Oakmont Democratic Club
Highlights of Previous Meetings
Descriptions of recent meetings are followed by a comprensive list of the topics of previous meetings.
We welcomed a sell%2Dout crowd to hear veteran Santa Rosa Press Democrat columnist Chris Smith describe the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the newspaper by the New York Times to a little%2Dknown group of out-of-state investors. The sale comes at a time of declining ad and classified revenues, rising subscription costs and declining subscriptions...all in the face of growing Internet competition. The paper%27s unionized staff, with full benefits and a pension%2Dplan, is fearful of layoffs and possible consolidation of the paper with others.
Scott Bartley, recently elected to the Santa Rosa City Council, was a guest speaker at the Oakmont Democratic Club on March 2. Bartley has served the Santa Rosa City Government since 1992; first, on the city's Design Review Board, and more recently on the Santa Rosa Planning Commission, where he was chairman for four years until his election to the City Council.
At the outset of his presentation, Bartley explained that because of his past role on the Planning Commission he is legally required to recuse himself from any discussion of the Elnoka Project.
Recently, Mayor Ernesto Olivares appointed Bartley to be in charge of the Pension Reform Task Force as well as the City's Budget Committee. Bartley said that the city cannot renege on old pension promises but must make changes in the future to avoid bankruptcy by the City. Educating the public about the pension system will be a necessary part of his job.
He noted that the voters of Santa Rosa last November approved a quarter cent sales tax hike for the next eight years, which is expected to generate $6 million per year and can be used for police, fire, parks, gang prevention programs, or other concerns.
Another consideration mentioned by Scott Bartley is the needed change in the city's actions about economic development. "The city has not been business friendly recently, and potential investors need to know what to expect in their interaction with the city government."
About Oakmont and bike regulations specifically, Bartley reported that there will not be painted bicycle lanes in the retirement village, but only signs indicating which streets are considered appropriate for bikers.
Meetings have been held on the following topics (chronologically listed with the most recent first): Problems facing city government; Relations with Latin America; What does it mean to be a Democrat" Santa Rosa City Council Candidates' Night; The California Democracy Act; The California Prison System; The Heritage of the Democratic Party; The Politics of Direct Democracy; The 2009 Presidential Transition; California Initiative Process; Post-election Analysis; Pre-Election Analysis; City Council Candidate Forum; Foreign Policy; Voting and Voting Machines in Sonoma County; Immigration; Post-Presidential Primary Discussion; 2008 Presidential Primary Candidates; Project Censored; Sonoma County Health Care; National and State Health Care; The Californa Legislature with Assemblywoman Noreen Evans; Affordable Housing in Sonoma County; Wal-Mart Business Model; Fair Trade versus Free Trade; Smart Growth; Campaign Finance Reform; Church/State Relations; Santa Rosa City Council Candidates' Night; Demographics and Future Politics in California; The Middle East with Chris O'Sullivan; Green Day; 6th District Congressional Candidates' Debate; Taking Back the Future Congressman with Mike Thompson; The California Public Utilities Commission with Loretta Lynch; 2006 State Ballot Measures; Project Censored; Economic Justice in Sonoma County; Universal Health Care with Assemblyman Joe Nation; State of the Schools with Sonoma County Schools Superintendent Carl Wong; California State Democratic Chair Art Torres.
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