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Letters to the Editor
It takes a village
The Community Voice:
The phrase “it takes a village” took center stage with what many have said was the best Cotati Kids Day event ever.
After the closing of Cotati’s Recreation Department last year, about 10 volunteers, who had worked on previous Cotati Kids Days, got together to figure out if and how to keep this 17-year tradition going.
Without hesitation, the overall feeling was “yes” - and the 18th Cotati Kids Day was underway.
After several planning meetings, the committee decided to approach the Cotati Chamber of Commerce to see if they would be interested in partnering with us. From that point on, each of the volunteers took a different aspect of the planning process, including fundraising, advertising, parade planning, entertainment, vendors, street closure, organizing volunteers, and endless other tasks.
None of this could have happened without the help of the many businesses who stepped forward with generous donations and services. Lowe’s, Oliver’s Market, Exchange Bank, Del Secco’s, Hines Signs, A&M Printing, Redwood Empire Disposal and Mike Ghilotti are just a few of the local businesses we owe a big thank you to for making this year’s event such a huge success.
We would also like to thank the many nonprofits, youth groups and individuals who participated in this year’s parade, along with the vendors who helped make this a great event.
Of course we can’t forget to thank those who donated their talent and provided the free entertainment all day; especially Sonoma Magic’s magician Ron Pawlowski, Petaluma Jr. High Band “Rock 101,” Rohnert Park-Cotati Children’s Choir and Jeffry John Whitebear. We look forward to working with all of these amazing people and businesses again next year, for the 19th Cotati Kids Day Parade and Festival.
Ed Gilardi and Pat McCarty
Co-chairs for Cotati Kids Day
The phrase “it takes a village” took center stage with what many have said was the best Cotati Kids Day event ever.
After the closing of Cotati’s Recreation Department last year, about 10 volunteers, who had worked on previous Cotati Kids Days, got together to figure out if and how to keep this 17-year tradition going.
Without hesitation, the overall feeling was “yes” - and the 18th Cotati Kids Day was underway.
After several planning meetings, the committee decided to approach the Cotati Chamber of Commerce to see if they would be interested in partnering with us. From that point on, each of the volunteers took a different aspect of the planning process, including fundraising, advertising, parade planning, entertainment, vendors, street closure, organizing volunteers, and endless other tasks.
None of this could have happened without the help of the many businesses who stepped forward with generous donations and services. Lowe’s, Oliver’s Market, Exchange Bank, Del Secco’s, Hines Signs, A&M Printing, Redwood Empire Disposal and Mike Ghilotti are just a few of the local businesses we owe a big thank you to for making this year’s event such a huge success.
We would also like to thank the many nonprofits, youth groups and individuals who participated in this year’s parade, along with the vendors who helped make this a great event.
Of course we can’t forget to thank those who donated their talent and provided the free entertainment all day; especially Sonoma Magic’s magician Ron Pawlowski, Petaluma Jr. High Band “Rock 101,” Rohnert Park-Cotati Children’s Choir and Jeffry John Whitebear. We look forward to working with all of these amazing people and businesses again next year, for the 19th Cotati Kids Day Parade and Festival.
Ed Gilardi and Pat McCarty
Co-chairs for Cotati Kids Day
Not a pot club?
The Community Voice:
Regarding last week’s article, “Not a pot club,” what a naive story. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.
You smoke it, you get high. That’s like saying a martini is good for you.
The owner makes you think he is Mother Theresa. It’s a business and it’s big bucks.
Robert Aherne
Rohnert Park
Regarding last week’s article, “Not a pot club,” what a naive story. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck.
You smoke it, you get high. That’s like saying a martini is good for you.
The owner makes you think he is Mother Theresa. It’s a business and it’s big bucks.
Robert Aherne
Rohnert Park
Clarification needed
The Community Voice:
I’d like to clarify information from last week’s issue regarding an alleged management rift at the RP Dept. of Public Safety.
The statement I submitted to The Voice was regarding my retirement and the valuable accomplishments the RPDPS line staff and I had made “together” over the past two years.
I wanted to make my observations clear so there would be no misunderstanding. I wanted to highlight my view of the lack of understanding by the city of combined police-fire operations along with RPDPS management’s lack of understanding, experience and support of fire operations.
I am concerned reductions to fire staffing will be done without proper thought of unintended consequences for the public and firefighters.
In May I made it crystal clear in writing to director Brian Masterson and the city manager of my intention to retire, along with my reasons why. I turned in my assigned vehicle, uniform, badge and cleaned out my office weeks ago.
I decided to retire to take the burden off the budget for the sake of officers on the pending chopping block. My position would likely save almost two young officers with families and bills to pay.
Secondarily, the working environment was difficult and there was no possible improvement in sight. My office chair hardly cooled off when a police sergeant was promoted to acting lieutenant to take my place. The concern was my departure represented salary savings and throwing someone back in the position diminishes the savings to line officers, causing additional overtime expense and reducing fire engine staffing.
