Protecting our environmental resources and promoting social justice
Update: Webley has offered the community water in return for the locals dropping opposition against the outrageous scale of the project in this tiny community. Mr. Webly, at his expense has agreed to provide the community: 1) Additional potable water storage in the form a 35,000 gallon tank and associated foundation at / next to …
This is a bad project that has gone back to the drawing board several times due to the destruction of the watershed, endangered species, wildlife, climate issues and more. Have we finally reached our tipping point where people come before profit for the wealthy and influential? What is missing from this article is the 2 watersheds …
Walt Ranch controversial vineyard conversion litigated Read More »
Enough Already Sonoma County moves to limit winery development By Padi Selwyn http://www.bohemian.com/northbay/enough-already/Content?oid=2978035 The wine industry study session held by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors earlier this month was a step in the right direction, as local officials try to balance the interests of the wine industry with a growing backlash by rural residents …
Enough Already ……Sonoma County moves to limit winery development? Read More »
Appearing online now and in print August 1. 9/27 PRSC’s story in the Bohemian appears. http://www.sonomacountygazette.com/cms/pages/sonoma-county-news-article-5458.html Sonoma County Winery Events facing Changes in Rules Sonoma County Winery Events facing Changes in Rules By Padi Selwyn and Judith Olney, Co-chairs, Preserve Rural Sonoma County July’s winery events study session by the Board of Supervisors was a …
Sonoma County Winery Events facing Changes in Rules Read More »
The LA Times (link below) also reports that this is NOT the first time for these owners. Wouldn’t it be great if other restaurant owners in Sonoma and Napa had the same response? Hopefully this will catch on. Remember this is the same area that had to have a water moratorium 3 years ago due to …
Friends of Gualala River and Forest Unlimited have joined forces to litigate CalFire’s approval of Dogwood. Using copious amounts of water for dust control and miles of skid roads in a diminished watershed is not a good idea. Where do we start valuing the services that our watershed do for us without a profit motive? This …
The following letter to the PD published in Sundays paper hit the nail on the head when it comes to all the problems of an out of control winery event and tasting room expansions. Europe has a business model that truly works. We have a failed model in this county that only the large corporate …
A Better Location for winery events and tasting rooms Read More »
EDITOR: Staff Writer Christi Warren’s reporting on the massive traffic jam caused by a festival at Sonoma Lavender in Kenwood warranted placement on Page A3 in Tuesday’s paper (“Highway 12 grinds to halt due to festival”). What was not mentioned is the potential for the cumulative impacts caused by the many events permitted (and not permitted) that …
Red Flag for further event permits…do you hear me now? Read More »
Lopez and the coast EDITOR: Please keep running the columns by Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times on the corrupt, back-room dealings of the California Coastal Commission. He understands thoroughly the scope and nature of this corruption. His well-researched and reported columns give readers a clear insight into the ways these self-aggrandizing commission members …
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/business/5764324-181/outdoor-recreation-is-a-green?artslide=0 The above article from Bill Swindell of the Press Democrat in June 26th “….official’s look for ways to attract active tourists to Sonoma County”. With massive traffic jams in and around the county and the Sonoma County Supervisors still budgeting big bucks to attract more tourists, it makes you wonder where do they live? Certainly not …
Outdoor recreation is big business in Sonoma County Read More »
Would you buy a home next to a vineyard knowing the millions pounds of chemicals that are being used, the water and air fouled and high cancer rates that are firmly established by multiple studies? ” ….But, loss of ambiance notwithstanding, a neighbor whose house is located close to the vines (thankfully, mine is not) …
“The Inconveniences of living near a vineyard” by Robert Butler of the Washington Post Read More »
No one has the right or moral authority to poison children for profit. When do we say enough is enough? Sonoma County is number 3 on the states childhood cancer rates with a whopping 2,211,222 million pounds of chemicals put into our air, soil and water by the wine industry. Napa County is number 1 on …
More Childhood cancer linked to cancer and more….. Read More »
Napa County has highest cancer rates for children Napa County has the highest cancer rate for children in California according to statistics. Childhood deaths from cancer are 22.8 deaths per 100,000 people. Sonoma doesn’t fare much better at 20.6 childhood deaths per 100,000 children. For adults, normal cancer rates are 424.94 deaths statewide per 100,000 …
Napa County has highest cancer rates for children…..Sonoma not far behind… Read More »
Friends of the Eel River: PG&E Admits Scott Dam Faces Serious Seismic Risks WWW: Eel River diversions play a major role in keeping water running year-round to the Russian River. Anything that happens on the Eel has big impacts on Sonoma County. Greetings Friends, Have you heard the latest news from PG&E? The company appears …
Friends of the Eel: PG&E Admits Scott Dam Faces Serious Seismic Risks Read More »
Extension of Public Comment Period for Board Workshop on Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life The State Water Board will accept written comments on the staff proposed framework to Make Water Conservation a California Way of Life. The comment deadline has been changed from March 24, 2023 at noon to March 30, 2023 at …
Forest Unlimited: Action Lodge by the River, Thurs. Mar 23, 1:40 pm. Supervisors’ Chambers, Santa Rosa [WWW would add that 224 acres across the River from this proposed project is due to be logged this spring as approved by CalFire).] Our lead on this issue, Kimberly, has an action you can take on protecting redwoods …
For immediate release: Court Orders State Back to the Drawing Board on Cancer-Causing Pesticide Draft regulation for fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene must protect farmworkers who labor near fields Oakland, CA – The Alameda County Superior Court ruled last week (attached) that a proposed regulation fails to protect farmworkers who labor near fumigated fields from harmful levels of …
Thank you Supervisor Gorin and Coursey for voting for a sane winery event ordinance. Unfortunately, the other 3 supervisors justified their decision buying into lower complaints and only the big guys were the bad guys talk. Last we looked the wine industry was consolidated to 80% ownership by large corporations. After the grapes are gone …
Excerpt: “If Permit Sonoma staff had to wear emblems identifying their sponsors, like NASCAR drivers, we’d know why, out of the blue, the Planning Commission recommendations are being revised.” OUR Letter RE: Sonoma County Local Coastal Plan www.winewaterwatch.org March 7, 2023 Supervisor: Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org; David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org; district3@sonoma-county.org; district4@sonoma-county.org; district5@sonoma-county.org California Coastal Commission: NorthCentralCoast@coastal.ca.gov Caryl.Hart@coastal.ca.gov RE: Adoption of Local Coastal Plan Wine …