Category Archives: Local elections

LETTER SERIES: Jon Van Landschoot – Elizabeth Patterson for Mayor

[Editor: Benicians are expressing themselves in letters to the editor of our local print newspaper, the Benicia Herald. But the Herald doesn’t publish letters in its online editions – and many Benician’s don’t subscribe. We are posting certain letters here for wider distribution. – RS]

Re-elect Mayor Elizabeth Patterson: Actions speak louder than words or endorsements

By Jon Van Landschoot
October 26, 2016
Jon Van Landschoot
Jon Van Landschoot

The candidates that have shown they have positively advocated for Benicia citizens will always get my vote. Politicians always promise the moon, few actually deliver.

In my 30-plus years living in our terrific town, I have not seen any elected official work as hard and get so many things done as Elizabeth Patterson our Mayor! I will add Tom Campbell and Steve Young to that list also. What follows is my memory of what these three folks have done for our town.

First, let’s look at Elizabeth’s efforts. In the early 1990’s, there was an effort to build 1500-plus new homes in the Sky Valley area just North of Benicia. This caused a tremendous outpouring of concern from the public. Benicians did not want to have a huge suburb north of our town. It was subsequently not built. Sounds a bit like the proposed Seeno Northern Gateway Project to me!

What this event did do was to galvanize a number of folks to update out General Plan and protect our open space. That effort was spearheaded by Kitty Griffin — that lovely dynamo — and Elizabeth Patterson.

Hundreds of folks attended a ton of meetings and countless hours went into the effort. What came out if it is still regarded by many as a model document. Thank you, Elizabeth and Kitty, for leading the effort. Your present General Plan was enacted unanimously by the City Council in 1999.

In 2003, the same two stalwarts saved Sky Valley from any future development with Proposition K. The measure passed with over 60% approval. Today, you can take a very pleasant ride out to Sky Valley and see only trees, and in the spring a myriad of flowers and color. Thanks to all who worked to “Save Sky Valley.”

In 2005, Sue Street — another lovely dynamo and a killer Bridge Player — and Elizabeth made a similar effort to “Save the Marina Green.” There were plans to build a strip mall and a three-story boutique hotel on the Green!

Measure C was passed by our citizens by well over 60% of the vote. We now enjoy the Green for a myriad of activities. Thanks to all who worked to save the Green. I love being down there on a windy day.

Elizabeth also served on the Planning Commission in the late 1990’s and added a great wealth of knowledge to that body. Trained as a planner, and having served at the California state level in the Deptartment of Water for well over 30 years, working with Mike Thompson, she worked to get California to be “Water Wise” and she has brought that knowledge and energy to Benicia. The “Pure” effort to save and recycle water from Valero was made in the mid 2000’s.
As Mayor of Benicia, Elizabeth has only upped her game. She has appointed extremely qualified Benicians to our boards and commissions. Elizabeth also was a big mover in the conversion of Mills School into our wonderful Benicia Community Center.

She also has advocated for the creation of an Open Government Commission, the Arts and Cultural Commission, and the Community Sustainability Commission. All these efforts succeeded and have helped Benicia become a more open City, a boon to the thriving Arts Community. Let’s not forget the Climate Action Plan that helped Benicia become one of the very top water savers in the Bay Area. Our Green Building Code is a Bay Area leader in LEED Building Codes. Oh, and we also have become a “Tree City,” with a tree ordinance to save our Heritage Trees. Benicia also has a trained Tree Arborist for citizens to consult. Gee, a very busy Mayor!

Elizabeth has, with others, long advocated for air monitors on the fence line of the Valero refinery. Valero has dragged its feet for quite a long time. So, we do not know the actual air pollutants that we breathe each day! Over my 32 years as a teacher in Solano County, I have seen firsthand the asthma and allergy cases climb.

Other ongoing efforts by Mayor Patterson include using the Good Neighbor Steering Committee money from the Valero settlement to facilitate Benicia joining Marin Clean Energy, which saved the City and residents a lot of money on energy use. Also, Elizabeth is leading the continuing effort to give grants to our local businesses to upgrade their energy and water systems. This saves money that can be poured back into their business and hopefully add more employees, thus increasing profits.

She has also been a champion of Benicia’s Clean Tech Expo at the Clock Tower, and Benicia Makerspace in our Middle School.

While Elizabeth has been our Mayor, the city has increased grants to our Human Services folks, Benicia Old Town Theatre Group and Arts Benicia. She is always looking to help Benicia’s non-profits and enhance our life experiences here in Benicia.

