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WINNER OF THE 2018 PULITZER PRIZE

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM

Mase lets science guide her

Unpopular decisions in make it. I do think about that a lot.”
Mase, Sonoma County’s health offi-
low in Sonoma County, compared to
its Bay Area neighbors. At the same
virus fight weigh heavily cer, is empathetic, regardless of how time, her tough decisions cast tens of
on county’s health officer some critics describe her. But she is
also a highly regarded epidemiolo-
thousands out of work.
The whirlwind of uncertainty did
By AUSTIN MURPHY gist, a “disease detective,” as county take a definitive turn the last cou-
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Supervisor James Gore called her, ple of weeks when Mase allowed big
devoted to “following the science.” waves of business sectors to reopen,
Driving to and from her Santa The science has led Mase to including hair salons, restaurants
Rosa office, Dr. Sundari Mase sees some difficult, unpopular places. for indoor dining, and the county’s
shuttered storefronts and struggling As the county’s field general in crown jewel wine industry can serve
businesses and worries about them. its fight against the pathogen that visitors tastings of favorite vintages
“I wonder how that restaurant is has killed four area residents and without a required side of food. And
doing, how that hair salon is doing,” nearly 120,000 people nationwide, churches welcomed people back
said Mase, who happens to be the per- the 53-year-old has issued a series inside for religious services for up to
son responsible for closing those busi- of sweeping orders that have flat- 100.
nesses in the first place three months tened the coronavirus curve here — CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ago. “I wonder if they’re going to COVID-19 infections and deaths are TURN TO MASE » PAGE A2 Sonoma County Public Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase.

SONOMA COUNTY » Young activists, community leaders vow to continue SONOMA COUNTY
pressing not only for police reform, but for an end to racial injustice
‘Still
Seeking big changes in the
second
inning’
Residents urged to guard
against virus’s spread
as more sectors reopen
By MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

With bars, gyms, resorts and

movie theaters among the many
new economic sectors about to
reopen for the first time since
March, it would be easy to feel
like the coronavirus is behind
us — as if Sonoma County is on
the verge of moving beyond the
nightmare that is the pandemic
of 2020.
By week’s end, little will be
left that’s not back on — mas-
sage parlors, nail salons, kids’
athletic games, vacation rentals
and nightclubs among them.
But public officials say any
success in moving forward is
contingent upon holding down
continued transmission of a
still novel virus
that has killed
nearly 115,000
Americans,
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
almost 5,000
Santa Rosa City Schools Board trustee Ed Sheffield believes it is important to teach children about racism when they are young. in California,
including four
By JULIE JOHNSON locally.
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT People may

S
be going out James
anta Rosa City Schools trustee Ed again, conduct- Gore
Sheffield brought his 6- and 8-year-old ing business
sons downtown on a Sunday morning and having a good time. But
after a nighttime protest against police their ability to continue doing
brutality to help clean up graffiti and dam- so depends on persistent, wide-
age done the night before. spread compliance with mea-
A biracial man raised by his African sures known to help curb the
American father and virus’s spread, officials said.
white mother, Sheffield INSIDE “There’s a turning point right
didn’t bring his children to Rohnert Park now,” Supervisor James Gore
Fourth Street the next day protest draws said recently. “It’s the reality
to talk about vandalism, hundreds that we’re still in the second in-
although he does not con- demanding ning.”
done it. He wanted to show change / A3 “We’re moving from flatten-
them an expression of rage ing the curve to living with
he and other people of color in America felt COVID, and living with COVID
at being treated unfairly, being judged for is what people need to start to
the color of your skin, the language on your prepare for,” he said.
tongue, the texture of your hair. He wanted That need to prepare was
to show them what it means to be part of a highlighted Saturday night
community and to help clean it up.
“With everything that’s going on right TURN TO VIRUS » PAGE A10
now, you get flooded with these memo- KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ries,” Sheffield said. “You’re angry and Lupe Lopez speaks in front of an art installation at a protest on Thursday in Healdsburg. Lopez,
22, believes students should learn about the injustices that are part of our shared history and INSIDE
TURN TO CHANGES » PAGE A12 also celebrate the multicultural contributions that make the country what it is today. MOVING IN: Influx of tech
workers expected in county
as working from home
becomes permanent option

