Measure C priorities

I was so delighted to see all the politico folks taking a bow over the nice railing. Do you think it is possible they could be as happy standing next to one of our ever growing potholes around town? I am getting to feel a bit like Nascar driver in order to avoid all the holes. Maybe I can send you my bill for my wheel alignment when I discovered a hole I couldn’t avoid. How about asking your city workers to at least fill in the holes until they can find time in their busy schedule to do actual repairs? I know how hard it is to when you need to have two guys holding shovels (one working) and another watching. Geez.
Excuses only go so far or so I am told. What is it they say? If you lie to the government it is a crime, but if government lies to us it is called politics.

Rob Pearson,
Benicia

Sanctuary city

I find it unfathomable that for all the complaining about not wanting the government in our back pockets, we now find ourselves with nothing but government breathing down our necks in every sphere of our lives. Whiskey tango foxtrot!
On another subject but directly related, there has been some discussion about whether or not Benicia should become a sanctuary city and whether I support such an idea. I vote yes. I do not want ICE coming into town and determining who is a citizen and who is not based on…what? Skin color? Place of employment? Income? Or worse yet, some neighbor’s suspicions?

Roque Guitierrez,
Benicia

Just what are the mayor’s priorities?

This letter is also a response to Ralph Dennis’ Feb. 1 letter, “Mayor Patterson is moving us forward.”
Let me start by saying that economic development is not a No. 1 priority of the mayor’s. It should be the only priority at this time. I hope she knows that come the 2017/18 budget that employees’ salaries and possible benefits are going up. Possible to the tune of $300,000 dollars a year. Add to that the increase on employer retirement benefits to CalPers. Not sure how much it will be. It will not be small change. It’s not a wise idea to charge the employees a portion of the increase. Revenue stream could go flat in a very short time. Then Measure C revenue will not be able to go to city infrastructure at the present rate. It is about 55 to 60 percent of those funds. The Measure C 1 percent will in a very few short years be used to sustain the city budget. Without a firm plan for economic development, this city will be in a world of hurt. City services are a priority for this fine city. The revenue must be there to support those services. I do hope the mayor remembers what former City Manager Brad Kilger said. City services could face a cut if something is not done. Measure C is a temporary fix but will be eaten up by demands of the city budget. Get a sound plan for economic development and Measure C will do as intended. Time is running out.
The Industrial Park is a mess. There is no broadband to meet the needs of all Industrial Park tenants at present. Discussions are ongoing to reach the needs for present and future tenants. Additionally there are bad roads, vacancies and businesses that do not support sales tax revenue. Being at capacity or near capacity does not mean sales tax revenue at capacity. Sales tax for the city is supported by just a few businesses in the Industrial Park.
Does the Mayor even have a plan, or is her attention still with the sanctuary city and President Trump’s win? She must move on and start worrying about Benicia.
This city must put a plan together that identifies what this city will be. Is it to be a city with great moderate priced bars and eateries, unique stores, antique stores, hair salons and insurance agencies? The mayor has no clue. Once a sound plan is in place and implemented, this could be a unique destination city. It will mean more residents will shop locally. You want Trader Joe’s, yet you would not support McCaulou’s or Hilson’s Department Store. Remember those stores? They were in the Raley’s Center and are now long gone. The city is not attracting any businesses that should be in Benicia. It’s ime to start thinking about that. We’re giving far too much sales tax revenue away to other cities. Try buying a simple pair of jeans in town.Yes, we do have some very wonderful gift stores but must have more along with eateries to attract the over the bridge folks.
The city’s only priority should be economic development to make this a destination. The Wolfe expenditure will not do it. That money should have been spent on making this city a destination. Then that Wolfe money could have some benefits. Just talking about Benicia does not get it. Excitement does. We have very little of those wonderful businesses that are doing it and should be supported. Yes, I love this city but also know that it lacks the excitement to become a destination. If you want to send the locals out of town, you have done a good job, so do not complain when services slowly fade away.
Mayor Patterson your challenge as a leader (your words, not mine) should only be to make this city a great destination. Where is your economic plan? Are you up to it? The “OWL” will be watching and writing.

Bob “The Owl” Livesay,
Benicia

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