Editorial: 3 things to be hopeful for in 2022 in Sonoma Valley

We’ve all seen the memes: “When you realize 2022 sounds like 2020, too!” "What is 2021 is just the trailer for 2022?“ ”Remember, ‘Soylent Green’ was set in 2022.“

I think we can all agree we’re tiptoeing into this New Year, looking around cautiously, trying to get the lay of the land before making any big decisions. After the last two years, it feels like living in a constant state of “Who knows what’s going to happen next?”

It’s easy to slip into pessimism, especially after the chaos of the last two years. Buried deep between our seeds of doubt, however, are little blooms of optimism. Sprouted in 2021, here’s hoping these reasons to hope grow into big, beautiful blossoms in 2022.

Rain and wildlife

Let’s be very clear: it is very unlikely we escape drought conditions in 2022 — our increasingly dry state will take a while to recover, if recovery is possible. The state’s longest drought lasted 376 weeks, from Dec. 27, 2011 to March 5, 2019, proving we all must prepare for a reality where water is a rationed good.

But this year has been blessed with the pitter-patter of rain. Lots of it — atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones aplenty. And while not great news for our flood-prone friends in Schellville, it did wonders for our waterways, which quickly became a lush haven for local wildlife.

In October, the Sonoma Ecology Center announced the return of beavers in Sonoma Creek. These plucky creatures have been slowly making a come back, building dams that create pools of water other animals can enjoy.

“Any animal, insect or crustacean that requires water to live in our creek is something that benefits from the damming that the beavers do,” the ecology center wrote.

One month later, the center shared video of Chinook (king) salmon, which made their way up the creek from the ocean, seeking a spot to spawn. After years of declining numbers, these fish were a welcome sign of healing. But do take the center’s warning to heart: “If you choose to try to spot Chinook during their time here please take proper precautions to not disturb the fish in Sonoma Creek. These fish are on the lookout for predators and we can do our best to not frighten them while they are spawning.”

With the wet weather set to continue into next week, possibly, here’s hoping for enough precipitation in 2022 to keep our wildlife thriving.

Next steps on SDC

Admittedly, this is cautious optimism, because the likelihood discussions could become more contentious in 2022 are high. Still, Sonoma Developmental Center is a chance for us to address some of the major needs of Sonoma Valley, most specifically affordable housing, wildlife corridors and job generators.

On Jan. 25, the Board of Supervisors will consider the potential options, along with input from the many neighborhood groups. The county would do well to seek out more diverse voices before it makes a decision, as much of the conversation has been dominated by people of the same demographics (white, older and politically connected). Even though most discussions took place on Zoom, a Spanish-language workshop on SDC was held in person and attracted very few participants.

Here’s hoping that all voices are considered in this critical decision. Here’s hoping that the input of the Valley groups push the needle toward a better solution than the three options under consideration now. And here’s hoping that the needs of the many outweigh the desires of the few.

Election year

It feels like 2020’s races happened yesterday, maybe in part because we saw the unusual odd-numbered year City Council race. Not to mention the unexpected and prevalent churn on the dais, which gave us three new council members throughout 2021.

Sandra Lowe picked up Amy Harrington’s old seat, giving her a term through 2024, but the terms for Kelso Barnett (Rachel Hundley’s replacement) and Bob Felder (Logan Harvey’s replacement) end in 2022. When appointed, both said they don’t intend to seek another term, but with so much left to accomplish, we wouldn’t be surprised to see those names on the ballot.

Councilmember Madolyn Agrimonti’s seat will also be up for grabs — it is unclear if she plans to seek reelection. First elected in 2014, she is the most senior member of the council. With nomination papers due in August, it will be interesting to see who comes out of the woodwork to represent Sonoma.

Over at the Sonoma Valley Unified School District, trustees Cathy Coleman (Area 1) and board president Melanie Blake (Area 2) will all be up for re-election. While each has served the district with passion, it would be nice to see Latinx trustees join this critical oversight board, especially considering that nearly two-thirds of our district’s students are Latinx.

Election seasons are a time for fresh voices, fresh ideas and a renewed path forward. Here’s hoping for robust candidates, healthy discussions and equitable races.

We made it through 2021, now let’s make 2022 the best it can be. Happy New Year!

Correction: John Kelly’s term runs through 2024, having won his seat in 2020.