Five Candidates for 20th Assembly District Seat Offer Different Viewpoints

Candidates Represent A Range of Political Parties

VIDEO: Gov. Brown Asks Voters to Avoid Cuts to Schools, Public Safety

Brown's plan includes a 3 percent tax increase on individuals in high income brackets to confront a $16 billion deficit.

In a video released Saturday morning discussing the $16 budget deficit that faces Californians, Gov. Jerry Brown called on voters to avoid cuts to schools and public safety while proposing a plan to increase income tax by 3 percent on higher earners. The state deficit has increased $7 billion, from the $9 billion originally thought to be plaguing California.  Brown calls the income tax increase "modest" and says it will result in a lower sales tax for all. "We can’t fill a hole of this magnitude with cuts alone without doing severe damage to our schools," said Brown, after admitting the state will need to make cuts much greater than originally planned in the beginning of the year. Check out this video and let us know what you think of the …

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Tougher Hands-Free Law Clears State Senate

Bill by State Sen. Joe Simitian would boost fines for using cell phones without a hands-free device while driving.

The California State Senate Monday passed a bill authored by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) that would increase the fines on motorists who talk or text while driving. The bill, SB 1310, passed on a 24-9 vote, and increases the fines for breaking the hands-free and no-texting laws from $20 to $30 for a first-time offense, and from $50 to $60 for subsequent offenses. The extra money from the tougher law would be used to fund a distracted driving education program in the California Office of Traffic Safety, according to a statement released by Simitian’s press office Monday. The total cost of a first offense, including penalties, would rise to roughly $199, depending on the county. Second offenses would cost about $371. Also, a second …

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First Drug Take-Back Day in Union City a Success

Union City's first prescription drug take-back day yielded more than 165 pounds of unwanted or expired medications, preventing them from landing in public water, or the hands of others for recreational or abusive uses.

Results are in for the most recent Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, held statewide on April 28, and the event appears to have been a big success for Union City, said Rhea Serran, communications and marketing manager for the City. A total of 165 pounds of left-over and unused prescription drugs was collected in Union City, Serran reported. Regionally, a whopping 20,915 - or, more than 10 tons - was collected for safe and proper disposal in northern and central California. Nationwide, a new record was set, with 552,161 pounds - or 276 tons - of drugs being turned in. Drugs collected by the Union City Police in this event will be incinerated, Serran explained. “We are thankful for the tremendous response from the community, which has …

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Replay: Read Patch's Live Chat With Congressional Candidate Chris Pareja

Learn more about Chris Pareja, a candidate for the open seat in the 15th Congressional District.

Join San Ramon Patch Editor Patrick Creaven at 1 p.m. Monday for a live online chat with Chris Pareja, a conservative running for Congress in the 15th Congressional District. Pareja will answer questions from Creaven, and readers will be able to comment and post questions as well. You can also submit questions ahead of time via the comments section below. On Friday, Patch live chatted an interview with Eric Swalwell, which you can read here.  

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Tim

3:31 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Oh and by the way, this should make your day "Frank"... http://www.scpr.org/blogs/news/2012/05/16/6154/authorities-raid-medical-marijuana-dispensary-font/ How's that Obama "Hope and Change" working out for you LMAO!   more ›

Assemblymember to Host Town Hall About Affordable Higher Education

Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski will talk about the Middle Class Scholarship Act at CSU East Bay on May 17.

The following is a press release issued by the Office of Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski: Fremont – Maintaining access to an affordable higher education will be the focus of a Town Hall hosted by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 17 in Room 102 in the OLD Student Union at California State University, East Bay in Hayward. Wieckowski, a co-author of the Middle Class Scholarship Act introduced by Assembly Speaker John Perez, will describe how the legislation would reduce the cost of attending college by two- thirds for students at a CSU or University of California campus with family incomes of less than $150,000 who do not already have fees covered.  It is estimated that CSU families would save more than $4,…

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Brash Brazen

11:27 am on Monday, May 14, 2012

Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski was elected by a large margin & has been an able & talented legislator. Unlike the conservative minority who complain constantly about those Democrats elected by & representative of the majority of their neighbors,most of his constituents are quite happy with his efforts on their behalf. Obviously if over half the voters agreed with Ron there'd be a Republican …   more ›

Replay: Read Patch's Live Chat With Congressional Candidate Eric Swalwell

Join now to submit questions for Patch's interview with Swalwell, who is campaigning to represent the 15th Congressional District.

Join San Ramon Patch Editor Patrick Creaven now until 4 p.m. for a live online chat with Eric Swalwell, Dublin City Council member and candidate for the 15th Congressional District. Swalwell will answer questions from Creaven on the campaign, his political philosophy and local and national issues. Readers will also have an opportunity to ask Swalwell questions. On Monday, Patch will live chat an interview with congressional candidate Chris Pareja at 1 p.m.

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Council Votes to Exempt Gas Stations from Tobacco Sales 'Buffer Zones'

The exemption would allow gas stations to sell tobacco products even if they are located closer than 1,000 feet from 'sensitive, youth-oriented' institutions such as churches, schools and parks.

After much research, the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow gas stations to be exempt from the City ordinance that states that retail operations that sell tobacco must be located 1,000 feet or farther from sensitive, youth-oriented institutions such as religious institutions, parks, playgrounds, schools, libraries, recreation centers or other youth-oriented institutions. The move came, in part, after Sajiv Patel, the new owner of the Shell gas station at 33365 Mission Blvd. complained that the ordinance - set just two years ago in January of 2010 - was eating up 15 to 20 percent of his business, as smokers did not want to bother filling up their tanks at gas stations that do not sell cigarettes. Patel's business is …

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Summer Hemphill

11:44 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

Right you are again Tim,the RINO"S are becoming independents as the Republican Party is now in the clutches of the radical right ! Luger lost to a guy who said upon winning that his idea of compromise is standing firm & making the Democrats change their position ! As the rest of the world moves on with their important business absolutely nothing is being accomplished here due to gridlock caused …   more ›