Planning Commission Chair Kari Birdseye has her sights set on a council seat. (File photo)
After three years on the Planning Commission, including a year and a half as its chair, Kari Birdseye is ready to continue serving the city in a bigger way, hence why she is running for the City Council.
“(It’s) the natural next step in my service to Benicia,” she said.
Birdseye received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Francisco State and spent 11 years working in Atlanta as a producer for CNN, where she was part of a team that won an Emmy for covering the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Olympics. In between the birth of her daughter Julia and her son Joey, Birdseye moved her family to Benicia in 2000. Julia is now a freshman at SF State, and Joey is a junior at Benicia High School.
Upon returning to California, she began working with the Wine Institute, a San Francisco-based trade association of California wineries where she helped develop the Code of Sustainable Wine Growing practices.
“It’s a workbook that puts together all the best practices in the vineyards and the wineries, and it teaches folks to evaluate themselves through this workbook,” she said. “It allows them to become more environmentally sound and lessen their footprint.”
Birdseye went back to school and got a master’s degree in environmental management and became an agricultural sustainability consultant. She became a press secretary for the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice and is currently the strategic communications manager for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Throughout her time in Benicia, Birdseye has been involved in volunteering and civic engagement. When her children were attending Matthew Turner Elementary School, she served on the Parent Teachers Association board and volunteered in the classroom and for annual fundraising events. When her children reached the middle school level, Birdseye served on the board for the Benicia Stingrays swim team, including a stint as president. From here, she began serving on the Human Services Board which helps administer grants the city gives to nonprofit organizations.
“I got to learn a lot about our small town through that work,” she said.
In 2015, Birdseye applied to the Planning Commission to put her environmental and planning background to work while serving her community. In 2017, she was appointed to chair following the retirement of Donald Dean.
“It’s been very rewarding,” she said. “I have a background in working in environmental impact reports and doing environmental work, so I find that a good fit for me and very valuable.”
Since announcing her campaign, Birdseye has been going door to door to talk to residents about their concerns. One issue she said came up a lot was the City Council’s 2012 decision to adopt new water and sewer rate increases due to aging infrastructures after a six-year hold, resulting in households paying more for water usage. Birdseye said she understood the council’s reasoning but felt it could have been communicated better.
“I do think addressing the historic, crumbling infrastructure that our city had in delivering our water was the right thing to do,” she said. “I think it could have been handled differently, and I pledge to communicate and better inform our community ahead of big issues like that.”
In regards to an Industrial Safety Ordinance debate, Birdseye said she supports installing air quality monitors throughout Benicia and having the council look into a draft ordinance.
“I think the city needs to take steps to have a partnership with Valero to ensure that Valero is the best neighbor it can be,” she said. “The intention of the draft ordinance is a good one, and I think it needs to be reviewed by City Council.”
A top priority for Birdseye is having the city diversify its tax base, especially in the Industrial Park.
“Our Industrial Park is a jewel, and it should be more than just warehouses,” she said. “We should be bringing exciting, wonderful companies to our Industrial Park that help us stay a full-service city.”
Other major goals for Birdseye include maintaining Benicia’s small-town and historic feel, ensuring access to clean air and water and “being a good neighbor at City Hall.”
“What that means is always being a good listener to our residents, making City Council meetings a friendly place to be and having a discussion with our community around the big issues that face us all here,” she said. “I think, at the Planning Commission level, I’ve done a good job at having rich discussions with our community members about permitting processes and different issues that come before the Planning Commission, and I intend to do the same thing on the City Council if I’m elected.”
For more information on Birdseye’s campaign, visit birdseyeforbenicia.com.
Birdseye’s opponents in the City Council race are retired carpenter William Emes, Economic Development Chair Lionel Largaespada and former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge. The top two vote-getters will serve on the council with the candidate getting the most votes earning the title of vice mayor. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
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Yes she does go door to door and the picture of her big supporter Mayor Patterson joining her. Birdseye states she is not anti fossil fuel nor is she anti Valero. Well she has hitched her wagon to Mayor Patterson who just posted an article in the SF Chron on August 23, 2018 urging Governor Brown to end fossil fuel. Also sent on June 26, 2018 a Dear Governor Brown letter from California Elected Officials {which she signed} saying “end the issuance of permits for new fossil fuel projects”. Put the end to fossil fuel and the end to new permits together and there goes Valero. All sponsored by her big backer Mayor Patterson. Sorry Birdseye you along with your big supporter are anti fossil fuel and anti Valero. You then say candidate Birdseye you want to have a partnership with Valero. Sorry Birdseye you cannot have both. Now tell us your plan to diversify our tax base. Do you have a plan. Does not seem that you have. This city needs more than words it needs a well thought out economic plan. What is your though on out sourcing/contracting the City Attorney. Like to hear your thoughts on that. You have a lot of homework to do if you want to convince voters you are the one. Along way from that at present. Plans with results count not words. I will not support words.
