Council Votes to Oppose Prop. 98
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VOLUME XLV, NUMBER 21 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008 Council Votes to Oppose Prop. 98 The Pleasanton City Council quest by residents of Vineyard we move, then the sky is the limit The council asked City Attor- project that financially impacts voted to oppose Proposition 98 Villa mobile home park for the when it comes to rents.” Perkins ney Michael Roush to comment a neighbor. For example, if a de- and support for Proposition 99. council to take a stand in oppo- refers to a provision in the initia- on the issue. He stated that 98 velopment were turned down Both are eminent domain initia- sition to Proposition 98. In ad- tive that would not allow a rent changes the procedures for the because of its impacts on the tives on the June 3 ballot. dition to those who spoke, resi- increase until current residents use of eminent domain. It pro- neighbors, the owner could claim The vote was unanimous. dents wearing red shirts were in moved out of a dwelling. It would hibits condemnation of private that the benefit of his land was The discussion of the propo- the audience to demonstrate also make it more difficult for property if the land were then transferred to the neighbors de- sitions had not been scheduled. their support of the request. moble home owners to sell their turned over to a private devel- valuing his land or representing However, the council was unani- Carol Perkins noted that units. oper. It also eliminates rent con- a reverse taking. The city would Print by Edmee Keele mous in placing the discussion backers of Proposition 98 are Sharon Ward predicted that trol provisions. In Pleasanton, the have to compensate the land- as an emergency item on the spending millions under the passage of Proposition 98 would city’s agreements with mobile owner who made that claim. agenda. A four-fifths vote was re- guise of reforming eminent do- create more homeless people in home owners include rent con- The alternative supported by Memorial Day quired. main. Hidden deep in the initia- Pleasanton. Seniors on social se- trol provisions. the council was Proposition 99. There are no more council tive is the elimination of rent curity, young people starting out, Another aspect of the propo- Roush described it as an attempt Weekend meetings scheduled between now control in California. That im- and those living on low or fixed sition would impact local land to change some of the objections and the election. pacts mobile home residents and incomes would not be able to af- use planning. A city could not to the use of eminent domain. Activities Set The decision followed a re- all renters. “We are okay until ford the higher rents. approve a development or (See PROPOSITION, page 4) The Memorial Day Weekend is a time to remember those who served this country in the military. It is also a time to gather with Pleasanton Schools family and friends. Many special events are planned for the week- end. Look At Stronger SPECIAL CEREMONIES: Livermore Veterans of Foreign Effort to End Bias Wars Post 7265 will host Memo- rial Day ceremonies at three Liv- A stronger effort to promote specific in its language to get the ermore cemeteries on Mon., May various kinds of diversity in the point across that even uncon- 26. Pleasanton school district is be- scious bias among district teach- Each ceremony will last ap- ing advocated by school board ers and staff has to be held in proximately 30 minutes. The first member Chris Grant and a dis- check. one will begin at 10 a.m. at trict committee. The global orientation Roselawn Cemetery, 1240 No. Liv- Grant and the district’s global committee’s proposed language ermore Ave. At 11 a.m., the sec- orientation committee spoke up talks about continuing work to ond ceremony will take place at at the two most recent board meet- “address equity to ensure that stu- St. Michael’s Cemetery, 3885 East ings with recommendations dents and staff of all back- Ave. The final ceremony will be about how the district could grounds feel comfortable, wel- at 11:30 a.m. at Memory Gardens launch a strong effort to make come and successful in the orga- Cemetery, 3873 East Ave. people of all backgrounds feel nization.” Grant suggested that Attending the ceremonies will more welcome, and educate stu- could be changed to “develop be American Gold Star Mothers, dents and teachers about diver- and train faculty and teachers on Blue Star family members, Rev. Bill sity in life. the techniques to foster broad- Nebo of the First Presbyterian During a board discussion of based inclusion and manage un- Church in Livermore, Father Ray the district’s goals at the