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Hearts and Hands by Faith Barnidge Page 2
IT’S YOUR PAPER
City limits cannabis manufacture to medical use www.concordpioneer.com
JOHN T. MILLER Correspondent
The Concord City Council established a Commercial Cannabis Overlay District that allows for the manufacture of medical cannabis, along with testing for both medical and recreational use.
From the desk of...
April 20, 2018
Recreational pot remains unregulated, so its manufacture and sale are still illegal in the city. As presented by principal planner Michael Cass, Ordinance 18-3 called for associated development standards and a licensing framework for cannabis manufacturing, testing laboratories and distribu-
tion. But a flurry of amendments watered down the plan at the April 10 meeting. “We are starting slow. There are too many loose ends,” Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister told the Pioneer. An overlay district is a regulatory tool that creates a special zoning district placed over an existing one. It identi-
fies special provisions in addition to those in the underlying base zone. The city identified three areas where cannabis businesses could be located: the business park area north of Highway 4, land east of Highway 242 and Solano Way adjacent to the airport and land around the Shary Circle busi-
925.672.0500
ness park near Costco. The business parks include a 600-foot buffer zone around each area from sensitive uses, such as K-12 schools, large day-care centers or youth centers. To qualify, prospective businesses will need land use approval from the Planning Division, a city cannabis
Concord artists help students prepare for May showcase
EDI BIRSAN
MAYOR
See Mayor, page 8
See Cannabis, page 11
Concord’s early days – from rowdy cowboys to pioneering farmers
Editor’s Note: This story is the first of a three-part series that will appear in the Pioneer leading up to Concord’s 150th birthday celebration.
Making sense of political arguments
Listening to political arguments often leaves me with the feeling of cleaning out my ears with toilet paper. We all hear intense arguments for or against a proposal, with a series of “facts”‘ presented with the hope that they will convince us to agree with the speaker’s view. I often ask that if their presented facts were proven to be false, would they then change their minds? The reality is that the answer is no. There was a study in England some years ago where they offered a made-up position, dividing people and giving them pro or con facts. The people were separated and measured regarding their support of their position. When they were told that their facts were a lie, their commitment to their side only increased. That leads me to the recent arguments about cannabis, dealing with lab testing and manufacture relative to the medical and other uses of cannabis. There is a group that is emotionally anti-cannabis in
license issued by the Police Department, a state cannabis license and a business license. The local licenses will be subject to general conditions, including cannabis not being sold on the same premises as tobacco or alcohol, no on-site consumption, odor control
KARA NAVOLIO Correspondent
Photo courtesy Joel Harris
Photo courtesy MDUSD
Wren Avenue first-graders with their mural project, Seaweed in the Diamond Sky, inspired by Henri Matisse. Wren Avenue Elementary is MDUSD’s first Visual and Performing Arts magnet school. The program is designed to strengthen community, creativity, and confidence through the core curriculum, the arts, and technology. Student art will be showcased next month at the Raquel Amaral gallery on Todos Santos Plaza. LISA FULMER Arts in Motion
The Concord Art Association (CAA) is collaborating with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s newly formed Education Foundation (MDEDF) to provide teaching assistance and develop special events. As a privately funded non-
profit, the Education Foundation’s vision is to provide a quality education for every child, no matter where they live in the school district. “We aim to fund all STEAM enrichment – science, technology, engineering, art and math,” says Cherise Khaund, MDEDF president. “After surveying the schools about their needs for art pro-
grams in particular, we learned that our teachers would like the expertise of visiting artists. CAA will assist us with registering more local artists with the district to volunteer in the classes to help both teachers and students learn more about art styles and techniques, as well as showcasing their work.” CAA, a nonprofit cele-
brating its 55th year supporting local artists, is teaming with MDEDF at the Wren Avenue Elementary School of the Arts. “At Wren, art is more than a means of learning. It’s a form of self-expression and a way of discovering the world,” says principal Aline
See Artists, page 8
‘Teen takes on incumbent in Assembly race TAMARA STEINER Concord Pioneer
AASIM YAHYA
This summer, while most high school grads will spend their first days of freedom hanging out with friends or trying to reduce the sleep deficit left over from finals, one Concord High grad will hit the campaign trail at a dead run and won’t stop until he leaves for college—or Sacramento. Aasim Yahya is running for California Assembly District 14 against incumbent Tim Grayson, D-Concord. The thought of running came up when his literature teacher suggested he run for Concord City Council as his senior project. But Yahya had a bigger idea.
“Ever since I was a young boy, I knew what I wanted to do—effect change, not only in Concord … but to empower other youth to feel as if they too can speak up and stand up.” The largest voting block in the country is between 18 and 25 years old, notes Yahya. “This means that the course of our nation rests in the hands of those who are youngest.” Fevered by passion in the wake of the Parkland school shooting, young voters are speaking out through social media—and being heard. But passion must translate to action, he says. “Participation is great, but we must dedicate ourselves to creating legislation and actual
change, not just being ‘angry’ or ‘frustrated.’ ” Grayson and Yahya are the only two Democrats in the June primary for District 14, which means they both will advance to the November election. Yahya points out several recent bills where he differs from the incumbent, including a key gun control bill. Grayson abstained on AB 424, which prohibits anyone from entering a school with a gun even if they have a permit. “I would have voted yes,” Yahya says of the new law. With a war chest of less than $1,000—not even enough to pay for a ballot statement—
See Assembly, page 8
DON SALVIO PACHECO
In 1868, Salvio Pacheco established a small town of 19 blocks around a square that he named Todos Santos (All Saints). That settlement, started 150 years ago, was the beginning of what would become known as Concord. Pacheco, a Mexican military veteran, submitted a diseño (request for a land grant) to the Mexican government in 1834 for the 17,000 acres considered Rancho Monte del Diablo, which covers what is now the city of Concord. Mexico had won California from the Spanish, who had controlled the area until 1822. Prior to that, the Miwok people used the area as hunting grounds. In 1846, Pacheco and his family settled in the area— building his adobe home near what is now downtown. His family lived in that home for almost 100 years, and it still stands today at 1870 Adobe St. LAND GRANTS FOR A BUCK The town of Pacheco became the first village on Rancho Monte del Diablo. It was near the river where ships would dock to carry tallow and hides, and later wheat, out of the valley to markets. It reached a population of 1,000
See Early Days, page 11
Inside
Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . .19
From the desk of . . . . . .8 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Performing Arts . . . . . .18