May 10 Letters to the Editor

Double standard

EDITOR: It is not surprising at all to read the public opinions promoting forgiveness and absolution of Supervisor Efren Carrillo. The country is becoming more and more tolerant of the increase of unethical, criminal and amoral behavior of our elected representatives. They are human, after all.

It is, however, shameful and alarming that our government representatives are generally held to a lower standard than all of the other public servants in our community. I seriously doubt that everyone who continues to support Carrillo's juvenile behavior would be as forgiving if it were their minister, their kid's school principal or their local chief of police. I am certain they would have lost their jobs and been kicked down the road long ago.

I am human, and I can attest that Carrillo is not anything like me.

MATTHEW PETRAY

Sebastopol

Finding Eden

EDITOR: It's an odd way to garner votes for the Republican Party — condemning the Democrats for supporting "unions, movie makers, gays, welfare recipients, and old people who sell their votes to the Democrats" ("Terms for surrender," Letters, Thursday). But the author, Lloyd Robinson, who has traveled to 40 different countries, says he is the only true Republican north of the Golden Gate Bridge and, therefore, feels endowed with the only true voice of this area.

Robinson pleads with the people of this area to set their aim a little higher when picking our leaders. If he wants to pity himself and say his vote doesn't count, and he can't support the personnel listed above, that's his choice.

If Robinson has accidentally located himself in this area and it's not to his liking, then he should leave no stone unturned and find his Garden of Eden. My suggestion: Try country No. 41.

HAROLD KING

Santa Rosa

Killing birds

EDITOR: I read with dismay the article about trees being cut down and dozens of baby herons being fed into wood chippers by ignorant contractors ("Tree crews send chicks into chipper," Thursday). It was needless, heartless and disgraceful.

Yet I note the same thing happening on Spring Lake Dam where contractors recently mowed several acres of tall lush green grass where dozens of red-winged blackbirds were nesting, along with other ground nesting birds. I protested last year, asking if it could be delayed, but the mowing continues.

I understand that the contractors involved are in a race to mow, and the fire service is getting on them to do it. But the grass there is tall and green and is not a fire hazard yet. Ironically it is now probably more fire prone as the mowed grass just lies there as dry hay.

It's spring — the very peak of bird breeding season. In two weeks, the birds would have mostly fledged. They could then mow the grass.

Red-winged blackbirds are a federally protected species too.

M.L. JONES

Santa Rosa

Fair play for Carrillo

EDITOR: Completely exonerated, not guilty ergo no crime, no harm or foul save for a broken screen and a woman's frazzled nerves. Yet The Press Democrat and a gaggle of Supervisor Efren Carrillo's so-called colleagues are having a hissy fit in calling for him to abdicate his office.

Could it be effete elitist wine-and-cheese tasting Sonoma County snobbery toward a young, successful Latino community leader who effectively represents his constituency? Do I detect some envy, sexism or a measure of discrimination here?

Rightfully, Carrillo has faced much embarrassment and humiliation over this misdeed. Hopefully he has learned from it. Now let him get on with life and the duties of the public office to which he was twice elected.

DENNIS TOBIN

Santa Rosa