TUESDAY, AUG. 5
Vol. 27, No. 31
YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS SOURCE | WWW.THEPRESS.NET
August 1, 2025
Environmentalists talk legislative strategy DeSaulnier holds town hall meeting in Oakley
environmental groups, and resource management organizations, including the Diablo Water District, White Pony Express, and the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District. DeSaulnier, a longtime supporter of environmental initiatives and a former member of the California Air Resources Board, recounted the difficulties he and his colleagues have faced since the beginning of the current legislative session. These difficulties intensified after the passage of the ‘big beautiful bill, which he calls the “big ugly bill;” the law contains “lots of cuts to environmental programs, lots of attacks, in [his] belief, on historic environmental protection rules,” he said. DeSaulnier, a liberal Republican turned Democrat mentored by fellow Republican environmentalist John A. Nejedly, also lamented the decline in bipartisanship in the American government. “When the Congress works, like with the U.S. Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, that’s the way we work,” he said. “Right now, we’re not [working], quite
By Connor Robles Correspondent
East Bay officials gathered last weekend to discuss current environmental initiatives, recent achievements in environmental preservation, and the decline of bipartisanship in government, among other topics. U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier held a town hall discussion about the importance of environmental preservation initiatives at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley on July 26. The Congressman, a Democrat representing California’s 10th district, which includes parts of East County, stressed the benefits of environmental initiatives on public health as well as their historical bipartisan support, calling for unity in the face of the Trump administration’s staff changess and cuts to the EPA.
DeSAULNIER East Bay Regional Parks District Director John Mercurio, Contra Costa principal climate and energy planner Demian Hardman-Saldana, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District deputy officer of public affairs Viet Tran also talked to the audience on environmental topics. The town hall meeting was preceded by an outdoor resource fair, featuring local nonprofits,
More changes coming to The Streets of Brentwood work closely with CenterCal’s management and security to ensure a pleasant and safe shopping experience.
magining the heart of Brentwood’s retail and entertainment district. “The City of Brentwood is thrilled that one of the most successful retail developers and owners on the West Coast, CenterCal, has purchased the Streets of Brentwood,” said Brentwood Economic Development Manager Ricardo Noguera.”CenterCal is creating a lively, entertainment-oriented venue where families can visit and
Briefs ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 Calendar ������������������������������������������������������������������������8
”
consider a wide variety of restaurants and shops in an environment where folks will want to spend hours.” Confirmed new businesses coming to The Streets of Brentwood include Handel’s Ice Cream, who according to Noguera, signed a lease and is likely to open at one of the pavilions later this year. see Changes page 18
Press photo
T
he theme of this academic year for LUHSD, as superintendent Denise Rugani explained to hundreds of teachers and staff, is “legacy,” despite facing potential budget cuts from the federal government. See story, page 5.
Classifieds ������������������������������������������������������������������ 15 Milestones ����������������������������������������������������������������� 12
To subscribe, visit www.thepress.net/subscribe AWAR
D MEDAL OL D
THE PRESS AWAR O RE N T WO
B
15 % OFF
D MEDAL OL D
20 20244 REPAIRS 20 20244 OVER $100 G
|
SAVE NOW
THE PRESS D MEDAL Y OA OL AWARD K LE
20 20233
20 20222 FAIRVIEW HEATING & 21 0 20 2 AIR CONDITIONING, INC. 1 MEDAL LD
G
G
THE PRESS OAWARD Y OA K LE
Local News ~ On Demand
Leaving a ‘legacy’
Economic Development Manager Ricardo Noguera
G
Construction has started on the revitalization of one of Brentwood’s main lifestyle and entertainment centers. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 15 to officially commence construction on additions to The Streets of Brentwood at 2455 Sand Creek Road. The event, hosted by Los Angeles-based CenterCal Properties with Brentwood city leaders, project partners, and other stakeholders in attendance, celebrated the launch of what is planned to be multi-phase project aimed at rei-
D
Correspondent
G
By Sean Tongson
Get The Press App!
see Town Hall page 18
“ The Brentwood Police Department will
Focuses include security, growth
Serving East County
frankly, and it’s a struggle,” he added. After DeSaulnier spoke more on his bipartisan credentials, including an award from the Congressional Management Foundation for constituent outreach, Mercurio discussed the East Bay Regional Park District’s climate resilience work. Mercurio’s district holds stewardship over 55 miles of coast, from southern Alameda to Contra Costa, almost all of which is under threat from rising sea levels. “The Park District has incorporated adaptive design into all the projects that we do that are right along the shoreline, including the various wetland restoration projects that we do,” Mercurio said. We’d never forget about the trails, like the Bay Trail; they are factored into the plans as well. We have ways to either raise the trail a bit, or a plan for retreating the trail inland and putting it somewhere else. Depending on how fast it happens, we can react and we can adapt.” Mercurio called Big Break “ground zero”
Service • Repair • Installation
T
PRESS Y A K LE
D MEDAL HE OL D O
AWAR
THE PRESS Y OA K LE
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
|
Pets ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������5 Sports �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10
To advertise, call 634-1441
Couple delivers baby on Balfour
District enforces cellphone policies
Page 3
Page 4