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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 22, No. 3
Residents debate golf club land
January 17, 2020
New SRO On Campus
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Brentwood residents turned out en masse this week to take a swing at suggesting what’s next for the Deer Ridge Golf Club property. An estimated 200 residents packed the Brentwood Senior Center for the city-organized meeting soliciting resident input. Deer Ridge Golf Club closed its doors in early September amid low demand for golfing and expensive maintenance issues, and will not reopen, said Brentwood Interim City Manager Terrence Grindall. Grindall indicated the course’s owner, SunCoast Golf, Inc., is interested in selling the property for an unknown price, but concerns that it would operate at a loss diminish chances that it will reopen for golf. As for what’s next for the land, the possibilities are wide, though city approval would be required for uses beyond a golf course or open space, Grindall said. Photo by Tony Kukulich Grindall did not divulge potential buyers, if any exist, but noted whatever materializes must be self- Deer Ridge resident Peggy Bridges spoke at a public meeting to discuss the future supported, since the city has no money set aside for of the Deer Ridge Golf Club property. The Deer Ridge course, owned by SunCoast Golf, Inc., closed suddenly in September 2019, and the city is beginning discussions the endeavor. with SunCoast regarding its plans for the property. see Golf page 22
State seeks input on water plan by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
As Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration attempt to establish a comprehensive and cohesive water policy for the state, officials are seeking public input on the draft water resilience portfolio released earlier this month. The document was issued in response to Newsom’s April 2019 executive order directing his administration to inventory and assess a wide range of water-related challenges and solutions. Completed jointly by the California Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the draft offers more than 100 recommendations
“ We are disappointed that the portfolio
includes the Delta tunnel because the tunnel does not increase water resiliency for the state.
”
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta designed to help the state manage drought, floods, threatened fish populations and aging waterdelivery infrastructure, among other threats. “California’s water challenges are daunting, from severely depleted groundwater basins to vulnerable infrastructure to unsafe drinking water in far too many communities,” Newsom said in a press release related to the executive order. “Climate change
SAVE NOW
magnifies the risks. To meet these challenges, we need to harness the best in science, engineering and innovation to prepare for what’s ahead and ensure longterm water resilience and ecosystem health. We’ll need an all-ofabove approach to get there.” Goals and actions of the portfolio are organized in four categories, including: maintaining and diversifying water supplies, protecting and enhancing
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ecosystems, improving the physical infrastructure for moving and storing water and preparing for threats to the water supply. Additionally, it identifies three priorities of the Newsom administration that complement the portfolio: clean and safe drinking water, voluntary agreements on waterflow level in Delta rivers and the construction of a single tunnel in the Delta. Erik Vink, executive director of the Delta Protection Commission, opposed the twin-tunnel plan known as WaterFix, and expressed concern that a tunnel project is still part of the state’s plan. Other Delta advocates shared Vink’s concern. “We are disappointed that
Officer Jackie Veillette is the new school resource officer at Liberty High School. Page 5
Healing With Written Word
Local author publishes first book using life experiences to help others. Page 6
Changes On The Pitch
New Liberty boys’ soccer coach looking to invigorate and build up program. Page 14
see Water page 22
Calendar................................23 Classifieds.............................19 Cop Logs................................20 Education ..............................5 Food........................................12 Milestones..............................8 Opinion..................................11 Adopt a Pet...........................10 Sports.....................................14
Save Mt. Diablo
BART Safety
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‘Discover Diablo’ hike program seeks to build awareness of conservation.
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BART increasing personnel on trains to address concerns about safety, security.