Editorial

The results are final for the county’s Measure A sales tax increase, purported to be a partial remedy for fixing local roads. The sharp split among voters at Tuesday’s ballot confirmed some serious doubts about county leaders’ tax mathematics.

Unless you’ve been closely following Sonoma County happenings, you may not be aware that another local, iconic bridge, the 1915, Parker-through-truss, Lambert Bridge, is in jeopardy of being removed from service. Like our Healdsburg Memorial Bridge, until recently, this bridge had a Caltrans reported structural Inventory Rating (a rating used for federal funding purposes) of zero tons. Its Sufficiency Rating is 4.8 compared to our Memorial Bridge’s Rating of 2 on a scale of 0 to 100. In June of 2013, I became aware of this threat and corresponded with our County Supervisor, Mike McGuire.

Not all Fourth of Julys have been as historic as this year seems to be. We stand just 10 or so generations beyond the original 1776 founding of our country and our Declaration of Independence. Our times are nowhere as monumental as the Independence Days celebrated during our Civil War or the bleakness of two world wars. Yet, right now, we have arrived at a historic defining point as we debate — and must decide — what America’s “greatness” truly is, how it was created and whether it has been lost or needs a radical reformation.

Editor: Over two weeks ago I left my garage without knowing that

The treated sewage discharge plan of River Rock Casino will

Sometimes enduring tough economic times reminds us of certain