Gayle Vaughan, the president of the League of Women Voters Benicia (Far left) introduces the City Council candidates (Left to right) Steve Young, Christina Strawbridge, Lionel Largaespada, George Oakes and Tom Campbell at the LWV’s candidate meet and greet event at the Benicia Public Library. Also present were the mayoral candiates Elizabeth Patterson and Mark Hughes. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)
Thursday evening was a night for Benicia residents to talk to their mayoral and City Council candidates as people, not as politicians, and also get them to answer their burning questions.
Benicia’s League of Women Voters hosted a candidate meet and greet in the Dona Benicia Room of the Benicia Public Library, where citizens could mingle with their local candidates while enjoying appetizers and wine or water. The event drew a healthy turnout of between 50 and 100 people.
Of course, it was also an opportunity for the candidates to make another pitch through a short, prepared statement. All seven candidates explained their backgrounds and positions.
The first to speak was Planning Commissioner Steve Young, who discussed his role in the Valero Crude-By-Rail Project. Young was on the Planning Commission that voted 6-0 in February to deny certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and did a lot of research into the project.
“I wasn’t allowed to ask any questions until the end of the process,” he said. “That’s the way the staff had set it up. For this three-and-half year period, we sort of sat there listening to people’s concerns, and when we finally had a chance to ask questions, I had three and a half years worth of questions to answer.”
Young also noted that as the council recently voted 5-0 to deny the project, Benicia could move on to discuss other issues facing the community, including the proposed Northern Gateway development.
“I’m not in support of the project as it is proposed right now,” he said, citing concerns of the location’s distance from schools and the fire department. “In reality, that property will be developed someday, but I would rather see the city decide what’s gonna go there. The city ought to have a plan for what they’d like to see out there, rather than reacting to a developer’s proposal.”
Next up was Councilmember Christina Strawbridge who talked about her experiences in retail being the owner of Christina S Fashion Destination on First Street.
“Retail is difficult in this day and age,” she said. “The market is different. A lot of people are buying online, there’s off-price shopping, there’s a lot more competition than when I first started in a department store back east.”
Strawbridge also talked about her experience as being the first market manager of the Benicia Certified Farmers Market when it was established in 1993 and how important it is to serve the needs of downtown businesses.
“Downtown Main Street is a really important part of the vitality of our town, and the events are crucial to bringing you the residents but also tourists,” she said.
Economic Development Board Vice Chair Lionel Largaespada spoke afterwards. As the son of a father from Nicaragua and a mother from El Salvador, he referred to himself as a “first-generation American living the dream” and talked about how he and his wife moved to Benicia because the quality of life was unmatched. He stressed a need to improve aspects of Benicia while keeping its future in mind.
“I’ve been running because I believe this is the election, this is the time to diversify the points of view on our City Council,” he said.
Planning Commissioner George Oakes cited Benicia’s drinking water as an important issue.
“We need to find and maintain a reliable supply of drinking water and find a way to end our relationship that is so tightly controlled by the state,” he said.
Councilmember Tom Campbell, running for his fourth nonconsecutive term, praised the unity of the council and Planning Commission in their crude-by-rail vote and talked about some of his achievements on the council so far, including allowing transparent campaign finance laws so people can know who is funding the candidates. He also expressed optimism for Benicia’s future.
“I still get excited thinking about what goes on in Benicia and how we can improve it,” he said.
Vice Mayor Mark Hughes talked about the race between him and Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, stating that there was no bad blood in the campaign, just that they had different visions.
“We both love this community,” he said. “It’s not an election of good or bad. We just have different leadership styles.”
He also said that economic development needs to be a huge priority, and the city should be welcoming of any prospective developers looking to establish business in Benicia.
“There shouldn’t be obstacles,” he said. “There should be a welcome mat.”
Finally, Patterson spoke to the crowd, stating that Benicia needs to uphold its status as a forward-thinking city.
“I have a vision for Benicia for growing new jobs for millennials in clean tech, rebuilding our Industrial Park, which I think we should call Benicia Business and Industrial Park, for real jobs for engineers, programmers, manufacturing and not filling with warehouses,” she said.
She also cited the values that she believes a leader needs.
