EDITOR: An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.
Sound familiar?
Sonoma County? Santa Rosa? Roseland School District?
Take your pick. This is how government has operated in Roseland neighborhoods for more than a quarter of a century. All three of the government entities mentioned act this way toward Roseland citizens.
In 1984, the Roseland Redevelopment Project Area was started. Roseland citizens are still waiting for true public involvement in government processes to redevelop Roseland.
In 1996, the Roseland School District began to re-segregate the two elementary-school district. Now, it operates as a segregated school district catering to a minority of local residents.
In 2000, the Southwest Santa Rosa Redevelopment Project Area formed. It only allowed citizen participation for four years. Now as big projects are pushed forward, Santa Rosa ignores citizens virtually held hostage in a county island the city created with poor planning and bad decisions.
Perhaps the new progressive Santa Rosa City Council will help soon. Previous experience with pro-business Santa Rosa and Sonoma County politicians did not reflect well for future democracy in Roseland. Please don't return to pro-business only politics in Santa Rosa.
DUANE De WITT
Santa Rosa
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