Mayor of WC

Mayor of WC The Mayor of WC is a hyperlocal blog focusing on the East Bay California. One of the fastest growing local news and events pages.

Another “hometown” clothing store is moving into North Main—and they’re betting our Walnut Creek pride will sell them dr...
09/02/2026

Another “hometown” clothing store is moving into North Main—and they’re betting our Walnut Creek pride will sell them dresses.

VICI’s grand opening is more than retail fluff. It’s a test of how we value local roots versus empty storefronts.

• 2,200 sq ft shop at 1366 N. Main, opens Sept. 10
• Online since 2012, shipping dresses nationwide
• In-store exclusive jewelry you can’t buy online
• New athleisure line for your Iron Horse Trail strut
• HQ still parked right here in town

I love a local success story. But do we really need another boutique when traffic’s a mess and housing’s scarce? Authentic hometown pride should mean more than a catchy back-home narrative.

Is VICI a true Walnut Creek champion or just slick marketing? Tell us why!

Walnut Creek's homegrown brand VICI opens its first permanent store at 1366 N. Main St. Sept. 10. Here's what to expect, when to go, and if it's worth the trip.

They’re about to bulldoze our last downtown parking lot and stack an 8-story condo tower with a rooftop bar right where ...
08/29/2026

They’re about to bulldoze our last downtown parking lot and stack an 8-story condo tower with a rooftop bar right where we all used to park—did anyone ask us?

This project is a litmus test for Walnut Creek’s future: more housing vs. more traffic, lost parking, and a skyline we barely recognize.

• 104 units (only 9 very-low-income, 5 moderate-income)
• 8 stories tall—shrink it to 4 stories and 40 apartments disappear
• 8,400 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail plus a rooftop bar
• Loses dozens of public spots; only 49 underground spaces remain
• Built via state density bonus that overrides our 50-ft height limit

They brag about “affordable” units, but is 14 apartments worth trading our parking, our small-town charm, and more crowded streets? We’re giving up way more than we’re getting back.

What matters more: easing a housing crunch or keeping our downtown livable? Are you for piling on density or saying “hold the height”? Let us know!

A downtown Walnut Creek parking lot could become an 8-story, 104-unit building with affordable housing and a rooftop terrace. Here's the plan.

Think Walnut Creek’s downtown is bulletproof? Watch our go-to lunch spot turn to ash.Lettuce’s roof fire isn’t just abou...
08/22/2026

Think Walnut Creek’s downtown is bulletproof? Watch our go-to lunch spot turn to ash.

Lettuce’s roof fire isn’t just about soggy salads. It’s proof our aging buildings are ticking time bombs for local businesses we love.

• Early Wed, ~8 a.m.: fire rips through Lettuce’s roof
• ConFire sends 8 engines & 30+ firefighters
• Civic Drive & Locust shrouded in smoke till afternoon
• Owner insured, vows to rebuild—no reopening date
• Cause still under investigation

We gush over old-world charm but dodge real fire-safety upgrades. Insurance covers repairs, sure—but it won’t stop the next blaze.

Should Walnut Creek force modern fire codes on our historic downtown—even if it drives rents up? Yes or no?

A roof fire closed Lettuce restaurant at Civic Drive and Locust Street Wednesday. No injuries, and owner Dave Bowie says he'll rebuild. Here's what we know.

Think California is just beaches and Hollywood? Seventy artists beg to differ—right here in downtown Walnut Creek.This i...
08/15/2026

Think California is just beaches and Hollywood? Seventy artists beg to differ—right here in downtown Walnut Creek.

This isn’t a cozy landscape show. CALeidoscope at the Bedford Gallery throws our state’s messy truths—wildfires, detention camps, desert heat—back in our faces. It’s not about pretty postcards. It’s about who we really are.

• 70+ artists in one juried exhibit
• Pay-what-you-can admission through Sept. 13
• Family art day Sat., Aug. 15—kids glue, paint and argue over California
• Find it in the quiet Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center

Opinion: We need more art that slaps us awake, not another wall of Instagram sunsets. If we can’t face our own history, we’ll keep sweeping big issues—housing, traffic, inequality—under the rug.

Which California will you back: the glossy postcard version or the untold stories? Sound off below!

Bedford Gallery's CALeidoscope brings 70+ artists to the Lesher Center through Sept. 13. Pay-what-you-can admission. Here's what to see and when to go.

Everyone wants reliable BART—until they shift your train time by 5 minutes and leave you sprinting.BART’s latest “fix” c...
08/12/2026

Everyone wants reliable BART—until they shift your train time by 5 minutes and leave you sprinting.

BART’s latest “fix” claims to smooth out those annoying 5-then-15-minute gaps. But here’s the catch: your morning routine just got rewritten. Now you’re relearning every departure, recalculating coffee time, and praying you don’t miss that “improved” 10-minute window.

• Yellow & Red lines now spaced ~10 minutes apart (instead of 5 then 15)
• New MacArthur cross-platform transfer saves Antioch→Richmond riders 17 minutes
• Peak Yellow & Red trains stretched to 10 cars—goodbye armpit-to-armpit rides
• Late-night Yellow Line single-tracking Aug.20-22: expect 20–25 minute delays
• Bus bridge Union City–Warm Springs weekends through Sept.15

Whether you cheer better spacing or curse another sudden shake-up, one thing’s clear: BART only moves when we beg. This “Big Sync” might sound smart, but it’s commuter common sense that should’ve been in place years ago.

Is this tune-up enough to win you back, or just another excuse to take the car?

BART's August 10 schedule change shifts Yellow Line departure times and spaces trains more evenly. Here's what Walnut Creek commuters need to know.

