Page 37 - Sonoma County Gazette - October 2017

Are local politics fading away?
Why do newspaper pages cling together?
City Council forced to buy the Roseland District, an oil-soaked and greasy- soiled section of Santa Rosa the city comfortably ignored for more than a few decades.
But that’s not all. During discussions on why the city could easily be sued by any citizen, lawyer or not and probably lose in this potential case, researchers found out that all seven council members came from the same northeast section of the city. Horror piled on horror.
What can be done? People talk about election reform a lot. Politicians tend to shrug it o because it would allow complete strangers to a ect their own political futures. Some might say, “Well, what’s wrong with that?”
It’s dif cult to explain. A job as a lowly intern in city hall or part time assistant to an o ce holder, to a council member to state assembly member, or state senator, then the rare ed air of national politics as a House representative or genuine Senator, all have an individual cachet, a avor that carries weight wherever he or she goes.
It can subtly change into the dark skill of gerrymandering voting districts into crazy lines to aid a political party or an individual. But let’s not go down that dismal and dank channel now. Gerrymandering does not even have a pleasant sound.
Let’s talk elections of the near future. Next year, 2018, is an o -year presidential election which means no White House incumbent on the ballot but we have two RP City Council members will be on the November 2018 one – Amy Anahotu and Pam Sta ord. Neither one is toting a scandal from their last term and from this point, 13 months in advance, they’re natural picks to run again. But I’m not that far in the print-punditry realm at this instance.
The other three city council members, Jake Mackenzie, Gina Belforte and Joe Callinan aren’t due for the ballot until 2020. Scotch tape this reminder to your refrigerator and remember you read it here rst.
I wish someone would solve the puzzle of newspaper pages clinging together in blissful togetherness while I try to separate them. My ngers are too big I was unformed by a lady friend who easily peeled the pages apart.
But getting back to our city council members all coming from north of RP Expressway, I expected a bigger clamor from the public over this small factoid. Five or six days later it’s been practically silence.
Reasons for this are many. The easiest one is variations of 2018 is too far away, ask me some time next year. Or, RP residents don’t care enough about politics or the city’s “podunkville,” or “What will SMART trains do next and what’s happened to our Quiet Zones?”
They are all likely subjects for editorial punditry in the months ahead. But those darn newspaper pages still cling together, Good thing I have feminine friends nearby.
PENNGROVE cont’d from page 36
Intrigued by Andy’s farming story, I got in touch with Martin Lipman, a managing partner of 8270 Holdings LLC, which owns the 30-acre site. “We bought it 5 years ago,” said Martin. “We have about a dozen tenants working
in various aspects of the agricultural industry, and we’re attempting to bring the structures back to life.” Tenants include an artisan woodworker, a portable miller, a distiller of rose essences and a weaver of wisteria. Other tenants include Bella Terra landscaping, an incubator robotic farming project, and the main greenhouse is occupied by Nova Vine who grows vineyard starts. Aside from this project Mr. Lipman is an adjunct faculty member at Mendocino College in Ukiah teaching real estate property management and real estate investments. He is also involved in numerous real estate property improvement projects around the Bay Area, from remodeling a local Petaluma restaurant to installing a kitchen for a private school in San Francisco.
“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”
~ George Eliot
Cotati, the good, the bad, and the puzzling
Contemplating this month’s column, I wanted to include the good, the bad, and the puzzling aspects of living in this small city.
Good is ever present. We see it in the generosity of volunteers. They make every event happen, like the fun October Fest, Saturday October 14. Kindness comes from businesses supporting music and youth activities. Also, goodness shows in the thoughtful e orts of our city governance.
Cotati hills draw in cool ocean fog. The Laguna harbors polliwogs, frogs, reeds, and native plants. Shout out to Jenny Blaker, recently honored for planting natives and her years of caring for the Laguna de Santa Rosa.
These are only a few examples of Cotati’s good qualities. We continue to welcome young families, and o er a kind community to raise and educate children. Beginning from Training Wheels Preschool age, to concluding at Sonoma State University, students thrive here.
Avoid a costly shock at Wolf Den Plaza
In September, we attended a presentation of upcoming classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Center. I parked at Wolf Den Plaza so we could shop at North Light Books and get a refreshing drink at Shangri-La. As I parked, I noticed a man sitting in a car and smoking. I felt uncomfortable yet couldn’t explain why. How I wish I had obliged my gut discomfort and left.
Such a beautiful day for the short walk to Person Theater. Also, we expected our visit to be brief. I reread the posted tow after one-hour parking lot sign. On return, I could not nd my car. When a tow truck ambled near the space where I had parked, I inquired if the driver had towed my car. He denied, but suggested I call the towing company on his truck door. Yes, they had my van.
The tow truck driver maneuvered and hitched his next vehicle. I was permitted to ride to their o ce in Santa Rosa with the driver of Ace Towing. Meanwhile, a friend watched the lot, noting that a man climbed into his dusty car after thanking a woman for a great weekend. Obviously, there were other drivers who had escaped my trouble. I paid a tow bill of $315 for a half hour mistake. I vowed to never patronize those shops again. Save yourself a lot of money. Don’t do like I did. Better yet, park at the university pay $5 to save $310 or more.
Puzzling, on the value and use of fresh water
Why do local governments okay hydroponic growers to start new business here while at the same time considering homeowners wasteful for growing vegetables? I don’t understand this double standard. We live water wise. We have sheet mulched our lawns. Inside, we use water e ciency faucets and showerheads. Our city water statements show a high level of usage compared to neighbors. Few like us plant an edible garden. They must have a higher water bill too, right? Can anyone explain this to me? I am sure this conundrum is not limited to Cotati but all over this county, cannabis growers have obtained permits to do business.
Thanks, Kamran Nayeri, Ph.D., Editor, Our Place in the World, for your email. I know gophers were here before humans ever walked the earth and have no desire to kill. We grow as much edibles as possible. Our vegetables are in raised beds, high above gopher access. We use gopher wire baskets to protect the roots. Yet the gopher emerges, chewing o owers and veggies above the mesh. We hoped to harvest extra for the food bank. Sigh. Sincerely, Deborah.
A letter in defense of gophers arrived in my inbox
Please email Deborah with suggestions, questions, and news.
My public address is “dtf,” plus the word “writer” = dtfwriter@gmail.com
Deborah Taylor-French is an information omnivore, feeding on fiction, business news, and poetry. She is a community columnist, read her Cotati Heart & Soul, in the Sonoma County Gazette. Deborah blogs at Dog Leader Mysteries (.com). She has also been published in the North Bay Business Journal, Deborah has written promotional pieces for S.C. Regional Parks, funding arts in education and multicultural programs.
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