Protests reach deep into rural California

for some businesses. / E1

SANTA ROSA
High 83, Low 55

ANGELS CAMP » Demonstrators activists were being bused in from the Bay tests in Angels Camp are very rare on any THE WEATHER, C4
Area and that organizers were being paid issue” — set a curfew and declared a local
receive threats, curfew set, but $25 an hour. There were comments from emergency for the town of about 4,000 res-
Advice C3 NationWorld B1
Business E1 Nevius C1
racial justice events peaceful people claiming they had “enough bullets”
to take protesters down. There were menac-
idents and a seven-member police depart-
ment. Classified E4 Obituaries B4
By BRITTNY MEJIA ing phone calls, including one from a man Since the death of George Floyd, a black Community B8 Smith A3
AND HAILEY BRANSON-POTTS in nearby Mokelumne Hill who threatened man who died last month after a white Min- Crossword C3 Sonoma Life D1
LOS ANGELES TIMES to “burn down Angels Camp.” neapolis police officer knelt on his neck Forum B9 Towns T1
“At the end of it, he said, ‘I’m warning for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the protests
When two teenagers from the tiny, major- you, there will be hell to pay,’” said Riley that have filled streets in major cities have
ity-white Gold Rush town of Angels Camp Lowell, 18, one of the organizers, who is spread to conservative, mostly white small
posted a Facebook flyer for a racial justice white. towns and suburbs.
protest, the threats came immediately. Alarmed by the threats, city officials —
There was a rumor that ultra-left antifa who told the Times in an email that “pro- TURN TO RURAL » PAGE A13 ©2020 The Press Democrat
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020 A3

The North Coast

ROHNERT PARK » PROTEST AGAINST RACIAL OPPRESSION
University
prepares
for fewer
students
SSU faces budget cuts and
housing, teaching challenges
amid pandemic and recession
By MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma State University is on track

to see a 20% decline in enrollment
among incoming freshmen and up to
an 8% drop campuswide, as faculty and
staff brace for an academic year clouded
by budget cuts and unbalanced by stu-
dents still working out where school fits
in the midst of a global pandemic and
nationwide recession.
With nearly all instruction sched-
PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
uled to be online this fall, and health
guidelines governing everything from
Rohnert Park Peaceful March for Justice organizer Jackie Elward comforts a woman who broke down in tears after Elward’s impassioned campus housing to cleaning schedules,
speech on Saturday. One marcher said it’s “not blatant racism,” but “institutional oppression” that really hurts people of color. little will be normal about the coming

Emotional plea at march:

year at SSU or most other institutions
of higher learning in
the country.
Campus housing,
usually utilized by

Equal treatment for all

about one-third of
SSU’s nearly 9,000 stu-
dents, will accommo-
date about 50% fewer
people this year, due
to spacing and individ-
ual restroom require- Judy
ments, administrators Sakaki
Some 300 demonstrators walk to public safety headquarters said.
Students living off-campus, with col-
lege roommates or family members,
By KEVIN FIXLER might be sharing space and technology
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT used by others for remote work, learn-

T
ing and child care.
ears streamed down Jackie Elward’s And faculty members, their skills
face and her voice cracked with emo- honed in classrooms, are faced with
tion while speaking at a Black Lives new challenges as they convert instruc-
Matter demonstration she planned Satur- tion to an online environment that in
day morning that ended in the courtyard some cases renders students into boxes
outside the Rohnert Park Department of on a computer screen, said environmen-
Public Safety, demanding an end to sys- tal history professor Laura Watt, the
temic racism. outgoing faculty chairwoman.
The 40-year-old Rohnert Park resident, But SSU President Judy Sakaki said
who grew up in the Democratic Republic she and other college administrators
of Congo, called on the several hundred hope new high school graduates won’t
attendees to stand up and help bring about put off university education just be-
changes to the way law enforcement treats cause it won’t look like they had imag-
people of color. And she urged elected offi- ined.
cials and members of the local police force “They’ve prepared themselves well.
to work with citizens to ensure the com- They’re ready to continue on. And to
munity’s minority groups are safe and pause ... sometimes they won’t come
free from harm based on their skin tone. back,” Sakaki said. “So we are encour-
“Have you ever felt powerless about aging students to just continue on.
protecting your kids, from those who are Jackie Elward, in foreground at left, leads protesters in Rohnert Park in support of the Black “It’s a different mode of instruction
supposed to protect them, but instead kill Lives Matter movement on Saturday. than likely they would have thought
them over anything and get away with it?” they would have, but the education is
Elward shouted. “We are not seeking re- police-fire department helped block off we’re struggling with in this society so still going to be there. It’s going to be
venge, but we want to be treated as equal street traffic to guide participants in the much. It’s the institutional oppression — strong, and it’s still going to prepare
as everybody here. Black lives matter!” peaceful protest to their planned termi- the racist policies that are meant to keep them for their future career.”
The rally, which drew more than 300 nus, where Elward, two of her three chil- black people from succeeding,” Sonoma The school has been building in as
people, was preceded by a milelong march dren and several other residents spanning State University student Anferny Moore, much flexibility as possible so that stu-
west down the sidewalk along Rohnert multiple generations shared charged tes- 25, told the crowd. “But no more. Never dents have extra time to make decisions
Park Expressway to the public safety timonials.
headquarters. Members of the city’s dual “It’s not the blatant racism that I think TURN TO PROTEST » PAGE A4 TURN TO SSU » PAGE A6

