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Guest Opinion -- Fading but not lost: Pleasanton's competitive edge

I grew up in Pleasanton, intrinsically aware of the bubble I was so privileged to call home. Unfortunately, this suburban utopia, renowned for its serene landscape, aesthetic downtown, quality schools and quaint charm, is slowly and steadily losing its competitive edge.

Derek Dressler. (Contributed photo)

Pleasanton's desirability has been frequently noted. Most prominently, perhaps, was a 2014 USA Today article that ranked Pleasanton as the fourth best city to live in across the U.S. More recently, however, a complacency from both residents and elected leaders alike has placed Pleasanton's bright future in peril.

As cities like Livermore, Danville and Dublin invest in local decision making, innovation, and education, Pleasanton continues to lag behind.

You don't have to look far back to recall a time when Livermore's downtown lacked mass appeal, charm and commerce. Today, however, Livermorium Park, the Lizzie Fountain and the entire stretch of Sycamore-lined First Street is bustling with residents and visitors who are attracted to the influx of businesses and fun-filled attractions.

Remember even more recently when Dublin's "downtown" was nothing more than a vision in the minds of city planners. Today, their elected leaders have taken action creating "the Village" where novel restaurants and vibrant designs are working hard to make something out of nothing.

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Downtown is certainly not the only area where Pleasanton has waned.

Housing growth and expansion are intrinsic in the DNA of all California cities. The only variable is each municipality's approach. Places like Danville have shown leadership and complied with state mandates of SB 35 and the like. Because of this, their new housing developments are being built to retain Danville's aesthetic and charm through the direct input and oversight of local leaders who are limiting new construction to three stories.

Here at home, however, some of our leaders stand in the way of any development, to the point they are excluded from the process and five-story housing complexes now tower over I-580. Our unsubstantiated satisfaction and complacency extend not only to housing, but our award-winning schools.

PUSD has put forth three recent bond measures to secure capital improvements and investments for our students' learning environments. Two of the three have narrowly passed with Measure M ultimately failing in 2020.

In fact, PUSD's pre-Measure-I bond tax rates were $43.50 compared to San Ramon Valley's $75 and Dublin's $196.40. It's no wonder that Pleasanton Unified ranks 33rd in California whereas DUSD and SRVUSD rank 27th and 22nd, respectively, according to publicschoolreview.com.

It's not surprising that when a community supports its schools, their ranking tends to improve. With median home prices in Tri-Valley communities lower than our own, it is not difficult to predict that the notoriety and desirability of Pleasanton schools could soon fade.

From a lack of innovation downtown and relinquishing of local housing control, to ignoring the needs of our students and teachers, we must stop resting on our laurels and city name to keep us competitive in the East Bay.

It's critical we elect leaders who prioritize education, innovation and forward-thinking progress with an emphasis on local decision-making rather than voting based merely on incumbency or a name that aligns with one's own identity.

Stand up, Pleasanton, and don't let complacency deteriorate our city's legendary ethos. Attend City Council Meetings, vote and hold your leaders accountable.

Editor's note: Derek Dressler is a born-and-raised Pleasantonian who served as a student board member for PUSD and was the ASB president for Foothill High School. Outside of his scholastic achievements, Dressler is an Eagle Scout and currently attends the University of Pittsburgh majoring in political science and legal studies.

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Guest Opinion -- Fading but not lost: Pleasanton's competitive edge

by Derek Dressler /

Uploaded: Mon, Feb 6, 2023, 10:57 pm

I grew up in Pleasanton, intrinsically aware of the bubble I was so privileged to call home. Unfortunately, this suburban utopia, renowned for its serene landscape, aesthetic downtown, quality schools and quaint charm, is slowly and steadily losing its competitive edge.

Pleasanton's desirability has been frequently noted. Most prominently, perhaps, was a 2014 USA Today article that ranked Pleasanton as the fourth best city to live in across the U.S. More recently, however, a complacency from both residents and elected leaders alike has placed Pleasanton's bright future in peril.

As cities like Livermore, Danville and Dublin invest in local decision making, innovation, and education, Pleasanton continues to lag behind.

You don't have to look far back to recall a time when Livermore's downtown lacked mass appeal, charm and commerce. Today, however, Livermorium Park, the Lizzie Fountain and the entire stretch of Sycamore-lined First Street is bustling with residents and visitors who are attracted to the influx of businesses and fun-filled attractions.

