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Ralph Hutchinson June 13, 2013 at 03:22 pm
Rumors are that the Chamber of Commerce, Grange, Vintners & Growers, Hotel Owners, Restaurants…Read More and many other small businesses are jumping on the Living Wage bandwagon started by Darius Anderson and his proposed 59 room hotel Project Sonoma formerly Chateau Sonoma.
Darius partnered with Ben Boyce known local supporter and leader for Living Wage public policy to formulate a plan and press campaign for his hotel. They both rolled it out simultaneously in the Index Tribune and Sonoma Sun a few weeks ago. The Facebook page from Kenwood Investments now titled Sonoma Hotel Project linked the article and applauded Ben Boyce's literary efforts citing it as a great article.
Its unclear what impact this move by Anderson may have on the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria casino in Rohnert Park. Station Casinos the operating company and client of Darius Anderson from Las Vegas has a checkered past in dealing with organizing labor the various applicable unions. A simple Google search will reveal loads of negative press on Station Casinos and labor relationships as well as sanctions and complaints. Darius Anderson and his policy has the chance to make a major impact on casino wage policy. Afterall Darius is responsible for bringing us Cows Not Casinos to Sonoma Valley back in 2003.
It is possible this wave of Living Wages policy could also spread wildly throughout the State with all of Darius Anderson's contacts as a lobbyists and consultant. At least to the various Station Casinos affiliated casinos.
This strategic alliance of Anderson and Boyce on Living Wages could in fact make him a "poster child" or sorts and further the agenda throughout the County and beyond. Many are starting to formulate different opinions about Darius Anderson one not just of personal profiting off the backs of others, but in giving back to the working class and ensuring reasonable wages and benefits. This could boost his public image in Sonoma Valley. It remains to be seen if he can use his lobbying skills to turn the local business community into supporting Living Wages as they typically are dead set against.
The local grape growers and wineries may also likely come around since they are all seemingly so closely ties to the hotel growth initiative then they must also be supporters of Living Wage efforts recently launched.
Ralph Hutchinson June 18, 2013 at 03:17 pm
The grassroots understands the National Press has been alerted to Darius Anderson's stance on Living…Read More Wages with the Sonoma Hotel Project of Kenwood Investments and will be watching closely. This could become a National "feel good" story on one of the evening magazine programs before year-end. This move has really become a game changer in Sonoma. I still can't figure out how Darius got the Chamber of Commerce, and the conservatives to go along with his idea to sweeten the pot for his new hotel. Labor Costs could double for most Sonoma small businesses thanks to Darius Andersons personal powerplay. How in the world does he explain that to his constituent group?
Ralph Hutchinson June 18, 2013 at 10:00 am
Waste of time and City resources to think they can impact Federal policy. Why not focus on the…Read More Living Wages wave started by this hotel debate. Council has a chance to see the entire city, hotel, tourism, restaurants, vineyard workers, and retail workforce get on board and turn the Chamber of Commerce position toward helping those in need, Sonoma's working class.
Come on City Council, do whats right for Sonoma and focus on what you have the power to influence not on what makes you all look best politically or what pays back a favor to someone you owe.
sal nero June 13, 2013 at 07:50 am
Isn't it astounding that someone who purports to be a protector of the public's trust/news could…Read More nakedly shill for their own and their partner's profit? It was only 10 short years ago that The Lynchs had the Sons of the Golden West historically dedicate the Index-Tribune Building with a commemorative plaque. If they weren't to be believed back then why should we believe them now? On top of that, selling to someone who is a regular redeveloper is a very bad sign for Sonoma. On top of that, selling to the very one who's proposed Sonoma's Casino Bill Lynch described as "a nightmare" (4/23/03 I-T Op-Ed) is as hypocritical and cynical a move as can be imagined. There isn't enough shame to heap on them!