To the self proclaimed “Owl” (a predatory bird that primarily functions in the dark)
Your words are often inflammatory and void of meaningful content. This is no different than your usual tiresome monologue….
The big problem Sista you do not want to hear the truth. So be it. I will continue to be myself.
Sista by making a personal attack on me does not solve the political problems your candidate faces. I would stick to those issues and not on me who is correct. Yes I am a Conservative Republican, Yes I did predict President Trumps victory and yes I strongly support our President Trump., This “Wise Old Owl” knows. I am wise and also old.
“We respectfully urge you to announce an end to new fossil fuel projects in our state and a just transition plan ending California’s existing oil and gas production. Given your leadership for countering the effects of climate change, we believe your upcoming Global Climate Action Summit in September presents a critical opportunity for California to continue driving transformational change.
In December 2015, nations of the world agreed in Paris to strive to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Staying within these climate limits will require governments to immediately halt the approval of new fossil fuel extraction and transition away from fossil fuels. The potential carbon emissions from the oil, gas, and coal in the world’s currently developed fields and mines would fully exhaust and exceed carbon budgets.
In April of this year, you received a letter from more than 750 environmental, health, justice, faith, labor, community, and consumer organizations from California and around the world, asking you to implement a plan to end permitting of new fossil fuel projects and phase out existing production. A just and equitable transition would protect workers, communities, and economies.
We strongly support that vision.
We need a just transition that ensures living wage jobs for the shrinking number of oil and gas workers. A plan to end new permitting must be accompanied by a very generous state investment to ensure economic security for these workers and also future work.
We regularly hear from constituents about the tremendous burdens that fossil fuel production places on our communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color. California is home to some of the country’s most polluted air basins. The pollution from oil and gas field operations and refinery facilities is a major contributor to the array of air quality related health problems that hurt our most overburdened communities.
For example, there are more than 3000 oil wells in Los Angeles County alone. Many are less than 100 yards away from residential areas. A 2018 report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found that living near an oil well increases the risk for short and long-term health effects. California should enact a health and safety buffer and rapidly decommission oil and gas production within a half mile of residences.
Even Californians who do not live next to an oil well are threatened by oil extraction, transport, and refining. In Santa Barbara, a pipeline ruptured in May 2015, spilling over 140,000 gallons of crude oil, at least 21,000 gallons of which made it into the ocean. In Richmond, an explosion at the Chevron refinery in 2012 sent more than 15,000 people to emergency rooms.
Climate change resulting from the continued development of oil and gas would exacerbate drought conditions, wildfires, and flooding. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, approximately 33,000 people in the San Francisco Bay Area are currently living in homes at risk of chronic inundation from sea level rise over the next 25 years – and by the year 2100, that number will increase to over 190,000 people.
Corporate interests continue to undermine our nation’s leadership in the global fight against climate change. California will need to lead the way on limiting fossil fuel extraction just as we have led in the transition to renewable energy. What applies to California need not apply to every state.
California is best equipped to take the next bold step in addressing the challenges of climate change. Thanks in large part to your leadership, we have already demonstrated our state’s ability to lead the way on climate action while benefiting our diverse and growing economy. California must continue its role as a laboratory for clean technology and carbon removal.
Ending the issuance of new permits for fossil fuel development and infrastructure will establish the standard for climate policy worldwide. Ending permits for new wells and enacting a health and safety buffer could keep 660 million barrels of oil, equivalent to 425 million metric tons of carbon pollution, in the ground through 2030.[1]
We believe that transformative climate leadership must include bold action on the production side of fossil fuels. As we look ahead toward the Global Climate Action Summit later this year, we urge you to take these necessary steps.”
“We strongly support that vision.”
