Thursday, JUNE 10, 2021 VOLUME LVIII, NUMBER 23 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL 10x Genomics Biology Lab Dublin to Convert Expansion Apartments into Approved by Affordable Units Commission By Ruth Roberts at $400 million at year 30. By Ruth Roberts DUBLIN — It will soon “It’s extremely chal- lenging right now to build PLEASANTON — Plans be easier for middle and affordable housing, and this for 10x Genomics’ new moderate-income renters program is being widely ad- campus on Springdale Av- to afford to live in Dublin. opted throughout the state enue and the expansion of In a unanimous vote as a way to convert existing its primary site on Stoner- during a public hearing units and provide immedi- idge Mall Road recently on June 1, the city council ate financial relief to rent- took another step forward. agreed to become a member of the California Statewide ers,” said Jon Penkower, a Following a 5-0 vote Communities Develop- CSCDA representative. on May 26, the Pleasanton ment Authority (CSCDA). For current residents, Planning Commission ap- Dublin will now enter into the average rent for a two- proved applications for a bond-issued public benefit bedroom apartment in the 10x Genomics’ planned agreement with the CSCDA Waterford apartments is unit development rezoning to purchase the Waterford $2,550 per month. Under from regional-commercial to commercial-office. The commission further ap- Livermore Pride put on a "Pride Prom Photo Shoot" Saturday, June 5, at Wingen “It’s extremely challenging right now proved the applicant’s plan Bakery in downtown Livermore. Participants had their photos taken by Brittni to construct three new Kiick, photographer and city councilmember, and enjoyed a meal together. to build affordable housing, and this buildings totaling 381,000 (Photo – Doug Jorgensen) [See photo gallery at www.independentnews.com/multimedia] program is being widely adopted square feet, as well as a parking garage. throughout the state as a way to convert 10x Genomics is a life existing units and provide immediate science technology com- pany that builds products Family Remembers Shooting Victim financial relief to renters.” to advance human health. By Larry Altman tough on his back, and the that may have led to the sus- The company’s integrated DUBLIN — Jose De Jesus early morning and late night pect not liking him,” Sarah Place Apartments. The con- solutions include instru- Hernandez III was a natural. hours made it difficult to said. “But everyone stood tract will allow the city the new program, rents (See GENOMICS, page 9) As a child, he motorized maintain a marriage, Sarah up for what was right there.” to convert the 390 apart- would be reduced to $2,371 his LEGOs. As an adult, he said. ments on Tassajara Road a month. By $20 Million rebuilt cars, tuned them and Along the way, Jose in- into rent-restricted units “Do I wish it were a made them faster. He built vented some of the tools for middle- and moderate- greater reduction? Yes,” Rep. Swalwell drones and took videos from that the VTA still uses, she income households. said Mayor Melissa Her- “beautiful viewpoints.” continued. To make the project pos- nandez. “I don’t think the Advances the “He was brilliant, could “We had bought a 2007 sible, the city will not col- savings are that big of an build or fix anything,” said Honda Civic Si brand-new, lect annual property taxes amount … It has some posi- Sarah Hernandez, his former and he poured blood, sweat from the apartments for a tives, it has some negatives, Funding for wife. and tears into it, making 30-year period — totaling but we are here to provide And, Sarah said, the it 800 horsepower to the approximately $15.6 mil- housing for our residents 35-year-old Dublin man was wheels,” she said. lion of potential revenue. and especially our middle Valley Link She recalled that Jose class.” REGIONAL — Rep. Eric a romantic, leaving notes on Dublin will have the ability Income-qualifying cur- her car and house to express spent more money on that car to sell or refinance the prop- Swalwell (CA-15) an- — possibly double — than rent tenants would receive nounced Monday this week his love. erty after 15 years. It will the reduction upon renewal “Constant flowers and what it cost to buy it new. also receive all future value that the House Transportation “He could basically fix of their 12-month lease. and Infrastructure Committee even asked security at my of the property, estimated work to let him in overnight anything he put his hands Jose Hernandez (See UNITS, page 6) has included $20 million that on,” Sarah said. “If I wanted he requested for the Valley