HomeMy WebLinkAboutKALIN, ALAN, LTR 011325January 12, 2025
To: Danville Town Council Members; Renee Morgan (Mayor) Karen Stepper, Mark Belotz,
Robert Storer and Newell Arnerich
Standing Up Against Intimidation and Advocating for the Town of Danville
I would like to take a moment to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Danville
Town Council for establishing the Bicycle Advisory Commission. I am also deeply grateful to
the Commissioners with whom I've had the privilege to work. Together with town staff, we have
made significant strides in improving cyclist safety throughout Danville—a crucial effort that has
saved lives and, if continued, will continue to do so.
During my tenure as a Bicycle Advisory Commissioner, I have focused on improving the safety
for people riding bicycles and other active modes of transportation in Danville. This includes
asking the Town Staff for information and the means to analyze bike versus vehicle collisions so
that the Commission and the Transportation Staff could focus on the biggest problem areas. I
also worked to identify and bring to the Town Staff's attention, significant safety hazards that
exist in the Town of Danville (Reference attached document: Why Does Danville Need to
Keep the Bicycle Advisory Commission?). For these and other similar efforts, at least one
member of the Town Council has vilified my efforts, maligned my character, falsely accused me
of unlawful behavior including workplace harassment, and worked behind the scenes and
actively at Town Council meetings to have me removed from the Bike Commission. Here is
what I experienced directly from that councilmember.
On Friday, March 22, 2024, at his request I met with Councilmember Newell Arnerich at 1:00
p.m. at Peet's Coffee in Danville. What transpired during that brief meeting was shocking and
deeply troubling.
When Mr. Arnerich arrived, he was visibly angry. Standing over me, while I was seated at a
table, with his finger pointed directly at my face, he loudly declared:
I'm here to tell you I want your resignation by Monday at 5:00 PM. Andy Dillard just quit and
it's all because of you. We all are blaming it on you!
If you don't quit by Monday at 5:00 PM, we will raise it up at a Council meeting, and we will
hold another public meeting to remove you.
There's a majority of us, and it's going to happen. If not, we'll make a public display of this.
You're done! You're out!
If not, we will disband the whole commission and wipe everybody out and start over, your
choice, we'll do it one way or another. I don't care!
Well before that meeting, Mr. Arnerich and Mr. Storer aired a narrative at several Town Council
meetings that I and one other commissioner harassed and intimidated Town Staff and other
Commissioners. In my opinion, Mr. Arnerich's behavior crossed an ethical line for a town
councilmember.
1. Threatening a Citizen and Volunteer: To be threatened in such an aggressive and hostile
manner by an elected official is not only inappropriate but completely unacceptable. It is
especially troubling when the individual being threatened is a volunteer who has dedicated their
time and effort to bettering the community.
2. Lies and Misrepresentation: Mr. Arnerich's claim about Andy Dillard's resignation is
simply false. The reasons for Mr. Dillard's departure are well known and have nothing to do with
me. To accuse me of causing his resignation is both a lie and a form of character assassination,
which is unbecoming of any public official. Also, to be accused of harassment is serious and
does not represent my interactions with Town Staff or Commissioners.
3. A Personal Political Agenda: Mr. Arnerich's statement, "We will make a public display of
this..." and "We will disband the whole commission and wipe everybody out" suggests an
agenda rooted in political power struggles. Decisions about the public good should never be
based on intimidation or bullying. They should be guided by the goal of improving safety for our
town's residents and visitors. LIVES ARE AT STAKE.
It is disheartening to know that I am not alone in experiencing this kind of treatment from Mr.
Arnerich. Other Council Members and Commissioners have confided in me that they, too, have
faced harassment and bullying from Mr. Arnerich for years. As one councilmember put it,
"That's just the way he is." This pattern of behavior by the Town's leadership is not just
unacceptable—it is damaging to the Town's reputation, the functioning of the Town government,
and to the trust residents place in their elected officials. I refuse to accept that the Town of
Danville will simply continue to ignore this kind of behavior by its leadership.
As each Town Councilmember considers their vote on January 14, 2025 (Agenda Item 8.1) to
remove me from the Bicycle Advisory Commission, I would ask that they seek clear objective
answers to the following question:
What evidence (personal anecdotes, dates, times, meetings, topics, etc.) do you have that
suggests I or any member of the Bicycle Advisory Commission harassed, intimidated or in any
way adversely influenced the decision making or behavior of: Andy Dillard, Diane Friedman,
Tai Williams, Joe Calabrigo, Allen Shields, Adam Cleary, Edwin Martinez, Bicycle Advisory
Commissioner or any other staff member of the Town of Danville?
I hope that by sharing my experience and seeking clarity on these important matters, the Town
Council, the Town Staff and Commissioners, and the residents of Danville can learn valuable
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lessons and ensure that future Commissioners and Council Members will not have to face the
harassment and character assassination that I have endured. My goal is simple: to protect the
integrity of the work being done for the betterment of Danville and to ensure that our community
remains a place where all voices can be heard, respected, and valued.
For the good of the town, I ask for your support in creating a respectful, effective, and safe
environment for all.
Sincerely,
Alan Kalin
COL, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Commissioner (Former Chairman), Danville Bicycle Advisory Commission
2023 James Oberstar Award "Excellence in Bicycle Advocacy"
2023 Contra Costa County "Bike Champion of the Year"
2023 "California Outdoors Hall of Fame"
CC: Town of Danville Commissioners, Committee and Board Members, Rob Ewing, City
Attorney
Attachments:
A. Why Does Danville Need to Keep the Bicycle Advisory Commission? (November 12, 2024)
B. Danville Town Council Meeting, Agenda Item 8 - Remove Commissioners Bilodeau and/or
Kalin from the Bicycle Advisory Commission (January 14, 2024)
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