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WINNER OF THE !"#$ PULITZER PRIZE

TUESDAY, JANUARY !", #$#$ • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM Living homeless exacts grim toll

JOE RODOTA TRAIL ! afraid of a bar fight, Faber said, with Somersall along INSIDE But Somersall had Somersall was one of three and “he was fun no matter what the Joe Rodota Trail be- County pulls started using drugs homeless people, all men, to Deaths of three men in the circumstances were.” hind the Dollar Tree on back on purchase while homeless, Faber die in 2019 along the Joe Rodota 2019 underscore hazards He also lived with HIV for Sebastopol Road after of potential said, and his living sit- Trail, where a large encamp- nearly three decades, and his losing their home in the shelter / A" uation and preexisting ment has become entrenched By WILL SCHMITT struggles with the disease inten- 2017 fires. When they fi- illness combined to take along county parkland in west THE PRESS DEMOCRAT sified when he became homeless nally found a new place a heavy toll. Santa Rosa. a few years ago after his mother to live in February, Somersall The fan of AC/DC and Tupac Their deaths are a reflection George Somersall was a mu- lost the home where they’d been — whose nickname was “Moo- who also listened to country and of the grim toll that years sic lover, a break dancer, a car- living, Faber said. sho,” given to him by his grand- techno music died on Sept. 25 without permanent shelter can ing uncle — and the type to win “He was very tough, but he mother, a Dry Creek Pomo at the age of 51. He was found exact on individuals, including $2 at a casino and carry on like a wasn’t made for that type of member — would sometimes in his tent along the Joe Rodota shortened lifespans that are lottery winner, said his brother, life,” Faber said of his older stay with them, eating more Trail. all too common across Sonoma Keith Faber. brother. than seemingly possible for his “He loved everybody on the He was a risk taker who wasn’t Faber and his children lived small frame, Faber said. trail,” Faber said. TURN TO DEATHS ! PAGE A!

IRAQ AIR BASE SANTA ROSA ! A pair of hotels proposed for Sonoma County’s booming air-transit hub would add to hospitality sector on rebound from 2017 fire Strikes seen as Airport lodging sought designed to kill US command said Iran missiles were meant to inflict many casualties

BY LOUISA LOVELUCK WASHINGTON POST

AIN AL-ASAD, Iraq — U.S. commanders at the Iraqi mil- itary base targeted by Iranian missiles said Monday they be- lieve the attack was intended to kill American personnel, an act that could have pushed the two powers closer to outright war. The missile barrage last week against the sprawling Ain al- Asad air base in western Iraq left deep craters and the crum- pled wreckage of living quar- ters and a helicopter launch site. At least two soldiers were thrown through the window of PERMIT SONOMA a tower, and several dozen U.S. An artist’s rendering shows the proposed 166-room Hyatt Place hotel to be built near Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa. troops were later treated for concussion as a result of the By KEVIN FIXLER The developments, which missile strikes, military o!cials THE PRESS DEMOCRAT would open next year, are on the base said. working their way through the “These were designed and or- evelopers are proposing county’s permit review process. ganized to inflict as many casu- to build a pair of large The first, a six-story, 166-room alties as possible,” said Lt. Col. Dhotels near Charles luxury Hyatt Place, would o"er Tim Garland, Commander of M. Schulz-Sonoma County conference rooms, a roof deck Task Force Jazeera and one of Airport, more than tripling the and restaurant about 300 yards the most senior o!cials on the number of hotel rooms to serve away from the airport. The base that day. travelers at the growing trans- second, a four-story, 101-room He said the strikes were es- portation hub. Tru by Hilton, would be located pecially perilous because they The two projects, each more near the Highway 101 o"ramp. had come in waves, with up than 100 rooms, could help the They would join the existing to 15 minutes between each. Santa Rosa airport draw more hotel near the airport, a 90- During those intervals, a rapid regional travelers who current- room Hilton Garden Inn next to response force was repeatedly ly head to Bay Area hubs in San the highway that also provides on the move to assess blast sites Francisco, Oakland, San Jose meeting spaces for guests. and find colleagues who were and even east to Sacramento to “Adding more beds in that feared hurt. catch their flights, according scenario is a good thing. It’s two JOHN BURGESS / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT The attack lasted more than to local airport and economic Developers hope to capitalize on the airport’s popularity by building an hour and a half, command- development o!cials. TURN TO HOTELS ! PAGE A! a hotel on this lot at Airport Boulevard and North Laughlin Road. ers said, with explosions il- luminating the landscape for miles. In interviews, more than a dozen troops described feeling the air turn warm as light filled the night sky and shock waves

