The prevalence of unironic mustaches is growing. By “unironic,” I mean mustaches grown in earnest without self-conscious consideration, self-parody, critique or “cool.” By mustaches, I mean hair facial growth above the lip, unaccompanied by a goatee, beard, chinstrap, soul patch or fashion sense.
Banished as relics from the ’70s (when only hippies and rock stars were permitted to grow them), those who came of age in the ’80s like myself have long perceived lone mustaches as suspect markers of machismo and Marlboro cigarettes. We recall a decade of bare faces and eurocentric undercuts, occasionally underscored by eyeliner (and later, pink eye).
The Reagan era was not only clean shaven; men’s hair fashions were a veritable throwback to the ’50s, thanks to a nostalgia fest exploding at the box office (Back to the Future, Peggy Sue Got Married, Stand By Me, etc.).
Sure, there were outliers, rogue mustachioed loners like Sam Elliott or Wilfred Brimley and the occasional cowboy flick that found a pretty mug like Val Kilmer’s festooned with a Guy Fawkes’ mustache (looking at you, Doc Holliday). But by and large, the ’80s were a good time to own stock in Gillette.
Then it all began to change within a few distinct outgrowths: First, there was the designer stubble of the ’80s, courtesy of Miami Vice and post-Wham George Michael. Then came an outbreak of grungy Van Dykes in the early ’90s that persisted in various forms (and lengths) until the relatively clean-shaven aughts.
This was the calm before the storm that arrived in the form of the so-called “hipster beards” that have blown in the winds of time since 2010. They come, they go, they have blogs and Instagram accounts, and sprout from the faces of those who identify as men, in part, I suppose, to remind them that they are.
I’ve personally worn all the above and more (I starred in a werewolf movie, after all), but I’m three days into the week and have yet to shave, which is an inflection point for relatively hirsute gents like myself. Should I shave or should I grow?
Generally, this quandary is answered by whether or not a fresh blade is on hand. Thanks to the proliferation of razor subscription services, they usually are (first rule of Dollar Shave Club, you do not talk about Dollar Shave Club).
My wife says, “shave.” My boys say “grow”—they’re young teens, still enamored of the possibilities of male grooming, blissfully unaware of the tedious ritual that will be their own soon enough. The compromise, of course, would be a mustache—grown as a gesture of goodwill.
The days of buying weed from a neighborhood dealer seem like a distant memory. So much has changed in the last decade and even in the last few years since cannabis legalization. Although California has always had a rich cannabis culture, the widespread adoption of mainstream weed has significantly changed how we buy and consume cannabis. The consumer experience has seen a massive overhaul, from dimestore drug dealers to hole-in-the-wall dispensaries to luxury retail experiences. Where are we now?
The Evolution of the Cannabis Industry
Medical dispensaries used to be limited in selection, but the relationships built between patients and budtenders were solidified in trust, community, and wellness. Consultations were never limited; the goal was to help someone find what they needed to manage their pain, illness, or whatever led them to become a card-carrying patient.
The dispensaries themselves were a mixed bag. Often the physical location of the dispensary was on the fringe of town or in a less-than-aesthetically pleasing building. It’s not that retailers weren’t concerned about their image, but times were different. Landlords and real estate agents weren’t ready to take a risk on marijuana businesses for fear of theft or other seedy behaviors on their property.
From Medical to Recreational
As cannabis legalization transitioned from medical marijuana to adult-use recreational, potential retailers applied for licensing in hopes of becoming the go-to shop for their community. This time, they had greater acceptance from property owners and their cities, so the options were much more vast. Physical locations improved, and the sheer volume of stores multiplied. Now, the question was how retailers could set themselves apart from the pack.
With several regulations governing their ability to remain in compliance, store owners had to get creative with their shop setup. Retailers looking to stand outspent their time and money creating environments geared toward legitimizing the cannabis industry. This often looked like clean, white, sterile environments featuring shiny glass cases and budtenders wearing matching uniforms. Perhaps there was a plant wall or logos in neon lights, or maybe nothing adorning the walls at all.
The intention was to have that Apple store feel, to indicate the luxury of waltzing into a brick-and-mortar store to buy weed, dabs, vapes, and edibles. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with this model, and plenty of these types of stores are still operating successfully today. Yet, the retailers that stand out—creating positive, memorable experiences for their customers—have taken a slightly different approach.
