November 25 is the deadline to submit to the Bay Area Air District comments on its Draft Guidelines that will govern use of $60 million in Valero fines for the benefit of Benicia and surrounding communities.  (Valero was penalized because of its refinery’s over 15 years of undisclosed, massive toxic emissions.) More specifically, now’s the time to back Mayor Steve Young’s proposal to the Air District: $25 million over five years from that $60 million should go for budget support to help Benicia through the imminent loss of Valero revenues (at about $10 million per year, so totaling $50 million over five years), now that it’s closing the refinery.

The Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast spoke at Community Congregational Church on Sunday, October 26, at 4:00 pm on the topic of Christian Nationalism, its roots and impact. After the event, she wrote: You can watch the full hour-long presentation at Christian Nationalism.102625 or the highlights version at Christian Nationalism highlights.102625 .Many thanks to Constance Beutel for the editing and the headings.

Daylight Savings Change! 4PM-5PM Benicia Protest is Alive in the Light! Vigil For Democracy - Citizen opposition to Trump's authoritarian takeover continues... November in Benicia is under a mantle of darkness by 5pm, so we're gathering an hour earlier beginning this week! Thursdays at 4pm... Longtime Benicia organizer-activist Susan Street is calling all of us to assemble for our every Thursday night vigil, …

Super Important public meeting TOMORROW, Wed. 11/12 at Benicia City Hall or in San Francisco or online. Please attend! By Stephen Golub, Benicia, Nov 11, 2025 An upcoming November 12 Bay Area Air District meeting is vitally important for Benicia … and the City has made participation easy. At 1 pm that day, the Bay Area Air District Community Equity, Health, and Justice Committee will meet  to consider and recommend whether the Air District should adopt guidelines and a call for projects that, if not revised from their current draft forms, could severely hamper or even block the city’s access to up to $60 million in funds that could alleviate our imminent, post-Valero budget crunch.

Environmentalists are questioning the accuracy of data reported by the refineries as the Bay Area Air District prepares to revise its regulations. The Vallejo Sun, by Gretchen Smail, Oct 23, 2025 BENICIA – Local air monitoring groups are questioning emissions data at local Bay Area refineries and asking the Bay Area Air District to more strictly regulate refineries by revising their rules around how they track and report emissions.

Over 9300 Benicians voted, 70.3% in favor of Prop 50. By Roger Straw, November 08, 2025 The Solano County Registrar of Voters posted new vote totals at 5:00 PM on November 7, giving details for UNOFFICIAL results on our November 4 election. Here are results from Benicia's 8 precincts. Why unofficial? - note that Countywide as of 5PM on 11/07, about 4,250 ballots were still to be processed.)

Perfect sign and symbol of MAGA disregard for democracy and the rule of law The Straits Times, October 25, 2025 Summary Donald Trump initiated the demolition of the White House East Wing to construct a US$300 million ballroom, funded by private donors, bypassing traditional congressional oversight. Historians and preservationists criticised the move, viewing it as emblematic of Mr Trump's disregard for national norms and prioritisation of personal legacy-building, like a "Trump Tower".

Gerrymander California? By Larnie Fox, October 17, 2025 My opinion is that having Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans in charge is a very, very bad thing for our country and our world. If you agree with me on that, then I hope you will also agree with me on this: Vote FOR prop 50. Support it with your work, dollars, yard signs, etc.

REMINDER - THIS COMING SUNDAY, OCT 26, 4 PM The Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast will speak at Community Congregational Church on Sunday, October 26, at 4:00 pm on the topic of Christian Nationalism, its roots and impact. She states, “In the late 1970’s a movement began to emerge in the U.S. that we now recognize as Christian Nationalism. ‘Christian Nationalism’ is not simply being Christian and being American.

INDIVISIBLE: NEIGHBOR2NEIGHBOR Friends – Every king needs his lackeys, and our wannabe king wants to redraw congressional district lines to install his loyal subjects in Congress — givi…

EXHILERATING!  OVER 2000 GATHER TO OPPOSE AUTHORITARIAN RULE! It was festive and encouraging, but we're not done yet. The danger is real, and we're in it for the long haul. We will lift every voice in the struggle to save our Democracy - we will continue the momentum! For those who were there - here are some delicious memories. And if you missed this one - see you next time!