Trump to divert !".#B more for wall TURN TO STRIKES ! PAGE A! President plans to again for border barrier construction INSIDE in 2019, but this year his admin- COLLEGE FOOTBALL: tap Pentagon funding istration is planning to take Burrow, LSU run wild for border construction significantly more - $3.5 billion. over Clemson 42-25 Trump administration o!cials to capture national By NICK MIROFF also are planning to take $3.7 championship / B$ WASHINGTON POST billion in military construction funding, slightly more than the SANTA ROSA WASHINGTON — President $3.6 billion diverted in 2019. High !", Low ## Donald Trump is preparing to The move would bring the divert an additional $7.2 billion total amount of federal funds THE WEATHER, B! in Pentagon funding for border allocated to border fencing to wall construction this year, five $18.4 billion under Trump, who Advice B! Legals B$ times what Congress authorized made the border barrier a pri- Business A" Lotto A% him to spend on the project in ority during his campaign for Comics B" Movies B# the 2020 budget, according to in- the presidency in 2016. He also Crossword B! NewsWatch A# ternal planning figures obtained ERIC GAY / ASSOCIATED PRESS pledged to make Mexico pay for Editorial A! Obituaries A# by the Washington Post. Panels of border wall are seen in November at a construction site along the barrier, delighting crowds at Horoscopes B# Scoreboard B# The Pentagon funds would be the U.S.-Mexico border in Donna, Texas. his rallies. extracted, for the second year in The Trump administration a row, from military construc- the government enough money ministration has slated for the has completed 101 miles of new tion projects and counternar- to complete about 885 miles of U.S. border with Mexico. barriers so far, according to the cotics funding. According to the new fencing by Spring 2022, far Trump took $2.5 billion from plans, the funding would give more than the 509 miles the ad- military counterdrug programs TURN TO WALL ! PAGE A! ©!"!" The Press Democrat A2 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

to luck. am Hussein, Garland said. troops stayed out all night, man- frames deeper into the ground, With tensions running high More than two hours passed, ning the perimeter and checking soldiers said. Prefabricated STRIKES early last week after the U.S. leaving military o!cials to won- for casualties as the attack con- buildings were twisted into un- CONTINUED FROM A! killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qa- der whether it had been a false tinued, o!cials said. recognizable carcasses of metal. ssem Soleimani in Baghdad, the alarm. From a watchtower, Cpl. Joel The all-clear was sounded ripped through the air. al-Asad base had already been The o!ce of Iraqi Prime Min- Valdivia, 30, said he could see the shortly before the sun rose, with Lt. Col. Staci Coleman, who on high alert, expecting more of ister Adel Abdul Mahdi later first four missiles coming. Min- troops emerging wary, relieved oversees airfield operations, de- the kind of rocket attacks that said it notified Iraq’s Joint Oper- utes after he sent warning to a and shot through with adrena- scribed the absence of serious have targeted U.S.-led coalition ations Command, which shares rapid response team, he said, the line. It was a clear morning with injuries as “miraculous.” and Iraqi forces across Iraq for an operations room with the air filled with light, and then the the sky burning orange, and the In the hours that followed the months. U.S.-led coalition, about 30 min- structure began to shake. sight, several servicemen said, attack, Iran called it “harsh re- The base hosts about 2,000 utes before the actual attack be- Down below, several dozen was “beautiful.” venge,” saying it had killed doz- troops, 1,500 of them from the gan. troops were in armored vehicles In an address to the nation ens. U.S.-led coalition. Then, minutes before 1:30 a.m. and on foot. later that day, President Trump Within a day, however, U.S. But at 11 p.m. Tuesday, anoth- Wednesday, a new warning came. Sta" Sgt. Armando Martinez, said that no American or Iraqi and Iraqi o!cials were reporting er call came in, military o!cials Radar indicated that a ballistic 35, whose job had been to assess personnel had been killed, and that nobody had died. recounted. They were told to ex- missile strike was imminent. any casualties, said he heard that Iran “appeared to be stand- Accounts from inside the pect an unprecedented attack on Loudspeakers blared warnings, Valdivia’s radio call and dived ing down” after firing 16 ballis- Trump administration have U.S. ground forces from neigh- and the base braced for impact. behind a wall for cover. tic missiles at bases hosting U.S. suggested that the absence of boring Iran involving ballistic “Right before the first wave be- Emerging when the first vol- forces, including 11 that landed fatalities was a crucial factor in missiles. gan, it was quiet, but then over ley appeared to be over, he was at al-Asad. the president’s decision not to Military o!cials on the base the radio we heard a crackle and caught on the open ground when On Monday, troops were still escalate further. “All is well!” he said they saw this as the worst- ‘incoming, incoming,’ ” said First his radio went out and a second wearing body armor while walk- posted in a tweet hours after the case scenario, sending the facil- Lt. Charles Duncan, 25, standing wave hit. ing through open spaces on the attack. ity into lockdown and forcing amid the charred and twisted He saw nowhere to run and base. But across Ain al-Asad, the a swiftly planned dispersal of remnants of another soldier’s so went down on one knee as a In open spaces like the can- testimony of witnesses and dam- troops among cramped shelters, living space. “In those seconds, young soldier helped him try to teen, wooden chairs were up- age in several areas seemed to watch towers and bunkers built we just waited.” restore the connection. turned on the tables, as person- indicate that the lack of serious deep underground by the army Amid concerns about a po- Inside some bunkers, the im- nel were required to grab their casualties was at least partly due of former Iraqi President Sadd- tential ground incursion, some pact of the missiles sent door food and then leave.

