No to bikes on sidewalks
Editor: I was very shocked to learn from reading your article, “No Fault in Sidewalk Collision,” it is legal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in Sonoma. I moved here two and a half years ago and have assumed it is not legal to do so. I do ride a bike but have never tried to navigate a sidewalk with pedestrians. Knowing now it is legal, I still would never do so – bikes travel at a much greater rate of speed than walkers. The potential for serious accidents is so obvious to me that I’m just horrified Sonoma would allow such a practice.
Perhaps the Sonoma City Council should revisit this policy in light of the tragic accident which has put an otherwise healthy woman in a coma with an uncertain outcome. Allowing bikes to share the sidewalk with people of all ages and varying degrees of stability and strength is asking for just such a disaster as occurred on Nov. 28.
Karin Bartow
Sonoma
Outraged over bike accident
Editor: What an outrage! A teenager traveling at 17 mph on the sidewalk with no lights isn’t to blame for Wendy Mitchell’s destroyed life. It was her own fault for stepping out onto the sidewalk. What happened to the law stating, “the pedestrian has the right-of-way” – even when it’s a bicycle on the sidewalk? Sonoma’s Keystone Cops strike again. Influential parents prevail over a local artist. Outrageous!
Nancie Ligon
Sonoma
Compassion, not hatred
Editor: Larry and Joan, thank you for your insightful columns. They are highlights of my week. I would like to recommend you investigate charterofcompassion.org online. This organization is attempting to help us weak humans look on each other with compassion instead of hatred. It was organized by Karen Armstrong, author and Middle East scholar. Karen received an award from the TED organization and with it has gathered the thinking of world leaders, philosophers, and yes … us common folk to help organize this charter. It’s worth a look.
Ro Blake
Sonoma
A right to religious symbols
Editor: I would like to comment on the recent removal of religious symbols from Christmas trees at county buildings in Sonoma County, Calif. Irv Sutley was the lone individual who is responsible for having these symbols removed due to the fact they were extremely offensive to him. How can a county government remove these religious symbols just from a complaint of one individual? I firmly believe the government of the county should rehang these symbols next Christmas and let this individual know that NO individual will deter this county from displaying these religious symbols.
Mr. Sutley made the comment, “I don’t believe the government has the right to intrude on anyone and force them into sectarian behavior.” In my opinion, you are intruding on all citizens of the United States when you force the Sonoma County government to remove these religious symbols from public buildings.
Christians in this county have the right to enjoy religious symbols and celebrating the real reason of the season which is the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. With you being a lifelong atheist, that is your decision and Christians would like to see you accept Jesus as your savior. Atheists should not impose their feelings on others and when Atheists use any form of religious expressions I believe they should turn away from these symbols which are disturbing and continue down the path they were going.
According to the news article I read, Sutley was also instrumental in other areas that were religious overtones. He was successful in stopping prayers at government meetings and forced Rohnert Park to redesign its city emblem due to religious symbols. It is my firm belief this county is in the poor shape it is today because our government has banned all forms of religious expressions in all areas of this county, especially our public schools. At the very beginning, our country was founded on religious opportunities but look at the mess our country is in today.
Sutley also intends to ask county officials to remove a steel cross which serves as a memorial to an accident victim. Sutley made the comment the religious symbol was put privately without a permit and it should not be there. This cross was erected for the purpose of a remembrance of a loved one and should remain regardless of your feeling over the memorial.
Stephen M. Boyd
Dawson Springs, Ky.
Building bridges… but where?
Editor: Back in the 1960s and 1970s I wrote many letters to The Sonoma Index-Tribune about war, elections, barking dogs, as well as many topics of racism and bigotry!
In your Dec. 17 “Sun on the Street” column, “What do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Christmas?” three of the top Q-and-As were great! Then the last, by Michael Ebbert: “An American-made bridge,” not a bridge made in CHINA!
I felt that was very INAPPROPRIATE. First, why can’t America build a bridge? Don’t we know how … too expensive … lack of talent … politics?
I am fourth-generation Chinese-American; all my children have attended Sonoma Valley schools.
This very racist – this “American Bridge,” China is going through now, what Japan experienced 24-30 years ago, anti-Japanese thoughts, products, and all things Japanese. When you watch or rent a movie, and see the Columbia lady on the pedestal, note the base of it says a division of SONY Corporations, Capitol Music/Records is also SONY which includes golf courses and theme parks.
Today, San Francisco is 60 percent owned by the Chinese, including commercial and residential! Why sell to “THEM?” Greed!
After all these years, racism still lives in Sonoma; pseudo-liberals, “you people,” “us people,” “those people,” we know who we are, don’t we?
The second part of his response: “Schwarzenegger should be flogged!” Why? I didn’t vote for him, I voted for a young lady. We were in such a hurry to get rid of Gray Davis!
J. Kwai
Sonoma