Remember even more recently when Dublin's "downtown" was nothing more than a vision in the minds of city planners. Today, their elected leaders have taken action creating "the Village" where novel restaurants and vibrant designs are working hard to make something out of nothing.

Downtown is certainly not the only area where Pleasanton has waned.

Housing growth and expansion are intrinsic in the DNA of all California cities. The only variable is each municipality's approach. Places like Danville have shown leadership and complied with state mandates of SB 35 and the like. Because of this, their new housing developments are being built to retain Danville's aesthetic and charm through the direct input and oversight of local leaders who are limiting new construction to three stories.

Here at home, however, some of our leaders stand in the way of any development, to the point they are excluded from the process and five-story housing complexes now tower over I-580. Our unsubstantiated satisfaction and complacency extend not only to housing, but our award-winning schools.

PUSD has put forth three recent bond measures to secure capital improvements and investments for our students' learning environments. Two of the three have narrowly passed with Measure M ultimately failing in 2020.

In fact, PUSD's pre-Measure-I bond tax rates were $43.50 compared to San Ramon Valley's $75 and Dublin's $196.40. It's no wonder that Pleasanton Unified ranks 33rd in California whereas DUSD and SRVUSD rank 27th and 22nd, respectively, according to publicschoolreview.com.

It's not surprising that when a community supports its schools, their ranking tends to improve. With median home prices in Tri-Valley communities lower than our own, it is not difficult to predict that the notoriety and desirability of Pleasanton schools could soon fade.

From a lack of innovation downtown and relinquishing of local housing control, to ignoring the needs of our students and teachers, we must stop resting on our laurels and city name to keep us competitive in the East Bay.

It's critical we elect leaders who prioritize education, innovation and forward-thinking progress with an emphasis on local decision-making rather than voting based merely on incumbency or a name that aligns with one's own identity.

Stand up, Pleasanton, and don't let complacency deteriorate our city's legendary ethos. Attend City Council Meetings, vote and hold your leaders accountable.

Editor's note: Derek Dressler is a born-and-raised Pleasantonian who served as a student board member for PUSD and was the ASB president for Foothill High School. Outside of his scholastic achievements, Dressler is an Eagle Scout and currently attends the University of Pittsburgh majoring in political science and legal studies.

Comments

zz
Registered user
Amador Valley High School
on Feb 7, 2023 at 10:11 am
zz, Amador Valley High School
Registered user
on Feb 7, 2023 at 10:11 am

We just narrowly passed the recent PUSD bond measure. It’s a shame. Our schools literally have leaking roofs. Public property belongs to everyone in the community. Why do people vote against their own interest. Sometimes I feel like we get obstruction of any development.

In the meantime, how did narrowing Owens Drive get quietly approved? That’s the most ridiculous land use.


Kathleen Ruegsegger
Registered user
Vintage Hills
on Feb 7, 2023 at 11:16 am
Kathleen Ruegsegger, Vintage Hills
Registered user
on Feb 7, 2023 at 11:16 am

The problem with the bond is its language that gives the district the choice of what to do — or not. The voters have given the district $395mm (pay out estimated at $800mm?) with no guarantees of what will get done. It is absolutely the wrong approach.


Vin Kruttiventi
Registered user
another community
on Feb 7, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Vin Kruttiventi, another community
Registered user
on Feb 7, 2023 at 1:23 pm

Amen to that!
We are stifling the progress and prosperity in the name of controlled growth. Long gone are the glory days and attractiveness of the city. There is so much to do keeping the country side feel, but we are in our own way. Great article Derick. We all want to make this a city in to something our kids want to settle and raise a family not bail after high school and never come back to settle.


brad
Registered user
Birdland
on Feb 7, 2023 at 3:20 pm
brad, Birdland
Registered user
on Feb 7, 2023 at 3:20 pm

Derek is a clear thinking young person. Great insight. Congratulations on his willingmess to speak up.


Al Bronzini
Registered user
Downtown
on Feb 7, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Al Bronzini, Downtown
Registered user
on Feb 7, 2023 at 3:27 pm

I agree with Ruegsegger.
It is neither a new issue or problem. When you ask the tax payers for money to improve schools, you must have a punch list of specific issues that will get done with that money and stay true to that commitment. If not the voters will be reluctant to support the bonds.
I remember the Main Street beautification project in the early 90’s , there was just so much money to work with, no room for extra stuff, and nobody got their fingers in the Pie We had a very good contractor and a team of dedicated watchdogs who held his feet to the fire, It can be done. In too many cases the money gets approved for projects but the people who paid for it don’t see the result.


