Saturday's Letters to the Editor

<p class="bold allcaps">Name calling</p> <p>EDITOR: I was saddened at the name-calling in Patty Regalia’s Nov. 7 letter (“Marxist agenda”). It is hard to have a democratic give-and-take with people who hurl labels at you, such as “socialist” and “Marxist.”</p><p>My support for government in universal health care comes not from the agenda she pins on people like me. It is based on the humanitarian principles in the Declaration of Independence and the teachings of charity found in my religion and all other ones.</p><p>Let’s not treat our political opponents as traitors or un-American. Let us welcome all ideas in our marketplace of democracy.</p><p>PHIL WEIL</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Vote for Hardy</h3> <p>EDITOR: I want to thank the absentee voters who voted for me and those who will vote for me at the polls on Tuesday in Cotati’s special election.</p><p>This time of budget cuts and difficult decisions has challenged Cotati’s reservoir of intelligence and panache. But, the wells have not run dry. With a diverse revenue base, multi-generational pollination and collaboration with Sonoma State University, Cotati can emerge strong.</p><p>These things don’t happen by magic. They demand leaders who can work well with other people, watch the money and get the details right. Local citizens have worked hard to get my message out because they believe that I have these unique skills. If I am elected, Cotati’s budget crisis won’t simmer until next year. We will deal with it from day one — and more.</p><p>Mike Kurvers (“Vote for Harvey,”¬Letters, Nov. 6) recently wrote that Robert Coleman-Senghor’s Close to Home column (“Stand up against politics of division,” Oct. 23) hit the mark on reasons for the recall. I am proud Coleman-Senghor endorsed me.</p><p>I only disagree with Kurvers on one point, his suggestion that my supporters vote for one of my opponents. Vote yes on the recall, and vote for me.</p><p>LINELL HARDY</p><p>Cotati</p><h3>Sheriff elections</h3> <p>EDITOR: I would like to comment on your editorial regarding the lack of contested elections for Sonoma County sheriff (“Name game,” Thursday).</p><p>I am of the opinion that your assertion that “the voters were rendered superfluous” by the opinions of the unions representing Sheriff’s Office employees is faulty. The employees are entitled to state their preferences for who they would like to see as sheriff and in no way are keeping anyone else from running for office.</p><p>As for the supposed comment of “long term negative consequences” of a contested election, you also misinterpreted the potential internal divisions a race between employees would have.</p><p>I, for one, respect Sheriff Bill Cogbill’s desire for internal harmony and Lt. Steve Brown’s decision to withdraw from the race. I have my opinions on who would make a good sheriff, and if nobody else runs, it’s not the fault of Cogbill or his employees.</p><p>EUGENE LANE</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Room for watchdogs</h3> <p>EDITOR: I was recalled in Boonville some 10 years ago for the same reason George Barich is being recalled. Our local fire district had some funds taken away by the state, and the majority of the board wanted to pass a parcel tax, which they later did. At that time, the district was a few thousand dollars in debt. Today it is $238,000 in debt.</p><p>When people get elected to these boards of directors, they lose all sense of financial prudence. Once given, it’s almost impossible to cut back.</p><p>We need firefighters, police officers, teachers and other government employees, but we need affordable employees. Government employees have a monopoly. There is no competition to control funds except a George Barich, and there are few of them. As we see, all government entities — local, county and state — are in hock and will not do the two things to bring themselves back into balance. That is to get rid of inefficient departments that proliferate and cut everyone’s compensation (no exceptions) 15 percent or whatever it takes to balance these out-of-control budgets.</p><p>EMIL ROSSI</p><p>Boonville</p><h3>Connecting the dots</h3> <p>EDITOR: I connected the dots just as George Barich suggested in Staff Writer Jeremy Hay’s article (“Accusations over Cotati campaign donation,” Friday). Guess what they spelled out? Yes on recall.</p><p>EDWIN JAMES PATTERSON</p><p>Cotati</p><h3>Is dream fading?</h3> <p>EDITOR: At this time, students are applying to universities in hope of achieving a degree leading to a career of their dreams.</p><p>Being a teacher of AVID, advancement via individual determination, and working with seniors now applying to universities, my curriculum is based on teaching the system of applications, SAT tests, A-G courses and deadlines. But underneath I am scared and worried that all that we teach regarding higher education might not be true.</p><p>Is there going to be enough financial aid for students who qualify? For community college students, are selected classes for transfer to UC or CSU going to be available for students graduating in 2010? I will share the Nov. 7 commentary titled “Betraying the California dream” with my class. Reality for them may be tough times ahead, but higher education must be accessible for all students.</p><p>My faith lies with those who make the decisions.</p><p>LAURA EQUITZ</p><p>AVID Senior Seminar,</p><p>Geyserville High School</p><h3>Scaling back</h3> <p>EDITOR: It seems that we are finally seeing an outcome that we have been building up to. The way that we consume in this country exceeds our population’s needs. Beginning at a young age, we are told to buy, buy, buy. Although we are also encouraged to recycle, it does not help when the consuming and disposal portion of this lifestyle is growing exponentially.</p><p>Now that the proposal to sell the Mecham Road landfill failed, could there be a way in which we as a community could start to conserve more in this time of need?</p><p>I know that the holiday season is here, but maybe we could separate our wants from our needs. We don’t need to eliminate the consuming (although it would be ideal to get only what we need), but we could save on things like wrapping paper and bows that serve only an aesthetic purpose. Perhaps we could even not buy anything and just spend the time with family.</p><p>This problem will become greater if we don’t do our part for the future.</p><p>EDUARDO MEDINA</p><p>Santa Rosa</p>