A monster storm is on its way, and Walnut Creek could drown under its own neglect.This super El Niño isn’t just another ...
08/08/2026

A monster storm is on its way, and Walnut Creek could drown under its own neglect.

This super El Niño isn’t just another rainy season—it’s a warning. We live in a bowl. One big hit and our creeks will turn streets into rivers, basements into swimming pools, and the Iron Horse Trail into a kayak course.

• Peak impacts: December ’26 through January ’27
• Pacific ocean temps hotter than the historic ’97-98 El Niño
• Flood zones: Walnut Creek & Tice Creek banks, low-lying downtown
• Iron Horse Trail sections expected to flood
• Bonus danger: more lightning strikes after our dry summer

We can’t pretend this won’t happen. Our city’s clogged drains and overgrown gutters are a recipe for disaster. Clear your downspouts. Test your sump pump. And demand the city do the same before we’re ankle-deep in water and scraps.

Who’s really at fault when our streets flood—the city or your wallet? Are you stacking sandbags alone or calling city hall to step up? Sound off below!

Climate experts warn a potential super El Niño could bring heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong storms to Walnut Creek and the Bay Area this winter. Here's what locals should know.

Thrift stores are dead space? Not when there’s golden tickets hidden between donated sweaters—and adoptable cats lurking...
08/05/2026

Thrift stores are dead space? Not when there’s golden tickets hidden between donated sweaters—and adoptable cats lurking nearby.

This countywide thrift crawl is reinventing how we shop, support local businesses, and save shelter animals in one fell swoop.

• 10+ Contra Costa thrift shops on the map
• Hidden golden tickets at Joybound’s Concord location
• $275 grand prize gift card up for grabs
• No-pressure cat lounge inside Joybound
• Free to join through August 18

We’ve been mindlessly scrolling Amazon for too long. This crawl proves it’s time to bring our dollars and our hearts back home—one thrift score and one adoption at a time.

Would you hunt for secondhand treasures or click “buy now”? Which matters more: the deal or the cause?

Joybound People & Pets launches the East Bay Thrift Store Crawl through Aug 18, with golden tickets, prizes, and adoptable cats at its Concord thrift store.

We’ve turned our bird feeders into death traps—and innocent squirrels are paying the price.The way we “get rid” of rats ...
08/02/2026

We’ve turned our bird feeders into death traps—and innocent squirrels are paying the price.

The way we “get rid” of rats is crushing paws, maiming wildlife, and dumping the bill on Lindsay Wildlife’s ER. This isn’t cute nature—this is backyard brutality, and our neighborhood hospital is begging for help.

• 50+ animals hurt by snap traps so far this year
• This week’s patient: an Eastern fox squirrel with a shattered paw
• Lindsay treats hundreds of raccoons a year right here in Walnut Creek
• Their wishlist: eggs, chicken thighs, dry pet food, heating pads, baby bottles

If you set traps, you’re part of the problem. If you don’t help supply their hospital, you’re part of the solution—just not a very good one. We can’t pretend “pest control” and wildlife rescue don’t belong in the same sentence.

Would you give up snap traps for safer feeders? Or is a critter-free yard worth crushing paws?

Lindsay Wildlife in Walnut Creek needs donated eggs, pet food, and supplies to treat injured wildlife - including its newest Patient of the Week, a rescued fox squirrel.

Everyone brags about Walnut Creek’s “small-town vibe”—until Civic Park turns into Oktoberfest chaos. This two-day Bavar...
08/02/2026

Everyone brags about Walnut Creek’s “small-town vibe”—until Civic Park turns into Oktoberfest chaos.

This two-day Bavarian takeover is free, massive, and proof our downtown isn’t slowing down. Love it or hate it, this weekend will test every part of your commute, appetite, and tolerance for polka.

• Sept 25–26 takeover at Civic Park East
• Free admission with RSVP (yes, really)
• 15+ German beer imports plus local craft taps
• Kinder Karneval zone with inflatables and games
• Artisan market featuring local makers and handmade steins

Look, packing our streets with festivals pads downtown businesses and gives us great selfie ops—but every beer stein adds more traffic, more noise, and another weekend where finding parking feels impossible. Are we celebrating community or just chasing big-event bragging rights?

Do you RSVP and join the fun, or is Walnut Creek turning into an event carousel gone wild? What’s your take?

Walnut Creek Oktoberfest returns Sept 25-26 with two days of German beer, bratwurst, live oompah music, and a family-friendly Kinder Karneval at Civic Park East. Free admission.

They’ve splashed four giant murals across downtown—while our sidewalks crumble and traffic snarls every morning. This p...
07/31/2026

They’ve splashed four giant murals across downtown—while our sidewalks crumble and traffic snarls every morning.

This paint party tells you exactly what Walnut Creek cares about right now. We’re shelling out direct grants to artists to brighten up N. Broadway and Main Street. It looks great. But is pretty walls the best way to spend our city dollars?

• Four new murals up this month at 1419 N. Broadway and 1372 N. Main St.
• City scrapped the matching-grant rule—now artists get full funding.
• Public art program launched in 1982, revamped just last year.
• Tonight’s free bash: DJ Bukue One, refreshments, and a 90-minute mayoral pep talk.
• Sponsored by BH Development, Lamorinda Developments, Walnut Creek Downtown, Zebra Tattoo.

We all love eye-catching color. But let’s be honest: this isn’t about art lovers—it’s a PR boost for a downtown that still needs better parking, smoother streets, and fewer late-night noise complaints. If our leaders can find cash for murals, why can’t they fix the potholes and ease traffic?

What matters more to you: a vibrant block full of murals or a city that fixes its broken roads?

Four new murals funded by Walnut Creek's Mural Grant Program have arrived at 1419 N. Broadway and 1372 N. Main Street. Here's what to see and when to go.

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