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Petaluma Now!

@petaluma_now

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Petaluma residents for responsible development, fiscal sustainability and open government.

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Took us 40 years to get North McDowell Blvd. paved. In less than two years and millions of taxpayer dollars, they’re digging it up again.

#petaluma #urbanplanning by @petaluma_now

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4 months ago

VOTE NO 👎🏼 on Measure B
#sonomacounty #taxes #marincounty by @petaluma_now

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5 months ago

For those of us who live in Sonoma and Marin Counties, I urge you to Vote NO on SMART train tax Measure B.

After the original tax measure narrowly in 2008, the SMART was supposed to be completed by 2014. Yet, here we are 12 years later, the project still not finished and they are again as for more of our money.

This relatively small train system has projected costs that exceed $1.4 billion. Ridership numbers have never reached SMART’s projections and are actually declining.

Please read Michael Coffino’s book “The California SMART Taxpayer Rip-off” The title is to the point eh?

Vote Measure B 👎🏼👎🏼 by @petaluma_now

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6 months ago

New Public Safety Facility in Petaluma, never has a public works project been forced down the public’s throats more than this one. $95 million project for a little podunk town like Petaluma is just crazy!

City Staff and Council got their marching orders from the police/fire departments, with the public left out of the decision making process.

Worse group of City Council members ever! by @petaluma_now

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6 months ago

Is the City of Petaluma improperly paving our roads?

The City of Petaluma trying hard to convince people into thinking, putting a thin layer of sealer over crumbling streets and infrastructure, is actually fixing our roadways.

Throwing good money after bad, while not addressing the fundamental issues.

#roadway #streetrepair #petaluma @petalumadowntown taken in Petaluma by @petaluma_now

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10 months ago

City of Petaluma never ceases to amaze with their levels of incompetence.

Petaluma’s streets are in horrible condition, some say the worst streets of any city in California.

Our streets need major reconstruction yet, the City continues to waste tax funds striping and applying thin layers of slurry on top of crumbling infrastructure.

I urge residents to email the City Manager, Council members and Public Works Department to request they properly fix our streets and stop with trying to the multitudes of sins under patchwork and striping.

#petaluma #petalumacalifornia #califonia by @petaluma_now

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a year ago

The dashboard grade provides an indication that if the city adheres to its current decision-making approach, it will only be able to survive through serial tax increases, deferred maintenance, and deteriorating services. Such a result will be unfortunate for the residents and businesses of Petaluma.

#califonia #petaluma #petalumacalifornia by @petaluma_now

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a year ago

Petaluma’s recently approved Police-Fire station will cost an estimated $70 million to build. Leaving Petaluma taxpayers to pickup the tab for many decades to come.

The City staff was directed to seek a funding bond of $55 million with annual payments of approximately $3-$4 million per year to cover the principal, interest and insurance of the loan.

We urge you to write the City Manager and City Council to say this is unacceptable. With crumbling infrastructure and other operational funding needs, Petaluma cannot afford a new public works project of this scale.

The project is slated to be a 45,000 square feet facility taking up 3.5 acres of Fairgrounds property.

#thecityofpetaluma #petaluma #sonomacounty #petalumacalifornia taken in Petaluma, California by @petaluma_now

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a year ago

Public Notice: Petaluma City Council approved a $70 million public works project at the Fairgrounds site.

45,000 sq ft. Project on 3.5 acres that will house new Police Headquarters and Fire Station.

Funding will come all and in part from Tax Measures U and H requiring the City to bond for $60 million.

Takeaways from the meeting, the project will not include solar.

The project would require removal of traffic calming islands on E. Washington, Johnson and Kenilworth the community fought and paid for in 2010 when the shopping center was built.

The funding bond is estimated to cost the taxpayers $96 million at the end of its 20 year term.

#thecityofpetaluma #petalumacalifonia #petaluma by @petaluma_now

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a year ago

So proud of our locals who were out today on NO KINGS day!

#nokings #nokingsday👑🚫 #nokingsday #petaluma taken in Petaluma, California by @petaluma_now

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a year ago

Concerning Petaluma’s “fiscal health” this story is relevant.

During the completion of Petaluma’s Theater Square project 2007-08, developer Basin Street Properties along with John Barella of Northbay Construction embezzled $17.1 million from the City’s redevelopment district funds.

During court filings regarding one of John Barella’s other projects (the Roblar Road Qaurry) it was discovered that Barella was a major investor in Basin Street Properties and was in fact not working as an independent contractor on the Theatre Square project.

This conflict of interests led to the City’s obligations ballooning from $5.5 million to a whopping $17.1 million.

The private developers, Bill White, his son Matt White and John Barella walked away with an additional $11.6 million of taxpayers funds. Bill White promptly thereafter, retired to a villa in France, leaving his son Matt to carry on with business as usual.

The taxpayers in Petaluma, with the help of former City Manager Mike Bierman and former Public Works Director Vince Smith, got a good fleecing. It should be noted, Vince Smith went to work for Basin Street Properties.

For further reading, please look up Peter Byrne’s two part story about this incident, entitled “Basin Street Blues”

#petaluma #petalumacalifornia #citycorruption #california taken in Petaluma Theatre Square Plaza by @petaluma_now

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a year ago

Proposed Police/Fire stations at Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds location.

This proposed project would consist of a 45,000 square foot facility built on 3.5 acres of City owned land in the middle of Petaluma CA.

The estimated cost to the taxpayers is $80 million. About $20 million coming from Measures U and H and the remaining funding coming from a $60 million loan the City plans to take on.

This is blatant irresponsible spending by the City Council and Staff.

The interest obligations alone on a $60 million bond would be approximately $2.5 million per year.

Measure U tax funds were originally earmarked for retaining staff, balancing the budget and fixing our crumbling infrastructure. Not building projects!

Send the City Council and staff an email now and tell them you oppose this project.

#petaluma #petalumacalifornia #california #responsiblegovernment taken in Petaluma by @petaluma_now

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a year ago