San Leandro Councilmember Benny Lee addresses an audience at the city’s marina following a flag-raising ceremony in honor of China’s national day. PHOTO/Steven Tavares SAN LEANDRO//FLAG FLAP | They couldn’t fly the Chinese over San Leandro City Hall, so over 100… Read More ›
Jim Prola
San Leandro Approves Draft Ordinance Allowing Two Dispensaries
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL//DISPENSARIES | After much advocacy and derision regarding one of San Leandro’s most controversial topics, the City Council passed a draft ordinance that could allow up to two medical cannabis dispensaries in city boundaries following over three years of debate…. Read More ›
After Divisive Discussion, Chinese Flag Will Fly Over San Leandro City Hall Oct. 1
San Leandro Councilmember Benny Lee SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | A foreign banner will fly over San Leandro next month. With the approval of a controversial plan to celebrate China’s national day by flying the country’s flag over San Leandro City Hall next… Read More ›
San Leandro Inching Closer To Allowing Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | Nearly three years ago, the San Leandro City Council was in the midst of reefer madness. In late 2010, it nearly placed a 22-month moratorium on medical cannabis dispensaries–a potential death sentence possibly leading to an outright ban…. Read More ›
San Leandro Moves Ahead With More Security Cameras; Hints At Limiting Data Retention
SAN LEANDRO//PRIVACY | San Leandro City Council approved to move ahead with expanding its video surveillance system, however, with hesitation over the one-year retention period of information collected by the cameras. The council approved, 5-2, directing staff to formulate a plan for additional cameras… Read More ›
Prola Says He’s Not In The Mix For San Leandro Mayor
Councilmember Jim Prola SAN LEANDRO//2014 ELECTION/MAYOR | San Leandro’s most liberal city councilman says he is not interested in running for mayor next year. However, if the city’s notorious Mayor Stephen Cassidy upsets him, he might change his mind. “I… Read More ›
PROLA NAMED SAN LEANDRO’S VICE MAYOR; SOUZA FEELS SNUBBED
New Vice Mayor Jim Prola SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | San Leandro Councilmember Jim Prola was appointed vice mayor this week. The motion was made without discussion and passed, 4-3. Then there was a pause. Councilmembers detailed their mostly mundane… Read More ›
Chan Says Sutter Health Made First Move On San Leandro Hospital Negotiations
ALCO Supervisor Wilma Chan SAN LEANDRO HOSPITAL | After years of ambivalence by Sutter Health to even negotiate with Alameda County or the Eden Township Healthcare District over San Leandro Hospital, it approached Supervisor Wilma Chan on its own last… Read More ›
Commercial Wind Turbine Approved For San Leandro’s Shoreline As Residents Ready For A Lawsuit
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL//ENVIRONMENT | Approval for a single 100-foot wind turbine on the San Leandro shoreline was reaffirmed Monday night by the San Leandro City Council, 5-1, leaving residents at the nearby Heron Bay housing development to weigh their next… Read More ›
Budget Issues In San Leandro Stymie Implementation Of Climate Action Plan
CO2 levels in San Leandro have dropped by 8.2 percent since 2009. SAN LEANDRO | The city’s three-year-old climate action plan may not reach its goal of reducing emissions in San Leandro before its 2020 target date following years of tight… Read More ›
Local Pastor Urged Congregants To Oppose San Leandro’s Proposed Pot Dispensary Ordinance
SAN LEANDRO | Following two hours of testimony from San Leandro residents over a proposed ordinance allowing up to two medical cannabis dispensaries within city limits, council members commented upon the seemingly even number of those in favor and against…. Read More ›
Citizens, Special Interests Grapple With San Leandro’s Proposed Pot Dispensary
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The San Leandro city council hosted a work session for public input Tuesday night concerning the medical cannabis dispensary ordinance recently drafted by staff with a few hundred in attendance to speak on the controversial… Read More ›
LiveTweet Highlights: #slmtg
//storify.com/eastbaycitizen/ebc-slmtg-on-medical-cannabis-dispensaries-in-san-2.js[View the story “EBC #slmtg on Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in San Leandro ” on Storify] EBC #slmtg on Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in San Leandro Medical cannabis dispensaries may be coming to San Leandro. The San Leandro City Council, Feb. 12… Read More ›
Controversial San Leandro Wind Turbine Proposal Comes Before City Zoning Commission
SAN LEANDRO | After six months of slight revisions and gathering of political will, a controversial plan to erect a 100-foot wind turbine on the San Leandro shoreline near the Heron Bay tract of homes, will come before the city’… Read More ›
San Leandro To Offer Medical Cannabis Ordinance For Public Discussion;Cassidy Says He Visited Pot Club
