State and local jurisdictions are spending gobs of time and money on accelerating the pace of creation of affordable housing. While not specifically mandating affordability, new state laws allow single-family lot splits, the building of ADUs by right, housing on commercial parcels, and shortened paths... Continue
Editorials
Government is not a business, and generally that’s a good thing. Business in America is about earning a profit, accumulating wealth, and gaining influence over public opinion. When conducted ethically, business can benefit society; when conducted corruptly, it produces harm. The mission of government is... Continue
Transparent this, transparent that; it seems as if labeling the public process as transparent is government’s order of the day. The fact is, the workings of government are more opaque than ever. A representative government means we elect leaders to whom we give the responsibility... Continue
For the first time in its history, the City of Sonoma has enacted land-use legislation that mandates the construction of housing when commercial development is built on parcels over one-half acre in size. In such cases, the housing square footage built must be equal to... Continue
Two major institutions – the Sonoma Valley School District and the City of Sonoma – have finally hired new administrative leadership; in the case of the District, a Superintendent, and in the case of the City, a permanent City Manager. It’s about time. For far... Continue
Nearly a hundred people recently gathered for the 20-year celebration of the Overlook Trail, the popular and picturesque hiking trail above Sonoma’s historic Mountain Cemetery. It’s a local treasure that almost never was. A legacy of the dedicated efforts of dozens of local residents, and... Continue
The State of California recently announced that it had selected the team to redevelop the SDC campus, two firms which together will transform roughly 180 acres of the existing campus into housing, retail elements, and a hotel. But is it a done deal? When The... Continue
The news last week that pharmacist Aman Garg has leased the shuttered Pharmaca property on West Napa Street was greeted by the public with nothing less than jubilation. That reaction was more than a match for the outpouring of dismay when Pharmaca closed its doors. ... Continue
But not enough to store? After multiple years of drought serious enough for local agencies to impose water conservation measures, major use restrictions, tiered pricing, and fines, we're surprised there hasn’t been a proposal to create additional water storage. Here we are in the midst... Continue
Have you ever wondered about what living here without a local hospital would be like? It’s not a pleasant prospect. The closest hospitals are a 20- to 30-minute ride away, and that’s added to whatever time the arrival of an ambulance requires. Not every health... Continue