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Change must come
to Danville council
Councilman Newell Arnerich approved the Abigail Place development, where 19 large houses were crammed into lots where two ranch houses once stood. Not one Danville resident spoke in its favor and locals pleaded with the town for something that better blended in with their neighborhood. Arnerich spoke about developer rights and pressure from Sacramento. Not once did he address the views of the people he was supposed to represent.
Arnerich supported developing our hills on the Magee property, an issue that divided our town. The “No on Y” voters had seen this council in action and didn’t trust their judgment. This council also approved the three-story, 144-unit Downtown Danville complex currently under construction.
Vote for change. Vote for Allen Timmons, Kevin Traylor, and Nasser Mirzai.
Jim Murphy
Danville
Prop. 17 restores rights
to tens of thousands
Currently, citizens who are on parole in California are not allowed to vote. Voting should be a right, not a privilege. Some may argue that preventing them from voting is a suitable punishment, but I disagree. Being in prison for years, and all the other disciplines they face, are satisfactory. Also, if any right should be stripped away, why should it be the right to vote?
Voting yes for Proposition 17 would help society as well because it could potentially lead to less crime. Not only is it adding 50,000 more votes, but letting parolees vote could help them feel more connected to society, and less like an outcast. When they have more civil engagement, it might make them less likely to commit another crime because they’re doing the same basic duty as everybody else — voting.
Audrey Abt
Kensington
Refusals to answer
debate questions insulting
As I write this I’m watching the Pence/Harris debate and have a simple question: Why can’t they just answer the questions asked by the moderator? Is it indicative of how they’ll respond to questions posed by the American people should they be elected? Do they think we’re stupid? Do they think they can avoid or circumvent the challenges they will inherit through the use of verbal smoke and mirrors?
The public should be insulted by the candidates’ obvious dodging of the question. Thanks for listening. My two minutes are up.
Steve Revetria
Walnut Creek
Carreon is the best
for Pleasanton board
Please vote for the candidate with the most current Pleasanton Unified School District classroom experience.
Mary Jo Carreon has firsthand knowledge of what the current distance learning experience is like for our students and teachers. After 33 years in the classroom (winning several teaching awards during that time), she retired just this summer, then within a month was running for school board and participating in the school reopening task force. This shows how dedicated she is to our students and the community.
Mary Jo has frequently shared her desire for open communication with the community, outlining plans for public input and committee representation on important issues. Mary Jo Carreon will work hard to make PUSD the best it can be for students, parents and educators.
Janet Sears
Pleasanton
Vote to keep Wilk
on Walnut Creek council
Kevin Wilk should remain on the Walnut Creek City Council. He has made it a point to keep in regular contact with us and my judgment is that he is a careful, thoughtful and dedicated leader. He listens to the needs of his constituents and makes decisions based on the interest of all, not just supporters.
In the depths of the shelter-in-place order, and the loss of Walnut Creek City revenues, he supported painful but necessary cuts to the budget. He is now committed to helping our local businesses recover as soon as possible.
Kevin is decisive when needed but not extreme or single-minded. He also knows the new normal, whatever it is, will be different. Climate Change, for one, will continue to impact Northern California and the Bay Area and Kevin is committed to adjusting to new realities and combating its causes to the greatest extent we can.
Robert Ikenberry
Walnut Creek
Prop. 18 opponents
fear young voters
Proposition 18, if passed would allow 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election if they’ll be 18 by the general election.
Jon Coupal, an involved opponent, is the president of Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a nonprofit that is against raising taxes and encourages lowering taxes in California.
It’s well-known that most young voters vote Democratic. Democrats are generally more favorable toward increasing taxes on the wealthy and for social progress. Therefore, if Proposition 18 is passed, increased taxes would become more likely.
While those opposed argue that 17-year-olds are not qualified, it’s not a matter of their qualifications. It’s a matter of greed and the desire to suppress the vote of those viewed as their political opposition. Since those opposed don’t want increased taxes and rely on the apathy of young voters, they’re arguing against Proposition 18 and urging a no vote.
Liliana Arias
El Sobrante