When Quality Meets Care
When new legal retailers rushed the scene, they were quick to set up shop and stock their shelves with products designed for recreational users. The name of the game was “sell more weed,” and in the wake of the green rush, some of the connections the medical community was known for got left behind.
However, not all retailers lost sight of the purpose of legalization. Instead, they honored it with a hybrid model focused on providing exceptional care in a pleasant environment. One retailer that took this approach is Solful. With two locations in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, Solful created a dispensary model that prizes high-quality, locally-grown cannabis products and prioritizes the customer experience.
“We believe in the power of cannabis to improve health and wellness and always aim to meet the consumer where they are. We have built our team member training program to empower our Health and Happiness Consultants to offer an educational, hospitality experience to everyone—from in-depth consultations to quick recommendations in the store.” —Eli Melrod, CEO and Co-Founder of Solful dispensary
Solful dispensaries are cozy, comfortable, and welcoming, and the staff members are just as friendly and sincere as they are knowledgeable. Instead of “budtenders,” Solful has “health and happiness consultants” whose primary job is to have a one-on-one conversation with customers to discuss their wellness goals with cannabis. Although they are not medical professionals, the consultants offer guidance based on their collective knowledge and consumer feedback about the types of products that have helped others with similar needs.
The Modern-Day Dispensary Experience
Dispensaries like Solful fill their shelves with products they would use or recommend instead of whatever brand name is trending. Sure, this sometimes includes the latest and greatest edibles or THC drinks, both of which have evolved immensely in recent years. Today, consumers can shop for every strain on the planet in flower, vape carts, shatters, live resins, and rosins galore.
Edibles used to consist of baked goods like brownies, and gummy candies have evolved to meet dietary needs and varying tastes. Shop for edibles like mints, gum, honey, tea, coffee, lozenges, and chocolate bars.
In addition to shopping in-store, customers can now shop online and order pickup or, in many cases, choose delivery. Talk about a nod back to the black market days when you didn’t even have to leave your couch, and weed just showed up at your door. However, now, it’s thoroughly inspected and tested by a third-party lab to ensure it’s free from contaminants and contains what it says it does.
“We prioritize getting to know our farm partners personally. We can then share what we know and love about the farmers, unique strains, growing practices, terroir—everything we learn, we aim to pass on to our customers.” —Eli Melrod, CEO and Co-Founder of Solful dispensary
Even the weed market has improved significantly, though this is mainly due to rising competition in the market. However, in Northern California, the standards remain the same. That means many growers stay true to their sun-grown roots, growing organically in the unique terroir native to the Emerald Triangle.
The beauty of today’s dispensary experience is that you can have whatever you desire. Hang out and chat with the staff and ask everything you want to know about a strain’s lineage. Find out about the farmers who grew the weed to ensure that their values align with yours. Buy sparkling THC seltzers made with strain-specific live resin. Don’t forget to pause for a moment and take in the magic of legal weed and how it wasn’t that long ago that none of this existed. We’ve come a long way! So, spark it up and enjoy.
Playwright Jen Silverman is known for work that bends genre as much as it bends reality, and The Moors, now playing at Sebastopol’s Main Stage West through Oct. 23, is no exception. It’s a little Jane Eyre mixed with a little Hound of the Baskervilles, but it’s also a modern look at relationships, expectations and identity.
Set somewhere between 1820 and 1899 in an old parsonage on an endless moor, the play begins with a new governess (Katherine Rupers) arriving. Hired by the head of the household (who may or may not be dead) to look after a child (who may or may not exist), she slowly realizes that beauty and peril are closely aligned. Added into her confusion is a staff which may or may not be all one person (Taylor Diffenderfer), an attention-hungry younger spinster (Maddi Scarbrough), a tough-as-nails older spinster (Brenda Reed), a depressed mastiff (Kevin R. Bordi) and an injured moorhen (Nora Summers).
The actors all handle the existential absurdity well. Scarbrough brings a lot of believability to the neurotic sister. Reed is well grounded in the Brontë bad-boy trope. Bordi plays the mastiff with his usual aplomb trimmed with despair. Rupers could have found more naivety earlier in the show to make her character arc more defined, but her choices are consistent and her instincts are sound.