ner said, “and it’s always a shock.” HOTELS DEATHS The third man, Michael CONTINUED FROM A! CONTINUED FROM A! Spielberg, was found dead by a security guard in the blocks from the terminal,” County’s homeless early hours of March 31 said Jon Stout, Sonoma population of 3,000 people. along the trail behind the County airport manager. People without stable Dollar Tree on Sebastopol “That could be a bigger housing live about 25 years Road. Spielberg, 38, who draw in terms of driving less, on average, than those appeared to have hanged more passengers, and with homes, according to himself, was believed by more convenience for the a 2019 survey of Sonoma police to be homeless, al- businesses around the County’s homeless popula- though it was unclear if airport to meet coworkers tion, which cited a national he lived on the Joe Rodota or other vendors. It could study from 2008. Trail at the time. also mean getting more Two-thirds of local Catholic Charities of passengers coming from homeless people without Santa Rosa, a leading local Humboldt, Mendocino regular access to shelter homeless services provid- or Fort Bragg, who are reported at least one health er, had “really good rela- maybe going and staying condition, most commonly tionships” with Somersall in San Francisco.” drug or alcohol abuse, as and Jones, both of whom Airport travel rose to well as psychiatric prob- had been in and out of new highs in 2019 for the lems, post-traumatic stress shelters, said Jennielynn ninth consecutive year. JOHN BURGESS / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT disorder and physical dis- Holmes, the chief program Final passenger numbers Two developers hoping to take advantage of the popularity of Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma abilities. Like Somersall, o!cer for Catholic Char- for 2019 won’t be available County Airport have proposed building two large hotels on empty lots nearby. A budget- nearly 90% of survey re- ities. She said the agency until later this month, but focused, 101-room Tru by Hilton is planned for this site on Aviation Boulevard. spondents said they had did not have a record of will approach 490,000, or been living in the county working with Spielberg. about 10% more than in modular units. Rooms entryway to Sonoma if said Lauren Cartwright, before becoming homeless. “Some people, they’re 2018, according to air- would be shipped in fully you’re coming in from the spokeswoman for the “It’s di!cult to get heath ready the moment we talk port o!cials. And more built, with the exception air.” Sonoma County Economic care for conditions that to them to get into housing, passengers could prompt of windows, and stacked If approved, the two Development Board. have nothing to do with be- and sometimes it takes two, Schulz’s four commercial atop each other by a large hotels would join the “I think it does show ing homeless, and the stress three years before they’re air carriers to establish crane. The process costs recent boom in lodging strength of the industry in of homelessness causes at that point,” Holmes said. new or expanded routes to less money and is also construction. There are the region, and does show and exacerbates illnesses,” The county Board of Santa Rosa. much faster to build, Sek- 6,900 hotel rooms across the success of tourism de- Adrienne Lauby, an advo- Supervisors on Tuesday To meet the growing hon said. the county, according to spite all the challenges in cate with the Homeless Ac- is set to consider setting demand, the airport is in Optimal Hospitality has Sonoma County Tourism, recent years,” Cartwright tion group, said in an email. up a temporary shelter for the midst of a $3.9 million sat on the nearly 2-acre with about 1,500 more said, referencing repeat “A homeless person dies a 60 people at the Los Guili- upgrade that will move parcel on the south side rooms either pitched or fires and floods. little bit every day.” cos campus or the county the security checkpoint of Airport Boulevard at nearing completion — a “The diversity of di"er- The most recent record- government complex and into the tented area used Aviation Boulevard since 22% increase by 2022 if all ent events created in the ed death on the trail was buying a pair of homes, in for departure gates and buying it for approximate- 14 projects are built. region helps satisfy the on Nov. 18, when 68-year- Santa Rosa and Cotati, to replace its portable toilets ly $1.45 million in July Among them, the needs of the hotels being old James Jones was found house up to 20 others. with permanent bath- 2016, according to the expected completion later developed.” dead in his tent, apparent- Supervisor Lynda Hop- rooms. That project will Sonoma County Asses- this year of the 142-room Still, some residents ly from natural causes and kins said she didn’t want make way for a $25-plus sor’s O!ce. AC Hotel near Railroad have complained to Super- with no signs of foul play, the deaths to be seen in million expansion that The project received Square and a 100-room visor James Gore that the according to the Santa isolation, noting that peo- will relocate the bag- its use permit and now La Quinta by Wyndham, county is being overrun Rosa Police Department’s ple without shelter have gage claim area and add awaits its