Author Archives
I started the East Bay Citizen in 2009 to fill the growing gap in local government journalism. In the years since, I'm the last man standing. You can also see my work in the East Bay Express, Alameda Magazine, and Oakland Magazine. I serve no special interests, except you. I was born an raised in Castro Valley and live in Alameda with my better half (she's the CEO); two cats, Lola and Mochi; one dog, Libby (she's named after the mayor of Oakland). I also host the Steve Tavares Is Angry podcast. Subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher!
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School Board President gets an ‘F’
BLOG POSTING OF LATE MAYOR BORROWED FROM WIKIPEDIAThe president of the San Leandro school board, writing a posting on his blog, borrowed portions of the article without citation from a well-know web site. In an email response, School Board President… Read More ›
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Entire Eden Healthcare Board Advised of Conflict of Interest
SECOND EDEN TOWNSHIP HEARING DRAWS LARGE NUMBERSAn already confusing and critical decision making process is taking a turn for the worst in backroom politics. Eden Township Healthcare Director Dr. Rajendra Ratnesar again refused to answer questions about charges of conflict… Read More ›
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Powerful Lobbyist Enters Hospital Fray
POLITICALLY CONNECTED PRIME BRINGS IN REPUBLICAN BRULTEMany things have changed since Dr. Prem Reddy set foot in San Leandro this week. Not only did he capture the imagination of the city with a bevy of solutions the cities problems, but… Read More ›
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Supes Approve Eden EIR; Miley urges Hospital Owners to Deal
NOTICEABLE THAW AFTER NEWS OF PRIME’S POSSIBLE BIDOAKLAND, Calif. – Sutter Health is closer to breaking ground on their new $400 million hospital at Eden Medical Center. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the long-awaited final environmental impact… Read More ›
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Rogers says State not as rigid on Seismic Retrofit
Eden Township Director Carole Rogers says State Senator Ellen Corbett told her the state-mandate to have all medical facilities seismically retrofitted by 2013 will not be as rigid as once believed. Rogers says nearly half of all facilities have yet… Read More ›
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Where in the World is Tony Santos?
SANTOS GIVES COMMENCEMENT INSTEAD OF FIGHTING FOR HOSPITALMayor Tony Santos has taken some heat as of late over perceptions he is not providing sufficient leadership during the current hospital saga. Santos has been missing from numerous rallies and town hall… Read More ›
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County Reiterates Proposal; Possible Bidder Wows Crowd
REDDY GIVES AUDIENCE WHAT THEY WANT: HOPE(?)Dr. Prem Reddy knocked them dead. The possible savior-in-waiting for San Leandro Hospital whipped an overflow crowd into a frenzy of hooting and hollering before eliciting a standing ovation during Monday night’s hearing to… Read More ›
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Despite Article, Meeting goes on without Casualties
SIX-SHOOTERS, SPURS AND 10-GALLON HATS LEFT AT THE DOORThere were a few raised voices, a lot of finger pointing and and a couple attempts to induce tears, but NO ONE WAS KILLED. Repeat, there were no casualties at Monday night’s… Read More ›
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Hayashi did not vote on Similar Hospital Bill
ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SAT ON LEGISLATION AGAINST PRIME LAST YEARLast week, Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi trumpeted her efforts to save San Leandro Hospital with legislation that would allow for hospital district residents to have more control of the fate of their hospitals,… Read More ›
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Prime Healthcare is not the Solution to Hospital Woes
FOR-PROFIT OWNER FAVORS HEALTH CARE IF YOU HAVE THE MONEYThe inclusion of Prime Healthcare into the San Leandro Hospital equation may have larger ramification on the sick and infirm than the loss of the hospital. The for-profit health care provider… Read More ›
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Budget Approved Despite Opposition
$134 MILLION BUDGET LEAVES CUPBOARD BARE FOR NEXT YEAR.San Leandro is placing a big bet the economy shows signs of life in the next year by approving Monday night a $134 million city-wide budget. The adoption of the budget did… Read More ›
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San Leandro’s Budget is not Prepared for a Worsening Economy
By JOYCE STAROSCIAK This budget started out equitable and realistic. It has become political and unrealistic. The 15 percent reductions in all departments but public safety was agreed to be equitable and the Council was fully supportive. However, the community… Read More ›
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Santos takes Timeout to Speak, Defend Self
By STEVEN TAVARESThe Citizen ON HOSPITAL: ‘I HAVE BEEN AHEAD OF THE CURVE’The mayor’s office may be one of most accessible and welcoming city offices anywhere. Bright light enters the room overlooking East 14th Street and the furnishings are classy… Read More ›
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Q&A with Mayor Tony Santos
