Letters to the Index-Tribune editor, Aug. 19, 2022

Why we support Chesa Boudin

EDITOR: A recent study conducted by Amanda Agan of Rutgers University and Anna Harvey of New York University proved that policies like Chesa Boudin’s, enacted when he was San Francisco District Attorney, actually lower recidivism rates as well as crime rates for the long term. And, the facts show that there was a decrease of 26,000 reported crimes and violent crime was lower during Boudin’s tenure as DA.

Some of his accomplishments include an end to cash bail, a policy that unfairly penalizes the poor; he brought cases against police officers for abusive behavior and supported laws that eliminated barriers to holding police accountable as well as compensating victims of police brutality; he created worker protection units; dedicated an assistant DA to prosecute hate crimes, and so much more.

The money spent on the recall campaign came from San Francisco billionaires, including William Oberndorf, who donates to extremists like Mitch McConnell and Tom Cotton. They had enough money to fashion the message in a way that would play slight of hand and convince people who should have known better than to vote for the recall. As The Nation magazine article pointed out, “at the heart of this reactionary movement is a misdiagnosis of genuine problems.” Scapegoating a progressive and effective DA was the perfect target for right-wing operatives and funders. Since they can’t win at the ballot box in California, they have embraced the recall process as their strategy. We need to be aware of this larger framework.

Praxis Peace Institute was proud to host Chesa Boudin and to learn more about what he was able to achieve in San Francisco, what powers he was up against, and what a more equitable and empathic district attorney’s office could accomplish.

Georgia Kelly of Praxis Peace Institute

Sonoma

Housing attacks

EDITOR: I read Marilyn Goode’s letter in the Aug 10 edition and was concerned by her “attack” on Larry Barnett. I attended and spoke at the Design and Historic Review meeting on DeNova’s proposal for more single-family housing on Fifth Street West, as well as at both subsequent Planning Commission meetings where they attempted to alter DeNova’s development plan to include more low-cost housing, not less.

I wrote letters to the city asking them to clarify the General Plan to avoid these over-priced and over-sized developments. Lots of neighbors showed up at those meetings in support of lower-cost housing.

In fact, what came to surface after months of hand-wringing, letter writing, attorneys fees and an alternative architect paid for by neighbors, was the fact that our city planning staff had failed to prevent this type of development by not altering our General Plan language to state “shall” instead of “should” for over three years since the state bill was passed!

I live on the west side of town in an area of both small, single-family, single story homes and apartments, condominium-style communities and manufactured-home parks. We were all seeking lower-priced, smaller homes or apartments for more locals. Almost everyone on the Planning Commission supported that position.

Yet the developer used the new state law to build market-rate housing instead, with the condition he provided a few lower cost units in the plan. It was Larry Barnett who called for an emergency ordinance to the City Council that evening at that last planning meeting to stop further development of this fashion. The attorney actually scoffed at his request, even though City Council members listening in were in support of it.

The two parcels DeNova homes developed for market-rate (over one million dollars) housing were intended for below-market housing, as “opportunity” sites. But the city couldn’t alter DeNova’s plans because of the new state law. And, at the last meeting, the Planning Commission even offered DeNova greater density on that corner if they lowered the size and price of each unit. They declined it.

So please, Ms. Goode, unless you have closely followed these local efforts to affect change, it’s very unkind of you to presume Mr. Barnett’s intentions.

Diane Lumiere

Sonoma

Grateful to for the hospital

Recently, my husband was taken to the ER at Sonoma Valley Hospital by the paramedics. He received excellent care in the emergency room and from there he was taken to a room in the hospital. He stayed there 12 days. The care he received was amazing from the nurses, physical therapists, social worker, the hospitalist Dr. Walther, and all those involved.

Although all those who cared for my husband recommended that he be transferred to a skilled nursing facility, the insurance company denied our request. The help and support we received from the staff to make this happen went above and beyond.

Regardless of their recommendations, my husband was released and sent home. The very next morning, I had to call 911 for an assist to get him up off the floor.

I am so grateful for the professionalism, the kindness and respectful treatment my husband received at SVH.

Nelleke Cooper

Sonoma