Why not both?

Editor: How would you feel if you ran a successful business in Sonoma for 14 years, only to be denied renewal of your permit unless you provide a party every week for the public in and around the City to attend, free of charge? What if you had to provide live music and pay additional rent to provide additional space for people, who may or may not purchase your product, to set up their lawn chairs, wine and coolers with food from home to enjoy the party?

This is what the Sonoma City Council has done to the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market that has been operating in the Plaza for the past 14 years, each Tuesday night from April through October. By a three-to-two vote at the September 1 meeting, the council denied a use permit to the market for next year, saying that they prefer an organization that will provide an event or party on the plaza on Tuesday nights.

But why not have both – a party and a certified farmers market? The SVCFM provides a very popular source of safe, fresh, slow food to the residents, restaurants and caterers in the Valley. It is a not-for-profit organization that provides fruit and vegetables grown and certified under laws of the State and County Departments of Agriculture and it contributes funding to the City of Sonoma in the form or rent for the plaza use (the City of Santa Rosa pays for the farmers market in that city).

Everybody loves a party, but rather than deprive residents of a popular reliable certified farmers market, the City Council should contract with an organization that is experienced at and willing to provide a weekly party separately and on a different weeknight than the Farmers Market. Why not both?

Ilene Addison
Sonoma