One of the biggest stories of this election is the role of public safety unions in Sonoma County races. We’re used to seeing public safety heavily involved in elections in Rohnert Park. But this year we saw big spending and aggressive campaigning by police and firefighter unions in races in Santa [...]
By Paul Gullixson Those who were logged into the Santa Rosa Twitter world last week witnessed a heated word feud that reflects the divisions among Sonoma County labor groups in this election. Here's a sample: (Truncated Tweet-speech and all): Brad Conners, vice president of the Santa Rosa Police Officers' Association, [...]
Got a call today from a frustrated Larry Wasem, business partner of Dan Tocchini Jr, who is taking over the lease of the Rialto Cinemas Lakeside. Let’s just say that Wasem did not agree with our editorial “Save the Rialto,” which encouraged local government officials to lend a hand in helping the [...]
My colleague Brett Wilkison reported today that Santa Rosa Councilwoman Veronica Jacobi abstained on a vote to cut $5.9 million from the city budget because she objected to some of the particulars. That sparked a sharp response from former councilman Mike Martini. Here’s an excerpt from his letter to the [...]
There seems to be some denial going on out there. I've encountered a couple of people today who still don't believe that the Santa Rosa school board would really eliminate all spring sports including baseball, softball, track, swimming, badminton, boys' golf and boys' tennis. But believe it. It's done. The [...]
A 10-year contract extension for Santa Rosa’s trash hauler seems to be, ahem, in the bag. North Bay Corp. keeps the franchise without bidding. For recycling its long-time system of renewing trash contracts without bids, the city gets an extra $1.8 million a year. And the ratepayers? Well, they get [...]
Santa Rosa City Manager Jeff Kolin waxed a little poetic in his latest and final weekly e-mail message this afternoon. Kolin, who is leaving to become the city manager of Beverly Hills, will be honored, along with his wife, Patty, at a going-away party Sunday night at Legends at the Bennett Valley Golf Course. But before going, [...]
Paul Gullixson
Jim Sweeney
This blog is written by Press Democrat editorial writers Paul Gullixson and Jim Sweeney.