(LIVERMORE, CA.) – The Livermore wine community stands in solidarity to support the renewal of the Livermore Valley Wine Heritage District, while other residents exchange impassioned comments over community issues at the Mar. 9 meeting.
The first to speak about the benefits of this renewal is the President of Livermore Valley Wine Community, Ken Wong.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Wong says that because of the Livermore Valley Wine Heritage District, “Our region has actually gained a lot of increasing recognition both nationally, locally ally nationally and internationally.”
Following Wong, Marketing Manager for Livermore Valley Wine Association, Jenny O’Leary, states that, “We've been able to invest in advertising across multiple platforms, digital, social, radio, and print, reaching wine lovers throughout the Bay Area.”
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Next, Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation Executive Director Brandi Lombardi highlights how the Heritage District “strengthens the entire economic ecosystem from growers and wine makers to restaurants, hospitality, and small businesses that depend on wine tourism.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Vice President of the Livermore Valley Wine Community Karl Wente is the last comment on the Heritage District, saying, “Your citizenry has obviously spoken that their wine country is very important to them and the ongoing success.”
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Wente concludes by thanking everyone who “makes our wine country the best place it could be.”
The Council recommends the renewal of this measure, expressing their appreciation and gratitude for Livermore's wine community.
The ambience of appreciation for the Livermore wine community quickly subsides as affordable housing enters the discussion and invites high tensions.
One of the directors of Livermore Valley Arts, Jean King, is the first to speak on the consent item 6.4 that seeks to implement a “210-unit mixed-income multi-residential apartment project.”
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King shares her opposition to the consent item 6.4 statings, “I am extremely disappointed that out of the 210 total number of units, only 13% or 5.46 units will be for below median income residents,” she states that the “RHNA numbers for the low-income housing are inadequate.”
Following Jean King, Alan Marling comes to the podium to encourage the council to approve item 6.4.
Marling shares how his co-worker commutes an hour and a half, “We work in a health field. When she arrives late, the team suffers, and treatment suffers,” stating, “affordable housing and housing at large help everyone.
Marling then states he was “shocked but not surprised that Jean King opposed item 6.3 on the consent calendar because it didn't have enough affordable housing. Or so she says.”
“With curious frequency, Jean King finds a reason to oppose development needed by the city. And if she truly cared about affordable housing or social justice and racial justice, Jean King, you would not have bankrolled campaigns and lawsuits to oppose Eden Housing.”
Marling turns to address King directly, “Jean King, I want you to hear me when I say your hypocrisy is detestable and your obstruction is harmful, classist, and racist.”
Mayor Marchand fills the silence in the room by reiterating the importance of affordable housing, a trend being closely documented by OpGov.news, including in the city of Sacramento and the city of Pensacola.
After public comments, the council “unanimously approve the reissuance of bonds for the Heritage Estates affordable housing project.”
The next topic of interest concerns the consent item 6.5, which seeks to renew the five-year contract with Microsoft 365.
Free software advocate Joe Lee has voiced his critiques of Microsoft 365 at several city council meetings and encourages the council one last time to consider alternatives.
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“It was a lofty goal to migrate to a free software office suite like Libre Office. So I didn't expect much change immediately,” however, he continues, “maybe we could be even more conservative and migrate a quarter of our systems to Libre Office and see how that works.”
Alan Marling takes the podium again, and with his usual conviction states his opposition to this measure, “Not only is the thought of putting more money in the pocket of Bill Gates disgusting, but the quality of Microsoft is too low and the cost too high” he resumes, “I worry Livermore will end up having to spend even more money on tech support when the software fails.”
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While the Council approves the “1.587 million five-year renewal of Microsoft 365 licenses”, Council members Branning, Wang, and Dunbar express interest in exploring open-source alternatives like LibreOffice.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
While this is not the outcome Lee was advocating for, Council Member Dunbar extends his appreciation to Mr. Lee and encourages him to “keep at it.”
If you would like to add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at mollyscheid7@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
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