It can be so hard to tell who that is behind the mask

O CHRIS SMITH
f course, Dean James He resolved to help by raising
wore a mask as he money for the Sonoma Commu-
stepped late last week nity Animal Response Team.
into his cardiologist’s office in Emmett began earning dollars
Santa Rosa. by cleaning boots and tack at
The retired golf pro and Petaluma’s Cerro Pampa Polo
fairway buddy of late “Peanuts” Club. He himself plays there.
cartoonist Charles Schulz took surely wondered what had He said from his family’s
a seat in the waiting room, a Dean and Al laughing so hard home near Napa, “Everyone
sensible distance from a second out in the waiting room. It had who donates usually donates to
masked senior. to be good for their hearts. people. What about the ani-
James and the other gent mals? They are equal to us.”
engaged in a bit of banter on THEN THERE’S A KID, Emmett’s work at the Petalu-
the joys of growing old. Emmett Putnam, whose good ma polo club and other errands-
James said he’s doing all right heart has him worrying about for-pay brought in about $1,500.
in his 80s, and he’s amazed to horses and other animals that His well-connected go-getter
have a friend, Al Maggini, who’s suffer because economic fallout of a mom, Jennifer Putnam,
bopping along at 104. from the pandemic has their helped him to find people and
To that the second masked keepers unable to afford to companies that would match CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2018
man responded, “You’re look- properly feed and care for them. some of those dollars. Al Maggini, a World War II bomber crewman, stockbroker, longtime
ing at him, you turkey!” Emmett, who’s 10, acted. In a member on the boards of Memorial Hospital, Santa Rosa Junior College
Elsewhere in the office, folks big way. TURN TO SMITH » PAGE A5 and Hanna Boys Center, is 104.

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A4 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020

PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A Black Lives Matter protest moves along Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa on Saturday. Protests have continued for three weeks.

