Thanks to transparent chief
EDITOR: The Sonoma County Chapter of the ACLU wishes to express its appreciation for the forthrightness shown by Healdsburg Police Chief Kevin Burke in immediately complying with new state law, SB 1421, Transparency in Police Records relating to police misconduct. He responded to requests by the media by releasing documentation on an officer previously fired for dishonesty. Chief Burke’s compliance is all the more worthy of note since some other Sonoma County law enforcement agencies have been dragging their heels in complying, and one—Santa Rosa Police—has outright refused.
The law simply confirms that the public has the fundamental right to know when officers have been found guilty of misuse of deadly force, sexual assault, or perjury or fabrication of evidence. “Progressive” California had been, strangely enough, one of the most secretive states in the matter of police officer records, but SB 1421 brought us into line with other states’ practices.
We salute Chief Burke for his prompt compliance and the standards to which he holds his officers. We urge the other Sonoma County enforcement agencies to deliver legally-mandated information on officer misconduct; the public deserves that information.
Dave Henderson, Patricia Morandi
Co-Chairpeople, Sonoma County Chapter of the ACLU of Northern California
Going Loonie for goose painting
EDITOR: I enjoyed your article about the goose painting being auctioned April 13 at the Villa to benefit the Boys and Girls Club. I hope a gaggle of people show up to take a gander at the painting, then cackle with glee as they bid with Canadian money.
Dave Anderson
Geyserville
Finding the correct balance
EDITOR: Ridgely Evers March 28 letter to the editor, paragraph 2 implies that the co-chairpeople of the Dry Creek Valley Association (DCVA) Planning Committee were in discussions with then-Supervisor Mike McGuire to support the Dry Creek Valley Citizens Advisory Council (DCVCAC).
The inconvenient truth, as clearly stated in DCVA’s 2013 presentation, is that co-chairpeople Evers and Olney met with McGuire to request a zoning overlay with protective guidelines for the Dry Creek watershed.
Instead, the county required Dry Creek to accept the DCVCAC structure as the “bridge to the community.” Paragraph 5 also contains misrepresentations of William Fumich’s proposal (March 14 letter to the editor). The Westside Community Association (WCA) proposed a different “bridge to the community,” with the advisory forum implemented after the county completes a legally-compliant set of local area guidelines and/or a zoning overlay.
Prior to requesting a person sign the 2018 “Westside Protective Standards” petition, WCA representatives met face to face with small groups of residents to both explain the concept of a zoning overlay and to review proposed protective standards. Over 100 Westside area residents signed requesting professional county planners, not residents or industry representatives, complete the local area guidelines, as tasked by the supervisors in 2016.
County decision-makers are to use the protective standards and siting criteria when reviewing applications; and applicants’ benefit from advanced information on requirements in the Westside Area of Concentration. The local area guidelines will provide the framework for an equitable advisory forum — where county planners hear all stakeholders, and no one has veto power. The objective is for residents, bicycle advocates and commercial interests to work together, defining the necessary balance in our community.
Judith Olney
Healdsburg
Fire column sparks resolve
EDITOR: The fire will come.
This season? Next? No matter, we are not ready enough. This is not for lack of fire-fighting resources and resolve; the city of Healdsburg, the County of Sonoma, and CalFire are impressive in their professionalism, preparedness, and commitment. They will get the job done. But, as we communities have been constantly warned, why wait till a fire starts; why not do everything we local residents can do to preemptively reduce both the danger and damage from fire?
Frankly, we have a long way to go, and that’s why a Greater Healdsburg Area Fire Resilience Committee is forming to bring together committed residents from the City of Healdsburg-Fitch Mountain (all sides)-Bailache-Rio Lindo-Chalk Hill fire-shed.
It is envisaged as an urgency-driven, comprehensive, community-based organization that can access and concretely apply across fire-prone areas all the resources (and not just in the County/State) that will make us fire-aware, -resilient, and -prepared communities.
Such from the bottom up activities will complement and, in some cases, more effectively apply County-sponsored initiatives. The group would hopefully lessen the multiplication and duplication of efforts of “micro-communities,” and of County resources spent on liaising with each one.
Instead, by serving as an umbrella organization, the group could mount coordinated efforts focused on initiatives that can be applied to its constituent micro-communities. Just some possible areas of interest/study/action are:
▪ Research into fire-resilience programs of other communities across the country for models and best practices. ▪ Organization of major educational programs with experts, addressed to the larger community on an ongoing basis.
▪ Ongoing liaison with all appropriate County and State offices, keeping up-to-date with all fire -protection and -prevention developments, serving as a two-way node for the smaller base communities.
▪ Resource for improved County fire-fuel and prevention ordinances and coordinated design of evacuation plans. ▪ Design of a robust, resident-addressed program for a volunteer fire-fuel abatement on properties and for fire-resistant structures (neighbors helping neighbors). Fourth District Supervisor James Gore has already endorsed the idea, and we’re ready to launch. (And so is the fire season.)
We are actively searching for individuals who would like to serve on an initial “design committee” or would like to be ongoing, hard-working members of the group. If you’re interested in “pre-defeating the fires,” contact me at da*****@so***.net.
Dave Henderson
Healdsburg
