Letters to the Editor

Sun ran wrong
photos with
bike article
Editor: We are very appreciative of the wonderful article James Golway wrote in the June 14 Sun about the electric bicycles we have imported.  Having said that, we do want to point out that the photos of the various bikes that the Sun’s editor’s featured in the article are not the ones we have for sale.  To see our bikes please go to www.ablebicycle.com.
Mitchell and Judi Shapiro

Steering committee didn’t rule out
hospital parcel tax
Editor: I have read the extensive steering committee recommendations of the Sonoma Valley Health Care Coalition dated May 14, which was enclosed with your June 14 newspaper.
The steering committee in its report did not adequately provide any financial data that a new hospital would operate on a sound and profitable basis without inclusions of future parcel taxes.
Hugo Romani

Condo-izing is
cannibalizing
Editor: Thank you, Sonoma City Council, you got it right. Thank you for passing a moratorium for 45 days to stop the condo-izing of our mobile-home park, Rancho de Sonoma. I use the term cannibalizing, because if the park owner gets his way, we would lose our affordable housing, which Sonoma desperately needs more of, and our city rent control which is necessary because we live on a fixed income. Now the city council can look at other model ordinances such as ones passed by Sonoma County and the city of Santa Rosa and pass an ordinance for the city of Sonoma that will prevent the condo-izing (cannibalizing) of our senior mobile home parks. Again, thank you Sonoma City Council for protecting the rights of our senior citizens.
Harry Drittenbas

Why support parcel tax, when walkout cost school state
dollars?
Editor: No wonder the Sonoma Valley School District needs a parcel tax to operate. With high school accompanied by the school principal and a school police officer, the school district probably lost financial aid from the state on March 15 because 125-175 students walked out of their classes for an immigrant rights rally on the plaza. This left the rest of the school population without the principal and officer who should be providing a safe place for them to learn. And it appears that these students will not have any consequences or any disciplinary action taken by the administrators.
The taxpayer has entrusted schools and designated personnel to educate our youth to optimize their potential, so that they can compete in the future by creating a safe learning environment.
Who is accountable when that does not happen?
As a taxpayer, paying over $1,000 just for special assessments that are climbing, I am concerned that outsiders have so much influence over students that the school day is disrupted and school officials that are trusted with the safety of them don’t react.
A parcel tax – for what? To finance walkouts and disruptions by students who should be in school learning. To finance students who feel that they have too much homework, which interferes with their social life. To finance school personnel who lack control over the school day. Why would a taxpayer vote for one?
The administrators by their own admission have stated that the population in the Sonoma Valley School District is declining and they expect that this trend will continue. How many students have we lost of over the past five years – around 500? It’s time to close a school and look at other options besides burdening the taxpayer.
Eileen Klug

Tired of Sonoma’s ‘snooty’ disregard
of NASCAR
Editor: I have long been a fan of auto racing and regularly attend the NASCAR and INDYCAR events held yearly at Infineon Raceway, formerly known as Sears Point.
However, I have always wondered why your fine city has rarely been engaged with those two major motorsports events? Please consider that NASCAR is the second-largest spectator sport in America, draws 130,000+ people at Infineon every year in June, and since 1948 has been a family sport with more than half the fan base being young adult women with above-average disposable incomes. The Indycar series race in late August draws about 60,000 people, and since 1911 has had a worldwide fanbase. It features three female drivers and whose fans skew more mature with affluent lifestyles. Considering the fact that network television claims these two races are from Sonoma, California, why is there no acknowledgment of that fact in your town? May I suggest a race festival, or a street fair, or a parade featuring famous drivers, or wineries featuring drivers’ autograph sessions, etc.? Upon driving around your town square on race weekends, one would never know there are two nationally televised racing events only a few miles away!
I’ve asked family members and townspeople every year since 2000, and I finally got an honest answer this year. Your town simply does not care about race-fan tourists! However, this glutton for pain will once again transport my family to both racing events in “Sonoma,” rent your motel rooms, eat at your fine restaurants, shop at your local stores and purchase your incredible wines. But frankly, I’m growing tired of your town’s snooty attitude. So once again, this race fan fully expects to be shunned and ignored in Sonoma, maybe for the last time.
Michael Hanks

Where was council’s compassion?
Editor: At the city council meeting on June 6, two things happened that left me, quite frankly, amazed. 
First was the poignant, passionate testimony by Deborah Stroski in regard to the stormtrooper ICE raids in Boyes Springs, brutally and callously ripping parents away from their families while their children watched, shocked and devastated. These people were not guilty of some heinous, violent crime to have warranted such treatment. Some of these people have lived and worked in our community for 15-20 years – responsible, law-abiding, and tax-paying people. These are friends, neighbors and co-workers. 
As Ms. Stroski so aptly pointed out, these men and women are the working backbone of the economy of this city and this county. I would ask the city council and others in this community how long do they think things would continue to function if these people decide en masse to withhold their labor? These are the folks taking care of this community’s very young children and our older parents no longer able to care for themselves. These are the folks who make Sonoma’s service industry and wine industry function. Who do we think are working the vineyards – Canadians? 
Ms. Stroski brought the 6-year-old daughter of Adrian Corriera who has lived and worked here for 15 years, achieving managerial status. This child had to helplessly look on as her father was sadistically snatched away from her and her family. She pleaded, heart-broken and frantic for the city council’s help. 
The only one, I repeat – the only one – on the council to respond to this desperate child’s and Ms. Stroski’s impassioned plea was Ken Brown. The rest of the council blithely moved on to immediately discuss some minutia of city business that easily could have waited. My God, don’t we share the same reality? Where is our humanity? Are we unable or incapable of responding to a child’s plight when it’s happening before our eyes? Would we treat our own children with such callous indifference? 
Will Shonbrun