This vision will result in utility costs doubling, $8 per gallon gasoline costs, food price inflation rates of 20% annually, etc.
So the vision you support is pain and suffering for the elderly and poor. Starvation of the neediest.
Nice vision. And you want to risk human suffering for unproven science and politics.
Shame!
Who is “you”, Matter?
I am quoting you, Mr. Petersen. Therefore you is you and others that believe “man made climate change” is more important than energy prices and how that reflects on food prices and other necessities. It’s one hell of a roll of the dice on your part.
I note that the above is in quotes. Thomas, what are you quoting and are you posting it because you are in favor of what it says or ??
As an aside, I think the Paris folks who believe that they can legislate to limit ave temp increase to 1.5 degrees C do not understand that insolation is not something that will listen to legislation. The sun will do what it wants…if it decides to get hotter…well, what’s an environmentalist whacko to do?
The filthy petroleum industry is on the way out in this state. The clean cannabis industry is taking over. Liquid old out, liquid gold in.
That is news to me Stan. When are they leaving?
Cannabis revenues will replace petroleum revenues????
Hahahahahaha!
Thank you so much, Med Man! I haven’t laughed that hard in quite a while.
BTW … I have a high speed rail system I’d like to sell you.
Stan you are dreaming. Four refineries in Contra Costa County for 100 years. One in Benicia for 50 years. Just where have you been. There will be cannabis in Benicia but done the way the residents/voters want it. Not done by a group ,of Progressive Socialist. Take a long look at who you are supporting.
Thank you for confirming that candidate Birdseye is anti fossil fuel and anti Valero. The voters will like that info. She says she is not.
As is usual in politics anymore, there is no one running that I would be willing to vote for…but there are 2 or 3 that I will happily vote against. This is one of them.
Birdseye is being criticized for refusing to be interviewed by organized labor for an endorsement. Fact is, everyone that won in 2016 was not endorsed by organized labor or big real estate interests. This was a smart tactical move by Birdseye. Benicia voters appear to be extremely suspicious of anyone endorsed by organized labor or big real estate. Organized labor supported the bomb train terminal and big real estate wants new homes. No big housing development will assure our property values continue to climb amidst a Bay Area shortage. In-fill housing only to put our local contractors to work.
Organized labor interests in Benicia, post bomb terminal, favor a large housing development that will generate thousands of mixed-trade jobs. The endorsement of big real estate goes hand in hand with an eye towards a big hou$ing development. In our charming town, the only place to drop a project like this is on the Seeno property. Benicia voters rejected all candidates in 2016 that were directly involved with big real estate or endorsed by labor and real estate. Birdseye did not blink in rejecting a sure loser of an endorsement, based on past performance. This is being painted as an insult to hard-working men and women, but there are also hard-working men and women that are not part of a collective bargaining units.
We have already seen an indication of support for a housing project from [______] and an absence of rejection of same by {_________}. The Seeno family would make money in perpetuity by cultivating the potent indica cultivars that are the basis for most medicinal cannabis formulations. Indicas would thrive in the breezy hills at about the same latitude as their roots in Afghanistan. The stagnant mindset of some of our candidate choices favor something being built at Seeno. It would be several orders of magnitude more profitable to grow cannabis there, either in mixed-light greenhouses or outdoors. We are already planning purple-pipe water to the petroleum industry and Seeno is right across the street.
Benicia voters are cautious as to what motivates candidates endorsed by labor and real estate. In my opinion, this is an indication that they are regarded as the most pliable for a big housing project, and a weak force against rising pension obligations. As previously stated, I am a former member of a collective bargaining unit and my father was a Teamster. I have no beef with organized labor, but the fact is Benicia voters have demonstrated they are not warm to candidates endorsed by same.
