Matt Sharkey: Letter to the Editor

To the Editorial Staff at the Argus Courier,

I would like to applaud and support Petaluma business owners Elisa Weber, Nancy Leoni and Naomi Crawford for their commentary in the July 18th edition of the Argus Courier. In the following breath, say shame on the so-called Petaluma citizens group "Petaluma Historic Advocates" for single-handedly attempting to slow progress in our community. 

Every single member of City Council ran on very public platforms during this last election and were exceptionally transparent about where they stood in support of the overlay in general and, specifically, of the Appellation Petaluma hotel. We, the citizens, voted these council members in based on the platforms they ran on. Now a group of citizens who intend to slow progress, co-led by a member who lost the City Council election, are standing in the way of our town thriving with a most recent lawsuit against the city. It's honestly infuriating. 

More than 75% of downtown businesses are in support of the hotel because they understand the economic impact it will have on their respective businesses. I can confidently say that if that hotel were open when my family had our retail store (Bleacher Critic) on 4th Street, that we'd likely still be open today. 

Mike Healy and other members of the group are propping up a facade of "historic preservation" in their argument and those who canvased for signatures on their behalf did the same. I know, I was approached by two of them. Both painted an inaccurate depiction of what the Appellation Petaluma can and will represent to our town and our greater community. 

Both the Theater Square District and 100 Petaluma Blvd. North were built during Mr. Healy's watch as a member of City Council. Both fly squarely in the face of historic preservation. So why is Appellation Petaluma any different? Because it takes up a bit more skyline? Come on, we owe it to each other to be better than that. 

I fear that people who signed the Petaluma Historic Advocates petition either don't support or patronize local downtown businesses, don't understand the benefits of the economic impact the hotel will have on the city, or were simply misled. And now the entire community may be left staring at an empty lot surrounded by a chain link fence for yet another year or two, providing zero benefit to anyone. 

If you haven't noticed the number of vacancies in our retail storefronts over the past several years, you're not paying attention. Appellation Petaluma would directly impact that. More people wanting to stay downtown in our community will directly support all of our downtown businesses.

When you consider all of the contemporary codes required for new buildings, the group who designed Appellation Petaluma did a far more remarkable job in giving Petaluma something to be proud of than either of the aforementioned properties above. I have no ties to the group behind the hotel, I just want to see our town continue to be vibrant. And, lastly, I want to encourage all citizens to ask direct and hard questions to anyone who canvasses for your signature, regardless of the subject. 

Best,

Matt Sharkey