Comments on: Sonoma rejects chain store ban

By: Jer

Jer — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:28:42 +0000

What was really voted on by the Sonoma City Council was wheither or not Sonoma City government would decide what businesses the residents could buy from. They voted to let each resident make their own purchasing decisions, or actually vote with their dollars. Chains or any other business that comes to Sonoma will still have to meet land-use, zoning and other regulations, those are unchanged. If eoungh people don’t go to the new businesses, they won’t succeed and will go away.
I, for one, am tired of other people deciding who I can’t and can buy from and often that also means how much I have to pay for something I want or need.
I want, and now Sonoma offers me some economic freedom. Thank you.

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By: Follower

Follower — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:28:58 +0000

@Ray
I have bad news for you… our county has been growing since the Russians came.
Sonoma County is an awesome place to live & the word is out. Believe me, I don’t like it any more than you but it’s just reality.

I still remember when you could drive from Windsor to Petaluma at the speed limit, 24/7!

It’s worth noting that Redevelopment money has done more to increase the population of Sonoma County than any “big business” so you should be quite happy to see that go.
“Build it and they will come” Or should I say… Construirlo y ellos vendrán.
..and BOY did they!

The Sonoma County that you & I loved is gone and it ain’t coming back weather you buy your eggs from the corner store or a Super Wal-Mart.

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By: Clay Mitchell

Clay Mitchell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:18:53 +0000

CJ-

You clearly have no idea what motivates citizen-based political movements like ours. It’s intellectually lazy to assume that somehow our effort to build some sort of accountability and to insist on effectiveness from the SMART organization is in any major way based on “expansion”- or what you really meant to say, which is growth.

Do you really believe that unfettered growth is the best policy for our communities? I’m far from anti-growth, but I don’t support throwing to doors wide open either.

Please- do your homework before proclaiming your faulty conclusions.

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By: Ray Paquette

Ray Paquette — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:39:03 +0000

Are people not looking down the road, or do they just not care about Sonoma County.
If we continue the population and building growth we have been doing over the last few decades, what will this county look like in another 50 years. I like the smaller towns in the county; that is what gives Sonoma County it’s charm. I like going to areas where they don’t have the chain stores. How many small towns have been destroyed by shopping malls.

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By: CJ Seamans

CJ Seamans — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:57:59 +0000

Good, now maybe if the other people (aka SMART Repeal group and anti-expansion of the airport group) would allow for expansion to happen, then the worry of property taxes and higher taxes will stop. We can’t grow economically if we continue to destroy the ability to grow.

Do people realize companies have been leaving the area? Good job Sonoma for making the right decision!

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By: Missy

Missy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:18:32 +0000

Good. Let’s bring back William-Sonoma, please.

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