Press-sponsored Forum on SDC Draws Crowd

PANEL MEMBERS, from left, Phil Bronstein, Ryan Gabrielson, Coby Pizzotti,
Kathleen Miller and Jim Shorter listen to questions from the audience.
(Robbi Pengelly / Sonoma Index-Tribune)

Turn-out was very good Wednesday evening for the forum on Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC), which was held at Ramekins in Sonoma and sponsored by the Center for Investigative Reporting and the Sonoma Index-Tribune. Attendees included parents, staff, neighbors, at least a couple politicos, and other interested community members. The room was full.

Everyone who spoke spoke in support of SDC. People also let California Watch know that their articles had missed their mark (the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Office of Protective Services (OPS)) and instead had inappropriately targeted the Center. The general sentiment by the end of the meeting seemed to be that people wanted to see SDC remain a resource for Sonoma Valley and the people who live there. Suggestions were also offered for how its contribution to the community could be expanded.

The Sonoma Index-Tribune has published a report of the evening. You can find it at SDC forum opens dialogue, by John Capone, 01.31.2013. California Watch has also published its report at Sonoma disability center staff weighs in on abuse claims, by  Amy Julia Harris, 01.31.2013.

[Note: For what it's worth (and from someone who attended the forum), not everyone who spoke on abuse claims was a staff member of SDC.]

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Watch for more updates in the next issue of the Gazette, which will go out in the next couple of weeks and is always posted on the Resources page of the main PHA website.