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My wife Sheila and I are 38-year residents of Pleasanton. We raised two children here while my wife worked at the local grammar school. Upon retirement a few years ago we thought about downsizing and moving someplace else in Northern California, but after looking at five other areas we realized it doesn’t get any better than Pleasanton.
When Pleasanton offered a Community Academy, we attended the five-month program which included interactive sessions on “City Government”, “Police/Fire”, “Public Works”, “Parks/Recreation” and “Good Citizen Skills”.
We now understand and appreciate the city “behind the scenes”. We saw first-hand how the departments within the city operate and know what we will lose with any cutbacks.
As it relates to Measure PP, I cannot speak to the details of “how we got here” on the deficit, but I can express concern about where this might lead. The proposed cuts represent the core of everything we need in the city.
As citizens of Pleasanton, let’s all approve the tax increase and then be more involved in the future as to how the city funding is managed and distributed. This whole situation is a “wake up call” for all of us but needs to be addressed with forward thinking.
I fear extreme cuts across city departments will diminish essential services and impact the quality of life many of us have taken for granted in our wonderful town.
— TJ McGrath
“The proposed budget cuts represent the core of everything we need in the city.”
People’s resistance to budget cuts usually stems from a mix of factors:
Fear of Change: Change can be unsettling. Budget cuts often mean job losses, reduced services, or fewer resources which can create anxiety.
Personal Impact: If the cuts impact someone’s livelihood or the services they depend on, it’s harder to see them as necessary.
Misinformation or Lack of Information: People might not have all the details about why cuts are needed or how they will be implemented, leading to resistance.
Values and Priorities: People may disagree on what areas should be prioritized for cuts. What one person sees as a necessary cut, another sees it as an essential service.
Historical Context: Previous experience with budget cuts might color their perception, especially if those cuts led to negative outcomes.
The proposed budget cuts are representative of what we as a city can continue without. It is the deeper cuts beyond the proposed budget cuts that this city needs to survive.