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Enough is enough, slow down!
What is it going to take to get a police presence to pull over, ticket or possibly arrest for reckless driving?
I walk daily on Ray Street where the posted speed limit is 25 mph. I see cars going 45-60 mph all the time. I have even filmed and sent footage to the Pleasanton Police Department. I have called them as well and was told that it is monitored.
Now that it is Christmas time, Candy Cane Lane is going. Someone is going to get killed in the crosswalk. I have witnessed people in the middle of the crosswalk almost get run over. I myself have almost been hit while walking my dogs.
I am tired that nothing is done.
If you are in that much of a hurry, then leave earlier. People are also constantly tailgating and running red lights throughout the city.
My mom was almost hit in the crosswalk of Ray and Main yesterday when a car decided to turn right while my mom was right there in the crosswalk with the walk sign on. People had to stop and check on my mom because it was that close of a miss.
Calling the police does nothing. I am fearful for my life and that of other people. A car is a weapon. Is it going to take another death of a pedestrian until something is done? Slow down!
– Kelli Bruns
Sunday dinner in Pleasanton
Peering into a little house on Sunday night off Main Street in Pleasanton, you find a family huddled together at one table. Kids squeezed between their parents, adults laughing and eating, all together in one place. This place is my family. And this family is my community and place of being.
Within my family community, we are all different. During the week we go to different schools, play different sports, have different jobs and look nothing alike. As a member of a blended family, I have white cousins, Mexican cousins and all in between. But, regardless of our differences and busy schedules, we come together on Sunday nights to enjoy our time together.
Achievements are celebrated at Sunday Dinner, new friendships and relationships are explored at Sunday Dinner, and our differences are valued at Sunday Dinner.
Being a part of my family community means I am supported by all sitting around the dinner table. It means I have people to share stories with, people to laugh with and people to help me grow.
In my community, we find our power in coming together once a week and bonding over the trials and tribulations of our lives. My community is beautiful in the sense that all my differences and family member differences can be conjoined into one to share a night.
I use my role to support and value others, basking in our unity and togetherness. Regardless of where I am in my life, my community will continue to be an emblem of support and love, following me where I may end up.
– Olivia Smith
Train quiet zone
The readers of the Pleasanton Weekly should know that tonight the Pleasanton City Council unanimously approved funding to develop a railroad quiet zone in Pleasanton. A consultant has been selected and the process can now begin!
Although it will take many steps, the better part of two years and require approvals from the railroad and federal agencies, we believe this will ultimately result in improved quality of life for all of us who live, work and visit downtown Pleasanton.
We thank the Pleasanton mayor and City Council, and to all the supporters of our petition.
– Jim Lehrman
Over and over again
From the last note I sent the Weekly, how is this City Council different from the last City Council? It isn’t.
The one thing we share is, we want to believe in people. Never again will I walk for politicians, passing out flyers within neighborhoods, until my blisters start to bleed … thinking they make a difference.
Who are these politicians’ advisers? Now, we are providing our City Manager an approval process to contract out from $100,000 to $200,000 without City Council oversight … unless they question. No one is to blame here, not the CC, not the Pleasanton Weekly, not even the City Manager, who received a $1000.00+ a month raise.
With raises across the board for management alone, what is the increase of pension liability moving forward? That is never talked about … publicly.
Can you, Pleasanton Weekly, get a copy of the performance review that decided these cost increases? It can’t be just because of regional pressures to stay competitive. And as far as Mayor Balch, during the last CC meeting, bringing up the possibility of our community viewing the assets, 200,000 of them, don’t you think it would be advantageous, as a civic responsibility, to print?
There are many reasons to explore the importance of this process as noted.
– Peter Miller
Rodeo legislation needed
Countless Christmas Manger displays now blanket the country, all with adoring farm animals clustered around the Holy Family. Ironically, these are the very same animals used/abused in rodeo arenas throughout the year: horses, cattle, sheep, goats, et al.
Four bills in need of an author (introduction deadline is Feb. 20, 2026):
1. Ban the Mexican charreada’s brutal “steer tailing” event; not a standard ranching practice anywhere in the U.S. Already banned in Nebraska (2008) and two California counties, Alameda and Contra Costa, in the early 1990s.
2. Amend state rodeo law, Penal Code 596.7. Drop the “on call” veterinarian option, thereby requiring on-site vets at every rodeo/charreada. Race tracks, horse shows and endurance rides all require on-site veterinarians; so should all rodeos and charreadas.
3. Ban tie-down calf roping, as Rhode Island has done. Allow “breakaway” roping only.
4. Ban non-sanctioned events such as “wild cow milking”, children’s “mutton busting”, “goat tying” and all animal “scrambles” – cruel and dangerous for all.
All state legislators may be written c/o The State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. Email pattern for all: senator.lastname@senate.ca.gov; assemblymember.lastname@assembly.ca.gov
The United Kingdom outlawed all of rodeo back in 1934. Can the U.S. be far behind?
– Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals
Pleasanton police vehicle, other car involved in injury collision at intersection near downtownJanuary 17, 2026 8:21 pm
Kelli Bruns is completely correct about the dangerous speeding down Ray Street. I have witnessed numerous times people going too fast and, worse, ignoring the crosswalk while people are in it! Last month, during the evenings, several times I had to wave frantically and yell at drivers bearing down on families crossing towards Candy Cane Lane (some with baby carriages)! That crosswalk needs better lighting and signage, including flashing lights, and that street needs speed bumps as well as PPD speed enforcement. I am afraid it is a bad and tragic accident waiting to happen.