What, we worry?

PG&E is planning to shut down electricity to the Sonoma Valley to prevent wildfires in the event of a major wind event that might knock down high-tension power lines. Their advisory says the electricity might be off for as many as four days to a... Continue

Does banning colors in schools actually prevent gang activity?

Guest editorial by Dean Szanyi | Student Reporter It is no secret that a certain number of young people attending Sonoma Valley High School are affiliated with gangs, and the school district is making clear attempts to curb such affiliations in their students. However, one... Continue

Venture philanthropy

Building a big business requires venture capital, an infusion of wealth that is used to fund a business while it grows. Unlike loans, venture capital is an investment and its payoff is usually in the form of dividends or shares of stock that can be... Continue

Solving housing by solving parking

Solving the housing problem – too little housing for lower-income residents – requires solving the parking problem – too much real estate devoted to the automobile. The single-family home has a long tradition in America, and as suburbs and commuting established themselves as dominant development... Continue

Preserving Democracy

Democracy is under assault all over the globe, suffering at the hands of a combination of authoritarian, nativist, and fundamentalist movements. In some cases these movements are a reaction to the historical excesses of capitalism, an economic system often allied with democracy and its emphasis... Continue

Fire season is here

It’s all too easy to become complacent, and the early high temperatures and smoke from regional fires filling the valley on the first red flag warning day were a needed reminder. Fire preparedness comes to mind: reducing flammables on your property and organizing your resources for evacuation... Continue

The theatre of life

We're far from the first to note that "all the world's a stage," but we can't resist bringing attention to the present convergence of social media with entertainment. It seems as if everyone's attention is glued to their smartphones lately; we've often watched couples sitting... Continue

Haven’t you heard? The war on pot is over

The use of cannabis – pot, weed, Mary Jane, reefer, or whatever you want to call it – is now legal in California, but here in Sonoma the effort to allow a cannabis dispensary is still a battle. Though 64 percent of Sonoma's citizens voted... Continue

Sonoma’s Department of Parks and Recreation

First of all, there isn't one. Though it's been talked about for years, the City of Sonoma still has no Parks and Rec Department and relies instead on various nonprofits to offer public programs. The city contributes considerable? funding to the Boys and Girls Club,... Continue

Sonoma — The board game

Properties in the City of Sonoma and Sonoma Valley are being bought, sold, and accumulated in unprecedented ways. Recent reports of one couple spending 80 million dollars accumulating 22 properties is a current example, and this follows on the heels of another developer's acquisition and... Continue

Editorials