Letters to the editor, Monday, July 29

Draconian increase in municipal taxes

EDITOR: On July 17, during a training session for the Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board, our chair alerted us to a City Council resolution to update the fee schedule (“Santa Rosa historic board quit over raised fees,” Thursday). The board was not contacted for input, nor were the historic districts. This new fee structure is draconian for homeowners and will essentially kill preservation efforts and preservation districts.

Previously, homeowners in historic districts paid for landmark modification permits plus a building permit, with a total cost of about $400 for landmarks; now it’s about $8,800. Some new costs are even higher. It’s completely unaffordable. Astonishingly, at least three of the seven council members were unaware of the changes they were voting on.

It is clear that the city does not value our historic preservation districts, the beautiful homes within them, or the historic commercial district of Railroad Square. Many cities offer incentives for preservation and do not penalize homeowners and business owners for maintaining their culturally significant buildings.

I have long been committed to preserving historic heritage and when I travel, I seek out the beautiful, diverse historic areas and buildings in a city. I served on the Cultural Heritage Board for many years and often wondered if the city was as committed to its historic districts and preservation. Now I know. Our entire board resigned in protest.

CAPPIE GARRETT

Saint Rose

Fitness for the office

EDITOR: Donald Trump declaring Joe Biden unfit for office when Biden withdrew and endorsed a younger, stronger candidate is laughable. Trump’s own vice presidential pick had this to say in 2016: “Mr. Trump is unfit for the highest office in our land.” Of course, J.D. Vance didn’t name what he considers the highest office in the land. Maybe he meant that Trump shouldn’t be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? If elected, he could declare himself as such, and they wouldn’t contradict him.

WEEDY TUHTANJOSEPH

Sevastopol

A man with integrity

EDITOR: James Alexander is an excellent choice to be the county’s new director of homeless services (“Search for Homeless Services,” July 19). He is a man of great integrity, compassion and dedication. He will make a real difference in reducing the homeless population.

DAVID HIRSHFIELD

Saint Rose

Discarded glass

EDITOR: I ask tourists who travel from inland to our coastal community for relief from the record heat caused by global warming to please stop littering our roads. This year, a tremendous amount of broken glass is showing up on our bike paths. Please show more respect for the natural beauty of Fort Bragg by recycling those bottles instead of cavalierly tossing them out of your car onto the many bike paths we have here.

The US economy has been devastated by COVID, the lack of taxes on the ultra-rich, and the incredible overspending on the military. Many people here can’t afford to drive. We reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve our health by biking.

I cycle regularly. I have had three flat tires in one day due to broken glass on our cycle paths. Many people who are new to cycling do not know how to fix a flat tire. The flat tires prevent them from using the most efficient form of transport ever.

Show more respect for our community and the environment.

ED OBERWEISER

Fort Bragg

Stranger than fiction

EDITOR: This is a story stranger than fiction—even Hollywood wouldn’t believe it. A convicted felon running against a former prosecutor for president in 2024.

PEARL SEYMORE

Sonoma

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