Diplomatic Expert Has Alarming View of World's Nuclear Threats
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Thursday, May 4, 2017 VOLUME LIV, NUMBER 18 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Diplomatic Expert Has Alarming View of World’s Nuclear Threats By Jeff Garberson the U.S. and North Korea to the strategy, which argues for a nuclear He spoke last week at Liver- More than 70 years after U.S. possibility of fissile material fall- See Inside Section A strike against the U.S. mainland if more’s Bankhead Theater as part of atomic bombs brought World War ing into the hands of terrorists, Russian troops are being defeated the Rae Dorough Speaker Series. Section A is filled with II to a close, the world faces an from the seemingly intractable on Russia’s own border. “Don’t Putting the present danger in information about arts, people, alarming range of nuclear weap- hostility between India and Paki- think just Ukraine, don’t think historical and geopolitical context, entertainment and special events. ons risks today, according to an stan to the unpredictable behavior just the Baltics… think Iowa” as Gallucci pointed out that U.S. vul- There are education stories, a expert on diplomacy who has of world leaders, according to the the place where the nuclear attack nerability in the event of nuclear variety of features, and the arts first-hand experience negotiating expert, Prof. Robert Gallucci of might occur, Gallucci said. conflict is not new. and entertainment and with North Korea. Georgetown University. “I would say that the Russian Despite publicity surrounding bulletin board. The dangers take many forms, Not least of the threats is Rus- situation is…more dangerous than the deployment of missile defense from the current face-off between sia’s current “escalate-deescalate” it’s been in a very long time.” (See NUCLEAR, page 8) Region-winning Public Gets Foothill Film in Running for First Look at State Award Springtown By Ron McNicoll A film about ways that high Open Space school students can intervene with their peers to help prevent suicide Options is a finalist for a state award. By Carol Graham Four Pleasanton Foothill High The third public meeting held School students created the film to decide the future of the Spring- titled “Years Unfold.” It won first town Open Space took place on place in Foothill’s region in the April 27 at Croce Elementary Suicide Prevention category in an School. Three alternate designs annual contest sponsored by Each were presented by members of Mind Matters. The organization RRM Design Group. Each plan represents a partnership between incorporated ideas collected at two California’s Mental Health Move- public-input meetings held earlier ment, and the California Mental this year. Health Services Authority (CalM- Resident Tami Vieira stated, HSA). "I attended to see the conceptual There were 456 submissions designs. I was excited to see what from 110 schools and community- Photo - Doug Jorgensen they envisioned after collecting based organizations. State winners It wasn't all basketball when the Harlem Wizards appeared in Livermore last week. Players interact public input, and was pleasantly will be announced May 11 at an with kids of all ages creating a variety of fun moments. The Wizards played two games with proceeds surprised with the different de- awards ceremony in Escondido. signs. I thought RRM did a nice Foothill has entered films in the benefiting the Livermore Valley Education Foundation. The Shooting Stars performed at halftime of job of including a large selection past, but this is the first time it won both games. of amenities." (See FILM, page 2) The more than 100 residents who attended were not expected to pick one of the three designs, but instead to indicate which amenities and layout they preferred. Features included in all of the designs are Committee Schedules Session on Parking, Traffic, Finance a two-mile loop trail, picnic areas, play areas, off-street parking and they would like to have going committee members from discuss- include in the following order: The content of future meetings a buffer zone along backyards. forward. Outreach options were ing open space, for instance, as hotel operations, siting and de- of the Livermore Downtown Steer- One option sets aside 10 acres for also discussed. part of the hotel or traffic sessions mand; future housing, existing ing Committee was the focus of sports fields. The committee will next meet during meetings? development and other issues, such last Thursday's session. Resident Bonnie Breznik com- May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the city Early replied that all of the as open space and retail; finance The nineteen member com- mented, "I would like to see open council chambers. For that ses- issues are inter-related. A discus- committee update and alternatives