, and plazas named after national heroes, unless they are small-minded in their understanding of service to the greater good.
Heroes like Savio should be honored, rather than insulted by snide comments. The letter writer speaks of other good, deserving people who also contributed to our town. It’s unfair to judge someone by who they were not. Savio made a difference in America and the world, which is why he will remain in history books, and hence in Sebastopol’s history. Let’s be a town that honors both its local and international heroes.
We need more Marios to speak up to support “duty, honor, and country.” May Savio’s story continue to be told through the generations, partly because our plaza was named after him. May our grandchildren be proud that they share this land with the Savio legacy. When I sing “America the Beautiful” or salute our flag, Mario is a brave person that I hold in my heart.
I salute you, Mario Savio.
Shepherd Bliss
Sebastopol
Think about history
Editor: Our city council strikes once again. I have lived here for 47 of my 48 years and I have never heard of this Mario (Savio) person doing anything for the betterment of this city. All the other people that Mr. Hill suggested in his letter (“Mario who?” April 18) gave their all for this city.
I don’t understand what gives you as the city council the right to rewrite our history. If there was a renaming of anything shouldn’t we as citizens have a choice as well?
Please get off your high horses and start thinking about the future and the history of this city, because right now we have become a laughingstock to every other city in this county.
I used to be proud to tell people I was from a small community that hosted such famous people as Burbank or Libby or Karen Valentine. Now I’m embarrassed to even tell people where I’m from anymore.
Please do the right thing and rethink your decision of renaming the city plaza.
Douglas Buonaccorsi
Sebastopol