Mayor of WC

10/17/2026

Only in Walnut Creek does your mall throw itself a 75th birthday party—complete with princesses, circus acts, and a parade down the street.

This Saturday, Oct. 17 (11 a.m.–2 p.m.), Broadway Plaza Street transforms into “Once Upon A Street.” Meet a princess, catch Beloved Little Circus, vibe to DJ Rich Era, build flower crowns, get face-painted—and at 12:30 p.m., join the Royal Princess Parade (tiaras encouraged). Admission’s free, and sign the Royal Proclamation to snag a mini tote.

Heads up: it’s forecast to hit 93°, so pack water and chase the shade.

Broadway Plaza opened in 1951 and turned our town from orchards to the county’s first major retail hub—taxable sales jumped from $9M to $20M in five years. Today it hosts more than 80 shops (Nordstrom, Macy’s, Apple) and eateries from Original Joe’s to True Food Kitchen.

For three generations, this has been Walnut Creek’s front porch. But with new murals and eight-story housing popping up, is Broadway Plaza still the heart of our town—or just another suburban center?

• Princess meet-and-greet, circus & DJ
• Royal Princess Parade at 12:30 p.m.
• Free admission + mini totes & flower crowns
• Opened 1951—spurred county sales from $9M to $20M (1950–55)
• Now 80+ shops, national anchors & local eateries

Will you be lining up with your tiara this Saturday? What’s your favorite Broadway Plaza memory?

Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek turns 75 with 'Once Upon A Street' on Saturday, Oct. 17. Princesses, a circus, a parade, free totes, and pet adoptions.

10/15/2026

You’re voting to elect a treasurer—and deciding to eliminate that same election in one weird ballot twist.

Here’s what’s on deck for Walnut Creek on Nov. 3:

• Two council hopefuls: community organizer Cherise Khaund vs. small-business owner Brendan Moran
• Unopposed incumbent Ronald Cassano running for Treasurer
• Measure T: keep the treasurer elected or let the council appoint one?
• Measure U: rezone 2.4 acres at North California & Ygnacio for multifamily senior housing steps from BART
• Last day to register: Oct. 19. Ballots due by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3

This isn’t just another off-year election. It’s a referendum on who holds power—and what we build in the heart of our city. Do you trust voters to pick the treasurer, or would an appointed choice keep politics out of the books? And is senior housing by the station smart growth—or too much change?

Which vote matters more to you: ending our treasurer election or green-lighting senior apartments by BART?

Walnut Creek votes Nov. 3, 2026 on two City Council candidates, a treasurer ballot question, and two measures. Here is what is on your ballot and where to vote.

10/14/2026

A brand-new 4-bed, 2,466 sq ft Walnut Creek house…for $262,750? No, it’s not a typo—and you have until Oct. 30 to throw your name in the hat.

If you’ve ever felt priced out of this town, this is a once-in-a-blue-moon shot at real homeownership right here at home.

• 3 newly built homes up for grabs: 3–4 beds, 2,000+ sq ft
• Priced $262,750 to roughly $377,000—each appraised at $1.2–1.5 million
• Income caps start at $81,400/yr for a family of four (Abigail Place) and go up to $135,750 for the others
• You must live there full-time, can’t rent it out, and resale prices stay below market for 45 years
• Learn details at a virtual workshop Oct. 21; lottery entries due Oct. 30

This won’t solve our housing crunch, but for three local families it’s life-changing. Should Walnut Creek be doing more of these below-market lotteries—or is a raffle the wrong way to tackle affordability?

Three Walnut Creek homes sell for $262,750 to $377,000 under the city's rare below-market program. See who qualifies and the Oct. 30 lottery deadline.

10/08/2026

Just when we needed them most, our go-to pool expert is disappearing. With Walnut Creek hitting the high 90s and a Spare the Air alert last week, this is peak pool season—yet Leslie’s Pool Supplies on Ygnacio Valley is on the chopping block.

Losing that specialty counter means no more in-person water tests, no expert fix-it tips, and a longer drive when your pool turns green.

• 76 Leslie’s stores closing nationwide
• 8 Bay Area locations—including Walnut Creek
• Company filed Chapter 11 with $1.2 billion in liabilities
• Plans to cut about $685 million in debt and reemerge in 2027
• Gift cards and loyalty perks still honored during bankruptcy

Whether you swear by the chain or have eyed local alternatives, one thing’s clear: when retail shifts this fast, our summer routines get upended.

How are you planning to keep your pool crystal clear without the neighborhood Leslie’s? Stock up now, switch to big-box chemicals, or know a local indie shop we should all check out?

Leslie's Pool Supplies is closing its Walnut Creek store in a Chapter 11 restructuring that cuts 76 stores nationwide. What locals should know.