Here’s an excerpt from San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos’ interview May 26:Q: On the budget, it seems the reserves are dwindling. What’s the outlook?A: Budgets for local government have always been a test any way. Cities just don’t have the… Read More ›
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Mayor Rips Former School Board Member
SANTOS MOCKS CASSIDY; YOU COULDN’T BALANCE YOUR OWN BUDGETWhile San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is tweeting he has balanced the city budget, San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos hopes to do the same tonight as the city council is slated to… Read More ›
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People Splash Back; Pool to Stay Open
HIGHER FEES, SUBSIDIES FROM OTHER POOLS KEEP IT OPENAmid fierce public outcry, San Leandro’s Farrelly Pool will likely entertain splish-splashy children and sunbathing parents this summer. Mayor Tony Santos said yesterday, the city will likely raised fees charged to swimmers… Read More ›
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SANTOS: ‘KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF OUR BUDGET’
CITY MAY BE FORCED TO LEND STATE $1.8 MILLION By Steven TavaresThe Citizen With the failure of four of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s propositions, the state will likely tap already dwindling property taxes from cities and counties to the tune of… Read More ›
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‘My Brother loves it’; Girl asks Council to keep Pool Open
WITHOUT POLITICAL POWER, KIDS GET LOSE OUTA little girl named Lucinda stood before the San Leandro City Council without trepidation. Wearing a tiny light green hoodie, she stood wrapped around the leg of her father who was stating the case… Read More ›
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Play Political Hard Ball with Sutter
THE EDITORIALI’m not a political advisor, but I play one on the Internet. That being said, I cannot fathom why the mayor or anyone on the city council has failed to take the San Leandro Hospital issue by horns. The… Read More ›
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Obama names former San Leandro Official for U.S. Treasurer
Get ready to see the name Rosa Rios adorning your next one dollars bills. President Barack Obama has nominated the former San Leandro development official to be U.S. treasurer, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Rios previous worked in economic… Read More ›
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Pressure from Sacramento Delayed Hospital Decision
MAJORITY LEADER’S LETTER BECOMES BOARD’S TALKING POINTSThe decision by Alameda County supervisors to postpone approving the environmental impact report (EIR) for a new hospital project in Castro Valley was strongly influenced by forces in Sacramento. One of the “letters” mentioned… Read More ›
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Alameda Supervisors Delay Vote on CV Hospital
PROVING ‘LINKAGE’ BETWEEN PLANS GAINS STEAM San Leandro ER Nurse Jennifer Hom speaks to demonstrators before Tuesday’s Alameda County Board of Supervisors meeting. By Steven TavaresThe Citizen OAKLAND, Calif. – The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted today to postpone… Read More ›
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Alameda County Supervisor Offers to Lobby Sutter
HAGGERTY AGAIN ADMONISHES S.L. CITY COUNCIL Alameda County Board of Supervisors Scott Haggerty again took a few hearty shots at the San Leandro City Council a day after slam dunking a letter in a garbage can that urged the board… Read More ›
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MILEY: VOTE ME OUT
SUPERVISOR’S ANGRY, CRYPTIC REMARKS PUZZLE Psychologists will tell you there is no way to predict what people will do under intense pressure. Some will berate others. Some will harm others and some will attempt to control anger bursting at the… Read More ›
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C.V.: The Center of Architectural Beauty?
SUTTER OFFICIAL: C.V. DESERVES ICONIC BUILDINGOn of the most absurd comments made during today’s board meeting seemed innocuous to many but not to most Castro Valley residents. An official from Sutter told the board of supervisors Castro Valley deserves an… Read More ›
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Join the Revolution in Local Media!
READ The Citizenhttp://www.ebcitizen.com/ SEND The Citizen TIPS, STORY IDEAS AND OPINION PIECES FOR PUBLISHINGsteventavares.ebc@gmail.com FOLLOW The Citizen ON TWITTERtwitter.com/eastbaycitizenThe thirst for the news has never been greater in the history of human knowledge, yet mega-media corporations are gutting local newsrooms…. Read More ›
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Johnny D & the Demons of his Mind
There’s a fine line between genius and cognitive instability. John Dalcino wowed audiences in his youth until the life-altering symptoms of mental illness took it all away from him. Now, only the music brings order to his beautiful mind. San… Read More ›
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Leming Learns A New Lesson
Chuck Leming was a ‘C’ student who became Alameda County’s Teacher of the Year, but during his crowning year he lost a child and vowed to not lose any of his students. This is a story of a educator teaching… Read More ›
