A clear choice for health I moved to Benicia 15years ago, knowing it to be a small, safe, friendly community. My daughter and three grandchildren followed. I am responsible for their presence in this town. I am deeply committed to their health and safety. Valero’s power failure in May 2017 engulfed Benicia with black smoke […]
Letters: Yep, it’s election season
Swaying the vote I get a kick out of the campaign season and have for the past 25 years or so. I remember a day when local, city elections were supposed to be free from political parties. Then in the early 2000s, Dan Smith (the first to do so that I remember) mentioned that the […]
Letters: Birdseye views
Don’t be fooled I have talked about the “Shadow Government, the self-appointed leader of whom appears to be Mayor Patterson. Her self-appointed second in command is Vice Mayor Young. She is now hard at work to get Birdseye elected to the City Council as a third vote and have a very simple majority. Now she […]
Letter: Birdseye for council
Birdseye for council Ever since I was elected to be your supervisor, I have found Kari Birdseye to be a tireless advocate for Benicia. Nearly two decades ago, Kari and her husband chose to make Benicia their home. Kari raised her family in Benicia, put her kids through Benicia’s schools and volunteered numerous hours as […]
Letters: Elections and endorsements
An important election For many, this November’s election is insignificant due to it not being a presidential election. However, for the citizens of Benicia, it holds great significance. Residents and business owners have been burdened with a City Council of “tax and spend” philosophy these last few years. Increases in water rates, building fees, security […]
Letter: Film Festival was a pleasure
Film Festival was a pleasure I was delighted to attend the 5th annual Benicia Film Festival this past Labor Day weekend. I had the privilege to attend the Gala at 6 p.m. and the seven listed films at 8 p.m. (The audience watched a bonus film, making eight short films). My favorite film of the […]
Letters: Cannabis and gratitude
Regulating cannabis is working The results of a recent state-commissioned California Healthy Kids Survey concluded that fewer teens are consuming cannabis post-legalization. Students told surveyors cannabis is harder to get now than it was a few years ago. This is exactly in line with what proponents of regulated cannabis believed would happen if the dark […]
Letter: Strawbridge puts people over politics
Strawbridge puts people over politics The Benicia City Council race is supposed to be nonpartisan. However, it has been a practice these past several years to seek your party’s endorsement. These are difficult times in our country. It seems that all the press goes very far to the left or far to the right. I […]
Letter: Remembering Leroy Bennett
Remembering Leroy Bennett The fire community lost a dedicated hero, mentor and teacher with the passing of Leroy Bennett, former engineer for the Vallejo Fire Department and founder of our Fire Cadet Program. In the former he protected the citizens of Vallejo for decades and was a mentor and teacher of young firefighters throughout his […]
Letter: Support music education
Support music education I was delighted to attend Mary Farmar Elementary School’s music fundraiser held at Lucca Beer Garden on July 25. As a retired math teacher, I know evidence has shown that music helps the brain. Music makes you smarter, happier and more productive at any age. Mary Farmar is a wonderful elementary school. […]