To our fellow Benicia Residents and Business owners:

By Benicia Councilmembers Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott, May 27, 2025

This is a pivotal moment in our city’s history. The potential Valero refinery closure isn’t just a challenge—it’s our opportunity to reimagine Benicia’s future.

For decades, Valero has been directly woven into our economic fabric. And, woven directly into being a significant charitable partner.

Now, we must face change. We must look ahead with clarity and purpose.

This transition demands thoughtful planning, which is why Mayor Young has established specialized task forces to guide our path forward. These task forces will focus on economic diversification, sustainable development, and community resilience. Their mission is clear: to mitigate impacts while discovering new possibilities for growth.

The success of this transition depends on inclusivity. We need voices from every corner of our community—businesses, schools, environmental advocates, residents, artists, Bay Area Air District and many others —to participate in this process.

Your insights will shape our economic assessment and redevelopment strategy.

The 940 acres that Valero may leave behind could be the catalyst that will act as a transformative site. But it represents more than land—it may represent Benicia’s next chapter.

This may be our chance to rebuild, reimagine, and reinvent our community for generations to come.

We have received our wake up call as a community. Now it’s time to act. The future belongs to those who prepare for it.

Together, let’s create a Benicia that honors our past while boldly and bravely steps toward a more diverse, sustainable, and resilient tomorrow.

Our challenge is to transform Benicia into a resilient and sustainable community through economic diversification and innovative development, ensuring the prosperity of all residents, businesses and attractive to visitors.

To us the mission is clear: proactively manage the transition brought by potential changes in Valero’s operations by fostering economic resilience, supporting workforce development, and promoting sustainable redevelopment.

We aim to ensure the prosperity and well-being of Benicia’s residents through strategic planning, community engagement, and innovative solutions.

Benicia will be a vibrant, sustainable community where cutting-edge innovation harmonizes with small-town charm.

And finally, we envision a city where green, renewable technologies pioneers work alongside revitalized local businesses. Where our historic downtown thrives as a destination for visitors and residents alike, and where cohesive new neighborhoods like Rose Estates, Jefferson Ridge, and the Valero property reinvention, and others, provide diverse housing options and mixed use housing and retail tied together with micro transit opportunities.

Change is hard. But we must control our destiny.

Terry Scott
Kari Birdseye
Benicia Council Members