Is Football Safe to Play? Death and Dementia Lead to Questions
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Thursday, September 22, 2016 VOLUME LIII, NUMBER 38 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Is Football Safe to Play? Death And Dementia Lead to Questions By Jeff Garberson Under ordinary circumstances, an expert in many medical fields When Mike Webster died of a lawsuits, Congressional hearings his death might have generated a including brain damage, knew and allegations of dishonesty on heart attack in 2002, pretty much week or two of fond memorials and nothing about football and felt a the whole, football-crazy city of the part of the NFL. See Inside Section A news reports, and then passed into kinship with the spirits of the dead The story of Omalu’s findings, Pittsburgh, Pa., mourned his pass- football history. who lay before him on the slab. Section A is filled with ing. He was a legend, arguably the of the NFL’s reaction and of how information about arts, people, That didn’t happen, however, Omalu discovered damage to other former players were found best center ever to play the game. because of the man who happened Webster’s brain like that suffered entertainment and special events. He had helped make the Steel- to have brain damage was told last to be on duty that day at the country by professional boxers who had week at Livermore’s Bankhead There are education stories, a ers professional football team a medical examiner’s office. been hit too hard too many times. variety of features, and the arts dominant power during the 1970s, Theater by a prominent journalist, That man was Dr. Bennett It was a finding that the Na- Jeanne Marie Laskas. and entertainment and a decade that included four Super Omalu, a pathologist with an ex- tional Football League refused to Bowl victories. Laskas’s 2009 article in GQ bulletin board. traordinary background. Omalu accept – in fact, pressured Omalu magazine, Game Brain, led to a He was Iron Mike, a guy who had immigrated from Nigeria, was to retract. Eventually, it led to never missed a game. (See FOOTBALL, page 8) Scientists say Climate Change is Real, Dangerous and Caused by Humans By Jeff Garberson of Sciences, including 30 Nobel In an open letter drafted by a Laureates. Not all signers were Livermore researcher and pub- climate experts, but the prestige lished Tuesday, leading scientists of many (like astrophysicist Ste- from around the world warned of phen Hawking and biologist E.O. the dangers of a warming climate Wilson) added power to the letter’s for future generations. They urged message. continuing adherence to the pro- The letter, and three scientists visions of the Paris Agreement introducing it in an online news reached last December. conference on Tuesday, agreed The letter was signed by 375 that the scientific evidence is clear: members of the National Academy (See CLIMATE, page 4) Zone 7 to Look at Factors in Water Rates Photo - Doug Jorgensen By Ron McNicoll future water rates. Chasing bubbles was one of the activities enjoyed by those attending Dublin's annual Splatter Zone 7 Water Agency direc- The board will meet at a special festivities last Saturday at Emerald Glen Park. During the day, art, wine and beer tasting, live music tors will consider modifying their starting time, 5 p.m., Sept. 27 in and dance, and cooking demonstrations were among the attractions. The day concluded with an reserves policy. Directors will also the board room at 100 N. Canyons evening dance party concert. revisit the temporary conservation Parkway in Livermore. Zone 7 has surcharge that is in effect, a discus- mailed out postcards to alert con- sion that could have a bearing on (SEe WATER, page 9) Three Candidates for Pleasanton Council Committee Lists Priority Three candidates are running growth, policies that have helped relook at is approving three story for the two seats on the Pleasan- build our award winning city." homes in the Gateway area. "Peo- ton City Council. In November, She wants to look at the impacts ple don't like them," she observed. Areas to Focus Funds On voters will choose from among of the 1800 units coming online to Brown voted against proceed- The Altamont Landfill Open Alkali Sing, Tesla/Corral Hollow, incumbents Karla Brown and Jerry see how the city is affected by a ing with the eastside plan on Space Advisory Committee voted Cedar Mountain, Brushy Peak and Pentin and Planning Commission large step-up in growth. She would numerous occasions. She pointed to establish priority areas that I-580 wildlife corridor. Chairman Herb Ritter. like to slow things down until the out, "One thousand residents came could be purchased. The com- On the westside, areas include The Independent interviewed city deals with infrastructure needs out in opposition to the