Karla
In the News
Pleasanton Voters Endorses Karla Brown For Mayor - Pleasanton, CA - The grassroots voting group also endorsed Nancy Allen and Valerie Arkin for Pleasanton City Council.
Pleasanton Patch - September 22, 2020
Karla Helps Pleasanton Small Business Owners
Supporting small local businesses is key to our recovery, especially in our Downtown. In April city staff recommended allocating $3M for a Business Support fund for small businesses. Only $177,000 was allocated due to the low amount of the loan at only $2,500. Both Council member Testa and I urged the council majority to double the $2,500 to $5,000 for downtown businesses due to their high rents and expenses. The others only approved a few hundred dollars to allow downtown businesses a meager $2,900 for a loan that spans 2 years interest free.
After political pressure and very few applications for funds, at our August 18 meeting, the project was finally one that I could whole heartedly support. On a 5:0 vote, the whole Pleasanton City Council approved an update to the City’s Business Support Fund program which provides zero-interest, short term loans to independently or locally-owned Pleasanton businesses, with an approved special loan amount for Downtown businesses, that have been adversely affected due to COVID-19. Loan amounts have been increased from the previous $2,500 ($2,900 in downtown) and loans will be allowed a maximum amortization of 3 years, with repayment starting on the first day of the month after the COVID-19 local emergency declaration is lifted.
Businesses are eligible for total loan amounts (including earlier disbursements) as follows:
$10,000 loan amount ($10,800 in downtown) for micro-enterprise businesses employing 2-10 employees
$20,000 loan amount ($21,600 in downtown) for businesses employing 11-25 employees
The Extended Day Child Care Center (EDCC) located at Walnut Grove Elementary School and all the Dublin Unified elementary schools is pleased to announce the support from the City of Pleasanton Economic Development Covid-19 Interest-free Loan Program. EDCC/Walnut Grove was given a $20,000 interest-free loan to assist with all the additional PPE supplies, additional janitorial services, and new HEPA air filters as part of our health and safety protocol at our centers. This special support was brought to EDCC’s attention by City Councilwoman, Karla Brown (who is running for Mayor). Karla is a longtime supporter of high-quality child care and services for working parents. EDCC is most grateful for the City’s assistance.
Councilwoman Karla Brown running for mayor of Pleasanton
Pleasanton City Councilwoman Karla Brown, who is terming out of her current position this year, announced on Sunday that she will be running for the mayor's seat in November. Read More….
Pleasanton Weekly - June 14, 2020
Quote referring to how Pleasanton is considering new ways to bring business to their downtown regions, post COVID 19:
““Council member Karla Brown noted she would ask for 100% participation, make the street closure an opportunity for all businesses from city hall to the historic Pleasanton Hotel. It would possibly run two or three days a week on a temporary basis. ‘I am excited about the idea that we could expand our downtown businesses onto Main Street by blocking off the street for vehicle traffic and use that to safely eat and dine and shop downtown’ Brown said.””
Quote referring to a Historic downtown Pleasanton home demolished without a permit:
““’Until recently. Pleasanton residents and visitors treasured 93 historic resource homes. That number is down to only 92 homes,’ Vice Mayor Karla Brown told the Weekly on Monday.
‘I am deeply saddened by the loss of a treasured historic home at 4371 Second St. in downtown Pleasanton,’ Brown added. ‘The City Council and staff will need to determine the appropriate penalty for destroying a protected home, that has been completely destroyed and removed from the site.’””
Quote referring to protecting Pleasanton youth from flavored tobacco and vaping products. Brown proposed a City-Wide ban on both products above. When questioned about the penalties for retailers of tobacco products that violate the city-wide ban:
““Besides the ban on flavored tobacco sales and any e-cigarette products, council also prohibited new tobacco sales from within 1,000 feet of any schools, parks and recreation areas.
The council also delegated the city manager to come up with a tobacco retailer licensing program.
“Absolutely, make it strict. Put some teeth in it,” Councilwoman Karla Brown said.””
At Workday, Inc.® grand opening ceremony, Karla Brown, Vice Mayor 2019 gave a speech to the crowd in support of the partnership between the City of Pleasanton, BART and Workday’s leadership team:
“speaker, Pleasanton Vice Mayor Karla Brown, also praised Workday for its efforts in creating “this incredible partnership” with the city and BART.
”It goes without saying that we have developed a strong, quality partnership,” she said.
”
At the Ribbon Cutting for the launch of Wheels/LAVTA’s new shared autonomous (driver-less) vehicle. Karla Brown spoke as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the press event:
““The results of autonomous vehicle technology will be less congestion, less pollution and greater safety on our roadways,” said Karla Brown, a Pleasanton councilwoman and chair of the LAVTA board. “Testing of autonomous vehicles is expected to take two to three years and will be proven by more than 100 different testing scenarios here in the city of Dublin.”
Brown said the models are based off the ones currently being tested in Bishop Ranch in San Ramon, which have a maximum speed of 30 mph but will typically operate at a speed closer to 10-12 mph, and are capable of “communicating” with stop lights.
”
Pleasanton working with BART to allow temporary usage of the Stoneridge Parking areas:
“BART passengers had been using the Stoneridge Mall lot across from BART when they could not find a parking place in the BART parking structure on Stoneridge Mall Road, the ring road around the mall.
However, in May, commuters found posts and chains blocking the way into all of the driveway lanes going into mall parking. The chains were hooked up every night after store hours; then removed after 9:30 a.m. the next day. More parking becomes available in the BART structure after 10 a.m.
Pleasanton residents communicated with vice-mayor Karla Brown, who forwarded their e-mails to the BART board.
The short-term result was removal of the chain barriers in much of the mall’s huge lot.
”
Regarding the number of stories and building heights in historic Downtown Pleasanton, there was a 3:1:1 vote with Brown voting NO to the new higher buildings in the downtown commercial core:
““That area previously had been zoned to allow buildings up to 40 feet tall for “public and institutional uses” such as libraries and parking garages. The proposed specific plan would allow buildings up to 46 feet tall or three stories there.
Councilwoman Julie Testa and Vice Mayor Karla Brown objected to the change to 46 feet at a previous meeting at a previous meeting, but Testa may have to abstain from Tuesday’s discussion because she lives close enough to downtown to possibly have a conflict of interest.”
”
News Articles and Videos
Pleasanton Weekly (May 18, 2020) - Federal officials give green light again to self-driving shuttles in Dublin
Pleasanton Weekly (June 26, 2018) - Local BART station celebrates first autonomous vehicle
Independent (Sept 29, 2016) - Pleasanton City Council: Karla Brown
ABC 7 news (June 1, 2015) - Pleasanton questions building boom in midst of drought
Mass Transit Magazine (July 9, 2018) - Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority Celebrates Launch of Autonomous Vehicle Testing
CBS San Francisco Bay Area (Aug 18, 2019) - Pleasanton Considers Allowing Taller Buildings Near Main Street
Pleasanton City Council Meeting (Sept 3, 2019) - Karla Brown