Tuesday's Letters to the Editor

<p class="bold allcaps">Let off easy</p> <p>EDITOR: When I read what Clarence Dold (“Defending UC police,” Letters, Thursday) said about the pepper-sprayed individuals — “they were in violation of the law, they were warned, and a very low level of physical harm was inflicted in the lawful removal of the violators from the premises” — I was sorry that I hadn't said it first.</p><p>These individuals were characterized as “peaceful protesters.” They weren't. They were obstructing peace officers. Since that is a crime punishable by a $1,000 fine, a year in jail or both, I feel that the temporary discomfort of pepper spray represents getting off easy. As Dold also noted, these individuals were repeatedly warned to move and were shown the pepper spray before it was used.</p><p>I am disturbed by the reaction to this incident. The implication is that if you peacefully prevent the police from doing their job, they have no right to induce you to stop. For instance, if they try to raid your meth lab, you just stand in the doorway and refuse to move. They have no right to force you to move, so they cannot proceed. Some people might consider this to be a good thing, but I don't agree.</p><p>L. ROBERT HILL</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Keep the dams</h3> <p>EDITOR: The case for removal of the Klamath Dams isn't as “unambiguous” as your editors like to think (“Alliance forms to end Klamath water war,” Editorial, Friday).</p><p>The Klamath River recently had one of the largest runs of salmon in more than a decade, so the dams aren't as detrimental as some claim. The dams also provide benefits such as hydroelectric power. Stored water can be used to raise water levels for salmon as is done on local rivers.</p><p>Still, we all agree salmon migration shouldn't be hindered, so I propose a compromise: Rather than spend a billion dollars or more on a questionable removal, spend just a few million and install fish ladders to allow salmon migration. Then we could have it all: the fish could migrate, we keep the dams' water storage capacity and power generation, plus save hundreds millions of dollars.</p><p>Seems to me everybody wins under an agreement like that, even if we do use California water bonds to help pay for it.</p><p>FRED MANGELS</p><p>Eureka</p><h3>House actions</h3> <p>EDITOR: The job of the media is to get the facts and report all of the news regarding an issue. Unfortunately, The Press Democrat appears to not think this is how news should be reported.</p><p>Monday's editorial cartoon indicates that this Congress is a do-nothing Congress. Here are some facts. The current House of Representatives, run by the Republican Party, has passed a regulatory reform bill, a budget that would reduce the deficit, a new energy development bill to explore domestic energy and production and a reform of the tax code.</p><p>The do-nothing group is the Senate, which is run by Democrats. The Senate has not debated the House legislation and, by the way, has not passed a budget in more than two years.</p><p>Please get all of your facts straight. That is real journalism.</p><p>JACK GEARY</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Support SMART</h3> <p>EDITOR: Please don't sign the petition to repeal the SMART. It's only going to cost the taxpayers more money. If they get enough signatures (nobody know how many is enough), it's the taxpayers who are going to have to pay for that election.</p><p>A poll shows that only 30 percent of the people wants to repeal the tax measure (“Poll supports train, group says,” Thursday). We need infrastructure jobs to get us out of this economic slow down, and SMART is a project that will create and supply jobs for both Sonoma and Marin counties. It will also provide us with a cleaner transportation alternative. So if someone asks you to sign a petition to repeal the tax, say, “No, thank you — the SMART train is a smart use of our tax dollars.”</p><p>GEORGE STEFFENSEN</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Community power</h3> <p>EDITOR: Let's face it, we've been abandoned by our federal and state governments. The political system has deliberately tied itself up until nothing of substance can be accomplished for its own self-serving reasons.</p><p>Our basic education, health and other services are being cut back. The only increases go to non-productive militarizing of law enforcement, prisons and increased surveillance technology. Is that what we really want done with our taxes?</p><p>County and city governments are our last lines of defense. We can see our local elected officials at meetings, on our streets, in our stores and at community events every day. That is where our individual and community power lies. Get involved locally at any level, then make a difference.</p><p>ARNOLD LEVINE</p><p>Sebastopol</p>