While everyone delivers a solid performance, standouts are Diffenderfer as Mallory/Marjory/Margaret, who may have typhoid or may be pregnant, but is definitely up to no good, and Summers, as the anxiously adorable moorhen with a short memory but a better grasp of reality than anyone else on the moors. Both women play to their strengths to create successfully compelling characters out of what could have been simple silliness.
To aid the actors in this world are a beautiful costume design by Tracy Hinman and a lushly spooky set by David Lear.
Though this play is billed as a dark comedy, do not expect this to be a laugh-out-loud experience. It is a comedy with clear inspiration from Ionesco—absurd and cruel. And like all theater of the absurd, this play will require careful thought to follow. In short, if you enjoy your entertainment a little on the darkly-unsettling side with a deep meditation on loneliness and a healthy dose of absurdity, you should go see The Moors. And we should grab coffee sometime.
‘The Moors’ runs through Oct. 23 at Main Stage West, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Thu-Sat at 8pm; Sun, 5pm. $20-$32. Masking required. 707.823.0177. mainstagewest.com
Playwright Jen Silverman is known for work that bends genre as much as it bends reality, and The Moors, now playing at Sebastopol’s Main Stage West through Oct. 23, is no exception. It’s a little Jane Eyre mixed with a little Hound of the Baskervilles, but it’s also a modern look at relationships, expectations and identity.
Set somewhere between 1820 and 1899 in an old parsonage on an endless moor, the play begins with a new governess (Katherine Rupers) arriving. Hired by the head of the household (who may or may not be dead) to look after a child (who may or may not exist), she slowly realizes that beauty and peril are closely aligned. Added into her confusion is a staff which may or may not be all one person (Taylor Diffenderfer), an attention-hungry younger spinster (Maddi Scarbrough), a tough-as-nails older spinster (Brenda Reed), a depressed mastiff (Kevin R. Bordi) and an injured moorhen (Nora Summers).
The actors all handle the existential absurdity well. Scarbrough brings a lot of believability to the neurotic sister. Reed is well grounded in the Brontë bad-boy trope. Bordi plays the mastiff with his usual aplomb trimmed with despair. Rupers could have found more naivety earlier in the show to make her character arc more defined, but her choices are consistent and her instincts are sound.
While everyone delivers a solid performance, standouts are Diffenderfer as Mallory/Marjory/Margaret, who may have typhoid or may be pregnant, but is definitely up to no good, and Summers, as the anxiously adorable moorhen with a short memory but a better grasp of reality than anyone else on the moors. Both women play to their strengths to create successfully compelling characters out of what could have been simple silliness.
To aid the actors in this world are a beautiful costume design by Tracy Hinman and a lushly spooky set by David Lear.
Though this play is billed as a dark comedy, do not expect this to be a laugh-out-loud experience. It is a comedy with clear inspiration from Ionesco—absurd and cruel. And like all theater of the absurd, this play will require careful thought to follow. In short, if you enjoy your entertainment a little on the darkly-unsettling side with a deep meditation on loneliness and a healthy dose of absurdity, you should go see The Moors. And we should grab coffee sometime.
‘The Moors’ runs through Oct. 23 at Main Stage West, 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol. Thu-Sat at 8pm; Sun, 5pm. $20-$32. Masking required. 707.823.0177. mainstagewest.com
On a hot, cloudless afternoon of last week, a small group gathered together to install Oliver Lee Jackson’s largest sculpture, Untitled [Recumbent Figure], at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa.
Executive director Kate Eilertsen, watching the startlingly small forklift and expert install crew—including Erik Rosin, Diane Roby, Kirk Allen and Manuel Gomez—navigate the three-ton sculpture into its final position, said she couldn’t be more thrilled with the installation.
“We’re so happy to have the piece here. And this placement is perfect—and it’s so viewable,” said Eilertsen.
Recumbent Figure sits in the very front of di Rosa’s main galleries and 217 acres, and is delightfully impossible to miss from the road. It has been signed on for a three-year stint at the center, with the option to renew at the end of the contract. The hope, says Eilertsen, is that it will remain indefinitely.
Artist Jackson, who looked relaxed and cool in a tight gray cap, checkered flannel and a sweet-smelling pipe he was perpetually re-lighting, also seems happy with the placement. It suits, he shared with me, the nature of the figure.
