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Rocio Arango stated that she lives in the neighborhood and that although she does not have the best view with the Shell and 76 service stations, she loves her home and the community that she has helped to build over the years. She indicated that her family moved to Pleasanton because of the schools and that her children go to Valley View Elementary School just a few blocks away. She noted that a lot of children walk that area. She read the following email she sent out to her friends asking them for their support: "In a nutshell, I disagree with the construction of the 7- Eleven because the area is changing a lot as it turns into a bigger city and the problems that come with it. The area of Vineyard Avenue is highly populated with low- income youth very much at risk to fall into gang trouble. Crime is growing in the City. The youth hanging out at Bob's Burgers can be questionable at times and the teens hanging out on the levee located behind the 76 gas station is problematic, too. So why put a 24 -hour store on the youth's path to and from school? Last summer, even a policeman was the victim of a hit and run accident on Stanley Boulevard. One time, when I was arriving in Livermore by the first gas station as you go on Stanley Boulevard, there was some gun activity sort of thing and I was concerned for my children and myself at that moment. This is just a block away from Downtown, and it should be an extension of what a wonderful downtown is — local businesses that care and support the members of the community. There are plenty of stores selling alcohol within walking distance already. I know it's not an issue but it may be in the future, and we do not need a new one. By continuing to provide an environment such as Main Street, we can keep our children safer in our city." Ms. Arango stated that the area is very, very highly populated with apartment complexes, with underprivileged populations who are not here to speak. She indicated that she sees the trouble because she has called the Police Department a couple of times as a kind of neighborhood watch thing. She added that she has heard that when high school students want to fight, they go and meet at the river. She stated that her children are in elementary school, and she sees students walking to Pleasanton Middle School and Amador High School, and this is a gateway for trouble, too. She indicated that her neighborhood is trying to keep the area clean, but they need the help of the City and the planners to continue to keep it so. She added that the Downtown area is growing, and it needs to be kept pretty and clean and it expands. She urged the Commission to deny the proposal because they do not need a business that is open for so many hours in the path of youth that walk by that area every day, and they do not need another place for people to hang out. Kathy Le, one of the owners of Cole's Market, thanked their customers who have come to support them. She stated that hers is a small business, and opening the 7- Eleven may affect their business. She indicated that although their business has slowed down because of the bad economy, they did not extend their hours because they respect the neighborhood. She noted that they close at 11:00 p.m., and while they sell liquor and can extend their hours to 12:00 midnight, they have not done so. She stated that the applicant's statement that Chevron is waiting for the approval of this proposal to proceed with its clean -up program is not true. She added that Chevron will do the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, December 12, 2012 Page 19 of 40