2. What's more important for our city right now: building new homes and commercial space or rehabbing/expanding/better utilizing our existing homes and storefronts?
3. How do you feel about the transportation options currently available in our city? Do we have enough options? If not, what will you do to increase those?
4. Some people in our community say that we have traffic problems. What do you think? How would you mitigate those concerns or change the situation?
5. If you could change one thing in our zoning code, what would it be and why?
6. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process in our city?
7. If someone came to you with a proposal to build a new piece of infrastructure in our city (road, bridge, etc.), how would you evaluate whether that project was worth implementing?
8. If elected, what three steps would you take to put our city on a firmer financial footing?
9. If you received a $1 million grant to use for our city any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?
10. What neighborhood do you live in? Why? Where are your favorite places to spend time in our city?
11. Did you vote to support the Costco build in Pleasanton?
12. Are you absolutely against any attempts to declare Pleasanton a sanctuary city?
-- Michael Austin
The right to vote
Our country has entered an important time of the year that happens every four years. There is no special name but it is the 100 days until election. I am reminded of another period of 100.
One century ago, on Aug. 18, 1920, Tennessee voted and passed the 19th Amendment. It was the last state needed to ratify the amendment to become part of the Constitution. It states simply: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Women were denied the right to vote, treated as if they were of low intelligence and must depend on men to think. Women knew this was wrong. It took over 70 years of talking, speeches and marching.
Some well-known women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Alice Paul and Susan B. Anthony knew that with voting comes power -- having your opinions heard and influences that could change the world. If women wanted to work in a safe environment, laws would have to change. Many rights we take for granted had been denied women.
Recently the world lost another great Black statesman, John Lewis. He stood proud and defended the right to vote. Our country has forgotten the importance of voting. Forces are trying to deny or delay our right to vote.
It is important for all women and men of the United States to exercise their right to vote in November.
-- Karen Burton-Lind
Thank you, from Open Heart Kitchen
Since 1995, we've served meals for free to the hungry people of the Tri-Valley. Now, 25 years later, Open Heart Kitchen is still here to help. We serve as a safety net for anyone who is struggling.
Last year, Open Heart Kitchen served over 339,000 meals. Unfortunately, this year, the need is even greater. While the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching, now is the time to persevere and stay the course.
With many school campuses closed and families out of work, our fight against hunger will intensify in the coming months. While we had the best laid plans to celebrate our 25th anniversary together in September, we must cancel the event due to the state guidelines limiting large gatherings. We look forward to the day when we can gather around a table and celebrate together again.
It lifts our hearts to witness the tremendous outpouring of kindness and generosity from young people in our community.
Just a few incredible examples of young philanthropists are Siddarth of Bay Area Mask Care, Boy Scout Troop No. 903 who did a 5-mile hike at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore to raise money from friends and family, and Brownie Troop No. 32951 who donated all of their cookie sales and sent us a slide deck of thank you messages.
On behalf of all of us at Open Heart Kitchen, we miss your smiling faces and hope you continue to stay safe and healthy. Thank you for all your support.
-- Denise Bridges, OHK development director
This story contains 753 words.
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