Photo by Jane Vick
Recumbent, for those who don’t know, means simply, “lying down.” Synonyms include “spreadeagled,” “sprawled” and “lounging.” It’s a state of relaxation, and total surrender to, among other things, gravity.
This surrendering, releasing sense was Jackson’s inspiration for the piece—though he doesn’t want to tell his viewers what to think about his work. Complete work, according to Jackson, speaks for itself, and doesn’t need the artist alongside it telling the viewer what to perceive.
That said, for those who want to bring a pair of Oliver Lee Jackson 3D glasses to their viewing of the Recumbent, Jackson made this sculpture with the goal of conveying surrender, on a number of levels. He invited me to consider the experience of lying down, to think about how it felt, as a child: to lay down and imagine, to look at the stars, to feel held by the floor or grass or hammock below. The invitation was to, rather than fight the pull of gravity as we do in standing every day, release to it, feel that gravity is not pulling, but holding, supportive and connecting, allowing one to let go of the many pressures that can, and do, come with adult life.
Childhood, rest, nature and mother earth are all concepts Jackson invited me to play with while reflecting on the piece.
Though given the unofficially official name Recumbent, and inspired by the aforementioned concepts of repose and surrender, this piece, like much of Jackson’s work, is entirely visually abstract. It is engaging from all angles, and was as intriguing while loaded and strapped on the truck as when fully assembled and in place.
Photo by Jane Vick
The whole piece features only three colors, white, red and black, and some gold leaf to catch and play with the sunlight. The black is painted in open circles, arcs, shapes and squiggles. The red is in squiggles and sweeps, and lining the sides of the steel, which is primarily white. It almost looks like paper, folded and drawn upon by the musing hand of an artist in thought. In its final form, I want to sit down next to it—even play on it, though something tells me that’s not allowed.
The construction was no small feat. Created together with a team that included Diane Roby—Jackson’s agent, assistant and all-around right hand—Erik Rosin and the crew at Capitol Iron Works in Sacramento, fabrication to installment was a month of work, resulting in a three-ton sculpture comprised of three one-inch tempered steel plates, notched together, painted with protective paints and measuring six feet tall by eight feet wide by 20 feet long.
“And that’s just fabrication time,” said Roby, who was also present at the install, and with whom I later spoke to over the phone. “He’s had this idea in his mind for years.”
Photo by Diane Roby
Jackson, who is mostly known for his painting—in 2019 his work was exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC—has also been playing in sculpture since the 1980s. In 1988, he made a maquette, which is a small-scale version of a sculpture, much like a blueprint, of Recumbent, out of plywood.
A few years later, he made another in steel. This final production is an exciting realization of a dream, and Roby confirms Jackson intends to keep working at this scale, and already has several other ideas.
Meanwhile, Recumbent reclines restfully in its new home, ready to engage viewers at any hour—solar panels are being installed around the sculpture to illuminate it in the dark hours and to allow an unending opportunity for contemplation to visitors and passersby alike.
To see ‘Untitled, [Recumbent Figure],’ visit di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art at 5200 Sonoma Highway. www.dirosaart.org. Learn more about Oliver Lee Jackson at www.oliverleejackson.com.
