"Questionable actions at recent municipal meetings might have gone unnoticed if not for astute and curious readers."

I agree. Why did we supposedly "need" a firearms "safe storage" ordinance in Pleasanton when the council's own staff report indicated accidents/unintentional shootings were practically nonexistent in the state and the nation? From the earlier public hearing process:

"DISCUSSION
The unsafe storage of firearms threatens public health and safety...."
Nationally, in 2020, there were 369 unintentional shootings by children, resulting in 142 deaths and 242 injuries. In California, there were ten unintentional shootings by children resulting in three deaths and seven injuries. As of September 14, 2021, there have been 266 unintentional shootings by children resulting in 107 deaths and 173 injuries across the nation while there have been at least 11 unintentional shootings by children, 3 deaths, and 8 injuries in California. (Data was provided by Everytown Research and Policy.)"


11 unintentional shootings by children in the entire state is clearly not a "threat" at all. Yet this somehow "required" a public hearing/new law that further restricted Constitutional rights of the citizens. Problems with firearms on the streets of our cities (occurring daily) are due to criminal violations, not "safety" violations. City council members either have too much time on their hands or are just doing what some special interest organization (Moms Demand Action) wants. It looks like the latter.

Just another example of Vice Mayor Arkin being totally uninformed and clueless:

"It turns out that voting that night, waiting until after the election or even January was a moot point, though. Arkin apparently thought anything done before January would be effective in January.

However, as city attorney Dan Sodergren told Arkin, "The sitting council can't set their own salaries" and nothing concerning pay for councilmembers would take effect until December 2024."

This is an example of what we're seeing across the country in elections on both sides.
People with common sense, honor, and dignity are unwilling to run for public office.
So we end up with poor-quality candidates.
Vice Mayor Arkin was clueless when she was on the school board, and nothing has changed since she joined the city council. I cannot believe she keeps getting elected to public office. This is the same person who a school board meeting, suggested that we give the students a 48-hour notice before any drug-sniffing dogs were allowed on campus. It kind of defeats the purpose. Regardless if you agree with using dogs on campus or not I would expect someone on the school board at the time have a little more common sense.

Thank you for this article !

Agree - thank you for the thoughtful article. Helps the community keep an eye on local government which has a big impact on our daily experience.