‘Controlled Ag’: SoCo proposes pot ordinance update

Sonoma County is embarking on a pivotal update to its cannabis ordinance, inviting public input on proposed changes to foster a balance between cannabis operations and community welfare. 

This call for engagement marks the beginning of an extensive review process designed to ensure that the updated ordinance aligns with neighborhood compatibility, environmental stewardship and the community’s broader goals.

According to a statement issued by the county, the proposed ordinance would allow most cannabis operations to be “permitted by right, and not subject to review, in areas zoned as industrial and commercial; eliminate term limits and permit renewals; apply land-use regulations uniformly to medical and adult-use cannabis; adjust setback requirements that protect concentrated residential development; and allow on-site retail consumption, subject to relevant health ordinances.”

The legislative draft of the updated ordinance, a draft General Plan Amendment, and refined “setback” requirements will be available for a 30-day public scrutiny period. 

This period is also set for conducting a thorough environmental analysis of the draft ordinance, with the county committed to making technical studies accessible to the public as they become available. Likewise, the county pledges to keep the public informed with regular updates regarding its Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process.

As the process unfolds into the summer of 2024, this draft EIR will be published, opening another window for public comments. The timeline envisages the draft ordinance and EIR moving towards approval between April and December 2024, with significant milestones along the way. In the fall of 2024, the Draft EIR will be presented to the Planning Commission, inviting further public commentary and potentially leading to revisions based on the community’s feedback and the commission’s directives. This iterative process aims to refine the ordinance to meet the diverse needs of Sonoma County’s residents and stakeholders.

To wit, the journey of the ordinance update will continue into the fall of 2024 with a Planning Commission Hearing on the proposed ordinance, a critical forum for public discussion and final adjustments. The process will culminate in December 2024 with a Board Hearing, where the proposed ordinance will face its ultimate review and decision-making phase.

Tennis Wick, the director of Permit Sonoma, Sonoma County’s consolidated land use planning and development permitting agency, emphasized the county’s commitment to a transparent and inclusive update process. “This update reflects Sonoma County’s commitment to supporting the local cannabis industry while prioritizing community well-being and environmental protections,” Wick said in a statement.

Under the proposed changes, Sonoma County aims to streamline its cannabis policies to increase efforts to protect the environment. Key to the update is a shift that would allow cannabis operations in industrial and commercial zones to proceed without the hurdles of special review, a stark departure from current practices that mandate stringent checks.

The overhaul continues beyond there. The county wants to abolish the existing term limits and the need for permit renewals, propose equal land-use regulations for medical and recreational cannabis, and tweak setback rules to shield densely populated areas. Additionally, it’s set to open the door for on-site retail consumption, albeit within the bounds of prevailing health regulations.

To align cannabis cultivation more closely with other agricultural practices, the new ordinance would reclassify it as “controlled agriculture,” a move that elevates cannabis to a primary agricultural activity. This classification aims to simplify regulations for cannabis while ensuring that public health and safety remain a top priority. Although cultivation on agricultural lands will still undergo discretionary review, adopting a programmatic environmental impact report promises to make the permit process more efficient.

Written comments may be submitted to Ca******@***********ty.org or sent to Permit Sonoma, Attn: Cannabis Ordinance Update, 2550 Ventura Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

For more information and updates on Sonoma County’s cannabis ordinance update, visit sonomacounty.ca.gov/cannabis-program.

‘Shipwrecked!’ at Cinnabar

Cinnabar Theater’s final, regular season show to be staged in the “little red schoolhouse on the hill” is Shipwrecked! An Entertainment; The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself) by Donald Margulies.

Directed by Cinnabar education associate Trevor Hoffman, it’s a story in the spirit of Gulliver’s Travels or Baron Munchausen. The show runs in Petaluma through April 28.

Set during the height of the British Empire and based on the real-life autobiography written by Louis de Rougemont, the play is a meditation on truth and the nature of storytelling, told as a larger-than-life frolicking adventure.

