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Roots.
That's us. We are the roots in these grassroots. And, as of last week, we
have some new leaves on the top.
We're
in transition. The degrees of difference among us are greater now; we come
from more other places; we have more different lifestyles; we no longer
know everyone; we may have a lot or a little income. But these differences
cannot surmount a shared daily life and the need to make sure each person
has a role in our future. If this is it for us -- right here, right now --
we want to know that we count because we live here.
Like
Peggy Lee's song, ÒIs that all there is?", a place can make you
wonder, is it enough? We're safe from physical aggression, but we also
need to feel safe from financial aggression. It is no less devastating.
When money becomes a weapon, condoned as a market, then like all
weapons, it should be put away when at home. Human values are in play
at home and St. Helena is home.
(Related: Anne Carr's Commentary in the
Register 12/12. She is a retired St. Helena teacher.)
It
is my hope for the New Year that we will work for a just livability,
knowing that we are guided by the reality that we 'roots' count because we
live here and in turn we'll be there when our City needs us
-- as we should be for the next item.
Planning
Commission, Tues. 12/16, 6PM, Vintage Hall -- a hearing on
changes to the housing zoning codes: The City is required to turn
into the State HCD (Housing & Community Development) the Housing
Element of the SH General Plan by May. These changes bring us within
the law and are part of the Calderon lawsuit settlement. See the short form of changes to our housing
codes. How You Can Live in the City of Your Dreams, click
the link and see what Napa and American Canyon are doing to bring more
people into the government process -- we should get onboard. With
understanding of process comes respect for process!
Sandy
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