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The case for a Pleasanton crossword puzzle
The Pleasanton Weekly should consider regularly featuring crossword puzzles. I will describe three ways in which this addition can enrich our community.
Firstly, crossword puzzles provide a healthy hobby for Pleasanton’s seniors. A 2011 peer-reviewed publication’s findings in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society “show that late life crossword puzzle participation, independent of education, was associated with delayed onset of memory decline in persons who developed dementia”.
Secondly, crossword puzzles can be a powerful outlet for fortifying our city’s dedication to building community. One can imagine a group of friends gathering together on a Sunday morning at Inklings Coffee and Tea to tackle the week’s puzzle together – all while sharing laughs and creating new memories.
Lastly, crossword puzzles can strengthen our community’s knowledge of Pleasanton’s history. One can imagine a Pleasanton Weekly crossword’s clues being related to Pleasanton history and local current events. This can be a great means of educating our youth about Pleasanton’s rich, unique history and support an appreciation for qualities that make Pleasanton a wonderful city to grow up in and raise a family.
A potential objection for not including a crossword puzzle in the Pleasanton Weekly is a lack of resources. However, in the age of AI, I hope that this perspective can be reconsidered. Perhaps if weekly is too much of a burden, then a biweekly or monthly puzzle would be a good cadence to get started. Moreover, perhaps a pilot program can be the most logical step forward.
If you share my passion that a crossword puzzle can enrich our local newspaper and community, then please write to the Pleasanton Weekly with your thoughts. I’d wager that your thoughts can help the editors gauge interest.
– Faisal Chaabani
Support for respecting youth sports referees
I am a high school student from Alamo and a youth soccer referee in Contra Costa County. I wanted to share why I think people should show more respect toward youth sports officials.
Many referees are teenagers who referee because they enjoy the game and want to help younger players. Even though referees try their best to make the right calls, they sometimes make mistakes, just like players and coaches do.
Unfortunately, some parents and coaches become upset and yell at referees over close calls. This can make games less enjoyable and even cause young referees to quit.
Without referees, youth sports would not be possible. Instead of criticizing officials, adults should remember that they are helping make the games possible and deserve to be treated with respect. Showing good sportsmanship sets a better example for young athletes and creates a more positive environment for everyone.
– Garrett Begley
Special election costs
California taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the private career decisions of federal officeholders. When a member of Congress resigns midterm, the public is handed a multimillion-dollar bill for a special election we did not ask for, did not cause, and cannot avoid.
Alameda County will spend roughly $2.5 million to $3.5 million on the latest special election — money that could have supported wildfire mitigation, school infrastructure or local transit reliability.
A congressional seat is a public trust, not a job someone can abandon without consequence. Yet under current law, the financial fallout of a resignation is dumped entirely on taxpayers. That is a structural failure of accountability.
California can fix this. The Legislature should adopt a “Special Election Cost Recovery Act” requiring reimbursement when a resignation is voluntary. It should consider refundable performance bonds for congressional candidates and authorize the state to bill the federal government for special-election costs.
These reforms do not interfere with federal authority; they simply protect Californians from paying for political abandonment.
A resignation is a private choice. A special election is a public cost. The two should not be financially linked.
It’s time for California to demand accountability.
– Michael Austin
Police’s alternate response
I read in the Livermore Vine newspaper that Pleasanton Police’s Alternate Response Unit won the Alameda County award for Emergency Medical Services.
Outgoing City Manager Gerry Beaudin said, “This recognition reflects the City’s commitment to finding innovative, collaborative solutions to some of our community’s most complex challenges. The Alternative Response Unit brings together law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, and community partners to provide the right response at the right time.”
I thought that sounds great, but why doesn’t Livermore have something like that?
Turns out, we do. The Livermore Mobile Evaluation Team. In it, Lily Oberdorfer has a masters in counseling psychology, with a concentration in forensic psychology. She works with Officer Graycar. I thank both for their service.
By centering trained counselors and de-escalation we can have less shootings, less ambulance rides, and less repeat calls. These innovative teams save money and lives.
I hope our programs for Alternative Response Units continue to learn from each other and grow. Our emergency response systems have great potential to evolve into forces for healing rather than punishment. Community-based solutions should be prioritized over incarceration; the latter benefits primarily the bottom line of the prison-industrial complex.
– Alan Marling