We follow a fourth-wall breaking de Rougemont (Nathan Cummings) as he transitions from small, sickly boy to shipwrecked sailor trying to survive with only his dog Bruno (an enjoyably committed Trevor Braskamp) for company. Suddenly his life is changed again when another castaway and her family wash up on his beach.

The small family manages to return to her home island, where the “natives” are so impressed by de Rougemont’s acrobatic skills that they make him chief. Eventually de Rougemont makes it back to London, where his story makes him a celebrity…until it doesn’t when journalists start examining and questioning the unbelievable details of it.

An ensemble piece, the show’s myriad of characters other than de Rougemont are played by only four actors. In addition to Braskamp, the play also features Andrew Patton, Amelia Bridgers and a highly committed but hard to hear Kellie Donnelly. The cast works well together providing great Foley (sound), fun effects and inventive solutions to the demands of such a spectacle show, including some very amusing shadow puppetry.

The cast is helped by the chameleon-like stage design by Trevor Braskamp and the utilitarian nature of Reynalda Cruz’s costumes.

I need to insert a content warning for Indigenous communities here. Harmful words are used below. I’m sorry.

This production is a faithfully well-produced representation of the script. However, the script’s extolling of de Rougemont’s bravery in tricking the “savages” (used multiple times), and braving the aboriginal “cannibals,” is colonialist.

Yes, the argument can be made that since the narrator is shown to be unreliable and since it faithfully represents the Victorian view of Indigenous peoples, that this language is appropriate. But the whole premise of this play is to question the nature of how we tell stories.

So why does the script never ask the question of why it is a white male fantasy which we are still discussing?

‘Shipwrecked!’ runs through April 28 at Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N.,Petaluma. Fri–Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $15–$45. 707.763.8920. cinnabartheater.org.

Fashion Plate Kory Vanderpool

The Opera House Collective is located on Kentucky Street in Petaluma’s historic downtown. This three-in-one vintage clothing store is the latest business to tenet the rough, pioneering “opera house,” where Mark Twain once read a short and Teddy Roosevelt once addressed a shaken Sonoma County in the aftermath of the 1906 quake.

Market-wise, the store occupies a space between upmarket and down. It’s where one can always come away with a one-of-a-kind item for 10 bucks. Kory Vanderpool is the owner.

CH: Kory Vanderpool, I understand “Haight Ashbury at half the price” is the tagline of Aubergine Vintage, one of the three clothiers in your collective. Does that describe your collective aesthetic?

KV: It entirely depends on how you shop. We have a wide range of shoppers because we have a wide range of product. We have trendy teenagers coming in for Free People and floral pieces, and blue-collar ranchers are coming in for camo and work boots. And of course, because it’s Sonoma County, you can combine the two!

CH: Kory, you had sought out this soap-box because you wanted to address the stigma still attached to second-hand clothing. Namely they are second-class because they are used and uncool because they are off-trend.

KV: Yes! We believe that everyone, regardless of income, should wear second-hand and vintage clothing. It’s no trend. It’s good ecology. The new clothing industry is massively polluting. It contributes 10% of CO2 greenhouse gas. That’s more than the airline and naval shipping industries combined. I recommend the documentary, The True Cost, for people that want to learn more. Bonny, Morgan, CJ and I believe that, rather than being looked down on, people that wear second-hand clothing should be looked up to for their commitment to the birds and the trees.

CH: The other stigma you mentioned is that second-hand might be considered “uncool” because it is not up to the latest trends of cool.

KV: Yes, it’s just untrue. Thrifting offers you the opportunity to discover unique, one-of-a-kind items that speak directly to you. Compare that to the walls of uniformity you find in fast fashion. And since what you find is rarely in a matched set, and the vintage racks contain all decades of clothes, how you finish your outfit will be uniquely you.

The coolest people are always one-of-a-kind individualists. Trends follow them! And the way to achieve individuality in fashion is second-hand, repaired, customized clothing, and vintage.

linktr.ee/cincinnatushibbard.

