The introduction of priority-based budgeting and confirmation of strategic results is the only agenda item for the City Council’s short Tuesday meeting. According to a staff report by City Manager Lorie Tinfow, Benicia’s budget has been described as “fragile.” This fragility, Tinfow wrote, is caused by expense growth outpacing revenue increases, and future challenges associated […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of Feb. 25, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Jail Sentence For Disturbing School (Feb. 25, 1943) Clarence Coats, 19, Benicia youth, was given a 30 day sentence in the county jail in Judge Springer’s court this morning, on complaint of L.H. Hamann, charging Coats with disturbing the peace at the Benicia High school. Sentence was suspended […]
Council approves demolition appeal, request for cannabis background checks
The Foundry and Office buildings, the subject of a debate that has lasted more than a year, will remain standing. The Benicia City Council granted an appeal for an emergency demolition of the historic structures at 678 East H St. during Tuesday’s meeting. The two buildings, constructed in the 1850s and once the home of […]
Cannabis business applications, Foundry and Office buildings back on council agenda
Once again, cannabis and a final decision on an emergency demolition permit for two historic buildings are on the Benicia City Council agenda for Tuesday. The council will discuss requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) to approve of conducting background searches of city employees would deal with applicants for commercial cannabis uses. At the Feb […]
Letters: Cannabis and cultivation
Cannabis: Too many unanswered questions I had the opportunity to attend the Feb. 6 Benicia City Council meeting. I was an instructor for 37 years. I have been a small-business owner in Benicia for the last 14 years and a resident for the past eight. I attended so I could be apprised on the cannabis […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of Feb. 18, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Benicia School Won’t Accept Shipment of WPA Warehouses (Feb. 18, 1943) Disregarding the refusal of the school board to accept discarded WPA plyboard demountable warehouses for a school here, the old buildings have been shipped here and are being unloaded at Benson’s Lumber Yard. Consigned to the school, […]
Council takes first step in cannabis legalization with ordinance readings
The Benicia City Council completed its first reading of the city’s cannabis ordinances at Tuesday’s meeting. This is marks the first step in legalizing cannabis within the city. The seven ordinances read by the council regarded person cultivation of cannabis, commercial cultivation, laboratories for testing, manufacturing, commercial retail, microbusinesses and delivery. The council approved six […]
Letters: Cannabis and cannabis
Disregard for community Although I am disappointed in the turnout of Benicia City Council’s second cannabis vote in December, I am far more disappointed in the fact that three of our councilmembers clearly have little regard for the members of the community they are to represent. They have their own agenda and no interest in […]
James Egan: The cannabis ordinance and democracy (Part 2)
By James Egan, M.D. Special to the Herald In Sunday’s Herald, I mined the information in the Benicia Town Hall cannabis survey to reach the conclusion that a large majority of those responding did not favor retail distribution of recreational cannabis outside of the Industrial Park. While on the topic of the survey, it is […]
Cannabis, Foundry and Office buildings back on council agenda
Two issues that have been hotly debated by the Benicia City Council in the past year– cannabis laws and the final decision of an emergency demolition permit for two historic buildings– are on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. The council will introduce ordinances to allow personal cultivation and to regulate and allow commercial cannabis uses […]