I mentioned resistance to change by a small group of officers who used the old system to monopolize overtime in the Fire Division. The changes I made unintentionally removed a great deal of status and revenue for these officers.
The result was a flurry of false accusations, resistance and backbiting against me.
I had good support of the labor group and the employees assigned to Fire Division, but the combination of upset individuals along with management’s lack of understanding and support for fire operations created chaos and health issues for me. My concerns were formally reported, repeatedly ignored and never dealt with.
I’ve recently learned some of these same individuals are planning a special negative campaign against me as I retire. My opinion is these people act for their own gain and retribution under the color of authority from their positions, often during on-duty hours, while enjoying careers funded by the citizens of Rohnert Park. The keys to their operations are selfishness, ego, and disregard for others with focus on taking care of their own personal needs.
The public safety problem the city faces is numerous officers are preparing to depart to other agencies. Officers lost already and those preparing to leave will create a staffing crisis with resulting decline in service levels for police and fire. The result will be the inability to attract future quality officers as RP has a terrible financial reputation. Who would want to work for the city at this point?
Jack Rosevear
Rohnert Park
I’d like to clarify information from last week’s issue regarding an alleged management rift at the RP Dept. of Public Safety.
The statement I submitted to The Voice was regarding my retirement and the valuable accomplishments the RPDPS line staff and I had made “together” over the past two years.
I wanted to make my observations clear so there would be no misunderstanding. I wanted to highlight my view of the lack of understanding by the city of combined police-fire operations along with RPDPS management’s lack of understanding, experience and support of fire operations.
I am concerned reductions to fire staffing will be done without proper thought of unintended consequences for the public and firefighters.
In May I made it crystal clear in writing to director Brian Masterson and the city manager of my intention to retire, along with my reasons why. I turned in my assigned vehicle, uniform, badge and cleaned out my office weeks ago.
I decided to retire to take the burden off the budget for the sake of officers on the pending chopping block. My position would likely save almost two young officers with families and bills to pay.
Secondarily, the working environment was difficult and there was no possible improvement in sight. My office chair hardly cooled off when a police sergeant was promoted to acting lieutenant to take my place. The concern was my departure represented salary savings and throwing someone back in the position diminishes the savings to line officers, causing additional overtime expense and reducing fire engine staffing.
I mentioned resistance to change by a small group of officers who used the old system to monopolize overtime in the Fire Division. The changes I made unintentionally removed a great deal of status and revenue for these officers.
The result was a flurry of false accusations, resistance and backbiting against me.
I had good support of the labor group and the employees assigned to Fire Division, but the combination of upset individuals along with management’s lack of understanding and support for fire operations created chaos and health issues for me. My concerns were formally reported, repeatedly ignored and never dealt with.
I’ve recently learned some of these same individuals are planning a special negative campaign against me as I retire. My opinion is these people act for their own gain and retribution under the color of authority from their positions, often during on-duty hours, while enjoying careers funded by the citizens of Rohnert Park. The keys to their operations are selfishness, ego, and disregard for others with focus on taking care of their own personal needs.
The public safety problem the city faces is numerous officers are preparing to depart to other agencies. Officers lost already and those preparing to leave will create a staffing crisis with resulting decline in service levels for police and fire. The result will be the inability to attract future quality officers as RP has a terrible financial reputation. Who would want to work for the city at this point?
Jack Rosevear
Rohnert Park
Conflict of interest
The Community Voice:
John Borba, attorney, and Amy Ahanotu, president of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, want to run for the Rohnert Park City Council because they are concerned about the city’s financial condition. This is ironic considering only a few weeks ago they both, as members of the Planning Commission, voted to deny Walmart’s expansion plans.
Did they do their homework? Apparently not, since there is evidence that when discount chains add groceries to their mix, people shop more often and purchase more of the taxable general merchandise, which Rohnert Park needs.
Walmart market penetration ranges from Santa Rose to Petaluma and Sebastopol. We need all those customers purchasing additional taxable items. Sales tax revenue is a significant piece of Rohnert Park’s income source.
Also, we need new jobs to provide additional buying power to purchase more taxable products. In denying Walmart’s expansion, we have lost 75-80 new entry level jobs sorely needed in this city. We need a business friendly city, one in which competition is encouraged and consumers are given more choices where to shop and what they buy.
The president of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, has, it seems to me, a conflict of interest when voting to deny a business to expand to protect someone he represents. What will happen when she’s on the city council?
More people drawn to Walmart from outside Rohnert Park may well increase business at Pacific Markets, whose product mix will be different than Walmart.
Vern Smith
Rohnert Park
John Borba, attorney, and Amy Ahanotu, president of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, want to run for the Rohnert Park City Council because they are concerned about the city’s financial condition. This is ironic considering only a few weeks ago they both, as members of the Planning Commission, voted to deny Walmart’s expansion plans.
Did they do their homework? Apparently not, since there is evidence that when discount chains add groceries to their mix, people shop more often and purchase more of the taxable general merchandise, which Rohnert Park needs.
