Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A federal appeals court in San Francisco found that Proposition 8 — passed by California voters in 2008 — violates the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law.
From Bay City News Service A federal appeals court in San Francisco today found Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, to be unconstitutional. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled by a 2-1 vote that the voter-approved measure violates the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law. The ruling does not allow same-sex marriages to resume immediately. The appeals court said its decision will be on hold until it issues a formal mandate, which gives the initiative's sponsors time to appeal and seek a stay from either the full 9th Circuit or the Supreme Court. The appeals court's ruling is narrow and applies only to the state of California. The court said that …
Who doesn't love a meeting?
The Danville Town Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 7:30 p.m. and then a special meeting at 8:15 p.m. A few highlights from the agenda of the regularly scheduled meeting at 7:30 p.m. included a proclamation making this week National Boy Scout Week. The council will also discuss becoming the successor agency to the former Community Development Agency of the Town of Danville. It will also review street closures for the following events: Then, at 8:15, the council will discuss the Town of Danville's 2010 general plan. The meetings take place at 201 Front Street.
37.82172
-121.99781
201 Front St, Danville, CA
/articles/community-development-street-closures-and-growth-management
/locations/6332353
Friday, February 3, 2012
Employee purchased money orders with counterfeit money.
Earlier this week a former Alamo Post Office worker was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for purchasing money orders with counterfeit money. The employee was also ordered to repay nearly $40,000 after stealing $43,500, according to a report in The Danville Express. He was convicted by a jury on Oct.27, after a three-day trial on one count of theft of public money, and seven counts of passing counterfeit $100 bills. Read the entire report here.
37.850007
-122.033663
United States Post Office
160 Alamo Plz, Alamo, CA
/articles/alamo-postal-worker-headed-to-federal-prison
120854
/locations/6309505
You may have noticed that the distinctive period building on Railroad Avenue moved last year, and is getting a total makeover. This week we examined the roots of the home that housed some of the town's earliest residents.
If you have been around Danville for a while you may have noticed that historical buildings tend to move from time to time. One of the latest to move is the James Root house at 90 Railroad Ave. The home, designated as a heritage resource on the Town’s “Survey of Historically Significant Resources,” was moved forward on its property this fall, to be closer to Railroad Ave. It is also being restored, with an added new development on the rear of the property. The new two-story building in the back will feature office space on the second floor, and retail or café/restaurant space on the ground floor, according to the Town of Danville’s principal planner, David Crompton. This is the second time the James Root house has moved since it was …
37.82287
-122.00248
90 Railroad Ave, Danville, CA
James Root Historical Home
/articles/trivia-tuesday-historical-home-makeover-of-the-james-root-house
/locations/6306239
37.82204
-121.99933
That Bar
148 E Prospect Ave, Danville, CA
/articles/trivia-tuesday-historical-home-makeover-of-the-james-root-house
1849459
/locations/6306240
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Design Review Board and the Town Council are holding two special meetings this week.
