Supervisor Mary Piepho says she feels our pain regarding the congestion on local freeways during rush hour. District 3 extends from Discovery Bay in the east to Alamo and Danville in the west so she and staff members are often caught in rush hour traffic as they travel to their obligations, she told Chamber of Commerce members at their luncheon last week.
“Being the biggest of all five districts in the county creates challenges,” she said. “Trust me when I say we’re part of the community traffic.”
Piepho, a resident of Discovery Bay, was sworn into office as supervisor of District 3 in January, after defeating incumbent Millie Greenberg of Danville in November. She thanked members of the chamber for its endorsement of her candidacy.
“The transition is a lengthy process,” she said, adding that the district is diverse as well as large, with urban and suburban areas as well as agricultural. “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.”
She said a goal of hers is stronger economics throughout the county. “There is lopsided growth in the county,” she said. “We had the same phenomenon in the San Ramon Valley.”
Another objective is to address problems in unincorporated Alamo. She is looking into Alamo forming a Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC), such as runs Diablo.
“It would be one voice for Alamo leaders,” she explained, “appointed or elected.” She noted Alamo problems with traffic in its downtown area and said there needs to be a forum for the community to come together to find solutions.
Other important issues she mentioned were the state budget and its affect on the county; retirement benefits for public employees; the urban limit line; Measure J, the transportation sales tax approved in November; the need to improve water management; and resource allocation.
Piepho is on 24 committees, she said, plus attends the Board of Supervisors meeting every Tuesday. “This really exhausts the time to get out and visit with folks like you,” she said, but emphasized that her staff is available to help in both her Danville and Discovery Bay offices.
Piepho is holding open houses in each office later this month to meet her constituents. The Danville open house is 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, June 29, at 309 Diablo Road. For more information, call 820-8683.
