Letters to the Editor 4-3-14

Be informed
Editor: It is the responsibility of city residents to be informed about major changes that are proposed. Not everyone, however, has the time or ability to attend Council meetings or Planning Commission meetings. That should not prevent them, however, from stating their opinions or responding to particular proposals. For me, it does not matter when you come to the table to state your opinion about something while it is in the planning stage. In fact, that is what citizens should do.  It is better to have a contentious discussion about something before the fact rather than after. Some of us contact council members by email and that seems to be a form of comment that is not often recognized as input. And, those who make decisions for the rest of us are not always right no matter how much planning and thought is put into those decisions i.e. Foss Creek Circle. A vibrant citizenry has and states diverse opinions.
Carolyn Moore
Healdsburg
A response
Editor: In response to my letter to the paper (March 20), I received this email from HCSS:
“BM
Well what an ugly surprise — your vengeful letter in the PD. Actually, quite funny that we didn’t foresee this classless lashing out, after your curious unsuccessful attempts to FIND OUT who HCSS really is.
You should have been at council last night to see (yes in person) 10 of us there presenting the amazing early results from 264 voters, substantiating our positions on citizen concerns.
And, I am sorry we can’t name those evil people for you, or the other 200+ now signed up for HCSS.
You must be quite proud of yourself, mixing with us, then playing the role of a mole.  What next for you?
(no need to reply, it will be deleted)
HCSS secret society”
Barbara Medaille
Healdsburg
Roundabout
Editor: The letter in your last issue from Alan Cohen I found to be verity perceptive and accurate in regards to the proposed roundabout traffic circle at the present five-corners intersection. I was surprised, however, that no mention was made of the giant elephant in the room regarding this project, namely the SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit) project which has been underway for years to provide rail service from Cloverdale to Larkspur connecting to the San Francisco ferry.
Although I’m not a supporter of this revisit to antiquated transportation, it has been proceeding along for several years without my support and is now projected to begin service as far north as the Santa Rosa Airport in 2016.
Construction to extend the service on north will begin immediately thereafter, making the only way to have a roundabout at this location will be to establish it overhead or by connecting tunnels, either of which would be prohibitively costly.
Don Draper
Healdsburg