I’VE BEEN SOMEWHAT SILENT ON THE ISSUE of whether we should appoint or elect the city treasurer for Benicia, which will be decided by city voters on Tuesday. As some of you may know, I currently hold this prestigious office based on being appointed, rather than being elected, which is not the way I wanted […]
Jerome Page: On climate reality and its distortions
I know, I know, we’ve touched this subject before! But hey, I’ve been good — always searching, always something new, often startling, and it is clearly at or near the top of the most crucial issues facing the human race. And then, too, with all the testy, angry denials from righteous conservatives, I have to […]
Why I’m voting ‘no’ on Measures B, C
ON ELECTION DAY I WILL VOTE “NO” ON MEASURES B AND C. I believe Benicians voting on these measures will be making a vote of confidence — or no confidence — on Benicia’s political and financial management. Measures B and C represent a vote of confidence in the leadership of our city finances because these […]
Matt Talbot: Omaha Beach thoughts
ON THE MORNING of our last full day in France, we took an intercity train from Paris out to Normandy. For this journey, we were not on the TGV, France’s futuristic high-speed train system. We were on an intercity express train, which, despite not being a proper bullet train, still moved with dispatch out of […]
Think, Dream, Play: The Sally Field syndrome
IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE ME NOW, you’d know that I keep my palms up. Between letters, of course. Between pecking out each word on the keyboard, I always turn my palms up. Sure, it slows me down, but it’s what all remarkably likeable people do. So. It’s my habit. Totally unconscious. Palms up — […]
On Eagles’ Wings: The beautiful side of foolishness
I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW TO FURTHER ADDRESS the matter of origins, the evolution of all things versus the existence of the biblical Creator, and how belief in one world view or another has a direct impact on how we live in this life, for ourselves or for God. If we truly live in a godless […]
Open letter to Benicia residents: Support Measure C to maintain city services
DEAR BENICIA RESIDENTS: As your elected city leaders we are grateful and humbled to serve as your mayor and City Council. Each of us strives to do what we can to preserve those characteristics that make Benicia such a wonderful place to live. While we may not always agree on certain policies or decisions, we […]
Dennis Lund: The Political Derangement Syndrome test
“Bush Derangement Syndrome: The acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency — nay — the very existence of George W. Bush.” — Charles Krauthammer, 2005 FROM THE URBAN DICTIONARY, the symptoms of Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS) include: 1. Believing that Bush caused Hurricane Katrina. 2. Believing that […]
Jerome Page: Bulletins from the battlefield
TO UNDERLINE THE POTENTIAL CIVIL DAMAGE THAT CAN RESULT from continuing our present presidential leadership, I note the following crucial bulletin: “County Official In Missouri Calls Obama ‘Domestic Enemy’ — But Then Says She Bears ‘No Ill Intent’,” by Darrell Lucus, Oct. 16: “The Republican recorder of deeds in Jefferson County, Missouri is in full […]
Crewmember Report: Benicia, California, Spaceship Earth: Money in our pockets
THE SINGLE BIGGEST STEP BENICIA CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW that will put money in our pockets AND reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to become a clean energy subscriber to Marin Clean Energy. That moment of community action will be decided by the City Council on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. At the last Council meeting, […]