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Support industrial projects on east side
Pleasanton’s east side around the Chain of Lakes should be zoned to accommodate future industrial warehousing, manufacturing, research and development facilities.
Livermore sets the example Pleasanton ought to follow when it comes to industrial economic development. The recently approved proposal by Livermore’s City Council to support Pacific Fusion’s application to build a billion-dollar research facility on their west side along Jack London Boulevard demonstrates commendable foresight.
One can easily envision the Chain of Lakes area becoming a hub for high-tech research and industrial development that could be the envy of all of California.
Cities with diverse economic foundations have resilient general funds. Pleasanton needs to look at industrial development just as favorably as it does commercial or residential development.
A city’s industrial space positively supports commercial office demand which together function to keep a city’s tenancy rate high. Making Pleasanton a center for industrial development, not just commercial development, steers the whole community towards a flourishing future.
I urge our local leaders to favor industrial development on Pleasanton’s east side.
– Matthew Gray
Correcting the record on Zone 7 and Delta Conveyance Project
The Delta Conveyance Project and Zone 7’s water supply are mischaracterized in an editorial published by the Independent on Sept. 18, 2025.
Zone 7 receives 90% of our water supply from the State Water Project. The same State Water Project that pumps water into the California Aqueduct pumps water into the South Bay Aqueduct and delivers water to our region.
State Water Project reliability is decreasing due to climate change and water quality and environmental regulations. Our analysis shows that without the Delta Conveyance Project, we can expect future water supply shortages in six out of every 20 years.
The Delta Conveyance Project will significantly reduce future shortages in the Tri-Valley.
– Valerie Pryor, general manager, Zone 7
Thank you, from Open Heart Kitchen
On behalf of Open Heart Kitchen, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Pleasanton Weekly for its in-kind sponsorship of our 30th Anniversary Gala. That support was part of the incredible community effort that helped us raise more than $250,000 on Sept. 5 at Casa Real Events Center in Pleasanton to provide meals and overnight emergency shelter for our Tri-Valley neighbors in need.
While galas are always important tools for raising much-needed funding for nonprofits, this year’s Gala took on all the more significance in light of an $850,000 federal grant cut we sustained in March.
That loss forced us to close our pop-up pantry program and reduce to-go meals at our Community Meal Program. At such a challenging time, your partnership helped amplify our story and rally our community around the neighbors who rely on us most.
For 30 years, Open Heart Kitchen has led the way in fastening the local safety net, making sure no one in our community has to face hunger or hardship alone. The Gala was more than a celebration; it was a reminder that together, we’re building a food-secure tomorrow where every neighbor has the dignity of a hot meal and a safe place to rest.
With gratitude,
– John Bost, executive director, Open Heart Kitchen
Sidewalks are not toilets
There’s a growing menace on our sidewalks, and it’s not just the cracks or uneven pavement. It’s the dog poop left behind by careless, disrespectful and frankly unprofessional pet owners who treat the public walkways like their personal dumping grounds.
As a runner and walker, I’ve had the misfortune of dodging these landmines more times than I can count. Sometimes I’m not lucky enough to dodge them. The experience is disgusting, and entirely preventable.
Let’s be clear: owning a pet is a privilege, not a license to pollute. Picking up after your dog isn’t common courtesy – it’s a basic civil responsibility. When you fail to do so, you’re not just being lazy. You’re showing blatant disregard for your neighbors, your community, and shared spaces we all rely on.
This isn’t about one forgotten poop bag; it’s about a pattern of behavior that reflects a deeper problem: entitlement. The kind that says, “My dog’s waste isn’t my problem.” Well, it is. And it becomes everyone’s problem when sidewalks turn into an obstacle course of filth.
The consequences go beyond aesthetics. Dog feces carry bacteria and parasites that pose health risks to humans and other animals. Children playing nearby, elderly people walking with limited mobility, and runners trying to stay healthy shouldn’t have to navigate a minefield of microbial hazards.
It’s time for communities to crack down – with fines, public shaming and signage that makes it clear: poop belongs in a bag, not on the pavement.
– Michael Austin
Dignity over contempt
Are you wondering more and more these days if your fellow citizens are ruining this country? Or concluding lately that we need a “national divorce”, that it is a good idea to cancel your own family, friends and neighbors because they are or aren’t woke, have TDS, or are MAGA?
Or have you been convinced recently that good people have a moral duty to destroy evil people before they destroy you?
If the answer is yes, you might be experiencing manipulation by the conflict industry. This is a market of destruction. This contempt industrial complex preys upon your emotions with divisive language to attract customers, maximize profits, and keep you coming back for more.
It’s a $2.5 trillion industry according to recent estimates!
To counter having our own emotions used against us for the profit of others, we need a renewed commitment to human dignity. There’s a wonderful online tool called The Dignity Index that I invite you all to use. It measures how much contempt or dignity speech from any source may contain and gives practical advice like “Be curious, not furious”.
The website also offers examples and constructive conversation prompts. By building up our own skills and supporting only the leaders that also commit to treating everyone with the dignity we are endowed by our Creator with, it is possible to create a collective defense against the destruction left in the wake of profiteers and ease the divisions.
They can’t sell what you don’t buy.
– Stacey Borsody
I appreciated the letter regarding irresponsible dog owners leaving dog poop on sidewalks. It gives responsible dog owners a bad name. I would also say that leaving plastic bags filled with dog poop on trails is just as bad. I once took a hike at Pleasanton Ridge and within about a half mile of the entrance I picked up about a dozen full poop bags – and I don’t own a dog!
Please people – if you own a dog please pick up after it.
Why Industrial Near Housing is Risky
Industrial facilities located near residential neighborhoods can lead to Noise pollution from trucks and machinery, as well as air quality concerns due to emissions.
Traffic congestion from freight and employee vehicles, reduced property values, and quality of life. Safety risks depend on the type of industrial activity. Concerns are especially relevant near the Chain of Lakes, where the city envisions sustainable housing.
The city of Pleasanton is actively planning the future of East Pleasanton, including land use and annexation amenities. Recreational amenities, open space buffers between Pleasanton and Livermore.
Arroyo Lago-189 single-family homes (proposed).
East Lakes-330 single-family homes and 367 multi-family homes (proposed).
Villages at the Quarry-310 single-family and 102 multi-family homes (proposed).
Recreation and open space:
The Chain of Lakes area is envisioned as a future recreational hub.
Trails and greenways connecting lakes and neighborhoods.
Water-based recreation like kayaking and fishing.
Open space buffers between Pleasanton and Livermore.
Integration with Shadow Cliffs Regional Park, enhancing regional connectivity.
Much more-Environmental Sustainability:
Groundwater recharge through Lake I.
Flood control and seasonal water storage.
Habitat restoration.
Reuse of formal quarry lands for sustainable urban development.
The fusion facility Matthew speaks of won’t happen in Livermore, company is locating it in Texas, letter sounds like Julie Testa wrote it. I’d much prefer to have housing on the east side bringing sustainable real estate tax revenue to our city.