Newsletter Spring 2019
Monte Rio Community Alliance is a member of Russian River Alliance.
We represent the Monte Rio Community in the Russian River Alliance.
Here is an update on the Alliances.
Since incorporating as a non-profit, 501c3, in 2012, as the successor to Redevelopment, the Russian River Alliance has been all about building community. The Russian River Alliance is an umbrella organization comprised of community groups working together for the betterment of all. Our member organizations expanded last year, and we now cover the Lower Russian River from Guerneville to Cazadero. Our members are FROGS (Friends and Residents of Guerneville), Guerneville Community Alliance, Guernewood Neighborhoods Assn, Northwood Property Owners Assn, Monte Rio Community Alliance, and Cazadero Community Services District. We work on issues that are important to the lower Russian River community and we are action and results oriented. Unlike individual groups such as chambers, special districts, or homeowner associations, we work together providing one common voice for the entire area. As the River area changes, people are expecting better services and accountability from our government, our non-profits, and from the tax dollars we and our tourists generate.
Our current initiatives are blight abatement (abandoned inoperable or unregistered vehicles, garbage, illegal encampments), water quality, air quality, wastewater solutions, workforce housing funding, business development/retention, tourism, infrastructure (roads), clean energy, a local noise ordinance, supporting law enforcement efforts, working with other groups and government agencies to find common ground and strengthen our communities.
We are proud of our Workforce Housing Fund initiative. Jen Wertz has started the Workforce Housing Fund as a safety net to support and retain struggling local workers currently living, working, and contributing in our area. We received a county grant for this endeavor and receive donations through community support. We are there in time of need. After the Flood of Feb 27, 2019, we were first on the streets providing food gift cards for our local workers that were displaced from their homes or apartments. We also provided rental assistance for those temporarily furloughed as local businesses were closed
Many of our residents and businesses will be going through a process starting later this year to upgrade wastewater septic tanks. We are involved to make sure the process is handled right, for our residents as well as for our environment.
We support our County Supervisor, Lynda Hopkins. She has worked hard for our community, she is responsive, she is trying to get us more services and funding, as well as more representation at the County level. She is trying to help us retain more of the TOT hotel tax dollars that our community generates. She has also started a Municipal Advisory Council of which we have strong representation on.
We provide outreach by attending meetings, by encouraging communication on Nextdoor, and through our website, Facebook, and monthly columns in the Sonoma County Gazette. Please contact us with your suggestions, concerns, and if you have the time or means, your tax-deductible donations or volunteerism.
Based on our volunteer efforts, we have shown that change for the better is not only possible but is now evident on our streets.
I want to thank the leaders of our member organizations for their efforts serving their communities, as well as for their willingness to work together for the greater good. Whatever challenges we face we can come out stronger working together. We truly are in a great place!
Chuck Ramsey, President
