Alameda Fire Chief Ed Rodriguez is retiring from the post he’s held since 2017. Rodriguez made his decision known to Alameda city officials on Dec. 30, according to a memo sent by City Manager Eric Levitt. Any short-term effects on… Read More ›
Alameda City Council
After swearing-in, new Alameda councilmember publicly gave out her cellphone number
For those who routinely interact with the public the pandemic has rendered human touch obsolete, even dangerous. Local stay-at-home orders have hampered a brand of retail politics — hand-shaking, kibitzing, and even hugs and kisses — that has been long… Read More ›
Not yet sworn-in, Alameda’s Trish Spencer provides a preview of what’s to come
The mere presence of the Alameda firefighters’ contract on a city council agenda is certain to elicit howls from island conservatives as it did Tuesday night. The agenda item was placed on consent for Tuesday meeting, but Alameda Councilmember Tony… Read More ›
Alameda: Kenny the Clown endorses Trish Spencer
Former Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer’s bid for the City Council received the endorsement of Kenny the Clown, the street entertainer ubiquitous at Park Street street fairs and other local events. “Tell us about you’re candidacy. Tell us about what… Read More ›
Alameda will issue fines for not wearing masks, those failing to social distance
Alameda became the second city in the county to allow the issuance of citations to those who do not wear masks during the pandemic and fail to adhere to social distancing protocols. Fines will begin at $250 for a first… Read More ›
Alameda’s progressive majority will be challenged this November
A progressive majority on the Alameda City Council was solidified two years ago with the defeat of its moderate mayor and the addition of a fourth lefty councilmember. But in a city that once represented a conservative island in the… Read More ›
Trish Spencer plots a return to the Alameda City Council
Alameda’s Trish Herrera Spencer was the self-proclaimed “people’s mayor,” but voters dismissed her from office two years ago after just one term. Perhaps, this fall Spencer is hoping to rebrand herself as the “people’s councilmember”? Spencer pulled papers earlier this… Read More ›
Alameda police chief opts for retirement following arrest of black man dancing in the street
In the wake of an embarrassing incident in which Alameda police officers arrested a black man for dancing or exercising in the street, Alameda Police Chief Paul Rolleri announced his retirement on Wednesday. Rolleri notified the Alameda City Council of… Read More ›
Alameda ‘de-names’ park named after Andrew Jackson
Alameda’s first city park will no longer be named after President Andrew Jackson. The Alameda City Council voted Tuesday night to “de-name” Jackson Park because of his legacy of slavery and atrocities against Native Americans. The unanimous vote followed a… Read More ›
Alameda: Covid-19 testing site may open this month, mayor says
Alameda has one of the lowest reported rates of the coronavirus infections in Alameda County. Perhaps, Alamedans are especially cautious about the risks of contracting the virus, but the lack of testing on the island could have be a reason… Read More ›
Alameda voters will soon have a chance to repeal 70s era ban on multi-family housing
Alameda’s Measure A, a charter amendment approved by voters in 1973, to ban new multi-family housing in the name of protecting the island community’s small town character, has divided the city’s politics for more than four decades. But with an… Read More ›
Alameda police chief moved to vastly reduce calls for service rules without input from city officials
While Alameda largely avoided the type of civil unrest seen in neighboring cities earlier this month, an incident involving the arrest of Mali Watkins, an Alameda resident who is black, for dancing and exercising in the street on May 23,… Read More ›
‘Our sovereignty is being infringed’: Alameda contemplates litigation against sheriff’s curfew
Alameda officials took steps to defy Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern’s five-day countywide curfew on Tuesday night when they decided against extending the city’s two-day curfew past Wednesday morning. The council went further by directing its city attorney to study… Read More ›
Alameda cancels popular Fourth of July parade
With the state and county’s shelter in place extended through the end this month, Alameda’s long-running and popular Fourth of July parade is canceled, city officials announced on Tuesday night. The Independence Day parade, one of the largest in the… Read More ›
Alameda progressives stop minimum wage delay movement in its tracks
The push in the East Bay, started earlier this month in Hayward to delay a scheduled minimum wage increase for workers, appears dead in its tracks after the Alameda City Council turned away a proposal to study a similar action… Read More ›
Ashcraft on minimum wage delay
We could make this a third rail of local politics or have an intelligent discussion looking at the issue from all sides.-Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft on the council’s discussion on Tuesday for possibly delaying the city’s minimum wage increase.
