2017 YEAR IN EAST BAY POLITICSHeading into the spring, most a number of East Bay cities had already moved toward declaring sanctuary city status. Some began contemplating the next step: urging Congress to impeach Trump. But issues closer to home dominated the conversation. In Oakland, the mayor and police department was still dealing with the … Continue reading 2017 Year in East Bay Politics: Part II: April-June: Richmond’s Ellis loses Dem chair race
Category: Alameda County grand jury
Alameda County rebuttal to grand jury report unsurprisingly swats away sharp criticisms
Supervisor Wilma Chan confronting protestersduring an Alameda County Board ofSupervisors meeting in 2016.ALAMEDA COUNTYA scathing Alameda County grand jury report last June included a number of sharp criticisms against the county and members of the Board of Supervisors. Among them, questioning the Board of Supervisors' ability to shower unfettered amounts of district funds on community … Continue reading Alameda County rebuttal to grand jury report unsurprisingly swats away sharp criticisms
EBC AGENDA | OCT 20-26 | OAKLAND’s Border Wall biz ban; ALAMEDA lights up pot discussion; ALAMEDA COUNTY rebuts grand jury findings
THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 20-26--ALAMEDA-- Special council meeting workshop, Saturday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]--DRAFT CANNABIS ORDINANCE-- It's been nearly a years since the Alameda City Council backed a referral asking the staff to study the possibilities and ramifications of permitting medical dispensaries and possibly commercial sales on the island. A special Saturday … Continue reading EBC AGENDA | OCT 20-26 | OAKLAND’s Border Wall biz ban; ALAMEDA lights up pot discussion; ALAMEDA COUNTY rebuts grand jury findings
EBC AGENDA | SEPT 15-21 | OAKLAND public bank; FREMONT rent review ordinance; HAYWARD shuttle study; KHANNA town hall
THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15-21Without a doubt, affordable housing is the biggest issue facing the East Bay. Last week, the state legislature delivered some help to alleviate the crisis, but only time will tell if the wisdom of allowing developers a quick path to building more housing was ultimately pan out. The potential loss of … Continue reading EBC AGENDA | SEPT 15-21 | OAKLAND public bank; FREMONT rent review ordinance; HAYWARD shuttle study; KHANNA town hall
Oakland City Council had little interest in questioning Elaine Brown’s non-profit, except her top rival Desley Brooks
Elaine Brown, Alameda County SupervisorKeith Carson and Oakland CouncilmemberDesley Brooks in an undated photo.OAKLAND CITY COUNCILApparently, Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks and former Black Panther and Oakland activist Elaine Brown have no limits on being in the same room. On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council approved a land disposition agreement for the property at Seventh and … Continue reading Oakland City Council had little interest in questioning Elaine Brown’s non-profit, except her top rival Desley Brooks
Supervisor Keith Carson knew about conflict of interest when giving $710k in county funds to employee, former Black Panther Elaine Brown’s non-profit
Supervisor Keith CarsonALAMEDA COUNTY GRAND JURYAlameda County Supervisor Keith Carson violated the county's conflict of interests rules when he hired former Black Panther leader Elaine Carson to his staff and allocated $710,000 in funding to the housing non-profit she created in 2014, according to an Alameda County grand jury report released Monday. It also concluded … Continue reading Supervisor Keith Carson knew about conflict of interest when giving $710k in county funds to employee, former Black Panther Elaine Brown’s non-profit
Grand jury: Oakland’s misuse of closed session with developers looks like backroom dealing
A rendering of the 24-story luxury buildingthat was initially proposed fot the sale ofOakland-owned land in 2015.ALAMEDA COUNTY GRAND JURYOakland’s proposed sale two years ago of a sliver of city-owned property near Lake Merritt, known as the East 12th Street Remainder parcel, rankled community activists for its brazen lack of transparency and resulted on one … Continue reading Grand jury: Oakland’s misuse of closed session with developers looks like backroom dealing
BUSTED! ‘Sick’ McElhaney caught playing hooky from Oakland council meeting
Oakland Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaneyis becoming her own worst nightmare for re-election.OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL |ELECTION 2016 |A much-anticipated fundraiser for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker hosted by Rep. Barbara Lee was held Tuesday night at the Oakland Marriott--just a few blocks from a session of the Oakland City Council. For Oakland Council President Lynette … Continue reading BUSTED! ‘Sick’ McElhaney caught playing hooky from Oakland council meeting
EBCampaign: Did FREMONT’S MAYOR get left hanging? ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMS slam grand jury for racial bias
42 DAYS UNTIL ELECTION DAY |Fremont's City Hall chambers--not really much of a hall, really, nor a chambers--was packed Friday night to hear from mayoral candidates Mayor Bill Harrison and Vice Mayor Lily Mei. Growth, whether smart, dumb, or ravenous, is definitely on the minds of Fremonters this November. When Harrison, a first-term mayor, said … Continue reading EBCampaign: Did FREMONT’S MAYOR get left hanging? ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMS slam grand jury for racial bias
Alameda County grand jury comes down hard on Oakland city government
Alameda County grand jury concluded Oakland Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney usedher position for personal benefit.ALAMEDA COUNTY GRAND JURY | Oakland City Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney used her position for her own personal benefit, said an annual report from the Alameda County grand jury. In addition, the City of Oakland abandoned its own procurement rules … Continue reading Alameda County grand jury comes down hard on Oakland city government
City Hall Insider: City Council notes from around the East Bay, Sept. 1
ALAMEDA/Sept 1, 7 p.m.Environmental protection; hotel appeal; new housingWETLAND MITIGATION Two areas at Alameda Point have been identified for a potential Wetland Mitigation Bank that could bring the city millions in new revenues, said a staff report. Nearly 158 acres of wetlands near the Oakland Estuary and around 12 acres of shoreline at Seaplane Lagoon … Continue reading City Hall Insider: City Council notes from around the East Bay, Sept. 1
Grand jury: Fremont defied spirit of transparency with email retention policy
Unsaved city emails are purged after just 30 daysGRAND JURY REPORT | FREMONT | The Alameda County city government closest in proximity and ethos to Silicon Valley is apparently living in the technological dark ages when it comes to email retention and transparency.An Alameda County grand jury report released Monday strongly faulted the City of … Continue reading Grand jury: Fremont defied spirit of transparency with email retention policy
Alameda County grand jury is examining Oakland’s bungled garbage deal
The Alameda County grand jury's annual report is typically released in late June.OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | The spate of controversies that followed the Oakland City Council’s decision last August to initially award a $1 billion garbage contract to a local operator with little requisite infrastructure to handle the job has gained the attention of the Alameda County … Continue reading Alameda County grand jury is examining Oakland’s bungled garbage deal
EAST BAY CITIZEN 