Category Archives: Benicia City Council

Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye, Terry Scott

Lisa Reinertson: Kari Birdseye Sees the Big Picture

For a healthy planet for my children, for my grandchildren, and their children’s children…

By Lisa Reinertson, September 21, 2022

Lisa Reinertson, Benicia CA

What do the wildfires and recent air quality index of over 500 at Lake Tahoe have to do with Benicia? (Besides ruining some people’s vacations?) What do recent record-breaking temperatures throughout California, with some temperatures going above 115 degrees as close as Fairfield have to do with our town, or even with our elections?

Why does a huge Texas based oil conglomerate like Valero feel the need to meddle in our town’s local elections, using a PAC to the tune of around $240,000

The big picture is that we are all witnessing the effects on our climate; drought, wildfires, record-breaking temperatures, fish die offs, etc., due to, in great part, our reliance on fossil fuels. And the fossil fuel industry, aware that people might want to protect our water, our air, our planet, are wielding their power to protect their own interests, which is their profits. Our small quaint town of Benicia is again witness to their attempts to wield their power here. Like the story of David and Goliath, it’s the giant corporation against our citizens’ best interests, using PAC money to fight against City Council candidates that will hold them accountable. With their history of air polluting accidents and keeping serious toxic emissions in Benicia secret for over 15 years, they would prefer to not be held accountable.

I am a Benicia citizen who would like there to be a healthy planet for my children, for my grandchildren, and their children’s children. I want folks on our City Council who don’t have any ties to or accept any help from fossil fuel interests. Folks like Kari Birdseye.

Kari Birdseye, whose resume includes a stellar career in journalism, has devoted years of service to our community, both as president of a local PTA, and as the chair of our City’s Planning Commission for the past two terms. She currently works for an environmental organization, which is one of the things I admire about Kari, and what the oil interests are afraid of.

Kari, having raised two children in Benicia, understands the concerns and hopes of families in our town. She understands the need to protect our city’s financial base by diversifying businesses. She understands that clean air and water and the health and safety of our community are top priorities.

Kari cares deeply about the state of our environment and will work diligently on sustainable ideas and solutions to the problems that affect us now and into our future. Kari is beholden not to any corporate interest but only to the citizens of our beautiful Benicia. She is kind, thoughtful, accessible, smart, resilient, and not afraid to fight the good fight for the good of our community. Please join me in voting for Kari Birdseye for Benicia City Council.

Lisa Reinertson
Benicia Resident

More letters, news & links about Kari here on the BenIndy

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Kari Birdseye For Benicia City Council 2022
https://karibirdseyeforbenicia.com
Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye, Terry Scott

Wow! Benicia artists create dozens of yard signs for Kari Birdseye & Terry Scott

Get your Art Sign at the online auction

AFTER-AUCTION UPDATE – See the 2 gorgeous signs I won – https://www.facebook.com/roger.straw

What a great idea!  Benicia artists have organized a BEAUTIFUL contribution to our election campaign season.  All over town, those of us who support Kari Birdseye and/or Terry Scott for City Council can bid for one of these magnificent and sometimes humorous signs.

Benicia will campaign with flair! …for candidates with flair!

Here’s how you can get your sign!

Click on this link: runmyauction.com/kariterry.php
(or use and share the QR code) to make bids and purchases in the Artist Sign Project Auction.

Bid soon – the auction will close on Wednesday, September 14 at 8pm.

Join me in support of Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott for Benicia City Council.  All proceeds benefit the campaigns.

Roger Straw
The Benicia Independent

Benicia City Council, Kari Birdseye, Terry Scott

Nikki Basch Davis: Remember! …and vote for Birdseye and Scott

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.

Nikki Basch Davis
Benicia

More letters, news & links about Kari here on the BenIndy

And best of all – Kari’s website!

Kari Birdseye For Benicia City Council 2022
https://karibirdseyeforbenicia.com
Benicia City Council, Benicia elections

Progressive Democrats of Benicia endorse Kari Birdseye, Terry Scott

City Council Endorsements for Benicia’s November Election

On Thursday, August 25, after an informative and well-attended meeting of the Progressive Democrats featuring a forum for three Democratic Benicia City Council candidates, the membership voted to endorse Kari Birdseye and
Terry Scott for City Council.

The membership failed to endorse the third Democrat running for two seats on Council, Christina Strawbridge.

In the forum moderated by Interim Chair Kathy Kerridge, the candidates were presented with prepared questions on topics ranging from the Valero PAC—which has a stockpile of over $200,000 to support candidates favorable to their issues—to climate change response and adaptation strategies, as well as affordable housing for seniors and low-income families. Each candidate was afforded ample time to answer each question and provided thoughtful, forward-thinking responses.

The membership also voted to endorse Jose Altamirano for the State Board of Equalization and to make a financial donation to each of the endorsed candidates.