Letters to the Editor

Looks forward to
the Sun
Editor: I am not much of an e-mailer, but I wanted you to know that we look forward to receiving the Sun each week and in particular enjoy the articles by Larry Barnett, Donna Hays and Kathleen Hill. We are also looking forward to the return of the Wales Farm Diaries.
Alan Pfeiffer Donna

Teens rock at
The Shop
Editor: I enjoyed Donna Hays’ April 5 article about Sonoma needing a place for teens to dance. Then I realized that she obviously does not know about The Shop! The Shop is celebrating its eighth year of providing a drug- and alcohol-free venue for teens. It is in a Dowling Magnets warehouse on Eighth Street East and, over the years, the teens have built a full stage, light bar and sound system. But unlike the lady Donna wrote about who was taking tickets at the door… you will find only teens. The Shop was started by and run by a succession of teen boards. Up to 12 teens at a time meet every Tuesday night at the No Name Cafe at the high school and plan up to 30 shows a year. The shows range from hip-hop to rock to art shows and techno.
In fact there is a techno show this weekend at the Shop at 21600 Eighth St. E. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is $6 at the door. Why don’t you stop and see the action for yourself?
Incidently, Operation Youth, which provides the adult supervision for the Shop and the No Name Cafe and Teen Safe Ride, is being honored at the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation’s Salute to Education on May 19.
John Randall

Disappointed by Barnett’s column
Editor: I am disappointed by Larry Barnett’s April 5 column titled “I know Historic When I See It.” I am a member of the Design Review Committee, appointed during Mr. Barnett’s tenure on the Sonoma City Council. Not once have I seen the former mayor at one of our meetings. I have to say that I would have welcomed his input on the proposal to change some of the DRC guidelines. We have no interest in becoming the “taste police,” and I am disappointed that Mr. Barnett would make such an inflammatory statement. We are struggling with serving the needs of our community as it grows. We are trying to make the guidelines less subjective, not more so. The benefit of Mr. Barnett’s wisdom would have been helpful as we crafted this proposal that has been sent to the city council – proposal being the operative word. This is a dialogue that I believe, as a member of the DRC, is necessary to have as we endeavor to serve the will of the people living in the city of Sonoma.
I live and work downtown. I love the organic nature of Sonoma as I think most people do. My question is, how do we protect what we love and allow it to grow with the same spirit that has made Sonoma unique? It seems tough to administer guidelines that insure a sensibility that is so hard to define. How do you encourage people to consider their neighbors and their community before considering ultimate resale value? I’m not sure that you can. Furthermore, what residents do on their property should be their business. However, in my position on the DRC, these concerns are put before me by developers, real estate agents and private citizens. As a result, I think we need to pursue this dialogue with the city council. With grace and determination, I hope that we can craft some guidelines that will take us into the future while retaining all that we know and love about Sonoma.
Anne Appleman

‘Police state
intimidation’
at teen center
Editor: I read Joan Huguenard’s April 5 article “Does it take a village to raise a Sonoma teen?” and couldn’t help notice all of the “nice” words from all of the speakers, especially those of the sheriff’s deputies. Unfortunately, I also noticed the MAGNET raid at the Teen Center on February 15. I was driving north on Highway 12 in heavy traffic when I saw the large black sedan with its heavily tinted windows and several police officers dressed in black jump suits and wearing black combat boots.
This was not, in my opinion, an example of what Sheriff Cogbill referred to as restorative justice, or even restorative police work. This was an example of “police state” intimidation.
Even with the threat of terrorist attacks, I would not expect to see the type of working police unit that I observed on Highway 12.
During my professional life, I have had the opportunity to work with a number of law enforcement agencies to develop radio communication systems. Most of the police officers that I have worked with were hardworking and caring individuals.
From the statements I have read in various newspapers, I can only conclude that the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department has an “us or them” attitude, and the citizens they are supposed to serve are really their enemies.
There is nothing new about gangs. They have been a part of human civilizations forever. When special programs are created to attack a law enforcement problem that is exactly what happens – an attack. In order to keep the funding for the MAGNET program, the police are attacking.
Sheldon Leader

