It is imperative to remember the shameful manner of our last two elections
By Nikki Basch Davis, September 1, 2022
Nikki Basch Davis, Benicia CA
To the citizens of Benicia:
With the elections for council in our town approaching, it is imperative to remember the shameful manner of our last two elections when our mailboxes were filled with glossy propaganda showing distorted faces of candidates with truth twisting lies about their history and conduct.
It is important for our town not to be influenced by campaigns supported by very large contributions funneled to special interest PACs by large corporations.
By the end of the day, the candidates that have the funds to place the biggest signs around town and create a stream of expensive glossies that arrive in every mailbox are the candidates that will be beholden to those corporations when the time comes for council to vote on what is best for our children’s health and wellbeing.
The fact that Valero builds football fields for our schools does not compensate for our children growing up in a town listed by the American Lung Association as having the highest rate of asthma in the state.
When I choose my candidates, I choose the ones with no present or past ties to those corporations. Therefore, my choices are Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott.
By Jarrod Slate, August 19, 2022 Mr. Slate is a Benicia Business Owner and a Benicia Planning Commissioner
Jarrod Slate, Benicia
As a longtime resident, a parent, a homeowner, and business owner in Benicia, I felt it was my obligation to become active in this small community, especially on major issues.
I really started paying attention to Benicia planning and politics when “Crude by Rail” was in front of Benicia’s Planning Commission. It was a subject I knew nothing about, but one that provoked a lot of feelings within the community. I began attending the meetings, with no opinion on the topic, and loved witnessing the process.
Many Planning Commissioners stood out to me during that time, with one of the main ones being Kari Birdseye. She came across as well studied and informed, which allowed her to confidently ask thorough questions. This is a great characteristic of someone in that kind of role, or higher office.
Fast forward to today and I now have the honor of serving with Chair Birdseye on the current Planning Commission. She continues to amaze me with her thoroughness in reviewing all material, her leadership skills, her overall respect to the public, their concerns, and the process. She is fair in her assessments, approaching issues from a centrist position, reviewing all the facts, and ultimately making decisions for the greater good of our small community. She has been a role model and mentor for me on how I want to conduct myself as a commissioner.
These are the qualities I want and expect in City Council, which is why I can confidently support Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council. She will work hard to represent everyone and make decisions that benefit all Benicians, based on the facts that she has. As someone with personal interests in Benicia schools, sports, business, and property, I support Kari Birdseye for City Council.
BENICIA – Kari Birdseye believes it’s time for new leadership in the city of Benicia. The longtime planning commissioner is running for a seat on the Benicia City Council this fall to bring change to the city she has called home for 22 years.
“I will listen, study and work collaboratively to bring the transparent, independent, leadership our city deserves,” Birdseye told the Vallejo Sun. The race is her second run for council, after she was opposed by petroleum manufacturer Valero in 2018.
Birdseye was first appointed to the planning commission in 2014. She works for Natural Resources Defense Council as a senior strategic communications manager.
The Vallejo Sun sent questionnaires to each of the Benicia City Council candidates. In her response, Birdseye outlined her top goals, if elected, by pledging “to lead with intelligence and a focus on sustainable economic growth, meeting our housing needs, and a healthy and safe future for all of us.”
Birdseye said one goal is to diversify the city’s tax base by bringing new businesses and economic opportunities to Benicia. She also said she wants to bring more housing to the city.
“I will continue to address the housing shortage in Benicia and throughout the state by concentrating on smart infill development opportunities where affordable housing is a priority,” said Birdseye.
Birdseye touted her environmental record, highlighting the planning commission’s 2016 denial of a permit that would have allowed Valero Benicia Refinery to transport crude oil by rail. The refinery submitted an application in 2012 to transport up to 70,000 barrels of crude oil via two 50-car trains each day. The project was met with strong opposition from the community as questions were asked if the body had the authority to reject the item. Kamala Harris, then state attorney general, stepped in and said the commission was the proper authority.
“When the California Attorney General Kamala Harris sent the City a letter letting us know that we did have the right to say no, it was up to the Planning Commission to do the right thing,” she said. “We did and the refinery appealed our decision so it was sent to the City Council, which ultimately did the right thing too. Since 2017, my fellow planning commissioners have elected me Chair each year, an honor I take with humble dedication.”
