LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 8-31-2011

Analy incident
Editor: A story regarding a student who was arrested by
Sebastopol Police for threatening to harm an Analy High School Vice
Principal received media attention recently.
Two important facts were missing from the media coverage (in
Santa Rosa’s daily newspaper). First, the student did not directly
communicate a threat to a school employee in person, on the phone,
via e-mail, or by any other means. Second, this incident occurred
away from school. At no time was the student on or near campus with
a weapon of any kind, nor was school disrupted in any way.
We greatly appreciate — and laud — the actions taken by the
parents and Sebastopol police to manage this incident and keep
everyone safe and secure. Our school leaders take this type of
incident very seriously and will pursue appropriate disciplinary
consequences in light of all the facts.
This incident is a prime example of schools and the community
working together to keep staff and students safe and maintaining a
positive environment for teaching and learning.
Keller McDonald
WSCUHSD Superintendent
Gifts to the community
Editor: Pellini Park.
What a great idea. But since the ol’ city of Seabastopol has no
cash to build a park at that corner or any other corner, why don’t
the folks that oppose the CVS corner band together and buy the
prpoerty for the city?
Of course this would entail a trust fund to build the park, that
would entail certain parts of the fund put aside for maintenance,
police patrols, adequate garbage cans for neeedles, beer bottles,
etc…, restrooms with grafitti walls, possible shower rooms and last
but not least, tents to be set up in the winter with plenty of fire
wood for the increased winter population.
Those of you that want the park could finance the whole idea by
donating your home or property to the City. The City could then
sell your property to set up the trust. Six million dollars total
should cover the whole cost. If the Pellinis should donate their
nest egg, why shouldn’t you?
Just think? On a cold winters night you could drive by the
“Park” and view the comforting fires burning in front of the all
the tents, with the shopping carts dancing in the firelite.
David Wischemann
Sebastopol
Local disfavor
Editor: The City of Sebastopol’s City Council, Planning
Commission, and Design Review Board are serving during one of the
most challenging times for our town.
The citizens of Sebastopol spent much time and energy to create
the current General Plan and procedures to assure its consistent
implementation. Some of the above serving members may not have
lived here when these were forged. It is regretful that as thorough
as we try to make it, the public process to create and sustain the
treasured intent may not cross all the “t”s or dot all the “i”s.
But, the creation of our Plan, nevertheless, was to maintain our
town’s individual character, separate from that of Santa Rosa,
Rohnert Park, or Petaluma, not to be influenced by the trendy malls
and big box stores.
Now before our town’s elected representatives, is an effort to
remove our individuality and small town flavor. Right in our heart,
two giant conglomerates, CVS and Chase Bank, are trying to buy
their way in, this time at the busiest crossroads, junction Hwy. 12
and Hwy. 116. We, the citizens of Sebastopol, urge our public
servants to resist the efforts of these giants to twist our town’s
Plan and spirited intent, and have the courage, as one, to just
say, “no”. This Council vote needs to be rescinded to stand with
their Planning Commission’s thoughtful vote to end this careless
chase.
It is a fact that the business world of Wall Street is always
involved in take-overs. It would not be surprising to see Walmart
take over CVS someday, nested boxes, expanding into this
deceitfully staged development. Save all of our small businesses
and local banks, and save our charm and unique town that we have
worked so long to assure its safety, viability, integrity,
sustainability, and appeal to all.
We paid $50,000 for the slogan to brand our appellation, “Local
Flavor. Global Vision.” Please make it mean something.
Douglas Emery
Sebastopol
No possible value
Editor: Saturday, I was sitting in Gridlock on Highway 12 backed
up way past the Chevron Station. While waiting with all the other
motorists, I contemplated the proposed CVS relocation on the corner
of the most congested area in Sebastopol.
Who benefits from the proposed CVS relocation? The new store
will be downsized from the existing store. That will presumably
mean CVS offering less products and services. Please remember that
we already have pharmacy services at Rite-Aid and Safeway in the
same corridor.
There’s talk of creating more jobs in the community. There may
be a few construction jobs created temporarily, but most developers
bring in their own management and crews to work. So probably little
gain there.
The store jobs being promised are another fantasy. The existing
CVS already has a full staff that would presumably transfer to the
new store. Of course the new store will be smaller, so there may
very well be layoffs.
The next “benefit” is increased tax revenue. It’s not logical to
believe that a smaller store will generate more sales tax than the
larger CVS.
The Pellinis do deserve to sell their property, but the
development must be of increased value to the community. All I can
see with this proposed development is ever-increasing gridlock in
our worst area. Likely another empty big box standing empty where
the old CVS used to be.
What is the benefit to the community? Will there be any new
vital services that will benefit the residents? As yet, I have not
heard any argument that is of any possible value to the people who
live and work here.
Dale Miller
Sebastopol
Avoid “Smart”Meters
Editor: PG&E has finally responded to ratepayer outcry
against “Smart”Meters by establishing a Delay Installation Line at
1-877-743-7378.
If you call this number and request it, you will be put on their
Delay List which will delay “Smart”Meter installation on your home
until at least 2012, according to both PG&E and the CPUC. There
is no charge for this. Over 44 California cities and counties have
called for a halt to the installation, and 11 have enacted
ordinances against the meters.
The Sebastopol City Council is sending a notice about the Delay
Line with your next water bill. Our City Council sent a letter to
PG&E over 1 and 1/2 years ago requesting that installation in
Sebastopol be deferred until investigations of the effects on
health and the environment have been done. There have as yet been
no studies of human exposure to actual “Smart”Meters, unless you
count the vast experiment PG&E is currently running in
California, using millions of unwitting residents as guinea
pigs.
Privacy advocates are appalled at the extent of “Smart”Meter
data collection. This technology can identify the electronic
signatures of your individual appliances and their time of use,
making it obvious whether or not you are at home and what you may
be doing. The potential for misuse of this data, or even hacking by
criminals is clear. Some have referred to these
microwave-transmitting meters as surveillance devices.
The World Health Organization recently classified microwave
radiation as a Class 2B carcinogen — the same category as DDT and
lead.
You do have a choice. Call 877-743-7378. Do it now, or you may
come home to find “Smart”Meters have been installed in your absence
and without your permission.
Nancy Hubert
Sebastopol