By James Egan, MD Special to the Herald After lulling critics into complacency, the Benicia City Council has instructed staff to draw up a draft ordinance allowing the licensing of three marijuana distribution centers in the city of Benicia, including a microbusiness. It becomes clearer that the council’s unanimous vote on Dec. 5 to disallow […]
Cannabis: Our future is here
Supporters of regulated cannabis activity in our town have referenced the convincing victory of Proposition 64 here in November of 2016. The will of the majority, plus science and evidence, is prevailing over incomplete knowledge and emotions. There is no common ground on the cannabis issue. You are either on the side of regulation or […]
Letter: Reasonable approach to marijuana retail
Reasonable approach to marijuana retail An all-cash business dealing in a potentially intoxicating substance such as liquor or marijuana should do business fully in the public eye – not in some shadowy corner. The ideal location has lots of traffic, police patrols, good parking and bright lighting at night. This is best for both public […]
Bob Livesay: Potential revenue opportunity for the city
By Bob Livesay Special to the Herald I would like to talk about the mayor’s favorite subject: clean air. Gov. Jerry Brown just opened the door for a very big opportunity in Benicia. It is all about revenue to the city of Benicia, which is badly needed. Gov. Brown just signed a new initiative to […]
Letters: ISO and cannabis
Real-time air monitoring needed According to a May 23 KQED article regarding the May 5 Valero Benicia Refinery incident: “The refinery should be held to higher safety standards, the same standards that the four refineries in Contra Costa are held to,” Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia said. The number of serious refinery accidents in Contra […]
Year in Review 2017: City manager’s perspective
By Lorie Tinfow Special to the Herald “Nothing is constant but change,” and that has certainly been true for Benicia in 2017. My tenure began in April and I followed two interim managers who held down the fort after my predecessor left in 2016. There have been other staffing changes as well throughout the organization […]
A Mayor’s Perspective: A Look at 2017
By Elizabeth Patterson Benicia Mayor (Editor’s Note: A portion of this article ran in Sunday’s Year in Review section. It is being reprinted here in its entirety.) Mutual understanding and consensus on the most pressing issues facing Benicia will allow the city to focus its limited resources and the city council to make the necessary […]
Letter: Following Benicia’s example
Following Benicia’s example The city of Benicia has been an inspiration to the city of Vallejo. Just last month, the Vallejo City Council voted to place a measure on their November ballot that would ask residents if Vallejo should allow “A” license cannabis activity (adult use) at their eleven “M” license (medicinal) dispensaries. Now they […]
Letters: BHS meetings, Clocktower fence, Art & Culture Commission and more
Missed opportunity in BHS meetings It is commendable that Andrew Kelly is a senior at Benicia High School and cares enough about the future curriculum planning to attend the recent school informational meetings on proposals for new graduation requirements. He and a group of students actually attended twice – in the a.m. only to find […]
Letter: A ‘Biz’ Benicia can’t afford
A ‘Biz’ Benicia can’t afford I recently read in the Herald that Carter’s Biz Cafés was losing its lease. Then there were subsequent letters to the editor expressing opinions that we should not loose this “valuable” resource to our community. I do not believe Benicia can afford this “Biz.” A brief history: The city expended […]