Your Letters, 4/17

Spoken Truth

Public speaking is a politician’s stock in trade. And President Joe Biden’s impressive words are fresh air in a long vacant house. That reminds me of when I was nine years old. My friend Bill H. and I were caught and punished for throwing rocks at the windows of a vacant house. I learned my lesson, and that’s the reason I refuse to cast aspersions on Biden.

During last week’s eclipse at a Houston high school where Congressperson Sheila Jackson was speaking, I think I learned something new. We didn’t have astronomy in my high school, and so I listened with interest as Jackson described our friend Mr. Moon by saying, “It’s that complete rounded circle which is made up mostly of gasses.” The congressperson continued, “The sun is a mighty powerful heat, but it’s almost impossible to go near the sun.” 

At first blush after learning this, I concluded that I simply don’t get out enough. But I checked with Punxsutawney Phil, and even he was less the wiser concerning such advancements in astronomy. 

Politics and politicians tend to generate more emotional volatility, reactions and opinions than roadside weeds in spring. Now don’t think me ill-humored when I say lambasting Donald Trump is beginning to get stale, habitual and frankly ho-hum. There are political horses other than Trump making jackasses of themselves. And this election year is…well, let the experts explain.

Vice President Kamala Harris reminded everyone of the importance of the coming fall election when she said, ”This is the most election of our lifetime.” You betcha! And Kamala understands technology better than, say, the border, because as the VP explained, “AI is kind of a fancy thing. First of all, it’s two letters. It means ‘Artificial Intelligence.’” Wow! That’s three letters.

