Larry Altman
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Freelance writer. Former Daily Breeze crime & court reporter; 2006 SPJ Distinguished Journalist. CSUN grad.
Articles by Larry Altman
Livermore Council Votes To Increase Sewer Fees
LIVERMORE — The Livermore City Council on Monday voted 5-0 to raise wastewater service charges in the city by 4% in each of the next five years. The increase for using and maintaining the city’s sewers means residential customers will pay about $3 more a month beginning July 1, officials said. “Everybody is using the wastewater system,” Mayor John Marchand said. “It’s important that those who benefit from that system pay for the system.
Wellpath To Pay $2.5 Million for Death of Jail Inmate Who Was Ignored in His Cell
DUBLIN — The healthcare provider at Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail has agreed to pay $2.5 million to the children of a man who died after being ignored in his cell for days. Wellpath’s settlement with the family of 45-year-old Maurice Monk — pronounced dead on the floor outside his cell in 2021 — comes as the county Board of Supervisors faces increased pressure to not renew the company’s contract when it expires in 2027.
Pleasanton, Alameda County Included on President’s List of ‘Sanctuary Jurisdictions’
PLEASANTON — Pleasanton this week discovered itself on a list of about 500 cities nationwide as “sanctuary jurisdictions” published by the Trump administration. Officials in Pleasanton aren’t sure why. “The city has taken no formal action to become a sanctuary city,” city spokesperson Heather Tiernan said.
Tri-Valley State Legislators Focus on AI Protections
TRI-VALLEY — Two Tri-Valley state legislators are pushing legislation aimed at Artificial Intelligence (AI), an expanding field where decision-making technology is increasingly entering our lives, creating safety concerns in the workplace and online. State Sen.
County Hears Strong Criticism of its Jail Healthcare Provider
DUBLIN — More than two dozen Alameda County residents on May 16 again called for the Board of Supervisors to forego renewing its contract with the for-profit company Wellpath, a controversial firm that provides medical care in the Santa Rita Jail.
Livermore Council Expects Additional Strong Budgets
LIVERMORE — Although challenged by rising costs, Livermore’s City Council is considering two years of balanced budgets with an overall healthy financial outlook, City Manager Marianna Burch reported this week. The council met Monday, May 20 to discuss the staff-prepared operating budgets of about $158 million for fiscal year 2025-2026, and nearly $165 million for fiscal year 2026-2027.
Swalwell Pledges During Town Hall to Continue the Battle
LIVERMORE — About 700 people filled Livermore High School’s gym bleachers May 8 for a town hall with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who vowed to remain a strong voice for the opposition in Washington while President Donald Trump is in office. “We’re going to get through this, and we’re going to get out of this,” Swalwell told the audience just more than 100 days into Trump’s second term.
McNerney, Bonta Host Virtual Meeting to Educate Immigrants on Current Threats
TRI-VALLEY — Tri-Valley State Sen. Jerry McNerney held a virtual town hall meeting May 7 to help immigrants deal with “significant fear and anxiety” resulting from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) stepped-up efforts to deport non-citizens.
Livermore City Council Approves Trash-Fee Decrease
LIVERMORE — In a move the mayor called “quite remarkable,” the City Council on Monday took the unusual step of decreasing rates residents and business operators pay for trash collection. With a unanimous vote, the council reduced trash fees for residential and commercial pickup by 8.67%, while cautioning that rates could go back up again next year. “Just want to reiterate that the City of Livermore is proposing a decrease of 8.67%,” Mayor John Marchand said before the vote.
Board Approves Clustering Plan for Wine Country
LIVERMORE — The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on May 8 unanimously approved changes to the South Livermore Valley Area Plan (SLVAP) that proponents believe will help entice businesses to the region and turn it into a wine-tourism destination. The 5-0 vote added language to the SLVAP that specifies the allowable commercial uses for 150,000 square feet of floor area, most of which will be built along a future sewer line approved by Livermore voters in November 2022.
