.Letters to the Editor: March 23, 2016

In which, to our dismay, we find our integrity impaled

Full of Bias

I was deeply disappointed on reading the highly slanted and biased feature “Taking the 5th” (March 9). This meandering article was ridiculously misleading and inspired me to ask two questions: Save the West County from whom? And for what? From the very same people who backed Efren Carrillo in his two election bids? And to keep the strings of power attached firmly to someone who has never held public office, who has never written a piece of legislation which has actually affected the lives of community members, and who has never, ever cast one single vote for or against a resolution, an item or a bill?

As far as I’m concerned, this article is so full of biases, inaccuracies and intentionally misleading meanderings that it has been rendered completely meaningless and worthless to anyone who was looking to your publication for an investigative treatise on the two candidates’ respective backgrounds, qualifications and abilities to represent, inspire and lead the community members of the 5th District.

Sadly, you fritted away a grand opportunity to do so and seriously impaled your journalistic integrity in the process. The 5th District voters surely deserve better than this.

Sebastopol

Paying the Rent

The rents are high (“Troubled Tenants,” March 9) because of the increased costs to the landlord: taxes, garbage and water rates (when they are paid by the landlord), insurance costs and the cost of labor to make repairs. Manna doesn’t just fall from heaven, you know. Banks give you no return on your savings in today’s world, so you are always robbing Peter to pay Paul, so to speak.

Perhaps some landlords are greedy, but most are just trying to cover their butts because owning investment property comes with increased risk today. Often tenants don’t hold up their end of the bargain and want to create their own rules, which often leads to trouble. They don’t really get that they are merely paying for rented space that is not theirs. I’d say get over the rents, folks; we live in a high-priced and affluent area of the country. It’s not like living in the Midwest or the South, where rents are considerably lower. If you want lower rents, move inland or out of California. That’s my take, and I have been a landlord for over 30 years, and, no, I’m not a slumlord, nor am I in the upper income bracket.

Via Bohemian.com

Our community belongs to all who live in it, not only those who happen to own the land and the houses. It’s clear that we are forcing low-income people out of the county. That’s bad for all of us and for the environment. I support strong rent control.

Via Bohemian.com

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