Santa Rosa Snippets - by Elaine B. Holtz - June 2018

A discussion on Homelessness in Santa Rosa and recent arrests:

As most have read there has been a lot of frustration around the over 2,000 homeless people in Santa Rosa and the challenges everyone is facing. In lieu of writing about it I thought I would let folks know there is a great interview on

The recent disbandment of the ten homeless villages in Roseland on Sebastopol Road and the civil disobedience arrests in the City Council chambers on May 1 are looked at from the city council member’s perspective and that of Homeless Action. You can hear the interview on www.womensspaces.com

Andy’s Unity Park Dedication

Community Celebration JCAL Reunion

On October 22, 2013 Andy Lopez a thirteen-year-old was shot and killed on Westmoreland Avenue in Santa Rosa. After four years of “tears, battles, losses and wins,” states one of the organizers of Andy’s Unity Park who will be celebrating the parks opening on, Saturday June 2. Included in this amazing event will be a gathering and acknowledgment of members of the Justice Coalition for Andy Lopez (JCAL).

In thinking about the past four and a half years, celebrating this park brings tears to my eyes and heart. Such a young boy to have lost his life in this horrible way brought a determined, diverse community together that is still struggling to see justice prevail. The park represents community and youth activism, persistence and talking truth to power. A special thank you to all of you who were involved in creating this wonderful monument to young Andy Lopez but also as a reminder that together we stand and when we come together as a community, things change for the better.

The event will happen from 1-5pm on June 2. The dedication ceremony will take place 1-2:30pm. Following the ceremony will be family activities, music, food and art displays. This is a free event. Andy’s Unity Park is located at 3399 Moorland Ave,

48TH Anniversary of Juneteenth Festival­—A Celebration of Freedom at Martin Luther King Park in Santa Rosa.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation—which had become official January 1, 1863. One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.”

Along with vendors, basketball, arts and crafts, dominoes and lots of Kids activities and good food, this year a special performance of “Unshackled, Honoring the legacy of the hope and dream of the African slave.” a play written by Dr. Jacqueline Lawrence, brought to you by the City of Santa Rosa. This something you do not want to miss. I personally saw the performance and it gave me a deep feeling for what our sisters had to endure during slavery. The performance takes place from 10-12pm.

A new edition to the program will be the presentation of four Scholarships to students that will be presented by Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (EOT) at the event. Recipients are: Zoe Valrey, Keviette Minor, Irmina Benson and Calven Benson. A special surprise scholarship will be presented by former Vice Mayor of Santa RoseLee Pierce. I look forward to seeing the look on the recipients face when their name is called out. The festival will take place at the Martin Luther King Park, 1671 Hendley St., Santa Rosa on Saturday, June 16 from 10am-6pm. This is a free event.

Happy 30th Birthday Wednesday Night Market

The markets opened on May 2 and will run through August 22. With Over 120 vendors with a variety of food, arts and crafts, fresh produce, non-profit agencies, free concerts, special events and a Craft Beer & Wine Garden make Downtown Santa Rosa the place to be on Wednesday Nights for locals and visitors alike. Coordinated by Leslie Graves, Market and Events Manager, this year will present special mini events like an outdoor movie, a car show, and a mini-maker faire. For up-to-date information about special guest appearances, complete beer and wine list, performers and special events you can visit their face book pagefacebook.com/WednesdayNightMarket/

The market takes place at Courtyard Square on 4th St., Santa Rosa from 5:00-8:30pm and is a free event. For information Contact: Leslie Graves, 707-524-2123 Email: market@sonic.net

Youth Inspire Attendees at Sonoma Pasta Dinner

On May 11 I attended Congressman Mike Thompson’s annual Sonoma Pasta Dinner. Thompson represents the southern half of Santa Rosa and I believe when a politician does something right it needs to be acknowledged. So many events I have attended do not inspire me but this event was different. Thompson decided to have three young people do individual presentations and folks it was such a hopeful moment listening to them.

Esme Kaplan-Kinsey read her poem about gun violence and Jonah Gottlieb let us know about his aspirations and involvement politically, both are students at Credo High School in Rohnert Park. Alejandro Guerrero, a resident of Santa Rosa performed an amazing rap song letting us all know the struggles our youth our encountering in today’s world.

I asked Congressman Thompson why he chose to do this and he responded, “Again and again, I have been impressed and inspired by the engagement of our young leaders and wanted to ensure they had the spotlight for this community event.” As I sat there and listened I felt a sense of hope for the future because of the awareness that was expressed. I was reminded once again the children are our future and we must never lose sight of that and how important it is to speak out and listen to our young people.

Something to think about: “There was one of two things I had a right to: liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would take the other, for no man should take me alive. I should fight for liberty as long as my strength lasted.” Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved people.