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Cuts to the library
My family moved to Pleasanton several years ago, and our favorite things about this city are the farmers market, the playgrounds, and the best library we’ve ever encountered. The incredibly kind and helpful staff, the amazing collections, the thoughtful and enjoyable events, and the vibrant community at the library are second-to-none.
We easily voted for the tiny sales tax increase in the 2024 election and were dismayed to see that it didn’t pass.
To live in a city where the average home price is well over $1 million and realize that over half of the voters couldn’t stomach a few extra cents on each (non-essential) purchase is … truly insane.
Must the citizens of this city line their pockets even further at the expense of the vital public resources like the library? Can you not have any empathy for fellow citizens who rely on these public treasures? It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. It’s everything that is wrong with this country.
We received the email tonight about the reduction in hours at the library, the reduction in new items in the collection, the reduction in staffing. It’s a tragedy. There is no excuse!
Every resident who voted no on the sales tax increase should be embarrassed. I hope you’ll think better the next time you have the chance to vote to support your city and what makes it a great place to live.
— Emily Walker
Big beautiful bill for billionaires
The largest cut to food assistance programs ever just passed with the signing of Trump’s big beautiful bill for billionaires. The Alameda County Community Food Bank issued a statement saying that, “Hunger is about to get worse. Way worse.”
In Alameda County, 1 in 4 residents experience food insecurity; 10% of the county, or 175,000 people, receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, which helps families put food on the table.
Many of these people will lose their benefits due to the draconian age and work restrictions of the bill. Those who retain their benefits will see them frozen.
And there are huge spillover effects from the cuts. CalFresh provides recipients with some breathing room to engage more in the local economy that supplies food. Removing this capability means that stores and farmers will be impacted, as well as related jobs.
Wanna fight back? July 17 is the fifth anniversary of the passing of civil rights leader John Lewis, the man who urged us all to, “Get into good trouble, necessary trouble and help redeem the soul of America.” In the spirit of the “No Kings” protests last month, which saw the peaceful resistance of 5 million people across the country, “Good Trouble Lives On” rallies were being planned nationwide, including the Tri-Valley, on July 17 to respond to the cruelty of the Trump administration.
– Ward Kanowsky
Celebrating America’s 249th birthday
Two weeks ago we celebrated the 249th anniversary of the United States of America. At the Alameda County Fair on July 3 they had a fantastic fireworks show.
On July 4 Pleasanton had a wonderful celebration at the new Lions Wayside Park. The Pleasanton community band played patriotic songs, the VFW and American Legion presented the colors and fun was had by all. It was a wonderful program to honor the 249th birthday celebration of our beautiful country.
Celebrating our great country and the freedom and liberty that we enjoy is a precious gift. We give thanks to God and to our forefathers for creating our constitutional republic, and the excellent foundation of legal documents.
It all started with the Declaration of Independence and then followed with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. And it was the providence of God who led these men and women to create the best country in the world.
The hundreds of patriotic citizens in attendance at the Lions Park on the Fourth wore American flag shirts and hats and other red, white and blue clothing, while everyone was waving American flags. This was truly a beautiful celebration by patriotic citizens who love and respect our country.
This is in stark contrast to the anti-American protestors that we have read about who decided that July 4 should be against fireworks and displaying American flags. I am proud and delighted that Pleasanton and our Tri-Valley still loves and respects our country.
– David Ott
What do regular Americans get out of the bill?
When you lose your Medi-Cal in two years, thank the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill”. This law rips health care from 17 million people, guts Medicaid for seniors, parents and kids, and dumps new costs on middle-class families already stretched thin.
Meanwhile, it sends ICE’s budget soaring by over 1,000%. That means more raids, more families torn apart, more neighborhoods living in fear. What we see in Los Angeles today — masked ICE agents and troops on our streets — could soon hit Pleasanton, Livermore and beyond.
All so billionaires can cash in on fresh tax breaks while working families lose care and live under watch. We deserve leaders who stand up for health, security, and fairness — not politicians who sell us out for the ultra-rich.
Nearly every single Republican in Congress voted for it, and it passed with zero Democratic votes.
So when ICE shows up on your block and your parents are kicked out of their nursing home, you’ll know exactly who to thank: Republicans in Congress.
– Kat Rosa
Gerrymandering
There may be a statute of limitations for gerrymandering in Alameda County (undetermined). However, under the “Equal Protection Clause” of the U.S. Constitution, there is no statute of limitations for gerrymandering.
Lawsuits can still be filed. ACLU will take on gerrymandering cases at no cost. The ACLU has a long history of challenging gerrymandering, especially when it undermines voter rights.
ACLU’s approach blends litigation, public education and advocacy to ensure that redistricting reflects domestic principles, not political manipulation.
They file lawsuits under the First and Fourteenth amendments, claiming that extreme partisan gerrymandering violates, demographics:
1. Equal Protection Clause (by treating voters unequally).
2. Freedom of Association (by discouraging political participation).
3. Free speech (by distorting electoral influence).
The ACLU has filed briefs supporting plaintiffs, offering legal arguments and data to bolster claims that gerrymandered maps entrench political power unfairly. They bring in political scientists, demographers and statisticians to demonstrate how maps are drawn with partisan bias.
The ACLU raised awareness about how gerrymandering affects communities, often spotlighting personal stories and local impacts. The ACLU often partners with civil rights groups, grassroots organizations and local plaintiffs to build strong, community-rooted cases.
Their approach is both legally rigorous and deeply people centered-aiming not just to win cases, but to shift the broader culture around redistricting. ACLU has settled or won more than 100 gerrymandering cases.
– Michael Austin
‘Love That Doesn’t Forget’
As a high school student, volunteer at a local memory care center and advocate at Alzheimer’s Association, I witnessed a heartbreaking moment when a man with dementia no longer recognized his wife — yet she stayed by his side, loving him through the forgetting.
That moment inspired me to speak out. In my piece, “Love That Doesn’t Forget”, I share this story to highlight the quiet struggles of the 36,000-plus unpaid family caregivers in Contra Costa County alone.
Many are being stretched thin emotionally and financially, especially as recent Medicaid cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act threaten essential long-term care services through Medi-Cal.
I’m advocating alongside the Alzheimer’s Association for the “Credit for Caring Act”, a bipartisan bill offering up to $5,000 in tax relief to caregivers.
Love shouldn’t mean going broke, burning out, or giving up your future. I hope my speaking out helps shine a light on those who never stop showing up — even when they’re no longer recognized.
— Sahaana Vasudevan
Interesting how Emily Walker saw the tax measure as tiny. IF it had passed it would have peaked as highest in the state along with a handful of other cities at that peak tax. It wasn’t tiny. It also would not have accomplished what needed to be done before a tax was asked of the residents. The deep internal look which uncovered ways for the city to cut expenses. Volunteers are stepping up to the plate right now to help with library functions and perhaps just perhaps enough people will care enough to lend their time to keep the library open more hours. Have you considered volunteering?