It's been a traumatic few weeks for Sonoma Valley; many now homeless, woodlands and grasslands denuded of ground-cover, unhealthy air, and an economy hit hard. The ripple effects of the Sonoma Valley Firestorm will continue for months, and so will the personal and social trauma.... Continue
Editorials
Like many of you, we at the SUN found ourselves scattered to various locations this past week, as the fire and evacuations drove us from our homes. Deprived of reliable internet access, and in the light of information offered by Facebook groups and other modes... Continue
Discussion before the City Council and on Facebook about wine tasting rooms on the Plaza always seem to include mention of The Free Market. This issue mirrors arguments one hears about the role of government nationally, i.e., should businesses be allowed to regulate themselves? This... Continue
Despite the aspirations of its General Plan, the policies and measures of its Development Code, its Planning Commission and its Planning Director, Sonoma’s development planning process is a mess. From homes too large, mansions on hilltops, ill-conceived commercial developments and impact analyses that defy common... Continue
The fastest growing population in America is that of people over 85. California is growing older too, and Sonoma Valley's senior population is increasing faster than the state average. Housing, transportation and social services that older people require are not keeping up. Demographically this is... Continue
Political office often breeds paternalism, an inclination to protect the public from disturbing information. Though seemingly well-intentioned, paternalism arises from distrust of citizens, the attitude that people are not mature or well-informed enough to handle the truth. Public office exposes elected officials to the underbelly... Continue
In February of this year, we were the first to report citizen Chris Petlock's comments and questions to the Sonoma City Council about water rates and money transfers from the City's Water Fund to its General Fund. Subsequently, the City made light of his concerns;... Continue
We've written about creating affordable housing regularly for the past three years. We've made concrete suggestions about raising revenues, proposed new policies to stimulate housing, and offered a variety of solutions, all to no avail. At this point we've had to conclude that the leadership... Continue
America's founders were highly literate and books held an important place in their lives. On a yearly, per capita basis, people read far more books in the 18th Century than today. This was not simply a matter of fewer distractions and forms of entertainment; enlightenment... Continue
The abundance of American wealth has fostered a wasteful society. Our throwaway culture and mindset has now spread globally; in a mere few hundred years, the human race has been transformed into Homo garbagicus, our waste and refuse spread from pole to pole. On the... Continue