We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change the fate of our Valley, throwing our support behind a creative, future-looking proposal for the 945-acre campus of the former Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). A plan that provides sufficient, truly affordable housing for workers, young people and others... Continue
Editorials
We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change the fate of our Valley. We can support a creative, future-looking proposal for the development of the 945-acre campus of the former Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). It can provide sufficient truly affordable housing, arguably our single greatest need.... Continue
Cities like Sonoma have a variety of regulatory tools available to ensure that as major development occurs, not just the developer benefits. The physical development of a city is all but permanent. But not the same can be said of community benefits; one-time fees or... Continue
A recent report revealed that the City of Sonoma’s water use reduction is the worst in Sonoma County, at only 3.8% as compared with last year. If you recall, the city’s target for reduction was set at 20%, and although not every city in Sonoma... Continue
Sonoma’s City Council has been in a rather confused state of late, and now has a majority of members either appointed or placed in office unopposed during the last election. Three resignations in less than one year, all unexpected, created an unprecedented situation. We appreciate... Continue
For a century and a half the entrance to Sonoma has been a broad boulevard. It once led to an eight-acre fenced meadow where livestock grazed, but since the early 20th Century, leads travelers directly to the entrance to City Hall. The bustle of horse-drawn... Continue
Life is about much more than politics, business and consumption. Our Valley is blessed with vital and energetic arts organizations that provide public programs to young and old alike. But that’s not all; within our community is a thriving collection of visual artists, performers, writers... Continue
This pandemic forced everything and everyone to change. Normal life and all its habits have been overturned, and we’ve been forced to develop other ways of conducting business, meetings, communicating and working together. For many, if not most, the past year-plus has not been pleasant,... Continue
Politics has changed in the 21st century. What used to be an intensely personal, relationship-based electoral process has become disembodied, replaced by cyber relationships on social media. Facebook elected Donald Trump, and Facebook and other platforms now play an integral part in local politics as... Continue
Three members of Sonoma’s City Council have resigned during the past six months, all for personal reasons. From citing displeasure with each other to the pressures of work and family, Rachel Hundley, Logan Harvey, and Amy Harrington appeared to represent a new generation of political... Continue