Addressing concerns about Sonoma’s 4th of July fireworks show

The Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters' Association distributed this letter last month: Dear fellow Sonoma Valley Residents: This year, the members of the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters Association are excited to bring back a modified July 4: Fireworks celebration - a beloved community event that was necessarily canceled... Continue

Get rid of the filibuster

Year after year, we see politicians in Congress make promises about what they can do for constituents like me. And year after year, the progress is usually less than we hoped for. The solution is clear: It’s time to get rid of the filibuster --... Continue

Selling out the neighborhood

Are we willing to sell out our neighborhoods to the highest bidder? That’s indeed the question that Pacaso raises for the residents of Sonoma. Pacaso is a new real estate company backed by hundreds of millions of dollars of funding. They’re buying up properties in... Continue

Against Pacaso’s ‘fractional ownership’ scheme

We worked hard to block Vacation Rentals in our residential area. It took two-plus years to obtain an “X over layment” Zoning from the County. Now, a company called Pacaso is circumventing that zoning by purchasing a home and then selling fractional shares (LLC or... Continue

School Board trustee’s ‘unequivocal support’ of new superintendent

I wanted to enter into the public record the rationale for my unequivocal support of Dr. Adrian Palazuelos as the next superintendent of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. First I want to speak to the process. The search and selection process was exhaustive, rigorous,... Continue

A letter from John Hennelly, new Sonoma Valley Hospital CEO

I’m deeply honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading Sonoma Valley Hospital and becoming part of this wonderful community. I come to you with experience in both large and small hospitals, and have been blessed to work with, and learn from, some great... Continue

Reject Amazon’s proposed Sonoma distribution center

Recently, Sonoma County officials had put a temporary halt to the proposed Amazon “Distribution Center” on Eighth Street and the 121, having twice rejected permit applications from the warehouse owner who wishes to lease his vacant building to the online retail giant. In the debate... Continue

Real estate disclosure and Sonoma County cannabis

If the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approves the draft cannabis ordinance, some permits will be ministerial with no notice given to neighbors and no way to object to site-specific particulars. Health and safety protections and notice to impacted neighbors will disappear. The presumption is... Continue

Strange bedfellows behind Sonoma County’s cannabis push

The North Bay Leadership Council endorsed an extreme cannabis ordinance that invites massive outdoor cultivation in Sonoma County. Friedman’s Home Improvement, Comcast, Redwood Credit Union, Wells Fargo Bank, Kaiser Permanente, St. Joseph Health, and Sutter Health are on its letterhead. The proposal eliminates health, safety,... Continue

The great gas tax ripoff continues

“State needs billions to fix highways despite gas tax,” was just one headline in reaction to a report issued by Caltrans last week. The response from California taxpayers was, “you’ve got to be kidding.” California has the highest gas tax in the nation and yet,... Continue

Letters To The Editor