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More input needed on LVJUSD election change
As a resident of Livermore with long involvement in the school district, I must bring to your attention my significant concerns with the action and methodology LVJUSD is using to convert from an at-large trustee election process to district elections.
The first and most significant concern is the lack of public input in this process. The first I heard of the switch in voting process was at the school board meeting, where, without discussion or public presentation, the board passed a resolution authorizing the change. There were no written materials or any explanation on why 80% of the voters were disenfranchised.
State statutes require that before maps are drafted a workshop where the public can comment on the locations of communities of interest are located for purposes of inclusion or exclusion from a voting district.
The public outreach is clearly inadequate. If you want evidence, check out the number of comments (19), or the attendance at the two special school board meetings (approximately 10).
This is an issue for all Livermore residents, not just the ones who have kids in Livermore schools. The district needs to hold a true workshop to answer questions and elicit feedback. Without this, the district will almost certainly fail to represent communities of interest under its duty to adopt a new map.
I anticipate the district will move forward on the schedule they adopted. If so, I prefer the green map which contains both Marilyn Avenue and Junction TK-8 in the same district — a clearly underserved community of interest.
While I appreciate the work done by Superintendent Gibson, the school board and the consultant, more work is required before a map is adopted for use through 2032. Either the process should be extended, or a true workshop should be held.
(Editor’s note: The public hearing is scheduled before the school board on Dec. 17.)
— Cate Sarraille
What is left on the table?
Pleasanton leadership failed to evaluate and explore solutions for the budget deficit fully. They paid more than $300,000 of taxpayer dollars to a consultant who stated that voters may not approve a sales tax measure. There are eight cities in California whose voters clearly defeated sales tax measures; another 19 cities in California had sales tax measures with close results.
What is left on the table? Exploring other sources of revenue, such as grants, partnerships with private entities, and state or federal assistance. Making cuts to current spending or reallocating funds within the existing budget to address priority areas without additional tax revenue. This process involves addressing fiscal needs with voter sentiment to find a sustainable path forward.
1. Public works: Reduction in road maintenance, infrastructure projects and public facilities.
2. Parks and recreation: Scaling back on parks services, community programs and recreational facilities.
3. Library services: Decreasing hours, staff and resources.
4. Culture services: Cutting funding of arts and culture programs, including local theaters and museums.
5. Administrative costs: Reducing overhead costs, such as office supplies, travel and nonessential staff positions.
6. The city functions through two-day and three-day weekends, considering a one-day shutdown midweek, and places all staff on four 10-hour days. Police and fire are untouchable and remain fully staffed.
These cuts aim to balance the budget while maintaining core services. It is a challenging process that requires careful consideration of community needs and priorities.
— Michael Austin
Keeping the campaign spending pledge
Pleasanton residents will remember that back in 2021, the City Council voted to approve the “Voluntary Campaign Expenditure Limit” pledge. This is a voluntary pledge candidates for Pleasanton elected offices can choose to observe. This pledge has existed in various contribution and expenditure limits since 2008.
As it exists today, candidates who make this pledge cannot receive individual donations of more than $1,000 from any individual or business. While voluntary, this pledge demonstrates a candidate’s commitment to serve their community without being handcuffed to special interests with deep pockets.
Our whole community is better served by honoring and enshrining this voluntary pledge. Pleasanton voters deserve elected leaders that are not under the decision making influence of their top dollar donors.
Let’s seek to keep this norm alive and demand future candidates make this pledge. Our non-partisan elected offices should not be made into a contest to see who can raise and spend the most amount of money. It is my hope that future candidates recognize the value in choosing to observe this important tradition.
— Matthew Gray
Newsom: Most corrupt man in California
PG&E and other big utilities don’t like rooftop solar as it cuts into their profits. They would rather Californians burn alive in their homes than see a dip in their quarterly earnings. Once again, Governor Newsom has let PG&E get away with murder.
Gavin Newsom is the most corrupt man in California. Directly and indirectly he has accepted over $700,000 from PG&E, according to a 2019 Washington Post article. By now it’s likely over a million.
Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 1374, which was the legislature’s gambit to push back against the governor’s corruption. His energy commission (CPUC) made a ruling that was both harmful and outrageous. They declared that power produced by rooftop solar installed by schools, churches and farms belongs not to the people who paid for it but to PG&E. You then have to pay a cut to the corporation.
This seizure of property built after 2023 discourages many from installing rooftop solar in the first place, during a climate crisis and crushes small businesses. It helps no one and nothing except for PG&E’s bottom line.
We will need both rooftop solar as well as solar farms to meet California’s goals, according to the “Joint Agency Report: Charting a Path to a 100% Clean Energy Future”.
However, PG&E can only profit off solar farms, so they ask their creature, Gavin, to suppress rooftop solar. His appointees in the CPUC changed the rules to take away benefits for installing solar on your house, diminishing the common-sense option into a luxury item.
— Alan Marling
Increased traffic makes commuting to school unsafe
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am a star Scout from Troop 941 here in Pleasanton. A major part in scouting is helping and looking out for the community. Lately, I have been noticing an increased commuter traffic on Sunol Boulevard caused by commuters traveling to and from the Livermore-Tracy area to the South Bay due to construction on Highway 84.
Increased traffic and aggressive driving during rush hours has made Pleasanton streets unsafe for school going kids who walk or bike to Pleasanton Middle School or Hearst Elementary School. This has made many parents feel unsafe to let their children walk or bike to school.
I know many kids love walking or biking to school, and they are disappointed that they are not allowed to do so by their parents out of safety concerns. I do believe that Pleasanton needs to take safety measures to enhance the safety of school going students who want to walk or bike.
Some examples of safety measures that have proven effective are: 1) Schools having crossing guards; 2) Adding speed bumps at critical intersections; 3) Installing live speed display signs warning commuters of their speeds; 4) Increase police patrol during school hours.
Through this letter, I would like to bring community awareness about the severity of this issue. I hope the City Council will work with the community and implement some of the suggested measures to ensure the safety of commuters and school going students.
— Eshan Patel
Appreciated the article
I would like to thank Christian Trujano for his article Page 8 in the Nov. 22 paper about Thomas W. Kelly Jr. I had no idea of the process to identify remains of those lost during war. DPAA is an organization I was unaware exists and how absolutely necessary they are. I am grateful for the information he provided and pleased for the Kelly family.
— Ro Copeland
