An open letter to the Walnut Creek Journal

City Manager Mike Parness won Save Civic Park's vote of confidence for a new Walnut Creek library back in February. Mr. Parness made time to sit down with our members and explain compromise plans for a scaled-back plan that's fiscally reasonable and will enhance Civic Park. ... The current library plan is an improvement by leaps and bounds from earlier iterations - and the City deserves credit for taking input and cutting the cost and unsightly parking structure. The City listened and was responsive to our concerns. ... Of course the library plan will not please everyone - and it will take fiscal sacrifice. A library financing plan that includes limited long-term financing is akin to making a large downpayment for a new home with modest mortgage payments. ... It makes good investment sense. ... Walnut Creek CAN afford a new library, and we support using parking reserves and modest parking fee increases to bring this vision to fruition. ...

Yes on 81 - and Yes on Trees

Here's the letter I sent to all of my friends this week. Please pass the message along! "Please join me in voting 'Yes' on Proposition 81 on June 6. This library bond will help build new facilities in my hometown of Walnut Creek and throughout the state - without raising local property taxes. Prop 81 is a reasonable measure for important community infrastructure. Thanks for your consideration!" ... In a related matter, the largest issue related to the Civic Park library construction that concerns me now is tree preservation. Ultimately, some trees are going to be lost to the project, but it seems from the designs I've seen that the architects should be able to save the evergreen and two oaks in the eastern portion of the current surface lot. These are great shade trees and carbon filters for the cars that park in the lot. If you share my concerns, please e-mail Mayor Kathy Hicks at hicks@walnut-creek.org. Thanks! ...

Please Support Prop. 81!

For library supporters, Prop. 81 is one of the most important issues on the June ballot. My favorite candidate for 12th District Assembly in San Francisco, universal health care advocate Democrat Janet Reilly, last week wrote an opinion in support of Prop. 81. You can read it here. Please vote yes on 81! ... (I'm also supporting Steve Westly in the gubenatorial primary). ...