Letters to the Editor 9-15-16

Why fluoride?
Editor: In the Sept. 1, issue of the Healdsburg Tribune, there was a short article noting that the Sonoma County court had ruled that the city couldn’t change the wording of the voter-initiated fluoride ballot measure for this November to just say “Shall the City of Healdsburg stop fluoridating its water supply?” The original wording that the voters requested be put on the ballot asked whether we should put a moratorium on the fluoridating of our water until the manufacturers of the fluoride chemical mix could list all contaminants in the batch and verify the safety of the mix.
What amazed me was the city’s reasoning given for the suggested change: “The requirement would be impossible to enforce.”
Why aren’t we demanding that anything being put into our water supply be rigorously tested for safety before we agree to have it added? Water fluoridation is a very controversial subject with most European countries banning it as a safety hazard. In countries like India, China and parts of Africa, where fluoride levels in the water are naturally high, measures are being taken to remove the fluoride because of the health problems that fluoride can cause.
Though topical fluoride treatments and toothpastes may discourage tooth decay, ingesting fluoride has been associated with numerous health problems. Once it is added to the water supply there is no way to control how much is getting into each individual and we are getting exposed to it from other sources like foods being made with fluoridated water.
Even fluoridated toothpastes are required to have the warning on them, “Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.”
I live on Fitch Mountain where we get Healdsburg water but are unable to vote on whether we want it fluoridated because we are outside the city limits. I have no desire to drink water that has had fluoride or any other questionable chemicals added to it without first proving that they are safe. Because of this, I am forced to buy bottled water; an added expense and ridiculous waste of plastic bottles.
If people want to decrease their chances of tooth decay they are free to use fluoridated toothpastes. Why are we insisting on forcing everyone to get a controversial fluoride mix with every drink of Healdsburg water?
Sharon Barbee
Healdsburg
Sign you up?
Editor: If you can spare 2.5 hours a month, the Healdsburg Museum needs you. Our gem of local history in the gorgeous, newly repainted, landmark building depends upon volunteers to keep its doors open. Even though it has over 100 members in the Healdsburg Museum and Volunteer Association, more receptionists are needed to staff the gallery. The only prerequisite is the ability to smile and welcome visitors to the museum. The other duties of receptionists can be taught in the one-hour course on receptionists education. The museum is only open Wednesdays through Sundays from the civil hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with two shifts per day. Being a receptionist is not too taxing. It is fun. You get to meet new people. On quiet days, you can see each exhibition without the jostling crowds of the opening night. And you will feel good about contributing to one of our town’s finest institutions. If you have the time and can meet the prerequisite, call the museum at 431- 3325 during hours of operation and say, “Sign me up.”
Ronnie Devitt
Healdsburg
Thanks from an Eagle
Editor: With a completed Eagle Project I would like to reflect on the feat itself and take a moment to thank those who participated. Thank you to the Healdsburg Kiwanis for their support in funding for my project and their lasting support for the Boy Scout troop. Healdsburg Lumber and Eric Ziedrich especially deserve a thanks for their generous donation of many of the supplies used in the construction of the six planter boxes that would fill an area of the Terrace Community Garden. A huge thanks goes to Richard Kaye for his support and helpful management of the project and his connection to the garden. Thank you Andy Esquivel for your referral to Mr. Kaye way back in July. Finally, a giant thank you to Healdsburg Troop 21. You guys were awesome out there and this project could not have been done without you. Your attendance only demonstrates a tiny part of what it means to be a Boy Scout. You have exceeded my expectations and served well to “Do a Good Turn Daily.”
Henry Dreiling, Boy Scout in Troop 21
Healdsburg
Supporting Naujokas
Editor: I am writing this letter to urge the good citizens of Healdsburg to not only vote in our upcoming election, but to join me in electing Joe Naujokas to our city council.
I have known Joe and his family well for nearly eight years. We have shared dinners, campsites, Christmas tree expeditions, wine, parenting strategies, dog walking duties, worries, happy occasions and lots of conversation. I am not an overly political person so this letter won’t be filled with details of Joe as a politician. What I do want to say is that Joe is extremely smart, a true thinker, a great communicator and an even better listener. He is one of the most thoughtful people I know; both in his kindness as well as his ability to really think about something before acting. This is a rare quality, I find, and one that serves him well as a friend and will certainly make him an excellent representative of our community. Please vote for Joe Naujokas this November. He truly will make Healdsburg a better place.
Maya Missakian
Healdsburg
A must attend event
Editor: The Sept. 1 issue of the Tribune featured a much deserved front page story about the local AAUW Forum that begins the first week of October. Two six-week courses will focus on Presidential politics, offering both a historical perspective on Presidential elections and a cutting edge analysis of influences on how we elect Presidents and the implications for the future of our democracy.
While the combination of the topic and the highly regarded presenters is unbeatable at this particular moment, another important point to be made is that the Healdsburg AAUW (the local branch of the American Association of University Women) is providing residents of our community an outstanding opportunity to continue to learn and grow intellectually long after their formal education has ended. In addition, proceeds from the Forum support local education programs. The Raven Performing Arts Theater, with its ability to accommodate the growing Forum audience and project “big screen” visuals, is an ideal, convenient venue.
I have a long history of involvement in lifelong learning in the Healdsburg area and have been an avid fan of the Forum since its beginning in early 2015. I urge everyone who can to make the time on Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings this Fall to register for the Forum at healdsburg-ca.aauw.net. A must attend event. I’ll see you there.
Jim Walters
Healdsburg
Measure R sneaky
Editor: Our Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) is not causing housing prices to rise. That is due to the fact that our town has become one of the hottest destinations in the country for the wine and food boom. Lots of wealthy people want to live here and are driving land values to absurd heights. Without the restrictions in place for the past 16 years it is very likely that market rate housing would have been built on most, if not all, of the remaining available property within the city limits. So the last thing we should do is “amend” our current GMO. In fact, if it is so restrictive, why were roughly half the allocations available for market rate housing not even used?
One particularly sneaky part of measure R is its redefinition of affordable housing upward to include homes in the $550,000-700,000 range; this is based on the city’s own 2014 figures. I don’t call that affordable. Neither would the vast majority of people who work in this town. And I have to wonder if it is even legal.
And why is Replay Resorts, a developer of luxury properties, in charge of the large (11 acre) parcel which now is occupied by NuForest? You can bet they are planning a high end hotel, with shops for their customers and housing primarily for the wealthy. You can read their statement of goals; nothing in their philosophy indicates that housing for the rest of us is a significant part of their plan.
Measure R is a very good plan for wealthy developers and their allies in real estate and construction but it will leave the working people in Healdsburg behind. In short, the rich will get richer, the rest will pick up the crumbs.
Hank Skewis
Healdsburg