Town Hall Coalition- Home page

Welcome

"I firmly believe, from what I have seen, that this is the chosen spot of all this earth as far as Nature is concerned."

-- Luther Burbank (From a letter sent home to Massachusetts, soon after arriving in Sonoma County 1875)

Sonoma County is blessed with some of the most spectacular natural environments in the world.

Unfortunately, the current Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved land-use regulations that allow the conversion of our precious watersheds and forests to industrial vineyards, wine factories, "agricultural support services", housing, and other developments. We have some dangerous gaps in laws protecting public health and safety, water quality and quantity, the environment, and the quality of life of rural residents. We desperately need a new Board of Supervisors but until things change, Town Hall Coalition will work together with a network of concerned citizens to protect the common good.

Town Hall Coalition is a grassroots social movement of citizens from all walks of life who have come together to advocate for the protection of public health and safety, the environment, and the common good. Your support of Town Hall Coalition enables us to identify key issues, organize grassroots citizens' groups, educate the public through town hall forums, and take action to advocate for responsible land use policies. Town Hall Coalition provides information to the public about their rights regarding water, soil erosion, pesticide drift, habitat degradation, grading, forest conversions to vineyards, industrial vineyard and wine factory development, subdivisions, logging, and more.

In 2008 the Redwood Empire Environmental Center moves to the first floor office in the Methodist church. This is an upgrade to our core function with more room to work in, hold meetings and expand the program.

In 2005, Town Hall Coalition joined with Community Clean Water Institute and other environmental groups to form the Redwood Empire Environmental Center in Sebastopol. Located across from Coffee Catz we have a resource library, water testing laboratory, and dedicated staff members who assist people to: gather information concerning local, state, and federal government regulations; form grassroots neighborhood activist groups; advocate for responsible land use; and learn how to become a participant in the decision-making process.

Members of the Town Hall Coalition believe that strong democracy is dependent upon an informed public that actively participates in the decision-making process.

Our programs include:

Bodega Rock Quarry: Dutra Group plans to destroy coastal agricultural land with a massive strip mine at the Calvi Ranch between Bodega and Bodega Bay. Cheney Gulch and Salmon Creek, steelhead-bearing streams feeding coastal wetlands, is at risk. The gravel mine could potentially be 8 times the size of the existing Hwy 1 mine and operation could last 30+ years. The mounitain-top removal will be visable from Bay Hill Rd. and Bodega Bay, and will threaten the health and safety of residents and tourists. To learn more, contact Town Hall Coalition or visit Friends of Bodega Bay Watershed at www.savebayhill.org.

Land Use, Development, and the General Plan Update-Wine Factory Invasion and Land Use- Wine factories and agricultural support services such as bottling plants, dance halls, shopping complexes, and wine bars in rural neighborhoods threaten water, public health, and safety of the residents in these neighborhoods. Wine factories belong in areas that are zoned for industry with infrastructure such as sewer, water, and roads. As Sonoma County updates its General Plan, there is an opportunity to protect our rural neighborhoods from wine factory invasions. For more information about planning, zoning, and wine factory or development in your neighborhood, contact Town Hall Coalition.

Community Outreach and Education-Town Hall Coalition organizes local, county, and regional Town Hall Forums, guest speakers, and movies on a wide range of issues including sustainable agriculture, pesticide reduction, creation of parks and wildlife habitat protection, watershed and water quality and quantity protection, erosion control, forest protection, global warming, election protection, and how to participate in the decision-making process. These forums are run by local community members and non-governmental groups.

Community Organizing-Save Our Sonoma County (SOS)-Town Hall Coalition has been organizing grassroots neighborhood groups throughout the county for over eight years. Since our formation, the goal has been to form a network of neighborhood groups who work together for responsible land use. Town Hall Coalition is proud to have been part of the formation and launch of Save Our Sonoma County (SOS). SOS is a countywide network organized to give voice to citizens and community groups concerned with land-use policies and development projects in the agricultural and forest lands in Sonoma County.

Participatory Democracy Campaign-Town Hall Coalition encourages you to get involved in the political process. Register people to vote. Monitor elections. Conduct exit polls in key races. Poll watch and get out the vote. Work for candidates who share your values or run for public office yourself. Join the Sonoma County Election Defense Committee. Be a part of participatory democracy.

Forest and Wildlands Protection-Town Hall Coalition advocates for permanent conservation and protection of critical wildlife habitat, fish spawning streams, native forests, oak woodlands and other native wild ecosystem in parks and "forever wild" conservation easements. Town Hall Coalition supports Forest Unlimited. Forest Unlimited monitors logging plans, addresses illegal logging, lobbies to change logging rules, and provides technical support to neighborhood groups facing logging in their neighborhoods. Call Forest Unlimited if a logging plan or illegal logging is occurring in your neighborhood. Phone: 707-632-6070

Water and Watershed Protection-Community Clean Water Institute- Town Hall Coalition founded and works closely with Community Clean Water Institute (CCWI). CCWI has developed a water quality testing program, a team of volunteer water quality monitors, and a laboratory to test ground, surface, and drinking water sources for a variety of pollutants. CCWI makes all of the findings available to the public. Please contact CCWI to find out more about becoming a volunteer monitor or information about water quality near you. Phone: 707-824-4370, Email: info@ccwi.org, Web: www.ccwi.org.