mittee is charged with achieving space for walkers, joggers, bike sion, parking and traffic along with sion could include comments on building; alternatives review and consensus on a downtown outreach riders and dog parks, and to keep finance are listed as agenda items. how various elements may work outreach check-in; final initial al- process to involve the community the pond. I also like the idea of Consultant David Early of together. He said the plan is to ternatives and final outreach plan. in creating a preferred plan for having areas to gather for picnick- PlaceWorks will guide the com- dive into each topic; then take all One subject raised by several development in the downtown. The ing, community gardens and bocce mittee's work. He commented, "I of the information and synthesize it committee members, as well as group anticipates providing several ball courts." see this plan as your plan. My job to create a number of alternatives. citizen Thomas Jefferson, related design alternatives for use during As with previous meetings, at- is to help you decide how you want "We won't be creating an alterna- to public participation at com- the public outreach process. tendees were given three colored to move forward." tive for each issue." mittee meetings. It was suggested At last week's session, com- dots to place on features they mittee members provided input He was asked if the agendized In addition to the May 11 meet- that there was inadequate time set on background information that specific topics would preclude ing, future meetings and topics (See STEERING, page 10) (See SPRINGTOWN, page 4) Need for More Rate-payer Education Slows Drive on RO By Ron McNicoll behind how much they cost. because it became clear to the The Valley’s water providers Livermore municipal Water committee that the public first had high hopes that they would Manager Helen Ling told the Tri- needs a basic education in “Water be able to start an educational Valley Water Liaison Committee 101” before any outreach about the campaign this summer to inform at its meeting April 26 in Dublin complexities of RO-treated water, the public about converting waste that the information outreach team, including its cost, said Ling. Now water to safe, drinkable tap water, made up of technical people from the plan is to organize a speakers through the process of using Re- Valley water agencies, intended to bureau to reach out to the general verse Osmosis (RO) filters. draw up qualifications to advertise public, she said. However, the outreach won’t for a consultant on strategic plan- The outreach team found that happen that soon, because the pub- ning this summer. the public was still uninformed lic doesn’t know enough about its That consultant may not be about the true cost of water when hired until year’s end or later, water’s sources, and the rationale (See RO WATER, page 2) County Looking at Budget Shortfall At last week’s meeting of the costs to counties for the mandated ernor’s controversial plan to end Alameda County Budget Work- In-Home Supportive Services the IHSS funding maintenance ar- group, a projected $108.5 million (IHSS) program, slowing eco- rangement that limited annual cost budget gap for Fiscal Year 2017- nomic growth, increased employee increases to counties to a predeter- 18 was announced. salary and benefits costs, and a 3.5 mined inflation factor. The IHSS County Administrator Susan S. percent cost-of-living adjustment program funds in-home care for Muranishi said the budget gap is for eligible service contracts with low-income elderly and disabled 50 percent larger than that closed community-based organizations. residents as an alternative to more Photo - Doug Jorgensen by the County to balance the Fis- The projected funding gap expensive nursing homes. The very young were among volunteers who pitched in last weekend cal Year 2016-17 budget. This would be slightly smaller than the The plan to shift IHSS costs during Dublin Pride Week. Residents and guests helped clean up growth reflects challenges that $72.2 million shortfall recorded back to local governments would creeks and parks, volunteered at schools and senior residences, include a proposed shift in State last year were it not for the Gov- (See BUDGET, page 5) and much more. Local food banks also benefitted from donations of food collected during the Dublin Pride Food Drive. PET OF THE WEEK Gentle as a breeze, tiny Ash is a mere wisp of a cat at just four months old. The wee tortoiseshell will draw you in, her purr wafting INSIDE steadily to your ears like the drone of lazy bees upon a flower. Ash loves to be stroked and will encourage petting sessions with tiny MAIN SECTION Sports .................................... 6 mews and chirps. Catch her drift at Valley Humane Society, 3670 Classifieds........................... 10 Obituaries .............................