Smith: Mayor Coursey expounds on New York Times housing comments

You may have seen that my friend Chris Coursey, the former PD columnist and current Santa Rosa mayor, was quoted in a New York Times story on California legislation that would limit the power of communities to block proposed housing projects.

Chris was presented in the NYT as opposing an increased state role in local residential development issues. He said in his one published statement:

“People here feel like this is a special place, like people in any town or city do. And they want decisions about the future of the community to be made by people in the community who they can actually talk to about this.”

For the record, Chris notes that his entire response to the Times was “much more detailed and nuanced” than the two sentences that appeared in the article. Three points, he says, were left out.

“I think people in Santa Rosa are aware of and sympathetic to the need for housing, and particularly affordable housing.

“It's not automatic knee-jerk opposition (to proposed residential developments) anymore. In my two-and-a-half years on the council, I don't think we've turned down a single housing project.

“We are actively pursuing development with our Housing Action Plan, with a goal of 5,000 new units by 2024, half of which will be below market.

“And finally, if new rules from Sacramento were focused on affordable housing, and came with some money to replace the millions that cities lost when Redevelopment (Agency) was taken away, I would be much more receptive to the legislation.”

And now you know, as radioman Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story.

Chris was presented in the NYT as opposing an increased state role in local residential development issues. He said in his one published statement:

“People here feel like this is a special place, like people in any town or city do. And they want decisions about the future of the community to be made by people in the community who they can actually talk to about this.”

For the record, Chris notes that his entire response to the Times was “much more detailed and nuanced” than the two sentences that appeared in the article. Three points, he says, were left out.

“I think people in Santa Rosa are aware of and sympathetic to the need for housing, and particularly affordable housing.

“It's not automatic knee-jerk opposition (to proposed residential developments) anymore. In my two-and-a-half years on the council, I don't think we've turned down a single housing project.

“We are actively pursuing development with our Housing Action Plan, with a goal of 5,000 new units by 2024, half of which will be below market.

“And finally, if new rules from Sacramento were focused on affordable housing, and came with some money to replace the millions that cities lost when Redevelopment (Agency) was taken away, I would be much more receptive to the legislation.”

And now you know, as radioman Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story.

WHO'LL BE MARRIED on a giant Ferris wheel next month at the Sonoma County Fair? Good heavens, it might be you.

Only weeks after Mayor Coursey married three couples before a huge crowd at a Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market, fairgrounds folks prepare for as many as 40 pairs to take their vows on Aug. 11 while seated in gondolas on a slowly turning, nearly 100-feet-tall wheel.

The local legislative live wire that is State Sen. Mike McGuire will officiate.

If you'd like to be truly, legally married at the fair, and you're quite close with somebody who shares that interest, you'll need to submit an application by Aug. 4.

Applications are available at the fair office or at sonomacountyfair.com/docs/Marriage%20Application%20Form.pdf.

That same August afternoon, 40 married couples will clamber aboard the Ferris wheel for a ceremony to renew their vows. You can apply to be one of them, too.

Why is this happening?

Because the theme of the 2017 fair, to open Aug. 3, is “Holidaze!” Many of the calendar's most special days will be celebrated, with Valentine's Day in Summer falling on Aug. 11.

Following the mass, vertical, rotating nuptials and recommitals will be a reception in the Blues & Brews Lounge with cake, a champagne toast and goodies.

The whole thing should make for quite the spectacle. As the betrothed take their first marital kiss aboard the moving Ferris wheel, those of us watching from below may dab our eyes and marvel at the towering reminder that marriage is a like a midway ride, one with ups and downs.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.