Walmart market penetration ranges from Santa Rose to Petaluma and Sebastopol. We need all those customers purchasing additional taxable items. Sales tax revenue is a significant piece of Rohnert Park’s income source.
Also, we need new jobs to provide additional buying power to purchase more taxable products. In denying Walmart’s expansion, we have lost 75-80 new entry level jobs sorely needed in this city. We need a business friendly city, one in which competition is encouraged and consumers are given more choices where to shop and what they buy.
The president of the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce, has, it seems to me, a conflict of interest when voting to deny a business to expand to protect someone he represents. What will happen when she’s on the city council?
More people drawn to Walmart from outside Rohnert Park may well increase business at Pacific Markets, whose product mix will be different than Walmart.
Vern Smith
Rohnert Park
Expand Walmart
The Community Voice:
I am emailing you to voice my opinion on the proposed Walmart expansion in Rohnert Park. I am in favor for the expansion for the following reasons:
· It would mean that many struggling families would be able to afford to purchase the food they need.
· It would create many new desperately needed jobs.
· It would create more needed revenue for the City of Rohnert Park, which is currently facing a large deficit.
· It would not hurt supermarkets such as Pacific Market, Raley’s and Safeway, since low income families can’t afford their higher prices.
· Walmart carries only a limited variety of brands and choices. The people who want more choices and can afford it go to the stores I mentioned above.
· I know Walmart treats its employees well, because I have a friend who has been there many years who is very happy to be working at Walmart.
I am a resident of Rohnert Park and am in great hopes The Community Voice is in support of this greatly needed expansion.
April Gambino
Rohnert Park
I am emailing you to voice my opinion on the proposed Walmart expansion in Rohnert Park. I am in favor for the expansion for the following reasons:
· It would mean that many struggling families would be able to afford to purchase the food they need.
· It would create many new desperately needed jobs.
· It would create more needed revenue for the City of Rohnert Park, which is currently facing a large deficit.
· It would not hurt supermarkets such as Pacific Market, Raley’s and Safeway, since low income families can’t afford their higher prices.
· Walmart carries only a limited variety of brands and choices. The people who want more choices and can afford it go to the stores I mentioned above.
· I know Walmart treats its employees well, because I have a friend who has been there many years who is very happy to be working at Walmart.
I am a resident of Rohnert Park and am in great hopes The Community Voice is in support of this greatly needed expansion.
April Gambino
Rohnert Park
Decision should be upheld
The Community Voice:
On April 22, the Planning Commission voted unanimously against the Walmart proposal to super-size the Rohnert Park site into a regional super center. Walmart then filed an appeal, taking the matter to the City Council, which Walmart is asking to overturn the considered decision of the commissioners.
Rob Eyler, Chair of the Economics Department at SSU, was commissioned to do a study on the impacts of the proposed Walmart super center. The detailed study clearly demonstrated that the super center would be a losing proposition for the city.
He makes the following points:
• Walmart claims the expansion will add 85 new jobs. However, the Eyler report calculates when all factors are considered, between 100 and 200 jobs will be lost.
• The quality of jobs will decrease: Bay Area supermarkets pay 60 percent higher wages than Walmart, and in addition, about $8 per hour in benefits against under $2 per hour for Walmart.
• A local business network of 60 vendors and suppliers employing over 4,000 residents will be damaged by the super center.
• Because the overwhelming increase in sales by Walmart will be in non-taxable groceries ($23.0 million out of $23.1 million) there will be an insignificant increase in tax revenues.
The proposed Walmart super center cannot resolve the problems identified in the EIR, and it is not in conformance with the city’s General Plan objective. This appeal should be rejected on the basis of the concerns raised by the Planning Commission.
Ben Boyce
Sonoma
On April 22, the Planning Commission voted unanimously against the Walmart proposal to super-size the Rohnert Park site into a regional super center. Walmart then filed an appeal, taking the matter to the City Council, which Walmart is asking to overturn the considered decision of the commissioners.
Rob Eyler, Chair of the Economics Department at SSU, was commissioned to do a study on the impacts of the proposed Walmart super center. The detailed study clearly demonstrated that the super center would be a losing proposition for the city.
He makes the following points:
• Walmart claims the expansion will add 85 new jobs. However, the Eyler report calculates when all factors are considered, between 100 and 200 jobs will be lost.
• The quality of jobs will decrease: Bay Area supermarkets pay 60 percent higher wages than Walmart, and in addition, about $8 per hour in benefits against under $2 per hour for Walmart.
• A local business network of 60 vendors and suppliers employing over 4,000 residents will be damaged by the super center.
• Because the overwhelming increase in sales by Walmart will be in non-taxable groceries ($23.0 million out of $23.1 million) there will be an insignificant increase in tax revenues.
The proposed Walmart super center cannot resolve the problems identified in the EIR, and it is not in conformance with the city’s General Plan objective. This appeal should be rejected on the basis of the concerns raised by the Planning Commission.
Ben Boyce
Sonoma
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