“Elections for leaders are best when they focus on issues of leadership for vision, courage and heart,” she said.
LWV will also be hosting a forum for District 3 State Senate, District 14 Assembly and Solano County supervisor candidates, Monday, Oct. 17 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the library, located at 150 East L St.
Sharing is caring!
This is a very good article written to get to all the candidate points. It did accomplish that and did give a good review of the candidates and their platforms on why the residents should vote for them. If you had been there you would have seen exactly as it was written. There was two comments made by Candidate Steve Young that did not go un-noticed by I believe two candidates. That was his remark on the 5/0 council vote to deny Valero the permit. He implied the vote was swayed by the upcoming election. That was a very BELOW the Belt comment. The other was his comment on his talking one night for three hours and continuing to talk the next night for one more hour. He said he had been criticisede for his time he talked. But worse yet he said there are people at the table that also were very critical of his grandstanding. This is a sure sign of a desperate candidate that has lost his one agenda issue. Steve the Valero permit was denied 6/0 and 5/0 that is 11/0.; Worse yet we all new who the candidates he was attacking.. They chose not to take the opening and respond back. Very classy candidates. Steve Young has been in town four years and he chooses to attack well respected candidate who have lived in tow for over thirty years each.. Bad move Steve Young and it will cost you and your partner candidate Mayor Patterson at the polls ., Steve Young you had a chance to show a very personal side of yourself and you failed. You came across as bitter and worn out. All the other candidates did very well and all are very worthy Benicia candidates. Steve Young you are not.
2016 Election Notes
Political Action Committee news you can use…
From the above article:
Councilmember Tom Campbell, ” … talked about some of his achievements on the council so far, including allowing transparent campaign finance laws so people can know who is funding the candidates.”
Well stated, Dr. Campbell.
How many voters realize who has funded Mark Hughes in his two active campaigns in 2005 and 2009. Well those “transparent campaign finance laws’ i.e. the public documents show quite clearly if you are willing to take the time and research the topic that Mr. Hughes has accepted $12,350 from 13 different PAC’s all outside our voting jurisdiction.
If you include in this election cycle, Lionel Largaespada and Christina Strawbridge who are all being touted by the Benicia Police Officers Association–the total rises to 16 PAC’s and the amount totals out to $13, 750. Source: Campaign Disclosure Statements of the candidates.
So far 16 outside PAC’s have contributed to Hughes, Largaespada, and Strawbridge vs. “0” or none for Patterson, Steve Young and George Oakes.
We have also learned that the BPOA has filed (Sept.29,2016) an Independent Expense Report in support of Mark Hughes. They have raised $20 thousand collected from 27 of their officers. To be clear, Mr. Hughes didn’t solicit these funds. This is an independent action of the BPOA. They have thus far used some of this cash to buy lawn signage indicating their support for Mr. Hughes. Can we expect the rest of the money to be used inundating our mail boxes with expensive slick mailers in the days and weeks ahead of our upcoming election?
Being curious about the BPOA I spoke with the Senior Analyst Kim Imbodden of our Human Resources Dept. . I wanted to know how many of our officers actually live here in Benicia. Answer: the bulk i.e. the majority do not live here . So we have a PAC of our police officers who do not live here and who cannot vote in “our’ election but are trying with cold hard cash to influence (some might say manipulate) our most sacred trust.
Key questions; Why is the BPOA involved in this election? Who is orchestrating this election charade? How many of our citizen-voters have a clue that this is going on in our little city? Will this be a campaign issue going forward?
Outside Political Action Committee’s are running roughshod over local election process and we still have 5 weeks before the election. It looks like a very bumpy ride ahead. Stay tuned.
2016 Election Notes—
Political Action Committee news you can use…
From the above article:
Councilmember Tom Campbell, ” … talked about some of his achievements on the council so far, including allowing transparent campaign finance laws so people can know who is funding the candidates.”
Well stated, Dr. Campbell.
How many voters realize who has funded Mark Hughes in his two active campaigns in 2005 and 2009. Well those “transparent campaign finance laws’ i.e. the public documents show quite clearly if you are willing to take the time and research the topic that Mr. Hughes has accepted $12,350 from 13 different PAC’s all outside our voting jurisdiction.
