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Letters to the Editor
Karraker’s no Cotati citizen
The Community Voice,
Your new reporter Dave Williams apparently needs a course on the rudiments of journalism - WHO, what, when, and especially WHERE. “Citizen” Greg Karraker may be many things, an advertising industry master of spin, a breeder of Arabian horses, or a straw man for George Barich. But one thing he is not is a citizen or resident of Cotati. He cannot and does not vote here. And while he may use a Cotati mailing address, he doesn’t hold a Cotati business license and he doesn’t pay Cotati property taxes for his 20-acre ranch far outside not only the city limits, but even outside its wider, legally defined “sphere of influence.”
Mr. Karraker doesn’t seem to understand that the Cotati City Council is elected to represent the residents of Cotati and it need not concern itself with “ethics” complaints by some disgruntled outlier. If Eric Kirchmann - himself an elected school official - was concerned with how he was treated at a meeting, he is more than competent to speak for himself.
So one has to wonder what the real motive is behind Karraker’s persistent hounding of Cotati’s Mayor Coleman-Seghnor. Why would this carpetbagger come to meeting after meeting with the intent of belittling the mayor and council as they attempt to put Cotati on a firm and fiscally forward path? Is it a coincidence that this vendetta began at the same time that his crony Barich was recalled by 65 percent of the voters with the support of the mayor and every other council member? I leave it to the public to figure that out.
Cotati and its real citizens don’t need a rich rancher and political “stalking horse” wasting the time and resources of our small, cash-strapped city. If Greg Karraker has any legitimate concerns about local government, let him contact the County Board of Supervisors who actually represent him.
Edwin Patterson
Cotati
Your new reporter Dave Williams apparently needs a course on the rudiments of journalism - WHO, what, when, and especially WHERE. “Citizen” Greg Karraker may be many things, an advertising industry master of spin, a breeder of Arabian horses, or a straw man for George Barich. But one thing he is not is a citizen or resident of Cotati. He cannot and does not vote here. And while he may use a Cotati mailing address, he doesn’t hold a Cotati business license and he doesn’t pay Cotati property taxes for his 20-acre ranch far outside not only the city limits, but even outside its wider, legally defined “sphere of influence.”
Mr. Karraker doesn’t seem to understand that the Cotati City Council is elected to represent the residents of Cotati and it need not concern itself with “ethics” complaints by some disgruntled outlier. If Eric Kirchmann - himself an elected school official - was concerned with how he was treated at a meeting, he is more than competent to speak for himself.
So one has to wonder what the real motive is behind Karraker’s persistent hounding of Cotati’s Mayor Coleman-Seghnor. Why would this carpetbagger come to meeting after meeting with the intent of belittling the mayor and council as they attempt to put Cotati on a firm and fiscally forward path? Is it a coincidence that this vendetta began at the same time that his crony Barich was recalled by 65 percent of the voters with the support of the mayor and every other council member? I leave it to the public to figure that out.
Cotati and its real citizens don’t need a rich rancher and political “stalking horse” wasting the time and resources of our small, cash-strapped city. If Greg Karraker has any legitimate concerns about local government, let him contact the County Board of Supervisors who actually represent him.
Edwin Patterson
Cotati
Protect the environment
The Community Voice:
This is ridiculous. I realize that our economy is important to maintaining a certain standard of living. However, we cannot continue to put our ecology in last place on the priority list. When we are in an economic depression we make adjustments. We are having an environmental crisis right now and Congress needs to take action. There should be no more off shore drilling.
All of the money the oil companies put into oil exploration will have to be reinvested into alternative energy, developing more sustainable cities and creating efficient, alternative transportation. They can create new jobs and perhaps the government would be willing to give them a tax break. They have no problem giving oil companies tax breaks. It is urgent that we protect our environment before our economy and our planet are deflated.
Taylor Anderson-Stevenson
Penngrove
This is ridiculous. I realize that our economy is important to maintaining a certain standard of living. However, we cannot continue to put our ecology in last place on the priority list. When we are in an economic depression we make adjustments. We are having an environmental crisis right now and Congress needs to take action. There should be no more off shore drilling.
All of the money the oil companies put into oil exploration will have to be reinvested into alternative energy, developing more sustainable cities and creating efficient, alternative transportation. They can create new jobs and perhaps the government would be willing to give them a tax break. They have no problem giving oil companies tax breaks. It is urgent that we protect our environment before our economy and our planet are deflated.
Taylor Anderson-Stevenson
Penngrove
Betrayal
The Community Voice:
It is my opinion that we, the mobile home residents of Rohnert Park, have been betrayed by our city council when they voted 3-2 to allow condo-conversion to go ahead in Rancho Verde.
As it stands today, Rancho Grande stands alone, unprotected from this potential threat. Rancho Feliz, Valley Village and Las Casitas are protected while being owned by nonprofit organizations - all well-and-good for them.
Rancho Verde was betrayed when our council voted (under threat of continued law suits from the park owner) to allow the conversion to go ahead.
While literally giving away 300 irreplaceable “affordable housing” units, stating they were only protecting the city from further lawsuits.
I say, who is the city if not its citizens? Certainly not an absentee landowner.
The guilty parties who voted yes were Mayor Amie Breeze and council members Jake Mackenzie and Pam Stafford (incumbant), while vice-Mayor Gina Belforte and councilman Joe Callinan voted no.
As a resident mobile home owner, I will remember at the polls. As much as I may personally like a certain politician, my home is at stake here and you can only reward or hurt a politician through your vote and it is once again election time - or should I say, “Pay back time?”
My personal choice this time around would be Mr. Carl Levio, former city manager, drafter, and key staff person who enforced the mobile home ordinance, which coincidentally, withstood some five attacks in court. The mobile home resident homeowners and City of Rohnert Park won.
Robert Fleak
Rohnert Park
It is my opinion that we, the mobile home residents of Rohnert Park, have been betrayed by our city council when they voted 3-2 to allow condo-conversion to go ahead in Rancho Verde.
As it stands today, Rancho Grande stands alone, unprotected from this potential threat. Rancho Feliz, Valley Village and Las Casitas are protected while being owned by nonprofit organizations - all well-and-good for them.
Rancho Verde was betrayed when our council voted (under threat of continued law suits from the park owner) to allow the conversion to go ahead.
While literally giving away 300 irreplaceable “affordable housing” units, stating they were only protecting the city from further lawsuits.
I say, who is the city if not its citizens? Certainly not an absentee landowner.
The guilty parties who voted yes were Mayor Amie Breeze and council members Jake Mackenzie and Pam Stafford (incumbant), while vice-Mayor Gina Belforte and councilman Joe Callinan voted no.
As a resident mobile home owner, I will remember at the polls. As much as I may personally like a certain politician, my home is at stake here and you can only reward or hurt a politician through your vote and it is once again election time - or should I say, “Pay back time?”
My personal choice this time around would be Mr. Carl Levio, former city manager, drafter, and key staff person who enforced the mobile home ordinance, which coincidentally, withstood some five attacks in court. The mobile home resident homeowners and City of Rohnert Park won.
Robert Fleak
Rohnert Park
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