Leland Dennick

Sebastopol

Free Will Astrology, Week of 4/17

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): I suspect two notable phenomena will coalesce in your sphere sometime soon. The first is a surplus supply of luck. I’m not sure why, but the fates will be sending surges of good karma your way. The second phenomenon is this: You might not be entirely alert for the potential luck flowing in your direction, and it may not leap out and grab you. That could be a problem. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which means you are getting a heads-up about the looming opportunity. Now that you realize you must be vigilant for the serendipitous blessings, I’m confident you will spot them and claim them.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You will be wise to summon extra love and rapport as you ruminate on your vivid upcoming decisions. Wouldn’t you like to bask in the helpful influences of smart allies who respect you? How nurturing would it feel to receive healing encouragement and warm appreciation? I suggest you convene a conference of trusted advisors, good listeners, sunny mentors, wisdom keepers and spirit guides. Maybe even convene a series of such gatherings. Now is an excellent time to call in all your favors and get the most inspirational support possible as you navigate your way to the next chapter of your life story.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you drink alcohol, don’t operate a forklift or backhoe. If you gamble, protect yourself with safeguards and have a backup plan. If you feel called to explore altered states of consciousness, consider doing meditation, dancing or chanting holy songs instead of ingesting drugs. If you have an itch to go hang-gliding or sky-jumping, triple-check your equipment. And if you have the urge to try to walk on the water, don a lifejacket first. But please note, dear Gemini: I am not advising you to timidly huddle in your comfort zone. On the contrary. I highly recommend you stretch your limits. Just be secure and smart as you do.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I plotted out my usual astrological reckonings for your current destiny. Then I slipped into a meditative trance and asked the spirits to show me future scenes that correspond to my assessments. In one prominent vision, I beheld you partying heartily, navigating your avid and inquisitive way through convivial gatherings. In other scenes, I saw you engaged in lively discussions with interesting people who expanded your understanding of the meaning of life in general and the meaning of your life in particular. I conclude that intelligent revelry will be a main theme for you. Productive excitement. Pleasurable intrigue. Connections that enliven and tonify your imagination.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The theory of synchronicity proposes that hidden patterns are woven into our lives. Though they may ordinarily be hard to detect, they can become vividly visible under certain circumstances. But we have to adjust the way we interpret reality. Here’s a clue: Be alert for three meaningful coincidences that happen within a short time and seem related to each other. I predict the emergence of at least one set of these coincidences in the coming weeks—maybe as many as four. Synchronicities are coming! You have entered the More-Than-Mere-Coincidence Zone.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Psychologists J. Clayton Lafferty and Lorraine F. Lafferty wrote a book called Perfectionism: A Sure Cure for Happiness. It’s based on their work with clients who damaged their lives “in the illusory pursuit of the unrealistic and unattainable standard of perfection.” In my observation, many of us are susceptible to this bad habit, but you Virgos tend to be the most susceptible of all. The good news is that you now have an excellent chance to loosen the grip of perfectionism. You are more receptive than usual to intuitions about how to relax your aspirations without compromising your competence. As inspiration, consider these words from author Henry James: “Excellence does not require perfection.” Leadership expert R. R. Stutman adds: “If perfection is an obstacle course, excellence is a masterful dance.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which they never show to anybody,” wrote author Mark Twain. I agree that everyone is a moon and has a dark side. But it’s important to note that our dark sides are not inherently ugly or bad. Psychologist Carl Jung proved to me that our dark sides may contain latent, wounded or unappreciated beauty. To be healthy, in fact, we should cultivate a vigorous relationship with our dark side. In doing so, we can draw out hidden and undeveloped assets. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you Libras to do this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Your current state has metaphorical resemblances to idling in your car, waiting and waiting and waiting for the red light to change. But here’s the good news: I expect the signal will turn green very soon—maybe even within minutes after you read this horoscope. Here’s more good news: Your unlucky number will stop popping up so often, and your lucky number will be a frequent visitor. I’m also happy to report that the “Please don’t touch” signs will disappear. This means you will have expanded permission to consort intimately with influences you need to consort with.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I think it’s time to graduate from your lessons in toxic kinds of enchantment and launch a new experiment with healthy kinds of enchantment. If you agree, spend the next few days checking to see if any part of you is numb, apathetic or unreceptive. Non-feelings like these suggest you may be under the enchantment of influences that are cramping your imagination. The next step is to go in quest of experiences, people and situations that excite your imagination, rouse your reverence and raise your appreciation for holy mysteries. Life will conspire benevolently on your behalf if you connect yourself with magic, marvels and miracles.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Luther Burbank (1849-1926) was a practical artist. Using crossbreeding, he developed over 800 novel varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains and flowers. Among his handiwork was the russet Burbank potato, a blight-resistant food designed to help Ireland recover from its Great Famine. My personal favorite was his Flaming Gold nectarine, one of the 217 fruits he devised. I propose that Burbank serve as your role model in the coming weeks. I believe you have the power to summon highly pragmatic creativity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): L. R. McBride wrote the book The Kahuna: Versatile Mystics of Old Hawaii. He describes the role of the kahuna, who is a blend of sorcerer, scholar and healer. At one point, a kahuna gives advice to an American tourist, saying, “You have moved too fast for too long. You have left part of yourself behind. Now you should slow down so that part of you can catch up.” I’m offering you the same advice right now, Aquarius. Here’s your homework: Dream up three fun things you can do to invite and welcome back the left-behind parts of you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In the course of my life, I have heard the following three statements from various people: 1. “Everything would be better between us if you would just be different from who you are.” 2. “I would like you more if you were somebody else.” 3. “Why won’t you change to be more like the person I wish you would be?” I’m sure you have heard similar pronouncements yourself, Pisces. But now here’s the good news: I don’t think you will have to endure much, if any, of such phenomena in the coming months. Why? First, because you will be more purely your authentic self than you have ever been. Second, because your allies, colleagues and loved ones—the only people who matter, really—are likely to be extra welcoming to your genuine self.

High Time: A cannabis conundrum

In the lush landscapes of the North Bay, where vineyards sprawl and tech giants dream big, another industry is lighting up the economic scoreboard: cannabis. As the smoke clears post-legalization, local entrepreneurs and seasoned tokers alike are navigating a market that is as potent as a fine sativa strain but tangled in red tape that would confuse even the soberest of bureaucrats.

