Sunday’s Letters to the Editor

Make Santa Rosa vibrant

EDITOR: Recently, when friends visit from around the country, the common sentiment is to avoid spending time in Santa Rosa. The downtown park lacks vitality, with many shops standing empty, and the burden of paid parking discourages exploration. The mall seems oriented toward teenagers, and homelessness is prevalent. In contrast, neighboring cities like Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sonoma and Napa offer dynamic and engaging experiences.

While Santa Rosa proudly embraces the status of an “indivisible city,” it is crucial to ensure that those who contribute through taxes and call this city home can fully enjoy its offerings. I believe there is untapped potential for Santa Rosa to become a more welcoming and vibrant community.

I urge city leaders to consider initiatives that revitalize downtown spaces, support local businesses and address homelessness in a compassionate manner. By learning from the successes of neighboring cities, we can transform Santa Rosa into a destination that not only symbolizes sanctuary but also provides a rich and enjoyable experience for residents and visitors alike.

ROBIN BURGERT

Santa Rosa

Fortifying the grid

EDITOR: It is great news that the market share of electric vehicles has grown to the point where we need to start thinking about how to replace gasoline taxes that help pay for road maintenance (“California’s electric vehicle conundrum,” editorial, Jan. 20). A more urgent need is to ensure that as the state spends billions of dollars supporting EVs, we don’t miss the opportunity to use these investments to also build a more resilient and reliable electricity grid.

The California Energy Commission projects there will be about 8 million EVs on California roads by 2030. That adds up to 80-gigawatts of battery storage capacity in vehicles that spend 95% of their time parked. Even a small percentage of that electricity can help avoid power outages when the greater electrical grid is stressed, like during heat waves and storms. Doing so will help eliminate the need for fossil gas power plants.

Right now, a bill that would require bidirectional charging capability for all EVs sold in California (SB 233 by state Sen. Nancy Skinner) is making its way through the Legislature. It needs public support. Visit findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov to find your state representative and urge them to support SB 233.

WOODY HASTINGS

Sebastopol

Funding road fixes

EDITOR: Your editorial on electric vehicles and road taxes was interesting (“Readers’ ideas for replacing gas tax,” Jan. 27). Consider a road tax based on miles driven multiplied by a formula that reflects the weight of the vehicle. Road wear is strongly influenced by vehicle weight.

JOE ROBERTS

Sebastopol

UV bulb exemptions

EDITOR: I believe P.W. Hughes is misinformed (“Banning UV bulbs,” Letters, Jan. 24). AB 2208, which began to take effect in January, specifically exempts lamps used for disinfection, as well as for a number of other technical applications, from the general ban on mercury-containing lamps.

BRUCE SCHADEL

Santa Rosa

Vote conservative

EDITOR: Yes, be sure to vote in the March 5 primary. Mail-in ballots will be sent this week. Every vote counts — some races can be won or lost by a couple votes. It’s critical to vote, especially now with contested races throughout the ballot.

If you do not vote for change, schools will continue to deteriorate with little improvement in student scores; millions of illegal immigrants from all over the world will keep invading our country; the family unit will continue to be attacked, and fentanyl deaths will rise.

No change means more dictatorial mandates: no gas-powered cars, stoves, washers or dryers; more student loans forgiven, more abortions, less water, more DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) hires and less merit. DEI actually means division, exclusion, incompetence.

Conservatives support the Constitution and believe in the rule of law. Conservatives believe in a secure border, voter ID, paper ballots and one day of voting (not an entire month). We believe in equal opportunity and outcome dependent upon effort. Vote conservative for positive change.

LINDA DAVIS

Kenwood

Yes on Measure G

EDITOR: A democracy is only as good as its people. To discern the correct path in the avalanche of information at our fingertips, we need voters who can think critically and adapt to new problems and ideas as they arise. It is the role of public schools to ensure that our populace is educated enough to make sense of this increasingly complex, rapidly accelerating world.

There is a well-known and oft-adapted phrase in economics: “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” It is used when wishful thinking leads people to believe we can receive something great for no cost.

This year, a number of school districts in Santa Rosa will be asking the public for bonds for school facilities improvements. Improvements that anyone who has been to a public school recently knows are desperately needed.

As a community, we must ask ourselves: what is the cost of a high-quality public school system needed for our community to thrive? When voters head to the polls, or in most cases the mailbox, remember that in schools, like everything else in life, we get what we pay for.

Yes on Measure G, the Rincon Valley school district bond.

ETHAN COSGROVE

Santa Rosa

You can send letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.