Come to ISO panel at Library The May 5 major flaring event at the Valero Refinery in Benicia was another indicator of the continuing need for local oversight and verification of safe refinery operations. Benicia is the only refinery town in the Bay Area without the protection of an Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO) that protects […]
Craig Snider: Time for sensible approach to cannabis ordinance
I’ve been following Benicia’s progress toward implementing the 2016 Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64). Californians passed the act with a 57 percent majority, with 42 percent voting against. In Benicia, it passed with 63 percent of voters in favor. After decades of debate over the pros and cons of cannabis use, we’ve finally […]
The A Cappella Handyman: ‘Mad Dog’ & Bozos
‘Mad Dog’ & Bozos So illegitimate President Trump is still too fearful of the voting U.S. public to learn his real net worth and sources of his income, so he still refuses to show us his income taxes. And he refuses to put his wealth into a real blind trust where he can’t monitor and/or […]
Letter: Thank a retired teacher
Thank a retired teacher! The first week of November has been designated to honor retired teachers. Each teacher impacted hundreds of lives during his or her teaching career. Think about who helped you learn to read this, to balance your checkbook, to learn from history, to appreciate the contributions of others and to write your […]
Bob Livesay: Council should delay its decision on cannabis
By Bob Livesay Special to the Herald The city of Benicia is in a potential financial crisis. That is not a maybe, that is a fact. By the 2019-20 and 2020-21 budget years we could be short by at least $1 million to $2 million in revenues. That will continue each year, not going away […]
Letter: Marijuana sales ordinance needs more research
Marijuana sales ordinance needs more research As an answer to the projected shortfall in the City of Benicia’s budget, the majority of the Benicia City Council is proposing the legalization of retail recreational (non-medical) marijuana in our community to boost tax revenue. However, this proposal is being made with no study or research being done […]
Letter: Preventing suicide in our community
Preventing suicide in our community According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, suicide is the third leading cause of death from ages 10 to 24. Approximately 90 percent of people who die from suicide actually have a mental illness. Suicide has an immense effect on our community. In 2014 we had a suicide at […]
Dennis Lowry: City Council needs a time out on marijuana issue (Part 2)
In yesterday’s column, I explained why I don’t think marijuana should be allowed in Benicia. Today, I dive into further data. Health & Safety – Increasing Potency Marijuana today is significantly more stronger than the weak homegrown versions of the ’90s. Marijuana strength has grown from about 4 percent THC in 1995 to nearly 12 […]
Dennis Lowry: City Council needs a time out on marijuana issue (Part 1)
The City Council’s decision by a 3-2 majority vote to direct the development of a policy to allow recreational and medicinal marijuana to be sold from storefront businesses on First Street needs to be reconsidered. There are a number of reasons for recommending that a “Time Out” be instituted regarding this very controversial decision […]
Letter: City meetings are the real Comedy Central
Comedy central at its best What am I talking about? One guess could get you the answer. It was the Planning Commission’s Oct. 12 meeting and the City Council’s Oct. 17 meeting. The first two-thirds of the Planning Commission meeting went as usual, but when it got to the cannabis issue, it all fell apart. […]