Tag Archives: Benicia CA

Benicia CA, Benicia parks, Taxes

Benicia’s Terry Scott: The argument for supporting Benicia’s Parks, Lighting and Landscaping District

Investing in our Community’s future

From his email with permission, by Terry Scott, Benicia City Councilmember, Aug 17, 2025
[Editor: My apologies for tardiness of posting this important piece.]

Benicia City Councilmember Terry Scott.

Ballots are out or coming soon to your mailbox. Hopefully you’ve read the city’s material defining it. Plus, the social media platforms are certainly a buzz with commentary.
Let me start out by saying we can’t change the past. We can try and fix today, but it is this City Council’s responsibility to make the hard decisions that shape the City’s long-term future.

So let’s not make the mistakes that have gotten us to this moment in time. Let’s be willing to change how we operate as a government and be brave and bold.

That’s why supporting our Parks, Lighting and Landscape District Initiative is an investment our community’s future.

Here’s why:

When families and individuals choose to call Benicia home, they come with clear expectations: excellent schools, high quality of life, well-maintained parks, and safe neighborhoods.

PLLAD initiative represents a crucial step forward in meeting these expectations and preserving what makes Benicia so special.

One of the most compelling aspects of this initiative is its financial structure. Funds raised through this district would be deposited into a dedicated special independently audited account specifically earmarked for parks maintenance and identified improvements.

This means our general fund—which supports critical services like public safety, water services, and fire protection—remains untouched and fully dedicated to these essential operations.

This noted separation of funding sources ensures that improving our parks doesn’t come at the expense of the vital services that keep our community safe and functioning.

Yes, I understand the frustration about a lack of sunset. But realistically, things wear out. Sprinklers break. Landscaping is forever.

Does anyone believe that parks and recreational spaces are luxuries?

I’d argue they’re fundamental components of a thriving community. They provide: Safe, green spaces for families to gather, children to play, and neighbors to connect, fostering the strong community bonds that make Benicia special.

As our community’s ages ( both older and younger families) we need to place more emphasis on Health and wellness opportunities through walking trails, sports facilities, and outdoor recreation areas that encourage active lifestyles for residents of all ages.

Speaking to value received for the assessment , I would argue that property values are enhanced as well-maintained parks and landscaping contribute significantly to neighborhood appeal and home values.

New residents don’t just move to Benicia for our excellent schools—they choose our community because of the complete package we offer. When parks fall into disrepair or lighting becomes inadequate, we risk losing the very qualities that attract quality families and responsible community members to our area.

I submit that this PLLAD represents fiscally responsible governance. Rather than competing with essential services for limited general fund dollars, we’re creating a sustainable funding mechanism specifically designed to address our community’s recreational and aesthetic needs.

As you have read in the ballot package, we currently have 5 of our 28 parks covered by the current lighting and landscape district assessment. For you, this represents a $71 dollar a year increase in your property tax to $208 or $5.92 per month more.

For most property owners not in the lighting districts who use the parks and trails, who benefit from the enhanced property values, who have children in athletics, who feel safe and welcomed by our commitment to maintain the quality of life your property tax assessment will increase to $208 or $17.33 per month.

The Parks, Lighting, and Landscape District initiative offers us a path forward that protects our essential services while enhancing the community amenities that make Benicia a place people are proud to call home. It’s a balanced, responsible approach that deserves your support.

Terry Scott
Benicia City Councilmember

Democracy under attack, Donald Trump, Local vigilance, No Kings!

NO KINGS DAY Saturday, October 18 – All over the Bay

Mark your calendar,
Sat Oct 18 in Benicia, Vallejo and more…
(Scroll down for locations & times…)

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

>> IN BENICIA: October 18th NO KINGS DAY! 1-2pm at the Gazebo (map: First and Military Streets). Bring your signs, your neighbors, friends, and family, and your goodwill. We’ll “parade” this block for the hour on the sidewalk.

>> IN VALLEJO: Vallejo-Benicia INDIVISIBLE is sponsoring a NO KINGS rally on Saturday, October 18, 10AM – 12PM, in Unity Plaza / JFK Library, 505 Santa Clara St. The Vallejo event is listed on the Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible Facebook page (including a map).

>> ALL OVER THE BAY AREA: Here’s a LIST of NO KINGS Oct 18 events in the Bay Area, starting with Benicia – scroll down and click on an event for more details. Or… go to the big nokings.org or mobilize.us map and zoom in. Then click on a city for detailed info.

