YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 8
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City seizes portion of property to continue train platform project
February 22, 2019
Enjoying Life At Fifty Plus
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Oakley leaders will seize a portion of Main Street property through eminent domain to accommodate a future train platform station and parking lot project. The landowners, Douglas and Lori Scheer, rejected the city’s undisclosed purchase offer for a narrow 7,927-square-foot area along the railroad track at 3460 Main St. The land will be used to connect O’Hara Avenue to the large parking lot behind the Scheer Security building to create access to, and promote traffic flow for, the future train platform and parking lot. “The property owner was offered the appraised value, but obviously hopes to get more by requiring the eminent domain,”
The City of Oakley will seize a portion of property behind Scheer Security on Main Street to accommodate a future train platform station and parking lot project.
Staff Writer
As Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his first State of the State address on Feb. 12, he laid to rest any remaining hope that Gov. Jerry Brown’s contentious vision of twin tunnels delivering Delta water to the Central Valley and Southern California would see the light of day. “Our water supply is becoming less reliable because of climate change,” said Newsom in his address. “And our population is growing because of a strong economy. That means a lot of demand on an unpredictable supply. There are no easy answers. But let me be di-
said Nancy Marquez-Suarez, human resources manager and assistant to the city manager. Scheer Security representatives declined comment when reached by phone Wednesday
morning. The acquisition clears a hurdle toward a planned downtown San Joaquin Joint Powers Authorities train station platform and parking lot by the end
“ My take on one tunnel is that if they still follow the same route through the Delta, even one tunnel’s construction will destroy the legacy towns in the north, the Delta farms with construction and muck, will inundate all of our highways with traffic congestion and gridlock, and will shut down boating and recreation throughout the Delta causing marinas and other boating-related businesses to be ruined.
”
Jan McCleery, past-president of Save the California Delta Association rect about where I stand. I do not support the WaterFix as currently configured. Mean-
SAVE NOW
ing, I do not support the twin tunnels. But we can build on the important work that’s al-
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A Daughter’s Legacy
Photo by Kyle Szymanski
of 2020. The state grant-funded platform station, serviced by Amtrak, will be situated north of see Seizes page 26A
Twin tunnels project takes a turn by Tony Kukulich
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ready been done. That’s why I do support a single tunnel. The status quo is not an option.” Proponents and opponents of WaterFix both claimed victory in the aftermath of Newsom’s comments. What remains to be seen is how a major design change will impact the project, the environment, wildlife and the Delta communities in the tunnel’s path. “My take on one tunnel is that if they still follow the same route through the Delta, even one tunnel’s construction will destroy the legacy towns in the north, the Delta farms with construction and muck, see WaterFix page 26A
Pot Pays
www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Revenue numbers for cannabis sales for fourth quarter of 2018 were $103.3 million.
Discovery Bay mom publishes collection of late daughter’s poetry and art. Page 5A
Grappling For The Win
BVAL wrestlers advance to state meet after top performances at NCS championships. Page 21A Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................22A Cop Logs.............................25A Education.............................6A Entertainment..................15A Food.....................................14A Milestones.........................13A Opinion...............................18A Pets......................................11A Sports..................................19A
Teachers Job Fair www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
Contra Costa County Teacher and Certificated Staff Recruitment Fair this Saturday.