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Asset inventory by city
Pleasanton’s inventory assessment was a good idea. One aspect of managing assets is to determine value relative to replacement need/costs.
Included in this analysis was a review of the fleet of vehicles. Since safety is a preeminent concern, the fleet of police/fire vehicles should be addressed first. The remaining fleet should be assessed in accordance with projected budget shortfalls — not just for this year but extending into the future.
The question must be asked; in light of Pleasanton’s current reduction/consolidation of public services (weed abatement, mosquito control, street cleaning, park maintenance, road repair, outsourcing of tree/lawn care, etc.) are all of the maintenance trucks driving around town with a single occupant really necessary?
Where are they going? Could a crew of workers be driven to a job site and dropped off/picked up rather than having a vehicle for each employee?
I sense that some cost reduction could be made in this area — specifically in fuel costs and vehicle wear and tear.
– Jon James
Nonprofit disorganization
I am writing as a Pleasanton resident and long-term supporter of local causes to raise a concern that I believe deserves public attention.
Many nonprofits in our area work hard to serve the community, but too often their operations are marked by a level of disorganization that undermines the public trust and discourages donors.
Recently, I mailed a $1,000 donation to a local nonprofit. According to the U.S. Postal Service, delivery was attempted on Dec. 3, but the organization had no authorized recipient available to accept it. A second attempt failed for the same reason. On Dec. 27, the check was returned to me as “undeliverable”.
It is difficult to understand how any organization — especially one actively soliciting donations — can be so unprepared to receive its own mail.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated experience. I also have over $600 in donations to other nonprofits, written four and five years ago, that never deposited. These groups were eager to ask for support yet not organized enough to process the contributions they received.
Pleasanton is a community that values professionalism, accountability and responsible stewardship — qualities we expect from our public institutions, our businesses and our nonprofits alike. When organizations fail to meet basic operational standards, it erodes confidence and harms the very mission they claim to champion.
I hope that by bringing this issue to light, nonprofits in our area will take a closer look at their internal practices and make the improvement necessary to honor the trust that donors place on them.
– Michael Austin
Venezuela
No, no, no, no — this can’t be happening, this shouldn’t be happening, and yet here we are.
Our elected president, following a run of over 30 strikes on boats in South American waters that were allegedly carrying drugs and have killed at least 115 people, has moved forward on his this-was-my-plan-for-regime-change-all-along with a large scale attack on Venezuela resulting in the removal of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
To paraphrase historian Heather Cox Richardson, “this is a very, very, very, big deal,” and it’s only the beginning. Since the strike on Saturday, Trump has identified Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Greenland and Iran as potential targets for take over by the United States.
You read that right; five more countries are on his hit list.
So what comes next? More world leaders being abducted? Boots on the ground in the identified countries? Nuclear war? All of these are in the realm of possibility with this whack job. If ever there was a time to move forward with impeachment, for the third time no less, this is that time.
Trump is ignoring Congress, and Congress must send the message that it stands for the Constitution and the rule of law.
– Ward Kanowsky
Gratitude to the Pleasanton community
Pleasanton Nursing and Rehab Center would like to thank our Pleasanton community for their support.
Our families and friends who visit regularly. Our church families, St. Augustine’s with Dominic Wong; Presbyterian Fellowship, with Betty Gail Hunt; Lighthouse Baptist Church with Pastor Bill Bryson. Our medical director Dr. Raafat Zamary and all the visiting doctors for their special care for our residents.
Our nurses, CNAs and RNAs, who never fail our residents’ needs. Our pharmacy, lab and X-ray techs for their team effort.
Our transport services Wheels, Angelica and Royal Ambulance for taking our residents to appointments and returning them safely. A special thank you to Royal Ambulance for the fresh wreaths for our front doors.
Our delivery services USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon for bringing our residents their deliveries.
Our entertainers who share their talents with our residents and families, and staff. Our own bookkeeper Rexella, who plays the piano for our residents on a regular basis.
Our Dietary Department, who cook with love. Our Housekeeping, Laundry and Maintenance Department, who keep our facility clean and well-maintained.
I would be remiss for not mentioning the behind-the-scenes personnel. It takes a village to run our facility. Our Infection Control Nurse, our Social Services Dept., Clinical Care Coordinators, MDS Coordinators, Medical Records Dept., Employee Services / AP Dept., our Unit Secretary, Admissions Dept., Staff Developer Dept., Director of Customer Service, Business Office Dept. and Central Supply / Scheduler.
Finally to our Administrator Ed Johnson, who always takes care of all of us. A kind, fair and generous man we all admire and love.
– Linda DeGennaro, receptionist, PNRC
