Letters to the Editor

Yellow pavement lights don’t work

Editor: If there wasn’t a more perfect example of why the flashing yellow pavement lights don’t work, it is the pedestrian death of Anna Marie Simmons.
In Mr. Omarzu’s interview with deputy Mike Baraz, it was pointed out that indeed the lights were functioning, but did not prevent the accident from occurring.
The city of Sonoma’s Traffic Committee has done some remarkable things. For example, the traffic calming bump by Sebastiani has really slowed down this once raceway.
As a pedestrian/cyclist, I can tell you during the day, flashing yellow lights do nothing to impede cars. Motorists simply don’t see the lights.
Why are we even considering installing more of these? Listen up city council! Listen up traffic committee! Install traffic calming bumps. No one wants to speed over those!
Jane Moeddel

Catholics’
opinions vary

Editor: I am distressed to read that a recent letter-writer thinks that all Catholics who live in the Sonoma Valley attend St. Francis Solano Church. I am also distressed that he believes that Catholics have “tax-free” money! Every church, no matter the denomination, pays taxes to the state and to the U.S. Treasury on parts of the property that are not the worship space. I am distressed to read the implication that all Catholics do not vote for freedom and equality. The fact is that the Knights of Columbus do not speak for all Catholics in the Valley. Catholics come in many sizes, shapes, parish loyalties and differences of opinion, and we all, hopefully, vote our conscience in every election.
Gerry Downs

Sun spot-on

Editor: Congratulations on a great editorial about the Sonoma Council race on Tuesday. Civic discourse is an endangered species, and so I was pleased to see your reasoned, straightforward and insightful recommendations. The fact that you came to the same conclusions I have reached about the candidates was a bonus. In a time when most political reporting is obtuse, deliberately slanted, or beside the point, your careful and respectful comments were spot-on.
George Webber

Only Aug talking about businesses

Editor: One thing in this year’s municipal election that seems to be getting overlooked is – what about our small businesses?
What is all this traffic congestion doing to their livelihoods? And parking is only getting tougher.
I’ve listened to many candidates this year and Aug Sebastiani is the only one who’s talking about this.
Where are the rest? Our local merchants are starting to feel the pinch and they need help.
Tom Rouse

We need Ken Brown!

Editor: This letter is in support of Ken Brown to remain on city council. Of the 30-plus years I have known Ken, I have watched him as he first began with volunteer work for our city and outlying areas. Every year, it seems he has gotten more involved and dedicated to preserving our exceptional way of life, while at the same time assuring good business practices.
He’s not stuck in the past, is very forward-thinking without letting business and growth overwhelm us. At the same time, he worked extensively to keep Montini land on Fifth Street as open space and assisted the League of Historic Preservation to save the Maysonnave House. As general manager of the Sonoma Community Center, he’s the face, heart and soul there, being a big part of all events. Center of the Universe Cafe began with 15-20 people and has evolved into a fun, monthly event of over 100 persons.
Ken is always available for friendship and/or problems – he really listens, coordinates and attends Plaza events, even cleaning up at the end of a long day.
So much more I could write; suffice to say Ken is not “out of touch” with any of us.
We need Ken Brown!
Rusty Cuevas

Barbose and Brown

Editor: I believe I’m uniquely qualified to comment on the Sonoma City Council election, as I worked with 11 different council members during my nine years on the Sonoma City Planning Commission.
It appears an issue in this election is whether the council has wasted time discussing certain issues. If wasting time is your concern, I’ve seen no bigger time waster than when a new council member comes to the job with no experience relating to the actual work the council does.
I’ve watched much time wasted – and this includes expensive staff time – in explaining, re-explaining, and rehashing decisions when a new councilmember is unprepared and unaware. I encourage voters to ignore the campaign slogans and electioneering, and examine the candidates’ actual track records and civic involvement.
If you care about protecting the environment and open space; want teachers, firefighters and other workers that Sonoma needs to feel welcomed in your town; and you expect councilmembers to be people who cared enough to be involved with city issues before they decided to run for office, then vote for Steve Barbose and Ken Brown.
Listen to the organizations that make it their business to follow local issues important to families, the environment and working people. Steve Barbose and Ken Brown are the ONLY two Sonoma City Council candidates endorsed by the Valley of the Moon Teachers Association, the Sierra Club, the North Bay Labor Council/AFL-CIO, Sonoma County Conservation Action, and Coalition For a Better Sonoma County.
Gina Cuclis
Former Sonoma
planning commissioner

