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More than 42 million expected to travel for Memorial Day A3

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DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read. Solano Votes

Third Dem joins race for Dodd’s Senate seat Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Rohnert Park Councilwoman Jackie Elward has announced her campaign for the 3rd District state Senate seat. “I’m running for state Senate because our region needs a champion for the people in the state Senate, someone who is ready to be a voice for ELWARD everyone in our district,” Elward said in a statement. “As a city councilwoman and former mayor of Rohnert Park, I have found ways to bring the community together around affordable housing, solutions to help the unhoused, and investments in transportation, sustainable agriculture, and our clean energy

future. This is the kind of experience we need in Sacramento,” she added. The seat is currently held by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, who terms out in 2024. Elward was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was the first Black woman to be elected in Rohnert Park. She and her husband, John, a fellow labor organizer, live in Rohnert Park with their three children. Elward is the third Democrat to announce. The others are Rozzana Verder-Aliga, a Vallejo councilwoman, and former West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon. The primary is set for March. The general election is in November 2024.

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Construction equipment is set up along Lopes Road overlooking Interstate 680 in Fairfield, Tuesday.

Storm-damaged road work progressing CANTELOW, LOPES STILL CLOSED

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/TNS file

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden meet with other lawmakers in the Oval Office of the White House, May 9.

Biden, McCarthy voice cautious optimism on debt deal after talks Tribune Content Agency WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and congressional leaders said they were optimistic a bipartisan deal to raise the debt ceiling could be possible within days even as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy warned the two sides remained far apart after a meeting Tuesday at the White House. The meeting yielded agreement on a new system for staff-level negotiations, and lawmakers from both parties said they hoped to avert an unprecedented U.S. default during the hourlong Oval Office meeting. “There was an overwhelming consensus, I think, among the congressional leaders that

defaulting on the debt is simply not an option,” Biden said in remarks following the meeting. But the president cautioned, “There’s still work to do.” Biden also announced he had scrapped plans to visit Australia and Papua New Guinea following his travel Wednesday to Japan, so that the president can return to Washington in hopes of closing a deal. Biden said he plans to “speak regularly” with congressional leaders while in Hiroshima for the Group of Seven leaders summit, and meet with the group again upon his return. In the interim, senior White House adviser Steve Ricchetti and See Debt, Page A9

FAIRFIELD — Lopes Road in Fairfield remains closed and it is unknown when it might reopen. “Right now the emphasis is making sure (Benicia’s) ... water supply is restored,” said Mike Hether, assistant Public Works director for Fairfield. “Our role is to make sure they can do their work.” That work is putting in two more 12-inch water lines to bring water supplies to the city back to full capacity. The residents and businesses have been under a mandated 20% conservation order. The city’s main 36-inch water line, constructed in the 1960s, was damaged when Lopes Road failed on March 21. The failure

was caused by water from the hillside seeping under the pavement and moving it several feet toward Interstate 680. Benicia, under a 40% conservation order, was forced to pull water from Lake Herman until the first two 12-inch lines were installed. Valero is still getting its water from the lake, the city reported. When the Benicia work is completed, possibly by the end of the week, Hether said the city will have geo-tech specialists come in to assess the hillside and determine what the city needs to do to stabilize the area and begin repairing Lopes Road. Hether said there is no timeline for when that work will be done. Benicia is also trying to decide whether to repair the existing and

aged main line, or to put in a new one – a project that will cost millions to complete, city officials have reported. The problems with Lopes Road, closed between Gold Hill and Marshview roads, also created problems for I-680, and the state Department of Transportation continues to work on those issues. Meanwhile, the county continues to work to get Cantelow Road, between Steiger Hills and Pleasants Valley roads, open sometime in June. That is a critical deadline, Matt Tuggle, the county engineering manager, said in a phone interview, because of the looming fire season and the need to have the See Road, Page A9

Fairfield council approves 5-year assessment level for downtown LLMD Rancho Solano residents speak out on earlier vote Amy Maginnis-Honey

AMAGINNIS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Following a few kudos to councilman Scott Tonnesen for his work with the downtown business district Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District, the council unanimously, gave its blessing to a five-year assessment levy schedule for the district. The city owns

17 assessable parcels in the district. It will continue to contribute 11.04% of the landscaping budget and 11.59% of the lighting budget for general benefits conferred upon the general public. On May 2, property owners voiced their concerns regarding the significant increase in assessments. After public comment and staff discussion, the

council directed staff to return with a plan to “phase in” the new assessment district levies over a five-year period. A portion of the proposed district budget includes dedicated funding for the repair and replacement of future capital and streetscape improvements on Texas Street, which are currently planned for completion by fiscal

year 2025-26. Since funding for the repair and replacement reserves for these improvements is not immediately required, the collection of assessments for these improvements can be delayed. Additionally, funding for certain nonessential services, like regular power washing of sidewalks and tree lighting, is also delayed. See Council, Page A9

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