10/07/2026

Fifty years ago this week, 9-year-old Lisa Dickinson rode into Heather Farm Park—and never came back.

Today, dog walkers and soccer games replace police searches. But under those oaks, her bicycle still holds her final moment: hidden by the canal, barely a block from home.

• Sept. 5, 1976: Lisa disappears at age 9
• Bike found tucked under an oak beside the canal
• Suspect Louis Fresquez arrested in ’76—never confessed
• Just one fingerprint match in 50 years
• Walnut Creek PD still has the case open

We love to think Walnut Creek is a perfect little town. But sometimes our biggest secrets hide in the details we never shared. If you were at Heather Farm that Sunday night—cycling, walking, hanging out—did you see a girl on the back of a motorcycle? A bike hidden under a tree? Anything you brushed off as unimportant?

What small detail do you remember from that evening that could finally give Lisa’s family the answers they’ve waited half a century for?

Nine-year-old Lisa Dickinson vanished from Walnut Creek in 1976. Fifty years on, police are asking the town to remember. What we know, and how to help.

10/05/2026

I will circle Broadway Plaza for 20 minutes to dodge a $3 meter. This is a personality.

10/01/2026

Luxury senior condos at BART? It’s on our ballot—with almost zero debate.

Measure U asks you to rezone 2.4 acres beside the Walnut Creek BART station for up to 282 age-55+ homes. No planning hearings. No official opposition. Just a simple majority vote on November 3.

This matters because it sets a new precedent: one property owner can skip the usual city review and ask us to rezone his land directly. We drive past that quiet office park every day. Should it stay empty, or become a “luxury senior transit village”?

• Rezones 2.4 acres at North California Blvd & Ygnacio Valley Rd
• Allows up to 282 units restricted to people 55+
• Developer Hall Equities spent $4.5 million and 5 years on studies
• Contra Costa seniors 65+ now make up 18% of the county—up from 16.5% in 2020

Direct democracy feels efficient. But efficiency can hide the hard questions. Do we really need luxury units, or more affordable senior housing? Do we want our zoning battles in living rooms and Nextdoor threads, instead of public hearings?

Will you vote yes to unlock this project, or no to keep the offices and demand a fuller public review? What matters more: speeding up senior housing at BART, or preserving our standard planning process?

Measure U asks Walnut Creek voters to rezone a BART-adjacent office parcel for up to 282 senior housing units. Here is what is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

09/30/2026

A sunny Saturday at Dublin Sports Grounds turned into a nightmare when gunshots rang out right in front of kids and families.

This isn’t just another tragic headline—it’s a wake-up call that our favorite weekend spot can become a crime scene.

• Sept. 26, 3:08 p.m.: A patrol sergeant finds 40-year-old Jonathan McKinsey lying in the parking lot, multiple gunshot wounds.
• Victim: McKinsey, a New York Times Games engineer and father of two.
• Suspects: His 77-year-old in-laws, Shouyong Zhang & Shili Chen, held without bail on murder, conspiracy & child-abuse charges.
• Court records reveal years of dueling restraining orders, abuse claims on both sides and a custody battle spiraling out of control.

Our parks are where we drop the kids, trade small talk and feel safe watching a game. Now we’re left asking: if the system couldn’t stop this, what can?

Would you still drop your kids off here without a second thought? What should Dublin do to keep our community spaces safe?

Jonathan McKinsey, 40, a New York Times Games engineer, was shot dead at Dublin Sports Grounds on Sept. 26. His 77-year-old in-laws are held on murder charges.

09/30/2026

Good luck pedaling over Treat Blvd this winter—our go-to Schroder Bridge is shutting down for THREE months starting Monday.

If you ride, run or push a stroller on the east side, get ready to detour to the street crossing at Treat & Jones. And drivers, brace for night lane closures and four full overnight shutdowns with a 5-mile detour.

• Closed Oct. 5–Dec. 31 for a $1.185 million rehab (bearing pads, railing cable, deck repairs)
• Detour for bikes, joggers & strollers at Treat Blvd & Jones Rd
• Night work 9 p.m.–5 a.m. Sun–Thurs; expect up to 10-min delays
• Four overnight full closures with a 5-mile detour for cars
• Plus a separate PG&E closure on Iron Horse Trail (Mt Diablo to Civic Park) Oct. 5–12

Measure X is footing most of the bill for this once-in-a-generation tune-up—no more water-logged deck or rusty bearings. But three months of detours is a long stretch.

Will you tough it out on the signed detour or map your own route until New Year’s Eve?

The Robert I. Schroder pedestrian bridge over Treat Boulevard closes Oct. 5 through Dec. 31. Here is the detour for Iron Horse Trail users and drivers.

09/30/2026

September 29. I packed one water bottle for Diablo because it is "almost fall." It was 96.