I was born in Oakland, CA, delivered into this world by the same doctor who delivered both my mom and dad…
By Stephen Golub, Benicia resident and author, “Benicia and Beyond” column in the Benicia Herald, May 31, 2026
This past week, City Council Member Kari Birdseye kindly took the time for an interview regarding her background and Benicia’s challenges/opportunities. Here it is:
- Where did you grow up?
I was born in Oakland, CA, delivered into this world by the same doctor who delivered both my mom and dad. I’ve always had family in the Bay Area but my most formative years were spent in the Sierra foothills. I graduated from San Francisco State University after transferring from Sierra Community College. I was a country mouse relocating to the Big City and I’ve been in love with San Francisco and the Bay Area ever since. - How did you end up in Benicia?
After eleven years in Atlanta, working for CNN, it was time to return to my home state. I landed my dream job as Director of Communications for the Wine Institute with an office in San Francisco and our young family was looking for a new hometown that was family friendly with good schools, affordable and someplace easy to commute into the city. Benicia fit that bill perfectly. - Except for a few minor benefits, being a member of the Benicia City Council is essentially a volunteer position. What is your regular job?
I have worked for Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC.org) for almost nine years now, where I am Director of Regional Media and Public Affairs. I love my “paycheck” job because I work on environmental issues with super smart attorneys, scientists, and policy experts every day. - What made you first get interested in running for the Benicia City Council?
I have been a serial volunteer since my kids were young, pitching in for Matthew Turner PTA, Benicia Stingrays Swim Team and more than a decade as a traveling soccer mom. When the kids grew older, I started volunteering for the City, first as a member of the Human Services Board, and then the Planning Commission for eight years. Once you understand how the City runs on volunteers, it gives you such pride in your community. I didn’t see myself as an elected official until friends and acquaintances started asking me if I would be interested in running. There’s an adage that says women require so much more encouragement to run for office than men do. That encouragement kept coming and I finally put together a team of friends and encouragers who helped me run in 2018 and then again in 2022. - What accomplishments are you proudest of regarding your time on the City Council?
I am proud of the work we have accomplished during the last four years. We have made so many tough decisions, especially the tax initiatives. No one wants new taxes, including me, but our City was spending more money than we were taking in for decades. Many elected officials fear the tough stuff because they are afraid of ruining their chances of re-election. Terry Scott and I have governed based on what’s best for our community, not what’s popular and will get us re-elected. We are just now starting to reap the benefits of Measure F, the citizens’ initiative to raise revenue earmarked exclusively for repairing city streets, potholes, and sidewalks. The five-year road improvement plan starts this summer and that’s something to smile about. Right now, I’m proud of the work we are doing to ensure that city services remain the same during our transition away from the refinery revenue. I am hopeful that we’ll see some of the Air District grant funding, as well as so many other options we are exploring now. - Perhaps the greatest challenges and opportunities for Benicia at this time flow from the idling of the Valero Refinery and the property’s eventual conversion to what will likely be mixed-use development (e.g., residential, commercial and light industrial).What directions would you like to see such development take?
I look forward to a transparent, community-inclusive process of figuring out what’s going to take place on those 900 acres. This is an opportunity to redefine Benicia and diversify our local economy. We can build more houses, to accommodate new families of various income levels. There will be many ways for our community to contribute to the redevelopment process. Valero did us a solid when they partnered with the Signature Development Group, a local developer with a strong track record of quality projects throughout the Bay Area and elsewhere. Council members, including myself, are regularly meeting with one of the principals at Signature and so far, we like what we are hearing. They recently submitted a pre-application and community member feedback is encouraged. For more information visit www.MovingBeniciaForward.com and let them know what you think. - What role is the state playing regarding the conversion? What role would you like to see it play?
For decades, bills have been introduced to help communities transition away from fossil fuels, especially refinery towns. Very few of these bills have been passed into law and we are experiencing the lack of planning for the impacts of California transitioning to a greener economy. The state of New York has a regulation that pays refinery towns, when their industrial partners close, to bridge the economic gap left by the closure. We are hoping that our state leadership will assist Benicia in bridging that gap, especially as the refinery remains offline but intact, during the global oil supply crisis. - One long-term problem facing Benicia, particularly as a partly waterfront community, is climate change. What can we do to try to adapt to rising waters and other effects of climate change?
Luckily, our state leaders HAVE passed a law, SB 272, that helps communities plan for sea level rise. Benicia is engaged in a county-wide effort called the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project (www.bayshoreresiliency.org). They hold community meetings quarterly to provide updates on their plans and receive community feedback along the way. I was honored to give opening remarks at their last meeting in May and I’m proud of the work our Benicia planning staff is doing on that project. - Are there any other thoughts you’d like to share?
I’d like to thank the many Benicians who have reached out to me as an elected official. Solving problems, improving how the City serves our community, and meeting new people is my favorite part of being a City Council member. While the online community isn’t always as generous, the people I meet around town, on the Bocce Ball courts, and at our meetings at City Hall are kind, curious and care about Benicia just as much as I do. Together, we’ll get through this transition and be even stronger because of it. I’m so hopeful for what Benicia will become in the coming decades. Stay tuned for re-election news soon. Benicia deserves experienced leaders for the next four years. 😉
[Note from Steve Golub: After reading lots of comments from within and beyond Benicia, and given that Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer are tied in the polls, I’m supporting Steyer. He’s had some troubling investments in his fairly distant past and his lack of governmental experience is a negative. But on balance I like his environmental and other positions, as well as the energy he’s bringing to the campaign and hopefully the job.
In contrast, I’m extremely disappointed with Becerra’s ties to Chevron – nearly $40,000 in donations to him from the company this year, and a whopping $500,000 to a pro-Becerra PAC, also this year. I value his experience, but I find those ties to Chevron and other vested interests disqualifying. Steyer would be far better for the state as a whole and Benicia in particular.]
[Note from Steve Golub: If you haven’t done so yet, please explore the new Benicia-focused online newsletter, The Benicia Bridge (the-benicia-bridge.ghost.io). Launched this past January by two award-winning Benicians, the site is providing thoughtful, thorough coverage of a growing array of Benicia issues, ranging from Valero’s closure to street repair to our deep water port to a community playground.]
Stephen Golub writes about democracy and politics, both in America and abroad, at A Promised Land: America as a Developing Country.
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