Guest Opinion: The PP measure ensures Pleasanton remains a safe place to live

Submitted by Craig Freeman

I am a fire captain with the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and treasurer of IAFF Local 1974. Although I do not live in Pleasanton, I have provided nine and a half years of service to the community. My brothers and sisters in the LPFD provide essential emergency services around the clock to keep Pleasanton safe.

I urge Pleasanton voters to support Measure PP. This 10-year revenue measure ensures adequate funding for Pleasanton’s emergency police and fire departments.

The city’s general fund also supports financing municipal operating services, recreation and library services, economic development services and municipal housing. Approval of Measure PP is critical to ensuring that Pleasanton remains a safe, functioning and stable community in which to live and do business.

Financial experts have issued stark warnings about Pleasanton’s financial future. City Manager Gerry Beaudin identified a $13 million budget deficit over the next eight years.

The current city manager began his current role with Pleasanton in 2022 and quickly realized there was a complete lack of accurate capital improvement and asset management tracking. City Manager Beaudin quickly implemented an asset management plan that accounts for repair costs for all city-owned assets.

Closing a fire station is a real possibility in the future. The closure and diversion of emergency services will have a disproportionate impact on our community.

LPFD Station #2 in the Stoneridge Mall area, which serves the entire west side of Pleasanton, has been neglected for years and is in need of significant structural improvements. Pleasanton voters need to understand that without the additional revenue from Measure PP, city assets like LPFD Fire Station No. 2 are likely to close.

Some in the community have said the city of Pleasanton is mismanaged and cannot maintain a balanced budget. In fact, the city is required by law to maintain a balanced budget.

An emergency menu of possible city benefit cuts released at the City Council meeting on May 21 of this year indicates $8.85 million in future benefit cuts across all city departments if the city fails to increase revenue. These future budget cuts will be profound and damaging to the community.

These cuts include the elimination of the city-funded school intersection enforcement program, reductions in police services to eliminate school resource officers and K9 programs, a reduction in the number of service days at the Pleasanton Library, and a reduction in the road and street enforcement budget Sidewalk safety. Cuts like these will negatively impact public safety in Pleasanton and the community’s overall quality of life.

Opponents of the PP measure are quick to tell the community that voters should not trust this current city council and mayor. Yet it was the same City Council and mayor who all moved quickly to approve $2.5 million in spending cuts to the current operating budget, eliminate $18 million in infrastructure projects and order City Manager Beaudin to continue following suit Find savings opportunities in the city organization.

The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department has always had a “do more with less” attitude. If the PP measure does not pass, the LPFD, and by extension the City of Pleasanton, will be left with only one option: “Do less with less.” The PP measure ensures that Pleasanton remains a safe place to live. Vote “yes” for PP!

Editor’s Note: Craig Freeman works as a fire captain for the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, serves as treasurer for the International Association of Firefighters Local 1974, and supports the Yes on PP campaign. Protect Pleasanton’s Future Supportive Measure PP 2024.

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