Page 33 - Sonoma County Gazette Janaury 2019

Happy New Year
This year went by really fast and here it is 2019 and I want to wish all of you whose eyes are on the column a happy and healthy new year, one filled with peace of mind, loving relations and continued prosperity. This has been a challenging year for many of us, I know it has been for me, but we got through it and here we are. I hope you enjoy reading the column and if you have any ideas about something that needs attention or want to tell me what you think about what is written, let me know at: elainebholtz@gmail,com
All Santa Rosa City Council members were contacted for an end of year statement, only Julie Combs and John Sawyer responded. Sawyer reports, “It has been a very challenging year for many in our community but I know the light is bright at the end of this tunnel. Bring on 2019 and the optimism which comes with new beginnings.”
Emergency Anti-Price Gouging Ordinance Extended in Santa Rosa
Combs priorities this year are the housing and homeless crisis for Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. “We need bridge-housing options to get people off the streets and out of our parks as well as creating housing for all, including those in ‘missing-middle’ income levels...homes for those people making just above our area average income - housing that expands the definition of affordable to include all our residents income levels.”
I recently found out about this and to get clarity on the decision that was made I contacted, Councilwoman Julie Combs who provided the following information. “On November 27th 2018, the City Council of Santa Rosa voted
to extend its post-fire rental anti-price gouging ordinance to October of 2019. The ordinance caps total rent increases in Santa Rosa from October of 2017 to October of 2019 to no more than 10% over the two-year period. It also prohibits the increasing of rents beyond 10% for new tenants and prohibits the eviction of renters for the purpose of increasing rents greater than 10%. The motion
was made by Councilmember Schwedhelm and seconded by Councilmember Combs. The council unanimously passed the extension recognizing that more people would be displaced as housing stock has not recovered to pre fire levels.
It’s Official—All Votes have been certified and they are?
Congratulations Santa Rosa, with 90,667 registered voters 68,389 turned
out to vote, which was 75.4 percent of those registered. I am impressed at
what a great turnout we had, one of the highest since I have been voting, a demonstration of Democracy in action. This election was the first test of the School Board’s and the City Council’s new system of voting by geographic area districts. . The previous at-large system allowed voters across the city to vote on each position.
Following the Tuesday meeting of Santa Rosa City Council, Governor Brown extended his countywide anti-price gouging cap of 10% for the fire-affected region. Governor Brown’s extension is until May 31st 2019 for Sonoma County.”
Congratulations to Victoria Fleming the newest elected member of the Santa Rosa City Council and incumbents John Sawyer and Tom Schwedhelm, which both were reelected for another four years. Schwedhelm was voted Mayor and Chris Rogers will serve a second term as Vice Mayor.
Awards and Acknowledgments
Congratulations to Omar Medina newly elected member of the Santa Rosa School Board, a very interesting race as he beat twenty eight year veteran board member, Frank Pugh and Stephanie Manieri who ran unopposed was not on the ballot and therefore was appointed to the board.
Ann Hancock, Executive director of Center for Climate Protection in
Santa Rosa was one of the recipients of The Luminary Award at the annual fundraising and awards dinner of the Sebastopol Chapter of Transition US, a nonprofit organization that provides inspiration, encouragement, support, networking, and training for transition initiatives across the United States. Hancock is recognized for steadily working on ways to reduce to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, raise awareness about climate change and promote cleaner energy use.
There were two measures voted on for Santa Rosa, Measure N the Housing Bond did not achieve the 66 2/3 votes it needed to pass. Measure O, authorizing the city to enact a 0.25 percent sales tax for six years to fund general city purposes passed with 61% of voters supporting the measure.
Senator Mike McGuire who represents the second District which includes part of Santa Rosa was named Assistant Majority Leader of the state. Senator McGuire will continue to serve as Chair of the Senate’s Governance & Finance Committee, which is responsible for hearing legislation related to state and local government, most housing and housing financing bills, all land use and development policy, special district revenue and all tax related legislation. McGuire will also continue to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus.
“I am excited to get to work as Assistant Majority Leader and continue
our laser focus on affordable housing, homelessness and making local government work for California’s 40 million residents as Chair of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee,” he said in a recent press release.
3rd Annual Women’s March in Santa Rosa Courtyard Square
The mission of the Women’s March nationally is to harness the political power of diverse women in their community to create transformative social change. Nearly 10K strong in our community came out in 2017 and 2018 for corresponding Women’s March events in Sonoma County, and this year this many and maybe more are expected again at local events throughout the North Bay.
“The 2019 Women’s March Santa Rosa is free to all including non-profit community groups wishing to table at the event. Diverse and fully inclusive of all – this event is meant to be an opportunity for all to come together, connect, be inspired and explore meaningful ways to take action for Women’s Rights and Human Rights for all,” said Leslie Graves, local event producer who is coordinating the march with the support of fiscal sponsor, The Peace and Justice Center. If you would to have a table at the event, contact Leslie at srwm2019@gmail.com or give her a call at 707-318-5625
Elaine B. Holtz is co-producer /Host with Kenneth E. Norton of “Women’s Spaces” on KBBF 89.1FM Monday 11-12 noon & 11-12 midnight. womensspaces.com and kbbf.org
Persons with questions about rental issues should contact Legal Aide of Sonoma County on 100 E St., #100 in Santa Rosa.
Something to think about:
“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.”
Ellen Goodman is an American journalist and syndicated columnist. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1980. She is also a speaker and commentator.
The 2019 Women’s March at Santa Rosa in Courthouse Square is happening on Saturday, January 19, 2019 – 10AM to 1:30PM and will feature a March, Rally, Guest Speakers, Community Groups tabling, Music and more. To find out more information about the Women’s March Santa Rosa: facebook.com/ events/269734966995428/
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