So Why break it?

About the Rialto Lakeside Cinemas takeover, Dan Tocchini states: "Why fix something that ain't broke?" ("Screen Shots," March 24). My response: Why break something that doesn't need to be fixed?

We now have a great independent film venue in Santa Rosa, thanks to Ky Boyd. He has spent the last 10 years transforming a dingy, neglected theater—previously managed by Dan Tocchini—into a highly reputable and successful arthouse. Boyd is deeply involved in the local community and has repeatedly sponsored benefit screenings for nonprofits. He has earned, several times over, the outpouring of passionate support he is presently experiencing from his thousands of customers.

Tocchini built his theater monopoly in Sonoma County with express local political support. It's time to direct that support away from Tocchini, who has abused it, and to Boyd, who strongly deserves it. If the Rialto lease is not restored to Boyd, local government should assist Boyd in finding another location, and give him free parking and protection from competition, as it gave Tocchini.

Stephen Smith

Santa Rosa

Not monsters

I want to share my thoughts and experience working, as well as networking, with the Tocchinis and their business. I personally enjoyed working with them; they were caring to their staff and family-oriented. I may no longer work there, but we still keep in contact; we see each other in the community and catch up.

I work at an after-school program for youth. I wanted to treat the children out to the movies, an end-of-the-school-year celebration. I called the Tocchinis and asked if I could take some children to the movies. With no hesitation, they let us in the theater at no charge. I continue to network with the Tocchinis and keep in contact.

Like I said before, I am not taking any sides, just my thoughts and experience with the Tocchinis and their company. If I was given the opportunity to work with them again, I would do it. I had a positive experience and continue to build a relationship with them and their company.

Patricia Ochoa

Via email

Readin, Ritin, Rithmatic

I found it ironic that the article "University of the Mind?" (March 24) was accompanied by a picture showing students and professors (I assume) protesting for the importance of accessible education, holding signs with blatant misspellings. This does not reflect well on the quality of the education received thus far.

Raven Green

Sebastopol

Yet Medicare is a huge success

Your March 17 issue contained an excellent summary of the way that federal government mismanagement has run the recreation resources of Lake Berryessa into the ground (Best of the North Bay, "Best Declaration of Secession," Culture). Given that clear indication of big government incompetence, why is the Bohemian so dismissive of those of us who question further governmental intrusion into healthcare and education?

It's not that Republicans (or conservatives or Tea Party members—whatever label you wish to apply) are "heartless" or "uncaring." It's that we refuse to attribute compassionate emotions to large, dysfunctional, irresponsible bureaucracies—which is what federal programs always become. The strongest supporters of these bureaucracies are invariably their employees and contracting entities, which soon learn to serve themselves first, the public be damned.

Too soon, any federally run health insurance or healthcare program will reach similar results. The same armies of bean counters now denying private insurance claims will be working under federal contract denying public claims, and faceless bureaucrats (now in a monopoly and government-backed role) will be determining from Washington which emergency rooms and clinics "need" to close.

There will always be tough choices to make regarding expenditures, but the closer to home and the closer to individual preference we can keep these choices, the better.

Eric Artman

Tiburon

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