40 year old Original Santa Rosa Farmer's Market (Wed & Sat mornings) is in DIRE jeopardy. Sonoma County Parks has decided to give over the lease to a loosely organized small group who has no board and no history of running a large farmer's market. The hard work of farmer organizers has been usurped by backroom politics (at least one of the new group (Gleason Ranch) was temporarily suspended due to failure to abide vendor rules) This lease does not affect other Sonoma County Farmers Markets, only the one at the Santa Rosa Vets Building.
When we spoke at the Supervisors meeting, the Board Chair, Shirlee Zane sat stone faced and unresponsive to the voices of the 20-30 vendors and customers who feel passionately about this matter. In a meeting with the head of Sonoma County Parks, the group was also stonewalled. We are distressed that Sonoma County Parks terminated negotiations on lease renewal giving over the lease to interlopers with deep pockets. My feeling is that the new grpup will undermine the beautiful community atmosphere which exists there. Many community organizations have been allowed to set up information booths and events there. Don't let the new managgement run this beautiful market into the ground.
Remember this market was built by vendors who get up at 4-6am on cold winter mornings and weekends to keep this place alive sometimes losing money that week paying space rent.
Please notify each and every Supervisor of your positive experience with the original Santa Rosa Farmer's Market and wish it to continue under present management. SAVE THE ORIGINAL SANTA ROSA fARMERS MARKET
LONG MAY IT STAND!
[email protected] (1st District)
[email protected] (2nd District)
[email protected] (3rd District) (corrected email address)
Mike[email protected] (4th district)
[email protected] (5th District)