LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Learning from tragedy
Editor: The recent tragedy of Takeimi Rao has ignited strong
emotions for many of us. An overwhelming sense of helplessness,
fear, confusion, anger and sadness are common experiences following
a sudden, unexpected death of anyone. And when teen alcohol use is
involved, many questions often arise, as does self-blaming and
finger pointing. “Why didn’t I …?”; “I should have …”; “He/she
should have …?; “Why didn’t someone tell me?”, etc.
While these and other questions are important to answer, it is
equally important not to get stuck in blame, but rather, learn from
the experience in order to reduce the likelihood of another alcohol
related tragedy. The questions can then be focused on problem
solving and prevention. “What can I do differently?” and “What can
our community do differently?” are questions that need a response,
individually and collectively, in order to have a significant
impact on reducing underage drinking.
Alcohol related deaths traumatize families and communities. And
while media coverage comes and goes in association with these
deaths, the trauma continues for families and friends who have
experienced such unnecessary losses.
Over the past two years, the Sebastopol Police Department and
the West County Coalition for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth have
partnered to implement community strategies designed to reduce
underage drinking. With ongoing grant funding from the Sonoma
County Department of Health Services, the partners will continue
their efforts in the new fiscal year.
Some of their past accomplishments include:
• Passing a Social Host Ordinance in Sebastopol;
• Implementing a Parent Pledge in the West Sonoma County Union
High School District;
• Training over 200 members of the community in responsible
beverage sales and service practices to reduce illegal sales to
minors and obviously intoxicated patrons;
• Conducting decoy operations to reduce illegal sales to minors
at off-sale alcohol establishments and third-party transactions for
minors who solicit strangers outside alcohol establishments;
• Supporting efforts of Project Success school counselors in
West Sonoma County Union High School District and their youth-led
alcohol prevention activities;
• Supporting efforts of the West Sonoma County Union High School
District and Sebastopol Union High School District to provide
educational resources for parents.
We need to remember that underage drinking is not just an
individual problem; it is a community problem, which requires
community solutions.
For questions about the Coalition, please call Diane Davis at
508-6242.
Diane Davis, on behalf of the West County Coalition
for Alcohol and Drug-Free Youth
Roots of crisis
Editor: If the financial crisis in 2007-2008 was fundamentally
about mortgages, as many believe, why are we facing a similar
financial crisis today?
Because the fundamental problem three years ago was not
mortgages. It was the repurchase (repo) market and derivatives.
Since then, the Dodd-Frank Act has regulated derivatives, but the
act was largely silent on repos, and most Americans have never
heard of them.
Today, repos are once again at the root of a financial crisis,
this time involving Greek and U.S. debt.
The repurchase market can be fixed, once Americans understand
the danger. I have created www.repowatch.org to help. 
In my 20 years as a business reporter, I have never covered a
more important story.
Mary Fricker , Sebastopol
Unlearn violent behavior
Editor: I was moved to write this letter on behalf of the Sonoma
County M.E.N. volunteer collective. For 30 years we have staffed a
hotline and facilitated groups for men willing to work on their
issues with violence.
We are deeply saddened by the violent deaths of Jim Mathiesen,
and also Tom Halloran, whose choices led to both their deaths. Many
M.E.N. members struggled with similar feelings to those that Tom
had, but realized that the ways we acted out in our relationships
were emotionally intimidating, or worse, physically dangerous and
illegal. Even though Halloran’s reactions were extreme, some of us
can relate to the overwhelming inability to control our feelings
regarding those we most love.
We grieve beside the families of Jim Mathiesen and yes, even Tom
Halloran, and for the devastating effects from all forms of abuse.
At the same time there is hope and healing for other men who we can
still help. Abusive behavior is learned and can be unlearned. We
appeal to all men with relationship issues to get help with their
feelings and choices. Seek out a professional therapist or call
M.E.N. at 528-2636.
Isn’t it time to end this senseless violence?
Jon Warren, M.E.N. Collective Member, Petaluma
Who pays?
Editor: One of the more publicized events to have come out of
Sacramento for the first time in many years, was a budget delivered
within the Constitutional deadline. One of the lesser known
outcomes associated with the delivery of the budget was the 11th
hour inclusion of a fire prevention “fee” on parcels within the
State Responsibility Areas (SRA).
What is an SRA fee? According to the Board of Equalization bill
analysis, it is a “fee” of up to $150 for each “habitable”
structure “to fund fire prevention activities.” Given that most
properties outside of the nine incorporated cities in Sonoma County
lie within the SRA, chances are, if you don’t live in a city, this
fee will apply to you.
As an organization that represents almost every fire agency in
Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs Association feels it
is important to share our concerns about the new Fire Prevention
Fees with the public, our locally-elected officials, and our state
legislators:
As written, the new Fire Prevention Fee legislation remains
vague. Because it does not recognize that most properties are also
served by a Fire District, it will be difficult to implement in an
equitable manner. Even those who will be responsible for its
implementation acknowledge that “a lot of details will need to be
worked out.”  
Since homeowners in the SRA are already required by law to
maintain a defensible space around their homes (and many do), it is
difficult to envision what the direct benefit will be for these
homeowners who are charged the $150 fee. Furthermore, since the
vulnerability of a home to a wildland fire varies throughout the
county, as do the prevention efforts that are needed to safeguard
it, applying the same fee without consideration of these efforts
creates an inequitable process.
To borrow a cliché, the “fee” will likely generate unintended
consequences for many local agencies (some all volunteer) who
provide fire and emergency medical services (EMS) year round and
through the election process passed (some by 2/3rds vote) local
assessments to fund their services.
In many cases the new Fire Prevention Fee will more than double
these local assessments and subsequently will make it unlikely that
voters would ever support any future increase for their local fire
agency. The potential loss of this revenue may ultimately result in
a decline in fire and emergency medical services to these very
communities.
Finally, as every firefighter in California knows, most large
conflagrations occur due to significant climatic conditions such as
droughts combined with strong wind events and low relative
humidity.
As written, a fee that is designated to fund Fire Prevention
activities will do little to prevent or offset the operational
costs of controlling these fires.
We encourage you to contact the Governor and your State
representatives and share your concerns regarding the new SRA
fee.
Randy Collins
Healdsburg’s former Fire Chief
President of the Sonoma County Fire Chiefs
Association
Dan Northern
Vice President of the Association
Chief of the Forestville Fire District