Presents Project
My husband and 15-year-old daughter had an unforgettable experience last December that impacted our entire family. They were giving a ride to another girl on our daughter’s basketball team when conversation turned to Christmas plans.
Things change, things stay the same
Exactly two years ago, I wrote a commentary on this page declaring that I would be away from the paper on maternity leave for a few months and that I was leaving the paper in very capable hands while I was away. I wrote that while I would be stepping back from the endless deadlines and late night meetings, I knew I would be up against a different set of challenges as I gave birth to my first child.
Why do it?
I am running for Healdsburg City Council and as such I am one of six people running for a total of three open positions. There are two incumbents and four new people, such as myself. I have no doubt that each of the candidates have the interests of Healdsburg at heart. They have to, with a salary of $150.00 per month, with very limited medical coverage and no real retirement benefits; you sure don’t do it for the money. You surely don’t do it for the vast prestige of the position either, as there are no corporate boards to join after your retire or speaking tours that are super lucrative. In point of fact, you end up working something on the order of 20 hours a week for a basic salary of something less than $2.00 per hour. This is less than minimum wage in California. Even at that, some people feel that their representatives are overpaid. SO WHY DO IT????? I think you have to have some issues that you feel need to be addressed and the belief that you can materially contribute to the resolution of these issues. In my case I am very concerned about the financial well-being of the city, given the current city government salary levels and the generous retirement benefits. This is a CURRENT problem and not a future issue that can be addressed by simply changing the conditions for new hires only. The work force is contracting and not expanding, so the impact of new hires on the retirement system is minimal. The city employees are very dedicated and through salary give backs and related concessions they have materially lessened the financial impact on the city. However, these steps may not be enough and additional difficult steps may be required to achieve financial well-being for the benefit of everyone.
Time to modify growth ordinance
Healdsburg’s Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) is a citizen initiative enacted to preserve the town’s unique quality and character and insulate it from the pressures of unregulated market driven development. It effectively put the brakes on residential development and allowed the community to contemplate its future free from outside development pressures. The GMO’s authors and supporters are to be commended for their courage, perseverance and continued resolve.
Our new owners
Among other local news this week, we’d like to announce that the Healdsburg Tribune has new owners — more than two dozen in fact. Our new owners are community members and readers just like you. They are individuals and couples who have invested $1,000 to $20,000 with our Direct Public Offer that is funding Sonoma West Publishers’ new vision for quality community journalism.
No crystal balls, but there is a plan in place
As the Board of Directors of North Sonoma County Healthcare District and Chief Executive Officer we thank Healdsburg Tribune publisher, Rollie Atkinson, for his recent timely editorial (“Our hospital’s crystal ball,” Sept. 11, 2014). The editorial does a very good job of describing many of the obstacles facing small community hospitals in Sonoma County, such as our own Healdsburg District Hospital, as they struggle to adapt to these conditions and overcome their detrimental effect. Some hospitals will not make it: witness the recent closure of Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastapol. But we believe it can be done and we are committed to that outcome in our community.
New trade deal creates uncertainty for farmers
Lack of water availability for our state’s farmers due to the drought is creating unprecedented challenges for winegrowers and all growers across the state. The recently finalized trade pact, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) will make the future of farming in our state even more uncertain.
