With new revenue available soon from Measure G, city officials said immediate steps have been taken to begin its implementation.

Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

NAPA, CA —The city of Napa is set to begin collecting revenue April 1 from the 1-cent sales tax approved by voters last November.

With new revenue becoming available soon from Measure G, city officials said immediate steps have been taken to begin its implementation— including approving significant mid-year budget adjustments at the March 18 City Council meeting. Additionally, the city began accepting applications for the Measure G Citizens Oversight Committee March 20..

The City Council’s mid-year budget adjustments allocate approximately $5 million of Measure G’s first-quarter collections toward key projects aligned with the priorities expressed by Napa residents, including:

These initial investments reflect the city’s commitment to fulfilling the promises made to voters and addressing the critical infrastructure needs, city officials said.

Looking ahead, the city plans to enter preliminary negotiations with the Napa Valley Unified School District to purchase the Harvest Middle School property. The school, which remains intact, features a swimming pool, athletic facility and a gymnasium — offering a unique opportunity to fill gaps in Napa’s park and recreation system. This acquisition, likely supported by Measure G funding, could also help address multiple city priorities, including expanding affordable housing options and public spaces.

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Once formed, the five-member oversight committee will play an essential role in reviewing expenditures and ensuring funds are allocated to initiatives that reflect the needs and priorities of Napa residents.

"Public oversight is essential to maintaining trust in how these funds are utilized," said City Manager Steve Potter. "The Oversight Committee will provide an extra layer of accountability, ensuring that every dollar of Measure G funding is spent wisely, in alignment with community priorities and contributes to building a stronger Napa for all of our residents."

The committee will include five community members, with two positions requiring specific qualifications:

Committee members will be appointed by the City Council and serve two-year terms. In addition to providing an annual audit and report of Measure G revenues and expenditures, the committee will review projects, initiatives and city operations funded by Measure G.

Interested residents can apply online at CityOfNapa.org/MeasureG. Applications will be accepted through April 11.

See the city's Measure G webpage.

Napa, CA (March 27, 2025) – A pedestrian sustained injuries early Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident on State Route 12 near the 21471 block of Broadway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred around 7:02 a.m. on March 26. The reporting party indicated the crash happened directly in front of the address on Broadway, a segment of SR-12. Emergency services were immediately dispatched, and the injured pedestrian was transported to Sonoma Valley Hospital for medical treatment.

CHP logs state that the victim was unable to identify the vehicle that struck them. As of now, the driver involved remains unidentified, and the incident is being investigated as a felony hit-and-run.

Authorities continue to review evidence and speak with potential witnesses in hopes of locating the suspect vehicle. No additional information has been released about the severity of the victim’s injuries.

Our thoughts are with the injured pedestrian, and we hope for a swift and full recovery.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crashes in California

The hit-and-run pedestrian crash on SR-12 near Broadway in Napa County reflects a troubling and all-too-frequent danger on California roadways. Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to injury or death in these incidents, and when the driver flees the scene, it adds an additional layer of trauma and injustice for the victim.

This crash occurred during early morning hours, a time when visibility may be limited and traffic patterns begin to intensify. SR-12 is a heavily traveled route through the Napa region, and while certain areas feature pedestrian accommodations, many sections—particularly those near rural or semi-urban stretches like Broadway—lack crosswalks or lighting.

Hit-and-run drivers face serious legal consequences in California, but for victims, the emotional and physical toll often comes first. When the responsible party flees, recovery can be even more difficult due to insurance complications, delayed investigations, and unanswered questions. That’s why swift medical response, thorough scene investigation, and community cooperation are vital in these cases.

Pedestrians struck by vehicles may face long-term injuries such as fractures, head trauma, or soft tissue damage—conditions that require extended recovery, therapy, and support. In such cases, it’s essential to access both medical and legal resources promptly.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a hit-and-run pedestrian crash, Local Accident Reports can help you take the next steps. From connecting you with medical providers to helping you understand your options, we’re here to make sure you have the support you need. Contact Local Accident Reports today and let us help you move forward with clarity and care.

About a year ago, one prominent Napa vintner told me, “A lot of brands are dead, but they don’t even know it right now.”

At that point, last spring, it was becoming clear that the American wine industry was facing a major reckoning. It just wasn’t clear how intense that reckoning would become.

