Category: Hayward City Council

Hayward is spending $75,000 for Robocop that yielded zero citations during one-year pilot program

Hayward officials extended a $75,000 pilot program for a surveillance robot that has roamed a parking garage across the street from City Hall for the past year. But while Hayward city staff argued the white, bullet-shaped robot had successfully decreased crime in the area, it also did not yield a single citation or prosecution. The … Continue reading Hayward is spending $75,000 for Robocop that yielded zero citations during one-year pilot program →

Hayward is preparing to join the list of cities snuffing out teen vaping

Over the past year, East Bay cities such as Oakland, Richmond, Livermore, Alameda, and San Leandro have moved toward some type of restriction on the sale of flavored tobacco products, including those used for vaping. "We have all seen it nationally, and here in Hayward, the epidemic of teen vaping that is just growing and … Continue reading Hayward is preparing to join the list of cities snuffing out teen vaping →

As housing crisis rages, Hayward aims to build only 74 homes on 37 acres of prime land

A 37-acre parcel of hillside land near Cal State East Bay in Hayward, long ago envisioned by CalTrans as part of a freeway extension, moved closer to development on Tuesday, but not without concerns the future neighborhood will cater to the rich at a time when housing displacement is becoming rampant in the city. The … Continue reading As housing crisis rages, Hayward aims to build only 74 homes on 37 acres of prime land →

Hayward approves short-term moratorium on rent increases above 5%

A new rent stabilization ordinance in Hayward was formally approved Tuesday night. But the ordinance does not come into effect until July 25. In order to prevent potential rent gouging in the interim by Hayward landlords, the Hayward City Council unanimously placed a short-term emergency moratorium on rent increases above five percent for roughly 9,500 … Continue reading Hayward approves short-term moratorium on rent increases above 5% →

‘Bertie’ Cooper, three-term Hayward mayor, dies

Roberta "Bertie" Cooper, a three-term mayor of Hayward, who led the city through a period of increased development, died Monday. She was 82. The cause of death was cancer. Cooper served 18 years as an elected official in Hayward, 12 of them as mayor from 1994-2006. Prior to that, Cooper served on the Hayward City … Continue reading ‘Bertie’ Cooper, three-term Hayward mayor, dies →

‘It’s more than what we have’: New rent protections coming to Hayward

After decades of landlords slowly whittling away the number of units protected by a city rent ordinance to as low as 1,000 through vacancy decontrol, the Hayward City Council  voted late Tuesday night to repeal and replace the ordinance with a more stringent menu of renters protections. Vacancy decontrol measures allow a landlord to raise … Continue reading ‘It’s more than what we have’: New rent protections coming to Hayward →

Hayward: Council moves along Wahab’s referral for third-party oversight of fatal police shootings

With frustrations from the family of the man slain by Hayward Police last November running high, the Hayward City Council unanimously, but cautiously, approved a referral asking city staff to prepare an independent investigation policy for instances when deadly force is used by its police officers. The proposal requested by Councilmember Aisha Wahab requires the … Continue reading Hayward: Council moves along Wahab’s referral for third-party oversight of fatal police shootings →

Potentially explosive meeting in Hayward as police chief appears with Gonsalez family

For six months, Agustin Gonsalez's family has made impassioned pleas for Hayward elected officials to, at minimum, express words of sorrow for the loss of their son, who was shot and killed by Hayward Police last November. At most, the family wants an independent investigation of the incident in which two Hayward police officers fatally … Continue reading Potentially explosive meeting in Hayward as police chief appears with Gonsalez family →

HAYWARD: Wahab calls for independent investigation of fatal police shooting

Hayward Councilmember Aisha Wahab said Tuesday night that she will ask for an independent investigation of deadly force used by Hayward police officers in the Nov. 15 death of Agustin Gonsalez. Wahab made the announcement prior to a Hayward City Council public comment period Tuesday that again highlighted the Gonsalez family's growing frustration with the … Continue reading HAYWARD: Wahab calls for independent investigation of fatal police shooting →

Hayward to add 8 new cannabis permits and rescind one this week

Hayward is set to approve eight more cannabis permits on Tuesday night and may rid itself of one previously approved commercial distribution permit. Three of the eight proposed permits also received permits from the city during a previous round of approval for separate cannabis activities. BAS Research, Empress Extracts, and Gurpreet Sing for manufacturing; Always … Continue reading Hayward to add 8 new cannabis permits and rescind one this week →

Hayward may rescind cannabis permit after learning of associate’s arrest for illegal pot

A cannabis business previously approved for a commercial distribution permit in Hayward could have the license rescinded next week after city officials learned of the applicant's alleged connections to a man arrested by Hayward Police earlier this year for running a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation site. Last June, the Hayward City Council approved a conditional-use … Continue reading Hayward may rescind cannabis permit after learning of associate’s arrest for illegal pot →

Hayward to study referral giving housing preferences to city residents

Some Hayward councilmembers showed growing pains with new council rules for offering and debating referrals.

HAYWARD: Wahab wants residents to have first dibs on city-backed housing, home ownership

With an eye toward limiting the displacement of Hayward residents, Councilmember Aisha Wahab wants Hayward residents to have the first crack at housing and home ownership opportunities that are backed by the city. Wahab plans to offer a referral on the matter at the next Hayward City Council meeting on April 30. "This is not … Continue reading HAYWARD: Wahab wants residents to have first dibs on city-backed housing, home ownership →

Hayward mayor says she failed to control raucous meeting last month, offers new rules

The atmosphere inside the Hayward City Council chambers last Mar. 19 was unlike any public meeting in recent memory, Mayor Barbara Halliday said last week. Since last December, family and throngs of police accountability advocates have spoken out vociferously against the city following the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man by Hayward Police. At times … Continue reading Hayward mayor says she failed to control raucous meeting last month, offers new rules →

Hayward City Council referral debate got really personal

The tension at Hayward City Hall has been building for months between some elected officials and the insurgent councilmember appearing to set a new paradigm in the city's politics. The mean-spirited comments and backbiting that have been evident in the background towards Councilmember Aisha Wahab's style and bold legislative direction spilled out into the public … Continue reading Hayward City Council referral debate got really personal →