Sunday's Letters to the Editor

Bad company

EDITOR: Enough is enough. You are, as the saying goes, known by the company you keep. David Brooks (“Obama’s ‘Quiet Revolution’ in education,” Oct. 18) invokes all of the well-known “education experts:” Jeb Bush, Bill Gates, Newt Gingrich and Al Sharpton in praising the Obama administration’s Race to the Top initiative for education.

Brooks calls it a “Quiet Revolution.” It’s more like a de-evolution. Not one of the above named has ever spent a day as a K-12 teacher or principal. And that goes for Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, too. He was appointed CEO of the Chicago city schools, and many link his ham-handed “reform” mandates to a sharp spike in school-related violence.

The central pillar of Race to the Top is linking teachers’ evaluations and employment to student test scores. Who could be against that? How about every professional organization that deals with test scores? For example, the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association and the National Research Council, which all say the U.S. does not have a research base to implement a valid and fair teacher-evaluation system based on student scores.

The president should be cautious when in the ideological company of far-right propagandists, monopolistic businessmen and whatever it is that Al Sharpton does.

GARY RAVANI

President,

Early Childhood/K-12 Council

California Federation of Teachers

Petaluma

EDITOR: The first of three community meetings to redesign Santa Rosa Avenue between the Burbank Gardens and Juilliard Park neighborhoods was held Oct. 21. The purpose of these meetings is to provide a plan for pedestrian and cyclist safety, improved aesthetics and alternative transportation options as well as strengthen linkages between the two neighborhoods, the Prince Memorial Greenway and the SMART station.

The participants discussed the existing conditions and proposed plans for the future of this underdeveloped four-lane stretch of road.

We heard participants speak of improved crosswalks for pedestrian safety, fewer traffic lanes, added bike lanes, on-street parking to facilitate new business activity, public art under the freeway overpass and on the street, a trolley system, planted medians and more. Hopefully, when fully realized, our “new” Santa Rosa Avenue will bring much-needed development to this boulevard and provide a blueprint for other neighborhoods wishing to achieve a pedestrian-friendly “village center.”

I would like to thank our neighbors and friends who took time from their busy schedules to participate in this meeting, the consultants from DC&E for their professional services, the city staff who facilitated the discussions, and the City Council and Planning Commission members who came to see and hear for themselves the vision we hope to achieve.

JUDY KENNEDY

Santa Rosa

EDITOR: Allowing public access to previously inaccessible portions of the Laguna de Santa Rosa is a good idea. According to the state Resources Agency, 85 percent to 90 percent of the wetlands in California have been drained and their ecosystems destroyed. One of the few remaining natural wetlands is within our county, and it is our responsibility to protect this unique resource.

As someone who has lived in the Russian River area, I am grateful for the protection from floods that the Laguna provides. Also, along with Armstrong Grove, it is a unique opportunity for natural education. Allowing public access to this incredible resource can only help us to respect the natural world.

I understand that there are concerns with squatters taking up residence and worry that the ecosystem will be damaged. However, people become invested in land they can see and travel through. If the public is permitted to walk on paths around the Laguna, they will be more likely to pick up trash, report illegal campsites and protect the resource. Opening the Laguna to the public is healthy for the Laguna and healthy for the people and the identity of Sonoma County.

PATRICK McDONELL

Sebastopol

EDITOR: I found George Barich’s Close to Home column about the recall dull and self-absorbed (“This is a waste of taxpayers’ money by my political opponents,” Oct. 23). He talks about himself way too much in one-sentence statements with absolutely no evidence to support any of them.

Sentence after sentence starts the same way, “I hold ... I continue ... I refuse ... I pride ... I know ...” It’s essentially George Barich’s view on George Barich. He does, however, reveal his groundbreaking polices that make him so valuable to us.

Get ready. Drum roll, please. He says he wants to plan smart. He declares that he wants to think outside the box. He boldly states that he wants to save money.

Statements like that are boring politics as usual.

ALEC HAIGWOOD

Rohnert Park

EDITOR: Skateboarding is a popular sport in Sonoma County. Many towns have provided excellent skate parks to promote this sport. But is it fair to make someone wear full pads and give a ticket if they aren’t? Shouldn’t we be able to decide for ourselves? I think so.

I have never received a ticket, but I have been warned many times. Although I dislike body-pad rules, I am a firm believer in a helmet. That saves lives. I have heard some frightening stories about skaters taking some major smacks to the cerebellum.

I think if you are of age (16), you should be able to make your own decision about whether or not you want to wear elbow and knee pads.

Personally, I think it throws off your ability to perform and do certain tricks, because you can’t move that specific body part, which makes it more dangerous because it restricts you. I vote yes on the helmet but no on the elbow and knee pads.

SCHERF MONTGOMERY

Windsor

EDITOR: There have been many debates about whether President Barack Obama earned the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel press release states that “only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.”

If these are the requirements are for winning, then I think that Obama has rightfully won. However, in the past, the Nobel Peace Prize has been given to men and women who already have made contributions and worked toward a peaceful future.

Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after years of perseverance toward peace. It was not given because of his aspirations but because he made a noticeable difference that contributed to peace.

In my opinion, there should be evidence that some peace has been achieved in order to win the Nobel Peace Prize, not the hope that there will be, because there is always going to be hope.

BETHANY CODDING

Santa Rosa