“You don’t want to get arrested for drinking in public, right?” a Fremont police officer asked Fremont mayoral candidate Justin Sha outside a black-tie fundraiser last October for the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation. Video of Sha’s interaction with Fremont police,… Read More ›
Fremont
Fremont mayor: ‘Taking the knee is something that I’m not going to be doing’
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei was jeered by protesters on Tuesday after she refused to take a symbolic knee in support of police accountability. Mei, along with Fremont Police Chief Kimberly Petersen, and two police captains, attempted to address the group,… Read More ›
Elon Musk’s bid to reopen Fremont Tesla plant is rebuffed; sues Alameda County
Tesla founder Elon Musk has tussled with Alameda County officials in an effort to reopen its sprawling Fremont plant on several occasions since a shelter in place was ordered in March. A plan to resume work on Friday afternoon was… Read More ›
East Bay park district defies Fremont’s wishes; Mission Peak entrance to reopen in two weeks
The staging area that leads to the popular Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Fremont will stay closed through May 4 while East Bay Regional Park District workers clean up garbage and a bathroom left ransacked by residents escaping home confinement… Read More ›
Fremont council member could be looking at censure for proclamation
Fremont elected officials admonished Councilmember Teresa Keng at a meeting Tuesday night for issuing a proclamation without the city and council’s knowledge. Fremont Mayor Lily Mei also raised the possibility of censuring Keng. The severity of Keng’s actions, meanwhile, were… Read More ›
Fremont official is alleged to have created an unauthorized city proclamation
Fremont Councilmember Rick Jones is making a shocking allegation against one of his council colleagues, according to a referral on next Tuesday’s agenda. “It has come to my attention that a councilmember presented a proclamation of support regarding an international… Read More ›
Chat shows Keng encouraged homeless center opponents to protest at mayor’s home
Fremont Councilmember Teresa Keng actively encouraged members of a social media chat group to stage protests at Mayor Lily Mei’s home, in a series of messages posted in late July. The online conversation on WeChat includes hundreds of members who… Read More ›
Fremont’s top political prospect becomes a Democrat, party leaders are ambivalent
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei networked and mingled with California Democratic Party officials and activists two weeks ago at its convention in San Francisco. Her appearance turned some heads among the East Bay insiders at the weekend-long event since the first-term… Read More ›
Fremont’s surveillance state expands; Mayor Mei wants to study ban on overnight RV street parking
Fremont Police will ask the City Council Tuesday night to accept a $182,000 Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant for four solar-powered security camera trailers outfitted with 30-foot telescopic cameras. The cameras “will allow the Police Department to provide… Read More ›
Two East Bay educators lead lawsuit against teachers’ union dues
Lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court is based on last year’s Janus v. AFSCME ruling.
Fremont minimum wage raises to $15 for all businesses by 2021
The Fremont City Council acquiesced to concerns from small business owners and unanimously approved a two-tier schedule Tuesday night for accelerating an increase in the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour for all businesses by 2021, with exemptions for… Read More ›
Fremont looks at two-tiered approach for rising minimum wage to $15
When Fremont councilmembers resume a discussion next week for raising the city’s minimum wage to $15, they will be presented with a new wrinkle intended to protect small business owners. Under a two-tiered schedule, which the council directed staff to… Read More ›
FREMONT: Bonaccorsi admits to four FPPC violations, will pay fine
David Bonaccorsi, the former Fremont councilmember who lost his seat during last month’s election, admitted to violating the state’s Election Code by failing to report income of $10,000 or more to his law firm on four separate occasions. The complaint… Read More ›
Public Comment: Khanna is turning his back on the LGBTQ+ community
Ro Khanna Is Rejecting a LGBTQ+ ‘Purity Test’ by Endorsing Fremont City Council Candidate Yang Shao, writes Glen Shaffer.
Upset Fremont teachers force school trustee to cancel his City Council kickoff event
Fremont teachers say school board president Yang Shao has repeatedly disrespected its union membership. The teachers’ union has been in contract talks with the school district since March 2017. Last week, they fought fire with fire and protested Shao’s fundraising… Read More ›
Alameda County assessor candidate targets Tesla
Phong La, a candidate for Alameda County assessor told local Democrats recently that he would hold Tesla accountable when assessing their Fremont auto plant. But his comments about their labor issues has raised eyebrows.
