ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILA long-awaited investigative report from Southern California Attorney Michael Jenkins released Wednesday night found Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie violated the City Charter by sending a letter of recommendation for the firefighters union-preferred candidate to the city manager while… Read More ›
city charter
Alameda investigator finds Oddie violated charter, also says specific section needs revisions
Despite a number of explosive allegations, the report found Jim Oddie’s violation occurred after he sent a letter of recommendation for the fire chief candidate favored by the firefighters. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAlameda Councilmember Jim Oddie was found to have violated… Read More ›
What to expect from Alameda investigator’s report on City Council interference
Alameda’s report on council interference is scheduled to be released on Wednesday. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILIt’s been six months since the Alameda City Council hired an independent investigator to probe a number of claims laid out by Alameda City Manager Jill… Read More ›
Alameda City Council calls special closed session next week; investigation believed to be topic
Alameda councilmembers met for five hours during a closed session in late January likely discussing the same item being heard Friday. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAn independent inquiry into allegations made last October by Alameda City Manager Jill Keimach against unnamed councilmembers… Read More ›
SEIU files suit against Oakland for violation of City Charter
OAKLAND CITY COUNCILOakland’s largest public employees union filed a lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court Tuesday alleging the City of Oakland is violating its City Charter with an over-reliance on part-time workers. Representatives for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU),… Read More ›
Alameda city manager, in memo, alleges councilmembers illegally interfered in selection of fire chief
Alameda City Hall is again in upheaval after its citymanager alleged some councilmembers violated itsCity Charter. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAlameda City Manager Jill Keimach, in a memo sent to the City Council earlier this month, alleged that some elected city officials… Read More ›
A potential Alameda City Charter crisis again flares over mayor’s latest planning board picks
Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer’s future planning board nominations might face indefinite uncertainty. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAlameda may be in the midst of a City Charter crisis. Earlier this week, two of Alameda Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer‘s nominations to the influential Planning… Read More ›
Extra! Extra! Local Alameda newspaper nabs city contract from East Bay Times
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILThe Bay Area News Group’s Alameda Journal is basically three stories and a community calendar published once a week. It just got slimmer after losing a contract to the locally-owned Alameda Sun to print legal notices for the… Read More ›
Support builds for comprehensive review of San Leandro’s ‘archaic’ city charter
San Leandro Councilmember Ursula Reed advocated for extending council term limits, but discussion turned toward revamping the city charter. SAN LEADNRO CITY COUNCIL | San Leandro’s city charter, its guiding document for governance, is archaic and need wholesale changes, said… Read More ›
Gallo wants McElhaney to publicly address ethics allegations against her
Councilmember Noel Gallo wants Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney to address newpaper’s allegations against her. OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | At least one member of the Oakland City Council is willing to speak publicly on the multiple controversies surrounding council President… Read More ›
San Leandro to swear-in four new City Council members
Mayor-elect Pauline Cutter will be sworn-in Monday, but won’t assume office until Jan. 1. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The largest class of new San Leandro council members in the city’s history will be sworn-in during a special meeting Monday… Read More ›
San Leandro Places 30-Year Sales Tax Extension on November Ballot
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | Nearly four years after voters in San Leandro approved a much-needed sales tax measure viewed by many to have helped the city escape the worst of the Great Recession, city leaders will again ask them… Read More ›
No Mention of Mayor Cassidy Quitting; Squabble Over Naming Vice Mayor
First term Councilmember Benny Lee is San Leandro’s next vice mayor. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The level of quiet acrimony at the San Leandro City Council is beginning to bubble over. A day after Mayor Stephen Cassidy announced on… Read More ›
Ruby’s Mayoral Bid Focuses on Getting Oakland Out of the Red
Courtney Ruby: Oakland’s newest mayoral candidate. OAKLAND | MAYOR | Telling it like it is got Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby in trouble with two of the city’s black council members. Despite protestation against her scathing audit last year alleging… Read More ›
2013 Year In Lists: Desley Brooks’s Top 5 Stages of Grief Over Ethics Allegations
2013 YEAR-IN-REVIEW | The five stages of grief is denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Before and after a report from City Auditor Courtney Ruby alleged Councilmember Desley Brooks violated the City Charter’s non-interference laws that sets a barrier between… Read More ›
Motion To Reconsider San Leandro Flag Flap Goes On Without Top Supporter
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL//FLAG FLAP | San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy will bring the controversial Chinese flag vote back the City Council Monday night, but the council member who first place the item on the agenda last month will not… Read More ›
Kalb Begins Task Of Giving Oakland Watchdog Group Some Teeth
Councilmember Kalb’s public ethics group began work this week. OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL//ETHICS | Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb took a moment Monday to speak for the entire council. “There’s a sense out there in the community that residents have lost trust… Read More ›
San Leandro Mayor Suspends Council Decision To Fly Chinese Flag At City Hall
Mayor Stephen Cassidy voted against the resolution on Monday. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL//FLAG FLAP | The Chinese flag won’t be flying over San Leandro City Hall after all. Three days after a contentious City Council meeting narrowly approved celebrating China’s… Read More ›
Brooks Escapes Censure; Council Admonishes Itself For Past Interference
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks escaped censure Thursday night in a meeting filled with racial innuendo and a flood of support from members of her East Oakland district. However, the City Council voted to reprimand itself, excluding its three… Read More ›
Defiant Brooks Offers 35-Page Retort To Censure; Calls Charges ‘Purely Political’
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL//BROOKS CENSURE | Don’t confuse the relative silence from Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks before she faces censure proceedings this Thursday with resignation, she’s merely been assembling her defense. On Monday, Brooks, who was accused last March by City Auditor Courtney Ruby… Read More ›
Alameda County D.A. Won’t File Charges Against Oakland Councilmember Brooks
The statute of limitations for prosecuting Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks for allegations of 12 violations of the City Charter has passed, said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley. On the heels of a civil grand jury report criticizing Brooks and… Read More ›
Reid Withdraws Proposal To ‘Audit the Auditor’s Audit’
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL | Oakland Councilman Larry Reid has withdrawn an item from next week’s agenda asking for an outside auditor to look into allegations made against him and Councilmember Desley Reid by the city’s own auditor. Oakland City Auditor… Read More ›
Brooks Calls Audit A ‘Political Vendetta’
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL//RUBY REPORT | In her first public comments in response to a city auditor’s report alleging 12 violations of the city charter, Councilmember Desley Brooks called its findings a “political vendetta” and demanded her colleagues ask for proof. “This council should be… Read More ›