Congressman to meet with city officials, business representatives

Congressman Mike Thompson will be coming to Sonoma on Monday to talk about the federal economic stimulus package, but most of all to listen to input from Sonoma County elected officials.
He will be meeting with the mayors and city managers from municipalities throughout the 1st District of California, which spans Del Norte, Humbolt, Lake, Mendocino, Yolo, Napa and Sonoma counties. He will also be meeting with board members from the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance and the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Locals will get their chance to bend the Congressman’s ear on “Mornings in Sonoma” on KSVY 91.3 Sonoma with Ken Brown and Wally Breitman between 8 and 10 a.m. Locals can call in with questions and comments at 707.933.9133. The exact time of Thompson’s appearance was yet to be confirmed at press time.
One thing that is unusual about this economic stimulus package compared to previous ones is that President-elect Barack Obama has indicated that it will not include specific earmarks at the federal level. Rather, the money will go to the states, which will have the discretion as to exactly how that money is distributed between various areas and industries.
The Sonoma area is divided between the 1st and 6th Districts.
Lynn Woolsey, who represents the 6th District of California, which also includes Marin County, held similar meetings earlier this winter to garner input. City Councilmember Joanne Sanders attended that meeting.
“My message is all about jobs. We really need to be focusing on making sure we don’t do things that are going to be damaging to small business,” said Sanders.
As founder and president of Bolt Staffing, she knows first-hand the effect that the economy has had on local workers.
“My phone is ringing off the hook, people are getting laid off right and left and looking for work,” said Sanders.
Jennifer Yankovich, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, said things had definitely slowed down in the Valley, with banks going from one extreme to another. She hopes this will be a balancing year.
“Relatively, Sonoma has been somewhat insulated just because of the nature of our industry. Everything relates to everything else. We’re trying to make people aware of that. Every purchasing choice you make impacts different local businesses. Trying to really unify and come together, that’s the biggest thing.”
The Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance (SVVGA) and the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau, representing wine and tourism, the pillars of our local economy, will also be at the table.
“We seem to be one of the few industries that isn’t just being strangled by the economy,” said Grant Raeside, executive director of SVVGA. “Our Valley wines are going to be really on top of the heat in terms of sales. We feel pretty optimistic.”
He said his primary concern is emphasizing to the federal government the importance of grapes in the agricultural industry. Another continuing issue is that 15 to 20 states still don’t allow direct wine shipments to consumers, which he would like to see improve.