An evening of dinner and drinks while listening to acoustic rock? There are worse ways to spend a Saturday. Step out to the Starling Bar in Sonoma and check out singer-songwriter Bryan Bielanski. Inspired by rock greats like Tom Petty and REM, Bielanski also brings his own distinct musical style and lyrics, which inspire thought and reflection over a great beat. Bielanski is a critically acclaimed musician, who has been traveling the United States and abroad for the last 10 years. He has played everywhere from Belgium to China to Louisiana to Greece to New Jersey. The man’s well-traveled, and his music reflects it. “…intelligent and musically coherent power pop with soul,” wrote Woody Mitchell (Charlotte Observer daily periodical, Charlotte, NC). “East Coast singer-songwriter packs more hooks than a tackle box!” according to Erika Boling (Metrospirit Magazine, Augusta, GA). Bielanski plays Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Starling Bar, 19380 Highway 12, Sonoma. 6-9pm. Free. www.starlingsonoma.com
Petaluma Polar Bear Fundraiser
Why not get a taste of Christmas in October? David Templeton’s solo show, Polar Bears: A True Story About a Very Big Lie, is on this Saturday, to support Templeton and raise money for his New York City performance of the show later this month. Written and performed by Templeton, Polar Bears is at once funny, touching and poignant, telling the story of a young father, desperate for his children to believe in Santa for longer than he did. (At four, he recognized the polar bear wrapping paper “Santa” had used to wrap his presents, and the dream was shattered.) His increasing obsession with the details of a perfect Christmas experience only amplifies when a family tragedy strikes. But things start to spiral out of control and everything, including the family’s celebration of Christmas, takes an unpredictable turn. Polar Bears: A True Story About a Very Big Lie is Saturday, Oct.. 15 at 145 Keller St., Petaluma. 6:30pm. Tickets $27. www.davepokornypresents.com
Larkspur Mill Valley Film Festival
Opening night featured such glitterati as Kate Hudson and Kathryn Hahn, and the festivities have only just begun. Now through Oct. 16, don’t miss The Mill Valley Film Festival. This year, as always, come to celebrate the best in independent and world cinema, across multiple genres. Nicknamed “the filmmaker’s film festival” and now in its 45th year, MVFF was founded in 1977 by director Mark Fishkin. It’s a non-competitive, film-loving atmosphere that invites thorough reflection on and enjoyment of film. See work from new and established filmmakers, and meet fellow film lovers. Screenings are in Larkspur, Mill Valley, Berkeley, San Rafael and San Francisco Oct. 6-16. Tickets $90-$145. www.mvff.com
San Rafael Fall In Festival
Come get to know Marin’s thriving Jewish community at the Marin Jewish Community Center’s Fall In Festival. This free, harvest-themed event features food, activities, crafts, music and a chance to get to know your neighbors. Hear about the JCC’s offerings, from Camp Kehillah and early childhood education to adult learning programs and fitness and aquatics offerings. Learn about making a ritual bouquet for the harvest holiday of Sukkot, and make leaf garlands that can be planted once the season is over. Participate in Harvest Yoga and Bountiful Bootcamp, learn harvest stories, view sukkah pop-up art installations—which will be completed live during the festival—listen to music and devour pastries. The Fall In Festival is Sunday, Oct. 16 at 200 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael. 2-5pm Free. www.marinjcc.org
Housing development and police oversight are among the issues up for debate in this year’s Santa Rosa City Council elections.
All told, nine candidates are running for four open seats on the seven-person council in the Nov. 8 election. With two longtime council members retiring and the city completing its transition to district elections, the election could significantly change the face of the council.
The most competitive race is in District 4, which includes a portion of downtown, as well as the Junior College and Fountaingrove neighborhoods to the north.
Fleming, who works as a clinical social worker by day, is endorsed by the Sonoma County Democratic Party, four current Santa Rosa City Council members and numerous labor unions and other elected officials.
Huang, a businessperson with an office downtown, lists endorsements from dozens of district residents, including many identified as downtown business owners, on his campaign website.
Sanders, a retired firefighter, has support from the public safety unions—including the Santa Rosa Police Officers Association and Sonoma County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association—business groups, among them the Sonoma County Alliance and Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce, and two outgoing city councilmembers, John Sawyer and Tom Schwedhelm.
Shamsavari, a therapist and author, said in a forum last week that she is not seeking endorsements or taking campaign contributions in the race.
Campaign finance filings show that, in money terms, the race was fairly close as of late September. Fleming had raised $41,809.22, followed by Sanders with $38,613.77 and Huang just behind with $38,475.
The candidates were also asked for their thoughts about citizen oversight of the Santa Rosa Police Department. Last November, following public pressure during and after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the city council approved a three-year contract with the OIR Group, a Los Angeles-based company, to provide annual audits of the department’s actions.
The candidates all voiced support for police oversight generally, but differed on whether the city should go beyond hiring the current consultant.
“I’m all for police oversight. We’re doing that. OIR has every bodycam, every report that the police have, and let’s just see how that process works out,” Sanders said.
Huang said that the city needed to ensure that they “make sure that [the person doing oversight is] on the ranks of the officers and they have experience with the job… and it’s someone the council can trust.”