If you include in this election cycle, Lionel Largaespada and Christina Strawbridge who are all being touted by the Benicia Police Officers Association–the total rises to 16 PAC’s and the amount totals out to $13, 750. Source: Campaign Disclosure Statements of the candidates.
So far 16 outside (beyond our voting jurisdiction) PAC’s have contributed to Hughes, Largaespada, and Strawbridge vs. “0” or none for Patterson, Steve Young and George Oakes
Details below: Source: Public documents of the candidates, i.e. the campaign disclosure statements. They offer a treasure trove of information for the concerned citizen- voter.
Hughes: 2005: PAC Contributions before the election. Election Day Nov. 8, 2005.
1. IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) #180 PAC. Napa.$3000. Sept. 8, 2005.
2. Napa-Solano Building Trades, AFL-CIO. $100. Sept.16, 2005.
3. No. Regional Council. $300. Oakland. Oct. 4, 2005.
4. United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Steamfitters. $1,000. Vallejo. Oct. 18, 2005.
5. Cement Masons. Local 400 PAC. $100. Sacramento. Oct. 21,’05.
Post election contributions:
6.Valero PAC. $2500. San Antonio, Texas. Jan. 5, 2006.
A second contribution from: United Association of Journeymen Plumbers for $2500. Feb. 13, 2006.
Honorable mention cash gifts: PG&E. $2500. S.F. Oct. 26,’05. Scott Strawbridge. $500. Nov. 8,’05. Richard Bortolazzo (Coldwell Banker-Realtor). $2500. Nov.9,’05.
Hughes 2009 PAC Contributions:
1. Int’l. Assoc. of Heat and Frost Insulators. PAC $100. Alameda. Oct. 22, ’09.
2. Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447. Federal PAC. $500. Sacramento.
3. Firefighters Local 1186.PAC. $500. Vallejo.
4. Sheet Metals Workers Local Union 104. PAC. $250.00. San Ramon.
5 .No.Calif. Carpenter’s Carpenters Regional Council PAC.. $300. Oakland.
6. Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 467 PAC. $500. Burlingame.
7. Plumbing Industry Consumer Protection Fund. Local 159. PAC.$500. Martinez.
Honorable Mention cash gifts. Doug Comeau, vice president of of Valero two contributions. $450. Dec.15,’09.
Largaespada: PAC contributions:
1. IBEW PAC. $500. Napa. Sept. 1,2016.
Strawbridge: PAC Contributions.
1. Plumbing Piping and Mechanical PAC. $400. Sacramento. Sept. 7,2016
2. IBEW Local 180 PAC. $500. Napa. Sept.19,2016.
These are the 3 candidates that the Benicia Police Officers Association(PAC) are endorsing for mayor and council. So we have a city PAC touting candidates that are beholden to PAC’s all over the Bay Area and beyond. What do all these PAC’s have to do with our local election?
Hint: They represent the urban growth machine: defined as” the quantitative increase in the size of the urban built environment.” 1. Think: there is only one large piece of real estate left to exploit in this town and they (the PAC’s) are determined to secure candidates that they feel will represent their special interests.
Source: Better not Bigger: How to Take Control of Urban Growth and Improve Your Community .Eben Fodor. New Society Publishers.
Below: a Key quote for the community and our appointed and elected representatives to seriously ponder…
“Once, citizens automatically accepted the idea that growth–in numbers of people, in jobs, in industries–would ease the public burden by increasing the tax rolls and spreading per capita costs. now they have doubts. They seem to be expressing the belief that larger size reflects not only lesser quality but also higher costs. Pressed by inflation, they listen carefully to arguments about the hidden costs of growth.”
“The new mood reflects a burgeoning sophistication on the part of citizens about the overall, long term impact of development. Immediate economic gains from job creation, land purchases, and the construction of new facilities are being set against the public costs of schools, roads, water treatment plants, sewers, and the services new residents require.”
—-William K. Reilly, The Use of Land. 1973.
Mark Hughes says he has proven leadership and integrity. Elizabeth Patterson says she has experience you can trust. Which will it be Benicia?