One of the clearest ways to understand this moment for American wine is in looking at winery closures: For the first time in a generation, the number of U.S. wineries declined in 2024. The West Coast’s winery count dropped by 4.3%, according to Wine Business Analytics.

In the Bay Area, we began to see notable wineries announcing closures in the middle of last year (Edmunds St. John, Carlisle, Brendel, Tarpon, Sbragia). The first three months of 2025 have delivered even more fallen soldiers, notably Napa’s Newton Vineyards. A slate of others — Brian Arden, Arista — have sold off their facilities while hoping to keep the brands alive in a different form.

“It’s going to be a slow decline,” said Dale Stratton, managing director at Napa consulting firm Azur Associates. “The 20-year run that we had as a wine category was phenomenal. As all of that consumption growth was happening, infrastructure was growing along with it to support it. As we see consumption moderate, we’re going to see some of that infrastructure” — vineyards, production facilities, tasting rooms — “go away too.”

In other words, there are too many wineries in the U.S. for the amount of wine that Americans currently want to drink. And just as vineyards across California are now being ripped out in an attempt to achieve market equilibrium, many wine producers will need to shut their doors too.

Some distressed wineries won’t close; they’ll sell. There’s been plenty of merger-and-acquisition activity in the wine industry in the past year, though Azur estimates that the total value of it, at $2.6 billion, was down in 2024 from the previous year’s $3 billion. Some of that was skewed, Stratton said, by the extremely discounted assets of Vintage Wine Estates, a major conglomerate that filed for bankruptcy in the summer.

More from Esther Mobley

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The crown jewel of this California wine region is selling to a mystery buyer. Here’s why locals are worried

Stratton expects to see a flurry of acquisitions in the coming year. He addressed the widely circulating rumor that Constellation, the country’s fifth-largest wine company, is trying to sell off all of its wine brands, which include Robert Mondavi, the Prisoner, Woodbridge and Domaine Curry, as reported by leading wine trade publication Wine Business. If true, Stratton said, it wouldn’t surprise him: “When you look at financial results, their beer business seems to be in a much stronger position,” he said. (Constellation sells Modelo and Corona.) “There have been analysts suggesting that maybe the wine business isn’t a great place for Constellation.”

Beer now represents nearly 82% of Constellation’s sales, according to the company’s annual earnings report, compared with wine’s 15.6%, a divide that has widened: Beer sales grew by 3% year-over-year in the third quarter of last year, while wine dropped by 14%. Strong as the beer business may have looked, however, Constellation was just dealt a blow by President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement. All of its beer that is produced in Mexico will now be subject to a 25% tax.

There is historical precedent for a diversified beverage company exiting the wine business. Coca-Cola and Nestle both invested in wine in the 1970s when they acquired wineries including Napa’s Sterling and Beringer, respectively. Both got out of wine in the following decades. Diageo, once a formidable wine corporation, sold off all of its wine brands in 2016 to focus on spirits.

How much worse can it get? “I would say that we seem to have leveled out in negative territory,” said Stratton. “As long as conditions stay where they are, we’ll continue to see activity in the M&A market and, more than likely, some people just shuttering facilities.”

You’re reading the Drinking with Esther newsletter. Reach Esther Mobley: emobley@sfchronicle.com

March 6, 2025

Patch loves photos! Share your photos with your local Patch, and your work could be featured.

Maggie Fusek, Patch Staff

NAPA, CA — It snowed Friday in Napa County, as shown in this photo from the California Highway Patrol.

It was a bit of a winter wonderland Friday on Highway 29 at Robert Louis Stevenson Park on Mount Saint Helena, the CHP said on social media.

"@chp_truckee and @chpsouthlaketahoe aren’t the only ones to enjoy the beauty of snow," CHP Napa wrote. "If you’re driving on Mt. St. Helena, please slow down and use the turnouts if needed."

Have you got the next incredible photo? If you have an awesome photo of nature, breathtaking scenery, kids caught being kids, a pet doing something funny or something unusual you happen to see, we'd love to feature it on Patch. We're looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty of the North Bay and show off your unique talents.

So, bring 'em on. No selfies. Not here.

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Send your photos to maggie.fusek@patch.com. Please include the following information: 1) photographer's first and last name; 2 ) time and day of photo/s; 3) location of photo/s; 4) what you love/don't love about the photo/s. Hope to see your work soon!