In the past few months, you may have seen yard signs for various candidates at the local and state level– don’t act like you haven’t. However, come tomorrow as Benicians have cast their final ballots, those signs will be taken down and will likely end up in a landfill. However, if you received a […]
Grant Cooke: Benicia’s future at stake in local election
In August, I wrote a column about Benicia’s future, the New Economy and why Elizabeth Patterson, Steve Young, and Tom Campbell were the best choices to led our city as mayor and councilmembers respectively. At the time, I was disheartened by the majority of council members’ lack of political will to put a halt to […]
Marilyn Bardet: Vote for Elizabeth and Steve
If you haven’t already voted, I hope you’ll join me on Oct. 8 to help re-elect Elizabeth Patterson for mayor. I’m especially appreciative of Elizabeth’s ethical, open approach to governance and her tireless efforts to champion the Benicia General Plan’s forward-looking vision for community sustainability. I know that Elizabeth is motivated to serve from a […]
Candidates address, mingle with residents at LWV meet and greet
Thursday evening was a night for Benicia residents to talk to their mayoral and City Council candidates as people, not as politicians, and also get them to answer their burning questions. Benicia’s League of Women Voters hosted a candidate meet and greet in the Dona Benicia Room of the Benicia Public Library, where citizens could […]
Mixed-use development, historic preservation discussed at Candidates’ Night
(This is the second of a two-part series. For Part 1, go here.) Northern Gateway Project Following discussion of Valero’s Crude-By-Rail Project at Tuesday’s Candidates’ Night forum, moderator Peter Friesen then turned the discussion to another controversial proposal for Benicia: the Northern Gateway development. The project, brought forth by the Orinda-based company Schwartz Land Development, […]
Office seekers/holders discuss goals, crude by rail at Candidates’ Night
(This is Part 1 of a 2-part article. For Part 2, go here.) Candidates for mayor and city council had an opportunity to answer questions on important issues Tuesday night at the Benicia Chamber of Commerce’s Candidates’ Night. The forum was held in the Council Chambers of City Hall and moderated by Peter Friesen. All […]
Political groups, unions announce endorsements in local elections
Election season is in full swing in Benicia, and the candidates are already picking up endorsements from local groups. Throughout much of last week, the Solano County Democratic Central Committee interviewed almost 40 candidates throughout the county seeking office at city council and school board levels. In Benicia races, the group interviewed District 2 Board […]
Candidate Spotlight: Second Planning Commissioner, George Oakes, files for Benicia City Council race
2 incumbents, 3 newcomers in race Planning Commissioner George Oakes filed papers in July to appear on the November ballot as a candidate for Benicia’s city council, the second planning commissioner to do so this year. Steve Young filed his intent to run just a few months earlier. In an interview at the Herald on […]
Planning Commission speaks on signage, zoning at Thursday’s meeting
At its regular meeting Thursday, the Planning Commission considered an appeal of staff’s decision to deny a First Street business sign permit, and a proposed zoning amendment pertaining to affordable housing density requirements, among other actions. Principal Planner Amy Million presented the staff report pertaining to the zoning amendment. The summary of the amendment states […]
What Benicia can learn from the Oregon train derailment
On Friday, June 3, a Union Pacific train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed in the town of Mosier, Ore. Fourteen rail cars came off the tracks, and four exploded over a 5 hour period. There are several things that the City Council needs to keep in mind whenever they re-open discussion of the appeal of […]