Will “Pick and Choose” Gregory is at it again. He will not report Mayor candidate Hughes recent filing for 2016. This man lives in the past. This is a pure hit piece on three candidates that “Call Stocker” wants to demonize. This is the same man that did not appear in the paper Forum page for five years. Answer that one “Pick and Choose”; “Call Stocker” himself will not. This man discredits his favorite candidates Mayor Patterson and Steve Young. Did they designate him as their hit man. Kind of sounds like that. Very under handed dirty politics Will Gregory.
The better question is why are the Local C of C, Police and Fire, Teachers Assoc. supporting these candidates and not Mayor Patterson or Steve Young. These supporters are very close to the every day goings on in this city and they know who the better candidates are. Will “Call Stocker” Gregory does not. Pay no attention to Will his reputation is well documented. The Mayor even thanked him in 2011.
Just the facts…
1. I quoted Dr. Tom Campbell in the article written by the Editor of the Benicia Herald, Mr. Sestanovic.
2. Used the public documents i.e. the public records of our public officials from the City Clerk’s office to document the PAC’s that support the slate of candidates the BPOA stands behind. This is what you call Open Government. (supported by the city council led by Tom Campbell and Elizabeth Patterson) This information we can all access either online or by going to the city clerk’s office and requesting anything you want to know about how our government works or doesn’t work.
3. Still waiting to see a story in our local press about the Benicia Police Officers Association , Political Action Committee– This Association has filed a public document: Form 496 an Independent Expenditure Report with the City Clerk’s office on Sept. 29, 2016. They have raised $20 thousand from 27 of their officers . Twenty five contributed–$740.44 and two more gave $740.45. All in [support] of mayoral candidate Mark Hughes.. To be clear. Mr. Hughes didn’t solicit this support, but this PAC can spend money on his behalf. How many of the 17 thousand registered voters in town know that we have a police PAC backing a slate of candidates who are accepting money from PAC’s all over the Bay Area and beyond.?
Key question:
Should this be a story in an election year?
4. I have provided footnoted sourced material or I go to city hall and use the resources that are available: For example: speaking with interim City Manager Steve Salomon or conversing with City Clerk Linda Wolfe or her assistant Kate Gibbs or I might need information from the Human Resources Dept. and so I will interact with Senior Analyst Kim Imboden. Securing the facts, so I can make good informed decisions as a citizen- voter going forward.
Here is some more facts that Will “Just the Facts” Gregory will not report. Mark Hugh’s, Christina Strawbridge and Lionel Largaespada are all supported by the Benicia Chamber of Commerce, Benicia Teachers Association, Benicia Police Officers Association and the local 1186 Firefighters {Bernicia Firefighters Association}. Very impressive Will. These are the groups that need leadership and skill in elected officials. They are out and about in this city daily. They do know what kind of elected officials are needed. Will you do not. So Just the Facts Will is not what you choose to report. You report as you feel fit. As long as it helps Mayor Patterson and Steve Young. That is why you will not report these endorsements. It hurts your candidates. Just the Facts Will is short on facts.. No further info on Will is needed.
From the above article:
“Planning Commissioner George Oakes cited Benicia’s drinking water as an important issue.”
“We need to find and maintain a reliable supply of drinking water and find a way to end our relationship that is so tightly controlled by the state,” he said
Well stated, Mr. Oakes.
–The drought and water availability will be a huge issue going forward
The important article below should give all of our appointed and elected officials reason to be concerned about our future…
“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet: Western States Face Decades-Long Megadroughts”
“If fossil fuel emissions continue as usual, droughts lasting as long as 35 years a “near certainty” in parched Western U.S. states”
“Historically, megadroughts were extremely rare phenomena occurring only once or twice per millennium,” the study observes. “According to our analysis of modeled responses to increased [greenhouse gas emissions], these events could become commonplace if climate change goes unabated.”
A map shows the rising risk of megadraughts corresponding to varying increases in global temperatures. (Image: Science Advances)
A map shows the rising risk of megadraughts corresponding to varying increases in global temperatures. (Image: Science Advances)
“With 4 degrees of warming, which is the rate the planet is currently heading for, megadroughts are almost a certainty,” EcoWatch notes.
