Columns

Commentary — The opponents of building a new community pavilion and farmers market continue their effort to derail the process. They even had the gall to ask the Foley Family Foundation to spend their generous $7 million donation in another location or for another project. If they were to succeed, an expansive community effort — including an impressively strong petition — would end in civic embarrassment. They would be responsible if the Foley Family Foundation retracts its gift, and offers it to a more grateful, forward-thinking city. 

The following snippets of history are drawn from the pages of the Healdsburg Tribune, the Healdsburg Enterprise and the Sotoyome Scimitar, and are prepared by the volunteers at the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society. Admission is always free at the museum, open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As always, your public library welcomes you for events, services, helpful information and good reads. This month, there are several events coming up that we would like to highlight in particular.

The Measure I SMART train question on the March 3 Primary Election ballot is important enough for voters to think for themselves and not be duped by all the slick and colorful mailers and the rest of the $2.3 million vitriolic and bombastic pro...

It’s not an article

On Thursday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 9 pm, at Windsor Round Table Pizza, two local health professionals, members of HPEACE (Health Professionals for Equality And Community Empowerment) will present “Getting to Healthcare for All” to the Windsor Democratic Club.

In 2008, the folks behind SMART told us that if voters approved the quarter-percent 20 year sales tax they would build 71 miles of train and a 71-mile bike path and that annual operating costs would be $16.5 million per year. They also claimed SMART would alleviate traffic on 101 and help fight climate change. The problem is none of these promises ever materialized and now SMART is asking voters to approve an additional $2.4 billion on a 30-year tax extension nine years before the current tax expires. 

In 2008, the folks behind SMART told us that if voters approved the quarter-percent 20 year sales tax they would build 71 miles of train and a 71-mile bike path and that annual operating costs would be $16.5 million per year. They also claimed SMART would alleviate traffic on 101 and help fight climate change. The problem is none of these promises ever materialized and now SMART is asking voters to approve an additional $2.4 billion on a 30-year tax extension nine years before the current tax expires. 

COMMENTARY — Recently, Healdsburg passed an important milestone in our pursuit of more affordable housing. Jan. 26 marked five years to the day that the city launched a robust and multi-year program to tackle the city’s housing issues.  At a special city council meeting that evening, then mayor Shaun McCaffery presided over the start of an eight-month council and community education series entitled ‘Housing Our Community.’  

COMMENTARY — Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part commentary discussing the Cerri/Purity building.