Violence against women in Sonoma
Editor: As a psychiatrist active in the community for 12 years, I have been shocked to learn not only are innocent women and girls in Sonoma being battered and sexually assaulted at home, but at least one woman was recently drugged at a local dance bar and gang-raped. Additionally, several women working at the Sonoma Developmental Center, founded by two women, have been routinely assaulted for years by a wrongly admitted, inadequately treated, unrestrained client there.
These horrifying assaults are not being reported in local newspapers, discussed at city meetings or prosecuted. They are continuing. If we value the lives of human beings, we will come to their aid and stop these violent assaults on life itself.
Janine Canan M.D.,
Sonoma
Regards from Sonoma’s new
Sister City
The Sonoma City Council has approved a sister city relationship with Penglai, China. Bill Boerum, sister city chair, shares this letter.
It is a great pleasure to be informed on Jan. 6 the Sonoma City Council agreed to establish a sister-city relationship with Penglai as we wished. Everything is getting on smoothly on the right track. I would like to, on behalf of Penglai people, express the heartfelt thanks and admiration to you again.
I have arranged our relative departments to speed up the process. Now we are making preparations to strive for Penglai People’s Congress to officially approve our two cities establishing the friendly relationship. I firmly believe the establishment of our two cities’ sister-city relationship will be finally realized through our concerted efforts.
We welcome you and the members of Sonoma-Penglai Committee and others who are dedicated to this cause to visit Penglai at any time.
Dailing Zhang
Mayor of Penglai City
Farmer’s Market Charade
Editor: What kind of half-fermented, push-me-pull-you, kika-poo joy-juice are they serving down at City Hall?
The Sonoma Community Center and the Ecology Center had the foresight to drop out of the running. Ken Brown, our “Once and Future Mayor” stepped away on the advice of his attorney at the start – major perceived liability, and Ken can’t afford to tell all he knows. City Hall bounced Irene Morgan out of the race on a technicality, because she said it would cost no money, just time and energy.
It’s not that newcomers have fewer rights than those with old “roots.” Newcomers have less clout, and less pull, and less insider information to go on. There are “wheels within wheels” in this Valley.
A few words to remind us all of the City Council’s track record: Rosemont; Leveroni Ranch; Cows v. Casinos; THE BLUE WING INN.
This was not sincere enough to be a fiasco. This was a charade.
Let those who “have the ears, hear.”
Carla Heine,
Sonoma
Remembering
Chris Reed
Editor: Sonoma people – from Kenwood, the Springs, Glen Ellen, Sonoma, Vineburg and Schelleville – gather in all kinds of different groups. Parents, teens, seniors, churchgoers, musicians and little leaguers; we get together in clubs and charities and associations and, of course, in neighborhoods.
These different groups don’t get too many chances to bump into each other on a regular basis – yet we all think of ourselves as one community.
Maybe because there are icons around us in this town we all recognize as being quintessentially Sonoma. Events like the Fourth of July fireworks, and the pillow fights and fire department cookouts, and homecoming. Places like City Hall and the Plaza, Mary’s Pizza, Happy Dog Diner and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
There are people we all know – like Dave Chavoya, Butch the mailman and Roger Rhoten at the Sebastiani.
We’re a community because we may not know each other, but we all know people like Chris Reed, and Chris had his own special way of making us aware he knew us.
In fact, many people didn’t consider themselves accepted into the community until they had been insulted by Chris at the checkout.
So when we remember Chris, we don’t just remember his wit, and barbs, and banter and spark of humanity, we also see ourselves, and our fine community.
Thank you Chris, for reminding us who we are.
Tom Whitworth
Sonoma
Reader’s Voice
Reform Immigration for America successfully launched its campaign in the 1st Congressional District in the historic Sonoma Plaza on Jan. 14. This demonstration unveiled Reform Immigration for America’s unbreakable support and determination in their pursuit to bring about comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. The event was in coordination with 55 other actions across California, as well as over 100 across the country in 28 different states.
It was with great patriotism and love for their country that more than 80 supporters of immigrant rights gathered to thank Congressman Mike Thompson for his continual support to the Latino communities in Northern California, while simultaneously asking him to affirmably sponsor the need for comprehensive immigration reform in Congress. Reform Immigration for America did so with power. Not only was there a mass support group present and testimonials by constituents given, but wineries also showed their support by donating wine bottles which were given to Congressman Thompson as a symbolic gesture to show the fruits of immigrant labor.
Reform Immigration for America was successful in delivering speakers who unraveled important and intrapersonal stories of the 1st District’s constituents. One of the female attendees told us of her cousin who’s undocumented and a successful student who was able to overcome many obstacles and is currently pursuing a higher education. She will most likely be unable to find a career with her future degree because of the lacking pathways into citizenship. This is just one of the clear testimonials of brilliant students who grew up in the United States unable to pursue their lifelong dreams because they were missing their rightful citizenship rights. The youth are speaking to America, demanding change, opportunity, and justice. It is with open ears and hearts America should be receiving their stories instead of setting them up for failure.
The unfair and crippling illegality, which has pegged to our youth and hardworking citizens of this country, was further elaborated by Rev. Deacon Fernandez who represented an expansive network of Roman Catholics. He illustrated how in his faith one of the most important figures, Jesus Christ, was also in fact at one point an immigrant being wrongfully prosecuted from border to border. Rev. Fernandez called for the hate to stop and for us to embrace the love for one another therefore embracing our humanity and ending the wrongful prosecution our immigrants face today.
Casimaro Alvarez, a representative from the United Farm Workers, spoke of the importance agricultural jobs are to this country and how we depend on the farm-worker population in our everyday lives. Alvarez feels it is a complete injustice for a population who works so hard and one who firmly believes in the American dream to be denied basic human rights. His organization has proven change is possible, he asked “Se puede?” and was responded by a powerful and united, “Si se puede!”
The fact of the matter is the system is broken and all sides know it. Now Reform Immigration for America will hold President Obama accountable for his word to tackle immigration reform in 2010.
Omar Gallardo spoke about this broken system and the unjust difficulties human beings are put in because of it. Mario Castillo is a perfect manifestation of the inequalities the system presents. He is a loving father of two and wants nothing more than to give his daughters the opportunities he did not posses. This is why he is an activist on the behalf of Reform Immigration for America and is willing to sacrifice in order to bring about positive social change; to build a world in which his daughters can prosper in by recognizing and nourishing the potential immigrants have to offer our society.
The coordinated events by Reform Immigration for America, like this one in Sonoma, have shown there are millions in this country that have demonstrated their commitment and loyalty to the United States, but have been shunned when asked to participate in prosperity. It has been made clear there is a need for this land to come through with its word of being one of opportunity by abolishing a caste system which maintains an important and vital population in shadows and in wrongful criminality. The incorporation of the now undocumented people into mainstream America would be purely beneficial to the United States and Reform Immigration for America will continue to demonstrate this truth.
Carlos Rivas
Sonoma