Santa Rosa City Schools trustees have approved a massive $34 million budget plan that eliminates over 100 staff positions to stave off a state takeover. The Press Democrat reports the unanimous vote slashes entire groups of counselors and mental health therapists, moves that Board President Nick Caston says effectively “dismantles” the city’s largest mental health provider. The cuts are a response to what state analysts call the “worst cash crisis” in California. The plan also finalizes the June closures of Steele Lane Elementary and Hilliard Comstock Middle School. Impacted staff will receive layoff notices by March 15th.

Sebastopol is considering a major shift in its surveillance laws tonight, potentially easing some of the strictest privacy protections in Sonoma County.

According to the Press Democrat, the City Council is poised to amend an ordinance to allow police easier access to footage from privately owned security and doorbell cameras during investigations.

Currently, “ambiguity” in the law prevents the use of such footage without a council vote. The update would also let the department upgrade cameras at City Hall and the library without seeking repeated approval.

While the proposal streamlines traditional security footage, it preserves Sebastopol’s ban on facial recognition and still requires public hearings for high-tech tools like license plate readers.

The public hearing begins at 6:00 p.m. tonight at the Sebastopol Youth Annex.