building permit, combined with another 39 by hotels, and they don’t preliminary investigation. died in the lower Russian 30,000 square feet to the with a target of summer rooms in the first phase want to see any more visi- Jones had known medi- River area in her district terminal, which is set for 2021 for completion if the of Hotel E in Old Court- tor-focused development. cal conditions and appeared and elsewhere around the completion in 2022. application process is house Square finished last However, Gore, whose to have been dead for more county. To her, such deaths The two hotel devel- finalized by this spring, year, will push Santa Rosa district includes the than a day before he was underscore the importance opers say they’re hoping Sekhon said. past the 2,000 rooms it airport, argues that discovered by a neighbor- of coupling housing and to take advantage of the Meanwhile, St. Hel- had before the Tubbs fire building in high-impact ing camper, police said. A health care. rising popularity of the ena-based Landmark hit in October 2017. The areas already zoned for coroner’s investigation into Given a chance to speak airport for both commer- Hotels, Inc. submitted wildfire destroyed a total such projects is the exact his death remains open, to the loved ones of those cial travelers and the its application in March of 412 rooms between the location to approve them, according to the Sonoma who died, “I would say private jet business into for the higher-end Hyatt Fountaingrove Inn, Hilton allowing economic diver- County Sheri"’s O!ce. what I’ve been saying to ev- Sonoma County. Place, with designs of Sonoma Wine Country sity and progress while Somersall was found eryone about the subject, “It really just comes delivering the hotel by and America’s Best Value helping preserve Sonoma Sept. 25 in his own tent by which is that we need to do down to supply and winter 2021. Inn and Suites. County’s agricultural a cousin, according to the better,” she said. demand, and there’s defi- The company paid $2.75 The slew of new hotels, heritage elsewhere. police department. A cor- “Human beings deserve nitely not much supply million in 2018 for the including the two pro- “That’s really the epito- oner’s investigation deter- better, and I don’t want to by the airport, and we’re 4-acre property on Air- posed near the airport, me of good land use, when mined he died of an acci- be part of a society where trying to capture a lot of port Boulevard, according show that developers it’s the highest and best dental overdose. we consistently allow that business, but the cor- to the Assessor’s O!ce, believe unmet demand use,” Gore said. “People Though Faber remem- people to fall through the porate (travel) business and has moved quickly to remains for guest rooms who build hotels are not bered his brother as musi- cracks.” generally as well,” said have its plans reviewed by in what will become a just building hotels to lose cal and energetic, Somer- Somersall was publicly, Preet Sekhon, director of county sta". more competitive market money as loss-leaders,” sall showed a di"erent side if briefly, memorialized operations for Optimal “Sonoma County and as additional projects Gore said. of his personality to Scott last year with a one-sen- Hospitality, Inc., which is the Wine Country still has are delivered across the “In this case, we need Wagner, a local homeless tence obituary published pursuing the more bud- so much potential,” said county. think forward, not only in activist associated with the via Daniels Chapel of the get-focused Tru hotel. “We Glynis Esmail, the hotel And with more and 10 years, but in five years, Homeless Action group. Roses. His memory lives love the location, with group’s vice president of more annual events un- so we have a great mix- He was a “really, really on in his brother’s home, the SMART train a block marketing and distribu- related to wine, including ture of high-level mixed sweet man,” Wagner said, where he was loved by down the street and the tion. Russian River Brewing’s use, industrial, commer- who was picked on because Faber’s children, where his airport exploding, so we “I think any hotel that’s release of Pliny the cial, some workforce he was gay. He was quiet, picture graces the middle think it’s a slam dunk.” near an airport benefits Younger in February, housing and some great easy going, and wise — a of the family dinner table, Similar to the AC Hotel from tra!c from that Levi’s GranFondo bicycle hotels.” friend whose death came and where he has made his by Marriott in the final airport, but that whole ride in October and Santa as a surprise, like so many presence felt, Faber said. stages of construction airport area has a lot of Rosa’s two Ironman races, You can reach Sta! Writer others, in the homeless “He’s actually walked near Santa Rosa’s Rail- growth opportunity for there’s greater opportu- Kevin Fixler at 707-521- community. right through me,” Faber road Square, the Tru hotel corporate business as nity to draw hotel visitors 5336 or kevin.fixler@ “Every once in a while, said. “I could feel the cold would be built o"-site in well as leisure. 