Hayward City Hall is in many ways a chamber of secrets masking serious dysfunction. HAYWARD | When Greg Jones, then Hayward’s city manager, was secretly dating a sitting councilmember, the City Council and entire city government enabled the illicit and… Read More ›
Greg Jones
A new day for the Hayward City Council includes a quartet of recognizable faces
Councilmember Francisco Zermeno takes the oath of office Tuesday night in Hayward. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL |Hayward was in a self-congratulatory mood Tuesday as it celebrated the inauguration of four city council members and said goodbye to another. Councilmembers Francisco Zermeno,… Read More ›
EBCAMPAIGN: BONTA REACHES THE INNER CIRCLE ; Swalwell raises alarm over token GOP challenge; QUAN’S HUSBAND DEFENDS HER HONOR
B80 DAYS TO PRIMARY DAY | Assemblymember Rob Bonta’s rise within the state’s Democratic power structure was only slightly tarnished when he was relieved by new Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon two weeks ago of his prime committee chairmanship. Bonta made… Read More ›
June primary filing deadlines passes without many surprises, but Hayward incumbent will not seek re-election
Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley will face only the well-financed Bryan Parker in June. JUNE PRIMARY | Eight state and federal legislative races in the East Bay this June are guaranteed rematches in November; a Hayward city councilmember did not file… Read More ›
EBCAMPAIGN: Dumb & Dumber in CA17; Sign Stealer Joins Race; Missing Hayward Incumbent; Don’t Mess with Hags!; Bonta’s mom supports renters
95 DAYS UNTIL PRIMARY DAY | Mike Honda: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you Mary, just… The least you can do is level with me. What are my… Read More ›
5 BEST EAST BAY PRIMARY RACES IN 2016: #4 HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL
ELECTION16 | Starting in 2013, the Hayward City Council waged a war over wages and ultimately imposed a five percent wage cut on more than 300 city employees represented by SEIU Local 1021. Following the council’s decision in February 2014,… Read More ›
No consensus from Hayward leaders for combatting homelessness
Hayward Councilmember Greg Jones said the city needs an emergency homeless shelter. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Homelessness in Hayward continues to be a vexing problem for its city council. While the problem exists in the city and primarily in its… Read More ›
Mark Salinas plots return to Hayward City Council next year
Mark Salinas during a Hayward City Council meeting in 2014. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Former Hayward Councilmember Mark Salinas may have made the biggest gamble of the 2014 election cycle when instead of running for likely re-election to his council… Read More ›
Hayward may seek greater campaign finance transparency
Hayward Councilmembers Greg Jones and Al Mendall may be targeted by unions for their vote to impose a wage cut on city workers. Some CMs may fear union reprisal in 2016 election HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | With an eye toward a… Read More ›
Hayward mayor proposes ‘work-at-home, skip-a-shower day’
Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday said she has been known to forsake a shower, but only if she plans to spend the entire day at home. The idea is just another of many… Read More ›
Hayward is hoping to market its way to prosperity with rebranding
Hayward’s new marketing campaign: Simple, green and straightforward HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | When Frank Holland, Hayward’s community relations officer, pored over the city’s host of marketing materials, he found it lacked a cohesive look and message. “Visually, there is an… Read More ›
Hayward irons out some kinks in its massage parlor regulations
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Over the past few years, the Hayward City Council has tried to legislate away some of its more seedy downtown elements. On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved new regulations on massage parlors enacted by the State… Read More ›
Vanquished Hayward Councilman Says Residents Need to Start Voting
Mark Salinas: looking ahead to 2016? HAYWARD | Former Hayward Councilmember Mark Salinas suffered two political defeats within the same month last July. He lost his bid for mayor, the race he chose to run instead of seeking re-election to… Read More ›
Hayward’s Halliday Makes An Astute First Move As Mayor
Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | There’s a reason why it’s good to be the king. Of course, it means you run the show and during new Mayor Barbara Halliday’s first chance to wield her powers last week,… Read More ›
Halliday Takes the Helm in Hayward
Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday takes the oath of office Tuesday night. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Hayward said goodbye to one mayor and welcomed a familiar face. Mayor Barbara Halliday took the oath of office Tuesday night and urged residents to… Read More ›
The Case for Candidates Avoiding The Bay Area News Group Editorial Board
