4956445% of Sebastopol's budget is dedicated to police services according to the Sonoma West Times and News article from 6/26/19. In comparison, the City of Santa Rosa spends 32% of its budget on...

How many housing projects have we seen come forward in Sebastopol in the last couple years that are still feasible? I'm not aware of many, I can think of one. I'd think it wouldn't be too difficult...

Walking around the Barlow today and saw signs for a new cidery across from the Crooked Goat, just down from the way from Seismic Brewing, next to a couple tasting rooms, and around the corner from...

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American Lung Association grades Sebastopol
...

The reality is that there is a dire need for housing. I was born in Sebastopol, have a Masters degree and am a working professional, and it is really difficult to find housing in Sebastopol let alone...

Santa Rosa’s city manager, Sean McGlynn, has said that the housing situation is expected to be so dire that up to 8,000 displaced residents will leave Sonoma County altogether.Santa Rosa and the...

I understand that having a vacation rental can in some cases be a necessity and that people need to make the best choices for themselves in terms of what they do with the homes and units they own. At...

I'm going to try to get some information about this and will provide you with what I learn. I really appreciate that you and many other vacation rental hosts are being compassionate and helping our...

Some people are going to be up during the night looking out for downed power lines, embers, blown transformers etc. Might be worth the effort considering the forecasted wind. Not as dramatic of...

Here is a perspective I agree with in the Current Sonoma West Times And News about the new hotel proposal written by Marsha Sue Lustig.

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Thank you, Larry for the background information. 300 units does seem like a lot for Sebastopol all at once and probably even more so back in 2006 when the housing crisis wasn't quite as severe (was...

Thank you, Magick for the clarification. That was information that was not included in the article. I agree we need affordable housing and that market rate housing is not as effective if we want...

Any reports from the planning commission meeting? The City of Sonoma just rejected a boutique hotel in favor of housing and I think Sebastopol has similar needs whereas another boutique hotel would...

This article in today's Sonoma Sun while specific to the City of Sonoma highlights the seriousness of the housing crisis in Sonoma County and Sebastopol and why housing projects like this one in...

I appreciate your concern about having a friendly downtown environment for walking and biking. I spoke out publicly against the hotel and would have done the same about the CVS but I was living out...

It sounds like whether this project will actually be a public private partnership is still up in there air. But as an another local example of public private partnerships, here is a recent Close to...

This doesn't stop people from living in cities. In fact, some of the most expensive places to live in the US like San Francisco and New York City have plenty of traffic, noise, pollution etc.

Google public private partnerships and housing and you will find a ton online about this to build housing, so it would appear to be a common practice and not just something taken from "Trump's...

I remember when the train tracks ran through where this parking lot is now. As much as I'd love to keep the small Sebastopol charm, not like to increase traffic, and am concerned about parking, what...

By Amie Windsor, staff writer, [email protected]

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City discussing...

Yeah, good point. It is probably too easy to be a critic. At the same time, as someone born in Sebastopol, I'd like to see the changes called for what they are and not be sugar coated as it is...

In this article, Is “For Sale” a sign of the times for Sebastopol?, the reporter writes, "It may be hard to pinpoint what finally brought Sebastopol to the precipice of change."

and this
...

This ordinance is going to the Board of Supervisors most likely on January 24- https://www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/docs/AccessoryUnits/

They are moving quickly due to new requirements under State...

Hi again,

According to the agenda on the City website, on December 20th at their regular meeting, the Sebastopol City Council will discuss actions to promote affordable housing, review long-term...

The Sonoma County Planning Commission is considering the attached new second dwelling units policy today at 2 pm in the PRMD conference room.

According to the attachment "In September 2016, the...

California recently eased the rules on Accessory Dwelling Unites (see article). It is up to local jurisdictions to adopt it into their zoning/code. I know that County PRMD is in the process of doing...

Yes, there are many things that could be done to help address the housing crisis and unfortunately the majoriy including increased wages and new development will take too long for many community...

Hi Tommy,

I appreciate all the information you provided. Obviously you are paying attention and I appreciate that and I certainly understand that rent control is not the end-all solution. At the...

Hi Farmer Dan and Michael,

It sounds like you are both referring to Accessory Dwelling Units. California recently eased the rules on those (see article). It is up to local jurisdictions to adopt...

Hi Tommy,

Rent in Sonoma County on average has risen 50% in the last 5 years and we have three times the national rate of homeless and those are of course totally related. The current housing...

Sure, we can say that its peoples fault for not coming and informing the process, but all too often we know that they don't make it to the table. I think this article, The Key to Making Economic...

I'm no expert but I don't think that projects over three units needing to include affordable housing (inclusionary zoning) is the only way to get affordable housing and yes government and local...

Yes ,Sebastopol has traffic, and it can be annoying, but I would argue that the biggest issue that we are facing in Sebastopol, Sonoma County and the Bay Area is the affordable housing crisis....

For those in the Fifth District, you have probably recently received several mailers from an independent expenditure campaign that in the last couple weeks has gathered over $163,000 from big wine,...

The fact that Hopkins is supported by real estate, wineries, developers etc is the final straw for me when it comes to voting as someone who has seen West County change dramatically with skyrocketing...

I agree that increases in housing/rent costs in Sebastopol and the rest of Sonoma County are likely for many of the reasons you mention. However, I'd suggest that there are decisions that can be made...

I disagree. My interpretation is that the problem may be exacerbated by the GMO [growth-management ordinance ] but the article focuses on the growth as a tourism hub as the main contributing factor....

As someone born in Sebastopol struggling to be able to stay here like so many other young West County people, this hotel project seems to not meet the needs of the residents of Sebastopol. Sebastopol...

By the way, I believe the meeting is at 7 p.m. not 6pm, Sept. 27, at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center, Youth Annex, 425 Morris St.

Project information is available online here and in hard...

Wow Rustie! You are certainly not alone in your concern with this project. I really appreciate your thoughtful post.

Rustie, as you suggest and I agree with wholeheartedly, Sebastopol should be...

Candidates know that Americans are increasingly disappointed with politics as usual and candidates seem to be jumping on the "I'm independent" bandwagon. I actually think endorsements are helpful to...

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/waccobb/keep90days/2016-05-02_10-43-28.pngRecently Napa Vision 2050, a coalition working to protect the quality of life for the Commons, held a forum on the...