Category Archives: Local elections

Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Benicia Police Officers' Association, Local elections, Mark Hughes

LETTER SERIES: Nikki Basch Davis – PAC involvement in Benicia elections

[Editor: Benicians are expressing themselves in letters to the editor of our local print newspaper, the Benicia Herald. But the Herald doesn’t publish letters in its online editions – and many Benician’s don’t subscribe. We are posting certain letters here for wider distribution. – RS]

PAC involvement in Benicia elections

By Nikki Basch Davis
October 28, 2016
Nikki Basch-Davis
Nikki Basch Davis

Working on Elizabeth Patterson’s election, I was sternly instructed on how much (or little) money we are allowed to sell the art for. I had to send back donated art which was priced at a too high value.  Every dollar we made in the auction was painfully scrutinized.

I was surprised to read that Mark Hughes campaigns in 2005 and 2009 accepted $12,350 from 13 different PACs.

I also have learned that the Benicia Police Officers’ Association has raised $20,000, of which, part, is already put to use for lawn signs (bigger than life), indicating their support for Mark Hughes.

Benicia’s Human Resources Department made3 it clear that the majority of these police officers don’t even live in Benicia and cannot vote in our election. Still, they are trying to influence and manipulate our town’s politics.

I wonder why political action committees are involved in this election? How many of our voters are aware of it?

Nikki Basch Davis, Benicia

California State Senate, Local elections, Mariko Yamada

LETTER SERIES: Evie Treventhen – Mariko Yamada for State Senate

[Editor: Benicians are expressing themselves in letters to the editor of our local print newspaper, the Benicia Herald. But the Herald doesn’t publish letters in its online editions – and many Benician’s don’t subscribe. We are posting certain letters here for wider distribution. – RS]

Mariko Yamada: Good for the Delta

By Evie Treventhen
October 28, 2016

I am pleased to write this letter in support of Mariko Yamada, who is a candidate for the State Senate in District 3 [representing Benicia].

I’ve followed her activities in the Assembly and have been impressed by her consistent advocacy for improvement of working conditions for farm workers.

Mariko Yamada State Senate 2016Also she has demonstrated a clear understanding of the need to protect water quality in the Delta and in our area generally. In the Assembly she was a senior member of the Assembly Committees on Agriculture and Water.  She opposes the Delta tunnels which potentially would be a disaster for the Delta and also negatively impact other northern California water needs.

Unlike her opponent [Dodd], Mariko has consistently voted to support overtime compensation and wage protection for farm workers.  Farm workers have historically been excluded from receiving additional pay for overtime work. As recently as this year, her opponent voted against such a bill.  Recently Gov. Brown signed that bill into law.

Mariko, a lifelong Democrat, is not a voice for corporate interests such as oil, Monsanto and pharmaceutical companies.

Her legislative service has focused on elder care, justice for workers and care for the environment.

I urge you to join me in voting for Mariko Yamada for State Senate.

Evie Treventhen, Napa

Benicia City Council, Local elections, Steve Young, Valero Benicia Refinery, Wastewater, Water recycling

LETTER SERIES: Steve Young – On the Proposed Recycled Water Project

[Editor: Benicians are expressing themselves in letters to the editor of our local print newspaper, the Benicia Herald. But the Herald doesn’t publish letters in its online editions – and many Benician’s don’t subscribe. We are posting certain letters here for wider distribution. – RS]

On the Recycled Water Project

By Steve Young
October 28, 2016
Steve_Young
Steve Young for Benicia City Council

I would like to thank Mr. Gartrell for his letter and calling attention to this proposal.

Currently, Valero pays approximately $1 million per year for roughly half of the water used in the City. This is raw, untreated water that is used in their cooling towers and refinery process. The rest of the City customers pay around $6 million for the other half of the treated, potable water. Clearly the treated water is of greater value than untreated water, but one can wonder if it is 6 times more valuable?

The proposed wastewater conversion project, which Valero has described as “drought insurance”, is estimated to cost approximately $25 million. This could presumably be financed by a loan from the State, where the payments (according to City staff) would be approximately $1.5 million per year. Both the City and Valero agree that the technology is achievable, and the main question remaining is who should pay the premiums for this drought insurance (i.e. loan payments).

Since the conversion project would result in wastewater being treated by the City to Valero’s specifications, and would be pumped in new lines from the treatment plant directly to Valero for their exclusive use, it is not unreasonable (or illegal) to expect them to pay the costs of that project. I believe that this is in compliance with Prop. 218.

Clearly, there would be benefits to the City from this project as well, since it would free up more water for the community to accommodate both current residents and any future growth the City may choose to embark upon. And the development of the technology of wastewater conversion could ultimately benefit the City if extended to irrigation purposes for parks, school fields and other public uses-although to do so would require some expensive re-plumbing to direct that reclaimed water for those purposes.
The cost of those uses, of course, would be public costs.

The negotiation of the terms of this project would have to be approved by the new City Council and Valero’s corporate offices in San Antonio, TX.

I remain optimistic that this project could be significant in terms of serving the long term water needs of both Valero and the City.

Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Local elections, Mark Hughes

LETTER SERIES: Roger Straw – Mark Hughes’ voting record

[Editor: Benicians are expressing themselves in letters to the editor of our local print newspaper, the Benicia Herald. But the Herald doesn’t publish letters in its online editions – and many Benician’s don’t subscribe. We are posting certain letters here for wider distribution. – RS]

Mark Hughes’ voting record – an important factor for voters

By Roger Straw
October 27, 2016
rds2_2016-09-08
Roger Straw, Editor, The Benicia Independent

There has been something of a hue (or should I say Hughes) and cry about my letter comparing the virtues of mayoral candidates Mark Hughes and Elizabeth Patterson.

I certainly meant no disrespect in pointing out that Hughes is a Republican who has not led forthrightly in 2008-2009 battles over the Seeno project and on issues of climate change and air quality here in Benicia. He surely hasn’t (as far as I know) come right out and stated that he doesn’t accept the science of climate change. If I remember right, his comment was something to the effect that there is more to global warming than human causes. Well, of course! But that seems like a politician’s deft avoidance of the issue, sending signals to the climate change deniers, and clearly NOT a position of strong advocacy for measures to limit air pollution and move toward clean and renewable sources of energy.

Hughes has frequently – predictably – sided with those who oppose measures for sustainability in Benicia. In more recent times, he voted against voluntary green building standards. He voted to return $887 thousand of the City’s grant money to Valero for a project that Valero could easily have funded itself. That decision hobbled our Community Sustainability Commission’s ability to continue funding projects such as Benicia Makerspace, community gardens, solar and water conservation grants, etc. And Hughes voted against renewing the contract for our excellent Climate Action Plan Coordinator, Alex Portshawver.

I appreciate that Mark puts out a welcome mat for development on Seeno land in hopes of securing new tax revenues for the City. And it’s great to learn that he’s against 900 homes up there. But without firmly stating opposition to all housing above the Industrial Park we can only conclude that the developer will come back with a “compromise” that could compromise the future of Benicia. And how will Mark vote on that?

Elections too often cause enemies, and that’s really hard in a small town. I like Mark, and I find it difficult to bring forward his record as one good reason to vote for Elizabeth Patterson for Mayor. But these are necessary considerations in making a good decision for the future of Benicia. Unlike the Republican candidate for President, I hope we ALL will support whomever wins the election as our Mayor, no matter the outcome. Meanwhile, I’ll vote for Elizabeth and invite you to do so, too.

MORE:
Elizabeth’s website is ElizabethForMayor.org
Steve’s website is SteveYoungForCityCouncil.org