Public meetings aren't, usually, the most exciting ways to spend a few hours, but they can be quite important. So, if you have a few hours to kill on Thursday evening and Friday morning, you have an opportunity to see how the sausage is made, as they say. The Design Review Board is holding a special meeting on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at 510 La Gonda Way to review four projects. Download the entire agenda here. At 9 a.m. on Friday at Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, the town council is holding a special meeting to discuss annual planning and goal setting for the town. The town council will hit on these points: 1. 2011 Accomplishments and Outcomes 2. Dissolving the Danville Community Development Agency – Implementation of AB 26…
37.829791
-122.003802
Town of Danville Town Offices
510 la Gonda Way, Danville, CA
/articles/itching-to-attend-some-public-meetings-we-ve-got-two-for-you
75445
/locations/6297412
37.78556
-121.96127
711 Silver Lake Dr, Danville, CA
/articles/itching-to-attend-some-public-meetings-we-ve-got-two-for-you
/locations/6297413
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Danville Republican Elizabeth Emken has formally entered the U.S. Senate race to challenge Dianne Feinstein.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, January 28
Danville Republican Elizabeth Emken has formally announced her intentions to run against U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in November, Highland Community News reported. Emken, who Danville Patch profiled in November, was a 2010 Republican congressional candidate and a national advocate for children with autism. She ran in the 2010 GOP primary for the House seat, held by incumbent Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and finished fourth out of four. Emken stated on her website that voters want a new senator because they believe the current incumbent has failed. "Now, more than ever, America needs a new direction in Washington," she said on the website.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Utility faces $2.7 million in fines for Concord violations, $3.4 million for Danville, among others.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, January 27
The California Public Utilities Commission fined PG&E more than $16 million Friday for failing to conduct gas pipeline leak surveys on a stretch of pipeline throughout Contra Costa County. PG&E said it was "surprised" by the $16.7 million fine, since the utility self-reported the problem to the state regulatory agency in December and has taken steps to survey the 14 miles of affected pipeline and repair the 22 leaks that were subsequently discovered on them. The utility company apparently failed to conduct regular leak surveys of the affected pipelines because the utility's maps were not updated to accurately reflect new construction. Two of a total 16 violations named in the citation correspond to failure to inspect maps in the City of …
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The $144 parcel tax has generated $6.6 million for the last fiscal year.
The $144 parcel tax that the San Ramon Valley Unified School District community passed in May 2009 generated $6.6 million in the 2010-11 school year. According to an independent committee charged with keeping an eye on those funds, that $6.6 million is being spent correctly. "We're confident that the funds are being spent within the purpose of the parcel tax," Peter Hoefs, Chair of the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee, said Tuesday night at the SRVUSD Board of Education meeting. This revenue came at a time when, over the last 4 years, the district seen a reduction of $82 million from the state, according to Hoefs' presentation. There are seven residents with two SRVUSD staff members assisting it the committee. Key findings include: "If it …
37.812032
-121.97675
San Ramon Valley Unified School District
699 Old Orchard Dr, Danville, CA
/articles/parcel-tax-spent-appropriately-independent-committee-says
75874
/locations/6252939
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A potential $230 million bond measure is being discussed and the district is looking for input.
The San Ramon Valley Unified District is looking for input from the community on a potential $230 million bond measure. On Monday night at San Ramon Valley High School, the district held the second of four community forums where it discussed the bond and then held breakout sessions with attendees to ask and discuss various points of the bond. The next two meetings: The bond is currently in the exploratory phase, school officials repeated throughout the evening. An exploratory committee consisting of parents, administration, faculty and other members of the community have been assembled and charged with determining if the district should pursue a bond and, if so, what that bond would look like. Projects discussed that could find themselves …
37.828052
-122.007181
San Ramon Valley High School
501 Danville Blvd, Danville, CA
/articles/district-calls-for-questions-input-from-attendees-at-bond-mesure-forum
74962
/locations/6250358
California Watch investigates and finds three cities in Contra Costa County that are sitting on the sidelines of the pension debate.
The debate of pensions throughout the state is a loud one but the Town of Danville and two other Contra Costa County cities are sitting this one out. California Watch reported that Danville and the cities of Lafayette and Orinda don't offer a defined-benefits pension plan. A defined-benefits pension plan guarantees specific payments to employees once they retire. It’s a relief not to be grappling with the pension issue on top of other financial issues, said Joe Calabrigo, town manager of Danville. The report says that the Town of Danville, and the two other cities, offers pensions similar to the private sector. “We've always operated the same way,” Calabrigo said. “It's the way that this organization was established. We didn't get there …
Kirsten Branch
9:46 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
The Alamo Cemetery is amazing! One of my "to dos" is to attend one of their pioneer reenactments at the cemetery, where Museum of the San Ramon Valley docents play the parts of many of the key figures in local history. They usually hold this around Halloween. more ›