Page 8 - Sonoma County Gazette - August 2017

LETTERS cont’d from page 7
THANK YOU!
Permit Resource Management Department PRMD 707-565-1900
Cornerstone Realty and Finance Co. Henry Valderrama 510-557-0736 cell 925-689-8808 office
Loving West County for over three decades, Lee Leibrock
Tools for Political Engagement
OPINION: Against the Stream
I would like to take this opportunity thank you for advertising our free classes in the Sonoma County Gazette! The Older Adults Program at the Santa Rosa Junior College has been offering free noncredit courses throughout the county since 1968 due to the support and willingness of facilities to host our classes.
Summer is in the air and Santa Rosa has been abuzz with activity. The square is unified, the SMART train is nearing completion, and if you haven’t yet checked out the new Wednesday Night Market, you’re missing out!
By Kathleen Finigan
If you only read the mainstream press in Sonoma County, you may think
We are so very grateful for your help in getting the word out to the community. We are currently working hard to expand our free courses which are tailored to older adults as part of its lifelong learning program. The courses provide an opportunity for personal growth and development, group interaction, mental stimulation and physical activity. Our courses are held at senior centers, retirement communities, community centers and residential facilities. There are no fees for Older Adults Program courses.
that Sheriff Steve Freitas announced his August 1st resignation out of the blue. But a closer look at the facts reveals a much different story.
We have also been busy taking positive steps towards dealing with our City’s most pressing issues - we have realigned dollars and services to build more affordable housing, we are implementing a housing first strategy to address homelessness, and we are rethinking how we use dangerous chemicals in our community. It has been an incredibly busy time around city hall!
On March 24th at 4pm the Sheriff announced that he would not seek re- election in 2018. The Press Democrat covered the story, adding at the very end of the piece that his announcement “coincided with the launch of a fledgling effort by a little-known group of activists to recall Freitas.” The truth is that
at 10am that very morning the Community Action Coalition of Sonoma County had served him with a Notice of Intention to Recall him from office. Coincidental? We’ll let you decide.
Triggered by events of the 24th, the Press Democrat on March 29th called for a contested election for Sheriff, breaking the decades long stranglehold on who could run. Since 1990, one candidate would be selected behind closed doors by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Sheriff’s Office and once named, no one else dared to run. However, by April 13th three candidates had already tossed their hats into the ring for next year’s election.
You Rock!
With appreciation, Kelly
Skippy’s Lodge
But even with so much going on, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t hear from a neighbor that they want to do more - and have no idea where to start. So this fall, I’m partnering with the Santa Rosa Junior College to teachToolsforPoliticalEngagement. This six week seminar will look at the political process through two lenses: policy development and advocacy, and elections. Whether it’s getting engaged on an issue or running for local office, our goal is to help community members identify their first step. Better still, all proceeds from this class will go towards helping SRJC’s homeless student population.
On July 7th, the Sheriff announced that he wouldn’t serve out his term after all and would leave office as of August 1. Although he cited health concerns
as the reason and we wish him well, there’s reason to believe that many other issues were also at play – low morale in his department has long been known and a number of lawsuits against him for excessive force and wrongful death are under litigation and pending trial or settlement. In addition, his close support of the Trump administration and its harsh deportation scheme as detailed by Jeff Sessions, with whom Freitas had met personally in Washington DC, has been another very dark cloud over his head.
We have all watched as the former “Skippy’s,” at 11190 McPeak Road, deteriorated beyond repair in hazadous neglect with the promise of improvement ahead.The result is the complete demolition of this piece of river history. Now the plans and permits are in process, and the clearing has begun. It has come to light that the two stands each with three redwoods trees adjacent to the property and structure have been marked for removal in the name of progress unless we speak up.
At this early juncture, even the old boy establishment is bucking its own stream: the Sheriff’s Association has already endorsed one of its own, Mark Essick, as its choice for the next Sheriff and Freitas has named his own choice to be Carlos Basurto, whom he had appointed Chief of Police in Windsor. Can we expect a game of chicken here? Meanwhile, Ernesto Olivares, former police officer and Santa Rosa councilman has congressman Mike Thompson’s vote and many think that the Press Democrat will jump on that wagon too.
These trees survived the clear cut of 150 years ago because they were too small. Now 200 feet and glorious their removal will not change the road or structure intended. Maybe we should consider these trees since they were here way before us, and will be here long after we are gone maybe. Responsible stewardship over profits come to mind here for me.
This community has so many passionate people who are looking for ways to make a difference. I hope you’ll join us as we work to build a more livable Santa Rosa.
Now this progressive county finally has a opportunity to break the bonds of that tired mainstream of the elite with two highly promising candidates: Deputy Jay Foxworthy, born and raised in Sonoma County, who lives in Santa Rosa and is a 22-year veteran of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department and Capt. John Mutz, a former commander with LAPD.
Warmest regards, Chris Rogers
The Community Action Coaltion is continuing its role as the catalyst in this ground-breaking chain of events by hosting candidates for public talks. The first was with Jay Foxworthy, who spoke on July 11th. The event was live streamed and archived on the Coalition’s Facebook page (look for July 11 live video at the Peace and Justice Center and scroll forward to the 15-minute mark).
The new owner, a real estate developer from out of the area is looking to maximize his investment. He is building his business not his home. The county building department is interested in the ongoing tax revenues, and is full of fresh new faces as the seasoned professional staff quit en masse last season. Moving right along.
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John Mutz will appear on July 25th at 6pm at the Peace and Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave, Santa Rosa. Olivares, Essick and Basurto have been invited to speak but have yet to respond.
ing volunteer activists exercised their right to remove an unsatisfactory elected official and the clear winner here is the people of this county. This
is great news, particularly for those communities which have so long been marginalized by the system, and the implications are far-reaching. It’s time to wake up, rise up, speak up! We do make a difference and we do have power. Fasten your seatbelts – it’s going to be quite a ride.
They need our help to see the way clearly what is in fact the best direction for the long term quality of life in our rural neighborhood. If you like the forest part of Forestville give them a call. I think they want to do the right thing, and with our encouragement they will.
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