Page 4 - Sonoma County Gazatte May 2017

LETTERS cont’d from page 3
operating in my home 24/7. My quality of life shifts up and down according to the level of toxicity in the air.
I am not saying not in my town, only asking why not another town.
YES on measure C
Ron Smith, Guerneville
Though I have lived in many places across this country, this is the only place that I have ever come back to after moving away. I first arrived in Santa Rosa in the early 80’s, left to attend college for a couple of years, but couldn’t wait to return “home.” After 16 years with the public library, I retired and, today, I try to survive in the most beautiful, yet one of the most expensive, places in America on a PERS pension of less $800 a month. Thankfully, my husband’s income allows us to manage, though we struggle from paycheck to paycheck and worry as we face his retirement.
My immune system is healing.
I look forward to the day that I no longer see or feel the elephant in the County. I am sharing this information with you while it is still first hand and personal.
Thanks for your letter - I can answer at least part of your question.
Yes - EVERY community has a homeless problem - just not as VISIBLE as Guerneville since the river is one block from downtown. The River has a lot to do with gathering homeless people since you will find that in all towns with rivers, homeless people camp by water for obvious reasons. But in most cases they remain invisible or less visible than in Guerneville.
The chemicals are ubiquitous. I just want people to know the severity of the toxicity in our beautiful county. The problem is huge.
They are also less visible in Monte
Rio although still very much present. But Monte Rio has few places to purchase food and supplies compared with Guerneville. In Healdsburg and Windsor people
camp along Dry Creek and along the old railroad tracks. In Santa Rosa it’s along the creek and used to be along the tracks until SMART changed that.
We lost our condo during the real estate crash. That investment was to be our pathway into senior housing, which we were 6 months away from qualifying for. Renters once again, it is highly unlikely we will ever own our home. My son and his family live in Portland because they can’t find housing that is affordable on the incomes that local jobs offer. So I see my two granddaughters only rarely.
I live in Monte Rio. Ever since May of 2016 it has become a hot spot of
air contamination. I am not talking about the wood burning stoves, this is another, separate issue. I experience a chemical exposure in my home almost every day. I do not know the source.
In Forestville it’s mostly along the river on both sides. In Sebastopol it’s along the Laguna. In Cloverdale by the river and under bridges. In Petaluma along the river and tracks. In Sonoma it’s along the creek. etc. etc. Each community has ways of handling their homeless populations depending upon who they are and how much of a disturbance they create.
But we are lucky. We live in a duplex in the JC area and have the greatest landlord ever. No, Measure C will not apply to us, but I will happily vote YES on MEASURE C. Why?
I am concerned about the children. How can they develop and thrive in a sea of chemicals? There are several school on Watertrough Road.
Guerneville’s visible population is what is causing much of the concern, especially because this town relies on tourism for
its economy. When you delve deeply into how each community handles its homeless population, you see that they do all have systems that work - or don’t work - for them one way or another. ~ Vesta
Because I love this place. And I will not stand idly by while money pours in from faceless organizations and people who do not live here, dictating the way to run our city. Their money, their questionable strong-arm tactics and their lies must not win. Our city council members, who DO live here, were correct last year when they first passed this ordinance. They know this city. They meet us in line at the grocery store. They know, personally, both the renters and the landlords, and they worked hard to walk that very fine line between protecting the landlords’ investments and offering some relief for renters.
I feel powerless to create a change. The agriculture Department and
the chemical companies are heavily supported by laws. But I can speak my truth and tell my story. I can suggest the buying of organic goods and
Why then the community blurbs in your paper do not mention the homeless problem.
There needs to be a balance between industry and our right to live in a healthy environment. Life
is not sustainable with high levels
of pollution. I struggle daily. The pesticide regulations are not effective. If they were, the air would be cleaner. Politically, there seems to always be
a reason to support conventional farming and vineyards, but very little insight into why people are sick and dying.
...because the columnists choose to focus on other issues. Homeless problems are ongoing - the reason Monte Rio and Guerneville are focusing on it in their columns right now is because there are currently town meetings addressing the issues. The next meeting is on April 24th hosted by Lynda Hopkins. Finding a location for the Homeless Services Center is at the top of the community’s mind right now. The Monte Rio columnist is one of the people involved in finding a place for that shelter/service center.
I will vote YES for MEASURE C because I refuse to let big, out-of-town money turn my beloved city into a place where only the rich people live.
The other hot spots that I encounter within my driving range are: Watertrough Road, the town of Graton, Ragle Park and Hwy 116 from Forestville to Sebastopol.
I drove past the Graton school once. I was horrified at the level of toxic air. I rated it a 10 on a scale of 0-10.
that we stop using toxic substances inside and outside our homes. I can encourage the support our local organic farmers and question the need for more wineries.
Bonnie Petty, Santa Rosa
A clean environment supports health. Why not foster health instead of just focusing on treatment of the disease? We will not be healthy as a county or a country if we continue to give permission to industry to pollute.
4 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 5/17
Healdsburg/Windsor/Geyserville and Cloverdale are serviced by North County Community Services in Healdsburg. They are the people I spent time with doing
I am new to Sonoma County. I was propelled out of Santa Cruz County because of the increasing levels of pesticides and other chemicals in the air. I developed a chemical intolerance and an immune deficiency disorder.
We need a shift in consciousness where the welfare of “We the People” is more important than the corporate profits. Sonoma County could be the first place for the change to occur. The reality of global warming brings an opportunity to create meaningful policies that will
the homeless count in 2016 and have had several articles on how they serve the community. (443 Hudson St, Healdsburg, CA 95448 Phone: (707) 433-6161) www. northsonomacountyservices.com. They have a strong outreach to the homeless. SEE page 34
I have the uncanny ability to feel and experience the toxic effects of these pollutants in my body. I wear a “filterized” face mask for protection as I drive. I have several air purifiers
LETTERS cont’d on page 5
The Elephant in the County