We’ve all been through a lot lately. Power shutoffs shackling us to our phones, pounding rains, daylight savings time, impeachment hearings, fires, evacuations, hot to cold weather, lost income, illness, travel, family issues, etc. Did I miss anything? Powerlessness is hard. My hair stood... Continue
Columnist
History is written by the victor, and for the past 10,000 years that victor has been men. Accordingly, history (his story) concerns itself with power-based theories of patriarchal social order: styles of rulership, the role of warfare, and economic systems. Herstory (not his story) is... Continue
Our community centers twinkle with little white lights, leaves crackle underfoot and warm autumnal smells waft from cafes. We’ve hopefully spent some restorative time with friends and family, eating a bit too much and laughing even more…it’s officially the holiday season in Sonoma County. Thanksgiving... Continue
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCIA) nearly doubled the standard deduction and eliminated the need to itemize deductions for most taxpayers. Although charitable donations to qualified nonprofits and foundations are still permitted as itemized deductions under the TCIA, many people will file... Continue
“Safe, Warm, & Dry” was the slogan that helped convince 70% plus of voters in our School District to pass a $120 million bond measure in 2016 to upgrade long-neglected (i.e., “blighted”) school sites where kids are often educated. It didn’t take a Frank Lloyd... Continue
I'm referring to government-regulated affordable housing -- deed restricted to keep it affordable for 55 years, rent controlled and appreciation-limited, subject to income verification. Large projects of regulated Affordable Housing are rarely built in Sonoma, and the reasons are all about money. When the State... Continue
Our County was turned on its head last week, once again. In what was the largest evacuation in Sonoma County history, nearly 200,000 Sonoma County residents were ordered to leave their homes. The Kincade Fire grew to more than 77,000 acres, destroyed 349 structures, including... Continue
Here in Northern California, we are getting adapted to the new normal of an annual fall firestorm season. I have developed an instinct for sensing the impending signs of the witching season: bone-dry air, balmy temperatures, and the dreaded high winds. This cycle has existed... Continue
If you feel like you're going crazy, you're not alone. Many of us feel our ship of state is floundering and that its rudder's fallen off. It's not just the antics of our dishonest and quarrelsome President that's troubling, but that America appears to have... Continue
Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new version of Social Security Number scam. The scammers are out there and they just don’t stop. By now you know better than to worry if someone from the IRS calls (it’s never them; they correspond by Snail... Continue