VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 51 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2009 Dire Pleasanton School Budget Forecast By Ron McNicoll school budget topic won’t begin 2011-12. would assign a supervisor to An attempt to pass a $233 an- Faced with the prospect of until 7 p.m. And that’s a “best-case sce- oversee its fiscal operations. This nual parcel tax lasting four years such major program changes The meeting is being called to nario,” assistant superintendent has happened to the school dis- failed by about 4 percentage as going to 30 students in K-3 show the public how much worse Luz Cazares told the school tricts in Oakland and Richmond points earlier this year. classes from today’s 25, the the state school funding picture board at its meeting Dec. 16. in the past. Superintendent John Casey Pleasanton school board will will be in the next two school Cazares gave her budget fore- In 2010-11, the 3 percent told the board that in preparing have a special workshop on fi- years, and take suggestions about cast in the context of a state law reserve will be eaten up entirely, the analysis for the meeting nance on Jan. 5. how to meet the challenge. that requires a district to maintain leaving the $24,000 deficit. Dur- Jan. 5, the staff will be seeing a The meeting will be at the Although the district laid off a minimum reserve of 3 percent ing the current fiscal year, ending program that is “reduced to the Amador Valley High School teachers, custodians and others of the budget. in June 30, the district is project- core.” Find Out What's library. It is scheduled to begin this year, some one-year revenue If the reserve dips lower, but ed to fall about $100,000 short of PARENTS WORRY at 6:30 p.m. A board action is came to the district, and softened stays above a fiscal bottom line the 3 percent reserve, unless more ABOUT DECLINE Happening planned to apply for new fed- the blow. That one-year money of zero, the district must make revenue is found, or programs are Several parents in the audi- eral stimulus grant funds that won’t be back, so the district extra reports to the county school cut, said Cazares. ence at the meeting Dec. 16 Check out the are available to districts that will be facing deficits of $24,000 department. If the district’s bal- The district already cut mil- told the board that they were second section have innovative programs. The in 2010-11, and $5.4 million in ance goes below zero, the state lions from the budget. (See BUDGET, page 4) Section II is filled with in- formation about arts, entertain- ment and special events. There are education stories, a variety of features, and the arts and Efforts entertainment and bulletin board listings. Underway To 'Fix' California With California facing an ongoing crisis when it comes to funding, various groups are studying ways to avoid raids on local funding. The League of California Cities is one such group. It is planning an initiative that would prevent the state from tapping Comedian Will Durst performs into city, council and special district funds. at the Bankhead. The Livermore City Council heard a presentation concerning the initiative at its most recent Will Durst meeting from Eric Figueroa, re- Presents His gional manager of the League. He noted that local govern- Own View of 2009 ment is the closest to the people. Surveys show that 84 percent of Kiss this year goodbye as voters trust local government, nationally known political satirist compared to a 21 percent approv- Will Durst gives his take on the al rating for state legislature. past year with “Goodbye 2009,” Over the past year, the state an evening of hilarity, combin- has taken $2 billion from local ing standup, improv and loosely governments and $1.7 billion in written sketches lampooning the Photo - Doug Jorgensen redevelopment funds. There are major news stories of 2009. Join- Several members of the advanced orchestra from Christensen Middle School in Livermore played Christmas music downtown plans to take another big chunk of ing Will is Johnny Steele, a Bay redevelopment funds next year, Area favorite; Jim Short who has Livermore last Tuesday in front of First Street Alehouse. The goal was to raise funds for the local food bank. All donations they received were given directly to Open Heart Kitchen. For more ways on how residents are helping others, see Section II. The cello despite a court ruling that the appeared on the Craig Ferguson previous taking was unconstitu- Show; Steven Kravitz who has player (front) is Joe Villarreao. tional, said Figueroa. The taking worked all over the world; Debi of redevelopment funds has been Durst and Michael Bossier who challenged in a lawsuit. have been doing