Mario DiPrisco for Lafayette City Council

    I am voting for Mario DiPrisco for a position on the Lafayette City Council. Although Mario has been in the city since 2008, I have gotten to know him over the last several years as he has served in our Lafayette Rotary Club. Shortly after he joined, he jumped right in to help the club in our service projects and attracting new members. He is now on our Board of Directors and will serve as President of the club later this year. He has led our club to help revive Lafayette's Community Day. He has reached out to other community organizations to help plan and put on this great community event. I have been impressed how he works across a diverse set of organizations to get everyone working toward a common goal. 

    I have also observed how Mario has joined a number of other civic and city government organizations and has developed a broad perspective of the needs and concerns of our residents and businesses in town. 

Matthew M. Pease 
Lafayette

No Parking

I am Resident at Monteverde senior housing, corner of Orinda way and Irwin Way.

    For the last three years I have parked my car in the vacant lot in this corner; this lot is owned by the city but recently the city gave the lot to Orinda Community Church. This lot was built to provide community parking, not for the church only, this was built as a condition of approval of Monteverde.

    Starting July 15 The Orinda Community Church claims they are now the owner of the parking lot and NO one is allowed to park here anymore, and reserved for TOPS employees who are refusing to park in this lot. Others and I are now trying to find parking spaces which are not to be found anywhere; street parking is only good for 2 to 4 hours . Orinda Community Church and the Orinda Senior Village are not allowing any one to park in their lots (up the hill) at the end of Irwin way. The Lot has been vacant since July 15, and since that time the church is placing “NO parking” stickers on all cars, even the one on Irwin way (public street).

Mr. Bond
Orinda

Endorsement of Mario DiPrisco for Lafayette City Council

    I am writing to urge Lafayette citizens to vote for Mario DiPrisco for the two-year term on the Lafayette City Council.  Mario has the experience, the enthusiasm, and the time now to serve us well.

    He worked 26 years for Dodge & Cox, analyzing budgets and financial statements.  Before moving to Lafayette, he served two years on the Albany City Council.  He, his wife and three children moved to Lafayette in 2008.  He is currently on Lafayette’s Transportation and Circulation Commission and is a trustee of the Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association (formerly ConFire Advisory Commission.)  He has served on LPIE’s board, is a member of Lafayette Rotary, on the board of the Community Foundation of Lafayette, and is a CASA volunteer and high school baseball coach.  

    Mario is running on a campaign to keep the city safe and vibrant.  He supports efforts to reduce our risk of wildfires, to bury PG&E lines, to promote safer streets, and protect seniors from scams.  He believes we should consider utilizing some of the BART parking lot for housing to meet our housing requirements.  

    I serve with Mario on the board of the Community Foundation and hope you will join me in voting for Mario.

Carol Federighi, Past Mayor, Lafayette    
  
In Support of Mario DiPrisco for Lafayette City Council

    I am pleased to endorse Mario DiPrisco for Lafayette City Council. Having known and worked closely with Mario for nearly 25 years, I can attest to his intelligence, integrity, work ethic, and commitment to serving others.

    Throughout his career, Mario demonstrated an exceptional ability to analyze complex issues, weigh competing perspectives, and make thoughtful, well-reasoned decisions. He combines rigorous problem-solving with strong communication skills, humility, and a collaborative approach, qualities that are essential for effective public service.

    As a member of an investment committee, Mario consistently looked beyond his own areas of expertise to understand broader issues and their interconnections. He listened carefully, challenged assumptions, and adapted his views when warranted by the facts. These same qualities will serve Lafayette well as the city addresses its future opportunities and challenges.

Just as important, Mario has a long record of community involvement through organizations including Rotary, LPIE, ConFire, the Lafayette Community Foundation, CCERA, and the Transportation & Circulation Commission.

    Mario is thoughtful, independent, and deeply committed to Lafayette. I wholeheartedly support his candidacy and am confident he will be an outstanding member of the City Council.

Tony Brekke
Lafayette

Our high schools need local funding – now more than ever

    As former Acalanes High School Parents Club presidents, we have seen firsthand what makes our schools exceptional – dedicated teachers, engaged students, supportive parents, and a community that shows up for public education. We are writing today because excellence is under real threat, and we believe the Acalanes Union High School District must act.

    The failure of the 2025 Measure T parcel tax has had a real impact on our students. The cuts have been painful. Elective offerings have been reduced, leaving students with fewer opportunities to discover passions beyond the core curriculum. Academic counselor positions have been cut, leaving students with less support as they navigate their high school careers and prepare for college. Librarians – the backbone of academic research and a resource students depend on daily – have seen their roles diminished. There is now only one librarian serving all four high schools and over 5,000 students. These are not abstract line items; they are the programs and people that define a Lamorinda high school education. Without a renewed local funding source, the cuts will continue to compound.

    We understand that putting another measure on the ballot requires the determination of many, but we believe it’s worth the effort. Parents, teachers, students, and neighbors across Lamorinda understand what is at stake, especially after our communities demonstrated such strong support for our elementary schools with Measure H and Measure I. 

    Our high schools have given so much to so many families and have enriched our Lamorinda community. However, the reality is, for future students to have the same top-rated educational experience that so many of us already benefited from, our community needs to come together and act. We believe it’s time to restore critical funding to our local high schools. 

Dawn Brightbill and Meg Fellner
Former Acalanes Parents Club Presidents and Residents of Lafayette for over 25 years

Our High Schools Deserve the Same Support We've Given Younger Grades

    As a parent, volunteer, and now Co-Executive Director of the Moraga Education Foundation, I have a deep understanding of the funding issues facing our schools. That's why I'm writing in support of a parcel tax to benefit our Lamorinda high schools and to explain why our high schools, specifically, need help right now.

    For decades, this community has shown up for its schools. Through donations to education foundations, volunteer hours, and parcel taxes, Lamorinda families have built something special: excellent public schools that are the biggest reason most of us moved here.
    But since California adopted the Local Control Funding Formula in 2013, local support is no longer just for "extras"; it funds core programs. Our schools are now among the lowest-funded in the state, and the gap between what we receive and what the average school receives continues to widen. Local support has failed to close that gap for years.

    Lafayette voters just passed Measure H, and Moraga passed Measure I — wonderful news for our elementary and middle schools. But not a dollar goes to our high schools. Acalanes Union High School District hasn't seen a new parcel tax in 16 years. In the past two years, the district has cut $4.2 million, including a 19% reduction in central administration. This is already a lean district with no more room to trim.

    Our high schools deliver extraordinary results with what little they have: a 98% graduation rate and an AP program ranked in the top 4% nationwide, preparing students to succeed in an increasingly demanding world. This is what our community's investment has built, and it's what's at risk if our high schools do not receive additional support.

    We all benefit from excellent schools, whether or not we have kids enrolled. Our schools are why families move here, why property values hold strong, and why this feels like a community worth putting down roots in. It's time we extended the same commitment to our high schools that we've shown our younger grades.

Ana Moon, 20-year Lamorinda resident