Alameda: Oddie says plan to delay minimum wage is a ‘colossal f–k you’ to low-wage workers
Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie is upset about a proposal to delay an increase in the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour for up to one year because of the impacts of covid-19. The city council will discuss the proposal… Read More ›
Alameda may place minimum wage increase on hold for one year
Alameda city staff is proposing a delay in raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour for one year due to the negative effects of the covid-19 pandemic on local businesses. The move would follow Hayward, which voted last Tuesday… Read More ›
Alameda moves to protect renters during COVID-19 crisis, enacts 60-day moratorium on evictions
Alameda officials approved a 60-day emergency moratorium on evictions, along with a prohibition on landlords shutting off utilities as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The moratorium is tied to a state declaration of emergency, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed… Read More ›
Doing its part, Alameda passes gun-safety ordinances
Alameda became one of the first city’s in the East Bay to approve gun-safety ordinances that regulate safe storage of firearms in homes, and video surveillance of legal gun purchases at retail outlets and dealers. Alameda elected officials unanimously approved… Read More ›
Ashcraft on license-plate readers
We’re a very safe community, but there are folks who do some pretty horrendous things that pass through here.-Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft in support of a referral that could bring mounted license-plate readers near at bridge and tunnel entry… Read More ›
Bridges up? Alameda is considering license plate readers at island’s entry points
Alameda elected officials backed early consideration for a proposal to could bring mounted automated license plate readers at entry and exits points around the island, including bridges, tunnels, and some intersections. Some Alameda police vehicles have been fitted with license… Read More ›
Alameda approves facial-recognition technology policy ban, will seek ordinance
Six Bay Area municipalities and more than a dozen nationwide have passed bans on the use of facial-recognition software. Alameda join the list on Tuesday. The Alameda City Council unanimously passed a policy against use of the invasive surveillance technology… Read More ›
Alameda will be the next city to ban facial-recognition software
The Alameda City Council will decide Tuesday night whether to become the latest in a growing list of municipalities that are choosing to ban the use of facial-recognition software in surveillance cameras. In May, San Francisco became the first major… Read More ›
Alameda: Release of secret audio recording yields little new information
Audio of a secret recording made by Alameda’s former city manager of a meeting between her and two councilmembers released Wednesday highlights a lobbying effort on behalf of a labor-friendly candidate for the then-open fire chief position, but also immense… Read More ›
Alameda secret recording won’t be released until next week
A certain segment of Alameda clamoring to learn the contents of a secret recording made of two councilmembers will have to wait a few more days. Transcripts and audio of the infamous 2017 recording made by former City Manager Jill… Read More ›
Vella: Secret audio recording should be released in its entirety
Alameda Councilmember Malia Vella said the transcript of a secret audio recording set to be released soon by the city should include as few redactions as possible. She also suggests in a statement that some context could be omitted from the… Read More ›
Oddie: Release the recording
A secret audio recording by Alameda’s former City Manager Jill Keimach made two years ago in hopes of gathering evidence that two former Alameda councilmembers were illegally pressuring her to hire a fire chief of their choosing is again in… Read More ›
Reforms at the Alameda Housing Authority could be on the way
Alameda resident Arminda Graca received her file last week from the Alameda Housing Authority, a thick stack of documents delivered in quadruplicate. But Graca, whose Section 8 apartment was inundated with mold and mildew following a suspected sewage leak, told… Read More ›
Alameda backs town hall on gun violence, but not without some council resistance
An Alameda City Council referral calling for a town hall on the issue of gun violence was unanimously approved Tuesday night. But not before two councilmembers repeatedly questioned the scope of the event and whether its aims had already been… Read More ›