improv for a Figueroa said, “The state tak- century; and the incredibly young Pleasanton Growth Cap Suit Goes to Judge ing local funds will continue to and talented Arthur Gaus. By Ron McNicoll get worse, if we don’t do some- Together they will mock and Roush. The only certain thing is and not published regionally as the amount of fair-share housing thing. The League initiative scoff and taunt with taste dur- Pleasanton defended its hous- that the judge has 90 days from a precedent from an appellate throughout the region by 2014. ing cap in court, but likely would protect all local govern- ing the “Big Fat Year End Kiss the hearing date to issue an order, court, he said. The city would need to build ment revenues starting in 2009.” Off Comedy Show XVII” at the won’t get a decision soon from he said. The plaintiff is Urban Habitat, at least 3277 more units of afford- Alameda County Superior Court He noted that it is the only action Bankhead Theater on Monday, As far as Roush knows, the which wants more affordable able housing to meet the goal. in the works that would provide December 27 at 7:00 p.m. Judge Frank Roesch. suit is the first challenge against housing built in Pleasanton. Since there are only 2950 units The complexities of the argu- immediate impact for local gov- As the sacred cows routinely a housing cap in California. It’s The basic argument was that the left under the cap, the city won’t ernments in protecting revenue. (See DURST, page 9) ments before the judge on Dec. difficult to track, though, because city’s voter imposed housing meet that goal, said Urban Habi- 18 in Oakland may take some The proposed measure would sometimes decisions don’t re- cap, which limits development tat. It wants the cap struck down prevent state officials from seiz- time for consideration, said ceive much publicity, if they are as a violation of state law. to 29,000 residential units, con- (See CALIFORNIA, page 10) Pleasanton city attorney Michael only at the superior court level, flicts with the state’s goals for (See SUIT, page 4) Las Positas College to Expand Sandia National Laboratories Veterans Program Las Positas College in Liver- Celebrates 60th Anniversary more recently expanded its “Vet- erans First” program to include Sixty years ago, the world was asked the corporation to assume readjustment counseling services a much different place. Harry management of a small nuclear provided by the Concord Vet Truman was president, the Cold research and development com- Center. The innovative program War was ramping up, and the plex in New Mexico. On Dec. 17, will provide individual and group North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- Sandia President Tom Hunter re- counseling, as well as marital tion (NATO) was established. flected on the wording of that let- and family counseling, medical That year, 1949, also marked ter in a 60th anniversary celebra- referrals, employment counsel- the opening of Sandia National tion at Sandia’s Livermore site. ing, transition counseling, and Laboratories. Commemorative events were many other support services. In a letter to Leroy Wilson held earlier this year at Sandia’s Nathan Johnson of the Concord of AT&T, President Truman (See SANDIA, page 9) Vet Center will assist student Vet- erans at the Las Positas College Health Center. Veterans and their families District Seeks Input on in the Tri-Valley no longer have to drive to Concord or San Jose Livermore Superintendent to meet with a readjustment The Livermore Valley Joint The first forum will be held counselor. Unified School District will host on Wed., Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. This latest expansion of the public forums to take public input for Spanish speaking; and 7:30 Veterans First program reflects regarding the search for a new p.m. in English at Granada High the College’s commitment to ex- superintendent. School in the sudent union, 400 pand the support services offered The current superintendent, Wall Street. The second forum to its 300 student Veterans. With Brenda Miller, is retiring. At the will be held Thurs., Jan. 7 at 6 the support of the community and forums, Cosca Group, the search p.m. for Spanish speaking and the Las Positas College Founda- firm, will meet with all interested 7 p.m. in English at Livermore tion, the program has provided Photo - Randy Wong/Sandia National Laboratories student Veterans a book loan community members at the two High School in the student union, forums. 600 Maple Street.(See FORUMS, page 3) Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena (left) presents a proclamation to Rick Stulen (center) and (See EXPAND, page 9) Tom Hunter during Sandia's 60th anniversary celebration.