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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020 A3 The North Coast County drops housing hot potato Supervisors abandon effort The setback comes as the county Shirlee Zane said in a Sunday evening has posted official ‘relocation’ notices phone interview. to buy house in Santa Rosa’s along the trail, giving its 220 residents County officials said public -pres West End to shelter homeless until Jan. 31 to move out. sure played no role in their decision The Board of Supervisors on Tues- to scrap the West End purchase. But By TYLER SILVY day is set to consider outdoor shelter among three homes the county said THE PRESS DEMOCRAT and housing options that could offer last week that it wanted to buy to tem- alternative living space for 80 to 140 porarily house Joe Rodota Trail resi- Sonoma County officials won’t buy people. But the $999,000 home on Da- dents — at a total cost of $3.14 million a Santa Rosa home that had been tar- vis Street, alongside Highway 101 be- — the Davis Street house faced the geted to house up to 10 people living at tween 10th and 9th streets, won’t be loudest opposition. the sprawling Joe Rodota Trail home- part of that package, a decision made “These types of ignorant actions less camp, a proposal that had riled behind closed doors by the Board of will make finding lasting change im- West End neighbors and led their Supervisors on Monday. possible. Please let me know if this county supervisor — Shirlee Zane — “The West End, again, they have is how you want to be remembered?” GOOGLE STREET VIEW to say she wouldn’t support the pur- been bombarded with homeless is- This seven-bedroom, three-bathroom home at 811 chase. sues,” Sonoma County Supervisor TURN TO HOUSING » PAGE A4 Davis St. in Santa Rosa, is listed on Zillow at $999,000.

SANTA ROSA » HOWARTH PARK RP voting Upgrading in progress maps aid those who hold seats City Council’s shifting plan for district elections cloaked in mystery of closed-door session By KEVIN FIXLER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Rohnert Park City Council on Tuesday is set to consider a revised plan for the city’s new system of dis- trict-based elections that would protect the three incumbents up for re-election this year from having to run against a fellow council member, and would do the same for at least one other council member whose term is up in 2022. It is the latest, mysterious turn in Rohnert Park’s now three-month-long transition away from its current at- large voting system for City Council. The shift was spurred by a Southern California attorney who threatened to sue, claiming the at-large system dis- enfranchises the city’s growing Latino population. The new maps represent a departure from a preferred map endorsed by four PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT of the five council members at the Dec. Abel Ayala works on a new platform for the carousel at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa on Monday. The carousel is currently being refurbished 10 meeting. That map would have pitted in Southern California. Below, a handicapped-accessible picnic area under construction features decorative leaf designs in the cement. Mayor Joe Callinan against Council- woman Gina Belforte in an election this year. Changes to improve disabled access at carousel, pathway, picnic tables But that scenario is out in the latest maps, which leave Callinan and Bel- By CHANTELLE LEE began in November but rain forte clear of each other for re-election. THE PRESS DEMOCRAT might delay its completion The new maps also safeguard longtime until March, said Jeff Tibbetts, Councilman Jake Mackenzie, the vice A section of Howarth Park a supervisor for the city’s mayor, whose term is up this year, and will be closed until February Recreation & Parks department maintain a new district that favors while it undergoes construc- who oversees Howarth Park’s Councilwoman Pam Stafford. She lives tion, part of the city’s effort to operations. on same street as Callinan but would make the area more accessible. Workers are creating a ce- not have to run against him — a race The upper portion of the ment pathway that will connect that would have happened this year, be- park, which includes the small the upper portion of the park fore the end of her term in 2022. train station and well-known to the lower portion, where the So, after three public meetings last carousel, has been taped off to gazebo and playground are, year, plus a closed-door session last the public during construction. Tibbetts said. The pathway will week, Rohnert Park is poised to advance The carousel has also been have handrails, and its slope a set of new districts that maintain the removed from the park because will be within the requirements status quo to benefit incumbents — a of the project. path that both Callinan and Mackenzie Construction in the park TURN TO HOWARTH » PAGE A4 TURN TO MAPS » PAGE A4 New nonprofit to empower women, help children Healdsburg activist to partner Jennifer Sieb- to advance opportunities Siebel Newsom told Politico children, it’s something I’m pet- el Newsom to improve for women and people she intended to engage “the best rified about and think it’s - crit lead board formed by access to the levers of of color in business, and brightest in California to ex- ical that we get in front of it,” documentary producer power by women