As 2017 opens, I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year and extend my gratitude for your support throughout these past four years. On January 10, I will be sworn in for my second term as your supervisor and for the... Continue
Board Walk
As I drive through Sonoma Valley, I am awestruck by the incredible beauty that flanks the sides of Hwy 12 through Kenwood and Glen Ellen before slowing down to pass through the Springs. It is wonderful to see the hills a vibrant green much earlier... Continue
I recently read a news story about a teacher in Utah who has suspended her longtime civics lesson held every four years to teach her students about presidential elections. Instead of assigning her pupils to watch debates, interview their parents, and engage in classroom discussions,... Continue
Please have some patience when you are voting in November -- you will need stamina to get all the information you need to vote on the state and local issues appearing on the ballot, the candidates for national, state and local offices… and oh yeah,... Continue
The history of The Springs in one of change and reinvention. Each of the four hamlets that encompass this special area has a fascinating history of its own and collectively, the region has faced great challenges, from economic to natural to social. For hundreds of... Continue
Summer is in full swing and that means our Roads Crews are out in force across the county repairing pavement, replacing culverts, cutting brush to prep for chip seal, potholing, applying dust control treatment, and fixing guard rails. This work is difficult. I am often... Continue
For many, the very idea of reviewing a government budget induces a voluntary coma response, but it is critical that access to this information is readily available for public view. Government budgets are complex, confusing, and not at all like our household budgets. At home,... Continue
There are several new changes to the Vacation Rental Ordinance already approved, including local (30 mile radius) certified property management, inspections by licensed contractors, a “3 Strikes, You’re Out” verified complaint provision, and new position/s at PRMD’s Code Enforcement Division to enable the county to... Continue
When we face a traffic accident or a kitchen fire, who do we call? We have expectations for rapid emergency responses and often, we don’t think too hard about how these services came to be or what is needed to ensure they continue. We know... Continue
On March 16, I am launching an initiative called “Sonoma Valley Connect,” an initiative designed to provide information and services to the people of Sonoma Valley in a variety of areas. This bi-monthly informational series of meetings in the Valley will bring government, nonprofit and... Continue