.Debriefer: September 9, 2015

Hey, so we jumped the gun; Can Doughnuts with a Cop be far behind?; The final Debriefer's where you'll get the connection to the pic

EMERGENCY ROOM FOR ERROR

The Sonoma West Medical Center did not open last week, despite what the new management team had hoped would happen—and despite our regrettable cover headline, “West County Hospital Opens.”

The hospital did not pass a state inspection Aug. 31, and there’s work to be done before it opens. The Bohemian regrets jumping the gun. It will open soon, we’re told: Stay tuned.

COFFEE KLATCH

Last month a viral video of a Rohnert Park police officer engaged in questionable policing protocols—he pulled his gun on a man who was in his front yard working on his boat—was met with an admirable moment of self-scrutiny by Friendly City elected officials who promised a full, independent investigation. That’s ongoing. In the meantime, the dust-up threw a planned “Coffee with a Cop” event at a local McDonalds into sharp relief. The event was rescheduled.

Now Santa Rosa is hosting its own Coffee with a Cop event later this month. The program is part of a national push by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has provided funding for the event.

The police force here is still grappling with fallout from the 2013 shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez and subsequent efforts to shape-up community oversight of the police and sheriff’s departmernts.

The Santa Rosa event will also take place at a McDonald’s—the one at 2642 Santa Rosa Ave.—on Sept. 27 at 8:30am. All are welcome.

From the press release issued Sept. 4: “The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.”

“There will be more Coffee with a Cop events coming to a neighborhood near you,” the release announces. We’re not sure where the next one will be but if it’s Sebastopol, residents might instead anticipate Kombucha with a Cop. It’s the thought that counts.

ALGAE RHYTHM

Oh, that scary story about algae in the Russian River, the deadly algae that killed poor Posie the dog when he injested some water and was poisoned by neurotoxins. Very sad.

We saw that story last week and thought the Labor Day weekend was shaping up as a possible Jaws moment. You know: One of the biggest tourist weekends of the year, and one where you don’t want to be scaring people away from your beaches. Chief Brody, get those damned “Beach Closed” signs out of here!

Out of an abundance of caution, Sonoma County issued a health advisory that said keep your dogs away—and keep your kids from inhaling the water. A report in the Monday Press Democrat noted that people were at first wary about heading to the river, but—everyone in the water! It’s hot.

The Bohemian got a glimpse of the algae Saturday when we headed over the Russian River to the Taste of Sonoma event at the MacMurray vineyard in Healdsburg. Good times. There we spotted Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo and asked him, with some degree of cheek, if he’d lead the way and be the first to jump into the river. He laughed and said no.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

spot_img
North Bay Bohemian E-edition North Bay Bohemian E-edition