Saying goodbye
Editor: Well, the time has finally arrived for us to say goodbye to all the good people of Sonoma. This week, our family is moving to my wife’s hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. We are really going to miss all the wonderful people that are so much part of our lives here in Sonoma. We want to say thanks and goodbye to all our great neighbors on Ingram Drive, to everyone we were fortunate to work with, to all those doing great work with the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley and to everyone at the Little School whom Alexander is going to sincerely miss. We want to list everyone who became part of our lives here in Sonoma, but the list is just too long. You all know who you are and how thankful we are for your friendship. We do say a special thanks and goodbye to Ron, Gigi and Ryan. Alexander and Ryan became good friend at The Little School when they were two years old and we have been good friends since. That is a testament to the wisdom of a couple of two-year-olds.
Gregg, Mary Beth and Alexander Nielsen

What’s Iraq
War for?
Editor: Is it population control? Is it to feed the military-industrial complex? Is it territory, riches, etc.? War should be fought for defense, our country, home and family. World War I: I guess we owed it to France to be in that one. World War II: Defense. No argument there. Korea: The South Koreans and Americans were attacked. Vietnam: Military-industrial complex. Iraq: When the terrorists attacked on 9-11, I said that this must be the start of WWIII, but today we are in this mess again because of military-industrial complex involvement.
If you saw “Letters from Iwo Jima,” you would see what a waste that battle was (6,000 Marines and all but 1,500 Japanese killed.) When the Japanese general who was under attack asked for support, he was told to “stay the course.” Sound familiar?
Samuel H. DiGiacomo

Cannard to council: contemplate cows
Editor: (This letter was addressed to the Sonoma City Council.) As I drive into Sonoma from the north via Fifth Street West, I marvel at the beauty and significance of the Montini property with the cows in the pasture. What a blessing and feast for the mind and body – a reflection of our agricultural past for all to see and benefit from.
As you contemplate the budget for the coming year, why not reserve funds to repeat this in the fields surrounding the Vallejo home? As small subsidy to the Castagnasso or Montini families would enhance the historic experience for anyone traveling on West Spain Street, using the bike path, or visiting the Vallejo home.
Nothing would gladden the heart of General Vallejo more than to see his land used in this historic way if he were still with us. Cows and horses on this land that is not an expense to the state would be another of Sonoma’s great attractions.
It would not take much, perhaps $25,000 yearly out of the city’s urban renewal fund, to make this happen. When we are spending $4–$7 million out of the same fund for a new police station, this seems to me a piddling amount.
For the 4th of July fireworks and other events that use the field, the cows and horses could be returned to the Montini and Castagnasso pastures.
I am including the “Gospel of the Farmer” that I presented to the council in 1993, when I tried to make the same thing happen then.
Please give this thought your serious consideration at budget time.
Bob Cannard

Immigrants increase hospital costs

Editor: I recently became aware of large numbers of foreign nationals who find it expedient to come into our country, specifically for the purpose of obtaining the “free” medical care that they feel entitled to. The people I have recently witnessed do not live or work here and do not intend to. They have come here, often to stay with relatives who live here, specifically to have their individual medical needs met. (Something that is not “free” in their home countries.) They apparently have no difficulty in obtaining Medi-Cal coverage, which is evidently easily arranged by our local health clinics and hospitals. One woman I recently spoke with told me that she came here, at the very end of her current pregnancy, so as to receive the “free” prenatal care and delivery of her baby, who will then be given the added bonus of an American birth certificate. This woman told me that virtually all the pregnant women in her foreign-located town also planned to come to California to deliver their babies, where they know “pregnant women are treated well.” It is also my understanding that our state taxes paid over $450 million for obstetric services for such ‘undocumented” individuals last year alone. And this amount of money is far lower than the actual costs of the obstetric services that were provided, leading to further necessity for over-charging the rest of us who get sick and are forced to use the system.
It is simply not possible for our state or country to provide all the medical care for the other nations of the world. Because of our current lax laws, along with the fear of “politically correct” recriminations that individuals face, there is a widespread refusal to acknowledge what is occurring under our noses.
Aiden Lester