LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – 8-16-12

Cleaning up
Editor: I’d like to thank City Council Member Kathleen Shaffer for spearheading a volunteer effort to “freshen up” Ives Park. I frequently walk my dog there and the paths were in need of a serious clean up. So I took part, and it was marvelous to see how enthusiastically everyone jumped in to clear paths, pull weeds, and work together enhancing the park — and the community as well.
This type of project says a lot about our community. And it says a lot about Kathleen Shaffer, who seems tireless in her commitment to make contributions to Sebastopol, both personally and in her role on the City Council. I have served with her on the Board of Rebuilding Together, watched her get the Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project going, and attended her town hall meetings where she takes to heart the concerns expressed and acts on them. I like what she offers our town.
I would also like to say that I appreciate the dedication and effort it takes to be on the City Council, and applaud each member for their perspective, service, and commitment. I appreciate the differences each brings to the table, differences that act like “checks and balances.” Yes, it can make progress difficult at times (we are a diverse crowd!), but hopefully we are wiser and better off for it.
Kathleen’s perspective is balanced and her commitment is huge. I hope you will join me in re-electing her to the Sebastopol City Council.
Connie King
Sebastopol
Unnecessary competition
Editor: The proposal to add another Sunday Farmers’ Market in Sebastopol raises a number of issues which we hope can be addressed in a way which will create rather than damage community. Clearly the Sebastopol Center of the Arts needs to maximize revenues from its new location at the Vets Building. It also has to work around its existing schedule of classes and other activities in looking for other rental sources. Clearly too, there are local farmers who are not, if only because of size concerns, able to sell at the existing Sunday Farmers’ Market. However, having two markets at the same time will provide unnecessary competition without meaningfully increasing shopping opportunities. We urge all parties involved to work together to both expand access to local farmers at the current Sunday market and to start another market, perhaps mid-week on Wednesday evening, to provide additional shopping and selling opportunities for all our community.
Richard and Trish Power
Sebastopol
New Sebastopol slogan
Editor: Let’s see, we’re going to add Chase Bank and CVS drive-throughs at our main intersection, right across the street from a WestAmerica drive-through, and a half-block from a Wells Fargo drive-through. No need for the Chamber to spend big bucks on a consultant to create a new slogan to lure visitors to Sebastopol. It looks like “Drive Through Sebastopol” will pretty well define us.
Rick Theis
Sebastopol
CVS/Chase Zombieland
Editor: Sadly, it looks like I’ll be able to tell my grandkids “I remember the day they decided to drive a stake through the heart of our small downtown.”
“Zombies were big back then and there was no stopping them.”
David Bacigalupi
Sebastopol
Jacob’s experience
Editor: As an active participant in Sebastopol, I’d like to bring attention to the unique experience of Robert Jacob, candidate for Sebastopol City Council.
I have known Robert since he was a young man and have had the opportunity to work with him at various stages of his life. Since his youth, Robert has been proactive and motivated to support and advance causes about which he truly believes.
He helped fundraise for multiple youth health organizations as a youth himself and as a young adult he served in a leadership role on the boards of directors for several of those organizations.
Robert’s unique experience building financial and social support for important community organizations is a testament to his commitment to community values.
Leading a non-profit organization requires special dedication to the purpose, and a healthy, visionary passion for advancing the mission of the group. Simultaneously, leading a non-profit organization successfully often involves extreme frugality and conservative financial practices in order to maintain the well-being of an organization whose sole purpose is not the generation of excess profits.
In my experience, a leader who embodies that passion as well as healthy business knowledge is rare. Robert is one of those people.
For his unique breadth of experience, including an extensive background in successfully leading organizations that make a truly positive impact, I’m giving my support to Robert Jacob for City Council.
Mitcho Thompson
Sebastopol
Big biz versus small
Editor: The CVS/Chase project has divided the city. Some want to label those running for city council as big-business candidates or small-business candidates. Let’s hope the voters in Sebastopol will look at the facts and decide for themselves.
Kathleen Shaffer, one of the so-labeled big-business candidates, has worked for our small business community ever since she was elected. She has worked with the Downtown Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce and serves on the city’s Business Outreach Committee.
Along with Larry Robinson, she was able to successfully launch a small business incubator (Sebastopol Entrepreneurs Project) in town, which has helped 50-plus small start-up businesses and has educated the 200-plus attendees in its educational classes.
She has worked to beautify downtown by getting benches 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 area which no doubt increased the sales of our small main street businesses.
Councilmember Shaffer felt the city should follow the law and past practices in reviewing the CVS/Chase project. This stand was confirmed by the city council at their last meeting. It is unfortunate that her decision to follow the law has caused many one-issue people in town to disregard her record of continuous service to our small business community.
Let’s look at the record and then decide who really is for our small business community.
Ian M. Kalember
Sebastopol
Election fodder
Editor: The conditions attached by the Sebastopol City Council to their Aug. 7 tentative approval of Chase/CVS anchoring our downtown commons may doom it, since Armstrong Development previously rejected them.
The Small Town Sebastopol Committee has filed a lawsuit contending that the project violates the California Environmental Quality Act. It asserts that an Environmental Impact Study should be required, including the traffic that will be generated by the new Barlow Project.
The Council plans to formalize its decision Aug. 21. Now is a good time to write them and letters to editors, as well as attend that meeting. Whatever happens, the issue may dominate the campaign for the two open seats on the Council, to be decided Nov. 6.
Successful businessmen Robert Jacob and John Eder are the two viable candidates who oppose the development. Sonoma County Conservation Action has endorsed them as the environmental, green candidates.
Candidate and current Councilmember Kathleen Shaffer has been the cheerleader for the development, becoming known to some as “the CVS lady.” Though she has done good work for the city, she may be best remembered for radically changing its small town character.
Candidate Kathy Austin also supports the two giant outside corporations dominating our small town center.
Shepherd Bliss
Sebastopol