Thursday, May 3, 2012
Here's your chance to sound off in our new weekly forum.
So, what’s making you upset this week? Is there something you want to get off your chest? We’re offering a new forum here this week to give everyone a chance to weigh in on the topics you choose. That’s right, we’re not asking you to wait for the topic to come up in one of our articles. Go ahead and get the conversation started right here. Sure, we’d like the topics to be locally focused, but go ahead and jump in with any thought you have that you believe will start up a good, civil online community discussion. Sometimes the rants lead to action. For example, over the last couple weeks readers here have sounded off on the proposed casino by the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria, some readers have added to our dangerous …
Monday, April 23, 2012
What's on your mind?
A couple days ago, we asked you what's bugging you about Rohnert Park. You responded, saying the bus system here is maddening and police need to step up patroling the city's intersections for safety. This week, we're turning to a more positive note, and wondering — what makes you happy and proud to live this community? Give us your raves! For example, I love, love, love our library. Even though the library has reduced its hours, which is inconvenient, the library staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, especially the children's section reference librarians. Roses to you. I also can't get enough of the parks here — perfect for an after-dinner stroll with the pups. When was the last time you took a moment to praise someone for a good …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
What are your favorite things to do locally during great weather?
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service say temperatures this week will will reach 75 and the sun will peak out most days — perfect spring weather! So, now that the rain clouds have passed, and summer's on its way, we were wondering, what are your favorite things to do around Rohnert Park on nice days? We'll use your suggestions in an upcoming feature on summertime events. So, whether it's a trip to the dog park, or a hike at Crane Creek Regional Park or a swim at Honeybee Pool — share your ideas with the community and help us put together an amazing guide to sunnytime fun!
Friday, April 13, 2012
The project was approved by Gov. Jerry Brown recently.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Readers weigh in on Vegas-style casino and resort. What do you think? Tell us in the comments.
In the week since Gov. Jerry Brown signed a tribal-state gaming compact for a proposed Vegas-style casino and resort on the outskirts of Rohnert Park — giving the green light for the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria to build — the public is talking. I've overheard conversations at coffee shops, at restaurants and in local grocery stores, and the message is mixed. Some are excited, and say the casino will brighten the local economy — it'll bring investment, tourism and spark new business in Rohnert Park. Some fret an increase in crime and traffic; others are wary about how the casino deal was passed, and others are concerned about the harm on the environment here. (The federally-endangered Tiger Salamander lives on the land.) We …
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Attorney and advocate for open government says public agencies are taking advantage of changes in the news business and using excuses for not complying with Public Records Act requests.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 8
Something is wrong. I see it nearly every day in my representation of reporters throughout California. Local and state agencies are throwing up excuse after excuse when responding to requests for public records and are unapologetically meeting behind closed doors, chancing that the denial of access will go unchallenged or that a reporter’s resolve will fade with sufficient delay in responding to the request. Examples are replete: It didn’t use to be this way. Our public access laws were shaped by stalwart newspapers in this state serving as their community’s watchdog over how public agencies carry out the public’s business. They didn’t hesitate to take a recalcitrant public agency to court to prove the point. Consequently, public agencies …
Friday, February 10, 2012
Sonoma County to receive $267 million out of $18 billion agreement
Sonoma County homeowners facing foreclosure or who suffered mortgage-related abuses are set to receive an estimated $267 million following an agreement reached Thursday between California Attorney General Kamala Harris and five national banks, the Press Democrat is reporting. The settlement will require Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Ally Financial to reduce the amount borrowers owe on their mortgages, lower their interest rates and pay restitution to homeowners who suffered mortgage-related abuses. It will also force lenders to change how they deal with homeowners who are still trying to pay their mortgages as well as bar banks from foreclosing on borrowers while negotiating mortgage modifications. The …
Monday, February 6, 2012
Share your Valentine's story with Rohnert Park Patch!
Whether Valentine's Day makes you glow or grimace, we want to hear from you. Have a romantic story, or one of heartbreak? Tell us in the comments or email angela.hart@patch.com to share what Valentine's Day means to you.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
A Sonoma County housewife shares her story — now we'd like to hear yours. Share it below in the comments, or email angela.hart@patch.com. Tell my why you love or ... well maybe don't love it so much.
An opinion piece published Sunday on Petaluma360.com struck me. It summarized what I've heard hundreds of times since moving here nearly two years ago. "Disparate Housewife" puts it pointedly: “I don’t think I could live in a city that doesn’t have a downtown” and “What a bleak place; nothing but acres of big box stores and strip malls.” True. And while there are valliant efforts underway by the City Council and the City Manager, Rohnert Park remains lackluster when it comes to a vibrant, walkable downtown — the places that are so great for communities to mingle and share ideas. In hundreds of cities across America, they're places blazen with drunken banter come nightfall, bustling with busy shoppers during the day, and most often add a …
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
As a result from the Feb. 1 decision by the state to eliminate redevelopment agencies, funding for local nonprofits — including Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development — is at risk.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, February 1
Editor's note: This letter came in from Jim Gattis, who is the executive director of SCAYD in Rohnert Park. Gattis responded to our report Thursday potential impact on Rohnert Park following the elimination of the city's redevelopment agency. The City Council on a yearly basis gives money from redevelopment fund to three local nonprofits that provide homeless prevention, youth outreach efforts, drug and alcohol counseling as well as a slew of other programs. As you know, the city of Rohnert Park's redevelopment agency provides crucial funding for SCAYD’s Homeless Prevention program recipients. This funding gives families an opportunity to stay in their homes, most of whom would be actively homeless had it not been for the this help. The …
robert aherne
10:10 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
It's the Casino, stupid/ Bob Aherne more ›