Saturday’s Letter to the Editor

Keep safe distance

EDITOR: I am writing to encourage the Board of Supervisors to maintain the existing county code requiring a 1,000-foot distance between schools and cannabis dispensaries and to create the same setback for outdoor cultivation sites.

The ordinance the board will discuss on Dec. 13 proposes a setback of just 600 feet for dispensaries as well as outdoor cannabis cultivation. This is a reduction from the current 1,000-foot requirement for dispensaries and a departure from the 1,000-foot setback required for tobacco and liquor. It is a move in the wrong direction.

I understand new state law requires a minimum of just 600 feet separation. However, I urge Sonoma County to be a leader in this area and provide additional protection for students and children rather than the legal minimum. Risks associated with selling or growing marijuana near schools include: noxious smell, a potential for increased crime and increased student access to cannabis products. Studies have shown that selling tobacco near schools increases experimental smoking, and news reports from Colorado show the same is true for marijuana. Strong protections also support the county's Health Action Plan goal to create environments that empower young people to not drink, smoke, or use other drugs.

STEVE HERRINGTON

Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools

Change is happening

EDITOR: The climate is changing – due to specific human activities, the Earth is getting warmer. Each year for the past many years has been warmer than the last. Objective science based evidence has been showing us this is true for many years now.

To climate change deniers, how does it make you feel to know that the only people on Earth who deny this reality are right-wing Republican Americans? You would be the laughing stock of the world if it wasn't so scary that you got your favorite climate denier into the White House against all odds. Doesn't it ever seem curious to you that you are told not to believe science-based facts by your political leaders and their talk show host enablers? What kind of world do you want to leave your grandchildren? What will you say to your grandchild who asks you what you did to help save polar bears from extinction? Will you tell them you didn't believe it was happening because your political party told you it wasn't true? Can you hear how ridiculous that sounds? God help us.

ANNE PETERSEN

Sonoma

Call her on it

EDITOR: Greta Van Susteren, Fox News emeritus, exhibits the typical Fox News “Blame-Obama-for-Everything” MO (“Who's to blame for fake news,” Thursday). She had me really interested in her column about fake news until she accused President Barack Obama of “the biggest fake news story of the decade,” because he related the video making fun of Islam and the prophet Muhammad to the Benghazi attack.

Susteren then leaps to Secretary Hillary Clinton's email to her daughter on the night of the attack stating Clinton believed the “violence was the work of an al-Qaida-like group” as proof Obama was lying. Huh? I guess I'm not indoctrinated enough into Fox News nuances. To me, there is no reason to believe that the video does not relate to the work of an al-Qaida-like group. One does not exclude the other, unless, you're always on a witch hunt and take for granted the equation that Obama equals bad, as in Fox News speak. Please, why don't the reporters and journalists call out this stuff?

HOLLYNN D'LIL

Graton

Satisfaction with Kaiser

EDITOR: Having been a Kaiser Permanente member for the past 42 years and now a retired employee, I wish to differ with the recent letter regarding Kaiser's new building (“Kaiser's new building,” Wednesday). Investments into sophisticated and energy-efficient technology in the Kaiser buildings have helped create better health care outcomes, access to services, convenience and efficiency for both patients/members and staff. In addition, these buildings are attractive and energy efficient. What the writer fails to realize is that for the ninth consecutive year, KP North and South are the only health plans in California to earn a four-star rating, the highest possible, for overall clinical effectiveness in the annual Health Care Quality Report Card from California's Office of Patient Advocate. And, for seven consecutive years, KP has received the highest member satisfaction rating by a JD Powers Study.

My entire family and all my friends are Kaiser Permanente members and all have expressed satisfaction and respect for an organization that consistently works to improve health care for all of us.

MYRNA DILLON

Sonoma

Avoid the tweets

EDITOR: On Dec. 7, you ran another fact-free headline; “Trump rejects new Air Force One.” The beginning of the article made it sound like Trump was concerned about the price of the plane when actually, he was just taking revenge on Twitter (again). The truth was buried in paragraph 15. Trump was just mad at the Boeing CEO who had voiced concerns about Trump's views on trade. This parallels the situation with the labor leader who had the courage to speak the truth regarding the Carrier deal. As a result of Trump's tweets, this man is now getting death threats.

Trump's tweets are not comforting, thoughtful pep-talks. They are weird, often vengeful short rants and, if reported at all, need to be parsed for the truth. We subscribers can get our fake news online. We need newspapers to use their staffs, skills and intelligence to report the facts up front before people stop reading.

TOM PARETO

Petaluma