Opinions
by Around Dublin Team on November 14, 2011 | 
10 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues · Opinions · Schools
No other city in the Tri-Valley can illustrate the widening wealth gap between the old and the young better than Dublin, CA. According to DQNews.com, the median home price in the All-America City of Dublin plummeted by over 26% in the past year. Out of 64 transactions, the median home sale price for September 2011 was $410,500 compared to a median of $555,000 just one year ago in September 2010. This drop includes all new and existing single family homes and condos.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on November 12, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements · Local Issues · Opinions
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare (NCPSSM) has endorsed Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) for his continued leadership and advocacy for quality, affordable health care and to protect the retirement of working Americans. NCPSSM President/CEO Max Richtman hailed Stark’s record as Chair and Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and his efforts to preserve Medicare and Social Security throughout his career. “Our nation needs Congressman Stark’s continued leadership, vision, and determination to fight for working families and older Americans,” said NCPSSM President Richtman. “He earned the endorsement of the National Committee because he understands and supports the critical roles that Medicare and Social Security play in the health and retirement security of our nation’s older citizens and their families.”
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on November 11, 2011 | 2 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Restaurants · Things To Do
Dublin, CA and the rest of the Tri-Valley are known to have great communities for raising families, but the Tri-Valley also has many phenomenal hot spots for singles. Chain restaurants Black Angus Steakhouse and Applebee’s at Hacienda Crossings are teeming with singles looking for great deals on drinks and appetizers during happy hour. Fully stocked bars, chic menu offerings, and respectable yet exotic vibes that arouse the senses, Coco Cabana in The Shops at Waterford is a terrific hangout for singles 35 and older. “The atmosphere was very trendy. Definitely one of the nicer, sexier, spots in the area to have drinks. Staff was very friendly, my waiter had a spicy accent. Ladies night should start here during Happy Hour,” wrote Yelper Charlene K. from San Francisco about Coco Cabana.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on November 9, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions
The U.S. government recently reported that that nation’s employers added a modest 80,000 jobs in October. The Country’s jobless rate now stands at 9%. Given the beating the U.S. job market has sustained over the past decade, everyone in and around Dublin, CA has felt the impact in one way or another. As the economy continues to struggle, few in the Tri-Valley can claim that they do not know of anyone who is either unemployed or underemployed. Unfortunately for the long-term unemployed, studies have shown that the chance of returning to work after six months of unemployment is only about 50%.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on November 8, 2011 | 18 Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions
Bank customers in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, and the rest of the United States are fed up and have had enough. The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back was the recent announcement by big banks like Bank of America to collect additional fees from millions of their debit-card users. Although these banks have backed away from the proposed fee hikes as quickly as Netflix had abandoned the ill-conceived Qwikster service, the anger many of their customers feel continues to rage.
When the new banking regulation took effect October 1st, merchants had expected to accrue some cost savings on debit card transactions, which cost less than credit card transactions. Large banks have long warned that they not going to absorb the loss from the reduced fees, which were estimated to be about $6.6B in annual revenue. To make up the difference, the big banks hinted that they may have to get their pound of flesh from the consumers.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on November 7, 2011 | 11 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Local Issues · Opinions · Schools
The elected officials for the City of Dublin and Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) have been fantasizing about the possibility of a voter-approved 4.75% utility user tax on the November 2012 ballot. Dublin’s 4.75% utility user tax could be imposed on all electricity, gas, water, sewer, telephone, sanitation, and cable bills, which have all gone up in recent years for all Dublin residents. If approved, the tax could raise up to $4M per year for five years with a yet undetermined allocation between City Hall and Dublin’s schools. Although only a simple majority of voters is needed, gaining approval for the tax is far from a sure thing. A recent survey of 400 residents indicated that only 54% of likely voters would be willing to vote for the joint tax.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on November 6, 2011 | No Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions · Profiles
As California’s court system becomes overwhelmed by the ever increasing case load, the Golden State is forced to scale back on delivering justice in order to balance the budget. The Alameda County Court system recently slashed services at the Pleasanton courthouse. Pleasanton’s courthouse cutbacks are part of a dramatic state-wide contraction that is set to worsen in the coming years. The San Joaquin County has arguably experienced the most dramatic cutback in services where its entire small claims court division has been completely gutted. In response to the clear sense of urgency confronting the justice process, Dublin resident and attorney Jonathan Van Ee has designed a solution to expand justice in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties dramatically while simultaneously cutting costs.
“Not only can mobile devices bring videos to you, they can also put justice in your hands,” said Van Ee. “Expanding the court system with technology is critical for Alameda and Contra Costa County residents because budgetary pressures are forcing dramatic cutbacks – those counties can no longer provide the same level of services with the traditional courthouse infrastructure.”
Continue Reading
by Jimmy Huang on November 3, 2011 | 5 Comments | Topics: Opinions · Schools
Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) has gone to great lengths to fight Tassajara Prep at the expense of the kids. On the one hand, DUSD claims that nobody wants Tassajara Prep and that it will not succeed. On the other hand, the tremendous time, effort, and taxpayer dollars the District has put into fighting Tassajara Prep shows that it clearly expects Tassajara Prep to become an outstanding high school that will attract many students. Just how will Tassajara Prep be different from Dublin High?
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on October 26, 2011 | 1 Comment | Topics: Opinions · Schools
According to a recent community survey conducted by the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD), students in Dublin, CA set high expectations for themselves and are supported by families that place a high value on their success in school. A little over 2,000 of out of the 6,700 students currently served by DUSD participated in the survey. DUSD also collected feedback from close to 360 parents in the same study. Not all schools participated in the survey, and students in kindergarten through third grade did not take part.
Along with the positive findings, the survey also highlighted two troubling spots for the District. School safety is a big concern for many students in Dublin. Based on survey responses, 22% of Dublin’s fourth and fifth grade students, as well as 31% of middle school students, do not feel safe at school. “Do we wonder why the rest don’t,” asked DUSD Board Trustee Greg Tomlinson. “I just don’t know what to do with this.”
Continue Reading