Let’s not mince buds here. The North Bay’s dive into the green rush could have been the next gold rush. Ideal growing conditions and a populace with a penchant for the plant should have set the stage for booming business. Instead, what we’ve witnessed is a comedy of errors and ordinances that could make a stoner sitcom look like hard-hitting drama.

Take Sonoma County, for example, with its byzantine permitting process. Entrepreneurs face a gauntlet of regulatory dragons: zoning laws, tax rates that continue to climb and a market that is as saturated.

Meanwhile, in Marin County, there’s a silent battle being waged between “not in my backyard” aficionados and green-thumbed warriors eager to cultivate their businesses. The result? Dispensaries are as rare as unicorns, leaving residents to trek across county lines, order-in (like pizza) or resort to less legitimate sources, which surely wasn’t the point of legalization.

And let’s not forget the consumers, the backbone of the biz. We are hit with prices that have them coughing up more than just smoke. Between state taxes, local taxes and regulatory fees, buying legal cannabis feels like being penalized for doing the right thing. This isn’t just a buzzkill; it’s an innovation killer, pushing potential cannabis connoisseurs back to the black market where no taxes apply.

The North Bay’s cannabis industry could be a beacon of progress, a harmonious blend of agriculture, commerce and tourism. Instead, we’re stuck in bureaucratic limbo, watching potential profits go up in smoke.

It’s time local governments streamlined these processes and laid out the welcome mat for cannabis businesses. Let’s trim the excess regulation, prune the taxes and cultivate an industry that can bloom to its full potential.

Michah D. Mercer is a self-described ‘life-long Luddite’ who ‘believes in paper mostly for rollin’ and readin’.’

The Backstory on ‘420’

In the smoky haze of counterculture and clandestine meetups, the term “420” whispers tales of rebellion, mystique and the universal language of cannabis aficionados. While the air is thick with rumors—an alleged police dispatch code or an elusive chemical compound—the truth is far more rooted in the lore of youthful daring and adventure in 1970s Marin.

First, let’s dispense with the myths of Bob Marley’s birthday celebrations (it’s Feb. 6—see One Love if you don’t believe me). The true origin of “420” is nothing short of an epic befitting the most imaginative of stoner sagas. This journey transports us back to 1971, within the verdant grounds of San Rafael High School, where a group of audacious teens, known colloquially as “The Waldos,” embarked on a quest that would unknowingly etch their code into the annals of counter-cultural history.

The narrative unfolds with The Waldos, so named for their penchant for lounging against a particular wall (see what they did there?), stumbling upon a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

On the podcast Criminal, hosted by Phoebe Judge, former student Steve Capper recounts his folklore-worthy tale that includes a Coast Guard brother, a hidden cannabis treasure and a map that promised untold delights—namely “free weed.” The Waldos’ adventure was set for 4:20pm, a time that would soon transcend its humble beginnings.

As Capper recounted on the podcast: “I was sitting on our hangout spot: the wall at San Rafael High School. And a friend of mine, Bill, came up to me, and he said, ‘Hey, Steve, my brother’s in the Coast Guard, and he’s been growing some weed. He’s afraid he’s going to get busted by his commanding officer. He says we can pick it. Here’s a map he drew for us.’”

Their rendezvous was set to commence at a Louis Pasteur statue on campus. However, despite their diligent searches, the crudely drawn map was bunk, and they found no magical weed garden. Yet, the ritual, camaraderie and code—“4:20 Louie,” later shortened to “420”—endured.

“We thought it was a joke then,” David Reddix, a Waldo classmate turned filmmaker and CNN cameraperson, told the New York Post in 2018. “We still do.”

What began as an inside joke burgeoned into a global emblem, celebrated far and wide, its roots traced back to a cheeky, intrepid spirit and a band of high school friends, which also included pals Larry Schwartz, Jeff Noel and Mark Gravich. And thanks to a serendipitous link between Dave Reddix’s brother and world-touring Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesch, the coinage spread.