Sorry Med Man you talk like a Progressive Democrat Socialist. That is not name calling that is political ID. No more than that. Yes the planning commission ran the developer out of town just as the mayor did. Birds of a feather are candidate Birdseye and Mayor Patterson. The so called development of the Seeno property is now seen as a must with many great ideas and most supported by the residence. In developing a mini Del Webb project of a 350 houses without a golf course and with solar, gray water and no school needed. With a police station funded by the developer and a fire station co-funded by the city and Valero. Surround that with a retail project with many choices and a very forward looking Industrial PARK IN A CAMPUS ATMOSPHERE. THAT WILL GO OVER BIG TIME WITH OUT SCARE TACTICS. BY SCARE TACTICS I MEAN THE HEADLINE THE VICE MAYOR young USED “900 HOMES”. THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THE SEENO PROJECT HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF POSITIVE FEED BACK BY THIS TYPE OF APPROACH. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED ,BY WHO. I MUST NOTFORGET THE CAR DEALERS OF ONLY ELECTRIC AND HYBRID CARS ALL UINDER ONE ROOF/OWNERS. TRY A LITTLE INOVATION MED MAN RATHER THAN SILLY RHETERIC THAT GOES NO WHERE. IT WILL AND CAN HAPPEN. IF YOUR CANDIDATE IS STILL A VERY STRONG NO ON THE DEVELOPEMENT OF THE SEENO PROBERTY WITHOUT TRUE AND VERY SIMPLE NEGOCIATION SKILLS SHE HAS LOST THE RESIDENTS/VOTER. THE COST IN THE FUTRE OF CALPERS IS GOING TO DISRUPT SERVICES IN THIS CITY DRAMATICALLY. AS WE SEE ON THE SEPT. 3RD AGENDA IS A PROPOSAL TO OUT SOURSE THE city ATTORNEY. HOW SHALLOW THAT IS. YOUR CANDIDATE HAS SHOWN NO INDICATION OF ECONOMIC SKILLS AND THERE FORE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OR NEEDS OF THIS VERY FINE CITY. THIS CITY IS TIRED OF THE DIRECTION THE MAYOR AND NOW VICE MAYOR ARE TAKING THIS CITY. THE MAYOR AND BIRDSEYE ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE QUASI SHADOW GOVERNMENT IF BIRDSDEYE IS ELECTED. NOT HER TIME NOW OR EVER. Sorry for the caps. Not shouting just unintended.
Mayor Patterson and her clone, Birdseye, are not sound economically. The city of Benicia has serious, critical, budget issues coming forward. The CalPERS payouts, according to the city manager, will quadruple within 10 years! From $3 million annually to $15 million. We need revenue!
The mayor and her clones somehow see salvation by limiting downtown entertainment, restraining the industrial park, limiting new development, and attempting to push Valero out of our town!
Again, where are we to find the needed to revenue to fund the upcoming liabilities? Does the mayor and Birdseye just plan on $1000 per month water bills! A city imposed income tax?
Please answer the question. How do the progressives plan to finance the future increased liabilities?
That is a very easy question to answer Matter. The liabilities will be met with tax increases that are presented as maintaining our way of life, meaning police, fire, library, and other city services. They will not say the increase are needed for increased pension liabilities. We the taxpayers will be threatened with a reduction in services and my bet is the average voter will go along hook, line, and sinker.
Probably true…one recent example, I got my $400 water bill in the mail yesterday. Sure I wanted to strangle everyone in local government, but then decided I didn’t want to spend my few remaining years in jail. Now, if someone else has terminal cancer, maybe he/she would go hunting! Just kidding, but there is a serious note to it…people can be pushed only so far. Folks generally believe in value for services rendered. The renters seem to get a free ride compared to home owners…and guess what, they outnumber us, too. Guess who gets pandered to when it comes to government?
That was good. The “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” candidate Birdseye and mayor Patterson think the water rates are fine and plan on doing nothing about it., I do believe there is a candidate that will.
$400?? You must be watering a very big yard or overwatering or you have a leak. My yard is green, looks great and the bill was $250. And $150 of that was sewer. by the way benicia water rates are average for the Bay Area but sewers rates are through the roof compared to others.
The real problem is that the rates went way up for new projects yet the budget carryover from last fiscal year was over $10 million!! That means budgeted projects were not done!!
Yah, in order to keep the trees-that the city won’t let me get rid of alive-I have to water more than I could get away with. But I do like green vistas, it helps lower my blood pressure (I wonder if I could get away with writing the water bill off as a medical expense? 🙂
You are correct, though, our sewer rates have sky’d; again, through city mismanagement over the past 3 decades–but then we were putting raw sewage into the marina at one time, so we had to do it.
Agreed John. The SEIU runs the state and the media. We will be bombarded with the message “we must pay or we will have no police, firemen, and services … to cut spending you will be for starving the poor and emergency workers ..”
They never mention extravagant and ridiculous CalPERS plans.
