Public Citizen

Larry Barnett lives in Sonoma where he was elected to three terms on the City Council and served twice as Mayor. A thirty-five-year resident, he currently serves on Sonoma's Planning Commission, where he recently was Chair for two years. Until her passing, he was married to his wife Norma for 50 years, has two daughters and three grandchildren.

On hating haters

I find the behavior of Matt Gaetz, Marjory Taylor Greene, Lauren Bobert and Kevin McCarthy reprehensible; I hate it. These four MAGATS and many other so-called republicans are pursuing policies and positions that damage our democracy; the only reason I can see for how they... Continue

Media literacy: the key 21st-century political skillset

Elvis notoriously shot his TV when all four channels were trash that day. I feel you, bro. You, gentle reader, don’t have to go that gonzo to reduce the influence of mainstream media on your baseline mood and emotional stability. Don’t get poisoned by the... Continue

The next Apple?

After many decades of a local economy based on low-wage agriculture, hospitality and wine industry jobs, rumors are circulating that a cutting-edge hi-tech start-up is seeking to lease several thousand square feet of office space just off the Plaza in Sonoma. If true, hundreds of... Continue

Hate speech comes home

Growing up in Minnesota I didn’t look like other kids. My Sicilian mother put a bowl on my head, cutting around it to create my signature curly-fro cut. Each summer I would spend every minute outdoors, achieving an amazing tan. That combined with slanted eyes... Continue

Father was only tough on the outside

Chapter 62: 1950 • Sonora, California Feb 1950 • Larry’s diary (age 16) Feb 8 Went to scout meeting and signed up with air scouts. Baby Cathy is sick with cut finger. ********** Mom’s ham and cheese sandwiches were our favorite lunch. She ground the... Continue

Seriously?

It’s surreal, from Obama to Trump, Covid shutting doors around the world for two years, heat waves above 110 degrees in our little buttercup town – then throw in some days of gratitude, fun with friends, rains and earthquakes. So, here’s what’s on my mind... Continue

Can humanity be reduced to an algorithm?

Each of us is different and in other ways we are all the same. Sameness and difference are two sides of a coin; you can’t have one without the other. In our case, sameness and difference are the products of one billion years or more... Continue

Union power reflects class power

Moments of crises for the capitalist class always reveals (to borrow a phrase from billionaire Warren Buffet) who is wearing shorts and who is bare. Right now, this is one of the least talented cohort of corporate C suite cronies in the history of modern... Continue

Dad was a farmer, not a hunter

Chapter 60: Summer 1949 • Sonora, California 1949: Abbreviated entries of Larry’s diary (age 15) Aug 31 Went to San Francisco and Sellers, Decca, Warehouseman, Dunham, Cariagan & Town were all on strike. Only had one meal, drove back in dark. Sep 2 Washed Carters... Continue

Taking care of business

While walking down a busy street the other day I felt reminded of leaf cutter ants. Leaf cutters leave their jungle nest each day and embark upon harvesting; climbing into the branches of shrubs and trees they systematically chop leaves apart and carry the bits... Continue

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