Letters to the Editor

Libertarian’s take on immigration

Editor: Here’s a libertarian’s take on immigration. Start with three beliefs: Borders must be secure from breach by terrorists. Immigrants are an asset to – not a drain on – the economy. Immigration quotas should be based on the nation’s need for workers.
These beliefs suggest a three-point reform: Secure the entire perimeter: Mexican border, Canadian border, seacoasts (“weakest link” concept). Offer a tough but reasonable path to legal status – and eventual citizenship – for existing illegals. Raise annual quota for Latin Americans to 300,000, giving them no reason to enter illegally.
Such a reform would depressurize the border. There’d be no need for guest workers. Employers wouldn’t have to become law enforcers. And illegals could come out of the shadows.
Alden Brosseau

Open Sonoma to dogs

Editor: I thank Al Bandur, Sonoma’s Public Works Director, for noting that dog are not the cause of the missing ducks at our refurbished plaza duck pond. Those familiar with the “old” pond environment know that our lovable but transient ducks are more likely to be harassed by off-leash children than by leashed dogs, who are banned from the plaza. (Dog-loving English majors everywhere know that the proper pronoun for dog is “who,” not “which.”)
Since there are probably more Sonoma households with dogs than with children, it is much harder to understand why there is virtually no public space in Sonoma to take our best friends to socialize, play or exercise, on or off-leash. With dogs banned 24/7/365 from the plaza, Depot Park and all other neighborhood parks, there is no open space in the city for people to go when accompanied by their furry family members. Even well-behaved on-leash dogs are banned from the Farmers’ Market, which is touted as the quintessential Sonoma “community” gathering.
Sonoma’s dog “park” on First Street West is barely larger than a tennis court and inadequate for the legitimate social, recreational and exercise needs of our large and growing dog community. Its small size and irregular maintenance creates a potentially unsafe environment, and only small dogs benefit from a “romp” in such a confined space.
It must shock dog-toting tourists, of which there are many, to be referred to this inadequate space. Like Sonoma residents, visitors must drive out of town to find reasonable public open space for their dog.
Yet sitting only yards away from that tiny dog confine is the Field of Dreams – acres of publicly-owned open space exclusively reserved for a dwindling population of ball-playing school-age youths and – once a year – a corporate jazz festival and the Fourth of July fireworks. That space, from which dog are banned at all times, sits absolutely empty most of the year, even in summer. Dogs are also banned from the Overlook Trail, and they will be banned from the entire 98 acres of taxpayer-funded Montini Open Space.
The fact is that outside the confines of their own home or yard, life for dogs in the supposedly dog-friendly city of Sonoma means to be hounded from all public parks and open space, and leashed by the neck until dead.
Neighboring towns and counties have far more dog-friendly public access rules and off-leash open space.
It is far past time to provide lawful and generous access to public open spaces for the thousands of taxpaying residents and visitors who work, play and willingly live in the incomparable joy and companionship of their very best friends.
Bob Edwards