Fleming, who chairs the city council’s public safety subcommittee, voiced support for even greater oversight, involving community members rather than just an outside auditor.
“I think that the OIR Group is fine but it is, at the end of the day, mostly retired police officers and attorneys talking to police officers… I think it is a great start, but it is not what the people have asked for,” Fleming said. She cited Sonoma County voters’ support for Measure P, a 2020 ballot measure strengthening review of the Sheriff’s Office’s actions, as evidence of residents’ interest in greater law enforcement oversight.
Shamsavari said that she supports the oversight of police, but did not specify what it should look like.
Dueling Developments
Coming days before the five-year anniversary of the deadly and destructive Tubbs Fire, wildfire safety and housing affordability loomed in the background of the Oct. 6 candidates’ forum.
On housing, the candidates all spoke generally in support of downtown housing developments while talking tough on a controversial proposal near the center of District 4, a 71-acre Chanate Road property.
Four years ago, Sonoma County restarted its attempts to sell off the property after a hospital on the property was closed. However, the sale faced several delays, including a lawsuit from a neighborhood group concerned about a lack of transparency in the sale process and that building hundreds of homes on the property, which is only served by one road in and out, would present a significant risk to residents attempting to evacuate during a fire.
Last year, the county finally sold the land to a Nevada real estate developer, Eddie Haddad. Haddad’s company will need to win permitting approval from the city since the property is within city bounds. Clearly conscious of the neighbors’ concerns about the project, all four candidates pledged to put safety first if elected.
Sanders said the current status of the Chanate property was the result of a “failure of leadership on down the line.”
“A development that I can’t protect, that overwhelms the existing infrastructure and that is done without transparency is a non-starter for me,” Sanders said.
Huang, also voicing safety concerns, said that he would want to study how many people could currently safely evacuate the surrounding neighborhoods using Chanate Road. If the number using the road for evacuation is found to be already too great, Huang would support “very limited to zero development” on the property.
Shamsavari mentioned evacuation problems as well and proposed pushing the private developer to build housing for the elderly and a public park on the property, to be served by a city-funded courtesy bus.
Fleming, the incumbent, said that her experience on the council has given her the best understanding of the state-mandated environmental impact review process among the candidates.
“If there’s anything [discovered during the environmental review process] that doesn’t show that it’s safe, [the project] won’t get done. Period,” Fleming said. She added that she has talked to Haddad “numerous times,” telling him that “we don’t do things here the way that you do them in Nevada.”
Other Districts
Meanwhile, five candidates are competing in three other district races.
In District 2, which includes the southeast portion of the city, Mark Stapp, a Sonoma State University fundraising executive, is facing off against Mason Rossiter, a 20-year-old Santa Rosa Junior College student.
The eastern end of the city, including Oakmont, will continue to be represented by Dianna MacDonald. She was appointed to the council earlier this year and is running unopposed in District 3.
Lastly, Jeff Okrepkie and Veronica “Roni” Jacobi are facing off in District 6, encompassing the northwestern corner of the city. Okrepkie serves on the city Planning Commission and is the founder of Coffey Strong, a Tubbs fire recovery nonprofit. Jacobi, who previously served on the council from 2006 to 2010, is an engineer and environmental advocate.
The League of Women Voters has also hosted virtual debates between candidates in other districts with competitive races. To view the recordings of those events, visit lwvsonoma.org.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will finally revise the county’s Living Wage Ordinance approved in 2015 at their Oct. 18 meeting. Three fires and one flood since 2017 have delayed reconsideration of the ordinance, which a coalition of labor, environmental, faith and community-based organizations have long urged. The law applies to county workers and employees of large county contractors.
Nationwide, 120 cities and counties have implemented living wage laws, including 43 in California. Three cities in Sonoma County, Sebastopol (2003), Sonoma (2004) and Petaluma (2006), have done so. Sonoma County’s existing living wage law is one of California’s weakest and least comprehensive.
Corporate profits have reached record levels while, according to the latest U.S. Census data, wages have stagnated or declined for the bottom 60% of Sonoma County wage earners since 2000. Simultaneously, the California Housing Corporation reports that rents have climbed by 25%, while renter incomes grew by just 2% annually.
The county’s Portrait of Sonoma 2021 report recommends that the board thoroughly revise the Living Wage Ordinance to address inequality and working poverty.