process. mittee also voted to send a letter the Arroyo Mocho, Pleasanton each on issues related to growth, such as schools, traffic, water and They wanted the area reserved for to the state noting that funds are Ridge and Dublin Ridgelands. including the growth rate, urban a new library. the future. It may not be needed to available to buy land, including Currently, there is an estimated growth boundary and water. Can- The city has to zone land to meet RHNA numbers." property designated for use as an $12 million available for the didates were also asked about meet regional housing needs allo- One of the provisions of a pro- off-road vehicle park (Tesla/Corral westside. The money comes from the civic center and downtown cation (RHNA) numbers. "Thirty posed eastside plan would have Hollow). a lawsuit settlement involving ex- specific plan update. units to the acre is a significant moved the urban growth boundary The priority areas don't des- pansion of the Altamont Landfill. The interviews are in alphabeti- impact on neighborhoods and on (UGB) to include 100 acres. "I saw ignate specific properties. The The landfill operators agreed to cal order. traffic," she commented. no reason to move it. The UGB was top priorities on the eastside are pay a fee to mitigate impacts of the In looking back over the past put in place by a voter initiative. It Doolan Canyon area, Springtown KARLA BROWN year, Brown is proud of the historic must be respected." (See PRIORITY, page 12) Karla Brown is running for re- preservation ordinance that pro- Brown has remained neutral election because she believes there tects 88 homes in the downtown. on the Costco initiative. "I will needs to be diversity on the coun- She was a leader in prohibiting support what the citizens decide Four Vie for 3 Pleasanton cil. "My two opponents are like smoking at all downtown events. this November." She did note that minded. I bring a different point Her one decision that she would School Board Seats of view. I am an advocate for slow (See PLEASANTON, page 5) By Ron McNicoll appointed in 2007, and ran for elec- Three seats are up for election tion in 2008, announced he will not this November on the Pleasanton seek another term. Congressional Candidates State Their Views Unified School District Board, Two new candidates for the Swalwell, Turner Discuss Con- Select Committee on Intelligence, should not be sent back to their na- with incumbents Valerie Arkin and board are Steve Maher and Kath- gressional Issues and is the ranking Democrat on tion of origin and have to reapply Jamie Hintzke running for their leen Ruegsegger. By Ron McNicoll its subcommittee on the Central for admission. third terms. Chris Grant, who was Candidates were asked the Congressman Eric Swalwell is Intelligence Agency. On taking care of infrastructure, (See SCHOOL BOARD, page 10) running for a third term this fall. Swalwell said that Congress can the price of steel is low now. That A Democrat, Swalwell faces op- do "much more" to make sure law helps keep down costs of projects, position from Republican Danny enforcement and the intelligence Sso Congress should approve more Turner. community can track people. money for infrastructure. Further, The candidates were inter- "People leave the U.S., fight with the federal gasoline tax, which viewed, asked the same questions, ISIS,and possibly come back. We is a user fee, has not been raised and were given the opportunity have to make sure we are prepared in about 20 years. "We all want to speak on other topics of their for a 'Lone Wolf' attack." Congress to see better movement of goods choosing. should authorize a "no-fly, no- and people, whether it's BART The questions included the buy" list so terrorists cannot buy to Livermore, or expansion of national debt, the Affordable Care firearms, if their names are on the freeways. Act, terrorist threats, immigra- federal no-fly list. On Afghanistan, Swalwell said tion reform, infrastructure needs, Vigilance starts at the top. Law that the United States invaded to economic opportunity, war and enforcement needs more agents, eliminate a safe harbor for terror- the Pentagon, cooperation in Con- including more FBI agents. Grants ists. U.S. troops are not in a combat gress, and college affordability. for community policing would al- posture now, but are training the Candidates are listed alphabeti- low police to be more connected to Afghan army. "It is the best chance cally. the federal government,which can ever (for them) to be democratic," pass along information to them. said Swalwell. ERIC Swalwell The nation needs immigration Iraq is a different story. "We Swalwell, a former Alameda reform. "It's hurting our economy. never should have invaded in 2003. County Prosecutor and Dublin Too many people who want to It was under false pretenses.