Housing and crime are the biggest concerns | Regional/California News

Housing and crime topped the list of issues facing Tri-Valley mayors, the main takeaway from the annual Tri-Valley Mayors' Luncheon on Aug. 24.

All mayors agreed that shop crime and burglaries are still a problem that needs funding and attention. However, Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown said she was encouraged by the breakthroughs that put an end to last year's wave of catalytic converter thefts, including the use of drones to search for the stolen equipment.

She thanked the county supervisors and the city of Livermore for their joint efforts to find the majority of the converts. “Collaboration is our strength,” she said.

Most of the questions for the summit had already been asked in advance. The annual event was held at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, surrounded by a collection of rare and classic cars. The summit is sponsored by the Tri-Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance.

The upcoming election provided an opportunity for mayors to voice their concerns about the region's lack of affordable housing. The summit came shortly after the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority withdrew a $20 billion affordable housing bond from the November ballot. Public support for the measure was insufficient to reach the required two-thirds majority needed to pass the bond.

The group's moderator, former state Rep. Catherine Baker, asked the group if they thought not implementing this measure would be detrimental to the Tri-Valley.

San Ramon Mayor Dave Hudson was first to take the microphone. “No,” he said emphatically. “That was not enforceable. It was, 'Give me your wallet and your credit card and the code you have – and I'll let you know when I'm done.'”

“I mean, there is a need for affordable housing… but it's harder to achieve than people think,” he added.

Hudson and Brown were joined on stage by Mayors Michael McCorriston of Dublin, John Marchand of Livermore and Karen Stepper of Danville.

Development plans were also discussed, with McCorriston expressing enthusiasm for the development of Dublin's downtown area, which is currently not as clearly defined as the downtown areas of some of its Tri-Valley neighbors.

“We're working hard on the master plan right now and we're looking forward to it. I know I'll still be there when things really get going,” McCorriston said.

Finally, Baker surprised the mayors with a question they had not been informed about in advance: It was about the upcoming vote in Dublin on the possible construction of a road connection to Livermore.

The measure asks Dublin residents whether the 2014 Open Space Initiative should be amended and the city council given the power to accept donations of land outside the city limits to explore for potential development.

The land in question, also known as the Crosby estate (so named because it belongs to the heirs of the late singer Bing Crosby), is located in unincorporated Alameda County and has been the subject of several lawsuits over the years by citizen groups seeking to prevent Dublin from developing the land and preserving it as open space. (See story on page 1.)

Livermore resident John Marchand responded to the question: “The idea is to create another east-west connection,” in addition to Stoneridge Road, which connects the two cities south of Highway 580, he said.

The proposal calls for an extension of Dublin Boulevard to North Canyons Parkway on the north side of I-580. “When there is congestion on 580, we have another connection.” He added, “But Livermore's interest is that we can ensure open space between our two cities.” Livermore was not involved in the litigation over the property in question.

McCorriston was enthusiastic about the connection to Livermore. “We're talking about a total of a mile and a half. The measure that everyone is looking at right now would give the council the authority to evaluate future development. The ballot proposal really focuses on that last half mile that can connect our sister city here, Livermore, (and us).”

Neither McCorriston nor Marchand elaborated on the issue.