In 2012, when the State Parks wanted to shed 70 Parks — two in Benicia — Elizabeth said “NO!” She and the Benicia State Parks Association (BSPA) mobilized Benicians and stopped the closures. She advocated for a State Parks, Solano County, cities of Benicia and Vallejo and BSPA Committee. It meets every other month at the Benicia Capitol. The City took over the bathrooms and the lawns at the Capitol.

This group ponied up enough money this spring to repave the roads in the Benicia State Recreation Area. This past August, Elizabeth attended a celebration at the Capitol to push for more improvements at both the Capitol and the Benicia SRA. This past week or so, Elizabeth was on hand for the dedication of a new plaque at the foot of the Capitol steps.

Not content to rest, Elizabeth also had a big hand in the remodeling of Military West near the City Park. Traffic calming, bigger bus stop and new trees really give an inviting look to all.

A few years ago, the Seeno Group pushed very hard to build an Industrial Park on their property between East Second Street and Lake Herman Road. This land is labeled “industrial” in our General Plan. After much resistance to following our General Plan and Green Building Code, the Seeno folks pulled out. They are back now with a “Northern Gateway Project,” and wanting to build 900-plus housing units among industrial buildings. Having kids, moms and dads living within this new industrial development—which can produce excessive noise, toxins, traffic congestion and the possibility of explosions does not sound like a good idea. New costs for services for these homes will mostly fall on current Benicians. Our schools will be very impacted: more traffic, more of our water will be used, police and fire resources will be stretched. Also, it does not match with our General Plan! Elizabeth has stated her opposition to this new plan if it includes housing.

Of course, Valero’s Crude By Rail Plan (CBR) has been a crucial discussion for the past few years. In March of this year, the Planning Commission, after almost two years of hearings, unanimously voted to deny the Project and gave 11 sound reasons. Most had to do with conflicts with our General Plan and for health and safety concerns. The Planning Commission did yeoman work. A lot of the credit goes to Steve Young, now running for City Council.

In April of this year, the City Council took up the issue. After days of hearings, much of the information was the same as the Planning Commission had heard. The City Council voted. Elizabeth and Tom Campbell voted to deny the CBR Project based on the Planning Commission’s findings. Three councilmembers did not know what to do! Christina, Alan Schwartzman and Mark Hughes needed “more information” to make a decision! Really. So, as you know we waited five months for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to help them out.

What was at issue was not the safety of the project, but Valero’s claim that the CBR Project was preempted and, therefore, could not be denied because it would be an infringement on Interstate Commerce. However, if all the councilmembers would have listened to the ton of folks, many professionals, who gave evidence at both the Planning Commission and the Council meetings, they should have realized that Valero’s project did not qualify for preemption. Why? Because Valero is not a railroad, nor is Valero currently shipping or receiving product by rail.

So, when the STB issued its ruling on Sept. 20th stating there is no preemption, the three councilmembers scrambled to vote “No” and deny the CBR Project. Who wants to be in favor of the dangerous CBR Project? Christina was the first to change her mind, followed by Alan and finally by Mark. A big question remains. Will these three be able to make big tough decisions in the future or wait until some Board bails them out?

Finally, our leaders need to be in the community. I see Elizabeth all over the town. If she isn’t at the Camel Barn, she is at a Main Street event, or an Art Soirée on First Street, attending an Arts Benicia Gala, or at our schools, (sometimes teaching a class on sustainability), or at the Historic Benicia Capitol attending a re-enactment program. She walks and bikes all over town and at the Benicia SRA. She has been spotted at Book Shop Benicia for book events and in our terrific library for myriad events.

However, what I think is the neatest thing she does is to meet with Benicians most every Monday evening and listen to their concerns and ideas. Who else on our council does that? NONE! Vote Elizabeth!

Jon Van Landschoot is a Benicia resident

BENICIA HERALD: Interview with Mayor Elizabeth Patterson

Repost from the Benicia Herald online edition
[Editor:  Some have questioned the consistency if not the objectivity of the Benicia Herald’s coverage of 2016 candidates for election. Complaints have centered on timing and differences in style and depth of coverage as well as the number of column-inches devoted to each candidate. Kudos and thanks to the Herald for covering these important local races. Our only local newspaper is definitely improving. – RS]

Candidate Spotlight: Seven questions with Mayor Elizabeth Patterson

By Elizabeth Warnimont, October 26, 2016
After four years on the city council, Elizabeth Patterson was elected mayor in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Now she is looking at a third term. (File photo)
After four years on the city council, Elizabeth Patterson was elected mayor in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Now she is looking at a third term. (File photo)

The Benicia Herald recently invited Mayor Elizabeth Patterson for an interview, to discuss her campaign for re-election. Mayor Patterson provided responses to the following questions posed by the Herald.