The Waldos’ legacy was cemented in 2017 when “420” found its rightful place in the Oxford English Dictionary, a testament to their original claim, backed by indisputable evidence from high school newspapers and postmarked notes laced with cannabis lore.

A few years ago, to commemorate the legacy and its creators, fellow Marinite and wristwatch manufacturer Barry Cohen created the 420Waldos watch, which features a marijuana leaf on its face and another leaf on the back. It also boasts two additional leaves on the straps. Likewise, Petaluma-based Lagunitas Brewing Co. once released a commemorative seasonal brew, “The Waldos Special Ale.”

Pot Reform Politics Remain Partisan

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The politics of cannabis sometimes seem complicated because, almost uniquely in this sad political era, both support for and opposition to laws reforming cannabis laws can be found on both sides of the aisle.

This has led to some unfortunate rhetoric from reform advocates in support of ghouls like Matt Gaetz just because those ghouls favor liberalizing pot laws. For such single-issue proponents—most of them, to be fair, just individual social-media randos, though there are a lot of them—Gaetz’s overall vileness doesn’t matter a bit; he’s pro-weed, so they support him. 

From many of the same people, we get statements of opposition to Democratic politicians, and not just the ones like Joe Manchin who oppose liberalization, but even the ones like Chuck Schumer, who favor it but are perceived to be moving too slowly or getting too cozy with big, corporate weed companies—not that they are above criticism for those things, of course.

But the situation isn’t really as complicated as it might seem. It’s not really necessary to get into a moral debate over whether it’s OK to vote for people who want to deport millions or who are fine with women dying from ectopic pregnancies as long as those people are pro-cannabis.

The best course for reformers is to support Democratic politicians, period. Support for reform comes overwhelmingly from Democrats; opposition comes overwhelmingly from Republicans. If the Democrats had control of the Senate over the past several years, weed would almost certainly have been legalized at the federal level by now.

But we don’t even need to examine Congress. Look at what’s happening at the state level. In 2022, voters in five Texas cities approved ballot measures to decriminalize weed. Or, more accurately, not even to decriminalize, but simply to ratchet down enforcement by local cops of laws prohibiting the possession of small amounts of pot.

The ballot measures—in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen and San Marcos—were passed overwhelmingly. In Austin, probably the most progressive of those cities, 85% of voters approved the measure. In Killeen, a military town and not exactly a hippie haven, the initiative won 69% of the vote.

In January, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the five towns, seeking to block implementation of the voter initiatives. Paxton proudly issued a press release declaring that he filed the lawsuit “to protect the public from crime, drugs and violence.”

Paxton of course knows that problems stemming from “crime, drugs and violence” aren’t impacted at all by people possessing small amounts of pot, and that busting those people won’t help solve them. He’s doing this to appeal to his base, which skews toward the elderly and the malevolent. And he knows that the MAGA types who support him won’t change their votes even if they support pot reforms.

Republicans in Ohio are motivated by the same thing: sticking it to Democrats, whatever the will of the people might be. In November, a ballot measure to legalize adult-use weed passed with a whopping 57% of the vote.

Senate Republicans, who control that chamber, immediately began attacking the measure, offering a substitute bill that would ban home growing, restrict allowed THC levels, raise the excise tax rate from 10% to 15%, and direct tax proceeds away from social-equity programs and general substance-abuse programs, and toward law-enforcement and “marijuana substance abuse” programs, as well as safe-driving initiatives.

That would run directly counter to what Ohioans, including many Republicans, explicitly voted for. But screw that if you have the chance to own the libs, right? Facing widespread criticism, the Republican senators have backed down a bit since then—conceding on the home-grow provision, for example—but they’re still trying to fiddle with the law, including by insisting that tax proceeds go to cops.

If any of these efforts are successful at all, look for Republicans in red and purple states, and those in Congress, to step up their opposition. When it comes to pot reform, only one party can be counted on to do the right thing, even if its members sometimes go about it in frustrating ways.