and especially through pand our work uplifting women said Gore, whose children are 5 to address issues that access to capital. and children, and sustain our and 8. By MARY CALLAHAN affect the well-being of She said she’s eager state as a leader in equity, inno- The wife of Sonoma County THE PRESS DEMOCRAT children. to begin working with vation, and opportunity.” Supervisor James Gore, first Gore, president the group her friend has First up? Working to bring elected in 2014, Elizabeth Gore Healdsburg entrepreneur and and board chair for assembled to tackle im- gender equity to corporate has a national media profile and Elizabeth humanitarian activist Elizabeth HelloAlice.com, the portant issues. boards in California and, sec- service that includes leadership Gore Gore will chair the board of di- first-ever artificial- “We’re in Day One ond, understanding the implica- on the United Nations Foun- rectors for the California Part- intelligence-based digital right now in building this out, tions of media and social media dation’s Global Entrepreneurs ners Project, a new nonprofit adviser for business owners, but we’re excited about it,” Gore on young people, Gore said. launched by California first has spent recent years working said Monday. “As the mother of two young TURN TO NONPROFIT » PAGE A5

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T Community Partner E Y C

P A R I P TN E R S H A4 NORTH COAST / STATE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

that Mackenzie said will be about district-based MAPS elections. Jenkins, again, Three people, dog escape SR house fire CONTINUED FROM A3 would not explain what prompted the meeting By TYLER SILVY gen recounted his efforts to previously said they did other than to say it dealt THE PRESS DEMOCRAT save one of the residents. not want the city to tread. with potential litigation. He said he kicked in the “That wasn’t my goal, The city on its agenda Three people were taken glass storm door at the to make sure I get elect- has now used the same to the hospital after neigh- front of the house, but the ed and somebody else,” generic rationale — “Con- bors helped rescue them flames were too high in the Callinan said, referring to ference with legal coun- from a house that caught living room to go in that the new maps that allow sel: Significant exposure fire Sunday night in - cen way. Instead, he broke the him to sidestep Belforte. to litigation” — with no tral Santa Rosa. window of a front bedroom “We’re doing the best we other identifying details A dog, Millie, was also and was able to pull a man can and are only human. on two occasions to dis- saved from the fast-mov- out, Heggen said. We want what’s fair for cuss, at least in part, the ing blaze that started about The three residents liv- everybody, and fair for district maps, according 9:45 p.m. and destroyed a ing at the house were tak- our constituents. It’s not to Mackenzie. home in the 600 block of en to Santa Rosa Memorial that easy.” The Brown Act, the Oak Street off Santa Rosa TYLER SILVY / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Hospital with moderate The City Council’s first state law that requires lo- Avenue north of Highway Santa Rosa Fire Department crews work to put out a house injuries stemming from vote is set for Tuesday, cal government to conduct 12. fire in central Santa Rosa about 10 p.m. Sunday. burns and smoke inhala- with its second formal its business openly and in The bichon frise, nor- tion, Jenkins said. vote scheduled for Jan. 28. public, limits the scope of mally bright white, sport- “We heard a loud noise terior, Santa Rosa Fire De- Initial efforts to fight State law requires that any closed-door sessions, ed a charcoal coloring as and it was (a homeowner) partment Battalion Chief the fire were slowed when each district must be undi- including those based on neighbor Jessica Sandoval screaming and banging,” Jason Jenkins said. By that a live power line snapped, vided and include roughly potential litigation, ac- held the dog in her arms. she said. “I woke my boy- time, though, all residents dangling in front of the an equal population. But cording to David Snyder, Sandoval and boyfriend friend up, and said, ‘Some- had escaped. house, Jenkins said. Al- a provision does allow for a lawyer who heads the Loren Heggen, who rent- thing’s not right, there’s a Santa Rosa firefighters though the blaze was un- weighing “continuity of First Amendment Coali- ed a granny unit from the fire!’” rescued Millie, who was der control by 10:20 p.m., office” — forming districts tion, a San Rafael-based people injured in the blaze, Responding to reports of cowering in a front room firefighters were forced to that do not immediately nonprofit that focuses on were the first to help - res victims in need of rescue, as the flames tore through tear down large chunks upend city leadership and open government. cue their landlords, pulling fire crews pushed hard to the home. of wall and ceiling during maintain voters’ choices “It requires that items one through a front room reach the blaze and ag- As firefighters finished mop-up duty to quash the for council members. be narrowly discussed,” window. gressively searched the in- putting out the blaze, Heg- remaining flames. It’s unclear