Comments on: Elite Class Folly in Sonoma County California

By: Roger

Roger — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:24:00 +0000

Yes,but….have you attended a concert in the new hall? I’m a retired schoolteacher who shares much of your basic perspective. I too am ashamed that someone like Sandy Weil has his name on the hall. I was proud when some of the faculty and students stood up and turned their backs on Weil when we received an “honorary” Phd. from Sonoma State. But the music! We’ve been subscribers to the Santa Rosa symphony for 20 years, including the last 10 years when we have had to drive up from the immediate Bay Area to attend concerts. We are immensely proud of the orchestra and the heroic efforts of Corrick Brown and Jeff Kahane to help raise the money to build the hall. Admittedly, Arminanas plan must include a gamble that the hall will become self supporting. At least forus we hope he makes it. A lot of people will have great joy during the performances if he does.
Roger sailorrog@earthlink.net

By: Rick Deal

Rick Deal — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:03:00 +0000

I agree with you on this one. The money could have been better used for tuition and educational departments or upgrading the buildings instead of this massive construction. This is going on all over California and other universities nationwide. More and more is going into online education (another money making scheme) instead of quality in class education to prepare for jobs in the modern economy.

By: Geoff H

Geoff H — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 23:42:00 +0000

Similar nonsense here at College of the Desert (Palm Springs) where the voters were sold on a bond issue of about $300M (now closer to $1B) to accommodate growth by building lots and lots of buildings. Now the public sees fewer and fewer sections available at the same time that these new buildings are built. They wonder, no doubt, why the bond money can’t be used where it’s needed: to provide classes for students?

By: M. NAAAM, E.

M. NAAAM, E. — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 21:26:00 +0000

Thank you very much for this article; I have searched endlessly for “substantial” evidence of the growing elite of Sonoma County (I have seen such with mine own eyes, is that not enough?), and this article is a perfect article for my quest to spread the word about the opulence manifesting in and corrupting my home.

By: Northbay Communitarian

Northbay Communitarian — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:02:00 +0000

bravo! this is an insightful article describing the absolute waste of money forced upon the community by these selfish individuals. “Their” culture is wasted on exclusivity for only a few thousand individuals… why not use the money for 10 cultural venues for the people? In a broad sense, this article serves to point out what’s wrong with the values governing our system, and the great divide between these individuals and the majority of the people these individuals lord over…