Proponents are urging the board to expand the ordinance to the county fairgrounds and airport, increasing the number of workers covered to 1,800.
The board can further improve worker job quality by providing 12 days of paid sick leave, barring part-time employment by county contractors except in unusual circumstances, and implementing a retention provision for employees of a county contractor whose contract is not renewed.
In addition, by adopting a proposed responsible bidder provision, the county will ensure that contractors have an excellent record of compliance with applicable federal and state labor laws.
Expanding the ordinance to the airport and fairgrounds, ensuring responsible contracting, and improving job quality for covered workers will promote racial and gender equity, as most affected employees are workers of color and women.
The county is the largest employer and contractor in the North Bay. By revising the ordinance as recommended, the county can become a model for public employment, and supervisors can demonstrate their commitment to economic and racial justice.
Two Democrats are waging a costly fight to represent the North Bay in the state Assembly.
In the June primary, Democrats Sara Aminzadeh and Damon Connolly took 36.2% and 37.1%, respectively. The district, newly numbered 12, covers all of Marin County and the southern half of Sonoma County.
Aminzadeh has taken the lead in fundraising, raising $620,111 this year through Sept. 24, compared to Conolly’s $530,789 in the same period. Recent campaign filings show that two Democrats have spent over $1.2 million fighting each other so far.
Connolly has represented San Rafael and surrounding communities on the Marin County Board of Supervisors since 2015 and, before that, sat on the San Rafael City Council. Aminzadeh is more of a newcomer to the district, but appears to have stronger connections in Sacramento. She worked for environmental nonprofits before being appointed to the California Coastal Commission in 2017.
Aminzadeh’s biggest financial supporters include the California Faculty Association ($19,200); Gap Inc. executive Robert Fisher and his wife, Elizabeth ($10,800); and the Association of California School Administrators ($9,700). Her campaign has also received $49,250 from 30 employees of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, a law firm where her husband is a partner.
Meanwhile, Connolly’s biggest single contributors include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($19,400), the Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 ($14,600) and a total of $49,000 from 10 chapters of Govern for California, a network of 18 nonprofits which has reportedly spent over $3 million on California elections this year.
The pair’s websites each sport long lists of endorsements, both including local politicians and labor groups.
Connolly has claimed endorsements from both daily newspapers in the district—the Press Democrat and Marin Independent Journal—and seven current members of the state legislature. Meanwhile, Aminzadeh has been endorsed by more state and federal officials, including Rep. Jared Huffman, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakisand 36 current members of the state legislature.
Some are staying out of the in-fighting all together. The California Democratic Party failed to reach a consensus on an endorsement in the race and, as a result, local Democratic groups didn’t endorse in the race either. Levine, the outgoing Assemblymember, hasn’t publicly picked his successor.
One thing is certain: Once the dust settles, the North Bay will send another Democrat to the statehouse.
There is an old Scottish proverb, “Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh.” Roughly translated, it means, “Waves will rise on silent waters.”
Equal parts threat and hope, the concept that change, hope and danger come out of the seeming calm is at the dramatically beating heart of Dunsinane, the Marin Theatre Company’s season-opening collaboration with Tamalpais High School’s Conservatory Theatre Ensemble (CTE). It runs in Mill Valley through Oct. 16.
Dunsinane begins where Shakespeare’s Macbeth ends, with the battle of Birnam Woods. As Lord Siward, Earl of Northumberland (a solid Aldo Billingslea) and his soldiers take the castle, they find that they have been lied to and that Macbeth’s wife, Queen Gruach (Lisa Anne Porter), is still alive. Even worse for Siward and Macduff (a well-grounded Michael Ray Wisely), the queen has a son.
Much to the vexation of King Malcolm (Josh Odsess-Rubin) and the conniving opportunist Lord Egham (a very funny Daniel Duque-Estrada), Siward is a good man who is trying to do what is right. Unfortunately, in Scotland, honor is a weakness to be exploited by enemies and allies alike. One by one, Siward watches the young men around him die in the name of peace. Told through the eyes of those young soldiers (all students from CTE) writing letters home to their mothers, we watch the most hopeful of these child soldiers (poignantly played by Jack Hochschild) turn into a battle-scarred and mentally wounded man.
