Monday's Letters to the Editor

<p class="bold allcaps">SMART is vital</p> <p>EDITOR: The phrase “war of words” was used in an article to describe one struggle facing SMART, in particular the struggle between the two ends of the line (Cloverdale, Larkspur vie for rail priority,” July 23).</p><p>Larkspur has been notoriously averse to the train. But in this economic downturn, it has come to realize the value the train will bring. Now, Larkspur is doing everything in its power to reap these benefits. Larkspur is turning the process into an either/or struggle: Larkspur or Cloverdale.</p><p>Carol Russell, the mayor of Cloverdale, was right. “It is vital to this city . . .” Cloverdale has been creating a city that will incorporate the train and its benefits over the last few years, not just months, supporting that vision for the whole line. In fact, the train is vital to every city on the route.</p><p>Let us set aside the either/or thinking and move to including the whole community from the top of Sonoma County to the bottom of Marin County. Let's work together and not spend our energy sandbagging others. </p><p>It is vital for all of us.</p><p>REECE FOXEN</p><p>Cloverdale</p><h3>Sutter's contribution</h3> <p>EDITOR: As a resident and business owner, I want to add my voice in support of the new Sutter hospital. The Sutter land purchase was a critical factor in helping keep a future for the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, and this project complements that use and makes sense at that location.</p><p>Sutter is an economic engine for Sonoma County as the fourth largest employer, supporting more than 1,200 families with good paying jobs. If approved, this project will put millions into the local economy that wouldn't have been spent here without Sutter. The ripple effect of $284 million from constructing the hospital is enormous to our service industries, restaurants, lodging and hundreds of local businesses.</p><p>Locating a hospital on Highway 101 so it can be accessible to everyone in the community makes sense. This use is ideal in its location, and having Sutter as a partner will ensure the highest quality is available to Sonoma County residents in health care.</p><p>RICK BARTALINI</p><p>Bartalini Presents</p><p>Guerneville</p><h3>Missed in debate</h3> <p>EDITOR: I have been reading with interest the debate over a Wal-Mart superstore coming to Rohnert Park, with the sides being delineated as the middle class, who shop at Safeway or the upscale stores, ride bikes and are environmentally correct, and low-income people, the salt of the earth who will be bereft of a store they can afford if they cannot have the Wal-Mart superstore.</p><p>Nowhere in any of this is there mention of Food Maxx, which has stores in both Rohnert Park and Roseland. I am amazed. Food Maxx has long been the low-price store, and yet it is as if Food Maxx does not exist. The Food Maxx stores are what would probably go under if Wal-Mart expanded into either area. Food Maxx pays decent wages and has a benefits package for their employees that far surpasses Wal-Mart's dismal record with its employees.</p><p>And, as the Thursday editorial (“On Wal-Mart”) said, Wal-Mart would bring in 85 jobs but a Sonoma State University study said it could cause the loss of at least 100 and, in reality, probably far more.</p><p>CATHY VEENIS</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Boho's rude humor</h3> <p>EDITOR: OK, I am something of a bleeding heart liberal and feminist, but for the past seven years, I have attended the Monte Rio Variety Show put on by the Bohemian Club. I went to Thursday's show and was thoroughly disgusted by the “dumb blond” joke.</p><p>Especially since we had just heard a heartfelt tribute to Art Linkletter, who performed at the show for many years, describing his ability to make his subjects feel important while at the same time making us all laugh, not at but with them. Then comes this ridiculous “joke,” as if it's still OK to poke fun at someone's natural born genetic condition. </p><p>Why is it OK for a privileged, tall white guy to perpetuate the denigration of blond women? Why don't they just tell tall, privileged white guy jokes. We'll all laugh. Like the one about the tall white guy whose dad got him into school and whose brother got him the presidency and then he proceeded to wreak havoc on the world. And he has two blond daughters. Oops. That really isn't funny, is it?</p><p>Bring back Art Linkletter's spirit, or I'm not spending my money to benefit the community through those guys' acts again.</p><p>ELSA FRICK</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Robber barons</h3> <p>EDITOR: I have been reading, with great amusement, Democrats and Republicans go at each other in letters to the editor. I am in neither party. Both parties talk of the great programs they have given us. The reality is that both parties have figured a way to make the rich richer while fleecing working people. They cut programs that working people need while creating tax cuts that only benefit the wealthiest among us. All the while trying to convince us that it is for our own good. They are both robber barons, but Republicans are better at it.</p><p>AL LINER</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Natural gas power</h3> <p>EDITOR: Why are we not going full steam ahead on using natural gas to fuel our vehicles?</p><p>We have an abundant supply of natural gas. We already have natural gas engines. The Europeans have already developed and are using an apparatus that attaches to a gasoline engine and converts the engine to a natural gas engine. The cost ranges between $1,000 and $4,000 depending on the type of car you drive.</p><p>Our government could use some TARP money and/or a tax break/credit to help with the natural gas installation costs at stations across the country. If we would do this, the Saudis would sell us the oil we need for $10 a barrel. And wouldn't it be great to not have to depend on any country, friendly or not, for a means to power our cars?</p><p>JIM BAER</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Cut off pols' pay</h3> <p>EDITOR: Again the illustrious governor of this fine state has decided to put the onus of legislative ineptness to pass a budget onto state workers.</p><p>Because these elected officials (legislators) refuse play together nicely and pass a budget that we can all live with, our wonderful governor has decide that state workers will be mandated to sacrifice a portion of their pay by taking unpaid furloughs.</p><p>It seems to me that these same legislators that cannot work together don't have any incentive to agree on anything. They are not going to lose any pay. Life goes on for them.</p><p>The alternative that I suggest is that all legislators not be paid, take lose all their perks, including their per diem, cars and state credit cards, then see how fast they can come together and pass a budget — and on time as mandated by law.</p><p>Why should we as citizens of California, and their employers by the way, suffer just because their parents did an awful job of teaching them how to play nicely with others?</p><p>Come election time, citizens, talk to all your family, friends, neighbors and any other person who will listen and vote all these boneheads out of office.</p><p>LARRY RYLANCE</p><p>Santa Rosa</p>