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/06/you-aint-seen-nothing-yet-western-states-face-decades-long-megadroughts
The single biggest issue facing Benicia residents is economic development. Mayor Patterson and Steve Young do not have a plan only negative comments on the Seeno project.. Totally against housing on the Seeno property. They do not appear to want to look at a 55+ 400 = housing development. It could be deed restricted. All homes with solar, and storage battery, electric car chargers, grey water and minimal use water landscaping. As a Del Webb type of housing project there would be no need to worry
about school rooms or even a new school. That should satisfy the Planning Commission and the new mayor and the council. We need elected officials that have vision and are not closed minded. That is what the mayor and Steve Young are. Very closed minded without any vision. Add the commercial part to the project and now you have a source for badly needed sales tax at 2% right into the general fund. We know where Mark Hughes, Christina and Lionel stand on economic development. It is pro .The new water treatment plant will solve the water crisis. Will reduce needs by 25%. No longer a problem.
Get weekly news updates
.
Q & A
Robyn Allan Q&A: Trudeau Government ‘Dangerously Misled’ on Kinder Morgan Pipeline
Economist Robyn Allan has a penchant for details. The former president and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia…
Read more
.
Cuadrilla fracking
Government Approves Cuadrilla’s Lancashire Fracking Plans at Preston New Road but Roseacre Wood on Hold
By Ruth Hayhurst at Drill or Drop…
Read more
.
most popular items
Senator Promoting Dakota Access Pipeline Invests In Bakken Oil Wells Named After Indian Tribe
Americans Now More Politically Polarized On Climate Change Than Ever Before, Analysis Finds
Louisiana’s Drowning: Follow our Photographer’s Journey Capturing Hope and Loss in Historic Flood
Louisiana Parish Hit by Third Oil Spill in Ten Days As Pressure Grows To Hold Oil and Gas Industry Accountable for Coastal Damage
In Scathing Review, EPA’s Science Advisors Tell Agency Not to Downplay Fracking-Related Water Contamination
Hey California, Why Are You Allowing the Use of Oil Wastewater To Irrigate Our Food?
Will Gregory says
October 8, 2016 at 8:14 am
From the above article:
“Planning Commissioner George Oakes cited Benicia’s drinking water as an important issue.”
“We need to find and maintain a reliable supply of drinking water and find a way to end our relationship that is so tightly controlled by the state,” he said
Well stated, Mr. Oakes.
–The drought and water availability will be a huge issue going forward
The important article below should give all of our appointed and elected officials reason to be concerned not only about greenhouse emissions but what the oil companies are doing to our precious water supply …
Hey California, Why Are You Allowing the Use of Oil Wastewater To Irrigate Our Food?
“A new report by researchers at PSE Healthy Energy, UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of the Pacific sheds light on a very troubling practice in the field of Big Ag — the use of oil industry wastewater for irrigating food crops.”””
“Would you water your garden with the wastewater from an oil field? No. So why does California allow this practice in industrial agriculture”?
http://www.desmogblog.com/2016/10/05/hey-california-oil-wastewater-used-irrigate-our-food
Will does the city of Benicia dump waste water into the straits? Does Valero do the same? If so tell us at what level it goes into the straits. Is that water safe to dump into the straights? Lots of folks fishing at the piers in Benicia. Are they in danger of being poisoned. Should all residents of the world stop eating carrots. After all 90% of world use comes from Kern County. Think oil Will. Think nuts of all kinds will. I would like to see a report that says this is all true about big oil waste water for ag. You show us why this is allowed and who says it is OK. We need that info. Remember Will Kern County is the food basket of the world. If what your saying is dangerous, why is it allowed and who OK’d it? If what you are saying is true all folks in the world are being slowly poisoned to death. Is that true Will.
Beyond the corporate oil shills—
From the above commenter:
” I would like to see a report that says this is all true about big oil waste water for ag. You show us why this is allowed and who says it is OK. We need that info”
More important water news ( oil company criminality and captured regulators) for our appointed and elected representatives to seriously consider…
California’s Wastewater Injection Problem Is Way Worse Than Previously Reported
“For every barrel of oil produced in California — the third largest oil-producing state in the nation, behind Texas and North Dakota — there are 10 barrels of wastewater requiring disposal. California produces roughly 575,000 barrels of oil a day, meaning there are nearly 6 million barrels of wastewater produced in the Golden State on a daily basis — a massive waste stream that state regulators have utterly failed to manage properly.”