Written during the 2010 Afghan war, playwright David Greig uses the 1054 invasion of Scotland to highlight the problems of one culture trying to define “peace” for another. It’s a sometimes pedantic, sometimes funny, but always earnest allegory about the dangers of imperialism.
The three-hour-long production does sometimes drag due to a dense script and pacing issues, but it is absolutely worth attending. If nothing else, the play contains one of the best sets of antagonists since Saturninus and Tamara. Porter’s Gruach is a force to be reckoned with, and the chameleon-like ability Odsess-Rubin displays as he shifts into the hedonistically conniving King Malcolm is a master class in acting.
If Dunsinane is a measure of how youth theaters can benefit from collaboration with professional theaters, then this imperfect but well-cast show of veteran and youth actors shows promise for great things in the future.‘Dunsinane’ runs Tues–Sun through Oct. 16 at Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Tues–Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $25.50-$65.50. Masks, proof of COVID vaccination and ID required. 415.388.5208.marintheatre.org.
The prevalence of unironic mustaches is growing. By “unironic,” I mean mustaches grown in earnest without self-conscious consideration, self-parody, critique or “cool.” By mustaches, I mean hair facial growth above the lip, unaccompanied by a goatee, beard, chinstrap, soul patch or fashion sense.
Banished as relics from the ’70s (when only hippies and rock stars were permitted to grow them),...
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The days of buying weed from a neighborhood dealer seem like a distant memory. So much has changed in the last decade and even in the last few years since cannabis legalization. Although California has always had a rich cannabis culture, the widespread adoption of mainstream weed has significantly changed how we buy and consume...
Playwright Jen Silverman is known for work that bends genre as much as it bends reality, and The Moors, now playing at Sebastopol’s Main Stage West through Oct. 23, is no exception. It’s a little Jane Eyre mixed with a little Hound of the Baskervilles, but it’s also a modern look at relationships, expectations and identity.
Set somewhere between 1820...
Playwright Jen Silverman is known for work that bends genre as much as it bends reality, and The Moors, now playing at Sebastopol’s Main Stage West through Oct. 23, is no exception. It’s a little Jane Eyre mixed with a little Hound of the Baskervilles, but it’s also a modern look at relationships, expectations and identity.
Set somewhere between 1820...
On a hot, cloudless afternoon of last week, a small group gathered together to install Oliver Lee Jackson’s largest sculpture, Untitled , at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa.
Executive director Kate Eilertsen, watching the startlingly small forklift and expert install crew—including Erik Rosin, Diane Roby, Kirk Allen and Manuel Gomez—navigate the three-ton sculpture into its final position,...
SonomaBryan Bielanski
An evening of dinner and drinks while listening to acoustic rock? There are worse ways to spend a Saturday. Step out to the Starling Bar in Sonoma and check out singer-songwriter Bryan Bielanski. Inspired by rock greats like Tom Petty and REM, Bielanski also brings his own distinct musical style and lyrics, which inspire thought and reflection over...
Housing development and police oversight are among the issues up for debate in this year’s Santa Rosa City Council elections.
All told, nine candidates are running for four open seats on the seven-person council in the Nov. 8 election. With two longtime council members retiring and the city completing its transition to district elections, the election could significantly change the...
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will finally revise the county’s Living Wage Ordinance approved in 2015 at their Oct. 18 meeting. Three fires and one flood since 2017 have delayed reconsideration of the ordinance, which a coalition of labor, environmental, faith and community-based organizations have long urged. The law applies to county workers and employees of large county...
Two Democrats are waging a costly fight to represent the North Bay in the state Assembly.
In the June primary, Democrats Sara Aminzadeh and Damon Connolly took 36.2% and 37.1%, respectively. The district, newly numbered 12, covers all of Marin County and the southern half of Sonoma County.
Aminzadeh has taken the lead in fundraising, raising $620,111 this year through Sept....
There is an old Scottish proverb, “Eiridh tonn air uisge balbh.” Roughly translated, it means, “Waves will rise on silent waters.”
Equal parts threat and hope, the concept that change, hope and danger come out of the seeming calm is at the dramatically beating heart of Dunsinane, the Marin Theatre Company’s season-opening collaboration with Tamalpais High School’s Conservatory Theatre Ensemble...
