Livermore Council To Weigh Planning Commissioner's Fate Monday

LIVERMORE, CA — The Livermore City Council is set to decide Monday whether former council member John Stein will keep his seat on the planning commission, after he made insensitive remarks during a public meeting last month.

The council called Monday's special meeting last week, after Stein said he didn't want downtown to become a "ghetto" during the April 20 planning commission meeting. The commission was deliberating Eden Housing's request to build a 130-unit low-income housing project at South L Street and Railroad Avenue.

Stein also said he didn't want Livermore to become the Tri-Valley's "go to" place for low income housing, while questioning whether other cities in the region were doing their fair share.

At least one member of the city council wanted to expel Stein from the board last week, a move which City Attorney Jason Alcala said the council had to officially agendize for another meeting. Stein apologized to the council at its April 26 meeting, saying Livermore should have inclusionary housing "to serve all segments of the community."

"I also believe that as a planning commissioner, it's my role to treat the public with respect, compassion, and be willing to meet their expectations, and again I apologize if I have not done that," said Stein, who joined the planning commission after 15 years on the city council.

Stein said he wants low-income housing "throughout the city, instead of being concentrated in a single location." Of his April 20 remarks, he said, "to some extent, I was misinterpreted."
Councilmembers said they never received the emailed apologies Stein said he sent and said his apology wasn't good enough.

"What I heard in an apology was I'm sorry that you misunderstood my comments," said council member Brittni Kiick. "I don't think that was really taking account for the actions of what was said. The impact of those words are very strong, as someone who used to be an elected official, as someone who is now serving at the pleasure of the council, should know better, that those words have meaning."

The council is scheduled to discuss the Eden Housing project later this month, something Mayor Bob Woerner repeatedly reminded the council during the meeting, asking they not discuss its merits until the appropriate time.

The Livermore City Council meets virtually at 5 p.m. Monday. The meeting can be accessed on Livermore's YouTube channel or on Zoom, at https://bit.ly/3eQpMmD.

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