Former Dublin Knife-Shop Owner Sues over Arrest
DUBLIN — A former Dublin knife-store owner has sued the city’s police force, alleging officers illegally seized his $2 million worth of weapons, violated his civil rights and terrified his autistic son during his arrest. Deepak Chopra claims in his lawsuit filed last month in U.S. District Court in San Francisco that members of Dublin Police Services committed “egregious constitutional violations” against him, his wife and child during a 2023 raid at Dublin Knives, 6500 Dublin Blvd.
Swalwell to hold Town Hall in Livermore Original
LIVERMORE — Tri-Valley Congressman Eric Swalwell, an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, has scheduled a Town Hall meeting in Livermore on Thursday, May 8. The location will not be announced until 48 hours before the event. People interested in attending can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-hall-meeting-livermore-tickets-1348950891429?aff=oddtdtcreator. The Town Hall, set to begin at 6:30 p.m., is free and also is scheduled to be livestreamed.
Livermore’s City Council Hears General Plan Updates
The City Council received an update Monday on recommendations from Livermore’s Planning Commission for policy changes that will be included in the city’s next General Plan. The update for the city’s elected leaders was part of the four-year process to create a new General Plan that will direct the city’s growth and goals through 2045 on issues ranging from land use and development to housing, transportation, economic development, climate change and community character.
Suspect Arrested in Seattle Following A Road-rage Shooting in Livermore
An Oakley man is facing attempted murder charges in connection with a road-rage shooting in Livermore last month, authorities said. Demarionte Smith, 26, was arrested April 1 in Seattle, where he allegedly fled to stay with family members, police said. According to police, Livermore detectives identified Smith as a suspect in a March 11 shooting that occurred shortly before 5 p.m. near North Vasco Road and Dalton Avenue. Officers found one victim with a gunshot wound.
Cellmate Charged in Santa Rita Jail Death
A 22-year-old man facing homicide charges in connection with an Oakland shooting was charged last week with killing his cellmate in the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin last month. Paula Faaui is suspected in the death of Elias Angel Rivera, 37, who was found unresponsive in their cell on March 17 after Faaui activated an emergency-call button, deputies said. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of March 18 at a local hospital.
Plan for More Hangars, Innovation Center At Airport Presented to Livermore Council
Residents on Monday suggested city planners consider noise, traffic, toxic chemicals and safety as they ponder ideas to develop up to 165 unused acres at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) in coming years. Although Livermore officials have no formal plans in the works, residents addressed the City Council after city planners said they will move forward in the coming year with designs to build hangars, a multi-agency public safety complex and an innovation center on the LVK grounds.
Mistrial Declared in the FCI Dublin Criminal Case
A federal judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict in the trial of a former FCI Dublin guard accused of sexually abusing female inmates under his watch. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued her decision when jurors in U.S. District Court in Oakland said they were deadlocked following a week of deliberations over the fate of Darrell Smith. Smith is the last of eight FCI Dublin employees to face criminal charges over their treatment of prisoners.
How Did Pedro Hernandez Become a Suspect in the Murder of Etan Patz?
Print Cite Article Details: Author Larry Altman Website Name aetv.com Year Published 2025 Title How Did Pedro Hernandez Become a Suspect in the Murder of Etan Patz? URL https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/etan-patz-murder Access Date April 27, 2025 Publisher A+E Networks For 33 years, New York City police detectives ignored Pedro Hernandez.
Court Rules Husband Cannot File Suit Against DUSD in Wife’s Death
A court has ruled that the widower of a Dublin school board trustee cannot sue the district over an accident that resulted in his wife’s death outside Fallon Middle School nearly four years ago. The First District Court of Appeal said William Kuo — who assumed his wife, Catherine’s, seat following her 2021 death — and his children may seek worker’s compensation benefits but cannot take legal action against the Dublin Unified School District because she was serving as a volunteer at the time.
