NBBJ Insider

Fountaingrove clinic marks a community milestone

The North Bay passed a health care milestone last week.

It was the celebration of the final phase toward completion of a new, 42,500-square-foot medical facility for the former Southwest Community Health Center, now citywide as Santa Rosa Community Health Centers.

No. 1, bury the sprawl myth; then change the message

Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics Dean Bill Silver declared recently “The Time is Now” for a regional economic strategy.

Forthwith, taking cues from Dr. Silver and others, here are 10 steps toward reaching that goal.

Memo to D.C.: Main Street is fed up

A funny thing happened on the way to whatever this so-called economic recovery is: Confidence among the nation’s biggest companies has come back some while that of owners of small businesses – which represent the vast majority of employers – remains depressed.

Kudos to Petaluma; keep going

When compliments are due, they should be made. So congratulations to the Petaluma City Council and its suffering city employees for Monday night’s 5-2 vote to approve the economy-and-jobs-boosting Regency Centers project that will include the locally based Friedman’s Home Improvement store and a Target.

It only took six years.

Verizon issues downbeat note on jobs

Today’s news on jobs:

From the Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703906204575026803979106926.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews#printMode

Verizon Communications Inc. swung to a fourth-quarter loss as a result of heavy charges, and announced plans to cut 13,000 more jobs as executives cast a downbeat note on the economic recovery.

Petaluma’s obstructionism

What city today would turn away 721 new jobs, $1 million in annual tax revenue to stem ongoing municipal layoffs and the opportunity to support a locally-owned, community- minded retailer?

The answer should be none, but then, this is Petaluma.

Move advances to create split roll

The California Teachers Association may back an initiative that would create a split tax role in California, a move that would push up taxes on commercial property sharply.

Sonoma Mountain Village ‘Community Benefits Agreement’

The text of the Sonoma Mountain Village agreement with the Coalition for Accountable Development has been posted with the Commentary: Praise, questions for Sonoma Mountain Village agreement. See post under commentary section or see below.  Full text of Sonoma Mountain Village CBA

Health care forum and you

Ordinarily, this space would not be used to tell about an upcoming Business Journal event. But knowing what I know about the Nov. 11 health care conference, I would be remiss if I didn’t let people know about what they can hear by attending.

Business Journal Editorial: Continuing water suit serves no one

Last month’s surprise announcement by Sonoma County officials that they were abandoning years of planning to increase the supply of water taken from the Russian River would not get high marks for public relations, as city and agency officials as far south as Novato said they were taken unawares.

But now that the dust has settled, it’s time to take a step back.