EBC AGENDA: May 11-17 — A’s-Oakland Coliseum ENA; Budget talks all over the East Bay; ALAMEDA revamps council rules
–OAKLAND– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, May 15, 5:30 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE] –A’S COLISEUM ENA– The Oakland City Council is about to move on Mayor Libby Schaaf‘s pledge last month for the city to enter into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with the… Read More ›
Khanna weighs-in on Fremont school board decision to end sex ed for 4th through 6th graders
FREMONT After the Fremont school board voted early Thursday morning to eliminate sex education for the district’s fourth through sixth graders, the controversial decision, which has roiled the city since March, is now attracting Rep. Ro Khanna on the side… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | APR 27-MAY 3 | ALAMEDA releases long-awaited report on Council interference; FREMONT seeks more density
THE WEEK OF APRIL 27-MAY 3 –ALAMEDA– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, May 1, 7 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–NORTHERN HOUSING TRANSFERS– “On January 2, 2018, the City Council introduced an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance to remove the Government Overlay designation on the North… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | APRIL 13-19 | ALAMEDA scandal unfolds Monday; FREMONT tackles homelessness; HAYWARD begins budget talks
THE WEEK OF APRIL 13-19 –ALAMEDA– Special closed session meeting, Monday, April 16, 5 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–SCANDAL!– It’s been six months since the Alameda City Council hired an outside attorney to investigation claims by City Manager Jill Keimach that unnamed coucilmembers violated… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | APRIL 6-12 | Controversial OAKLAND job training proposal returns; A’s meet with Port; FREMONT rent review will cost $24/unit
THE WEEK OF APRIL 6-12 –OAKLAND– Regular council committee meetings, Tuesday, April 10, starts at 9:30 a.m. ➤Community & Economic Development Committee, 1:30 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–CYPRESS MANDELA TRAINING CENTER– Councilmember Desley Brooks‘ controversial proposal to use funding derived from some voter-approved… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | MAR 30-APR 5 | ALAMEDA on pace to meet state housing requirement; BERKELEY wants to thwart data vendors working with ICE; AD15 forum
THE WEEK OF MAR 30-APR 5 –ALAMEDA– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, April 3, 7 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–HOUSING ELEMENT REPORT– Alameda is on pace to satisfy the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation for building 1,723 units of housing by 2023, says city staff…. Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | MAR 23-29 | BERKELEY may prohibit use of city funds for sugary drinks; HAYWARD spends big $$ for mobile police vehicle; and more
THE WEEK OF MARCH 23-29 –BERKELEY– Regular council meeting, Tuesday, Mar. 27, 6 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–COKE IS NOT IT– Four years ago, Berkeley voters overwhelmingly approved a tax on sugary drinks sales. Now the Berkeley City Council may go further with an… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | MAR 9-15 | OAKLAND reviews Army Base development’s ‘loss of significant redevelopment dollars’; Cell tower appeal in FREMONT
THE WEEK OF MARCH 9-15 –OAKLAND– Regular council committee meetings, Tuesday, Mar. 13, starts at 9:30 a.m.➤Community & Economic Development Committee, 1:30 p.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–OAKLAND ARMY BASE MID-TERM REVIEW– “Initial City funding commitments, originally included projected net tax increment generated between… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | FEB 23-MAR 1 | SAN LEANDRO runs red light cameras; teachers workforce housing in FREMONT; HAYWARD looks at downtown parking
THE WEEK OF FEB. 23-MAR. 1 –OAKLAND– Regular council committee meetings, Tuesday, Feb. 27, start at 9:30 a.m.➤Finance & Management Committee, 9:30 a.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–CANNABIS BIZ TAX POLICY– The committee will received a cannabis business tax policy paper, first requested… Read More ›
Crime is up, raise the bridges! A classic Alameda trope returns with a high-tech spin
Alameda’s Park Street drawbridge. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL–PUBLIC COMMENT–Alameda Police Chief Paul Rolleri says the city is in the midst of a dramatic 30-year drop in crime. However, on Tuesday night he will ask the Alameda City Council to approve the… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA | JAN 5-11 | Oakland library parcel tax on the horizon? No ICE, baby!; San Leandro allocates A1 funding for 62 affordable housing units
THE WEEK OF JANUARY 5-11 –OAKLAND– Regular council committee meetings, Tuesday, Jan. 9, start at 9 a.m. ➤Finance & Management Committee, 9 a.m. [ENTIRE AGENDA HERE]–LIBRARY PARCEL TAX POLL– Budget cuts last year significantly hampered Oakland’s public library system. Unsurprisingly, reduced… Read More ›
East Bay’s Top 10 Races to Watch in 2018
ELECTION 2018While legislative special elections in Southern California proliferate–mainly due to resignations that follow claim of sexual harassment–the level of interesting and competitive races in the East Bay is lacking something fierce. Several cities in Alameda County will decide whether… Read More ›
2018 Predictions: With 99% certainty, here’s who will win East Bay races this year
ELECTION 2018Much will happen on the campaign trail this spring and fall leading to the June primary and November General Election. Someone will say something stupid, others won’t utter a single interesting thought. However, surprises in the form of candidates… Read More ›
2017 Year in East Bay Politics: Jan-Mar: Battle of Berkeley
2017 YEAR IN EAST BAY POLITICSEast Bay residents didn’t exactly head into the new year with hopes of prosperity and self-renewal. President-Elect Donald Trump’s shadow was already darkening every door in the East Bay, especially those griped with fear in… Read More ›