Letters: Refinery leaving will hurt Bay Area town's economy, but there will be a big benefit

San Francisco Chronicle​

3 days ago

Regarding 'This Bay Area town grew into a prosperous suburb — but is now facing fiscal crisis' (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, June 1): A key point was left out of the story — the Valero refinery's adverse impact on the health of Benicia residents.
Despite being an otherwise healthy city, our rates of many cancers are much higher than Solano County and the rest of the state.
Benicia's rate of lung cancer is between 14.5%-21.8% higher than the county's and about 44% higher than the California rate. Our prostate cancer rates are 32.8% higher than the county's and 70% higher than the state's. For breast cancer, we have a 36% higher rate than our county and a 94% higher rate than our state. This data comes from Solano County and state public health sources.
While it cannot be definitively concluded that these higher cancer rates are due to refinery emissions, they are similar to the higher rates near refineries elsewhere that are well-documented in medical studies.
Yes, it will be economically challenging to weather Valero's exit. But there is little doubt that when this happens, our community's risk of cancer will drop. Many Benicia residents are looking forward to being able to breathe healthier air and are willing to work with our city government to move into a post-refinery future.
Dr. Richard Fleming, Benicia
Build Petaluma's future
Regarding 'A luxury hotel could transform this California town. Some residents are fighting back' (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, May 30): Thirty years ago, while campaigning door-to-door, I met Jane Hamilton. She was working as a cleaning lady when she opened the door with hope and determination. We later served together on the Petaluma City Council, and my mother was her treasurer when she ran for county supervisor.
I believed Jane stood for hard work and community progress. I was wrong.
Jane helped create Petaluma's Downtown Specific Plan over three decades ago. That plan, now outdated, includes a 45-foot height limit being used to oppose the EKN Appellation Hotel — a five-story, 93-room hotel with a rooftop bar, proposed for a lot that was once a gas station and has sat vacant for 30 years.
More than 50 downtown businesses support this project because they see its value for our economy and community.
Here's the irony: Under today's height restrictions, Petaluma's historic downtown couldn't be built. The very buildings we now celebrate would be prohibited.
We're not trying to replicate history — federal preservation standards discourage that. We should build for today, with the same ambition and purpose that built the city we love.
Petaluma's future deserves vision, not fear.
Janice Cader Thompson, member, Petaluma City Council
Oust S.F. Zoo leader
News reports have provided a consistently long list of concerns about San Francisco Zoo CEO and Executive Director Tanya Peterson and her tenure: mismanagement, animal safety, toxic work environment/retaliation, lack of transparency into zoo operations/finances, nepotism, and now a required city audit, and the list goes on.
The zoo seems to be mired in conflict due to Peterson. Why does the zoo board continue to support her? Why all the effort to retain one person who is causing so much conflict? Why not part ways and move on so the zoo can thrive?
Likely, based on the recent resignations of five members, the board has some cronies who push to keep Peterson in place — to the detriment of the zoo, its employees, animals and reputation, and the community and city.
It's time for Peterson and the cronies to go.
Suzanne Eisenhut, San Francisco
Tighten S.F.'s belt
Arnaldo Dallera, Tiburon