Do you think the city of Petaluma should continue spending resources to fight for public access to Lafferty Ranch? The vast majority of those responding to an Argus-Courier unofficial online poll thought the city should.
In addition, 72 percent of the respondents didn’t feel the property owners had a valid case for limiting public access to the ranch.
Here were some of the comments:
“Petaluma is spending very few resources to fight for public access at the city’s Lafferty Ranch. The pro bono attorneys are donating their professional time to enable Petaluma to be the plaintiff.”
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“If the city wins the battle for access to Lafferty, it will just cost us taxpayers more for clean-up, fix-up, and ongoing maintenance. Let’s get our streets fixed first, then worry about getting another park.”
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“It is time for the public to enjoy the lands they own.”
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“It makes me angry that the adjacent property owners want to, in effect, take the property from the citizens of Petaluma by denying access.”
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“The city has used its eminent domain to take possession of road needs for developers, why not use it here and end the access disagreement?”
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“Petaluma is spending very few resources to fight for public access at the city’s Lafferty Ranch. The pro bono attorneys are donating their professional time to enable Petaluma to be the plaintiff.”
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“Property owners have shamelessly stolen access to property owned by taxpayers so as to basically enrich themselves at public expense. The tactics and arguments they have used are an amazing abuse of the justice system. I believe that the city should enforce their newfound right of way directly through Pfendler property to straighten the road.”
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“I think question one is misleading. The ‘fight’ at this point is not the City of Petaluma’s but a private group (Friends of Lafferty).”
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“It’s a nice park and should visited by everyone.”
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“It is unfortunate that the owners on the hill want the hill for themselves, but we have other pressing issues within the city limits that we should be focusing on. Such as parks and streets.”
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“Lafferty has amazing views and wildlife interest that should be available to all citizens of Petaluma.”
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“Two simple words: eminent domain.”
“It is unfortunate that political blinders kept us from realizing the best imaginable county park in southern Sonoma County — Moon Ranch. Because of that we instead have a treeless park down in the flatlands, and we have to live with the results. Still, public access to the publicly owned Lafferty needs to be pushed as far as we can go.”
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“It is unfortunate that the owners on the hill want the hill for themselves, but we have other pressing issues within the city limits that we should be focusing on. Such as parks and streets.”
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“It is very impressive the way the little people have continued to fight the ‘Fat Cats’ to open this jewel of a park, which we already own. The idea there was never a right of way from the road to this land has always been absurd on face value. If you have never been there, hopefully you will be able to soon. Lafferty Ranch is gorgeous, and the views are slack jaw incredible. Particularly sweet is the view of Petaluma, nestled in its valley.”
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“Two simple words: eminent domain.”
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“Lafferty is a very significant place on Sonoma Mountain. The city owns it and the public should have access to it. plain and simple!”
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“Lafferty Ranch appears to be similar to Tolay Park in that it will take some effort to get there. Therefore, it seems very unlikely that Lafferty will be over used. Open space and parks are the hallmark of great cities.”
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“Lafferty Ranch has been held hostage by rich NIMBY neighbors for long enough. It is a spectacular property that belongs to all of us. Now is the time to finally gain access to it.”
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“Lafferty Ranch should be open for school childrens’ educational trips at the very least. It is a vast resourse that should be shared with the public to enjoy, and, after all, it is owned by the citizens of Petaluma. Lucy B.”
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“More places to hike on the EAST side of town please!”
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“That dance has been danced so many times. When will the city realize the music has stopped?”
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“The City can’t take care of the parks and property we have now (not their fault by the way as we vote down every tax increase), why would any reasonable person think they can send crews outside the city limits to maintain property.”
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“The City of Petaluma owns this incredible piece of the planet. It should never give up on fighting for the right of its citizenry to access Lafferty.”
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“This city already has a lot that it is responsible that it has difficulty maintaining and servicing now. It doesn’t seem prudent to add more to their plate at this point.”
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“We citizens should be able to hike on our city-owned Lafferty without a reservation system.”