Regrowth after the Sonoma County fires. Credit: Magnetic North Photography

Support Divestment and Public Banking! Together we can defund fossil fuels, protect indigenous and other at-risk communities, AND put money back into our local economy!

Endorse the resolution for a Public Bank of Santa Rosa today!

Great news! The interim CFO has set aside money for the feasibility study! But city staff and the council members are intensely busy with post-fire issues such as the homeless crisis, affordable housing, repairs, etc. We need to keep reminding them to start a public bank which will help the city financially to address these issues in the years to come. Please continue to show your support by gathering endorsements for our resolution. Urge the city to start a public bank as soon as possible.

Public Banking Benefits in Brief

Activists across the country are increasingly advocating for public banking as a way to ensure socially responsible banking by large institutions such as city and state governments, whose accounts are too big to be insured by local banks. Public banking also offers tremendous local financial benefits, desperately needed in the aftermath of the fires as the City of Santa Rosa will remain in severe financial crisis to build new housing, replace infrastructure, etc. for the unforeseeable future:

• Public banking can cut the cost of infrastructure IN HALF. This can be achieved by financing through the city's own bank, eliminating interest paid on bonds and returning the earned interest to the city's own operating budgets.

• It will save millions in banking fees to Wall Street banks.

• A public bank can actually boost the growth and success of local banks and credit unions, which in turn results in more local investment. As a wholesale bank, it does not compete with local banks and credit unions. The Public Bank of Santa Rosa would partner with local banks and credit unions to provide affordable credit to fund small businesses, student loans, housing construction, public infrastructure and clean energy programs.
• It can enable the city and other institutions to divest from banks which invest heavily in fossil fuels, which threaten and harm indigenous people, other poor communities - and the future of all of us.

• I​t will help keep​ our​ money local.

It's clear our cities will need more and more money to address and adapt to climate change. It is an idea whose time has come.

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Updates From Our Facebook Page

(Facebook feed is currently down. You can go directly to the Facebook page for updates by clicking here.)

Cities and States Considering Starting a Public Bank

[Updated 7/13/2018] Officials in several states as well as concerned citizens and local politicians across the country are actively investigating and pursuing public banking to address chronic budgetary shortfalls as well as address social, ethical and environmental concerns.

18 Cities:   Los Angeles, CA  •  Oakland, CA  •  Berkeley, CA  •  Alameda, CA  •  Santa Cruz, CA  •  Eureka, CA  •  San Mateo, CA  •  Palo Alto, CA  •  San Francisco, CA  •  Seattle, WA  •  Portland, OR  •  Washington, DC  •  Philadelphia, PA  •  Richmond, CA  •  Santa Rosa, CA  •  Denver, CO  •  Minneapolis, MN  •  Santa Fe, NM

10 States:   New Jersey  •  California  •  Alaska  •  Michigan  •  Vermont  •  New Hampshire  •  Massachusetts  •  Arizona  •  Illinois  •  Rhode Island

Existing Public Banks in the U.S.

North Dakota  •  American Samoa

Though up until this year, the US has had only one public bank, the Bank of North Dakota, there are many public banks throughout the world. To learn more about public banking, see our Facebook page and our Articles, Resources page.

Put your money where your solidarity is. -- Mazaska Talks (money talks)

Monthly Meeting
We've joined forces with the divestment team of Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock! Both groups meet on the same day of the month to make it easier for us to work together.

We typically meet on the 2nd Saturday* of every month from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Peace & Justice Center, 467 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa (map).

Newcomers welcome!

*Note: We do occasionally reschedule meetings, so please join our mailing list for updates, or check our Facebook Events page for meeting schedule.

Please Show Your Support!
[Updated 6/15/18]

1. Endorse our proposed resolution to establish a Public Bank of Santa Rosa. The more community support the better, the higher it will be on the city's priorities. The sooner it can help the community.
2. Ask local businesses and organizations to endorse.
3. Join the mailing list (very low traffic).
4. Write letters to the editor to the Press Democrat, the Bohemian, Sonoma County Gazette, etc.
   
5. Attend city council meetings to ask council members to approve a feasibility study as soon as possible. (We will notify you of meetings via the mailing list or check the city calendar.)
   
6. Attend our meetings to strategize.
7. Like our Facebook page for occasional updates. Like our posts to share them.
8. Get the word out!