YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 4
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Key city projects on the horizon
Celebrating kindness O’Hara Park Middle School students participated this week in The Great Kindness Week Challenge. Held each year in January, last year over 10 million students worldwide participated in the challenge, and over 500 million acts of kindness were performed. Students were challenged to complete a checklist of 50 kind acts by the end of the week. Leadership students from O’Hara Park created a poster promoting the week on campus. For more information, visit https://thegreatkindnesschallenge.com/.
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
At least two major development projects are moving forward in the City of Oakley, officials said during a recent economic development program update. Economic Development Manager Dwayne Dalman said he’s hopeful that DuPont and Chemours officials will identify a developer to purchase the former DuPont property. Dalman also said that in a separate development, Safeway officials are close to submitting their plans for a store in the city.
Photo courtesy of Gretchen Gaudy
see Projects page 22A
January 26, 2018
Financial Wellness
Check out this week’s Money Matters section for financial tips in the new year. Page 1B
A Miracle On The Way
Oakley’s Ally Jenkins has received approval for a rare third lung transplant. Page 5A
Claims of secret meetings stall water hearings Crosstown Jan McCleery, president of the Save the California Delta Alliance (STCDA), discussed allegations of improper contact between the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Board during California WaterFix hearings.
by Tony Kukulich Correspondent
The California WaterFix project may be in jeopardy, thanks in large part to the Discovery Bay-based Save the California Delta Alliance (STCDA), whose recent efforts have uncovered possible ex parte communications between the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the California State Water Board. The DWR is petitioning the water board for a permit to build the tunnels and other operating mechanisms that comprise the WaterFix project, formerly known as the Delta tunnels project. The issuance of that permit by the State Water Board is a critical step in the implementation of the Califor-
Photo by Tony Kukulich
nia WaterFix. A series of public hearings have taken place over the span of two years to discuss how implementation of the project could impact the environment, local economies,
wildlife, recreation and other aspects of the Delta. Part II of these meetings was scheduled to begin Jan. 18. A petition filed by STCDA attorney Michael Brodsky re-
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quested a 90-day delay in the start of the Part II hearings because, the STCDA alleges nine secret meetings were held over 13 months between the DWR and state board. That petition states that the meetings were about “preparing DWR’s evidence in a manner that would allow the petition to be approved by the board.” On Jan. 17, the water board announced that the start of the Part II hearings would be delayed two weeks while it investigates the allegations of the ex parte communications. Those hearings are now scheduled to begin Feb. 2. California State Assemblymember Jim Frazier has been a staunch opponent of the Wasee Water page 22A
Mobility Matters www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Non-profit group helps seniors, the disabled and lowincome residents stay mobile.
Match-up
Liberty Lions boys’ basketball team falls to league rival Heritage. Page 16A Calendar.............................23A Classifieds..........................19A Education ............................4A Entertainment..................12A Food.....................................13A Milestones.........................10A Opinion...............................14A Pets......................................11A Sports..................................16A
Family Feud Time www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
The Family Feud is coming to San Francisco area for auditions in March.