Pleasanton Man Tells Police He Killed His Mother
A 31-year-old man walked into the Pleasanton Police Station last week and told officers he had killed his mother during a dispute at her home, police said. Malcolm Ian Tilley faces murder charges in the death of the 71-year-old woman. According to police, Tilley arrived at the lobby of the Pleasanton Police Department about 4:45 p.m. on April 1 and told them what he had done.
Livermore-Area Wine Growers Concerned About Federal Tariffs
Livermore’s wine-industry leaders are closely watching President Donald Trump’s decision to place tariffs on America’s trade partners, raising concerns about how his policies will impact their costs to produce wine, and likely raise prices for their customers to drink it. The tariffs come at a time when Livermore’s wine industry is working to make the region a destination for tourists eager to sample the local products and spend their money at Tri-Valley businesses.
City of Livermore Continues Its Progress With Meeting Climate Action Plan Goals
Although a plan to place solar panels on the rooftops of city buildings is on hold, Livermore officials last week provided an upbeat look at progress the city has made in implementing its Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. During the March 24 City Council meeting, Tricia Pontau, Livermore’s Sustainability Program manager, said the city was working to implement the top 35 priorities of the plan that the council approved in 2022.
County Called to Not Renew Contract With Health Care Provider over Inmate Neglect
DUBLIN — Dozens of Alameda County residents called last week for the Board of Supervisors to end its engagement of Wellpath, a private, for-profit company that provides health care for inmates held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Wellpath’s contract expires in 2027, and speakers representing churches, synagogues and justice advocacy groups suggested the county should take over health care in the jail a that time.
Sale of Sunol Nuclear Site Is Completed
NorthStar Group Services has officially closed its deal to acquire the 1,600-acre Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol with plans to decommission, decontaminate and environmentally restore the site. The New York-based firm made the announcement that it had taken ownership of the site from GE Vernova Inc. and GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas (GEH) in mid-March after approvals from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
PG&E Proposes Another Rate Increase of 2%-4%
PG&E filed a proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) last week that would raise its residential customers’ bills by 2% to 4% in 2026 so the utility can increase its dividends to its shareholders. PG&E reported $24.4 billion in revenue for 2024, the same as it reported for 2023. Its net income rose slightly to $2.5 billion in 2024 from $2.2 billion in 2023.
Santa Rita Inmate Dies Awaiting Trial; Deemed Possible Homicide
An Oakland man charged with murder in an alcohol-related wrong-way crash that killed a 30-year-old woman was found dead in his cell at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, authorities said. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) is investigating the death of 37-year-old Elias Angel Rivera as a homicide. Deputies responded to Rivera’s cell just before midnight March 17 after his cellmate activated the emergency call button. Deputies found Rivera unresponsive and with visible injuries, sheriff’s Sgt.
Livermore Cites Progress in Meeting Project Targets In Line With California State Mandated Housing Needs
Livermore issued building permits for 364 housing units in 2024, including 28 residences affordable for people earning low and very low incomes. During Monday’s City Council meeting, Livermore assistant planner Shannon Pagan offered an upbeat appraisal of the city’s progress in its state-mandated quest to permit 4,570 new residential units by 2031, its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) share to deal with California’s housing crisis.
Airport Needs More Hangars, Planning
City planners will move forward with hangar development, pursuit of a multi-agency public safety complex to respond to emergencies, and an Aviation Innovation Hub at Livermore Municipal Airport, according to a report released by the city last week. The city intends to pursue these efforts first, before deciding whether or not to create a master plan for the airport.
Livermore Approves Funding to Buy Land for Open Space
The Livermore City Council on Monday night unanimously approved spending $670,000 toward the purchase of 82 acres in unincorporated land outside the urban growth boundary to preserve as open space in perpetuity. The money will combine with a $650,000 grant from the Altamont Landfill Open Space Committee (ALOSC) to buy the $1.3 million Goecken Road Property, two parcels located north of Altamont Pass Road, about one mile east of Greenville Road and north of Interstate 580.
