Letters to the Index-Tribune editor, Nov. 23

Preconceived notions at SDC

EDITOR: I have taken this directly from the county’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC).

“If we propose a financially infeasible project, the state will decide what happens here without local input, just like when they put Sun Microsystems corporate headquarters at the Agnew Developmental Center campus in Santa Clara.”

The FAQs go on to explain that the only feasible alternatives are, a medium/large hotel, 25% affordable housing and market-rate single family homes. And they then use the term “boutique” to describe the hotel. Eighty-to-120 rooms may be a boutique hotel in New York, but here it would be considered a medium to large hotel.

Somehow I feel the county planners had their preconceived ideas laid out long ago. The so-called community input up to this point was simply a cover to stretch the timeframe out, and put us right up to the January 2022 deadline. If you read these FAQs closely, you will see that they respond that no other plans are feasible, only the three the county has laid out. Had we as the public been better engaged in real fact gathering and open discussion, rather than the sham polls and meetings, designed to give these desired preconceived ideas, we would not be at this point.

Though many have spoken out and written to the county, they continue in the same vein. The latest survey now circulating and due on Nov. 23, is a case in point. I and many others have written to the county that the survey is flawed. It gives those filling out the survey only a choice of rating the three plans, without a “none of the above option.”

While one may skip these questions and fill out the comments section and profile sections, people will not know this. This survey is designed to produce a preconceived outcome. At the Nov. 13 workshop the county stated the survey had been modified. It has not been modified. My attempts to get the county to pull or change the survey have been ignored.

Had the county really engaged the community, we would not be at this point. There would be financially feasible alternatives that provided more affordable housing, less impact and no hotel. Now there is also a disingenuous campaign to label anyone who feels we have been played and that these three plans are lacking, as some type of NIMBY.

Josette Brose-Eichar

Boyes Hot Springs

Tank the tankers

EDITOR: There is no safe or logical reason to the continuance of hazardous waste storage materials, and particularly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers, at the rail-yard south of Eighth Street and on the miles of train tracks through the wetlands of Sonoma Valley. The connector on Route 37 is an eroding "clay bridge" much like the train tracks holding in silt.

This is an accident waiting to happen annually caused by floods and millions of cars in trucks traversing daily by these unsightly tankers. The below-average maintenance by CalTrans on this route is well documented. Yearly, this alone has the potential of causing economic disaster for Sonoma taxpayers and businesses. Road repair history on Highway 37, a step-child of the state, has proved this point for decades.

This vast wetlands is home to extensive recreational trails and San Francisco Bay waterfowl habitat. It took decades to finally establish this expanded wildlife refuge, home to millions of migrating waterfowl and wetland birds.

This is a clear and present damage to the newly developed wildlife recreational areas for visitors and local citizens alike. SMART’s constituency in the Valley of the Moon is watching how the board handles this action, and will remember when it comes time to vote on their sales tax renewal in the future.

You simply could not be serious about this clear and present danger with the precarious location of these train tracks and the bay, relative to ongoing serious hazards. In the day, the drum beat was "Cows not Casinos.” Here we go again. All of this can be avoided!

Tom Rusert

Co-founder, Sonoma Nature

Campaigning for Alcalde

EDITOR: I wish to announce that I am preparing a letter to be submitted to the Sonoma City Manager for the Alcalde position.

I have participated in a broad spectrum of voluntary community service to Sonoma Valley. I have served in a leadership role in multiple nonprofits. I have spearheaded multiple community serving projects without compensation. I am well-known for consistent behind the scenes good deeds. I adhere to a high standard of moral and ethical values. I have been a resident of Sonoma Valley since 1974 I and served on the City Council for 16 years.

Ken Brown

Sonoma