By James Egan, MD Special to the Herald After lulling critics into complacency, the Benicia City Council has instructed staff to draw up a draft ordinance allowing the licensing of three marijuana distribution centers in the city of Benicia, including a microbusiness. It becomes clearer that the council’s unanimous vote on Dec. 5 to disallow […]
Council reaffirms appeal to save historic buildings from demolition
On the agenda for the Benicia City Council’s first meeting of the year were decisions on the rehearing of the emergency demolition permit of two historic buildings and adding an amendment to Benicia’s Industrial Park Transportation and Employment Center (TEC) plan. In 2016, automobile import company AMPORTS filed for an emergency demolition permit for two […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of Jan. 21, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago School Board Turns Down Offer For Schoolhouse (Jan. 21, 1943) The proposed solution to Benicia’s school housing program in sending old WPA warehouses made from ply board from Los Angeles to be used for class rooms for Benicia school children was definitely turned down Tuesday night at a […]
Foundry and Office building debate back on council agenda
The Benicia City Council is back in session tonight, and topics like an emergency demolition approval or denial and possible changes to the Industrial Park Transportation and Employment Center Plan will be on the agenda for this evening’s meeting. The saga of the emergency demolition permit for the Foundry and Office Buildings at 670 and […]
Bob Livesay: No change in council thinking in 2018
By Bob Livesay Special to the Herald A very happy new year to all. Yes, 2018 will be a challenge for the city of Benicia. The biggest thing to look forward to is the City Council election in November. The biggest issue is water/sewer rates. Economic development will be a major issue too. At that […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of Jan. 7, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Council Passes Ordinance On “Man’s Best Friend” (Jan. 7, 1943) Persons owning dogs in the City of Benicia will be required to secure a license for each dog, according to an ordinance passed at the City Council Tuesday night and published in the Herald-New Era today. The price […]
Dennis Lowry: Council gives Benicia a lump of coal for Christmas
(Editor’s note: This column was published in two parts in the print edition for spatial reasons. It is being posted here in its entirety.) I was disappointed that all but one member of our City Council voted to allow marijuana to be legally grown, cultivated, processed and commercially sold in our little town beginning sometime […]
Roger Straw: Councilmembers and city staff, please get the ball rolling on ISO
At its May 23, 2017 meeting, the Benicia City Council agreed on a 4-1 vote to “agendize in the future” a discussion on possible adoption of an Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO). That was over seven months ago now. More than most, I am aware of the time it often takes for government to move forward […]
2017 Year in Review: Local issues dominated Benicia in past year
The year 2018 is just around the corner. Before we see what the new year has to offer, let us look back at the big stories that affected Benicia in 2017. Staff changes In February, interim City Manager Steve Salomon left to become the interim city manager of Orinda. Fire Chief Jim Lydon initially filled […]
Letters: ISO and cannabis
ISO will create better informed community A lot has been said and written over the past several weeks on bringing an industrial safety ordinance (ISO) to the city of Benicia. Or, perhaps we should think of it as a community safety ordinance, which is what a Benicia ISO would also represent. As a resident of […]