” In meeting a February 6 deadline imposed by the EPA to provide a plan for dealing with the problems rampant in its Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II Program, regulators at California’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) revealed that nearly 2,500 wells have been permitted to inject oil and gas waste into protected aquifers, a clear violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act”
“The oil industry is contaminating California’s water supplies and violating federal law on a massive scale,” Kassie Siegel of the Center’s Climate Law Institute said in a statement. “Gov. Brown has a moral and legal duty to immediately shut down every single illegal production and wastewater disposal well. The size of this problem shows how big a threat the oil industry’s toxic waste is to California’s precious water supplies.”
“Given that California is also experiencing its worst drought in 1,200 years, it’s hard to overstate just how thoroughly the regulatory system has failed to protect this extremely precious resource,” says Briana Mordick, a staff scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.”
uphttp://www.desmogblog.com/2015/02/11/not-hundreds-thousands-oil-industry-injection-wells-dumping-wastewater-protected-california-aquifers
That’s not proof
I look forward to seeing what Mr Oakes proposes, given the following:
The state controls water rights.
Benicia has à State Water Project contract. Even if the city left the contract and its 17,000 acre-foot supply, there are still facilities to pay for including the city’s share of the North Bay Aqueduct.
If we do have a 30 year drought there will be severe shortages for everyone with or without an SWP contract. Desalination will be an expensive, energy intensive option. You can’t violate the laws of thermodynamics.
Storage is enormously expensive and it is hard to have enough for a 6 year drought much less 30 years.
Even recycling is enormously expensive.
So exactly what is Mr Oakes proposing?
It would be nice to have a discussion among candidates on this issue. It won’t go away.
Greg do you think the waste water project will protect Benicia by reducing needs
It helps a lot. But you have to have water before you can recycle water. And you cannot conserve and recycle the same water so low flush toilets and efficient appliances and short showers reduce use and reduce water available for recycling.
Nobody dependent on surface water from the Sacramento San Joaquin watershed has completely solved this problem. It can be solved but not cheaply. It deserves thoughtful discussion.
We’re saddened that some residents have chosen to attack Benicia police officers based on where we live. Some of us live in Benicia and some of us do not, but all of us work here and are deeply invested in our city’s future. We chose to participate in the political process because it offers the best chance to help shape that future. Mark Hughes, Christina Strawbridge and Lionel Largaespada understand how to balance economic growth with quality-of-life and public safety. We’re proud to support them. Let’s discuss the issues as opposed to attacking the messenger.
James Laughter
BPOA President
Thank you very much for that very special message. You said it right. Thank you and we all do appreciate your dedicated work.
Will if in fact Mayor Patterson and Steve Young did interview for the endorsement of the BPOA and did not get. They may have interviewed and turned down the endorsement. Mayor and Steve Young will have to tell us that. But if they in fact did interview would you have also included their names as seeking PAC support. If not I find that hypocritical
Sorry Wii Gregory you know nothing about elections.. You did not apparently look at Mark Hughes recent campaign disclosure. I guess Will you do not want police to protect our local residents because they live out of town. I now assume you will call every City of Benicia employee and ask why they support the City of Benicia even thou they do not live here. Will you are so clueless and bias it makes you look like a bigger fool than you are. Your tactic is to call all the donors. Try it now Will Gregory. Will this is just your biased attack on candidates you do not like or support. After all you are a big fan of Mayor Patterson. Keep it up Will you are losing many votes for your favorite caidates Young and Patterson. If I were them I would run for cover from the “Call Socker”. Got it will. I just gave you a new name. You live up to it “Call Stocker”.
A sighting!!! Steve Young In a different colored shirt. All most missed him it was not blue.;
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all commenters to please keep it civil and remain focused on the issues. You can take issue with a candidate’s policies or with what someone says, so long as they don’t resort to personal attacks, namecalling or focusing on trivial matters like what someone chooses to wear (Seriously, who cares?) I understand that this is an election so people are impassioned, but I do not feel that such comments are helpful to anyone. Let’s stay on topic and treat others with respect both when agreeing or disagreeing. – Ed