exactly how Snyder said. “Voting dis- the new maps came to be. tricts are exactly the kind They were posted to the of matter the Brown Act city’s website on Jan. 7, says deserves public dis- park. Tibbetts said the currently undergoing any the park a couple times a nearly a month after the cussion. This stuff really initiative is part of the repairs to make it ADA month. On Monday after- council’s last public meet- matters, so it should be HOWARTH city’s goal to become ADA compliant, and will not be noon, she and her daugh- ing on the subject, but done in the open.” CONTINUED FROM A3 compliant. remodeled for wheelchair ter explored the play- only a day after a closed- Mackenzie, who has not The city sent the use. While the pathway ground while construction door session in which dis- said whether he will seek of the Americans with carousel, which is nearly project is part of the city’s workers continued their trict maps were discussed, a seventh term, defend- Disabilities Act, or ADA. 30 years old, to a ware- approved ADA funding, it progress on the pathways according to Callinan. In ed the use of closed-ses- Workers will also create house in Los Angeles to doesn’t cover modifying project. the 36-minute session at sion meetings to man- a cement path that will get refurbished, Tibbetts the ride itself, Tibbetts Melgoza applauded the City Hall, the city con- age the transition to lead to a picnic table in the said. When the carousel said. city on scheduling con- sultant presented district district-based elections. park, making it the second is placed back in the park, “I would love to see that struction to take place maps to council members, Each session relies on the of the four tables in the the platform will be made happen,” Tibbetts said. “I during the winter, when Callinan said. City Man- guidance of Jenkins and park compliant with the level with the new ce- hope that’s something that the park isn’t as busy ager Darrin Jenkins and Marchetta Kenyon, the ADA. ment ground so it will be we can accomplish in the compared to the summer City Attorney Michelle city attorney, he said. “It’s referred to as the more accessible to those future here as we contin- months. Marchetta Kenyon both “I’m very comfortable jewel of Santa Rosa,” who may have difficulty ue.” While the upper portion were in the room. with this process that was Tibbetts said of Howarth walking. Casey Singer of Santa of the park is closed off to The city made no public forced upon us,” Macken- Park. “It’s a place that is so “Somebody who maybe Rosa loves Howarth Park. the public, the carousel report out of the meeting zie said, referring to the beloved by our community has limited walking ability Singer, 37, came to the and train only operate saying what, if anything, legal threat posed in Oc- and so used by our com- or uses a cane or that type park when she was a kid, March through October, had been addressed or de- tober by Malibu attorney munity that it’s certainly of thing — instead of them and now she brings her so the city planned work to cided. Kevin Shenkman. “Then one of those areas that we taking a step up to the two young sons to the start during the off season, Callinan, who called the we come out and have want to make as accessible carousel, they’ll be able park to play. They ride the Tibbetts said. meeting, declined to say open discussion after to as many people as we to walk onto the carousel carousel, train and ponies The Recreation & Parks if any direction had been closed session and we will can.” without having to take a together when they can, department will plan a given about the maps, cit- continue to do that (Tues- The project is one of sev- step up,” Tibbetts said. and Singer thought efforts grand opening event for ing provisions for closed- day) night.” eral the city has worked on “There still may be a lot to make these attractions the spring, once construc- door meetings that he said Belforte and Stafford in Howarth Park, includ- of people that will gain ac- accessible to everyone was tion is finished. allowed him to withhold did not return calls for ing new walkways on the cess to the carousel ... that important. “I think it’s great,” Mel- such information. comment Monday. playground and redoing may not have had access Santa Rosa resident goza said of the project. Mackenzie acknowl- First-term Council- the sidewalk on Summer- before.” Jessica Melgoza, 26, brings “All kids should be able to edged that council mem- woman Susan Holling- field Road just outside the But the carousel is not her 2-year-old daughter to have fun.” bers met to discuss sworth Adams offered district elections, but de- no comment about the clined to elaborate on the closed-door sessions, but closed session. reiterated her desire to counties to provide enough But the county said the house and found challeng- Jenkins, the city man- see the council eventual- housing or shelter to ac- decision to pull back from es with construction and ager, refused to acknowl- ly land on a map that re- HOUSING commodate every home- the Davis Street property tenant improvements ... it edge the purpose of the spects the wishes of vot- CONTINUED FROM A3 less person. came “as a result of our would cost too much mon- meeting. Any report that ers who put the current Such an