Young does not do his homework This is in response to the March 1 letter, “Young does his homework,” as well as the Feb. 28 council meeting. Sorry, if Councilmember Steve Young had done his homework, he would have not had to ask all the tagged finance questions at the Feb. 21 meeting. All he […]
Matt Talbot: Matt’s ideal world
Rather than spend words in this week’s column decrying the latest mismanagement by the clown show currently being run out of the big house at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in our nation’s capital, I thought I’d actually talk about what America would look like, were Americans irresponsible enough to elect me president, and assuming I had […]
The A Cappella Handyman: Signing off on Trump
I’m signing off on Trump. I chose NOT to watch his address to the joint houses of Congress. The U.S. has no president. It has a faux-Presidente of the caliber of the reality TV show family, the Kardashians. Of cerebral capacity akin to Jerry Springer. I watched him belittle and demean his lackluster Republican fellow […]
Letters: Measure C and the city’s future
Hands off Measure C Good infrastructure is the foundation of a vibrant economy, literally. Communities need to maintain, repair and rebuild roads on an ongoing basis to keep everyone and everything moving. At the same time, all across California, lawmakers at the local, county and state Capitol level have made a habit out of diverting […]
Letters: Teacher raises and successful band fundraiser
Supporting a pay raise for Benicia teachers As I wrote in my letter to the editor on Oct. 12, 2016: “Teachers shape our future and are the foundation of every profession we choose as adults. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer or marketing manager, like myself, we have all been influenced by a teacher. The […]
Letters: Where is the evidence Benicia is a great tourism city?
Where is the evidence? I am responding to an article written by former Councilmember Christina Strawbridge on Feb. 12. The writer presented the tourism campaign very well. It appears that it is a very effective tourism campaign. She states “A big part of Benicia’s tourism campaign is securing positive stories,” then she identifies the areas […]
Letters: The legacy of Obamacare
The legacy of Obamacare For the true legacy of the affordable care act, go to the U.S. Department of Health/Longevity and see the results for yourself. Life expectancy did not increase in 2013 or 2014 and actually decreased in 2015. Every year since World War II, lifespans have_increased. This is what the billions in new […]
Dennis Lund: Freely admitting to being completely flummoxed by recent events
The word ‘flummoxed’ is one I have never used to describe reactions to any past events. But what we have seen post-election, more specifically since the inauguration, have indeed made that word appropriate. Many aspects of the events of the past 90 days are bewildering indeed. Reflecting on some of the high (or low notes), […]
Bruce Robinson: The DeVos flap– insight or oversight?
On the same day President Trump picked Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) head, Randi Weingarten, condemned Mrs. DeVos as “the most ideological, anti-public-education nominee put forward since President Carter created a Cabinet-level Department of Education.” Right away, National Education Association (NEA) President Lily Eskelsen Garcia added her ire to […]
Matt Talbot: What is the right size of a government?
In Catholic social teaching, there is an organizing principle called “subsidiarity.” Subsidiarity means that societal needs ought to be addressed as close to the problem as possible. For example, if there is a pothole in the street outside your house, you wouldn’t call your Senator to complain about it. You would notify the Benicia Public […]