PROTEST “As a 58-year-

CONTINUED FROM A3 old white
again.”
Elsewhere in Sonoma County
woman, I feel
as the Black Lives Matter move-
ment concluded its third week it’s my duty
of protests across the nation,
hundreds more people marched
Saturday each in Petaluma and
to be present.
in at least three different events
in Santa Rosa. The rallies and
I come here
demonstrations were inspired
by the killing of George Floyd, to learn and
a 46-year-old Minneapolis man,
while in police custody on Me-
morial Day. The four officers
understand.”
PATTY FOSTER, Cotati resident
involved were all fired and face who marched in Saturday’s
criminal charges, including sec- protest in Rohnert Park
ond-degree murder.
Saturday’s event in Rohnert being one community, not cops
Park was the city’s second Black versus the community.”
Lives Matter demonstration after Among the attendees Saturday
a couple dozen people protested at was Patty Foster of neighboring
a main intersection and Highway Cotati, who held a homemade
101 overpass last week. The coun- cardboard sign with black mark-
ty’s third-largest city is home to er that simply read: Black Lives
more than 43,000 people. Just 3% Matter. She said she also made it
of its residents identify as black, Rohnert Park Peaceful March for Justice organizer Jackie Elward and Rohnert Park Deputy Police Chief Aaron to the first event held in Rohnert
with Latinos making up the city’s Johnson share a high-five in Rohnert Park on Saturday. Some 300 people participated in the march and protest. Park the week prior and plans to
largest racial or ethnic minority continue showing up.
at almost 29%, according to the serves as the city’s vice mayor, at- conduct over the past six years, place, Deputy Chief Aaron John- “As a 58-year-old white woman,
U.S. Census Bureau. tended the rally along with fellow the city’s public safety depart- son attended, as did more than a I feel it’s my duty to be present.
Elward, who noted the event council members Gina Belforte ment remains embroiled in a fed- dozen other members of the de- I come here to learn and under-
was not politically motivated, said and Susan Hollingsworth Adams. eral civil rights lawsuit tied to the partment who stood around the stand,” she said. “I was really
she was sick to her stomach over He said the council planned to death of a Forestville man in 2017. perimeter and within the demon- pleased with the amount of peo-
the Rohnert Park City Council’s hold a formal discussion about po- A jury award of $4 million to the stration. ple who showed up today … be-
dead silence so far in addressing lice procedures later this month Wroth family after Branch Wroth, “I wanted our staff to hear it. cause I thought that this was go-
issues of police brutality. A 12- and pointed to the My Brother’s 41, died while in Rohnert Park po- This is an opportunity for all of ing to die down — like everything
year resident of Sonoma County, Keeper Alliance pledge. The chal- lice custody was overturned on us to grow,” Johnson said, citing else that we’ve been marching for.
she ran unsuccessfully for City lenge issued by former President appeal in December, with a new a recent policy change by the It made me feel we might have
Council in 2018 and has already Barack Obama in 2015 for cities to trial set to begin later this year. department to end use of a specif- some hope here.”
announced her intention to chal- review and reform police use of Callinan was out of town and ic chokehold that can be lethal if
lenge longtime Councilman Jake force policies was signed by May- missed the Saturday event. Tim applied improperly. “We want to You can reach Staff Writer Kevin
Mackenzie in the city’s first dis- or Joe Callinan last week. Mattos, the city’s director of pub- listen to the concerns, we want to Fixler at 707-521-5336 or kevin.
trict-based election in November. Among other legal problems lic safety, was on an extended listen to the perceptions. Really, [email protected]. On
Mackenzie, 80, who currently tied to accusations of police mis- vacation and also absent. In his it’s about us getting together and Twitter @kfixler.

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A12 THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020