SEE YOU TOMORROW! Sat Oct 18 in Benicia, Vallejo and more... (Scroll down for locations & times...) In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

The Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast will speak at Community Congregational Church on Sunday, October 26, at 4:00 pm on the topic of Christian Nationalism, its roots and impact. She states, “In the late 1970’s a movement began to emerge in the U.S. that we now recognize as Christian Nationalism. ‘Christian Nationalism’ is not simply being Christian and being American. It is the fusion of one particular take on Christianity with a vision of the United States as the birthright of the descendants of white Christian European settlers.

Vote for America and Benicia By Stephen Golub, first appearing in The Benicia Herald, Oct 5, 2025 Vote for Prop 50, Vote for Prop 218, Vote for America and Benicia This Election Day, and via mail balloting before then, Benicians have a chance to help our democracy survive and our parks thrive. I urge you to vote for California Proposition 50 and Benicia Proposition 218.

Important for public to easily find current safe recommendations on vaccines First note that today's new CDC vaccination guidelines are based on misinformation and poor science. Second, know that our four West Coast states, California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii formed a WEST COAST HEALTH ALLIANCE (WCHA) which will offer clearer, safer guidelines based on real science. Then note that the West Coast Health Alliance was announced over a month ago, but still seems to have no website.

This guy says it! John Fugelsang says it perfectly. Way better than I could ever say it. A 6-minute interview - yes!! ..........................................- Roger Straw, The BenIndy Many thanks to Ali Velshi and MSNBC for airing this important interview.

BACKGROUND (by BenIndy Editor): On October 1, City Councilmember Terry Scott distributed without comment a link to a website, “Moving Benicia Forward, at The front page invitation there reads, “We invite you to share your thoughts” and offers visitors to click on “Share Feedback.” This goes to a page with information about Signature Development Group, which is under contract with Valero “to evaluate redevelopment opportunities for the Benicia refinery property.” The page also offers a blank box for “FEEDBACK - Share your thoughts about the potential redevelopment.”

Mark your calendar, Sat Oct 18 in Vallejo... (Scroll down for more locations & times...) Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible is holding a second No Kings Day of Action on Saturday, Oct. 18 starting at 10 am at Unity Plaza, John F. Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara St. in Vallejo. The event will include inspiring local speakers and live music as well as songs from our Resistance DJ.

Reuters, By Erwin Seba, Shivani Tanna, Nicole Jao & Shariq Khan, 10/3/25 .......SUMMARY No injuries reported from explosion, fire Chevron said the fire had been put out Blaze could affect jet fuel supply to LAX, southern California No evacuations ordered due to fire Oct 3 (Reuters) - Chevron's (CVX.N), opens new tab 285,000-barrel-per-day El Segundo refinery in southern California had taken multiple units offline on Friday after a large fire erupted in a jet fuel production unit, disrupting supply in the Golden State's isolated energy market.

Message to all Benicia Voters From an email by Benician Pat Toth-Smith, with permission Hi all,the polls are showing it's razor thin close. Below is some information to share about Prop 50 the ELECTION RIGGING RESPONSE ACT. Please help where you can, canvassing , donations, phone banking.  Thx, Pat More Information at: stopelectionrigging.com To Volunteer: Information from CaDem Communications Committee:

'The directive has sparked alarm from nonprofits and other critics of the administration, who believe it is a form of retribution against those who have funded left-wing groups...' Newsweek, By Andrew Stanton, September 30, 2025 More than 3,000 nonprofit organizations from across the country have signed onto an open letter first shared with Newsweek rebuking President Donald Trump's directive targeting groups accused of supporting “organized political violence."

Investing in our Community’s future From his email with permission, by Terry Scott, Benicia City Councilmember, Aug 17, 2025 Ballots are out or coming soon to your mailbox. Hopefully you’ve read the city’s material defining it. Plus, the social media platforms are certainly a buzz with commentary. Let me start out by saying we can’t change the past. We can try and fix today, but it is this City Council’s responsibility to make the hard decisions that shape the City’s long-term future.

'Canadians are the among the nicest and most polite people on the planet. Americans are blessed to have them as neighbors.' Strolling several years ago in Vancouver, Canada, I inadvertently crossed the street in front of a car after my light turned red but before the vehicle began moving. If you do this in San Francisco, the driver might toot and shout at you.

Mark your calendar, Sat Oct 18 in Benicia, Vallejo and more… (Scroll down for locations & times…) In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. Our peaceful movement is only gett…

Now Available: Thom Hartmann's latest book My new book hit the stores today; I promise you'll find it interesting and useful... Thom Hartmann, Sep 23, 2025 If you care about the future of our country, you need to read this book. The Last American President is not just another political analysis: it’s a wake-up call. I wrote this book because we’re at the most critical time for democracy in America since the Civil War.