to decorate my desk for Val- entine’s Day,” Sarah said, a shelf made out of recycled The Santa Clara coroner’s Link project in its Fiscal Year wood from the fences, gray office identified the other vic- 2021 transportation spend- recalling the man she called Moss Offers COVID Insight her husband for 11 years. and textured, he made it. If tims as Paul Delacruz Megia, ing bill. By Tony Kukulich Health Officer Dr. Nicho- “He would leave bouquets I wanted a fan in the living 42; Taptejdeep Singh, 36; Valley Link consists of a las Moss held a webinar on my car. He was selfless. room that the brand-new Adrian Balleza, 29; Timothy REGIONAL — Public 42-mile, seven-station pas- on May 2 to discuss the Always protected me and condo wasn’t even wired for, Michael Romo, 49; Michael health officials charged senger rail project that will progress the county has was always there.” with 14-foot ceilings, no attic Joseph Rudometkin, 40; Ab- with managing the COV- connect the existing Dublin/ made in the effort to combat A mechanic at the Santa or wiring near it, he and his dolvahab Alaghmandan, 63; ID-19 pandemic will take a Pleasanton BART Station COVID-19 and what resi- Clara Valley Transportation dad figured it out and ran it Lars Kepler Lane, 63; and major step next week, when in Alameda County to the dents and business owners Authority in San Jose, Jose all. He remodeled his dad’s Alex Ward Fritch, 49. restrictions spelled out in approved Altamont Corridor can expect after the June lost his life May 26 when a entire house with him; fixed Cassidy, 57, died in an California’s Blueprint for a Express (ACE) North Lath- 15 transition to new, less fellow transit worker opened anyone’s cars and (lent) a apparent suicide. Safer Economy will be left rop Station in San Joaquin restrictive guidelines. fire on the morning shift at helping hand to all.” Jose, whose father also behind. County. One point that Moss the light rail yard, killing him Sarah said she would worked for and retired from “We can now begin plan- “The Valley Link project made repeatedly was that and eight others in another like to know more about the VTA, grew up in Fairfield ning for our lives post- will fundamentally change what happened inside the and eventually moved to vaccinations have been the the way we travel in the mass shooting that shocked pandemic,” said Gov. Gavin VTA yard on the day of the Dublin. He graduated from Newsom when the planned key to the state’s recovery East Bay by reducing traffic the country. Jose had worked and forward momentum. there since 2012. shooting. Why did Sam Cas- Valley Christian High School end of the Blueprint was congestion — particularly sidy do what he did? Sarah in 2004. In church, he led “The reason we’re here, on Interstate 580 — and con- “Never did we think he’d announced in April. “We really, is because of vac- take his last breath there,” said Jose knew him as a worship through his high will need to remain vigilant necting our communities,” co-worker and occasionally school years and later played cinations, but also because said Swalwell. “Connecting Sarah said. and continue the practices we were hit hard in the came home from work frus- guitar during his marriage. that got us here — wearing (See LINK, page 6) Jose began his career winter, and we have some at VTA as a bus mechan- trated about his assignments He could listen to a song masks and getting vacci- with “Sam.” and play it without looking natural immunity out there ic, became an electro train nated — but the light at the as well,” Moss said. “The Officer Attacked mechanic and eventually “(Jose) had strong opin- at notes, his former wife said. end of this tunnel has never progress on vaccinations worked as a substation main- ions and (implemented) pol- “He was a huge soccer been brighter.” allows us to think where Investigation tainer. The positions were icy changes for fairness and fan, played and watched for In preparation for that Is Ongoing in the better, and unfortunately, (See VICTIM, page 11) change, Alameda County (See COVID, page 6) The Search for Fairgrounds Racetrack Opens A Suspect By Dawnmarie Fehr at the fairground’s Stella By Larry Altman PLEASANTON — The Al- Artois Grandstand. “We have our dining op- LIVERMORE — Police are ameda County Fairgrounds will welcome back one of tions; there's Sky Lounge searching for a motorist who and Trackside Terrace; and tried to run down a Liver- its main attractions on June 18 when live horse racing we also have our box seats, more motorcycle officer dur- which are open,” Cadrette ing a traffic stop last week, — complete with live audi- ence — returns to the track.