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Trains wake us nightly
The reader who stated that, “Everybody that bought a house in that area knew the railroad was there, and their houses were cheaper for that reason” is incorrect.
We used to have two RR lines running through town, the Southern Pacific and the Western Pacific, and a station on each line for passengers. Most houses were near one of the lines.
Living here since 1958, yes, you heard the train throughout Pleasanton — it is a bowl-shaped valley, but rarely was there a train between midnight and 5 a.m. During the 1990s to 2019, weekly, there was a Wednesday freight train that ran between 3-3:30 a.m. Since 2020, we have one to three freight trains running between midnight and 5 a.m. daily.
In the maps from 1869 and 1954, almost all of the houses in Pleasanton were close to one of the two RR lines. I asked the sellers of our home, in Pleasanton since 1965, if they’d ever heard of houses costing less because of the RR lines? Response: no.
I asked a longtime Pleasanton Realtor if houses near the RR tracks cost less? He said, “I am not aware of any specifics relating to homes that have had to sell for less because they’re next to the train.”
The train horn by law ranges from 96-110 dB. This is why Castlewood residents asked for their crossing to be included in Sunol’s quiet zone. We would like to stop being awakened by the train horn nightly — we would like the improved quality of life a quiet zone can afford us.
– Diane Rodriguez
Letter rebuttal
I had hoped not to see a frequent writer make it onto your pages. His breathless regurgitation of MAGA talking points and right wing paranoia doesn’t fit in a local weekly. So let’s rebut his arguments.
An 80-year-old man was insulated from some trying interactions with the press. Can you point to a decision or outcome that was affected by that? And this protection was the most egregious in history? Besides Reagan’s dementia being covered up in the last two years of his term, while still coherent he authorized the selling of sophisticated weaponry to Iran and used those profits to arm the Nicaraguan Contras. An act specifically outlawed by Congress.
I will skip Nixon, Teapot dome, ad nauseum.
Would it be possible to make the Weekly a forum for local and community views only? Mr. Ott already gets his weekly screeds into the Independent. That is more than enough MAGA propaganda for me.
— Brian Sanborn
Power outages ongoing in northwest Pleasanton
It is common for northwest Pleasanton to experience as many as four power outages week. They are so common I installed solar with whole house battery backup in November 2022, as did other residents over the years. During the week of May 23-29, there was a four-hour power outage. June 1 we had four outages, between 0713 hours and 1155 hours.
I suspect BART may play a role in these outages. Although I have no evidence to support that. It is common knowledge that BART experiences power surges. I believe those surges may not be limited to BART track fires and BART structure fire damage (like San Leandro on May 20); those surges may find their way into neighborhoods, flip a breaker, blow out a transformer, knock out an electrical vault. Those outages are everything south of I-580 to Bernal and everything west of I-680 including the ridge.
Much of BART’s equipment is obsolete (1970s). Obsolete components, some older equipment is so outdated that BART engineers have had to search for replacement parts on platforms like eBay. Regenerative braking, when trains slow down, they feed electricity back into the system, (it is assumed); maybe that energy is going elsewhere. Neighborhood power outages are coincidental with the newer Dublin/Stoneridge BART stations coming online.
The weight of BART trains that will vary with passenger loads can have an impact on power usage. A fully loaded train is heavier and requires more power to accelerate, climb grades and maintain speed compared to a train with fewer passengers. BART electrical systems may not properly accommodate this fluctuation. Specifically, if one train is behind the other.
– Michael Austin
Article resolves mystery
Christian Trujano’s article “Live fire training burn this week at Shadow Cliffs” coincidentally preceded the June 10 fire at the 1800 block of Collier Canyon Road at Duarte’s Gardening Services around 430 p.m.
Many of the fire departments (if not all of the departments in the article) were at Shadow Cliffs completing the day’s training for “wildfires” when the fire broke out at the gardening center’s storage and waste area. Smoke was visible as 10-15 mph western winds fanned the flames near outbuildings and a red barn in the area.
Various departments’ fire engines and water tankers, probably around 10-15 vehicles including a bulldozer, whizzed past our business on the 900 block North Canyons Parkway and Doolan Road.
After an hour of working on the blaze, out of the east it looked like a Firehawk water-dropping helicopter appeared, water siphon hose dangling. It flew over the fire area and banked south toward the Shadow Lakes area just south of I-580 and Stanley Boulevard.
After a few minutes, around 5:40 p.m. it reappeared from the south, flew over the fire area and dropped its first load of water, white steamy smoke rising from the fire area. It continued with several drops and I assume after 6 p.m. it was subdued.
Christian’s timely article online resolved the mystery of the myriad of agencies that appeared on scene.
– Arlie Ray
The Weekly supported PMF the whole way
I am the treasurer of Pleasanton Military Families. I joined the group in 2003 when my son was sent on his first deployment to Iraq. I know you have been talking with Sydne Roth and Pat Frizzell about our decision to disband our group, but I thought you might appreciate some insight into the role the Pleasanton Weekly played from the very beginning.
Chris Miller and Jeb Bing devised a way to send copies of the Weekly to our troops overseas. I have a picture of my son, Brian Weser, with his while in Iraq.
A little bit of home goes a long way. Of course, this was not sustainable because of cost and constant troop movement, but for a time, that copy of the Weekly was a very welcome sight.
My son is now retired after 20 years and our group is ending its mission, but the memories are lasting, and the Pleasanton Weekly has supported us the whole way. Thank you.
