Letters to the Editor, Sept. 1 - 3

Tortas recall Editor, Index-Tribune: I was headed north on Highway 12 through Fetters, Boyes Springs and Agua Caliente.|

Tortas recall

Editor, Index-Tribune:

I was headed north on Highway 12 through Fetters, Boyes Springs and Agua Caliente. I looked at the area and thought about how much the place had changed (“Colorful Debate Over Colorful Designs,” July 30). Not so long ago these little bergs were resort towns – where people from San Francisco would come to spend their weekends and swim in the mineral pools. Some of the summer homes were built with dismantled or leftover materials from construction in San Francisco. Lately, the place is beginning to look like “Little Yucatan.” I’m OK with it – Tuscany is getting garish.

I love Mexican food. I like hard-working people that care about their neighborhoods. The people and the businesses along the way seem to be thriving. In the evening when I go out for a burrito, I get a sense of respect from the locals, who are enjoying the cool of the evening. Yeah, everyone should be enjoying. They work here and this is their home. The food off the trucks is authentic, as real as Mexican food can get. The prices are reasonable. There is nothing worse than Mexican food at French prices.

When I was a kid, one of the coolest things about Mexican food was the ingredients. Basically they come up with a bunch of different entrees using five ingredients, that you could feed the whole family without a great deal of money. It’s nice to go out in the evening and still buy prepared food that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The food is not the American version of what fast food has become. In many ways, it is healthier for you.

I love the beautification of Highway 12. I fear the loss of the barrio. The neighborhood where people can afford to live and sit down at a picnic table and eat out. The idea that this life, the one that people are enjoying now will be declared unfashionable, unsafe or somehow made economically unsustainable to me would be a great loss.

I see people enjoying life and caring about where they live. I see a sense of community and respect for others. They take pride in their culture. The businesses provide a much-needed alternative and keep undesirable elements out. Life needs to remain affordable or it is not going to work for anyone. Let’s do it gracefully.

Eric Heine?Glen Ellen

Crockpot?calling the kettle black

Editor, Index-Tribune:

A front page story (“Williams Sonoma Out of Frying Pan Into Fryer at Council Meeting,” Aug. 18) inspires me to write regarding our city planners who appear to be working only for the wine industry.

Williams-Sonoma has brought a splendid small store in their original location, an historic event as well as bringing attention to our little town for something more than wine.

The planners have seen fit to give permission to a huge pet store (never mind the locals who will no doubt lose business); adding an office supply store which certainly looks like a big-box store and allowing a monkey-vomit green hardware store to grace the entrance of our little town.

Back to Williams-Sonoma. Apparently the corporate office had a better idea for the little space in the back of the store where Chuck lived, originally planned for a guesthouse for visiting chefs. Without advising the planners, they went ahead and made a small furniture offering and found themselves “in hot water with Sonoma city officials.”

Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?

Joan Down?Sonoma

Editor’s Note: Well-written juxtaposition about two similar issues with very different outcomes, Joan. We, however, would categorize the hardware store more as a “mint chartreuse.”

Leaf blowers?a matter?of survival

Editor, Index-Tribune:

The law says no one person, place or thing can be tried for the same offense unless new evidence is presented. In the leaf blower case, this holds true. The same old complaint – dust and noise – nothing new.

What is happening here is the same old people hoping a new city council will see their way. They are trying to convince these gullible councilmembers to go against common sense. If the complainers don’t succeed this time, they will try a fourth, fifth maybe sixth time.

Many of we gardeners are solo- and two-people operations. Our existence depends on these devices to make a living. Quit trying to harm small business. Our life depends upon a leaf blower to survive.

Jerry Bruno?Sonoma

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