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Vol. 18, No. 41
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
City to stabilize The pink ladies future budgets with past savings by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The City of Brentwood will rely on its past savings to cover an estimated $1.9 million annual ,general-fund deficit for the next several years, according to city officials. “Increasing revenues, mainly significant increases in assessed valuations and development, have helped increase the city’s revenues substantially,” said Business Services Manager Christine Andrews. “However, as the fastest-growing city in Contra Costa County, the last two years' increasing expenditures will also follow.” The projections were re-
vealed last week as part of the city’s 10-year fiscal forecast, constructed to examine the longterm financial stability of the city’s general fund. The projections anticipate a steady rise of 10,000 new residents and nearly 3,000 new homes by 2026, leading to a 4.1 percent annual increase in property taxes and a 3.8-percent annual jump in sales taxes during the same period. This will increase the city’s revenues by 3.6 percent yearly, from $49.6 million in the 2017 to 2018 fiscal year to 60.9 in 2023 to 2024 fiscal year. However, expenditures will see Budgets page 30A
October 7, 2016
Shattering The Ceiling
Women-owned businesses are on the rise. Meet some of them in this week’s edition. Page 1B
Closing In On Centennial
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Photo courtesy of Connie Johnson
eritage High School’s girls’ water polo players showed their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with pink shirts designed by Emma Johnson and Renae Gonzales of Little Miss Everything, in Brentwood. Shirts are available for purchase, with $5 from each shirt going toward breast cancer awareness. For more information, call 510-388-7703.
Brentwood resident Jerri Brillhart celebrates milestone 99th birthday. Page 4A
Write-in candidate running for mayoral seat Heritage by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Write-in candidates have always been fodder for voters who can’t decide among the ballot choices or merely want to make a statement; Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are among some of the most popular write-ins. Here in Brentwood, there is one local resident, without a Disney moniker, who is taking his shot at a write-in candidacy – and just four weeks before the election. Aldo Ghiozzi, a longtime, self-employed Brentwood resident, is throwing his hat into the ring against three-term Mayor Bob Taylor, who is running unopposed. “The point of all this is to just bring some things to the surface,” said Ghiozzi. “I am
GHIOZZI not here to say Mayor Taylor has done anything wrong at all, but in politics you should have a choice.” Ghiozzi, who has lived in
Brentwood since 2000 with his wife Alexandra and their two daughters, said he came to the decision recently, after talking with other local residents, who encouraged him to give the campaign a try despite the late timing. “I have come to the conclusion that, at this point, I am not going to pound the pavement, make signs and go door-todoor, shaking hands and kissing babies,” he said. “But, I do have opinions and ideas and things that could make the community better.” Ghiozzi is a former chairman of the Contra Costa Wine Growers Association, and works out of his Brentwood home. He said working locally is something the city has not encouraged people to do, and that there
need to be incentives for people to start their own businesses. “Locals aren’t local, because many of them are still commuting,” said Ghiozzi. “And by commuting, they don’t get as involved in their communities.” Another issue Ghiozzi is interested in is the topic of term limits. “There are no term limits here, as far as I know,” said Ghiozzi. “They should be standard. Why are there not (mayoral) term limits?” Mayor Taylor said he welcomes Ghiozzi to the race and appreciates his interest. “This is America, we are still in a democracy and that’s why people vote,” said Taylor. “There are always choices.” see Candidate page 30A
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Gov. Brown signs AB 1494, legalizing ballot selfies, digital images of voters’ ballots.
Takes Bowl
Patriots unleash a 51-14 win against Liberty in the annual Brentwood Bowl. Page 23A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................27A Education............................. 7A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............14A Milestones.........................13A Opinion...............................22A Pets......................................12A Sports..................................23A
Energy Awareness go to news/press releases Energy Awareness Month is devoted to the benefits of energy efficiency .