amendment is due diligence, which in- ey to correct.” tied the council members council members in office. West End resident Allen a long shot to reach the cludes concerns with an Schween said he has fol- discussion to the new “We ought to have dis- Thomas wrote to Zane and ballot, requiring nearly appraisal,” according to a lowed the developments maps put forward the next tricts that reflect the cur- the Santa Rosa City Coun- 1 million signatures or a post on the county’s Face- closely and was not sur- day by the city, he said, rent will of the voters, cil on Friday. two-thirds vote of the leg- book page. prised an inspection may was “conjecture.” meaning we have exist- The county is proceed- islature. Details weren’t immedi- have turned up problems, “The whole reason for ing members in districts ing with its purchase of Last month, Sonoma ately available on problems given the age of the homes. closed session is that it’s where they have an op- the other two homes, on County supervisors ap- with the appraisal, but Jeff The Davis Street house was not made public,” Jen- portunity to defend their Sonoma Avenue in Santa proved nearly $12 million Schween, a real estate built in 1900. kins said Monday. “My seats,” she said. “I’d like Rosa and Arthur Street in to support a number of agent with Compass Real The Sonoma Avenue and job is to not tell you what to hear what the consul- Cotati. short- and longer-term Estate, said it’s more likely the house in Cotati, both they’re about, because it’s tant has to say during our A final vote will occur housing options for trail than not that the two sides built in the early 1900s, a closed session.” public meeting and I think Tuesday, when the Board camp residents, including couldn’t agree on a price, didn’t raise similar red The City Council is set citizens can look forward of Supervisors also is set $5.5 million to buy six large as the only other source of flags. to gather again behind to thorough discussion to decide on potential sanc- houses that would serve up conflict with an appraisal To use the homes as the closed doors Tuesday about the benefits of each tioned homeless camps on to 60 trail residents. comes from a bank lending county envisions, coun- at the start of its regu- map. We’ll make our deci- the county government The Davis Street money to a potential buyer ty staff will spend up to lar meeting — a session sion from there.” complex in Santa Rosa house, a seven-bedroom, — something that wouldn’t $50,000 on furniture and and on the Los Guilicos three-bathroom home, be an issue with the county have banked another campus in Sonoma Valley drew ire from some West poised to pay cash. $500,000 to relocate current across from Oakmont. End neighbors neighbor- Board of Supervisors tenants — another con- UMBRELLAS! The county stepback hood concerned the area Chairwoman Susan Gorin sequence of the purchase comes amid mounting was overrun with existing offered another reason in a that has elicited public Short, long, extra big, automatic, wind-resistant state pressure for cities services for the homeless Monday interview, saying criticism. and counties to address the population and others in the concerns centered on Officials said they were We have what you need to carry. statewide crisis. need. the inspection. aware of the apparent A homeless task force Those hubs include Red- “We determined it’s not conflict — displacing one appointed by Gov. Gavin wood Gospel Mission on in our financial interest to group of people to house Newsom on Monday re- 6th Street; Catholic Char- move forward,” Gorin said, another. leased recommendations ities’ Homeless Services adding that the decision “Should the county elect that the state pursue a Center, on Morgan Street; wasn’t related to neighbor to exercise its right as the constitutional amendment and St. Vincent de Paul So- feedback. property owner to relocate requiring all cities and ciety on Wilson Street. “They went through the any occupants, the county 609 4th Street Downtown Santa Rosa | (707) 528-8600 • www.califluggage.com will abide by all applicable laws and requirements, including any applica- ble landlord-tenant and/ or relocation assistance obligations,” the County Counsel’s Office said in a statement. Depending on various factors, the county would have to provide anywhere from three days to 60 days notice before evicting cur- rent tenants. The county was already under contract to buy the Davis Street home. It was not immediately clear how much money, if any, the county would for- feit from dropping its pur- chase bid. Not all neighbors were against the purchase. Sandee Huskey, 68, has lived near the Davis Street property for 30 years. She said she’s aware of some CHAPEL OF THE ROSES of her neighbors’ feelings and fears, but she said the homeless crisis on the trail Funeral Home & Crematory has gone on too long. Funeral Home & Crematory “These people need a Family Owned and Operated | Full Cremation Services – On Site Crematory place to go,” she said Fri- We honor all religious & cultural customs day. “And if that’s going to help, I’m OK with it.” 1225 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa | 707-525-3730 FD# 209/CR #92 Staff Writer Chantelle Lee www.danielschapeloftheroses.com contributed to this report.