Letters to the Edtior 1-28-16

Why donate?
Editor: With regards to the “Dine and donate” letter to the editor published in the Jan. 21 issue. Currently, in excess of $45 billion, over 40 percent of the California General Fund, is dedicated to education (per the Education Budget Report of the California Department of Education on their webpage, Jan. 22).
With such an amount of tax payer money going to education, I am disgusted with the fact that our schools still feel they need to beg for money.
Jeff McDonald
Windsor
Growth
As part of the General Plan Update, the Town conducted a telephone survey to gauge residents’ opinions on a variety of issues about Windsor. The survey showed that parks, open space and natural areas overwhelmingly topped the list as the most desirable land use in Windsor. Despite this, Windsor is being developed at an alarming rate, and the people at the helm are showing no signs of stopping.
Vintage Oaks (Bell Village) will add 387 units just off the Town Green. Furthermore, there is talk of another development, Windsor Mill, that could add over 300 more units several blocks south of the Town Green. The sketches of the buildings may look nice, but can our infrastructure handle the traffic? Is this smart growth? It is unrealistic to expect that the residents of those 387 units will not need cars to get around, even if the train makes it up to Windsor. Our Town Green area is already a traffic nightmare at certain times of day and during events. Old Redwood Highway has been closed for almost a year and a half for the construction of Oliver’s Market. Should we expect this for future developments? I hear the Town has ideas to move or remove Huerta Gymnasium, the Town Hall and the library for a commercial development such as a hotel or conference center. Where will we put the library and the gym when all empty lots have been taken over by other, more profitable developments? I am also concerned about the loss of open space and playing fields in Keiser Park where the Town has proposed an aquatic center. Where will parents take their kids to play sports when the baseball and soccer fields are replaced with a pool? How will the Town Council remedy these problems? Sam Salmon, the only Councilmember who has spoken up about the over-development, the cutting of trees and the decision by the Town Council to not have Vintage Oaks go through the Planning Commission, has been unfairly demonized by some of his fellow Council members. For the people who moved to Windsor for its small town, rural atmosphere, or the ones who have lived here for generations and have adjusted to all of the development; when is enough, enough? At some point we need to say that the quality of life for Windsor citizens is more important, or at least as important, as revenue.
Victoria Willis
Windsor