MORE… (nokings.org)

About No Kings

In June, we did what many claimed was impossible: peacefully mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice: America has No Kings. And it mattered. The world saw the power of the people. President Trump’s birthday parade was drowned out by protests in every state and across the globe. His attempt to turn June 14 into a coronation collapsed, and the story became the strength of a movement rising against his authoritarian power grabs.

Now, President Trump has doubled down. His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most. Rigging maps to silence voters. Ignoring mass shootings at our schools and in our communities. Driving up the cost of living while handing out massive giveaways to billionaire allies, as families struggle.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and bigger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan; it is the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, shouted by millions, carried on posters and chants, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

Because this country does not belong to kings, dictators, or tyrants. It belongs to We the People – the people who care, who show up, and the ones who fight for dignity, a life we can afford, and real opportunity. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.

MEMORIES: BENICIA’S JUNE 2025 NO KINGS RALLY:

 

Benicia CA, Just transition, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Energy Corporation

Elizabeth Patterson: Great questions for Valero bailout

The city and other regional agencies should have a seat at the stakeholder table

By Elizabeth Patterson, September 11, 2025 [posted belatedly here on 9/17/25]

Brenden Chavez is a graduate student in Urban Planning at San José State University with roots in Benicia, studying refinery closures, land use & environmental planning, and community health.”

Brenden and I have been discussing the role of the community in decisions about Valero decommissioning and future land uses. He contacted me because of my work as Mayor and using the public process for major issues. Collaborative planning involves empowering the public and not being led by top down process. I will share his paper on this when it is ready. Meanwhile I thought you’d like to see his great questions, as follows:

I saw the recent news about the state possibly giving Valero a bailout of $80 to $200 million to keep them operating. This is a huge development, and honestly, a bit unexpected. My thought is that Sac politicians are motivated by fear of gas going to $8/gallon. If this goes through, it’s a setback to the state’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2045. Unfortunately, there is no concrete ‘just transition’ strategy to help cities like Benicia, which are economically dependent on the fossil fuel industry. I’m trying to wrap my head around what this means for Benicia. A few questions come to mind:

    • If Sacramento is willing to spend $80 billion to save Valero, why can’t they do the same for the city/county? Backfilling the general fund, remediation seed money, retraining programs, etc.
    • Is there any way for the city or other regional agencies to have a seat at the stakeholder table, since the state is essentially repaying them their $82 million settlement with taxpayer money?
    • If Valero gets bailed out, does that give other refineries like Phillips 66 the power to lobby for the same treatment? How does that shift the state’s long-term sustainability goals?

Elizabeth Patterson

Benicia CA, Just transition, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Energy Corporation

Benicians react to news that Valero deal fails, refinery will close

Many in Benicia are skeptical… “It ain’t over yet.”

The Benicia Independent, by Roger Straw, Sep 16, 2025

The news came around 7pm on Monday, and the emails began flying around among those who have advocated for clean air, safe working conditions, strict monitoring and stiff fines – and for permanent closure and cleanup of Valero’s  Benicia Refinery.

Here’s how engaged Benicians are reacting – a sample taken from Monday night’s emails:

  • “Wow. While I don’t have any inside information at all, and I certainly could be wrong, something tells me this isn’t the final chapter in the Valero/Benicia story. “
  • “Some good news for a change! I’m thrilled at this latest turn of events. But I agree…we may not have seen the end of this drama yet. Fingers crossed that Valero closes, and is held accountable for the costs of clean up of the site, and a smooth and responsible ‘transition’ out of Benicia.”
  • “IF this is truly the end, it’s all the more imperative that we press for the Air District to allocate much of the $56 million (plus possible interest) from the Valero fine/settlement to a Transition Fund that will help Benicia navigate the next five years as it becomes a more environmentally and financially sustainable community.”
  •  “So here we are— Valero not going with a bang but a whimper. With no public announcement from the state about their failed bargaining with Valero? They should be embarrassed.. All those private backroom discussions didn’t add up to squat. So here we are! It’s a new ballgame!”
  • “It feels good to finally have a decision and I’m glad the state didn’t step in. The idea of it being a tank farm with the lack of revenue and the continued danger of toxic air wás the worst outcome. We can now focus on the transition.”
  • “My take is that Valero is still negotiating- by pretending to walk away. This is is 4th inning of a 9 inning game. They have 7 more months. We need to stay organized and envision a positive future without the major cancer factory on our fence line. “
  • “Remember when you bought your first car and the salesperson wouldn’t give you the deal you wanted until you started walking off the lot? This is like that. It ain’t over yet.”