Letters to the Editor 9-8-16

Pool closure
Editor: I couldn’t agree more about the stupidity of the pool closing. Why have a community pool if no one can swim? The grandparents came up this hot Labor Day weekend to take our son and his friend swimming, only to find the place locked and empty. The next door neighbor’s kids swim team was shut off before it was supposed to stop.
We mentioned the pool closing to another neighbor who rolled her eyes and said, “Greaaaaaat. The club will be even more packed.” With many more weeks of heat in store, why are we keeping our kids out of the water? Tell me it isn’t about Healdsburg not having enough money, because I won’t believe it. I called over to Park and Rec and got a line about how difficult it is to staff the pool (two lifeguards).
Businesses all over America manage to stay open staffing employees. And guess what, they recruit and hire employees when they need more. What a concept. I’d rather be swimming than dishing out sarcasm.
Aurora Lomski
Healdsburg
Language teaching
Editor: We just started our 14th consecutive year as parents of students within the Healdsburg Unified School District. We believe in the public school system and have a high regard for school teachers. We have tried to do our part by being involved parents and giving back to the school community. Last year we had an unfortunate experience involving the Spanish department.
A new curriculum (Supersite) was poorly introduced and zero accountability was taken on behalf of the department. As a result, students opted to drop the class or suffered the consequences with their grades. We noticed a discrepancy in our daughter’s grade and learned of inconsistent grading practices within the department. This prompted us to request a grade review of our daughter’s first semester grade.
When we pointed out the discrepancy to the teacher, she begrudgingly corrected the assignment. Our request for additional data (she was the only person with access to first semester work on Supersite) was met with excuses and stall tactics.
After waiting almost two months and thanks to necessary intervention by school administration, we finally received the requested information the week before the last day of school, as if summer would make our concerns for our daughter’s future disappear. We expected more from an established teacher in our district. Sadly, there is good reason our students look outside of HUSD to meet high school graduation requirements in language.
Lucia and Tracy Fincher
Healdsburg
Change is good
Editor: Driving around Healdsburg the past two weeks I’ve seen more and more placards crying out to the citizens of Healdsburg to protect our “dusty hamlet.” Protect seems a bit divisive, and while I know what each side believes, I’d like to make the following observations. Everyone was afraid when the homes off of Powell Avenue were built. A lot of folks were upset when orchards were leveled next to the Russian River to build homes for retired couples and then a few years later the “bird streets” for young families. Some thought the world was ending when townhouses went up next to the hospital.
Are there enough single-family dwellings in Healdsburg for every young family who wants to live here? No. But as someone who’s never been able to afford a home in Healdsburg, and never will, our bite-sized community has much to offer. Summer begins when our park goes in next to the bridge. Do I miss the diving platform we used to swim out to when I was 12? Sure, but it’s nice to know there’s a spot for families to enjoy the sun in safety. (By the way, the new lamps on the bridge that greet guests from both directions are incredible)
Do I miss having a hardware store on the Plaza with wood floors and ladders that reached to the ceiling? Of course, but every item and then some, can still be purchased at Garretts. And there’s plenty of parking. Do I miss Wittke’s, the old truck stop where we used to buy milkshakes and fries after a football game? Sure. But if you enjoy food as I do, there are dozens of eateries to satisfy any need. Some would state they’re all too expensive; however, anything worth savoring is worth saving for.
Lastly, our Plaza is still a happening place and the crown jewel of Sonoma County. I’m even loving the roundabout. It’s a hoot, and while it’s taking some folks more time than others to understand how it works, change is good for any community. (I’m hoping someone will donate the funds to put a statue in the middle of it surrounded by flowering shrubs.)
Now, is the population different than it was 10, 20, 50 years ago? Absolutely. But we should be welcoming to those who want to make Healdsburg a part of their lives, so regardless which way members of our community vote, all of us should revel in the fact that we can call Healdsburg our home. Even if it means we may never be able to afford to buy a house here.
Brent Mortensen
Healdsburg
A fair shot
Editor: Measure R, the ballot initiative that seeks to modify the Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) is currently at the center of Healdsburg political discourse. To grow or not to grow, that is the question. Or is it? While supporters of No on R often argue that any sort of growth will destroy Healdsburg, this sort of black and white thinking isn’t true or helpful to government and community leaders trying to build solutions to the housing crisis that are beneficial for all. Proponents of No on R seem to be content with the status quo, which has done nothing but push young people and families out of town and forced anyone who wants to live in this special place to pay a high-priced premium to become residents here.
What Healdsburg needs is not more of the status quo, but rather a new generation of smart and qualified city leaders who we trust to make good decisions about the best ways to manage growth. The candidates for city council who best exemplify these qualities of intellect, reason and most importantly, neutrality when it comes to issues of development and growth in Healdsburg are Shaun McCaffery, my father Joe Naujokas (I promise I’m not voting for him because we share a last name) and Mel Amato.
Ultimately, if you want to make Healdsburg a pay to play city where only wealthy people who can afford to own homes live, vote no on R. But if you believe in giving everyone a fair shot to live here and want smart, measured growth that benefits everybody, vote yes on R and vote Shaun McCaffery, Joe Naujokas and Mel Amato onto the city council.
Sam Naujokas
Healdsburg
Don’t trust the city
Editor: Yes, it’s true. Our city council majority wants voters to revoke the Growth Management Ordinance (GMO), not amend it. This poor decision was made after many of us spent constructive time and energy at city housing workshops and meetings, eventually reaching a city mandate to amend (increase) the GMO allocations. The city and citizens agreed to 45 market rate units a year, a 50 percent GMO increase. Affordable/moderate housing has never been restricted. Good news,  but weeks later, that compromise was scrapped by city hall.
So now, we have an unnecessary community fight over Measure R, which if passed, would open the town door to market rate (think $1 million-plus) housing. Homes for middle income buyers? Maybe Measure R gets us 15 percent built at a locals price level, unless the second home buyers gobble them up. This deal is not acceptable. Vote no on R.
Not convinced? Trust the city? One bad decision by the council majority? Here are some others: Saggio Hills – 70 mansions at $3 million-plus; HMC at the old post office – $295 a plate; SoFi – free parking for shoppers gone; Downtown – 40 tasting rooms near the Plaza; Tourism? no limits (Replay Resort on the way).
Warren Watkins, HCSS Steering Committee, Healdsburg