PD Article on new progressive Santa Rosa Council

[Barry]

The below article from the PD discusses the new progressive Santa Rosa City Council policies and the reaction from the business community. It sure seems to me they are giving more "ink" and credibility to developers that are upset than to the council's noble values.

What do you think? Do you support the council? The developers? Have another take on Santa Rosa public policy?

Barry




Santa Rosa council's new direction

City Council's new majority has smart-growth ideology, labor support -- and looming budget challenges


By DEREK J. MOORE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.

A new majority on the Santa Rosa City Council is implementing a bold and controversial agenda that could profoundly influence the city’s handling of an unprecedented financial crisis and plans for longer-term growth.

Swept into power in the November election, and led by Mayor Susan Gorin, these city leaders have taken aim at big-box stores, sprawl and a culture that promotes driving cars over walking or using public transit. They talk about greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the city’s carbon footprint, affordable housing, and jobs that provide a living wage and health care benefits — much to the delight of labor unions and social advocacy groups that helped get them elected.

While such discussion is old hat in many Northern California communities, Santa Rosa has never had a “progressive” majority in city government, and it’s rocking City Hall and some elements of the community.

Supporters say the new majority is merely promoting what they were elected to do, including pushing for “smart growth” development outlined in the city’s general plan. The group’s opposition to Wal-Mart, which in February dropped plans for a store in Roseland, offers an especially revealing glimpse into how council members view economic issues — as well as raising questions about the special interest groups critics say have an inordinate influence on city affairs.

Gorin, bristling at suggestions the council is now anti-business, said city leaders continue to explore development in the city of 160,000, and that all California cities are struggling to attract and keep businesses during the downturn.

“That being said, there are a variety of opinions on the council as to what we should be looking for in neighborhoods and regional shopping centers, and it’s difficult to come to any firm conclusions,” the mayor said. “Santa Rosa is in transition. We are changing from a suburban-sprawl model of development where everyone gets in their cars, to hopefully one that encourages and supports neighborhood shopping centers so that we can bike, walk or take public transportation.”

But critics, including business interests and council members in the minority, say the new regime is pushing an ideological vision at the expense of current economic realities, which likely will include major cuts to city services and tax hikes to try to offset a budget deficit currently at $23million.

The council majority is fending off allegations of bias against developers, while Vice Mayor Marsha Vas Dupre was forced to remove herself from future votes on a proposed retirement community in Fountaingrove over perceptions she was strong-arming her colleagues to support the environmental cause.

“They will tell you they are not against economic development in Santa Rosa, but I challenge you, given the current majority on the council and on our boards and commissions, to get anything built in this city, other than a housing project in the very low-income category,” said Councilman John Sawyer, who owns a downtown news store. “That lack of balance does not encourage the kind of economic development that our city needs to be healthy on a variety of levels.”

Continues on PD website

[Rick Spencer]

Anyone who follows Santa Rosa politics knows that there already was a progressive majority from 2008 to 2010. The writer is incorrect on that point. During their last reign of terror we had bike boulevards that had to be removed due to being dangerous for all users, projects including a very nice downtown boutique hotel scuttled and generally were anti-car, anti-business and pro-bike to a point of absurdity. Their ideology is purely and simply alligned with United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainable Development which of course they will try to deny. They did things like stop broadcasting citizens public comments, turned off their microphones and other anti-free speech activities. They love ICLEI that has infiltrated local governments to implement Agenda 21 policies and meet with them at undisclosed locations out of the public's view. For those unbelievers out there I dare you to Google UN Agenda 21 and you will quickly discover to ugly truth about how UN policies have been put into our General Plan in Santa Rosa and many, many other places in the United States and in other countries as well. Several States have recently passed legislation banning UN Agenda 21 laws and policies and several others are in the process of getting rid of it in their States. Don't drink the green Kool-aid and get informed before they can pull the wool any further over your eyes.