Citizen alerts circulated on BeniciaResist around 9:15 AM. Solano Alert went out at 9:34 AM.
Valero structure on fire – shelter in place if you smell smoke!
All posts by Roger Straw
The Benicia Independent – a personal word…
Second eye surgery puts a temporary hold on BenIndy editor Roger Straw
With so much happening in Benicia and so much spewing forth from the Trump administration, and so much beautiful protest and resistance happening everywhere… you’d think the BenIndy would be in full gear.
Unfortunately, my eyesight and other physical setbacks has kept me at less than full speed during the last three months. And… this week I’m going in for a second eye surgery for a detached retina.
I’ll be posting Steve Golub’s latest piece here, but “taking my eyes off the scene” for awhile after that.
Just so ya know, my heart is still in it, my awareness has not dimmed, and my affirmation and encouragement for our massive show of resistance is strong as ever.
Roger Straw
Benicia Strong!
TWO Weekly Benicia protests – Sundays and Thursdays at City Park
Benicia is alive with citizen opposition to Trump’s chaoic and illegal authoritarian takeover threat
April in Benicia is a month of flowering trees, the start of Farmers Market and crowds at the 9th Street beach. This year it’s also the genesis of two, count ’em, TWO citizen protests! We are aware, and we care, and we will not be silent!Thursdays at 5pm…
Longtime Benicia organizer-activist Susan Street put out a call for Thursday night vigils, starting on April 3. A good crowd has gathered each Thursday since at the Gazebo in City Park, First & Military Streets. Here’s from her announcement:
VIGIL FOR DEMOCRACY
Every Thursday, 5-6:30 p.m.
On the sidewalk by the Gazebo
Stay on the sidewalk. Don’t block anyone attempting to walk through. Ignore any harassment.
Sundays at noon…
Benician Heather Pierini put out a similar call in late March to protest the cuts made by DOGE and the current administration. Friends and neighbors gather near the Gazebo on Sundays, 12 – 1PM. Initially this was to take place every second Sunday, but soon that was changed – now it’s EVERY Sunday. Here’s from the FB page:
No, no, Bad DOGE
Every Sunday at 12 PM – 1 PM
City Park, Benicia
Air District finally planning to share millions of dollars with Benicia in Valero air quality fines
On April 8 the Air District invited us to help decide how those millions of dollars will be spent!
For years, Benicians have been calling for the Bay Area Air District to direct some of the millions in violation money collected from refineries to the communities where the refineries are located – the communities that suffer from the harm caused by the violations.
Finally, this year, the Air District is getting serious about sharing those funds. And here in Benicia, the dollars are huge!
Last October, the Air District (and CARB) fined Valero Refining Co. $82 million for Benicia air quality violations! In an email yesterday, Benicia Mayor Steve Young sent out an alert with the subject line, “Help decide how to spend $64 million from the Valero settlement in Benicia.”
Young was referring to an invitation issued by the Air District to fill out a survey and attend an ONLINE WORKSHOP TODAY AT 5PM. Here is the content of the invitation as it appears in the Benicia City Manager’s latest newsletter:
Help Shape How Millions in Community Funds Are Spent – Take the Survey or Join the Workshop!
The Bay Area Air District has established a new Community Investments Office to help direct funding from enforcement actions into projects that benefit communities most impacted by air pollution across the Bay Area. Your voice is critical in shaping how these funds will be distributed.
We’re reaching out to ask for your input in two ways:
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- Take a brief survey to share your thoughts on community priorities, funding needs, and more: Take the Survey
- Join us for a virtual community workshop on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, from 5:00– 6:00 PM to learn more and walk through the survey together.
Workshop Details
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 5:00-6:00 PM
Join via Zoom
More information is available at the new: Community Investments Office web page
If you have questions, feel free to reach out to communityinvestments@baaqmd.gov.
Thank you for helping shape a cleaner, healthier future for our communities
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area. Connect with the Air District via X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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