Thursday, December 15, 2016 VOLUME LIII, NUMBER 50 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Trump Inquiry Brings Chill To Climate Science Efforts By Jeff Garberson major national media such as the Reflecting the sense of concern annual meeting of the American Terms like “Enemies List” New York Times, Washington that was felt in the Tri-Valley sci- Geophysical Union, the world’s and “McCarthyism” were being Post, the wire services and broad- entific community, participants at largest professional association of spoken locally this week as news cast networks, cited 74 questions an international conference being Earth scientists, including many See Inside Section A spread that the Donald Trump tran- from a questionnaire sent to fed- held this week in San Francisco from LLNL, Sandia and Northern Section A is filled with sition team appeared to be trying eral agencies like the U.S. De- took to the streets to protest both California’s UC campuses. information about arts, people, to learn the names of researchers partment of Energy, which funds the hostility shown to climate sci- Protesting scientists reiterated entertainment and special events. who attended international climate defense and non-defense research ence by the President-elect and the overwhelming view of their There are education stories, a science meetings and otherwise at Lawrence Livermore National the implicit threat to the scientists community that climate change variety of features, and the arts contributed to the advance of cli- Laboratory, as well as at Sandia whose names are being sought by is a real and intensifying threat to and entertainment and mate science. National Laboratories, which has the transition team. the world, that vigorous research is bulletin board. The news articles, carried by a Livermore site. The conference acts as the (See CLIMATE, page 2) Residents Hearing Set Slam Zone 7 on Oil Field Rate Increase Aquifer Pleasanton Suspends Its CIP Increase in Rates Exemption Opponents of a Zone 7 Water State regulators will take public Agency rate increase filled the input on a proposal involving the Pleasanton City Council chambers one oil field in Livermore at a Janu- last week. ary meeting. Speakers encouraged other residents to attend the Zone 7 A proposed “aquifer exemp- meeting on Dec. 21 to voice their tion” expansion in the field is under displeasure regarding the increase. consideration. If approved, the Some suggested that the Pleasanton expansion would allow the State, in Council disband Zone 7 and take compliance with the Federal Safe charge of obtaining water for the Drinking Water Act, to expand the city. underground geologic formation The council responded to citizen into which waste fluids associated concerns by unanimously suspend- with oil and gas production can be ing for one year the city's portion injected. The expanded exemp- of the automatic Consumer Price tion would apply to the Greenville Index (CPI) increase on water Sands portion of the Cierbo For- and sewer rates for 2017. It will mation in the field approximately reduce the amount residents would 3,400 feet east of Greenville Road, otherwise have to pay. The suspen- Photo - Doug Jorgensen the eastern boundary of Livermore. sion will result in an approximate Russell Fox, a WWII veterans receives his quilt from Audrey Hutchinson. Sitting next to Russell is his The public hearing is scheduled $600,000 loss of revenue to the wife Juanita Fox, who is also a WWII veteran. In the background is Barbara Stewart. For the story, go for 5 p.m. January 11 at the City city. to page 12. Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne (See OIL FIELD, page 8) commented, "We don't have any authority to disband Zone 7. You elect the people who serve on the Swalwell Legislation Would Establish Bipartisan Zone 7 board. The city is suspend- ing our planned rate increase be- cause of what Zone 7 is doing. We Commission to Look into Foreign Interference are actually going to lose money to keep residents from having to pay A story published in the Wash- manent Select Committee on electoral system, is deeply trou- “This only underscores the inflated rates for water. To impact ington Post last Friday stated that Intelligence, commented, “The bling and warrants further inquiry. need for an independent, bipartisan decisions made concerning the the CIA had found that there was Washington Post’s revelation that If true, it’s a direct attack aimed at commission to fully investigate rates will take the public standing foreign interference in the 2016 the CIA has concluded Russia helping one preferred candidate foreign interference in this year’s up and telling Zone 7 that what it election. intervened in the 2016 election over another – and we must know election." is doing is wrong." Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15), to help Donald Trump win the exactly what happened so that we Prior to the publication of the In October 2015, the city coun- Ranking Member of the CIA presidency, rather than just to can decide how to prevent it from story, Swalwell, a Democrat along cil approved a new master fee Subcommittee of the House Per- undermine confidence in the U.S. ever happening again. schedule for water and sewer rates (See SWALWELL, page 10) and authorized automatic CPI based adjustments to the Pleasan- ton portion of customers’ utility McNerney, RTD Ask Obama to Veto Bill Impacting Delta bills as a way to ensure the City’s water and sewer enterprise funds By Ron McNicoll they say will harm recovery of Stockton part of a more Delta- address leaded water problems remain solvent. The water and Congressman Jerry McNerney species in the Delta. based district than it previously in Flint MI., and $558 million for sewer rates collected by the City and the Stockton-based statewide McNerney, a Democrat who had been. drought relief in California. are used for maintenance and op- organization Restore the Delta formerly lived in Pleasanton when McNerney and RTD want The final Senate vote on Dec. eration of the distribution system, (RTD) are appealing to President the Congressional boundaries Obama to veto S. 612, worth $10 10 was 78-21, with Republicans which enables the delivery of water Obama to veto a water bill that included the city, now represents billion including $170 million to (See DELTA, page 4) (See ZONE 7, page 10) Goel, Hernandez-Strah Take Office in Dublin Livermore School Superintendent Arun Goel and Melissa Her- Councilmembers Kevin Hart and ally enjoyed the opportunity to sit Named 2016 Distinguished Alumna nandez-Strah have taken their new Doreen Wehrenberg. here for the past two years. The seats on the Dublin City Council. Hart was termed out after serv- staff has been amazing. Thank you The Distinguished Alumni Also at the Dec. 6 meeting, ing eight years. Wehrenberg was very much.” Previously Wehren- award recognized Bowers "for Councilmember Don Biddle was appointed two years ago to fill the berg had serviced on the planning her outstanding commitment as elected vice mayor, replacing Abe council seat vacancy created by commission for eight years. an educator and for her success in Haubert’s election as mayor. In the Gupta, who returns to council- Hart, who served two school providing exemplary educational member status. November election, Wehrenberg board terms before his election finished third in a field of four run- opportunities for all students in the Biddle, Gupta and Mayor Da- to the council, read some items Livermore District." vid Haubert welcomed the new- ning for two seats on the council. from past agendas that became Bowers, PhD, has over 30 years comers, and expressed their appre- Wehrenberg stated, “Serving additions to the city during his ciation for the service of outgoing has been a great experience. I re- of experience as an educator, in- (See DUBLIN, page 5) cluding 7 years as the Livermore superintendent. According to a press release, under her leadership, New Councilmembers Seated in Livermore the LVJUSD has earned distinction for educational excellence, while Two new Livermore City Coun- finished his professional career Turner's efforts regarding the KELLY BOWERS also being selected as a Bay Area cilmembers and the mayor took the with Sandia as a Director of the homeless were recognized. Gary's oath of office Monday. Sandia Livermore site. understanding of municipal finance Top Workplace in 2012, 2013, New Councilmembers Bob Also on Monday, Steven Spe- was mentioned in the city's proc- Livermore Valley Joint Uni- and 2016. She has been honored Coomber and Bob Carling finished dowfski was appointed by March- lamation. Marchand added that as fied School District (LVJUSD) by the Association of California first and second in the November and to serve as vice mayor. vice mayor, he trusted Gary im- Superintendent Kelly Bowers was School Administrators (ACSA) as election, defeating four other Proclamations thanking Turner plicitly and appreciated his advice. named the 2016 Distinguished the 2012 ACSA Region VI Super- candidates including incumbents and Gary for their service were Turner thanked staff for mak- Alumna by California State Uni- intendent of the Year, representing Laureen Turner and Stewart Gary. presented by representatives from ing her service on the council an versity East Bay’s College of all of Alameda and Contra Costa Mayor John Marchand was unop- the Livermore Valley Chamber unbelievable five year experience. Education and Allied Studies. Counties. posed. of Commerce, Assemblymember She also expressed appreciation for The Distinguished Alumni Award LVJUSD Board President Craig Coomber previously served on Catharine Baker and State Senator her council peers, stating that it had is the highest honor bestowed by Bueno applauded Bowers’ leader- the Livermore Area Recreation Steve Glazer. The city also issued been a pleasure getting to know the university.