The big issue is CalPers. In about 2000 CalPers was close to zero. by 2030 it will be over 14 million. If we do not have economic development by way of the BIP and the Seeno property plus other small new business we are in a world of hurt. Yes we will get some help from cannabis store front sales and the BIP. But not as estimated at about 1.5 million per year. Even if that did happen within two years CalPers increases will swallow that up and we are right back where we started. The recent projection of 1 million in excess budget funds mainly came from unfilled positions.. They will be filled. keep your eye on the city council lead by the mayor and vice mayor on out sourcing/contract. First up is the City Attorney as our present City Attorney is retiring. On the agenda as an item for consent without discussion unless pulled. Then watch Fire, Police and maybe even the Library back to the county. Even possible our water treatment plant. Once they get it going it will not stop. Why is that? Very simple lack of the know how on the City Council by the mayor and vice mayor. Now they want to add the lock vote in Birdseye. NOT GOOD.
Our mayor supports the future financial destruction of our city! Please note! And she fully supports Birdseye for city council.
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/06/26/benicia-mayor-leading-push-to-end-fossil-fuel-production-in-california/
http://californiaelectedofficials.org
Thank you for posting that link, Mr. Peterson.
California is in the throws of bankruptcy due to excessive CalPERS unfunded liabilities. The citizens of California, already taxed at the highest levels nationally, will need to pay more. Much more.
Now, we have politicians trying to push even more revenue out of the state by this idiotic measure to eliminate oil companies from California! And the mayor of Benicia, our city that is totally reliant upon Valero for survival, wants to eliminate 50% of our revenues!
Wake up Benicia! mayor Patterson and candidate Birdseye openly advocate for the elimination of 50% of the city revenues, at a time when CalPERS expenditures are set to rise 400% in the next 10 years!
Patterson and Birdseye, please answer the question, “How do you plan to fill the city coffers with the closure of Valero and the required funding of CalPERS?”
Please answer the question. We are waiting …
Sorry they will never answer that question. They have no answer.
Thomas there was a letter to Gov. Browns which clearly stated “End the issuance of fossil fuel permits” on June26,2018 which you referenced. Then there was the article co-authored by the mayor on Aug, 23, 2018. It stated to clearly phase out fossil fuel. I urge everyone to read both not just cherry pick. The mayor who walks hand and hand with a ring in the nose of Birdseye is anti fossil fuel very clearly stated and anti Valero. Yes Birdseye is anti fossil fuel and anti Valero. I do not care what she says on the campaign trail. VOTERS BEWARE.
MATTER AND JOHN I KNOW YOU TWO ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUES IN THIS CITY . Candidate Birdseye is clueless about the CalPers issue. Why I will never know. I have only been writing about it for five years. I guess she does not follow the financial issues of Benicia. She is not the one to be elected to our very fine city as a councilmember. All she will do is follow both the mayor and vice mayor. Three votes and the “Quasi Shadow Government” takes over. SO NOT ELECT CANDIDATE BIRDSEYE?”.
Big oil is going extinct in California. It’s interesting that buffers are being considered to protect people from the filth that spews from refineries around the clock. The state effort to drive out big oil is putting a knot in the knickers of local dinosaurs and big oil stooges. Yes, I am anti-big oil all the way.
Gasoline prices steadily rising, above four dollars a gallon now, after taxes.
Cannabis oil prices holding steady, at three hundred thousand and above dollars a gallon, before taxes.
Med Man, You honestly, truly think that cannabis business can replace the revenues produced by Valero for the city of Benicia?
You honestly believe that? I’m having a very difficult time believing you are serious or just stoned out of your mind.
Wrong. There will always be an evolving strategy of promoting an energy consumption revolution to curb irrational energy consumption, promoting an energy supply evaluation to establish a diverse supply system, promoting an energy technology revolution to drive industry upgrade, and promoting energy system advancements to open up a fast lane for energy development. The subjectivity that we see from some today is firmly rooted in the formative affluence experienced by the post-war generations. It lead large swaths of people to take their material security for granted, Post-material values will continue to increase in the publics of advanced industrial societies through the process of intergenerational replacement.
Dreck. Lots of words but not much sense. Second long sentence, for example–all you really said is capitalism will find places to make profit from energy. Next several sentences–Baby Boomers have a lot of money. and enjoy material acquisitions, but they’ll die off and be replaced by people who don’t want material worth and security.
