All posts by Editor

Martin Luther King Jr., Racial justice

Benicia Observance of Martin Luther King National Holiday – Monday, January 20, 2020

BENICIA’S 5TH ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NATIONAL HOLIDAY will take place on Monday, January 20th at 7:00 PM, hosted this year at Community Congregational Church, 1305 West 2nd St.

Noted storyteller Linda Wright will again be present in the persona of Coretta Scott King. Civic leaders, members of the arts community, and youth will give voice to Dr. King’s legacy and his wisdom for us today.

All who attend will be encouraged to reflect, sing together, and share their particular reasons for honoring Dr. King.

“For 3 years Jady Montgomery gathered an informal group at the Gazebo on Martin Luther King Day,” observed Mary Susan Gast of the 2020 planning team.

“Last year Jady decided it might be time to bring the gathering indoors.  Heritage Presbyterian was the site in 2019, and we’re hoping that the location will rotate to other settings in future years.”

Gast continued, “We particularly urge high school or middle school students who would like to read some of Dr. King’s words, or words of their own relevant to the occasion, to contact me at [email protected]. That same email address works for anyone who has questions.  We look forward to continuing the tradition of a vibrant community-building MLK Day event in 2020.”

Meeting notices

Meeting of January 14, 2020 – BHS youth on climate change / possible Benicia election changes

Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7pm
Casa de Vilarrasa Community Room,
383 East I St. (corner of East 4th)

PDB’s first meeting of 2020 began with a talk by Benicia High School student Emma Goularte, editor in chief of the BHS newspaper The PAW.  Emma presented the results of a recent student poll on what students think about climate change issues.

We were the first to hear the results of the survey.  Our Q&A with Emma was full of good ideas for follow-up and support.

Next, we focused on an upcoming discussion by City Council on how to elect City Council members, at-large v. district elections.

Currently, council members are elected at-large, meaning all eligible voters can vote for any candidate for Council on the ballot. On January 21, City Council will discuss and consider whether to elect council members by districts, which would mean voters in each defined district would vote only for candidates running for that district Council seat. Several cities in the Bay Area and California have already made this change, as well as many School Districts (including BUSD).

First, Julia Hahn explained what the issue is, why it’s an issue now, and how other communities in CA are implementing the changes. She has worked with Vacaville and Vallejo on addressing these issues and shared some of her experiences. Then Benicia attorney Terry Mollica followed with a discussion of Benicia’s characteristics, and shared his observations on how Benicia should address the issue.

Again, Q&A was smart, energetic and focused.  All were encouraged to attend the January 21 City Council meeting for more on this important issue.

California Senator Bill Dodd, Clean energy, Hydropower, Renewable energy

ALERT! Please contact Senator Dodd before January 15

Vote No / Oppose SB 386

Members and friends,

We need your help in protecting California’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) program and the state’s goal for 100% electricity generation from renewable energy sources.

Senator Bill Dodd will be voting on a bill January 15 – SB 386 – and he should oppose the bill and VOTE NO.  He needs to hear from his constituents!  We vote, too!

SB 386 allows two utilities (Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts) to include large hydropower as a renewable resource and count toward their RPS requirements. California currently excludes large hydropower for RPS because the primary purpose of the Renewable Portfolio Standards program is to reduce the use of fossil fuel energy through the use of clean, renewable energy. This SB 386 would allow the utilities to reduce their commitments to new clean and renewable resources.

Please CALL Sen. Dodd’s office at (916) 651-4003 before this Wednesday, Jan. 15, which is when the Senate Energy Committee will vote on SB 386.  Ask Sen. Dodd to vote NO on the bill.  Last year he voted yes on this bill, which stalled in the 2019 session and has come back before the Committee this year. So, it’s important he hear from his constituents – which is YOU!!!

Some TALKING POINTS on why SB 386 should be OPPOSED:

  • SB 386 would undermine the clean energy targets enacted by the Legislature in SB 350 and SB 100 by removing the need for these utilities to invest in new clean and renewable resources.
  • SB 386 would weaken the RPS program by allowing other utilities to demand similar treatment under RPS, thereby overturning the Legislature’s intent in establishing the RPS program (2002).
  • SB 386 would result in vast quantities of existing large out-of-state hydropower generation to substitute for development of CA-based, new clean energy resources in these two utility service areas.
  • The relief sought by the two utilities is unnecessary. Under existing RPS rules, utilities can adopt cost limitations if RPS compliance creates excessive rate impacts.

Please contact Sen. Dodd’s office NOW
Phone: (916) 651-4003
Twitter: @SenBillDodd
Web mail: sd03.senate.ca.gov/contact