Rohnert Park transitions 75% of encampment residents to interim or permanent housing

The city of Rohnert Park is celebrating the successful transition of nearly three-quarters of the population of a homeless encampment into interim or permanent housing after the last resident of a safe sleeping program left and the site was officially closed, city officials said last week.

Rohnert Park worked in conjunction with the Bay Area nonprofit HomeFirst, which assists unhoused individuals and families with attaining stable housing.

The safe sleeping program occupied the Roberts Lake Park and Ride area and provided safer camping for homeless residents by providing 24/7 security services while advocates worked on transitioning people to housing.

“These types of programs are important,” said Julian Elliott, director of HomeFirst’s Emergency Housing Division, in a release sent out by the city. “The ability to have a place, even in a ‘camping’ setting that is safe from theft, vandalism and violence, can provide a sense of stability and peace of mind that is so important when looking towards the future.”

On Jan. 31, the last resident of the safe sleeping site moved out, according to the city, which said that between October 2022 and January 2024, 122 individuals were served and 72% of them moved into interim or permanent housing.

Before October 2022, the encampment had been large and unregulated, according to the city. Rohnert Park had OK’d the space in February of that year, but concerns arose about its growing size and worries that it had become a magnet for more unhoused people in the area.

In fall of 2022, the city began barring any new residents from setting up camp and required anyone wishing to remain to register with the city. Quiet and visiting hours were imposed, and residents were provided with 10-by-10-foot tents.

Some park and ride residents moved to temporary housing at Labath Landing, a 60-unit interim housing structure in Rohnert Park paid for in part by state Homekey funding and Sonoma County’s Measure O, which is a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020 that provides funding for mental health and homelessness services.

According to the city, Rohnert Park had 210 unhoused individuals in last year’s Point-In-Time Count, which takes an annual census of homelessness.

“This number reflects a 43% decline in the city’s homelessness from 2022 and highlights the successes of the city’s innovative initiatives to address homelessness,” said the city.

Just a Man: ‘The Mountaintop’ at 222

Healdsburg’s The 222 concludes its season of professional drama with The Mountaintop, co-directed by Aldo Billingsley and Rebecca Novick. Playwright Katori Hall’s imagining of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last night on Earth runs through April 14.

It’s late in the evening of April 3, 1968, and Dr. King (Ron Chapman) has returned to room 306 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He’s just delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon and is struggling to craft a speech in support of striking local sanitation workers.

After sending his friend, Ralph Abernathy, out for cigarettes, he calls down to the front desk in search of some coffee. A knock at the door heralds the arrival of motel maid Camae (Sam Jackson). Dr. King invites her in, and what starts as a casual conversation soon deepens into a discussion of the civil rights movement and the violence that seems to attach itself to peaceful protest.

Moments of self-reflection, doubt and even flirtation culminate in a pillow fight and physical exhaustion. A slip of the tongue brings Dr. King to the realization that Camae isn’t who she appears to be. Things then go in a very unexpected direction yet still end on the motel balcony floor.

Hall has said that she wanted to bring King off the pedestal he’s been placed upon and to view him as an ordinary man capable of extraordinary achievements as a way for other ordinary people to appreciate their own capabilities.

Playing an icon stripped of most everything that made them an icon must be doubly challenging for an actor. Chapman delivers on the playwright’s desire for “ordinariness” while delivering hints of the cadence of Dr. King’s voice.

The bombast is delivered by Jackson. But to reveal much about her character’s journey would rob the audience of their own discovery. Suffice it to say that Jackson absolutely glows in the role.

Previous productions at The 222 used minimal technical elements, but this show utilizes lighting, sound and projection designs. They will need to up their game in this department.

The Mountaintop was written in the time of the Obama presidency, when there was a sense that our country had reached a new level in dealing with the issues of race. The backsliding over the last 15 years and the coarsening of our national character casts a shadow over the play’s somewhat hopeful ending.

Hope has been replaced by fear.

