Editorial

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to send California drivers as much as $800 each and encourage public transit systems to offer free rides, the latest proposal from state policymakers seeking to offset the soaring cost of gasoline and other goods for struggling residents.

In a democracy, the government serves the people; the people do not serve the government. Because there is no accountability without transparency, the California Constitution guarantees that “the meetings of public bodies” shall be “open to public scrutiny.” The Brown Act, California’s open meetings law...

Readers weigh in on proposed Piazza hotel, and two new Vertice projects

"Recently, I was shocked to learn that a General Dynamics factory exists right here in Sonoma County," writes Ian McKee of Santa Rosa. "I expect that for many of my neighbors the existence of this factory will also come as a shock. They might also be surprised to learn that engineers from this factory give presentations to students in STEM classes around the county, which in my opinion represents a chilling normalization of the violence that this factory inflicts on defenseless people around the world..."

Clogged supply chains. Hiring struggles. New mask rules. A virus that trampled right over return-to-work schedules. Last year was chaotic for many businesses across California.

When Rebecca Santucci of Lakewood learned that her sister, Stacy, may have been exposed to COVID-19, she set out to look for a rapid test. She needed to know quickly whether their 88-year-old father was at risk.

California is flush with cash — the state has an estimated budget surplus of $21 billion — and, separately, gas prices are way up. 

Healdsburg is at the very epicenter of the climate crisis  Warming temperatures and cycles of drought contributed to the destructive Kincade Fire in 2019 and the Walbridge Fire in 2020. Sections of the city and the surrounding area were evacuated both times.  Climate impacts have already...