Tuesday's Letters to the Editor

<p class="bold allcaps">Making concessions</p> <p>EDITOR: In your March 15 editorial (“SR cuts again”), you stated: “That's where police and fire employees can return the favor and help the rest of the city out by agreeing to voluntary reductions in pay and/or benefits.”</p><p>Your editorial implies that police and fire unions have not made concessions. But they have — firefighters, fire managers, police officers and police managers have made concessions saving the city millions.</p><p>A quick search of your archives turned up two articles by Staff Writer Mike McCoy:</p><p>On March 25, 2009 (“Santa Rosa firefighters and police give up pay raises to avoid layoffs”), McCoy wrote: “Leaders of cash-strapped Santa Rosa on Tuesday gave police officers and firefighters a standing ovation after their unions agreed to forgo pay raises totaling more than $4 million over the next two years.” </p><p>On May 4, 2009 (“Santa Rosa police, fire concessions could save $5 million”), McCoy wrote: “Nearly 300 Santa Rosa police and fire department employees are giving up all or part of their projected pay raises over the next two years — moves expected to save the city more than $5 million and 30 jobs.”</p><p>This information is available online and from the city.</p><p>MICHAEL JONES</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Cops and teachers</h3> <p>EDITOR: Ben Saari poses the question “Why are cops compensated at higher rates than teachers?” (“Public safety costs,” Letters, Sunday). Uh, because their job is more dangerous, maybe? His letter smacks of implied opprobrium and agendized rhetoric.</p><p>STEVE TORNQUIST</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>No such amendment</h3> <p>EDITOR: You just have to love these tea party legal experts. Take the letter claiming that a “clueless” Congress and president were in “direct violation of the 28th Amendment” in passing the health care plan and excluding themselves from the law (“Unconstitutional bill,” Monday). While there are things to criticize with this legislation, that surely isn't one of them.</p><p>First, there are only 27 amendments, the last being ratified May 5, 1992, requiring that laws varying the compensation for senators and representatives can take effect only after the next election.</p><p>While there are technically several amendments pending ratification, that referenced by the writer exists only as conversation and blog fodder. And, the final health care bill passed in March, includes a requirement that members of Congress and congressional staff only be offered health plans by the government that shall be created under the act or offered through an exchange established under the act.</p><p>The writer's kind of “knowledge” comes from reading or listening to those “experts” spouting great sound bites supporting what they want to believe. That way they don't have to bother with looking up information for themselves. But it really should make you a little more cautious about trotting out your “knowledge” to a public that may read the actual documents.</p><p>KENT DOMOGALLA</p><p>Calistoga</p><h3>Insidious erosion</h3> <p>EDITOR: “This country is in the position of a free-spending family careening toward bankruptcy that at the last moment announced that it was giving a gigantic new gift to charity.” This is a direct quote from New York Times columnist David Brooks (“One more step on the path to fiscal ruin,” March 24).</p><p>I couldn't have said it better myself, although a little less kindly perhaps. Something like, a 2,000-plus page fiasco, loaded with patronage and pork, written by a few fanatic cronies careening into a chasm of financial ruin. </p><p>Hopefully all liberals will soon agree that the health care reform bill is, as Brooks so candidly labels it, “one more step in the path to fiscal ruin.” </p><p>The triumphantly smirking trio of Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi has led our nation down the path to socialism. The socialist goal of financial and social equality for all, an uncompetitive, ambitionless belief that inevitably leads to nationwide decadency, is rapidly replacing the freed-enterprise spirit that built our heretofore greatly successful republic. </p><p>It's time for patriotic Americans to stand and reject this insidious erosion of our proven values before it's too late.</p><p>BILL SLEETH</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Reckless divers</h3> <p>EDITOR: As an abalone diver for more than 30 years on the North Coast, I cannot understand how anyone could be so lacking of common sense as to go diving in the conditions that existed on the opening day of the season this year (“Abalone diver rescued at sea,” Friday). One simply cannot see anything in such conditions and therefore will leave empty-handed.</p><p>I believe it to be a public service to publish the names of these irresponsible people so those of us with common sense are better able to avoid them. Why are they not billed for the cost of their recklessness?</p><p>Surely, the rescue teams are underfunded and could use the revenue, say cost of rescue plus 20 percent profit and overhead. This may make people think twice but most likely not.</p><p>SCOTT HICKEY</p><p>Graton</p><h3>Cotati's virtues</h3> <p>EDITOR: If you like Cotati's annual Accordion Festival . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's annual Jazz Festival . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's annual farmer's market . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's annual Earth Day . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's annual Kids' Day Parade . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's annual holiday tree lighting ceremony . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's History Museum . . .</p><p>If you like Cotati's historic hexagonal Plaza . . .</p><p>If you like the sculpture of Chief Kotate by Vito in</p><p>La Plaza . . .</p><p>If you like Walkable Cotati . . .</p><p>If you like sidewalk cafes and coffee houses . . .</p><p>If you like the small town, good neighbor feel of Cotati . . .</p><p>If you live in Cotati and want to see it stay the way it is . . . </p><p>You'll vote yes on Measure A next Tuesday.</p><p>CARL JENSEN</p><p>Cotati</p>