Bonta’s Fundraising Drive | Nobody Wants To Run For Mayor In San Leandro | Swalwell OK With His Ethics CHAPTER 7 | In the fall of 2012, San Leandro Councilmember Jim Prola was gearing up for a likely winning re-election… Read More ›
Hayward Moves Ahead With Regulations On Free Food Sharing
Portuguese Park on C Street, one of the sites of free food sharing events in Hayward. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL//FOOD SHARING | Despite an uproar Tuesday night from homeless advocates over the Hayward City Council’s attempt to regulate outdoor food sharing… Read More ›
The Poor And Hungry Could Face Limited Access To Free Food Vendors In Hayward
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL//HOMELESS | Charitable groups that feed the poor in Hayward may soon be required to gain city approval and secure costly food handling permits from the Alameda County Health Department. Some Hayward downtown businesses and city officials say the… Read More ›
Sweeney’s Departure Next Year Leaves A Wide-Open Mayoral Race In Hayward
Two terms is enough for Michael Sweeney. HAYWARD//2014 ELECTION/MAYOR | Two weeks ago, when striking city employees in Hayward mocked Mayor Michael Sweeney for taking a vacation while they stood outside City Hall demanding a new contract, long-time observers uttered a… Read More ›
Lockyer Allows His Legacy To Grow
SUNDAY COLUMN | Despite your party affiliation or disdain for his last few years in office, there is no doubt Lockyer is one of the East Bay’s greatest political minds ever. Lockyer this week announced he will retire after serving… Read More ›
Hayward Poker Club Gets Approval For Expansion; Mayor Disagrees
The Palace on Mission Boulevard. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | The Palace Poker Casino has called Hayward home for nearly 60 years. Its current location at the end of Mission Boulevard near the bustling Jackson Street is too small for the… Read More ›
Hayward May Soon Implement Regulations For Free Food-Sharing Groups That Feed The City’s Poor
Public places like Portuguese Park near C Street in Hayward attract free food-sharing operators. HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Changes may be coming for how Hayward regulates non-governmental free food-sharing programs for the poor in public spaces. Hayward city staff detailed a… Read More ›
Hayward Council Directs Staff To Immediately Terminate Red-Light Cameras
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Hayward is giving the green light to begin dismantling its red-light cameras. The City Council voted, 6 to 1, Tuesday night to direct staff to create a plan to consider immediately terminating its red light camera program,… Read More ›
Hayward Becomes Latest To Crack Down On Internet Sweepstakes Businesses
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Ron Doyle’s Internet café is located in the shadows of Hayward City Hall, but the owner says those inside are doing more than hovering over his business. A countywide bid to shut down businesses like Doyle’s… Read More ›
NOTES: Rookies Mendall, Jones Seem Like Rising Stars In Hayward
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL//NOTES | The key to a Hayward renaissance has always focused on curing its struggling school district, but its future also lies in rehabilitating the areas around the South Hayward BART station. It is not only an unsafe… Read More ›
How I Got The Infamous Armas-Heredia Sext Messages
INSIDE THE STORIES OF 2012 | The original plan last July was to take the soon-to-be infamous text messages and present them to the Hayward school board during public comment. Jose Aldana, Maribel Heredia’s long-time fiancé and father of her… Read More ›
Armas, Heredia Seen Together at LWV Forum and Walking Streets Together Afterwards
Hayward school board members Jesus Armas, Maribel Heredia Oct. 5 at City Hall. PHOTO/Shane Bond HAYWARD SCHOOL BOARD SCANDAL | Even after the revelation of their salacious scandal, both Hayward school board members Jesus Armas and Maribel Heredia, were seen last Friday… Read More ›
Text Messages Reveal Another Illicit Romance Among Public Officials In Hayward
HAYWARD SCHOOL BOARD | Two current members of the Hayward School Board are participating in an inappropriate relationship, according to text messages obtained by The Citizen. In addition, numerous sources, including the disgruntled ex-fiance who confronted one of the alleged… Read More ›
Recent Stability In Hayward Tested As Former City Manager Joins Council
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | In a ceremony that featured numerous references to the geekdom of both the departing city council members and their two replacements, the body’s inclination for stability will again be tested. Two years after clearing the way for… Read More ›
Hayward Says Goodbye To Quirk, Henson; Adds Jones, Mendall Tonight
HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Two of the Hayward City Council’s longest tenured city council members will make room tonight for an infusion of new blood with the swearing-in of former City Manager Greg Jones and Planning Commissioner Al Mendall. “We’re losing our two geeks,” joked Mayor… Read More ›