Editorial

Not all of the news reported last week in the annual “State of
the County” forum was bad — just most of it. Countering the bad
news Board of Supervisors Chair Valerie Brown and others vowed that
rebound in economic growth and improved community health will
follow the current storm clouds of the Recession.
We agree there is much reason for optimism in Sonoma County’s
future as a bountiful and beautiful place to live, work and play.
But before any recovery from the Recession takes place, all county
citizens will be faced with up to five more years of government
service decline.
As Supervisor Brown reported, there have been 5,000 jobs lost in
the county during the past few years of economic recession. Some
5,000 homeowners have defaulted on their mortgages with a thousand
or more predicted to take place over the coming year. Unemployment
will remain high and new jobs will be hard to find.
And, just when more people fall closer to the poverty line and
seek help, government deficits are taking away vital housing, work,
health and safety programs.
When we read about a $420 million county government budget that
needs to be cut by 20 percent — or at least by $36 million — this
is news that reaches all of us very close to home.
Elderly shut-in residents in our community could lose all of
their home visit support unless federal funds bail out the In Home
Support Services program.
CalWORKS, that supports unemployed people with monthly grant
payments, training and child support, also could be eliminated this
year without federal support.
Once again, most local mental health programs are being
threatened, following years of decreased support.
Mothers and their babies will lose services and will pay higher
premiums for Medi-Cal. Stricter income limits will make thousands
of people ineligible for Medi-Cal supported health services.
Our county government is faced with a prolonged period of rising
expenses and decreasing revenues. A current shortfall of $36
million could grow to $60 million in five years, unless government
leaders continue to cut costs, programs and services.
More than just potholes will go unrepaired. A state proposal to
shift some state felon prisoners to county jails could overwhelm
our legal system. Law enforcement patrols and crime prevention
programs could be reduced in our own neighborhoods to fund a
crowded jail.
Local government employees — including teachers, police and fire
fighters — are being called to the negotiating table to sacrifice
pay increases, health benefits and pensions. The county is seeking
$10 million in reduced salaries and benefits this year from its
4,000 workers.
As sure as we remain about a long term recovery, we are equally
convinced that some ways of doing local government business may
never be the same again.
“This has been a period of rapid change,” Supervisor Brown said
last week. “We know we have to do a better job using only the
resources we have on hand.”
Up in Sacramento this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
confessed: “I think the people have a right to be angry. I don’t
blame them. When you see every day that things are not changing
much, people are frustrated because they lose jobs, they lose
money, they lose their businesses, families are falling apart
because of that — there’s a lot of pain out there.”
So, where is the source for optimism?
Look around, where would you rather be than here in Sonoma
County? We have a strong and diverse economy led by world-class
agriculture, trend-setting technology and an attractive and
well-organized tourism industry. More than that, county, municipal
and private industry leaders are forming new initiatives around
energy conservation, climate protection and new jobs from
sustainability and green technology partnerships and enterprises.
Unlike in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., we believe we have
intelligent and confident local leaders.
The world is changing — starting very close to home.
— Rollie Atkinson