Benicia is one of the 100 safest cities in California, according to a ranking by the National Council for Home Safety and Security. The Council, a national trade association made up of licensed alarm installers and contractors, released lists of the safest cities in each state through its website at Alarms.org. According to the authors […]
BUSD trustees to vote on resolution requesting more money for California public schools
The superintendent of the Benicia Unified School District is asking school board trustees to support a resolution by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) requesting more money for state schools at Thursday’s BUSD Governing Board meeting. According to the resolution, “California has the sixth largest economy in the world and the largest Gross Domestic Product […]
Representatives react to Gov. Brown’s budget proposal
Gov. Jerry Brown announced the details of his 2018-19 General Fund budget plan, the last of his governorship, on Wednesday. The $131.7 billion proposal includes a number of goals, including filling the state’s rainy day fund to its constitutional target, implementing California’s K-12 Local Control Funding Formula two years ahead of schedule and providing $4.6 […]
Mark Altgelt: Best plan for managing California’s water supply
By Mark Altgelt Special to the Herald California’s primary source of water is at risk because sea level is gradually rising and will begin to contaminate the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta estuary with ocean water. Sea level is predicted to rise 3 to 7 feet by 2100, depending on how fast Antarctic and Greenland ice […]
Mark Altgelt: California leading with climate change legislation
By Mark Altgelt Special to the Herald President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement makes California’s leadership role in addressing climate change and two related bills due for a vote soon in the California Legislature more important that ever. The California Global Warming Solution Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32) was groundbreaking legislation that took […]
‘California Dreaming’ is theme for Sunday poetry reading at Rellik
Call it the lure of the West. For generations, people have been relocating to California, whether it was through the Gold Rush in 1848 or to take advantage of the nice weather, careers in technology or desire to become a film star. Whether one moved to California during their lifetimes or had ancestors who moved […]
DVC professor to discuss Bear Flag Revolt at Benicia Historical Society presentation
California’s state flag, with its image of a grizzly bear and the phrase “California Republic,” is perhaps one of the most iconic state flags in all of America. However, many may not be familiar with its origins. Greg Tilles, a history professor at Diablo Valley College, will discuss the historical event that inspired California’s current […]
Reflections on the Bear Flag Revolt of June 14, 1846
By Reg Page Special to the Herald “Timing is everything” is an old expression that can be applied to many things. For the city of Benicia, though, it has particular merit. That point is worth making now because we will soon be at the 170th anniversary of what was likely the seminal event that led […]
Support strong for Wolk water plan
Legislators from throughout the state Senate and Assembly have said they support legislation written by Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, to provide a comprehensive approach to address California’s water issues. Among the supporters is Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat.
Officials react to governor’s budget revision
What does ‘May Revise’ portend for Benicia, other California cities? Gov. Jerry Brown has made his annual May adjustments to his proposed budget this week, based on a predicted $2.4-billion increase in state revenues. While Brown, who released the modifications Tuesday, has said the May revision continues to pay down debt and reduce long-term liabilities […]