Council Selects Livermore Planning Commission Members
The Livermore City Council on Monday selected a former Chamber of Commerce president and a Livermore Downtown Inc. board member to serve on the city’s Planning Commission. Nadine Horner, a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory retiree who served as the chamber’s president from 2002 to 2004, and Charity Steele, a strategic planning consultant, were selected from a field of seven candidates to fill two open positions. They will serve until March 1, 2029.
Judge Accepts Decree with Former FCI Dublin Inmates
A federal judge in Oakland on Tuesday formally approved the settlement of a class-action lawsuit that requires court-monitored protection for hundreds of former FCI Dublin inmates who remain incarcerated at other women’s prisons nationwide. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers signed off on the settlement despite a last-hour request from attorneys for the federal government to renegotiate the agreement, which was completed before President Donald Trump took office.
Alameda County Aims to Change Land Use In South Livermore Plan for Wineries
The Alameda County Planning Commission on Monday unanimously approved a plan that proponents of turning the South Livermore Valley into a wine-tourism destination believe could entice businesses to make it a possibility. The 6-0 vote to amend the South Livermore Valley Area Plan eventually will go to the county Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Livermore Council Authorizes Talks For Homes at Former School Site
The City Council on Monday unanimously authorized city staff to negotiate with a developer that wants to build homes at a site once planned for a Catholic high school in the Springtown neighborhood. The 5-0 vote allows the city’s planners to negotiate with the Adventus Corporation to build 14 to 18 residences on a portion of 122 acres it owns at 3658 Las Colina Road, north of Interstate 580.
McNerney Bill Would Help Forever Chemicals Cleanup
Tri-Valley State Sen. Jerry McNerney introduced legislation last week that would create a special state fund to help local agencies and cities pay for removing toxic PFAS chemicals in their drinking water. The proposal to establish the PFAS Mitigation Fund in the state’s General Fund drew quick support from the Zone 7 Water Agency and in Pleasanton, where cleaning up the so-called “forever chemicals” from the water supply is a top concern that has already cost millions of dollars.
State Looks at Further Cuts to Solar Reimbursement Rates
Residents who put solar panels on their homes before the state reduced its subsidy for newer systems two years ago may soon find themselves getting less back from their utilities. In April 2023, California officials reduced the amount of money new rooftop solar buyers are compensated for when they sell the extra power they generate back to the state’s big three utility companies.
Shuttered FCI Dublin May House Migrants
Federal prison workers and advocates for inmates are expressing concern that the Trump administration might house immigrants facing deportation at FCI Dublin. The possibility raised by the prison workers’ union comes within months of Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) officials shutting down the facility for reasons that included the need for expensive refurbishing and a lack of staffing.
Local Colleges to Partner with i-GATE for Student Success
The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District has partnered with the i-GATE innovation program and its Daybreak Labs in Livermore to give students access to job training, its startup businesses and mentorship. In its annual report last month, i-GATE — Innovation for Green Advanced Transportation Excellence Development Corporation — listed increased involvement with the colleges as one of its goals for this year.
Patelco Fined Over Cybersecurity Breach
A California financial services regulator has fined Dublin-based Patelco Credit Union $100,000 for cybersecurity violations following a June ransomware attack that affected about 500,000 members. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) announced the fine on Feb. 4 as part of a consent order that also requires Patelco to retain an independent compliance consultant to oversee remediation and report to the DFPI on the company’s cybersecurity programs.
McNerney Bill Would Enlarge Composting at Vineyards
Tri-Valley State Sen. Jerry McNerney has introduced legislation that would allow farmers and winegrape growers throughout the state to compost large amounts of agricultural waste onsite, instead of having to ship it to composting facilities hundreds of miles away. The legislation, SB 279, is in response to a ban that just took effect prohibiting nearly all green waste burning in the San Joaquin Valley because of pollution.
City Approves Solar Power Deal with Ava
The City Council on Monday unanimously approved a plan to place solar panels and battery storage systems on five public buildings, generating enough electricity that could save $2.1 million over 25 years.
