After the election, I grieved like a puppy that had lost its tail, heard the acceptance and concession speeches and went on my way to see a customer, scheduled new work and then headed to Nation’s for breakfast. Good luck, World and America, your new boy thinks Global Warming is a hoax, his majority colleagues […]
Letters: A tribute to veterans
Tribute to veterans The men and women of the United States armed services are warriors of the finest caliber. Duty alone calls them to fight on the battlefield. As with all true warriors throughout time, they are selfless. Such warriors have entered combat only to defend their god, their lord or their nation. The American […]
A Different Drummer: Coping with election angst
I really don’t want to face reality this week. I confess I want to hide away and pretend it’s not happening. I cast my vote; now I’d prefer to crawl into a cave, or drive off somewhere with no signal and no bars. Voting this year feels like the free-floating angst that comes after a […]
Grant Cooke: Benicia’s future at stake in local election
In August, I wrote a column about Benicia’s future, the New Economy and why Elizabeth Patterson, Steve Young, and Tom Campbell were the best choices to led our city as mayor and councilmembers respectively. At the time, I was disheartened by the majority of council members’ lack of political will to put a halt to […]
Will Gregory: Police salaries, overtime, and PERS contracts; The 800-pound blue elephant in the room at City Hall
(Editor’s note: This article was slated to be published last week, but due to lack of space it is being posted here instead) “What is the city but the people” —William Shakespeare ” The problem is, when a government entity takes the people’s money, it has a duty to use that money to serve the […]
Marilyn Bardet: Vote for Elizabeth and Steve
If you haven’t already voted, I hope you’ll join me on Oct. 8 to help re-elect Elizabeth Patterson for mayor. I’m especially appreciative of Elizabeth’s ethical, open approach to governance and her tireless efforts to champion the Benicia General Plan’s forward-looking vision for community sustainability. I know that Elizabeth is motivated to serve from a […]
Will Gregory: Is realtor money the new union money?
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” –Stewart Udall, “The Quiet Crisis” Fair question: Is realtor cash replacing Trade Union PAC money in our 2016 election cycle? Let’s […]
Mark Hughes: A candidate’s reflections
With the Nov. 8 election nearly upon us, I’d like to pause and reflect on this campaign and what it has meant to me. First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the citizens of Benicia for the privilege of serving you on the City Council these past 11 years, and […]
Jon Van Landschoot: Actions speak louder than words or endorsements in Benicia mayoral race
The candidates who have shown they have positively advocated for Benicia citizens will always get my vote. Politicians always promise the moon, few actually deliver. In my 30-plus years living in our terrific town, I have not seen any elected official work as hard and get so many things done as our mayor, Elizabeth Patterson. […]
Will Gregory: Candidates in their own words
This is in regards to what was reported in the Sept. 15 Herald article “Office seekers/holders discuss goals, crude by rail at Candidate’s Night.” The Benicia Police Officers Association selected slate of candidates in their own words—-with my replies (as a concerned citizen-voter in an election campaign) following –marked with +++ Christina Strawbridge: “’I don’t think […]