‘Monster’ buildings okayed by Brown, McKesson, Barbose

Editor: It is very important that the citizens of Sonoma vote against Ken Brown and Douglas McKesson for city council re-election. They both supported Measure C, but more importantly they approve of gross infill projects such as the monstrosities behind our post office and the mega stucco building on Broadway. Furthermore a 7-unit condo building project has been approved behind the previous Buckaroo building. And, if you are still not convinced, north of the Blue Moon Saloon is yet another mega development. A beautiful Craftsman-style home and outbuildings demolished and a charming streetscape lost forever. In addition, Steve Barbose, one of the current planning commissioners, should be ashamed that these monster buildings were approved under his watch. What about the neighbors and future generations? Does this cement the plan for them? This is not what we envision for the future of Sonoma. When we voted for the urban growth boundary, we did not vote for infill.
Unfortunately, the above-mentioned projects cannot be reversed. Let’s ensure that Sonoma remains the unique and historic city that it is. I urge all of you to cast your votes for Vickie Mulas, Aug Sebastiani and Gary Edwards for City Council – they truly care about Sonoma.
Marion Clifford

Trail agreement
undermines
easements

Editor: The decision by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to renegotiate development rights to an existing conservation easement applicable to the Maria Hansen Trust property in exchange for a ridge trail on Sonoma Mountain severely undermines the purpose of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. It sets a dangerous precedent that will be used to challenge other agreements and constitutes a waste of taxpayers’ money. There are other alternatives. One, pursue the pending lawsuits that county counsel Steven Woodside has stated have great merit. Two, initiate proceeding to acquire a small amount of land for a trail easement that a professional real estate appraiser recently estimated carries a market value of less than $15,000.
The members of the Board of Supervisors should publicly declare their intent to uphold the sanctity of the conservation easement as recommended by the Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission and demonstrate that the board is a faithful steward of the public’s dollars and the public’s landscape.
Robert Heisterberg

Recapture Congress

Editor: Nov. 7 is just about here, and if you don’t like the direction our country has taken over the past six years, you must vote for change – even if the alternatives are less than ideal. The decisions listed here are not all that has gone wrong. I’m sure you could add many more to the list. However, just consider:
• The deception that took place in order to sell the war on Iraq, a war that thousands all over the world begged Bush not to start. Then the mishandling of this war and the mishandling of the war in Afghanistan, which is creating more terrorism throughout the world.
• The cost of the war in human lives: over 100,000 Iraqis (some say 350,000) and almost 3,000 American lives, plus those of our other allies.
• The cost of the war and the no-bid contracts given to Halliburton and other preferred companies that have reaped enormous profits.
• The ballooning deficit that is now reaching $8 trillion.
• The detention of prisoners at Guantanamo and elsewhere without recourse to trial. Suspending certain provisions of the Geneva conventions, legalizing torture and shipping prisoners to other countries that allow torture.
• The lack of security as it pertains to our voting machines and polling places.
• The growing influence of the religious right in all branches of our government.
• The loss of respect for America all over the world.
We must recapture the House and the Senate. It is wrong to have all three branches of government under the umbrella of one party, as we then lose our system of checks and balances that was built into our Constitution by our founders. Vote to make American safe and sound again, and to restore her to the exalted place she once held among the nations of the world.
Helen M. Rowntree