CHANGES
CONTINUED FROM A1
you’re enraged and you want to
get it out. Part of me wanted to
smash things, too.”
For many people of color
in America, watching George
Floyd, a black man, die under
the weight of a white police
officer’s knee in Minneapolis,
resurfaced every injustice felt or
heard, every tense traffic stop,
every derogatory slur at school,
every threat of arrest.
Communities across the
country erupted in protests
over Floyd’s death, sustaining
demonstrations that have gone
on for nearly three weeks against
racism in policing and all other
aspects of American society.
These rallies have led to trou-
bling clashes between protesters
and police in parts of the country
that, for some, have exposed
painful wounds going back gen-
erations to the slave ships.
But these marches have forced
government leaders to act. Minne-
apolis city officials have pledged
to dismantle the police depart-
ment and build something new.
Leaders in other cities like New PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
York are talking about diverting Black Lives Matter protesters walk Saturday on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa. Mickale Jones, 28, of Sebastopol organized the silent parade that
money away from law enforce- was led by drummers from Santa Rosa Junior College to Old Courthouse Square. It was an echo of a similar silent march in 1917 in Illinois.
ment forces to social services.
A growing number of local policy,” Carreño said. “Are we
law enforcement agencies, in- being racist or anti-racist by
cluding the county’s two largest how we execute those things?
— the Santa Rosa Police Depart- I think it’s important for us to
ment and Sonoma County Sher- begin to have conversations no
iff’s Office — have announced matter how ill-equipped we feel
they will ban the carotid hold we are.”
used to restrain people, a poten- Calls for people — especially
tially deadly tactic that blocks youth — to become politically
blood flow to the brain and can active and speak out at city
kill when used improperly. council and county supervisor
On Wednesday, Sonoma Coun- meetings were universal.
ty government and law enforce- Jose Oseguera, 22, of Santa
ment leaders gave an unprece- Rosa said he joined protesters
dented show of support for police downtown almost every night
reform. They pledged to re- marches took place in Santa
examine local policing practices, Rosa because if felt like a “now
local budgets and find ways to or never” moment to call for
increase independent oversight change.
of law enforcement, including Oseguera said he doesn’t be-
possibly boosting powers of the lieve all law enforcement officers
Independent Office of Law En- are biased, but he does see how
forcement Review and Outreach. the profession acts as part of
The watchdog agency for the a system that for too long has
Sheriff’s Office was created in stacked the deck against people
2015 after years of public anguish of color. He described how his
following the death of Andy palms sweat whenever he sees
Lopez, a 13-year-old Santa Rosa a patrol car on the street — “I
middle schooler who was shot even say a little prayer.”
and killed by a sheriff’s deputy. But he believes local politi-
In interviews with people of cians are listening right now,
color of Sonoma County, from Jose Oseguera rides on his skateboard Thursday during a Black Lives Matter protest in Healdsburg. Oseguera is and young people must take this
longtime community leaders to known to ride on his board chanting during protests. He said it’s a “now or never” moment to call for change. chance to be heard.
young people behind the local “We need to be attending
protest movement, many said city council meetings, going
the push for changes to local “We need to be attending city council meetings, going there there with a purpose for them
systems that enable racial injus- to understand what we’d like
tice must include police reform, with a purpose for them to understand what we’d like out out of them as a community, as
yet go beyond it. The movement one,” Oseguera said. “This isn’t
must not fade with summer. of them as a community, as one.” something that will die down
“I hope this time is different,” JOSE OSEGUERA, 22, of Santa Rosa said he joined protesters in downtown Santa Rosa almost every night and I hope it doesn’t.”
Sheffield said. “The momentum Sonoma County human rights
is there.” why he was pulled over, and on chalk, notebooks and other the community and community commissioner Zahyra Garcia
In a June 6 letter, the Sonoma the officer didn’t say anything,” supplies for students. members have had towards her said tangible local changes could
County chapter of the NAACP Lopez said. “I talked to him “Local elections aren’t quite feels unfortunate,” Lemus said. involve a wholesale reexamina-
called for the city of Santa Rosa about it after and my dad told as flashy as a national election Lemus and others linked the tion of how city budgets are allo-
to adopt sweeping changes to its me, ‘That’s what happens. In and I think a lot of people don’t current unrest to the 2013 death cated with a social justice eye.
policies. The proposals includ- this country people will look at understand the importance of of Lopez, whose 20th birth- “The housing crisis is a choice
ed a wide range of ideas such you differently because of the what a local election can do,” day would have been June 2, — here we are funding police
as questioning police recruits color of your skin. They will Jones said. bringing community members tanks and rifles,” Garcia said.
about race and bias during the treat you badly.’ ” There is an urgent need to get together for a vigil in his mem-
lie detection test before being She felt that herself in school a diverse group of people into ory. Lopez was walking with an Having honest conversations
hired, require periodic re- when a substitute teacher asked leadership positions, said Sylvia airsoft gun on a sidewalk in his But change must also take
credentialing for law enforce- her why Latino students were in- Lemus, a programs manager neighborhood when a deputy root in the home and in schools,
ment officers and funnel more volved in an accelerated college with Sonoma County Human ordered him to turn around and starting with the youngest
funds toward social services. prep program because they were Resources deeply involved in immediately fired his service children.
Rubin Scott, president of the going to end up working in the Latino leadership groups from weapon. The deputy, who was Sheffield, the school trustee,
local NAACP chapter, said the fields anyway. She heard it while Los Cien and co-chair for Santa cleared of any wrongdoing, said said he talks frankly with his
county has persevered through working at Big John’s Market Rosa’s annual Cinco de Mayo he mistook the plastic BB gun, sons about his experiences as a
fires, power shut-offs and a pan- and a customer told her she was festival. which was made to look like an black man growing up in Ukiah,
