Monday’s Letters to the Editors

Comey's legacy?

EDITOR: So here's a question: What do we do with former FBI Director James Comey if, when all this is over, it turns out that he has single-handedly saved the Republicans from the horror of Hillary Clinton and the Democrats from the scourge of Donald Trump?

JIM GALLAGHER

Petaluma

Everybody's issue

EDITOR: At the time of the Climate March in Washington, I read about an activist who said, “Climate's not my issue.” She went on to say that freedom of the press and the Russian connections were her interests.

I agree that these issues are hugely important, along with immigration and many others. But a healthy planet undergirds everything that we care about. It is the air we breathe, the water we drink, the weather that allows our food to grow.

Here in beautiful Sonoma County, now green and verdant, it is perhaps more natural to concentrate on the plight of friends and neighbors worried about deportation or to stew about the dismaying news from Washington. But climate change is real and it is here, and, directly or indirectly, it is affecting every person of the globe.

If you have some concern about what is happening to the climate, it's time to start talking about it with others, joining organizations that are addressing the issue and taking action. We need to create climate awareness. Climate is everybody's issue. It's time we came out of the climate closet.

ARDATH LEE

Santa Rosa

East and West

EDITOR: I was delighted to see that the Board of Supervisors is saving the Paulin Creek Preserve. However, I would like to point to the fact that the city and county use the west side of Highway 101 as a dumping ground, and this needs to stop.

Fountaingrove gets an open space preserve, not a homeless center, but the area behind the old Albertsons store is allowed to develop into a homeless camp. The largest homeless shelter in Santa Rosa is on the westernmost edge of the city, and it was allowed to become more populated than was originally planned. Most of the other homeless assistance is either in the west side or right along Highway 101.

When the Sonoma County Board of Education wanted to build a school for students who have been expelled from other schools, the Santa Rosa school board gave them three possible sites. They were ignored as they were on the east side. The school was built in a largely Hispanic neighborhood, not Rincon Valley. The recycling center, located nearby, has been cited for a serious rat problem. But, again, it is the west side, so this isn't significant.

This repetitive story is getting old. Santa Rosa is making a good step in annexing Roseland, but without representation on the City Council or school board, nothing will change.

ALAN PETTY

Santa Rosa

Project Grad money

EDITOR: I was sad to read about the embezzlement at Rancho Cotate High School, and the outpouring of support is wonderful to see (“Attorney for accused delivers $40k check,” Tuesday). Let's not forget all the other high schools out there that may be short on funds and/or volunteers. For some schools, $74,000 would fund Project Grad for four years. I hope Rancho takes the generosity it has received and pays it forward.

JUDY MESTRICH

Santa Rosa

Graduation advice

EDITOR: I'd like to take a moment to salute the roughly 4,500 students who will be receiving their high school diplomas in the weeks to come. This major life milestone is a testament to their hard work and perseverance. It's also thanks to the support of teachers, school administrators and, of course, family.

Graduation marks the end of one journey but the beginning of another. Youths armed with a diploma have a world of possibilities before them. It is fitting for them to want to celebrate this momentous day. However, I'd like to remind graduates to celebrate responsibly. Drinking or doing drugs strongly impacts a teenager's developing brain - decreasing inhibitions and compromising the judgment and coordination critical to safe driving.

Celebrating without drugs and alcohol is easy and fun, thanks to Project Graduation events held around Sonoma County. These adult-supervised, alcohol-free celebrations ensure that students can have a great time without the risk of becoming intoxicated. They are extremely popular and often last through the night, with dancing, games, music and more. They are a great way to celebrate without risking the future that students have worked so hard to build.

STEVEN D. HERRINGTON

Sonoma County superintendent of schools

Smoke-free homes

EDITOR: Kudos to the city of Windsor, which took an important step toward improved public health by making multi-unit housing facilities smoke-free. It will have an immediate positive health impact on all those living in apartment and condo complexes.

I agree with healthy air advocates, such as the American Lung Association in California, that strongly support smoke-free housing policies as a way to protect children, senior citizens and those with lung disease from unwanted exposure to toxic secondhand smoke. Those who are most vulnerable shouldn't be forced to breathe in secondhand smoke because of where they live.

I noticed that Windsor was one of the few Sonoma County cities to receive a poor grade in this year's State of Tobacco Control report from the American Lung Association. Strong policies like those passed by the City Council this month will greatly improve Windsor's grade.

I would encourage more cities to follow suit and improve smoke-free policies for the good of public health in our communities.

PAM GRANGER

Petaluma