Page 32 - Sonoma County Gazette January 2017

Santa Rosa City Council on the Move
Resilient Roseland Wrap up 2016
Sad farewell: Alfred Lemay was killed at the intersection of Sebastopol Rd. and Dutton Ave. two nights before Thanksgiving as he was riding his motorcycle home from work as a school bus driver. The well-liked bus driver did not get to see the New Year because an inattentive driver turned in front of him and caused his death. We urge all of our readers to be careful this year, and always, when driving anywhere; especially when driving on Roseland roads. The rain is back and road conditions are often unsafe. Please slow down to avoid unexpectedly losing your life like Alfred did. “Kill a biker and go to jail” should be the law of the land in this writer’s humble opinion.
Affordable Housing: Now to wrap up some of what happened, or did not happen, during 2016 in Roseland. Of the three new a ordable housing developments mentioned to be built in Roseland in 2016 only the Crossroads by Burbank Housing has gotten started on Burbank Ave. It is hoped by 2018 there will be over 70 apartments ready for occupancy there. The Paseo Vista project on Dutton Ave. has broken ground for a ordable housing with homes for purchase, but the going is slow and hindered by the wet weather. Village Station, a project at Boyd St. and Sebastopol Rd. is stalled.
Annexation of the
Roseland County Island is
moving forward at a slow
pace with the next step being
a proposal submission by the
city of Santa Rosa to the Local
Agency Formation Committee
(LAFCO). This agency
will hold hearings about
the proposed annexation
allowing both opponents and
supporters of annexation to
weigh in for consideration of
various viewpoints. This may
not happened until mid-2017.
Last year Tenis Wick of the
County Planning Department
explained he felt annexation would occur in late 2017. Recently Roseland Review got an interesting email against annexation and citing the Courthouse Square project cost overruns in Santa Rosa. There was an excellent overhead photograph of what the new parking area is going to look like there.
Santa Rosa City Council swore in two new Council members. Jack Tibbetts and Chris Rogers along with incumbents Julie Combs and Ernesto Olivares. Chris Coursey was elected Mayor and newly seated Councilman Jack Tibbetts was elected Vice Mayor. Tibbetts who received the highest numbers of votes is the youngest councilman and Vice Mayor in Santa Rosa History.
Coursey, 62, was a reporter and columnist for The Press Democrat. He ran
for council in 2014, as an independent voice on the council. “I’m excited to be mayor of our great city for 2017 and 2018. I can’t think of a greater honor than to serve the city that has nourished and nurtured me for all of my adult life,” said Coursey. Acknowledging the city faces many challenges in the area of a ordable housing and homelessness, he’s excited to see progress being made on the annexation of Roseland and the revitalization of our downtown core.
In Solidarity with the Washington DC in Santa Rosa:
Sonoma County Stands Together For Women will rally on Saturday, Jan
21, 2017 from 12-1:3:30PM. People will gather at Santa Rosa City Hall (100 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa). The rally and march will include diverse music, inspirational speakers and a promised dance ash mob, followed by a 30 minute sidewalk march. Local community leaders will present a variety of options for engagement and action.
This noon rally is in solidarity of the DC Women’s March which is being held on the eve of the anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. The Women’s March on Washington DC and those happening across the country will send a bold message to our new administration on their rst day in o ce and to the world that women’s rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.
All are invited to join together for a celebration of diversity. In solidarity with those disenfranchised by campaign rhetoric and those who fear a loss
of civil liberties, speakers will provide a call to action for Women’s Rights, Immigration Rights, Disability Rights, Religious and Civil Liberties for all. For more information contact Anne Kain anneekain@att.net or go to facebook.com/ events/1749972928661468/.
An American Art Exhibit You Do Not Want To Miss
Faith Ringgold, an African-American artist and author’s work is being presented at the Art Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa. Ringgold was born in Harlem, New York is best known for her large, painted story quilts.
Her mother was a professional fashion designer who taught her to use fabric creatively and her great, great grandmother who taught her how to quilt. Combining these two skills provides the onlooker a chance to not only view the magni cent displays but to get a sense of history and exposure to storytelling. The artist also utilized her art to tell her own story. The exhibit is brilliant and I highly recommend taking time to enjoy this great display of art. Ringgold’s art, including some creative masks is on display through January 29th. The museum is located at 425 Seventh St.
Kaiser Permanente began building their new three story facility to be located at 2240 Mercury Way and will o er a wide-range of high quality primary and specialty care services, including pharmacy, lab, and imaging services. With 87,300 square feet of space, the facility will be part of a new wave of Kaiser Permanente medical o ces in the Bay Area designed to enhance the care experience by using technology and space to make getting medical care easier and more convenient.
Our Village: It is hoped the Roseland Plaza to be built at the old Roseland Village Shopping Center will not encounter problems of cost overruns and delays. The project may go forward in 2017 but the exact time frames are
not known at this time for the plaza, housing, and community amenities being negotiated by the county with Mid-Peninsula Housing Development Corporation. The county put in a small playground and “work out” area on the north side of the property next to the Joe Rodota Trail.
Kaiser Expansion – Additional Facility for Care
Sixty physicians plus ancillary sta will be located at the new medical o ce building, where they are expected to see patients beginning in early 2018. In addition to clinical services for Kaiser Permanente members, Member Services sta will be available and there will be a Health Education and Information Technology Center.
Cement Park on West Ave. across from Shepard Elementary School is open now for skateboarders and others having all kinds of fun on the cement podium, “half pipe”, wide roadway, plus the cement benches and tables. Good fun for the youngsters and it has been said there may be some sort of “park opening” ceremony this spring.
PARTY! The Sonoma County Gazette will be hosting a Community Forum with new County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins in the spring also. Watch these pages and the website to nd out the exact date once the arrangements have been made. Roseland Review is advocating for a “Roseland Dance Party” to be held before then so we can have some fun and get to meet each other without politics getting in the way.
Have a GREAT New Year and please share anything you think Roseland Review should hear!
Happy New Year
As I enter the New Year I plan to focus on solutions. Life is a gift I believe we are given every day. Enjoy the Gift. Happy New Year Everyone, Wow 2017.
Elaine B. Holtz is producer/Host of “Women’s Spaces” on KBBF 89.1FM Monday 11-am-noon and repeats at 11pm to midnight Visit her website at: womensspaces.com Become a fan on FB.
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The “Homeless encampment” known as Camp Michaela is still there behind the green screened chain linked fence. It has been there for 14 months now and other homeless camps are being planned in Roseland or nearby based on this type of “tent city” model.