Dreck.
Speaker, dreck? Is that German? It seems you are are not really seeing the big picture. Maybe you are cherry picking a bit. BTW Do you know what the German word for cherry is?
Dreck is english-means rubbish. Monosyllables are more powerful conveyors of emotion than polysyllables (see Churchill’s speeches). What does Kirsch have to do with anything?
I see the big picture just fine…in fact, one of the most frequent accidents we officers in the submarine force trained for was “LOBPA” which is “Loss of Big Picture Accident”…which just meant that the guy was focusing on the little stuff but missed the fact that the core was melting.
Wrong “dreck’ comes from the German word for dirt.
“What does Kirsch have to do with anything?” . Really, not very much (probably par for the course). However, I am a student of languages and I was just thinking how a nice word like “cherry”, when translated, can become such a harsh and unpleasant sounding word like “Kirsch”. Sounds like the noise my cat makes when coughing up a hairball. LOL!
Irrational energy consumption? Huh?
Post-material values? What?
Gobbly goop! Carbon based energy usage will decline as next generation energy becomes economically viable. Maybe 150 years and we have plenty of supply of carbon energy to span that period. Energy consumption will continue to grow as markets and populations grow. People will consume. People will continue to pursue happiness in this material world.
Your logic seems to be, we as humanity wish to consume less and suffer more all because we have the higher goal of becoming deprived in order to live in an immediate carbon free world. And somehow we won’t want material goods. Idealism run amok.
“Your logic seems to be, we as humanity wish to consume less and suffer more all because we have the higher goal of becoming deprived in order to live in an immediate carbon free world. And somehow we won’t want material goods. Idealism run amok.“. This seems to be a very simplistic and flawed understanding of what was written. That aside I fail to see what your point is, other than just arguing for the sake of arguing.
The patterns of materialism and consumption we’ve seen over the last half century are unsustainable. Prove me wrong.
How am I to prove your idealistic statement of prove me wrong? A question that has no answer and you know it. Fascile logic. Shame.
Look at history. Capitalism and pursuit of happiness and profit works. Socialism fails every time. 100%. Proven.
Pure copout on the first part.
One the second part, not sure why you are bringing up socialism, but fails 100%? You might want to check you facts.
I find it very strange that it appears the Mayor and Vice Mayor are against overturning the gas tax. Pro 6. Now how can you in one moment want to eliminate fossil fuel and be anti Valero but in another moment want the fossil fuel gas tax. The mayor and candidate Birdseye are very confused on this issue. Sorry candidate Birdseye that is the danger of being lead around town by anti fossil fuel Mayor Patterson who is also anti Valero. Just what is the rationale of all of this. Do you know or are you just trying to win on a popularity vote of all the Progressive Benicia Democrat Socialist. Another words big business and the tax payers are our bank along with Valero. Not good Candidate Birdseye. Yes you have more explaining to do. I wonder if any cannabis issue comes before the Planning commission before the election if candidate Birdseye will recuse herself. After all if she is elected to the council that would be an item the council will have to vote on. Cannabis is your very painful fear moving forward along with financial issues. More homework is necessary to answer these very important questions.
Did any of you stop by and see the Community Outreach Director {Community Outreach} sound familiar? who is proposing ,opening a cannabis Dispensary and Art Gallery on 160 N Street. Open again on Sept. 8th 12:PM to 3:00 PM for more info.Willing to pay about $17,000 a month in rent plus the $20,000 non refundable application fee. Residential area that is not good. Just what does candidate ,Birdseye ,and her pro cannabis backer councilmember Young have ,to say about that. RESIDENTIAL AREA. Problem not in my backyard but some ones other than my backyard is Ok., . Really. More homework and explaining to do. “Birds Of A Feather Flock Together”.
Great Discussion on Climate Science:
https://bit.ly/2yDgODJ
OK, what exactly did you find that was Great in that video? We have a well meaning woman scientist speaking about social science and not hard science. Her conclusion is to find ways to make climate change personal with everyone…Why is that a good idea? If climate change is happening (and I do think it is) what good does it do to get folks to agree it is changing? We are getting more violent storms, more severe droughts, yadda yadda. How does Joe Shmo not turn into Chicken Little when he/she does understand? Prefer to treat folks like mushrooms…panic kills.
