Letters to the Editor 9-24-15

A Rocky Start

EDITOR: When a person or group of people enters a long standing community the conventional approach would be to assimilate, not agitate; unless you want a conflict or intend to conquer said community of course. I did not see assimilation on Johnson’s beach during the annual Jazz/Blues fest this year but agitation. 
While attempting to think of a good metaphor for this situation I remembered an old story I heard as a child. Stone Soup, it is the story of an old man who enters a village and sets up a kettle in the middle of the road, adds water and a stone to it and builds a fire beneath it. Soon curious children, who had lived in the village their entire lives, come out to see what is going on. They ask the old man what he is doing. “Making stone soup of course,” he replies.
“What is it?” ask the children.
“You’ve never had it?” he said “Oh, it is delicious, you must try some when it is finished.”
Now they are very interested and ask if there is anything they can do to help. He tells one child, “You know what would help? A carrot.” Off the child goes. He tells another “an onion” to another “celery” still another “salt” and on and on it goes. Eventually everyone in the village has thrown something in the kettle and at the end they all enjoy a truly wonderful soup that they had all prepared together, even if they were unaware of their participation.

Working together is how a community is created and goals are accomplished, it is assimilation not agitation. If you want to join a community instead of rule it, you take ingredients; ideas, suggestions and yes even criticisms and you put them in your kettle and stir. If you outright dismiss them you are not being fair to the community and you are likely missing an ingredient you may not even realize you need. Your soup may not turn out right, it may be bitter; it may need a little salt. You may end up sitting on a rocky beach by yourself or with very few joining you for dinner and the few who do come would not be equal to a community joining you for stone soup.
Rob Anderson
Monte Rio
A community response to disaster
EDITOR: After the Valley Fire erupted in Lake County last week, burning 75 thousand acres and destroying more than 500 homes, including Middletown, Cobb and surroundings, and forcing thousands of people to flee, disaster response began to mobilize, raising over $18,000.  
In Sebastopol, locally owned Community Market and Andy’s Market began donation drives, with trucks streaming northward full of disaster relief supplies for Lake County residents. Restaurants held fundraisers. Evan Wiig of the Farmers Guild and the Sebastopol Grange organized a fundraiser in 72 hours, held last Thursday at the Grange.
Chefs pitched in, farmers donated produce, cheese makers donated cheese, dessert makers brought pies and cakes, Strauss ice cream was donated, and an amazing silent auction was held with seemingly countless donations. West County schools donated the use of their Analy parking lot and shuttle buses were donated. More than 300 people showed up and over $18,000 was raised.
As I watched all these events unfold it made me reflect on the power of community. Sometimes we feel discouraged because we feel unable to turn world events in a good direction. But when this disaster struck, the responses were, and continue to be, amazing. The feeling Thursday night at the Grange was beautiful, so many people united in service to those in need. One message I get loud and clear is that together and united, we are powerful. May we remember that and work together more and more.
Jerry Allen, President
Sebastopol Grange
Misstatements
EDITOR: I am writing you regarding misstatements in your article. I did not say that Mr. Skaff is “a bad guy.” I have met Mr. Skaff twice, and he comes across as very personable, intelligent, and knowledgeable concerning ADA matters. He also has an impressive resume. What I did say is that “he is a bad guy to mess with.” Quite a different matter.
As best as I have been able to determine, his ADA claims have cost individuals and entities millions of dollars. I did say that the ADA is a “well intended, but flawed law.” I always recommend that people do their best to comply with the law. Disabled individuals should always be treated as first class citizens. The problem arises, however, when ADA compliance is not “reasonably achievable,” because the cost of ADA compliance is prohibitive for a business that is not making a lot of money.
Under the ADA, these businesses are exempt. Unfortunately, ADA abuse often takes place when lawyers file suit against these financially strapped businesses, and require them to pay tens of thousands of dollars, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars, just to prove that they are financially strapped, and thus ADA exempt.
The Rio Nido Roadhouse is a victim of this unjust process. The law needs to be changed. While I have not read the court transcript, the quotation attributed to my court argument appears to be correct. The rest of the statements attributed to me appear to be the paraphrasing or quoting of my statements either made in court or in court filed documents.
You need to go back to those sources and quote them correctly. As a rule, I do not try my cases in the media. You correctly describe Judge Wick’s ruling which allows the attempted extortion case against Mr. Skaff to proceed to trial. What your article also needs to point out is that the real victim in this case is the Rio Nido Roadhouse. The restaurant and bar is a wonderful establishment. As a music venue, the Roadhouse is also a gem. If someone wants to help out, they can help the Rio Nido Roadhouse by being a regular customer. If someone wants to help out the case, they can also contact my office with any information that they have regarding ADA threats, lawsuits and claims by anyone.
For all of the above reasons, I respectfully request that you correct your article.     .
Joseph Baxter
Santa Rosa