Independent Newspaper endorses Karla Brown for Mayor

The Independent Endorses Karla Brown

For Pleasanton, Mayor Karla Brown Deserves Another Term

Pleasanton has been facing multiple challenges lately: its financial condition has changed because, its shopping centers, office parks and hotels have lost business, the pandemic created pressures on the economy that are still felt today, and its wells were forced to shut down after contamination by forever chemicals was discovered.
City councilman Jack Balch would have you believe Mayor Karla Brown should take the blame for this and be turned out of office. We disagree.
We don’t think the current government is at fault. In a council-manager form of government, which all three cities have in the Tri-Valley, the top executive officer is the city manager. And it is only this year that City Manager Gerry Beaudin has uncovered the extent of Pleasanton’s issues.
Brown hasn’t been willing to blame the former city manager, but the problems Pleasanton is dealing with go back longer than 2020 and have been a surprise to everyone.

Brown has been willing to take necessary steps to try to right the ship. She has already led the city through more than $20 million in budget cuts, and along with all the other councilmembers except Balch, backed a half-cent sales tax increase with Measure PP to fund necessary services and forestall deeper cuts, especially to emergency services. Earlier, she helped keep the downtown viable during the pandemic with small-business loans and park programs and has been working to see more housing built in the city.

Brown should be thanked for making difficult decisions. She should have the opportunity to continue to serve the best interests of Pleasanton. The Independent endorses Karla Brown for mayor.

Republished from: The Independent October 15, 2024