Sonoma County Libraries have been closed Mondays for more than four years, and there is no end in sight to the largest library funding crisis and hours cutback in history. Last month, as reported in The Sonoma Independent, the Campaign to Restore Library Hours delivered a petition with 1,271 names on it to the Board of Supervisors’ annual budget meeting. The Supervisors refused to allocate our requested funding from the County's surplus to reopen libraries on Mondays. But in an unusual public response, three of the County’s five Supervisors spoke of supporting a financing effort to restore Monday hours, provided that it came from the County’s Library Commission, and that local cities join with the County in co-funding the solution. Both the County and most local cities have sufficient contingency funds should they choose to do this, starting in the New Year. On July 6, the Sonoma Independent submitted to the Library Commission a $1.5 million interim funding proposal to be split between the County and seven cities, that would restore Monday and evening hours starting January 1, 2016. The County would contribute $600,000 annually, seven cities would share the other $600,000 (with Santa Rosa paying $200,000), and the Library budget would add $300,000 more. The Library Commission plans to explore the proposal in its Revenue Committee, and decide whether or not to move forward with a plan to restore hours in the next few months. We urge the Library Commissioners, Supervisors, and City Councils, to commit to resolving this funding crisis this year.

This past weekend, Bernie Sanders held record-breaking rallies in the red states Arizona and Texas, and crowds have been consistently large in other states. Yet the media continues to downplay his candidacy. This must change, or we will start boycotting. Equal time for Bernie!!! If MSNBC is truly an unbiased news source, it will cover ALL candidates equally, not just the ones paid for by corporations!

Grove Atlantic Press is promoting the memoir "Straight to He*l" by Twitter plagiarist and Wall Street refugee John LeFevre (after the project was appropriately dumped by Simon & Schuster). The book, by a former Wall Street banker, revels in sexism, racism and disdain for the poor. Publisher Morgan Entrekin has said that progressive politics and participation in the civil rights movement shaped who he is. Let's see an endorsement of those values in lieu of a naked cash grab. This is not a call for censorship. Mr. LeFevre has a right to say whatever he wants. However, thoughtful readers have the right to call both him and his publisher out. To get a sense of what "Straight to He*l" is like, refer to the final chapter, wherein the author recounts a sex tourism adventure in the Philippines. Among the hi-jinx, LeFevre fondly describes "Love Monkey Bowling" in which he and his colleagues enjoyed greasing a bar-top down which they pushed naked Asian women into piles of empty bottles. In case you are wondering whether Mr. LeFevre has any regrets or even thoughtful reflections regarding such experiences, he wants to assure you that he does not: "These are a few of my stories. All bankers have stories just like them...I certainly enjoyed the years that I spent on Wall Street, and remain unapologetic for all that I saw and did. I enjoyed the f**k out of it" (from the "Straight to He*l" epilogue). In the author's note, LeFevre writes, "My objective is to unapologetically showcase the true soul of Wall Street in a way that hasn't been done before. No epiphanies. No apologies. No f**ks given." If you care about racism, misogyny, income inequality or even just the state of non-fiction literature in America, please consider supporting this petition.

Due to a tragic accident in a neighboring County there is a movement afoot to ban the adoption of pit bulls and pit bull mixes in McDowell County, NC and to legislate ownership of the breed.

Two elderly dogs, who were rescued by Love of Paws from a neglectful and horrible situation while L0P tried to place them, were taken to our animal shelter and the shelter given three phone numbers to call should the situation become desperate. Instead of calling those numbers, the animal shelter destroyed them. We're not living in the dark ages, are we? This needs to be a no-kill shelter.

I have started this petition because my wife is a recruiter for the United States Air Force, and it is obvious that the time has come to add security measures for these recruiters. They are not allowed to carry, have no type of security, not even a button to alert police, if something goes wrong. The constant threat of stateside terrorism is real, and they need to be able to protect themselves. Installations have their own security measures in place, why don't they? Why are they being left unprotected?

Bristol, Tennessee City Council amended dog ordinances in November, 2014. While these ordinances improved conditions for dogs in our city, they did not address some significant issues. To prevent dog abuse and neglect, our dog ordinances need to be comprehensive and address all reasonable issues for the health and safety of our pets and our community.

Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab has come under fire for some innocuous comments she made to incoming Badgers on Twitter. UW-Madison Chancellor Becky Blank said: "Any institution has its critics, and especially in social media, it's important to remember that the loudest voice usually isn't the most accurate." More info: http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/uw-professor-under-fire-for-tweeting-at-incoming-freshmen-b99538936z1-315784681.html

Placeholder

My friend, TransconJohn Seattle, has had his account suspended because Facebook can't handle his ingenious creativity. Find another way to link his real name to his account versus making him change it altogether.

The movies 20th Century Fox produces are having a negative impact on the comic book universe. Mutants will eventually become extinct. The true genius of 4 elements working together to battle an Epic Evil is failing and will be canceled. Future Generations will never understand the beauty of "breaking the 4th wall" and that its truly OK to have a crush on pretty much anyone with a pulse. Fox has the ability to tell a GREAT Spy story: Mr. & Mrs. Smith ... they are fantastic with chic flicks: Devil Wears Prada ... but when it comes to Superheroes they should leave those stories to the Professionals: Stan, Jack & Chris. #freeTheMutants

Facebook is being a jerk. They deactivated Paul's account because they decided he isn't who he says he is. Which is rubbish. Listen, you all know that you miss the daily ranting and ravings of this beloved guy. Without a daily dose of life according to Rev Paul Bearer your Facebook news feed is truly incomplete. Stop this injustice now!