Letters to the Editor, April 1 - 4

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One person, one leaf blower, one vote

EDITOR: In a recent front page article regarding the leaf blower fiasco (“Blown Away,” March 25) the Index-Tribune had a photo of several landscape workers in line, each requesting the City Council to allow gas leaf blowers so they can do their jobs. What the Council did not see were the approximately 50 or more landscape employees who were in the rear room, supporting their fellow workers.

Unfortunately, three of the council members voted to ban the gas blowers: David Cook, Laurie Gallian and Madolyn Agrimonti.

Approximately two months ago this same Council voted 5-0 to allow the voters in the City to decide this issue. Then, for some unknown reason, the same three council members decided not to let the voters have their say on this matter. Council members Rachel Hundley and Gary Edwards voted to keep the gas blowers and were in favor of putting this on the ballot.

As mentioned in your article, a group of interested citizens are in the process of securing signatures in a referendum effort to allow the City residents to have a final say on this matter. Over the last five years, or so, this item has cost the City over $100,000 in staff time.

Based on the election code, the referendum requires approximately 700 signatures from registered voters that reside in the City limits. This needs to be accomplished by April 17 in order to qualify the referendum for a future election. The City would then be required to stop the ban, now scheduled to begin July 1. The City would then set an election date. There are 20-plus volunteers who are securing signatures in order to qualify this for a vote of the people.

Anyone interested in learning more about the referendum, email me at rdrnnr56@aol.com or Jerry Marino at chickenjer@comcast.net.

John Fanucchi

Sonoma

Deputies slamming brakes on bike theft

EDITOR: This past week my prized bicycle was stolen from our fenced-in private front courtyard. My bike and I have had many adventures together these past 15 years, so it felt not only like a great loss, but also a great violation for someone to steal something that meant a great deal to me. I went to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s substation in El Verano near our home to file a theft report, and was met by a very cordial deputy who began taking the report. While showing him the original receipt and brochures that I had kept all these years, he looked at a picture in the brochure and said, “I think we have your bike in the back, let me go see.” I couldn’t believe my ears!

As it turns out, my bicycle had been recovered by sheriff’s deputies within 24-hours because of their familiarity with the neighborhood, and they know what to look for. I could not have imagined a better outcome, which felt like a miracle! I am so full of gratitude for these professional sheriff’s deputies who go about their jobs every day in our community, taking risks on our behalf, often without being noticed for their courageous work. I am one grateful citizen, and I want to especially thank those substation deputies who did incredible investigative work in recovering my bicycle!

Denise Reynaud Kennedy

El Verano

2016: A race odyssey

EDITOR: If the answer to the question – “which candidate?” – for the Republican primary this June comes up “none of the above,” then one may wonder how that came about.

Perhaps it was a metempsychotic experience for a yet unknown Republican Ulysses (aka Odysseus), on his way to Ithaca - think White House - wherein Ulysses and his party must travel through the Strait of Messina. Ulysses and crew are threatened either by the sea monster Scylla, the six-headed one on his Left, or Charybdis, the angry whirlpool on his Right. Ulysses opts for Scylla and cruises through with the loss of some of his men, but it takes him many more years and the loss of all of his men before he reaches Ithaca.

However, I believe the answer lies with another Ulysses and in the most accurate answer to the famous Marxian query: Who is buried in Grant’s tomb?

The answer is “nobody,” which is also the name Ulysses used with the Cyclops Polythemus.” Strictly speaking the bodies of Ulysses and his wife, Julia, are not below ground in the mausoleum; therefore, neither are buried there.

Since this is the sesquicentennial year of Leopold Bloom’s birth, where is a Republican Ulysses or Penelope when we need them?

Michael F. Heiman

Sonoma

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