D.A. Pamela Price facing recall

Will the recall of a progressive district attorney that we saw in San Francisco repeat here in Alameda County?

Voters will answer that question sometime this year after the county registrar of voters confirmed recall proponents had gathered enough signatures to put the question of recalling Pamela Price on the ballot. After a three-hour public hearing this week, the Board of Supervisors deferred the decision about whether to call a special election or consolidate the recall with the crowded November ballot.

The special election will cost the country between $15-20 million, thus the registrar’s recommendation to consolidate it—the timing could also be dicey with a late summer election. Obviously, the stand-alone election will focus attention on the recall, while the general election ballot—headlined by the presidential race, a senatorial race, plus other federal, county and local races to say nothing of ballot measures, will make it a down-ballot contest that will be easy to overlook.

Suffice it to say that neither side was pleased with the delay this week  although there was concern among the supervisors about how their newly adopted recall rules (from the March primary) would apply.

It should be noted, that in my opinion, Price is pursuing the progressive policies (no bail, rare enhanced charges, limiting jail time in favor of diversion, that she advocated during her campaign). She also was notably unqualified to run a large department, having operated her own tiny law firm.

Last month, her office announced a troubling finding. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, hearing an appeal of a death penalty case for Ernest Dykes from 30 years ago, directed a re-examination of 35 death penalty cases. Dykes contended he did not receive a fair trial. One of Price’s staff members found hand-written notes by prosecutors that indicated they may have systematically excluded Black women and Jewish people from the jury pool. She shared the finding with the judge and the defense.

It will be a painstaking process that will take plenty of time. Price said it could involve cases from as long ago as 1977.

It’s rare these days to find multi-generational businesses. The Livermore Valley and its wine country have benefited greatly from the Wente Family’s stewardship of its vineyard, winery and cattle operations since 1883. The fourth generation just took over the leadership when Christine Wente was named chairwoman of the board, succeeding her aunt, Carolyn Wente, in that role. Christine is the daughter of Eric and Ariel Wente whose son, Karl, is the chief operating office and winemaker at Wente.

Needing service on our Toyota Tacoma this week, I turned to Precision Auto Repair on Wyoming Drive in Pleasanton. It was founded in 1979 by Bob Edgren, the grandson of John Edgren who came to Pleasanton to establish the Chrysler-Dodge dealership at the south end of Main Street (where Vic’s All Star Kitchen operates today) before we arrived in town in 1958. I believe my parents bought cars from Edgren in the 1960s.

Today, the fourth generation, Tyler, works in the shop with the technicians while John Jr., the 78-year-old son (and 1963 graduate from Amador Valley High), serves clients while driving the morning shuttle. John and I had a good conversation driving to my house Wednesday morning as we worked our way through the heavy school and commute traffic downtown.

Great to deal with multi-generational, family-owned businesses.