I’m Puzzled by the Way Some of us Think

For the most part, Castro Valley is known as a progressive-minded place jut like the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. However, there is a strong conservative attitude here which is holding our community back. I do not understand this way of thinking. For one, why would anyone be opposed to making Castro Valley a city? It is an archaic term and idea to be referred to as an ''unincorporated census designated place.'' Let's move into the 21st century and become a city! Some people balk at the idea of taxes! Well, taxes pay for good things like roads, bridges, police, fire, schools, libraries, parks, and general infrastructure (some of ours didn't hold up to well during the historic storms of 2022-2023). Even though this anti-cityhood notion puzzles me, I am even more puzzled by people who oppose a local donut shop being transformed into a dentist office. So just because nice people served sweet treats for decades, Rudy's should always be a donut shop? Should the empty florist store building on the Boulevard always be a florist shop? Should the empty Rite Aid building always be a pharmacy? I am puzzled by some of the quaint way some of us think!

–Angela Shipp, Castro Valley