meet- conscious bias.” Saca of St. Michael’s Catholic ing May 13, Grant said that he Grants added, “Even in the Church of Livermore, Children of Photo - Doug Jorgensen felt one of the announced goals best organizations, there is a need the American Revolution, Travis Air Force Base Color Guard, Liv- The twins are (from left) Robert Nilsen, Christopher Nilsen, Madeline Pruneda, Catherine could be made stronger and more (See BIAS, page 4) ermore Police Department Color Pruneda, Danielle Delledera, Rebekah Delledera, Renee Lind, Taylor Lind, Sarah Bachleda, and Guard, Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Emily Bachleda. Department, Livermore Scout Troop 924, and the VFW firing Friendship Center to squad. The public is invited and en- St. Michael’s Bids Farewell to Ten Twins Suspend Operations couraged to attend. By Patricia Koning twins attending St. Michael’s, Got a problem with homework? The Livermore Area Recre- adult day care program for those Twins represent only about 3% the experience is even more in- Your twin might know the answer. ation and Park District Board of 50 and older, provides socializa- In Pleasanton, the Veterans of of the babies born in the United tense because the school only Foreign Wars Post 6298 and Miss a day of school? If your twin Directors voted to suspend op- tion, recreation and stimulation in American Legion Post 327 will States. However, at St. Michael’s has one class per grade level. was there, he or she can catch you eration of the Friendship Center a safe, supervised, state-licensed conduct a Memorial Day Service Catholic School, it’s a different That means the twins shared ev- up. of July 1, 2008. The current di- environment while giving respite on Mon., May 26 at 11 a.m. It will story. In the fall of 1999, five sets ery single class until sixth grade, “You always have someone to rector of the Friendship Center to families. The program has a take place at the Pleasanton Pio- of twins started kindergarten to- when some were assigned dif- play with or eat lunch with,” says will be retained for another year capacity of 27 participants per neer Cemetery, 5700 Block, Sunol gether in a class of just 38 stu- ferent math classes. Robert Nilsen. to lead a community effort to re- day, but has recently been get- dents. This June, the twins and “I’ve tried to calculate the But with that closeness comes ting an average of only 13 partici- (See MEMORIAL DAY, page 10) sume a senior and adult day care their 28 other classmates will odds of five sets of twins land- some disadvantages. “You can service in the Livermore area on pants most days because of un- graduate eighth grade. ing in the same class,” says Jo- never keep secrets. Your twin a long-term basis. certainty about the program’s fu- “We were very excited when seph Nilsen, father of Robert and goes everywhere you go and The unanimous vote of the ture. they started school here,” says St. Christopher. “I’m a physicist and knows every single thing that board came after a last ditch ef- The Center has shared Michael’s principal Sister I can tell you it’s a pretty com- happened to you all day long,” fort to save the program was Sonoma School with the Liver- Emmanuel. “It’s been a real treat.” plicated problem. The answer is says Ranee Lind. deemed too costly. more Valley Charter School. The Twins have an unusual exist- much greater than a million to Catherine Pruneda adds, The final day of service will school district allowed the pro- ence. With shared genetics and ex- one.” “Sometimes you get sick of your be June 18, with the lease ending gram to use the site rent free. periences from birth, it’s a sibling There are definite advantages twin, but you love them all the June 30. The school plans to expand bond unlike any other. For the to being a twin at St. Michael’s. (See TWINS, page 2) The Friendship Center, an (See FRIENDSHIP, page 4) Questions Answered on Sandia Honors Young Women For Financing Plans for Theater Excellence in The Livermore City Council the projected increase in the tax will consider a report on the pro- increment? There was also a Math and Science posed financing for a regional the- concern about the rising cost of By Patricia Koning ater in downtown Livermore at a construction materials and Last week, Sandia National Photo - Doug Jorgensen special meeting tonight, Thurs., whether the projected cost of Laboratories paid tribute to 20 Bagpipe bands were among May 22. construction took that into con- high school girls from Livermore, the participants in last The Livermore Chamber of sideration. Dublin, Pleasanton, Tracy, and weekend's Scottish Games in Commerce hosted a meeting Len Alexander, executive di- Manteca for their excellence in Livermore.