Superior Court Judge Ursula Jones Dickson Selected As D.A., Promises to Rebuild the ‘Decimated’ Office
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors last week appointed Superior Court Judge Ursula Jones Dickson to take over as District Attorney, choosing her from a list of seven finalists for the position vacated with the November recall of Pamela Price. A judge for the last 11 years, Jones Dickson previously worked in the district attorney’s office as a prosecutor for 15 years.
Support Remains Strong to Classify Tesla Park a Reserve, Limit Recreation Activities
Members of the public made their preference known again that Tesla Park, a 3,100-acre tract of undeveloped land in the Mount Diablo range, should be classified as a reserve. In a virtual meeting on Jan. 28, California State Parks and Recreation officials and their consultants heard from nineteen speakers, most of whom favored a “reserve” designation, which would limit recreational activities and focus on protecting wildlife and plants and securing the area’s Native American history.
Livermore Council Approves Cornerstone Housing Project
The City Council on Monday approved the development of the 253-unit Cornerstone housing project despite concern that placing more than 100 apartments for lower income residents in a single five-story building at the site might stigmatize them and create a “ghetto.” The 4-1 vote, with Council Member Ben Barrientos in opposition, allows for development of the project spearheaded by Cornerstone Fellowship of Livermore and its executive pastor Chris Stockhaus on land owned by the church.
City Hires Consultant for Dublin Boulevard Extension Across Vacant Crosby Property
With litigation pending over Dublin’s public vote allowing the city to annex open space that separates the city and Livermore, the City Council last week unanimously approved hiring a consultant to help design the estimated $160 million Dublin Boulevard extension that would be built through the land. The council voted 5-0 on Jan.
Board of Supervisors Names 7 Candidates for County D.A.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors last week selected seven candidates as finalists to replace recalled District Attorney Pamela Price. The seven were selected from among 15 applicants for the position, which opened when 65% of voters chose to remove Price from office just two years after electing the criminal justice reformer. The slate of candidates includes a range of prosecutors from Alameda County and neighboring jurisdictions. Each was expected to appear before the supervisors on Jan.
PG&E Rates Grew 48% from 2019 to 2023, Threatening Progress on Climate Change
California’s residential electricity rates are close to double those across the rest of the United States, a fact that could derail the state’s efforts to meet its clean-energy goals. That’s because households will be reluctant to give up their cheaper gas-powered cars and appliances, a report issued by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) says.
Livermore Valley Arts Reports Great Year, With 2024 Revenues Rising 26% over 2023
Livermore Valley Arts (LVA) broadened its programming and brought in bigger names for shows at its downtown venue during fiscal year 2023-’24, resulting in dramatic increases in ticket sales and a 26% uptick in revenue, the organization’s leadership reported this week. In addition, membership reached an all-time high of 1,200 households, leading to optimism about continued growth of the Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center.
Suit Accuses County of Imposing De Facto Tax on Homeowners for Water Service
The homeowners’ association of a well-to-do Pleasanton golf community has sued the county over water fees. The Castlewood Property Owners Association (CPOA) recently filed suit against Alameda County, alleging the Board of Supervisors failed to follow the law before imposing a $1.4 million loan on the organization’s members to pay for their water and sewer maintenance. Castlewood property covers about 500 acres near the southern edge of Pleasanton.
Project With 108 Affordable Units Gets Planning Approval
The Livermore Planning Commission has recommended that the city council approve the 253-unit Cornerstone housing development proposed for a 13-acre vacant site in Livermore north of I-580. The project would include 108 units for lower-income residents in one building that would be five stories high, higher than the city’s three-story limit. The developer has asked for 11 waivers of regulations for the project, including those that govern allowable building heights and scenic views.
Tri-Valley Representatives Sponsored Many Bills in 2024
The Tri-Valley’s three representatives in Sacramento sponsored a number of bills in the last legislative session that were signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. They ranged across a wide variety of subjects, including reproductive health, labor law and higher education. State Sen. Steve Glazer along with Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Liz Ortega together sponsored more than two dozen of the new laws taking effect in California in 2025. Sen. Steve Glazer Sen.
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