Page 2 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2018

Dear Readers,
How many times over the years have I titled an article: Seeking Balance? I am a Centrist by nature, so finding that Sweet Spot in the middle is where I find myself most comfortable. I look at both sides of the story, whatever the topic
is at the moment. National politics is all about extremism these days, so I look within my home for center. We’re a good community for that. People from Far Right and Far Left are here, yes - but it’s the middle ground where the majority of us live. We talk with each other until we come to consensus about whatever topic is on our minds concerning where we live.
Right now the two hottest topics that hit home are cannabis and housing. Seeking center on these two topics is truly challenging. I get plenty of material from irate neighbors about cannabis grows near their home, but virtually nothing from growers. Perhaps years in hiding has made them continue to
be reluctant to come out and speak up. In the past they feared being thrown
in jail, and yes, it’s still possible through Federal Law. But now they fear the anger of their own neighbors. In many cases these people have been neighbors for a long time and it’s only become an issue recently.
In terms of housing - the fires brought that topic to a head and people keep bringing up the tragedy of the fires as reasons to throw out land protections and forward-thinking plans that have kept us from becoming San Jose North, and also created a thriving tourist industry. Would people spend millions of dollars to come visit us if our central valley were under a blanket of smog and our streets clogged with traffic?
Plan Bay Area 2040 has been working on the BIG Picture for some time and that is still in process. Keeping ourselves grounded with the future in mind is what I see as the central path toward preserving what we have and accomodating what we need now.
IN THE MEAN TIME...it’s still summer and there’s fun to be had so we have stories and guides - as well as our amazing calendar - to encourage you to
play in our own back yard - as we say: Vacation at Home.
Be a tourist where you live. You can do that with very little expense and enjoy what we have all around us.
Enjoy!
2 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 7/18