Dec. 19 is decision day

Dec. 19 will be a night to remember. I am hoping for an advance Christmas present from the city of Benicia. It may not be a big Christmas present, cut some members on the City Council are now going to have to back up their words.
The first would be Vice Mayor Young. Remember he said he followed the outcry from all the Benicia residents and voted “no” on storefront recreational cannabis on First Street. He again will hear the same plea on storefront recreational cannabis anywhere in Benicia. Will he follow their pleas_ again and vote “no” on _etail cannabis anywhere in Benicia?
The mayor also has a tough choice. Will she again insult the educators and the rest of the fine residents/voters in this fine city and hold her nose and vote “no” also? Or will she turn her back on these fine resident/voters and vote “yes” and drive the nail further into her legacy coffin? It will be destroyed if she votes “yes.”
A full “no” vote on storefront cannabis will wake the council up to the real problems. That is something I have talked about many times: pure and simple economic development. Is this going to be the issue that the mayor and vice mayor are forced into action on? Economic development is very important, namely turning their attention as well as the council’s to the proposed Seeno property for development. It’s a perfect place for a huge development on cannabis production and delivery. It’s also on of the property for commercial use. This city needs this desperately. Using the excise tax of possible 10 percent could be a windfall for this fine city. The excise tax goes on the ballot in Nov. 2018 for an effective date of Jan. 2019. So as you see, we do have time to make it happen.
The single most important issue for the council is economic development/ Will they recognize that and step up and do it? For the sake of this fine city, they must. Mayor Patterson, this could turn your legacy into an everlasting positive remembrance. As it is now, you are down and out. I hope you understand the residents are still fuming over the water/sewer rates. They do have long memories and are reminded every other month. Now is your chance, Mayor Patterson. Please do this. You can give this city and yourself a very merry Christmas present. Thank you.

Bob “The Owl” Livesay,
Benicia

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