“ If climate change is happening (and I do think it is) what good does it do to get folks to agree it is changing?“. I can certainly see that as one approaches the end of ones life that one might fall into the ignorance is bliss mindset. However, for those that might have some time, and who might have to deal with the ramifications of the changes in their lifetime, having a contingency plan is well advised. Those elderly folks who believe in hopes and prayers, and that there is a world beyond this, need not apply.
Several questions involved:
Is climate changing? Yes! Climate always is changing. It never will stop changing. Man or no man, climate will change. There is 100% agreement with this statement.
Mankind affects climate change? Yes, most likely. Most of the scientific community agree that human activity has some affect on climate change.
How much affect does human activity have on climate change? This is where science debates. No consensus. Some, a minority, state human activity has a huge affect. Case in point, Al Gore. According to Gore and his gang, human life should be over by now. New York should be under water. Do I need to say more?
Most scientists believe human activity does have some impact on climate change. How much… no one really knows. So what do we do?
Some, like Mr. Peterson, would change everything now. Make petroleum products go away. No worry about human suffering, price impact on food and energy, possible starvation and bankruptcy of the welfare system due to energy costs. Mr. Peterson has argued that this is the costs of advancement. We need to cut consumerism, live with less, do without, even suffer, as this is the cost of solving the alleged immediate threat imminent disaster due to climate change.
I, and most learned people,argue that this panic moment is not logical and unneeded. Why should humanity suffer, the poor suffer, on unproven science that immediate human economy needs sudden and catastrophic change.
Most science believes we have time. Our economy will evolve to other energy sources, clean sources, in the next 100 years. Why destroy our economy and cause suffering of the poor on a whim? Unproven science? It’s one hell of a gamble of other people’s lives to argue other wise.
Mr. Mater, Has fallen into the routine pattern of making assumptions and using broad brush strokes. There is nothing learned about that.
Contingency plans for climate change can fall into three categories-1) People are contributing to climate change so we can change behavior (Paris legislators). 2) People are not contributing to climate change so we should prepare to move to the poles where it will remain cooler (colonize Antarctica). 3) People may or may not be contributing to climate change so we can talk about it to death.
That pretty much sums up my attitude about it. Got a furnace for when it gets cold, got Air Conditioning for when it is too hot (here in Benicia about 10 days a year). Got money to pay the bills. In the words of Alfred E. Neumann, “What, me worry?” I have no dog in this hunt.
That’s nice.
Birdseye is a full blown environmentalist. Nothing wrong with that except it comes financially on the backs of low income and the middle class. Does she think Benicia is a very wealthy city and the voters/residents can afford ,those increasers. I think she is in over her head on that.By being that she is for adding cost to electricity, water and anything that will cost the low income and the average wage earner in Benicia a cost of living increase. All so she can say she is saving the planet. Please get real.; Benicia City Council does not need another member that a ring in nose like Vice Mayor Young. A no vote for Birdseye.
OK, I don’t want Kari on the council. I also don’t want Christina since she helped create the water mess when she was there before. I don’t’ want Lionel because he failed to create the needed business development mentality in spite of his efforts. Can’t vote for Emes since he advocates conserving water as a “solution” to high water bills. Hey, I know we get the government we deserve, but this is just a dismal group of “volunteers”.
I just wish ONE candidate would promise to reduce city government by 20%…a town of 30K people doesn’t need the size government of a town of 100K people. We have bureaucracy out of control in this burg.
What you are saying sounds good. Except we are a full service city and very difficult to get below what we are now paying towards our budget. When CalPers goes up by $700,000/800,000 a year we are in a world of hurt. Cannabis could cover some of it. But anti fossil fuel./anbi Valero is the wrong approach. No on Birdseye. Lionel is your man.
I’ve watched the city government grow over 40 years of living here. Truthfully, city services are no better now than they were in 1978. Population in 1978 (according to the signs) was 24000 or so. We have only grown in population by about 20% but the size of government has more than doubled. The real reason we are broke is written in the beginning letter to the budget…the introduction by the city manager whines, “we lost 2 important people so with 40% fewer flunkies I can’t do my job–so I hire a consultant.” It doesn’t really say it that way, but the premise is there….I am an incompetent bureaucrat that cannot do anything by myself…I need someone to boss around so it LOOKS like I do something. I’m just sick of it.