demic together and has built-in too pretty to be Mexican. Anoth- To do so, Lemus said, leaders AK-47, for a real assault rifle. the son of a dentist whose house
resilience that must be leveraged er customer said her name was must build mentorship pro- For many, Lopez’s death re- was the only one in the neigh-
to take a harder look within. The fit for a dog. grams in schools, corporations mains an unresolved grief. borhood to be egged on a regular
community must demand a bet- “I think it’s important for and government to ensure a basis. Sheffield said his father
ter, humane, just result for every people in Healdsburg and other diverse group of people succeed. Affecting generations told him that African American
police encounter, he said. places to be aware — there are “Everyone needs to pay Lisa Carreño, chief executive men must work harder to get
“Our mothers and our pastors racial injustices in your town,” attention to the moment. This officer of United Way of the less. He began to believe that
have told us: Don’t run, comply, Lopez said. “People will always is a time to look at your organi- Wine Country, was working once he got his driver’s license
be passive, do what they say,” be talked down upon for the col- zation and see there are certain with young people at the time and learned that every traffic
Rubin said. “In that instant or of the skin. I can guarantee people missing from the table,” of Lopez’s death as regional violation would lead to being or-
everything we were told and you it’s an issue.” Lemus said. “Do what you can to director for the 10,000 Degrees, dered out of the car, patted down
trained to do, you saw the man Getting young people to vote bring equity and diversity and a regional nonprofit that helps and stood on the curb.
(Floyd) do it. And yet the result and engage with local politics is different voices to the table. As disadvantaged youth get into Sheffield said he’s talking with
was death.” an urgent priority for Mickale progressive as Sonoma County and through college. She said his children about how essen-
Jones, 28, of Sebastopol, a re- is — oh my goodness, sometimes his death was in her opinion an tial it is to treat everyone with
Multicultural history lessons cording artist and photographer I see we are not where we need “unlawful killing” that affected respect and to reject ideas that
Healdsburg High graduate who is expecting his first child, a to be.” a generation of local youth who people who look or seem differ-
Lupe Lopez, 22, believes change son, in August. Jones is biracial, A stark example of racial bias are now in their late teens and ent are anything less than equal.
must start in schools by em- the son of a black father and came just last month in Lemus’ early 20s. She and others said He has observed how black
bedding the experiences from white mother, and he organized view as the county was grap- they believed it partly fueled the children are picked on in school,
indigenous and other margin- a silent parade Saturday led by pling with new data that showed youth-led demonstrations that then misunderstood when they
alized communities in history, drummers from Santa Rosa Ju- Latino residents were contract- took over Santa Rosa for the bet- lash out in defense.
art and other classes. Students nior College to Old Courthouse ing the coronavirus at dramat- ter part of the last two weeks. People of color have these
should learn about the injus- Square. It was an echo of a simi- ically disproportionate rates, She said she took hope for the tough conversations with their
tices that are part of our shared lar silent march in 1917 to stand drawing a sharp focus on the future in the diversity in the children. It’s time for more
history and also celebrate the up against anti-black violence in health, workforce and economic crowds. white families to address these
multicultural contributions East St. Louis, Illinois. inequalities here. That dispar- “We have seen more and more topics even before issues crop
that make the country what it “The way our country in gen- ity has continued to increase, clearly how structural racism up, he said.
is today. eral has viewed people of color and Latinos currently account affects our lives and our conver- Sheffield said he was moved
Lopez, who will start a grad- and the system itself, as cliche as for 3 out of 4 known cases of sation about racism has gone and got chills when Santa
uate program in social work it sounds, really isn’t designed to COVID-19 in the county. from these hushed acknowledg- Rosa Police Chief Ray Navarro
at Columbia University in the help people like me win,” Jones Even still, Sheriff Mark ments among trusted friends kneeled with protesters one
fall, was galvanized to organize said. “It’s created many obsta- Essick publicly questioned the to this public outcry,” Carreño week ago during an afternoon
protests in Healdsburg after a cles. And just now for the first authority and wisdom of Health said. “These protests are not demonstration at Old Court-
majority of her city’s council time other people are starting Officer Dr. Sundari Mase, who examples of chaos, to me they house Square. “That’s the right
members rebuffed requests to al- to see it. Black people, Hispanic issued the first stay-at-home are examples of rejection of that kind of message to give to the
low a public conversation about people, we’ve been saying it for order in mid-March that shut system.” youth,” Sheffield said.
local policing in light of Floyd’s years. And this feels like the down many businesses, saying To move forward, communi- “I definitely want them to
death. For Lopez, that was a re- first time it feels wide out in the she didn’t provide his office or ties including Sonoma Coun- respect police, but that gener-
minder of the racial divide she’s open.” the public with enough evi- ty must acknowledge their al trust at least for people of
felt in her city from an early age, dence to back up her decisions. troubled history with race, color, kids of color, it has to be
like the time she watched how Local elections are important Essick later agreed to enforce starting from the treatment of earned,” he said. “And I think
rudely a police officer treated Calls to defund police de- the health order, but Lemus native people to the incidents that’s what this movement is
her father during a traffic stop. partments and reallocate some said she believed that action of today, Carreño said. She said about.”
Her father was still covered in money away from enforcement undermined the authority of local policies should be given a
dirt from a long day of farm and toward social services res- Mase, a woman of color, and simple test: Is this policy racist You can reach Staff Writer Julie
labor, but had promised to take onate with Jones, who watched “emboldened” people to disre- or anti-racist? Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.
her to the store. his mother, a special education gard her expertise. “We need to be looking at that [email protected].
“My dad asked the reason teacher, spend her own money “The disrespect that leaders in question each time we look at On Twitter @jjpressdem.