CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2024
YEAR 36
NO. 37
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
State Ballot Propositions Explained
Art Reception
CV native Lexi Zeigler exhibits her first show this Saturday
By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
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Joketoberfest
Emily Van Dyke to headline Joketoberfest event this Saturday
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A Generational Celebration Santa Maria and continued across to Wilson Avenue and down Redwood Road before returning to the campus in front of the football field. Principal Christopher Fortenberry, Assistant Principal Tracy Fields, Castro Valley High School’s Homecoming last and Redwood Continuation High School Principal week was the school’s annual celebration of its students, who, along with their teachers and parents, Ken Kahn led this year’s parade on motorcycles. made the week memorable for the entire community. “It’s a great day to be out here in the community. More than 400 students marched along with We have very spirited students,” Principal Fortenberry told the Forum. their classroom advisors and parent volunteers. The see HOMECOMING on page 3 procession emerged from the school parking lot on By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Senior Q&A
What are my options to settle a small estate without a full probate?
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INDEX Agents in Action .... 5 Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............ 9 Events .................... 4 Homes ..................... 6 Obituaries ............. 11 Our Town ................. 3 Seniors ................. 10 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
The League of Women Voters (LWV) held a forum at the San Leandro Public Library late last month to help voters understand the 10 state propositions on the November 5 ballot. Marian Handa of the Eden Area chapter of the LWV guided people through the details at the forum. She worked off the league’s printed guide to the proposition’s pros and cons, also available online at CAvotes.org. The audience followed along intently but asked only a few questions. Proposition 36 Perhaps getting the most media attention among the state measures so far is Proposition 36, which rolls back several key provisions of Proposition 47 that was passed by voters in 2014. Prop. 47 made some drug and theft felonies into misdemeanors. This year’s Prop 36 would make them back into felonies when committed by repeat offenders. Supporters of Prop. 36 this year have blamed Prop, 47 for rises in overdose deaths, open drug use, and organized shoplifting. The latter has been blamed for numerous business closures. But voters have rejected earlier attempts to roll back Prop 47. Opponents of this year’s Prop 36. say Prop. 47 has saved taxpayers considerable money on prisons, which had been so overcrowded see BALLOT on page 11
Property Theft Tops Sheriff’s Crime Report Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting, ACSO Sergeant Marcus Cox and Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez How much crime happens shared crime statistics for in Castro Valley? While the town is relatively safe, property 2023 and 2024 up to August. The results are the final stats crimes have increased in the for last year. ACSO reported last few years, according to a report by the Alameda County a slight increase in all categories compared to its January Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) last preliminary report. month. At the September 16 Castro In 2023, ACSO reported By Amy Sylvestri
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
2,640 crimes in Castro Valley. Of that number, 1,469 were categorized as “property crimes,” including robbery, burglary, theft, car theft, vandalism, and stolen property. Some 699 “crimes against society” were reported, which included drugs, animal cruelty, and weapons charges. ACSO also reported 481 “person crimes,” such as homi-
cide, sex offenses, assaults, and property crimes. According to ACSI crime statistics, 2,061 crimes were committed in Castro Valley in 2021. That’s about 600 fewer crimes than the previous 12 months. The difference is the lower number of property crimes, including 385 reports of larceny, 176 reported car thefts, and 94 burglaries.
Homicide rates are very low in Castro Valley. There were two reported in the last year, while only one homicide was reported in 2021. Cox said that “crimes against property,” such as shoplifting and car break-ins, are the most prevalent and that violent crimes are comparatively rare. When violence see CRIME on back page