Ralph Hutchinson June 13, 2013 at 09:33 am
Crony newspaper used to serve Lynch and his cronies now just shifted over to serve Darius Anderson…Read More interests and that circle of cronies. Just a mouthpiece to tout personal interests not cover any fair and balanced news. Whats funny is Bolling routinely screams how he is independent and publishes anything he wants not what Darius tells him to. Well Bolling...the general public see it differently and this is yet another example.
Actions speak louder than words.
Chris Scott June 14, 2013 at 11:36 pm
Mr Nero ; In the IT letter to the editor (LTE) you refer to I showed Mr Kozel that in the fall of…Read More 2012 Ms Hainstock never wrote a letter supporting Valerie Brown's candidacy..Valerie Brown was not running for supervisor in 2012............................[ Link to the Mr Kozel's IT LTE: http://www.sonomanews.com/News-2013/No-hell-to-pay-for-no-disclosure/ ] which contains links to Ms Hainstock's LTE in the PD and IT (the same letter appeared in both papers.).....
.............. Ms Hainstock did write a letter supporting the candidacy of Mr. Sawyer who was running for Supervisor. ........................... Please let me know if you need any further assistance. Just post your contact info here and I'll get in contact. ........................Chris Scott .................................................................................................................. PS: The formatting is so screwed up because the editor does not recognize or insert page or paragraph breaks. I had a better text editor 25 years ago writing assembly code under UNIX. Them were 'da days!
Ralph Hutchinson June 12, 2013 at 02:00 pm
FROM HIS MPR WEBSITE: Most recently, he handled the controversial March 2007, Measure B campaign, a…Read More parcel tax increase for the Sonoma Valley Health Care District that increases the funding for their local hospital over the next five years. There was mass confusion and controversy amongst voters as it relates to the hospital. The polling indicated that the highest watermark for Measure B was 59%. The campaign needed 67% to be successful. Measure B passed with 74% of the vote.
Ralph Hutchinson June 12, 2013 at 02:07 pm
Wasn't Ron Burkle, Darius Andersons old mentor from Ralph's Grocery Stores-Yucaipa? And Doesn't…Read More Darius host State Assemblymen from San Luis Obispo on junkets to Cuba and aren't these same Assemblymen from San Luis Obispo where another big Development Center a sister to Sonoma Development Center reside.
Are we starting to see the same patterns of cronies popping up again? Any other names below on Darius Anderson's like of clients he lobbies for and also connected to Muelrath? From his MPR Website: His work for previous clients includes consulting for Waste Management, Ralphs Grocery Stores, Sprint PCS, and Chevron, directing public affairs/grassroots lobbying programs. He also assisted in crisis management for Mobil Oil Corporation. Mr. Muelrath attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and studied Agricultural Science and Political Science.
sal nero June 12, 2013 at 05:43 pm
Burkle recently assisted Anderson in Sacramento to retain the NBA team before exiting, assuring…Read More redevelopment of speculative property purchased by Anderson. They have worked on several developments including Treasure Island, which lost its Chinese financing partner only very recently. These guys do the same things over and over. Is it really a stretch to imagine a Casino locally? Just keep whispering to yourself "it can't happen here, can't It?"
Hey Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore !!!
Ralph Hutchinson June 11, 2013 at 01:55 pm
A groundswell is rumored on the wake of Darius Anderson's announcement that his new Project Sonoma…Read More Hotel would be paying Living Wages, a host of challenges and interest has been growing in the fact that this move may cause all the other Sonoma Valley hotels to pay Living Wages. But it hasn't stopped there, the local restaurants, the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, The Vintners and Growers Association, even the Rohnert Park Casino has been rumored to be considering Living Wages and/or Organizing Labor.
Darius Anderson may well have started a push that could put Sonoma County on he map for progressive liberal wage policy and become a model for the rest of America.
Ralph Hutchinson June 11, 2013 at 02:03 pm
Is Darius Anderson planning on developing the Sonoma Development Center? Didn't Dave Bolling say…Read More his boss was interested? Where will all the innocent residents go if the SDC is closed? All that for a casino, hotel, and some retail stores? Can Arnold Drive even handle that? Hey, where are the SAVE ARNOLD DRIVE people let's awaken that sleeping giant and see if Darius still wants to try to develop SDC huh? You know Darius just doesn't do his homework research when trying things in Sonoma Valley does he?
