NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 21–27, 2011 | BOHEMIAN.COM
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BOHEMIAN
Rhapsodies Cody’s Story A last bit of holiday hope BY LAURIE STERNER AND STEVE THRASHER
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ecause we feel we have no more hope left, and because we feel it would be an injustice not to tell his story, we hope that you will read about Cody Cordellos, who lives right here in Sonoma. Cody is going to be 27 this month, but he has never climbed a tree, played baseball or even had a tight hug. He lives with epidermolysis bullosa, also known as EB, an extremely painful and debilitating skin disease that causes his skin to break and blister at the slightest touch. Cody was born with dystrophic EB, which is just as similar and painful to having third-degree burns over your entire body 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but with no healing or relief. Over the years, his skin has repeatedly rubbed off, causing disfigurement. The disease eventually leads to skin cancer and early death. Cody is unable to do many of the things an average person his age can do, but he recently acquired one thing that he so longed for: his independence. Throughout his life, Cody has bounced around from one home to another. Until almost four years ago, Cody was living in an older, very rundown trailer on the back of someone’s property. In 2008, Cody moved to a nice little apartment, and for the very first time in his life gained the independence he so longed for. Needless to say, it has been an enormous commitment to make the monthly rent payments. There have been fundraisers to raise money for Cody’s expenses, but there just isn’t enough to cover it all. Cody was served with eviction papers at the beginning of December, and by the end of the month, he will have to leave. He has nowhere to go. Cody has been on a waiting list for almost four years for Section 8 housing. We hope that you can find it your heart to help. Even if it can’t be you, maybe you know of someone who would be willing to help. Donations can be made to Cody Cordellos c/o the Butterfly Fund, P.O. Box 235, El Verano, Calif., 95433. Open Mic is a weekly feature in the Bohemian. We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write openmic@bohemian.com.
Put a Little Love in Your Heart
Many poor folks in the world haven’t yet found the real meaning of Christmas. So many people are lost, lonely, downtrodden, weak and weary. Some are weak in their bodies, weary in their flesh; others are weak in their minds; and yet others are weak in body, mind and spirit. There are the trampled-on, the poor, the persecuted, the hungry; those who are victims of war and crime and exploitation; those who nobody wants and for whom nobody cares; those who have so little in the way of worldly goods, who are lacking in food, clothing and shelter—even the basic necessities. Then there are others who do have material goods and who appear to have it together in the eyes of the world They’re weary and heavy-laden with problems, stress, fears and phobias; those who appear to be rich and increased in goods, but who are found wanting; those who wear a smile on their face, yet ache inside; those who are engulfed in a sea of emptiness. We can spread a little more love and light and cheer! “Lift up your fellow man, lend him a helping hand. Put a little love in your heart.”
TED RUDOW III Palo Alto
Housing in Crisis A recent segment on 60 Minutes showed abandoned homes in Cleveland being bulldozed after vandals had stripped them. Abandoned houses bring down property values, the justification for the destruction. Banks foreclosed on the homes, refusing to lower the principal so homeowners could stay. Then they walked away seemingly without penalty or consequence.
I don’t understand how they can do it. And they are not held accountable. Again! Banks were key players in creating the economic meltdown, including the housing bubble. To allow them to get away with this is unconscionable. We have a crisis of homelessness in this country, and these houses are being ripped down. Communities are shredded and people are forced out. There are many similarly empty homes in Sonoma County. Common sense and compassion lead me to say, “Let’s put people in those houses and let them pay what they can.” What do we have to lose?
MOSS HENRY Santa Rosa
Rethinking the Pellini Corner Maybe we should provide scientists, engineers, tech leaders and art/science innovators funding incentives for running for political office. Phil Harriman, Robert Porter, Ned Kahn, Dale Dougherty, Bill Seidel, Dan Smith and many other local residents may have more gumption, practical ideas and solutions for local and regional issues than many of our elected officials. Too bad we can’t find a way to purchase the old Pellini Chevrolet property in Sebastopol and put it into the hands of the innovators mentioned above for a training and demonstration facility with dormitories and a learning environment for youth. The ongoing projects could be on display for all to see. A fun place to play, make and show! With a well thought-out financial plan, it might be possible to issue a corporate or even municipal bond to purchase and build a facility that attracts visitors from outside the region. If a stable income stream can be developed over time, it can then support a bond. Could an Exploratorium North with a Maker Place attract a growing revenue stream and enliven our economy?
DANIEL OSMER Sebastopol