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Gravel trucks speeding down First Street
My husband and I have lived on First Street for 15 years, the majority of our residency here has been wonderful. We love Pleasanton, our neighborhood and the quaintness of our wonderful downtown.
However, since COVID impacting our community, there are many disturbing trends in our town. We cannot worry about the past three years, but since May 2024, we (the residents of First Street) have been sending emails and voicemails to our city government officials with very negligible response and no resolution.
The number of cars speeding in excess of 50 mph, in a 25 mph zone, is staggering — not to mention very dangerous. In addition, since June, we have been putting up with very large gravel trucks speeding north and south.
A full gravel truck weighs in excess of 70,000 pounds. Our homes shake as they drive by at 4-7 a.m. The Pleasanton Municipal Code 11.48.060 set an 8-ton limit on First Street.
The Pleasanton police traffic enforcement unit has been disbanded and the result is total disregard for the local laws.
The primary responsibility of a government is to make and enforce laws that regulate the behavior of individuals and groups in a society. This is to ensure the safety of the citizens.
To compound these problems, the recent rerouting of Meadowlark Dairy traffic exclusively to First Street has created additional safety and traffic issues. This traffic lane along Lions Wayside Park has eliminated safe parking for residents who wish to utilize the park. Due to this unfortunate decision, we regularly witness multiple illegal U-turn’s to access the lane, and verbal confrontations between dairy customers.
While we are big supporters of Meadowlark Dairy and the family atmosphere it supports, there are serious safety and traffic issues needing to be addressed. The common denominator appears to be lack of police presence and law enforcement.
— Karen Miller
Qualities for police chief
An ideal candidate for the position of police chief in the city of Pleasanton, with a population of 76,000, should possess a blend of leadership, community engagement and modern policing skills.
1. Proven experience in leading a police department, with the ability to inspire and manage a team effectively.
2. A commitment to building strong relationships with community members, understanding their concerns and working collaboratively to address issues.
3. The ability to manage stressful situations calmly and make sound decisions while being empathetic and understanding towards both officers and the public.
4. Familiarity with modern policing methods and a willingness to implement new strategies to improve public safety.
5. A track record of maintaining high ethical standards and being transparent in operations and decision-making processes.
6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively engage with the community, media and other stakeholders.
7. An understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse cultural backgrounds within the community.
8. A degree in criminal justice, public administration or a related field, along with advanced training in law enforcement leadership.
The ideal candidate is expected to be very visible in the community, possess strong emotional intelligence and have progressive leadership qualities. The ability to build community relationships and use evidence-based policing.
— Michael Austin
Thank you, Weekly
My team and I are extremely grateful to you for publishing a wonderful article about our “Flora in Focus” show. Thank you so much for your help and support. Means the world to us as we try and bring new creative programs like this for our community.
— Meghana Mitragotri
Shame on Newsom
The scary truth is most Californians are only a few bad breaks away from homelessness.
Insurance companies won’t sell wildfire coverage to people living in high-risk areas (you would instead need CA’s FAIR Plan). A few may lose everything that way, but more likely the unlucky blow will come from an unexpected medical bill.
Insurers profit most off denying you coverage, and if they weasel out of their responsibility you could lose everything. That is, if you were fortunate enough to have health insurance in the first place.
Between the crush of student loans and unaffordable housing, too many working-class people end up living out of their cars. But if your vehicle breaks down, or you lose the ability to make payments on it, you may land hard on the street.
Capitalism turns housing into a scarce commodity and then blames people who lack it. The unhoused are on the balance just like us, only a little less lucky. Rather than treating them as untouchable, we should give them security and more chances. It is the Christian thing to do and a humane imperative.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to sweep away homeless encampments is cruel. It does nothing to solve the systemic problems that cause homelessness in the first place. And by treating other people like trash, the governor has proven he’s garbage.
— Alan Marling
Amador Valley boys' basketball hit with penalties, put on probation over player ineligibilitySeptember 5, 2026 10:38 am
I would like to echo Karen Miller’s frustration. On Valley Ave near Harvest Park Middle School, drivers routinely ignore stop signs and do 50 mph in what is meant to be a 25mph zone when children are present. There is no enforcement. The mayor and police chief are aware of the situation. It is a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or killed. Do any readers out there have ideas about how to address this issue during election season?
All school zones should have speed bumps year-round!