Joe V
Registered user
Birdland
on Feb 8, 2023 at 10:32 am
Joe V, Birdland
Registered user
on Feb 8, 2023 at 10:32 am

If you think that the school bond that recently passed should have been voted down, you continue to be part of the problem of what has slowed Pleasanton's growth, as this man has explicitly explained.


Pleasanton Parent
Registered user
Pleasanton Meadows
on Feb 8, 2023 at 2:35 pm
Pleasanton Parent, Pleasanton Meadows
Registered user
on Feb 8, 2023 at 2:35 pm

If you vote on emotion and headlines you continue to be part of the problem by not holding leaders accountable for delivering on their commitments and you further put at risk future investment at due to lack of trust.

Our schools didn’t loose distinguished status because of not passing a bond measure.

Our students grades and test scores didn’t slide more than others during COVID due to lack of community investment, that was poor administrative execution

Our teachers didn’t have lack of printed materials at start of school yr because of not passing a bond measure.

Consolidating district it services downtown and taking immidiate on site responsiveness away from teachers wasn’t a community decision

Creating “global citizens” when you’re not even top in the state isn’t a problem with community engagement

now I do agree with you on downtown. Livermore and Danville have done some excellent moves and deserve recognition for that.

I have mixed thoughts on housing, I don’t like being forced to do something that infrastructure doesn’t support but I agree if you have to do it, I’d rather own it vs being told what to do


Karl A
Registered user
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Feb 8, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Karl A, Another Pleasanton neighborhood
Registered user
on Feb 8, 2023 at 3:17 pm

Pleasanton needs to get back to being “The City of Planned Progress” ideals. Pleasanton is the envy of many people who live in other Silicon Valley cities because of the nice Main St. and an abundance of countless city parks and walking trails. These were planned for and paid for by developing the area. The city is also surrounded by an abundance of open space provided by East Bay Parks and the city of Livermore’s Sycamore Grove Park.

All this changed when Pleasanton transformed into an enclave of selfish, elitist, rich NIMBY people who moved into the community, building huge expensive houses average people can’t even dream of buying. The people moved here then quickly closed the door to supposed “low income people” by restricting any sort of affordable, higher density housing.

Now it’s time to pay the price by having the state force the citizens and city of Pleasanton to do what they should been doing all along. Be “The City of Planned Progress” again and start making Pleasanton an open and inviting community for even those “low income deplorables” everyone has worked so hard to avoid.

One simple solution would be to develop a plan for the eastern part of the city to meet the state mandates. Higher density affordable housing, and make sure the developers have to sign over acres and acres of land for open space, trails and parks. Increase the density to lower unit cost.

No more excuses that there’s no water or too much traffic. The state won’t accept the excuses. No more lawsuits that waste money.

The TriValley area is no longer the semi-rural suburb the elitist NIMBYs want to protect. That train left the station the end of the last century.

Pleasanton can still be a desirable place to live with development demanded by the state. But it is going to take a new paradigm and new attitudes to develop the new standard for what is desirable.

Is Pleasanton really “The Community of Character” is proclaims to be? Hmmmm we will see.


Pleasanton Parent
Registered user
Pleasanton Meadows
on Feb 8, 2023 at 8:55 pm
Pleasanton Parent, Pleasanton Meadows
Registered user
on Feb 8, 2023 at 8:55 pm

“No more excuses that there’s no water or too much traffic. The state won’t accept the excuses. No more lawsuits that waste money. “

These aren’t excuses, they’re realities as are impacted schools. I agree housing planning needs to be more balanced, but smashing a state problem into a community without giving funding to support infrastructure expansion is wrong.

And I’d love to see the homes of every politician forcing the hand on this issue.



PTown Player
Registered user
Foothill High School
on Feb 8, 2023 at 10:12 pm
PTown Player, Foothill High School
Registered user
on Feb 8, 2023 at 10:12 pm

Longtime resident here. The culture and demographics have changed quite a bit since we moved here nearly two generations ago. Talking with some newer residents who moved from Fremont and the South Bay, it is shocking to hear their interpretation of how bonds and our tax dollars are utilized. They have no clue!


Karl A
Registered user
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Feb 9, 2023 at 4:31 am
Karl A, Another Pleasanton neighborhood
Registered user
on Feb 9, 2023 at 4:31 am

Time to wake up to the “new” reality - the state does not care and sees water issues and traffic issues as excuses.

Equity is the top priority and they don’t care about anything else.


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