1. How did you get into politics? When were you first interested?
I was always keenly aware that we had limited natural resources, but it was the first (national) Earth Day when I started getting involved in the politics behind it. I felt it was a good place to start, to be involved and organized around this concept.

That evolved over the years, being involved in a host of issues including coastal access, which caught my interest being a second-generation native Californian. There was a close connection at that time – it was easy to gather key people together. I was able to galvanize support (around that issue), and that’s how the Coastal Act effort began.

I discovered that planning was the hub for community health, and civic and commercial function. It became obvious to me that we need to be thoughtful in planning in order to have economic health and community well being. All these concerns are spokes off the center of planning.

2. What have you accomplished as mayor, and
3. What goals do you have for the next term?

I respect our General Plan, and I work to honor the law. If re-elected, I would continue to hew closely to the General Plan.

My major accomplishments to date include taking on a leadership role in forming our Community Sustainability Commission, which is tied to the Valero Good Neighbor Steering Committee, and the Arts and Cultural Commission. There are many talented people in Benicia, and I have tapped into their backgrounds and abilities. I handled the logistics and strategy for getting those commissions approved.

4. What issues in this race do you feel you’re most qualified to address, and
5. What direction do you think Benicia is heading?

My vision is for a thriving Benicia. That is dependent on our investing in high-speed and affordable internet service in the Industrial Park. Re-branding the Benicia Industrial Park to the Benicia Business and Industrial Park would attract businesses that may be deterred by the name “Industrial Park.” Putting on a third Clean Tech Expo would demonstrate that we are open to clean tech industries. A third of job growth is in clean tech, and it’s what the new generation of millenials is interested in. We need to begin planning now for the expansion of the industrial park with Seeno. The Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District is a perfect tool toward that end, but it needs direction, and commitment from the city council.

6. In what areas do you think Benicia has succeeded in the past, and where has it fallen short? How can we do better?
Well, prior to the 1980s, some major decisions were made that in hindsight can be seen to have met short-term needs without taking some long-term issues into account. When the Army left (Benicia’s Arsenal district), they didn’t have any plans for transfer of use or cleanup. The State Department of Parks and Recreation wanted the land, but the decision was made at that time to go with an asphalt plant instead. It was a road not taken. (A state historic park) would have celebrated our Civil War-era history.

The other decision was the planned unit development of Southampton, which at that time was the largest planned-unit development project in California. The challenge now is to enhance the Southampton area with the same new direction, moving toward water conservation and re-use, walkability and driving less, and taking steps toward making housing more affordable for new families.

We have an aging population. There will be many demands for people to downsize. The housing is expensive for young people. That is a big structural problem that we have, and there are ideas out there that we can take small steps, make small adaptations, that would sustain the area.

Some of the best decisions that have been made over the past 25 years were the preserving of our historical heritage, protecting our unique historic neighborhoods and buildings, including the lower arsenal, and recognizing the value of arts and culture, which leads to economic vitality and community desirability.

7. Finally, why should Benicians vote for you over your opponent?
I have experience they can trust. In any election, you want people to focus on leadership; leadership with vision, courage and heart. The public knows me and can depend on me to do that. I like to engage the public. I believe that a public engaged is a public that can move forward together. My opponent (Vice Mayor Mark Hughes) has specifically pushed against workshops and study sessions, calling them a waste of time.

Valero is a classic example. With early conversation, by inviting public involvement, it is quite possible that we would have much more clarity about the critical issues. We wouldn’t have had to go from a negative declaration that was rejected, to a draft environmental impact report that was rejected and had to be recirculated.

That is the key difference between me and my opponent. I believe in public engagement and participation. Participatory decision-making doesn’t mean I relinquish my authority. It means I have more and better information and therefore a better ultimate decision.

For more information on Mayor Patterson’s campaign, visit Elizabethformayor.com or Facebook.com/ElizabethForBenicia.


 

For information on other Benicia candidates, visit the following BeniciaHeraldOnline links:

City council

TOM CAMPBELL

LIONEL LARGAESPADA

GEORGE OAKES

CHRISTINA STRAWBRIDGE

STEVE YOUNG

Mayor

MARK HUGHES

LETTER SERIES: Kathy Kerridge – how to elect Elizabeth and Steve

[Editor: Kathy Kerridge asked me to help distribute her letter, below.   – RS]

How you can help elect Elizabeth Patterson and Steve Young

By Kathy Kerridge
October 24, 2016
kathykerridge2016-09-08-150
Kathy Kerridge

There are only two weeks to go before the election and Mayor Patterson and Steve Young need your help.  This will be a close election and if you want to see Mayor Patterson reelected and Steve Young elected to city council please donate an evening or two of your time.  We need help phone banking on Oct. 25, 27, Nov. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 (from 6 to 8:30) and on November 8 (8am on).  We also need help walking precincts on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 2.  Please email Kathy Kerridge at kkerridge@sbcglobal.net, or call 745-8049 to let us know when you can help.

