My husband and I have always supported schools in the Valley through sponsorship of school bonds, contributions and volunteering even though we had no children of our own. In 2016, Measure E was put on the ballot, and once again, we were asked to vote... Continue
Letters To The Editor
All students deserve a safe, welcoming, and stimulating learning environment that supports personal well-being and academic success. However, in California, a substantial number of students are attending schools that are run down, out dated, and don't meet 21st century learning needs. That's why the Sonoma... Continue
The Greenbelt Alliance is urging residents of Sonoma and Marin counties to support the SMART sales tax renewal by voting yes on Measure I on March 3. If passed, Measure I will renew the existing one-quarter cent sales tax to fund the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail... Continue
The “no” on Measure I information I’ve seen in the media gives an incomplete picture of the need for continued funding for the SMART train as an integral part of the North Bay transportation system. Discussion of funding SMART must address the role of greenhouse... Continue
Reader Opinion by Maggie Bedord It is likely that you are aware that trash disposal has become an enormous problem. Oceans are polluted with waste which is killing sea life and polluting our food. China has stopped taking our recyclables and landfills are overflowing and... Continue
I have spent most of my 90 years in the pursuit of protecting our natural environment. Larry Barnett is an ally, who has done wonderful work on the Urban Growth Boundary. He is an involved citizen, dedicated long-term mayor, and knowledgeable planner, but I believe... Continue
Sonoma’s 20-year-old urban growth boundary (UGB) is up for renewal. The current language is said to allow annexing land at the city edge for affordable housing, 50-80% of area median income (AMI). (In Sonoma today, 80% AMI is $86,400 for a family of four— teachers,... Continue
With all the breaking national news, many taxpayers have little bandwidth in their attention span to focus on the state budget. Moreover, the state budget process can be indecipherable even for political insiders. But taxpayers should be paying attention for the simple reason that it’s... Continue
I have been watching a CNN series on the 70s on Netflix that came out in 2015. There is a segment on Watergate and Nixon’s resignation. Never once in this pre-Trump era coverage did I hear that congress was trying to undo the will of... Continue
In 2007, the undersigned were members of the Sonoma Valley Health Care Coalition, a volunteer citizens group formed by the opposing factions in a divisive community dispute over a parcel tax measure needed to sustain our local hospital. After numerous community meetings, it became clear... Continue