Chris Scott June 18, 2013 at 10:41 am
Mr. Hutchinson;
Patience is a virtue. One should always practice virtues. We viewed your post at…Read More the time of this writing. Presented with an opportunity today.
Chris Scott June 18, 2013 at 01:18 pm
Mr Hutchinson;
How many comments of yours and mine are you going to delete or have deleted today?
Ralph Hutchinson June 7, 2013 at 03:15 pm
Will the casino in Rohnert Park also get looped in with Living Wages and full Union Shop status? Is…Read More Ben Boyce working on that project now? Perhaps the new relationship forged on the Hotel Index Tribune with Boyce, can lead to Darius introducing him to the Station Casino people so Ben can discuss the benefits to the Las Vegas casino people? Perhaps Ben can also introduce the various Unions to the applicable parts of the casino operation as well? Gee this relationship just may change the way the entire Northbay Labor Relationships will go?
Will Shonbrun June 8, 2013 at 10:13 am
I applaud and encourage all Sonoma hotels to pay All their employees a living wage. I trust that…Read More Kenwood Investments will pay a living wage in whatever enterprises they now own or will own. And most importantly we can now expect all Sonoma hotels, vintners and growers to do likewise. Kudos to these good business folks for finally seeing the light and embracing just wages. Just think of the great public relations this progressive step will have on future tourism: Sonoma acts to defeat poverty!
Does it get any better than this? Chamber of Commerce, are you now aboard?
Ralph Hutchinson June 11, 2013 at 01:36 pm
Maybe the Grange will also get onboard with Living Wages after whipping up the oyster debate into a…Read More froth? Yannick?.....any interest in a little grassroots movement to make a real difference here in Sonoma Valley instead of the oyster farms in Marin?
The Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary, The Grange, the Vintners and Growers Association....just imagine the movement that Darius Anderson principal of Kenwood Investments developer for the infamous Chateau Sonoma French style Hotel now a Jack London theme so we hear.
Lets march on to the Rohnert park Casino and organize their Unions as well for Station Casino, Darius Anderson's consulting client who has a very poor relationship with organized labor in Las Vegas.
A change to right the wrongs...time will tell.
sal nero June 7, 2013 at 08:59 am
"Protect Sonoma" is a political action committee paid for by the currently proposed 59…Read More room hotel's chief partner, Darius Anderson. It must not be forgotten that 10 years ago he attempted, against Sonoma's wishes, to shove an Indian Casino down our throats. Its fair to ask why his prospective competitors would now back him. They had to be promised something, right? What was it? Could it be they were promised higher year 'round room occupancy by way of a nearby CASINO? Since he won't apologize or even acknowledge his role in that endeavor 10 years ago suspicions are appropriate. Otherwise why wouldn't he publicly reassure Sonoma that another CASINO attempt isn't in the wings in an effort to sweeten the pot and gain support for his oversized Plaza hotel proposal, right? Shouldn't trust be earned?
Ralph Hutchinson June 7, 2013 at 11:03 am
Last year the hotels begged for promotion dollars, this year they want to dilute the market by…Read More flooding new inventory. For some reason this seems hypocritical and poor policy. There must be some other promises on the table because it doesn't seem realistic to support overbuilding into an already soft market. Is there some referral game going on? Some promise of Hollywood packing the streets of Sonomawood? Something is just odd here.
Chris Scott June 7, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Mr Nero, Mr Hutchinson;
Thanks. Did not notice the scroll bar on the right.
That’s a…Read More beginning of the committee’s disclosure. Still need the balance; the same as for any initiative. You’ve seen this as shown for any voter’s handbook and on any initiative’s web site. Also committee members comments/posts signature includes “Member of (or affiliated with) PSC.” Transparency. Chris Scott