As the City Council prepares to review water and wastewater rates and revenues, it would be good to review facts about these issues, in part because I have heard so much speculation over the past months that is simply wrong. Let’s start with: How did we get to a point where a big rate increase […]
Letters: Proposed sculpture and alcohol in parks
Support for sculpture How wonderful if all the good citizens of Benicia could have been at the Tuesday, March 6, City Council meeting. There were fabulous art ideas for Benicia city streets presented by the Arts Council. They would have also seen pictures of the exquisite sculpture, “Neptune’s Daughter,” which has been donated to the […]
Letters: Weapons and cannabis
One bullet The record will show that in the ’80s, my father William stood in his classroom in Pinole Junior High School when, from Appian Way, a shooter fired one bullet from a high-powered rifle through the outside wall of his school. The bullet landed next to his fellow teacher, Al Williams, in the adjoining […]
Donnell Rubay: Should cannabis edibles be allowed in Benicia? (Part 1)
Our City Council appears poised to allow the zoning of cannabis retail outlets in Benicia. The thinking appears to be—really, what is the difference if someone wants to have a smoke rather than a beer? And, of course, why not embrace cannabis and garner those tax dollars? My concerns about the sale of cannabis are […]
Letter: Reconsider dispensary location
Reconsider dispensary location I am not one that writes letters to the editor often, but I felt compelled to do so after watching the most recent Benicia City Council meeting. As a teacher in the Benicia Unified School District, I was disheartened when watching the council take action on whether or not to allow cannabis […]
Downtown Business Alliance advocates for keeping tree lights on
Anybody who has walked down First Street has definitely seen the decorative lights wrapped around the trees giving off an illuminating glow. What may not be common knowledge is that these lights were brought by the Downtown Benicia Alliance (DBA) in 2012 as part of the Business Improvement District (BID) program. The goal of the […]
Photo: Honoring EMS staff
Letters: Thompson town hall and council priorities
Thompson town hall went great Those of us present at last Wednesday’s Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Mike Thompson witnessed an encouraging display of civic engagement. The grassroots event was sponsored by Carquinez Patriotic Resistance (CPR) and Benicia Indivisible for Justice, just two of the many community action groups growing in popularity and impact. Approximately 200 […]
City council addresses downtown noise ordinance, speed limits Tuesday
At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Benicia City Council addressed downtown noise regulations and discussed recommended changes to city speed limits, in addition to other items. Proclamations The council recognized Arts Benicia on its 30th anniversary as being essential to the promotion of art in the community, serving to stimulate, educate and nurture cultural life […]
BREAKING: Elizabeth Patterson narrowly elected to third term as mayor of Benicia
Steve Young elected to council; Tom Campbell to serve fourth term; Christina Strawbridge defeated for re-election After what turned out to be a very tight race, mayoral candidate Mark Hughes conceded the election Wednesday to Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, who will serve her third term through 2020. Patterson said the call was very gracious, and “he […]