Letters to the editor from April 11

On Hotel Petaluma

EDITOR: I would like to comment on the situation regarding the (new?) Hotel Petaluma, specifically in regard to Mr. Terence Andrews.

Mr. Andrews is from Marin and has come to Petaluma to eliminate the long-term/low-income housing that the hotel currently provides.

He is turning the hotel into an overnight accommodation for nightly guests. Many in our community are very upset with what he is causing in Petaluma.

Purchasing, changing and renovating the hotel is not illegal (assuming that he has procured the appropriate building permits) but, what he is doing is causing severe hardships. He is eliminating a large source (104 residences) of low-income dwellings for Petalumans; he is displacing Petalumans from their familiar and convenient housing with easy access to downtown, shopping, public transportation, etc.

He is forcing low-income Petalumans to incur expensive costs (first and last months rents, deposits, moving fees, etc.) He has caused and is perpetuating homelessness in Petaluma (a current ex-resident is now living in his car).

How about, Mr. Andrews, you join P-Town, be a "good egg" community member and do the right thing. Actually, do the right things.

For example, how about a) refunding all of the deposits b) subsidizing those who are willing to move but need financial and physical help in moving; c) procuring all of the appropriate permits/inspections required, d) making sure that an EIR satisfies the neighboring residents so that they will not be adversely affected when out-of-town/overnight guest cars overcrowd their streets, e) instead of evicting the local businesses that are there, let them keep their leases.

Mr. Andrews, how about considering becoming an asset to our town/community rather that an enemy? In the spirit of "tithing," why not set aside 10 percent (or more) of your rooms and allocate them to our low-income citizens with low-income rates and long-term agreements. By doing this, I think that you will be able to satisfy your financial needs as well as satisfy our community needs. Let's work it out so that Petaluma welcomes you.

Jude Mion, Petaluma

Against Davidon

EDITOR: I must comment on the recent letter to the editor (March 28th) that favors the development of Petaluma's Scott ranch by Davidon Homes of Walnut Creek: It was a very insensitive assessment of one of the most beautiful areas in Sonoma County.

It seems to be the normal course for our species to look at only the dollars and cents of everything – often at the cost of the things that make our lives more whole. In regards to the Scott ranch, I don't believe there is anyone, from within Petaluma or without, from the most spiritual to the most hardened and cynical, who hasn't passed that property on any given day and experienced an uplifting of the spirit, or a moment of hope in the rat race we have come to know as "modern life."

Indeed, let's develop it from one end to the other. Let's be pragmatic and "unselfish." We could gain so much in revenues for everyone. (Won't the near-term openings of two huge "big box" store complexes in Petaluma offer more than enough in this regard?)

So why should we care about this little valley? It's "not unique". After all, the next beautiful valley lies just beyond it...waiting to be developed.

"…Wild honey smells of freedom,

The dust – of sunlight

The mouth of a young girl, like a violet

But gold – smells of nothing."

-- Anna Akhmatova

Peter C. Bordiga, Petaluma

Call for liberty

EDITOR: Recently on Capitol Hill, Congress held two hearings about the future of healthcare in America. From the perspective of America's retirees, it's bad and about to get worse.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) says health insurers can charge older Americans up to three times the rate of identical healthcare protection, so our affordability fears are going to grow. To inflame things, Congress has introduced an act (H.R. 544), to allow insurers to potentially charge seniors five times more than the average adult.

This week is the anniversary of American patriot Patrick Henry's great speech. Let me echo his call to arms to inspire fellow retirees to do the same:

"I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. If we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power, I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Let this great call to action from 1775 inspire and lead us in the year 2013. Join me and the non-profit ProtectSeniors.Org (www.ProtectSeniors.Org / 1-800-398-3044) in coming to the economic defense of retirees across our great nation.

Robert E Hall, Petaluma

On turtles

EDITOR: Your report on the turtle found near Turtle Creek was very interesting to me.

I am a native Petaluman born in Petaluma General Hospital in 1956. I used to catch that species of turtles in the creek that runs next to Magnolia Ave. near Antone Way.

It was probably between 1965 and 1968 but I have not seen a turtle since. Although I must admit I don't hunt them as I did when I was 11.

I do walk the path on the Eastside that goes from Casa Grande to Corona and crosses many creeks. I have not spotted any turtles but I figured if they were in one of the creeks they would likely be in all of them since they are all linked by the Petaluma River (slough).

Anyway, I'm just glad to hear that the little reptiles are still making a go at life in our surrounding creeks.

I will keep looking.

Tom Luther, Petaluma

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