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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Guest Editorials

Construction-permit amnesty a bad idea

One school of thought is it would be a boon to scofflaws. The other is it could generate one-time revenue for the cash-strapped city.

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Despite budget cutbacks, Novato schools still thriving and achieving

Each year as we struggle with state budget reductions, which become the focus of the media and difficult decision-making, I am always grateful that our staff continues to focus on our students and their academic, athletic, social emotional, and visual and performing arts accomplishments. This year is no exception.

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Four Dots: Marin news hot ’n’ heavy

BY NOW YOU’VE read all the accounts of the Bay Area Patriots’ Tea Party in Mill Valley last Sunday, which someone observed was the largest collection of conservatives in that city’s history. I stopped by out of journalistic curiosity (ahem!) and was genuinely surprised by the elevated level of excitement and passionate anger directed at Washington by no less than 33 Bay Area political groups. About 400 people of all colors and ethnicities, and hundreds more turned away because of fire regulations and lack of reservations. Even the “Democrats: Convert to Republican” table had a line in front of it. All in all, well-mannered, no name-calling, no demonstrations. There was an extremist “Impeach Obama” group outside waving placards and otherwise violating the ground rules, but the police were reminded of their First Amendment rights, too. Also, lots of Sonomans, since the 6th District extends up to south Santa Rosa. At the time of this writing, I haven’t read or seen the press reports, but I’ll report on their accuracy next column.…

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Previous Novato Advance Headlines

March 10th, 2010

Construction-permit amnesty a bad idea

One school of thought is it would be a boon to scofflaws. The other is it could generate one-time revenue for the cash-strapped city.

Despite budget cutbacks, Novato schools still thriving and achieving

Each year as we struggle with state budget reductions, which become the focus of the media and difficult decision-making, I am always grateful that our staff continues to focus on our students and their academic, athletic, social emotional, and visual and performing arts accomplishments. This year is no exception.
March 3rd, 2010

Sharing some fire services is sensible

To consolidate or not to consolidate, that was the question before the Novato Fire Protection District at the end of 2004. Facing a potential on-going structural budget shortfall, the city of San Rafael made an unsolicited overture to the NFPD to explore the benefits of a merger.

Cost of water to rise in Novato

North Marin Water District was formed by Novato voters in 1948 and Stafford Lake was constructed in 1952. Since that time, North Marin has strived to provide a reliable and good quality water supply at a reasonable cost.
February 24th, 2010

Judy Arnold will still have time to win over green groups

First, she turned her back on Marin’s powerful environmental community. Then, the police questioned her husband about a “dustup” at Novato’s “Paint the Town Red” event. That’s not exactly an ideal lead-up to a run for re-election.

Gov. Schwarzenegger’s schools’ budget unworthy of our state

With great sincerity and pride in his State of the State message on Jan. 6, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that “education will be protected” in the new budget. Two days later, when the budget was presented, the governor revealed that this “protection” consists of continuing manipulations of the system to avoid providing what the state constitution requires and what the governor promised to our children. Instead of placing faith in our people, believing that we can understand the economic crisis in our state and in our nation and communicating with us honestly, the governor prefers deception.

Online Poll

The cash-strapped city of Novato can add $15.5 million to its general fund by calling in money it loaned to the city's redevelopment agency. What should the $15.5 million be spent on?
New city offices, to save about $700,000 annually in rent.
Preventing all the layoffs and other cutbacks the city is considering.
Let redevelopment keep it, so it can be spent to attract new shopping centers.
I don't know.
View Results

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