Diablo's Week in Review October 31-November 7, 2009

Bay Bridge re-opens, sports coaches act questionably, and the East Bay has a new representative in Congress.

Bay Bridge re-opens: After six days to repair a brace protecting a cracked beam, the Bay Bridge re-opened Monday. The closure left many motorists commuting on clogged freeways to other bridges, or on crowded BART trains. An estimated $2 million was lost in bridge tolls, and many more millions were lost in lost time for workers who are among those making the 228,000 bridge crossings per day.

Kids' and pro football coaches behaving badly?

Pleasanton police are investigating an incident in which a former Oakland Raiders player, serving as head coach for a pee wee football team, allegedly assaulted the team's former assistant coach, who happens to be an Alameda County supervisor.  Jeremy Brigham, a former Raiders tight end, got into a scuffle with Scott Haggerty, over an issue involving the Cowboys, a Pleasanton Junior Football League team made up of 10- and 11-year-old boys. Brigham had apparently fired Haggerty after Haggerty complained about Brigham's exercise regimen for the boys. Then Brigham reportedly assaulted Haggerty after a game practice, accusing Haggerty of leaking team plays to an opposing team.  

Meanwhile, Raiders Coach Tom Cable is under scrutiny again, this time for domestic abuse allegations made by his former wife and ex-girlfriend. The accusations by Sandy Cable and Marie Lutz, made on an ESPN show, come after the Napa County District Attorney's Office decided there was not enough evidence to prosecute Cable for a scuffle with former assistant coach Randy Hanson in which Hanson's jaw was broken. The Raiders have vowed to undertake a "serious evaluation" of the women's claims. 

In election news....

California's Lt. Governor John Garamedi was elected to replace former U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher who gave up her seat in California's 10th congressional district to work in President Obama's State Department. After managing a 53 percent victory over the Republican candidate, San Ramon attorney David Harmer, Garamendi jetted off to Washington D.C. to be sworn in.

Walnut Creek voters say "yes!!!" to Neiman Marcus. Well, it's not absolutely guaranteed that the luxury Texas-based retailer will come to Broadway Plaza. Still, Neiman Marcus officials have said that setting up in Walnut Creek is a top priority.  And, now, Neiman Marcus has a strong reason to believe that it has cleared a major hurdle in their plan to set up shop in a new 92,000-square-foot structure. This planned department store  was overwhelmingly supported by Walnut Creek voters. Of those who cast ballots Tuesday, 71 percent said "yes" to Measure I, the Broadway Plaza extension initiative. The battle over Neiman Marcus has been divisive and expensive for individuals and business interests on both sides. Broadway Plaza owner Macerich and rival malll developer Taubman Centers, which owns Sunvalley shopping mall, combined spent around $2 million on their campaigns.

Finally, school parcel tax measures pass: Measures G & H, the initiatives to permanently extend parcel taxes in the Acalanes Union High and Walnut Creek school districts, both passed with more than 2/3 of the votes needed to win. Measure G, Acalanes' $189 per parcel tax extension, passed by 73 percent: Measure H, Walnut Creek's $82 per parcel tax, passed by 73 percent.

Willows Theatre Company to close its Concord venue: After 34 years of award-winning plays and musicals, the company will bring the curtain down on its stage at the Willows shopping center. Ongoing financial problems, coupled with the recession, forced managers to decide to close that theater space for good on November 30. However, the Willows Cabaret in Martinez will be improved and remain open. 

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