‘The Mountaintop’ runs through April 14 at The 222 in The Paul Mahder Gallery, 222 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. Friday & Saturday, 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm. $45-$105. Students free with ID. 707.473.9152. the222.org.

‘Controlled Ag’: SoCo proposes pot ordinance update

Sonoma County is embarking on a pivotal update to its cannabis ordinance, inviting public input on proposed changes to foster a balance between cannabis operations and community welfare.  This call for engagement marks the beginning of an extensive review process designed to ensure that the updated ordinance aligns with neighborhood compatibility, environmental stewardship and the community's broader goals. According to a...

‘Shipwrecked!’ at Cinnabar

Cinnabar Theater’s final, regular season show to be staged in the “little red schoolhouse on the hill” is Shipwrecked! An Entertainment; The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself) by Donald Margulies. Directed by Cinnabar education associate Trevor Hoffman, it’s a story in the spirit of Gulliver’s Travels or Baron Munchausen. The show runs in Petaluma through...

Fashion Plate Kory Vanderpool

The Opera House Collective is located on Kentucky Street in Petaluma’s historic downtown. This three-in-one vintage clothing store is the latest business to tenet the rough, pioneering “opera house,” where Mark Twain once read a short and Teddy Roosevelt once addressed a shaken Sonoma County in the aftermath of the 1906 quake. Market-wise, the store occupies a space between upmarket...

Your Letters, 4/17

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Spoken Truth Public speaking is a politician’s stock in trade. And President Joe Biden’s impressive words are fresh air in a long vacant house. That reminds me of when I was nine years old. My friend Bill H. and I were caught and punished for throwing rocks at the windows of a vacant house. I learned my lesson, and that’s...

Free Will Astrology, Week of 4/17

Astrology, Horoscope, Stars, Zodiac Signs
ARIES (March 21-April 19): I suspect two notable phenomena will coalesce in your sphere sometime soon. The first is a surplus supply of luck. I’m not sure why, but the fates will be sending surges of good karma your way. The second phenomenon is this: You might not be entirely alert for the potential luck flowing in your direction,...

High Time: A cannabis conundrum

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In the lush landscapes of the North Bay, where vineyards sprawl and tech giants dream big, another industry is lighting up the economic scoreboard: cannabis. As the smoke clears post-legalization, local entrepreneurs and seasoned tokers alike are navigating a market that is as potent as a fine sativa strain but tangled in red tape that would confuse even the...

The Backstory on ‘420’

In the smoky haze of counterculture and clandestine meetups, the term “420” whispers tales of rebellion, mystique and the universal language of cannabis aficionados. While the air is thick with rumors—an alleged police dispatch code or an elusive chemical compound—the truth is far more rooted in the lore of youthful daring and adventure in 1970s Marin. First, let’s dispense with...

Pot Reform Politics Remain Partisan

Pot Reform Politics Remain Partisan
The politics of cannabis sometimes seem complicated because, almost uniquely in this sad political era, both support for and opposition to laws reforming cannabis laws can be found on both sides of the aisle. This has led to some unfortunate rhetoric from reform advocates in support of ghouls like Matt Gaetz just because those ghouls favor liberalizing pot laws. For...

Rohnert Park transitions 75% of encampment residents to interim or permanent housing

The city of Rohnert Park is celebrating the successful transition of nearly three-quarters of the population of a homeless encampment into interim or permanent housing after the last resident of a safe sleeping program left and the site was officially closed, city officials said last week. Rohnert Park worked in conjunction with the Bay Area nonprofit HomeFirst, which assists unhoused...

Just a Man: ‘The Mountaintop’ at 222

Healdsburg’s The 222 concludes its season of professional drama with The Mountaintop, co-directed by Aldo Billingsley and Rebecca Novick. Playwright Katori Hall’s imagining of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last night on Earth runs through April 14. It’s late in the evening of April 3, 1968, and Dr. King (Ron Chapman) has returned to room 306 of the Lorraine Motel...
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