Santa Rosa residents stump for their causes before council

Hundreds of Santa Rosa residents turned out in force Tuesday to urge the City Council to support issues and projects important to them in the next budget, the strongest showing at such a meeting in years.

“This is a heartening turnout,” Mayor John Sawyer said.

More money for affordable housing was one of the most common demands of speakers, with dozens of Latino residents spurred by the NorthBay Organizing Project to show their support for the cause.

The idea of building a greenway along the state’s former Highway 12 right-of-way also had numerous green-shirt-wearing supporters.

Reunifying Old Courthouse Square also received a strong show of support from some downtown business owners, who argued that the current $17 million price tag is too high and a simpler project using parking district dollars would make more sense.

Fixing city roads, increasing homeless support services, hiring a communication director, preparing for the impending arrival of commuter rail service, protecting mobile home park residents and making Mendocino Avenue more pedestrian and bicycle friendly all received strong support from residents.

The council gave little feedback on the ideas but thanked community members for their ideas and input.

The council vowed to take it into consideration at its goal-setting session next Tuesday and Wednesday.

But one resident didn’t know how the council was going to prioritize it all.

“Good luck. I’m glad I’m not in your shoes,” Dee Dee Bridges said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.