North Bay Report 3

There may be some confusion about all the money being collected by and distributed locally after the North Bay fires. Funders and nonprofits convened this week in Rohnert Park to get some clarity.

At a “Resilience Convening” meeting this week, more than 150 community nonprofits gathered in Rohnert Park. They heard from some of the organizations that have sprung up since the North Bay fires to collect and distribute funds for the recovery. Elizabeth Brown, CEO of Community Foundation, Sonoma County welcomed the attendees – including KRCB news director Steve Mencher - with an insight into what everyone in the room has been grappling with for nearly two months since the fires…

If you’d like to listen to the entire 90 minute meeting of funders and nonprofits, visit our website at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

So here’s a question for renters – If you were forced to evacuate your home during the fires, do you still owe rent for that time?

Before the North Bay fires, Sonoma County was in a housing crisis. Now, the squeeze is even worse.

Several dozen people met Monday in Santa Rosa to talk about the fire’s effects on renters and the homeless. Reporter Steve Mencher was there as Kendall Jarvis of Sonoma County Legal Aid provided answers to questions about renters’ rights.

These “conversations around the fire” will continue in December. More at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Can lessons be learned from 2015’s Valley Fire as local homeowners begin the long and sometimes difficult process of working with insurance companies? As trucks continue to haul away the remains of homes burned in the North Bay fires, homeowners are beginning to deal with the next big step in recovery – claiming their insurance. KQED’s Sukey Lewis talked with homeowners, insurers and state officials. She started in Lake County, where the Valley Fire destroyed homes in 2015 and some residents are still fighting to get their payouts. Today’s report was part of our continuing project to share news of the fire and recovery with KQED’s California Report. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

We’re hoping that people in our battered region are finding ways to be thankful this holiday weekend. The family behind the Frey Winery in Redwood Valley is looking toward the future, as they rebuild their business after the North Bay fires. Four generations of the Frey family live and work at their winery in Redwood Valley. It was the first organic and biodynamic winery to open in the US. The October wildfires destroyed many structures on the site, while sparing most of the vineyards and the main house on the property. From KQED’s The California Report, April Dembosky takes us to the vineyard where the family is trying to figure out how to rebuild its business.This report is part of our partnership with KQED to share coverage of the North Bay fires and recovery. Find a link to April’s original story, plus other stories from our ongoing coverage at KRCB.org/news.

A family crammed into a one-bedroom apartment will be finding ways to enjoy the holiday today. They are thankful to be together, and hopeful that the future will sort itself outThe Espinoza family plans to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner in the one bedroom apartment they’ve been sharing since the North Bay fires. Between the parents and kids, the family lost two homes as flames rushed through Redwood Valley in Mendocino.Like them, many families are living in tight quarters this holiday season – some in hotel rooms, others in the first FEMA trailers, still others staying with friends and relatives.This report is part of our partnership with KQED to share coverage of the North Bay fires and recovery. Find a link to April Demboksy’s original story, plus more of our ongoing coverage at KRCB.org/news.

An international group led by Palestinian Christians is presenting a conference on Middle East issues in Santa Rosa next week. Friends of Sabeel North America defines itself as a Christian ecumenical group. Its Northern California chapter is assembling Christian, Muslim, Jewish and secular leaders to discuss the complicated political struggles in Israel and Palestine. News director Steve Mencher talked with conference organizer Therese Maughannam. There's more at KRCB.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

“Outrageous. Unacceptable. A dereliction of duty.” That’s the response from Representatives Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman to a Trump administration request for disaster relief that leaves out money for Northern California fire recovery.

Is the Trump administration playing politics with disaster relief? That’s the implication of a statement released on Friday by Representatives Jared Huffman and Mike Thompson. Representative Huffman spoke with KRCB news director Steve Mencher about the strongly-worded complaint.

Find more reporting on the North Bay fires and recovery efforts at krcb.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

How some immigrants reacted to the North Bay fires; a request from California's senators; and plans to rebuild the hospitality business. Yesterday, we heard about a new hotline that helps protect local immigrants who may be swept up in raids by Immigration officers. At the rally announcing the new Rapid Response phone line, news director Steve Mencher spoke with immigrant rights activist Anna Salgado. He asked whether her neighbors’ fears of deportation have been heightened by the North Bay Fires and how the hotline will help.Farida Jhabvala Romero’s report is part of KRCB’s partnership with KQED, generously sharing their fire-related coverage with our audience. Find links to Romero’s original story on local tourism, and more of our own reporting about local immigrants, at krcb.org/news. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

A new communication system launched last week, with the goal of providing witnesses and support for immigrants subject to raids by ICE.

In the pouring rain last week, a coalition of groups announced a new initiative to protect immigrants in our community. The North Bay Rapid Response Network of Sonoma and Napa Counties aims to, in its words, “Witness, Accompany, Advocate and Defend” people who may be subject to immigration raids. Through a telephone hotline wedded to innovative communication software, trained legal observers and citizens agreeing to witness immigration raids can be contacted at any time.

The number for the new Rapid Response Network is 707-800-4544. For more on immigration issues, visit us at KRCB.org/News. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.

Yesterday, we talked with former Supervisor Efren Carrillo about the annexation of Roseland. Today, he’s back to talk about housing in the wake of the historic fires.

Former Supervisor Efren Carrillo is now director of governmental and community relations at Burbank Housing in Santa Rosa. The organization is grappling with the reality that an already tight housing market has gotten worse since the North Bay fires. Carrillo talked about affordable housing with KRCB news director Steve Mencher.

Former Supervisor Efren Carrillo, director of governmental and community relations at Burbank Housing in Santa Rosa. Find more at KRCB.org/News. Hear this story on demand with our free KRCB mobile app. You can also find this and past stories on our new North Bay Report Facebook page. Comment, share and give us a like there. Follow the North Bay Report on Twitter @KRCBNews.