Last Monday evening, Public Works Director Gonzales claimed that the Linda Dog Park had been discussed at the Park Commission 9 times in the past two years and that is true. However, that had not been as a stand-alone agenda item with staff recommendations but simply as part of the routine Update on Park Projects…
The progress pride flags that hang above all the Piedmont schools referencing gender-fluidity should immediately be removed. Legislatures in 20 states this year proposed banning physicians and other health care professionals from providing puberty blockers, hormones and “gender affirming” surgery to children. Puberty blockers have been banned in the UK following the Cass report. It…
A decision to abruptly close a beloved dog park—used heavily by Oakland residents- has laid bare a culture of hypocrisy and backroom governance. The move, shrouded in secrecy and pushed through with contempt for public input, epitomizes the widening chasm between Piedmont’s self-congratulatory progressive image and its reality of elitism and exclusion. The park, a…
When the rally call came from Dr. Elise Marks (President of the Association of Piedmont Teachers) to join a “Walk In” on April 4, 2025 to bring attention to the dismantling of the US Department of Education, I was quite disturbed by this action brought upon by the Trump Administration. I consider myself a staunch…
With over 42,000 students, Clovis Unified School District stands as the largest public school district in California operating without a teachers union since its inception in 1959. Remarkably, it continues this tradition today without a formal union structure. Consider this — “Can Piedmont Unified School District, with 2,500 students, deliver a quality education while exclusively…
Ah, Piedmont’s community pool project—a masterpiece of mismanagement and a shining example of how not to run a public works project. Thanks to our beloved City Council, what was supposed to be a refreshing oasis has turned into a money pit with a side of delays. Who knew building a pool could be so hard?…
The situation in Piedmont is becoming untenable, with the city administrator engaging in constant confrontation rather than fostering dialogue with residents. This approach is compounded by a City Council that seems to either enable or encourage such behavior. As property values decline, crime rises, and school enrollment and ratings fall, residents deserve leadership that prioritizes…
Look at any Piedmont real estate selling point and you see the phrases: “top rated schools”; “exceptional schools”; or “highly coveted K-12” – – BUT are Piedmont students truly receiving an extraordinary education? Since graduating from Piedmont High School in the 1990s, the educational standards and expectations of PUSD students have significantly declined. As a…
The recent lawsuit against the City of Piedmont over the Linda Beach pickleball courts underscores a troubling pattern of municipal negligence and disregard for residents’ well-being. By approving the conversion of tennis courts into permanent pickleball courts without conducting a proper California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, the City Council has not only flouted legal…
Pool Advisory Committee: This report is a very detailed approach to analyzing the fee structure for the pool however it strikes me as biased towards raising revenue by “incentivizing” pool users to upgrade to annual passes without some historic context of pool users, their frequency of use of the pool and revenues. For starters, what…