Two years after the 2016 decision, Birdseye ran for city council for the first time. Valero opened a campaign committee dumping large amounts of money to oppose her, while supporting Lionel Largaespada and Christina Strawbridge. Largaespada and Strawbridge were elected.
Two years later, Valero’s PAC once again backed Strawbridge for a mayoral bid, while opposing then-councilmember Steve Young. Despite the PAC spending $250,000 during that election, Young was elected mayor. Young also served on the planning commission when it rejected the crude-by-rail project in 2016.
Birdeye also pledged to ensure clean air and water remained on the council’s agenda.
“Bringing more air monitors online throughout our community will give us a better picture of what is in the air where our children play,” Birdseye said. “Access to clean drinking water has been a problem in communities throughout the U.S. and the importance of keeping our City’s infrastructure safe and updated is crucial.”
“I support Measure R because it will allow our community to continue to be a full-service city while making the road improvements we desperately need,” she said, while also confirming she supports Measure K, which would extend the duration of an Urban Growth Boundary to Dec. 31, 2043. Benicia voters first approved the 20-year plan in November 2003 to prevent urban sprawl and preserve agricultural land and open space in the city.
“The importance of open space, agricultural lands and wildlife habitat is becoming even more apparent as climate change adds stress to our ecosystems,” Birdseye said. “I can’t think of a better ballot measure than assuring the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and protection of natural resources and the environment.”
When asked, she also praised the job performance of City Manager Erik Upson.
“Our city manager has been doing the hard work of uncovering years of poor financial management at City Hall,” Birdseye said. “He’s not beholden to anyone or afraid of losing his job so he asks the tough questions and makes decisions that benefit the economic stability of our community for years to come. He has pledged to stem the staff turnover, which is unnecessarily expensive, by building a positive work culture at City Hall, implementing new staffing structures and leading by example.”
Upson was hired as Benicia’s police chief in 2015. He was named interim city manager in September 2020 following the departure of City Manager Lorie Tinfow. The Benicia City Council appointed Upson to the permanent city manager position in January 2021.
Birdseye is one of five candidates running for two seats on the Benicia City Council this fall. Council incumbents Largaespada and Strawbridge are both seeking re-election while retired executive Terry Scott and retired teacher William Innes have also launched campaigns. As Benicia does not have election districts for its council, the top two vote-getters will be elected to the council.
Those seeking more information about Birdseye’s campaign can visit her campaign website.
Kari is organized, diligent, generous, courteous and a team player
By Larnie Fox, August 12, 2022
Larnie Fox, Benicia
We Benicians have an important City Council election coming up. We have an opportunity to elect a majority who are forward thinking, inclusive, and not beholden to big oil.
To make this happen I’m supporting Kari Birdseye, (and Terry Scott).
Kari and I play on the same bocce ball team, and I have learned a lot about her through that experience.
She’s well organized. When she saw that team communications were inconsistent, she stepped in and started sending us a concise, upbeat email two days before every game so we would all show up at the right time in the right place, mentally prepared for our game.
She is diligent. She has worked to improve her skills, gradually, steadily, and with good results. She is now one of our better players.
She is generous. Not only does she bring delicious food for every game, she has taken on the responsibility to bring a tablecloth, plates, napkins and utensils for everyone to share. And, she always shows up early to help prep the court, no matter the heat.
She is courteous. When other players were rude, bossy or mean spirited, she always kept her cool, stood her ground, and steered us back towards civility.
She’s a team player ~ and she’s fun.
I believe that the qualities a person displays doing small things will also be evident when they take on large things – and she has certainly taken on large things in the past. She has chaired the City’s Planning Commission since 2015, served on City’s Human Services board, is a past president of Turner Elementary’s PTA, and the Benicia Stingrays swimming club. She was an Emmy-winning executive producer for CNN.
I know that when she is on our Council, she will do her best to keep our town safe, livable, civil and inclusive.
I trust her.
Please join me in voting Kari Birdseye for City Council.
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