Rodriguez 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 the Alameda Fire Department's chain of command will be minimal. Rodriguez has been out … Continue reading Alameda fire chief, out on leave since last spring, is retiring
Spencer 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 favored by the newly-elected Alameda Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer. Despite the restrictions, Spencer won … Continue reading After swearing-in, new Alameda councilmember publicly gave out her cellphone number
Spencer 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 Daysog, a critic of the union who voted against the original contract, pulled it … Continue reading Not yet sworn-in, Alameda’s Trish Spencer provides a preview of what’s to come
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 you're doing here," Kenny the Clown asked Spencer in a video posted this week. "I'm … Continue reading Alameda: Kenny the Clown endorses Trish Spencer
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 offense, followed by $500 for a second offense, and increase to $1,000 for three or … Continue reading Alameda will issue fines for not wearing masks, those failing to social distance
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 liberal East Bay, the past is destined to clash with the present this fall. Two … Continue reading Alameda’s progressive majority will be challenged this November
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 month to run for one of two at-large seats this November on the Alameda City … Continue reading Trish Spencer plots a return to the Alameda City Council
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 his decision via a letter on Tuesday evening. Rolleri was elevated to police chief in … Continue reading Alameda police chief opts for retirement following arrest of black man dancing in the street
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 recommendation from the city's Park and Recreation Commission to immediately remove Jackson Park signage and … Continue reading Alameda ‘de-names’ park named after Andrew Jackson
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 for the low numbers. To better determine the rate of infection and its potential spread, … Continue reading Alameda: Covid-19 testing site may open this month, mayor says
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 affordable housing crisis amid a dramatic economic downturn caused by covid-19, Alameda voters will have … Continue reading Alameda voters will soon have a chance to repeal 70s era ban on multi-family housing
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, continues to roil City Hall. Alameda Poice Chief Paul Rolleri, without the input of city … Continue reading Alameda police chief moved to vastly reduce calls for service rules without input from city officials
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 the legality of the countywide curfew Ahern order on Monday afternoon. But it was the … Continue reading ‘Our sovereignty is being infringed’: Alameda contemplates litigation against sheriff’s curfew
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 nation, is attended by roughly 60,000 Alameda and East Bay residents who line the parade … Continue reading Alameda cancels popular Fourth of July parade
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 on Tuesday night. "I want to make sure that we are exhausting all of our … Continue reading Alameda progressives stop minimum wage delay movement in its tracks
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