Let’s face it, most of Sonoma County’s roads are in poor to failing condition. As the First District Supervisor, I receive daily calls and e-mails about issues with roads—potholes, lifting pavement, and overall poor quality. My colleagues who represent other areas of the county have... Continue
Board Walk
Having to become an expert on insurance is one of the many surprising and not so pleasant aspects of the “new normal” after a wildfire takes your home. I know more about insurance now than I ever thought I would. Learning that your home insurance... Continue
The two-year anniversary of our firestorms is approaching. Since October 2017 it has become apparent that our communities’ needs for fire safety have changed. In response, the organization of our Fire Districts must change as well. There are currently 35 fire departments in Sonoma County. Each... Continue
After several days of deliberations, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in June 14th to adopt a $1.78 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020. Each year I write about the budget to help our community understand the balancing act that takes place to... Continue
Driving south through Glen Ellen, you cross over a historic trestle bridge, and you think you’ve entered the land that time forgot. And you may be right. You enter a sprawling campus of green grass, towering oaks and quaint cottage-style buildings. You are driving through the Sonoma... Continue
We are working with the community to establish two Municipal Advisory Councils. The Springs MAC is up and running, meeting the fourth Tuesday of the month; this month the MAC is meeting on May 28 at the Springs Community Hall. We are scheduling a community... Continue
Until a disaster occurs, few of us realize that some of our small businesses are struggling, and how a disaster significantly affects their fragile bottom line. I have spoken to more than a few business owners in The Springs wondering how long they can survive.... Continue
By Supervisor Susan Gorin After discussing the formation of the Springs Municipal Advisory Council (SMAC) with the community for more than two years, the SMAC will officially have its new members appointed by the County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 19. We... Continue
One of the things we love about our county is its rugged beauty -- mighty oaks, waving grasses, towering redwoods, delicate manzanita, the hillsides, mountains and meadows that surround us. After the 2017 fires, the way many of us look at the beauty that surrounds... Continue
There has been a lot of activity in our District this past year, but our shared fire stories of tragedy and loss are evolving into a focus on rebuilding. It takes all of us grit, patience to learn about insurance coverage, sharing information on builders,... Continue