We spend a lot of time and effort in Sonoma doing something we call "planning." The City of Sonoma has a "Planning Department" and a "Planning Director, a "Planning Commission" and a "General Plan." Planning sounds like a good idea. While none of us can... Continue
Editorials
Like most of us we've been enjoying the spell of rain over the past few weeks. It's not yet the gully-washers predicted, but certainly is welcome. The fields and hills are turning green, and it's reassuring to head outside amid the puddles. It's going to... Continue
In 2013, a special election was held to determine the fate of Measure B. That initiative was placed on the ballot by citizens hoping to mitigate the downsides of tourism on our quality of life by limiting the creation of any new large hotels until... Continue
Despite the hand-wringing, pious statements, sympathy and woeful admissions that a lack of affordable housing is a serious problem, government - fulfilling Nixon's image of it as a "helpless, pitiful giant", is largely throwing its hands in the air while pleading poverty. The shame of... Continue
California is a long way from the chilly New England shore where the pilgrims landed. Living three thousand miles from Massachusetts and nearly 400 years after that continent-changing event, we can’t help but ponder the significance of the Thanksgiving celebration we Californians are heirs to.... Continue
We've gone on record calling for Sonoma's city government to take steps to move into the 21st Century by adopting new technologies and making government more transparent. Yet a quick look at the city's website reveals it's not even keeping up with the 20th Century.... Continue
Sustainability is a concept seeking to account for the earth’s ability to carry aggregate human environmental effects now and into the future. One major effect, greenhouse gas emissions, has clear and measurable negative consequences that threaten the environmental stability upon which our current societies and... Continue
Understanding water in Sonoma Valley is simple: It’s complicated. The Valley has two water sources: (1) The Russian River, via the Sonoma Aqueduct managed by the Sonoma County Water Agency. It provides water to metered customers in the Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD)... Continue
People come and people go, but the memory of their actions remain. We call this form of memory "history" and in the case of institutions like government, that history is recorded. Among the methods used by government are minutes of meetings. Meeting minutes record what... Continue
A new Sun story reexamines three past General Plans from 1964, 1974 and 1985. Each in its own way points to the cultural biases and social movements of its decade while simultaneously acknowledging the unique history and natural features of Sonoma Valley and the City... Continue