– JoAnn Weser
CityServe expo success
On Wednesday, June 4, CityServe of the Tri-Valley hosted a vibrant Health & Wellness Expo at its Pleasanton Senior Center office, drawing over 100 local senior residents for a day of community connection, health education, and preventive care services.
The event brought together a diverse group of health care and community service providers, all committed to supporting the wellness of Tri-Valley’s aging population. Attendees received free services such as blood pressure checks, balance testing, and medication management consultations, while also enjoying opportunities to speak directly with experts about healthcare, safety, and support resources.
Featured partner exhibitors included Center for Elders’ Independence (PACE Program), FirstLight Home Care, Creating New Hope and Suncrest Hospice (free blood pressure checks provided onsite).
Supporting exhibitors included Free balance testing and medication consultations, Open Heart Kitchen, local senior centers, Assisting Hands Home Care, Amada Health – Bilingual Mandarin Health Network, SBHIS Medicare Insurance – Bilingual Mandarin/Cantonese, Hallway Healthcare, Home Safety Services and Oneiro Pharmacy.
This event was about more than just health screenings — it was about connection, empowerment, and making seniors feel seen and supported. We’re so grateful to our partners for showing up, and to the Pleasanton community for embracing the event with such enthusiasm.
Thanks to the hard work of CityServe’s care team and the generosity of exhibitors, the expo also helped raise over $10,000 in sponsorship support — funds that will directly benefit senior wellness initiatives throughout the region.
CityServe remains committed to helping older adults in the Tri-Valley live healthier, safer, and more connected lives through collaborative events like this and ongoing care coordination.
— Christine Beitsch-Bahmani, CEO, CityServe
Calling class of 1975
Excitement is building for a weekend of great visiting and reminiscing for the Tracy High School Class of 1975. Their big one, the 50th class reunion, will be Sept. 26-28. Of the 388 classmates pictured in the 1975 yearbook, there are simply too many still missing, say committee members, and they want to find them all.
There will be something for everyone to enjoy and plenty of time to visit with former classmates beginning Friday through Sunday this fall. A school tour starts the fun on Friday to see the new campus and have lunch with current students in the high school FEAST lab. Later that evening, an informal meet-up will be at the Banta Inn where casual dress and a no-host bar make for a relaxed atmosphere perfect to reconnect with old friends.
On Saturday evening, the official ‘Grand 50th Class Reunion’ will take place at The Reserve in Stockton and includes dinner, dancing and walking down memory lane.
On Sunday morning, the classmates are invited to a Tracy Starbucks to enjoy more visiting and great coffee before attending Journey Christian Church together.
Invitations will be sent via email and reservation forms can be accessed on the Facebook site, Tracy High School-Class of ’75. Former classmates are encouraged to buy their tickets now for the Grand Reunion at The Reserve at Spanos Park for $75 each as the deadline is Aug. 1 and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Forms and monies are to be mailed to Jerry Dias, P. O. Box 471, Tracy, CA 95378.
If you or someone you know was in the Class of 1975 and has not heard about the plans, please make sure the committee has current contact information by emailing Jerry.Yerian@gmail.com.
– Debra Dingman
Honor America’s freedom
The longer and warmer days bring more traveling. Freedom comes with following laws.
When 16 in 1992, I was hit by a drunken driver. Medical care and therapy in the Bay Area and Central Valley made up half of my teenage life. After three decades, I communicate with a deep tone, read lips, cannot drive and I walk unsteadily.
Look at the results for Independence Day weekend maximum enforcement period for 2023 and 2024: CHP made 1,224 DUI arrests in 2023 and made 1,336 DUI arrests in 2024. Drivers, please make DUI arrests come down this year.
Californians, please follow laws. Anyone’s independence can be ruined if you drive drunk. Many holidays are coming. Memories of a crash, injuries or even death caused from drunken driving will haunt your future.
Food and drinks are part of the fun. Taking I-680 to head home from a festivity? Planning to drink? Go ahead, but don’t forget to have a sober person drive you if you become drunk. This certainly shows your pride for freedom and people will admire your safety.
Freedom and safety go hand in hand.
– Lori Martin
Utilities are shutting off power during heat waves
Summer is almost here, and with it will come deadly heat waves supercharged by the climate crisis. Yet in 27 states, it’s perfectly legal for utility companies to shut off electricity on the hottest days of summer, leaving individuals and families without air conditioning in extreme temperatures and threatening their health and safety.
Shutting off power and preventing access to lifesaving air conditioning in the summer can have life-or-death consequences. We need to shine a spotlight on this critical issue and raise our voices to demand change.
Utility companies and local leaders everywhere must act to end utility shutoffs on the hottest days of summer. Save lives — stop the summer shutoffs.
— Suzanne Smith
Let’s skip the weekly rants
I don’t know if it indicates a shortage of letters to the editor or a bias towards conservative views, but I am really tired of reading David Ott’s almost weekly published letters in the Pleasanton Weekly.
Are the liberals not writing letters to rally their followers, or are these liberal leaning letters being withheld? Without representing both sides of the political spectrum, you are giving Mr. Ott unlimited space to voice his politics. He is now claiming Biden was “diminished” at the same time that we are hearing the mental ramblings of the current POTUS.
Please help balance the political rhetoric in your publication or at least give less time to Mr. Ott.
— Rosemary Patterson