Mayor Elizabeth Patterson will put Benicia First.  She is the best mayor we’ve ever had in my opinion.

    • She raised safety concerns early in the process and led the council to a no vote by voting against the project at the first opportunity.
    • She has shown leadership on ensuring a safe and reliable water supply.
    • Mayor Patterson is leading efforts at the city council to put a cap on refinery emissions – no increase in air pollution.
    • She wants to diversify our businesses to be less dependent and beholden to Valero.
    • Elizabeth will promote Clean Tech.
    • She believes in protecting open space (endorse by Solano County orderly Growth Committee and Sierra Club).
    • Elizabeth Patterson is endorsed by Solano Democrats, Mike Thompson and Mariko Yamada.

Steve Young has served for the past four years as a planning commissioner.   He will provide new ideas and leadership to the council.

    • Steve has 30 years of experience in managing and directing local government projects in the fields of military base conversion, redevelopment and economic development.
    • He served on Benicia’s Planning Commission since 2012, where he thoroughly studied, raised questions and voted to oppose Valero Crude by Rail.
    • Steve will bring new ideas to our city council and has the ability to ask tough questions.
    • Steve believes the city should decide how to develop the Seeno property rather than just responding to a residential development application.
    • Steve supports the proposal to replace half of the city’s water used by Valero with treated wastewater.

– Kathy Kerridge

MORE:
Elizabeth’s website is ElizabethForMayor.org
Steve’s website is SteveYoungForCityCouncil.org

Benicia Independent enters a new phase… crucial Benicia elections

By Roger Straw, October 21, 2016

Benicia Independent enters a new phase…

stopped-steve-and-elizabeth-800Following our astounding victory over Valero’s oil train proposal this fall …

…following this grand conclusion to our 3½ year volunteer-led effort to defeat Valero’s plan … I was exhausted.

The Benicia Independent – a one-person operation – will be entering an entirely new phase, starting today. I will be on a “sabattical leave” from oil train news for at least the next 3 months, maybe a year.

The Benicia Independent was born in 2007, an act of necessity when many felt that our local print newspaper was not representing candidates for Mayor impartially and fired its editor. The Independent came to life again in 2008-9 to oppose the Seeno development proposal and promote a Green Gateway alternative for Benicia’s last large privately-owned open space. After a period of dormancy, the Independent wakened again for the 2011 elections in Benicia, and again after a period of hibernation, re-invented itself in January, 2014 as “Crude by Rail in the News.”

So … the Benicia Independent has evolved as a single-issue blog on a series of emerging issues of local significance.

Right now, the most important local news to cover is our elections for Mayor and City Council.

There is a CLEAR CONNECTION between our last 3 years of David and Goliath struggle to stop oil trains and the 2016 elections. It is critical that we elect two city officials who gave great leadership in stopping Valero’s proposal: Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and Planning Commissioner Steve Young. The Benicia Independent endorses them both, and will post articles to support their candidacy for the remaining weeks of this election.

>> Mayor Elizabeth Patterson is a long-time environmental scientist and Democrat, with progressive views and a strong record of local and statewide accomplishments. She is being challenged by sitting Councilmember Mark Hughes, a retired PG&E executive and Republican, who is business and development friendly, does not wholeheartedly embrace the science behind climate change, and has voted in support of the Seeno proposal. Hughes’ candidacy is supported by outside PACs, and Mayor Patterson’s election is not at all guaranteed. This is a MUST WIN! More at ElizabethForMayor.org.

>> Planning Commissioner Steve Young was incredibly insightful and persistent when, after 3 years of study and hearings and thousands of pages of environmental review, City staff finally allowed Commissioners to raise questions. Steve was not bullied by 3 years of staff, paid consultants and Valero executives favoring the project. He asked hard and penetrating questions for over 3 hours that night, and helped the Planning Commission come to a unanimous vote to deny oil trains in Benicia – a victory for Benicians, communities uprail from here, and for the planet. Steve is running against 4 other candidates for a seat on City Council. It is important that we defeat Republican media consultant Lionel Largaespada. Steve Young deserves our vote, and he’s definitely got mine.  More at SteveYoungForCityCouncil.org.