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This is the new, combined Pioneer, covering both Concord and Clayton in one community newspaper.
January 18, 2019
In the ‘spirit’ of public art, Concord plans ordinance BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
The city of Concord is taking another stab at public art installations, after the controversial Spirit Poles put an end to the city’s program more than 20 years ago. At the Jan. 8 meeting, the City Council discussed a Public Art/Percent for Art Program that would require developers to pay a public art fee. Instead, the council voted unanimously to develop an ordinance that would require public art as a condition of approval for future projects – without any associated fees. “Public art deals with the soul of the city and with the aspirations of our children and our community and, in many ways, the definition of what it means to be a community,” said Councilman Edi Birsan. Responding to Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister’s comments that potholes, traffic and affordable housing were higher priorities, Birsan acknowledged that public art would never rise to that level. “Yes, we are faced with some terrible financial challenges and liabilities,” he
See Art, page 4
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forming routines with the new Hardwood Classics senior dance team before 19,596 fans during eight Liz Wood began dancGolden Gate Warriors ing when she was threeyears-old in Concord. Near- games this season. The Warriors, who hope ly 67 years later she’s perJAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
to bring another NBA title to Oakland this summer, are also looking ahead to their move across the Bay to San Francisco in the fall. “Our organization was looking for new programs
that we can bring to the Chase Center next season and adding a senior dance team is something we all wanted to do,” says Warriors Dance Teams Director Sabrina Ellison. Wood doesn’t remember where she saw the ad inviting women and men 55 years and older to an open audition last summer for this new dance team. She thought “what the heck”
See Queen, page 5
Photo courtesy NBA Photos/Warriors
Concord’s Liz Wood began dancing when she was three-years-old and now just months before her 70th birthday in April she’s a member of the Hardwood Classics, the new senior dance team of the world champion Golden State Warriors.
Vets fly free to national memorials JOHN T. MILLER The Pioneer
Contributed photo
Tom Meyer, left, and his father William get ready to board their Honor Flight from SFO to Washington, D.C.
What’s Inside
Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B6
Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 From the Desk of . . . . . . . . .6 Hearts and Hands . . . . . . . .3 Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B1 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
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A dream came true for World War II veteran William Meyer recently, with a free flight to Washington, D.C., to tour the national memorials – including the WWII Memorial honoring the 16 million who served alongside him. The tour came courtesy of Honor Flight, a national nonprofit offering this service to veterans of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Accompanying Meyer on the trip was his son, Tom
Meyer, who owns and operates Galaxy Press and A2Z Printing in Concord. The elder Meyer, 92, purchased the company in 1977 and still helps out at the shop on Galaxy Way. “The vets out of World War II, and even those out of Korea and Vietnam, often need help physically,” says Tom, “so they arrange for a younger person to be with them at all times and assist in any way needed.” These guardians pay $1,000 each (tax-deductible) and usually take care of one
or two veterans. Tom enjoyed the experience so much he volunteered again last October, helping out a pair of Korean War vets. On Tom’s second trip, he met a Vietnam vet who wondered all these years what he and other vets had done wrong to deserve having protestors throw bottles at them when they returned. “This trip gave him the feeling for the first time in 50 years that he hadn’t done anything wrong.”
See Vets, page 5
Aliano, Obringer tackle rent issues on new panel BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
Because the City Council wants to “dive deep” into rent issues, Concord Mayor Carlyn Obringer appointed Councilman Dominic Aliano to join her on a new ad hoc rent committee at the Jan. 8 meeting. The committee will meet for up to six months to review state and local requirements regarding tenant/landlord responsibilities and existing housing needs within the city. The committee will then propose rental housing objectives and strategies for the full council to consider. At the Dec. 11 meeting, all five council members supported forming the committee. Councilman Edi Birsan, who has long advocated for some form of rent control, was pleased with his colleagues’ “evolution in this area.” Many speakers at the Jan. 8 meeting advocated for Aliano on the committee because he represents the Monument, with its high ratio of rental units. Aliano, who joined the council last month, sought to clarify the committee’s course. “We need to make sure that moving forward, we identify what we’re trying to get at here – the high cost of rents and landlords abusing their position when it comes to increasing rents outrageously,” he said at the Dec. 11 meeting. Several residents wanted the council to create a moratorium on rent increases of more than 3 percent as well as no cause evictions while the committee meets. Birsan asked the council to consider the item on a future agenda, but the members did not agree. Audience members vocalized protests as Obringer adjourned the Jan. 8 meeting. Concord resident Blaine Carter, who owns a four-plex on Carleton Drive, says he has attended all city meetings about rental housing and remains adamantly against any kind of rent control. “I was an econ major in college,” he noted. “When we
See Rent, page 4
Kirker Pass northbound slated for truck lane DANIEL BORSUK Correspondent
Work should get underway this summer on a $14 million, mile-long truck safety lane on Kirker Pass Road, one of Contra Costa County’s most traveled and most dangerous commute routes. Concord and Clayton residents who frequently drive up the steep county road know all too well about the dangerous speeds and horrific auto and truck accidents along the onemile northbound stretch from the Concord Pavilion to Hess Avenue, where the county will build the 12-foot wide truck safety lane along with an eightfoot wide paved shoulder.
“I think it is an exciting idea,” Kari Philipp of Concord said. “It will free up two lanes for autos and provide a dedicated lane for trucks.” The Contra Costa County Public Works Department plans to open contractor bids on Jan. 22, and the Board of Supervisors may approve the winning bid in February. The project will include a retaining wall and installation of drains, with completion expected by summer 2020. County engineers, county supervisors, and Clayton and Concord residents hope that the Tamara Steiner/The Pioneer project will reduce auto and truck accidents on the road used Construction of an $18.1 million truck safety lane on Kirker Pass Road is slated to get un-
See Lane, page 8
derway this summer. Officials think the new mile long 12 foot wide northbound lane from the Concord Pavilion to Hess Avenue will reduce the number of traffic accidents on the heavily traveled highway
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