Editorial: Sonoma’s downtown parking puzzle

The streets surrounding Sonoma Plaza have long functioned like alleyways in a parking lot, but that "parking lot" is now woefully insufficient. Despite this, developers keep bringing forth plans that will make matters worse, driving downtown visitors and business employees ever deeper into the residential... Continue

Appeal hearings and due process

Several public comments made recently at Planning Commission and City Council meetings, brought our attention to the fact that not everyone understands appeal hearings and their role in the due process of law. The City Council is the only elected body in the City of... Continue

Violating the spirit of the law

It's said there are two elements of law, the letter of the law and its spirit. The letter of the law refers to the specific meaning of the words used and how to apply them. The spirit of the law refers to law's original intent,... Continue

The growing cost of government

When asked about the unavailability of City Council minutes a month or so ago, it was surprising to hear City Manager Cathy Capriola report that the city was more than six months behind in posting meeting minutes, and had hired a private contractor at $125... Continue

The complexity of chocolate and flowers

A generation or two ago, giving your sweetheart chocolate and flowers was a guy's way to a woman's heart. For many men today, it still is (they hope!). And women give Valentine gifts today, too. But our world has become more complex than ever, and... Continue

Coping with overabundance

Studies indicate close to 50 percent of the food grown in America goes to waste, this while millions of people here go hungry each day, including many children. Though efforts are being made to capture and use perfectly good food that would otherwise become garbage,... Continue

Looking ahead to the new year

Far many, the passing of 2017 is a relief, but we've survived the test of fire and now look ahead to what 2018 will bring. The top of the list is rain; December was nearly bone-dry, and reminds us of how precious drinking water is... Continue

Editorial: Planning Commission appointment goofiness

The “out of city” seats on City of Sonoma commissions are intended to provide a way for valley residents to gain some influence in city decision-making. Historically, appointees to these seats have been residents of The Springs, or parts of the valley community adjacent to the... Continue

Busting our land use rules?

Urban growth boundaries, community separators, growth management ordinances, and zoning regulations, not to mention sewer plant capacity, water availability, traffic and other infrastructure systems; all these are intrinsically related to how we use the land and the rules that govern that use. The product of... Continue

Appreciating community

The world seems quite chaotic lately. The government in Washington D.C. is polarized and paralyzed. The climate and weather patterns are changing in unpredictable ways. The stock market keeps hitting new highs, while the poorest in America hit new lows. Gun violence is rampant, addiction... Continue

Editorials