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | San Leandro city staff presented a report Monday night that allows the application for two cannabis clubs in San Leandro at least 1,000 feet away from schools, businesses or parks and relegated to industrial zones…. Read More ›
San Leandro Voters Issue A Stunning Rebuke To Cassidy’s Beliefs, Cantankerous Style
Stephen Cassidy: in the drink? SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | It appears San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy went to the well one too many times. The stubborn moderate conservative mayor surprised many in 2010 with his victory based upon fiscal… Read More ›
County Democratic Chair Laments The Loss Of Progressive Standard Bearer Stark
CONGRESS 15 | Even as election returns Tuesday night in the 15th Congressional District race between Rep. Pete Stark and Eric Swalwell slowed to snail’s pace, but showed little hope for the incumbent’s return to Capitol Hill. The chair of the… Read More ›
San Leandro Mayor Cassidy Aids Challengers In Effort To Stack The City Council
Stephen Cassidy ELECTION ’12//SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | Mayor Stephen Cassidy of San Leandro donated money to political allies in all three open seats on the City Council up for re-election including Morgan Mack-Rose for District 2, Chris Crow for… Read More ›
Dlugosh Appointed To San Leandro City Council; Replaces Starosciak Until End Of Year
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The San Leandro City Council is whole once again following the appointment of city planning commissioner Tom Dlugosh to the seat vacated last month by former Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak. Dlugosh, an 18-year veteran of the planning… Read More ›
San Leandro Moves Closer To Appointing New Council Member; Four To Be Interviewed
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | When the remaining members of the San Leandro City Council meet Sept. 13 to choose a replacement for former Councilwoman Joyce Starosciak, who resigned last August, there will only have four candidates to pick from…. Read More ›
Future Of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries In San Leandro Turn A Surprising Corner
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL//MEDICAL MARIJUANA | On July 2, the San Leandro City Council was just hours from likely approving a one-year ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in the East Bay city. Earlier in the day, an California appellate court… Read More ›
San Leandro Approves Its Portion Of The $150m Bus Rapid Transit Plan
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL//TRANSPORTATION | The long and winding path to the destination that is the AC Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit line has now arrived, as it pertains to San Leandro’s southern leg of the $150 million transportation plan. The San Leandro City… Read More ›
Intriguing Council Races Shaping Up In San Leandro; Harrison For Mayor In Fremont
ELECTION ’12//SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The appeal of running for political office in San Leandro has not exactly been robust over the past few years. Two current council members, Diana Souza and Michael Gregory, both in their second terms, have nary… Read More ›
San Leandro Again Takes A Pass On Pot Dispensaries; Pushes Issue To July
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | After two failed motions, the council approved, 6-1, to push a one-year ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and grow-sites within its city limits to their last meeting in July. The council again kicked the can down the road,… Read More ›
San Leandro Takes Another Shot At Enacting Long-Term Pot Dispensary Ordinance
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | If not for lack of political will or systemic willingness to follow Oakland’s lead on the legal front regarding medical marijuana dispensaries, the San Leandro City Council next week will again take steps to blot out… Read More ›
For Bonta And Ong, An Energized Filipino Electorate May Be A Game Changer
ASSEMBLY 18 | Often times local political campaigns are run somewhat blindly without much real-time feedback to gauge whether one move is more beneficial than another. You have to keep your ear to the ground and feel your gut. One way… Read More ›
Cassidy’s Pension Stance Serves Business Interests; Revels In Attacks Against Workers
ANALYSISMar. 22, 2012 | Like Mayor Jean Quan in Oakland sitting stoically during council meetings against a torrent of angry residents, San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy took repeated body blows from a union activist in silence, but the punches undoubtedly… Read More ›
New City Manager: ‘San Leandro Is At A Tipping Point’
SAN LEANDRO | Jan. 18, 2012 | Resplendent in a three-piece suit, Chris Zapata was approved as the new city manager of San Leandro. Minutes later, though, he absorbed the first volley in what may be the beginning of a contentious period of labor negotiations with the city’s employee… Read More ›
San Leandro Names Chris Zapata Its Next City Manager
Chris Zapata Jan 6, 2012 | After a year since the job became available, San Leandro unanimously named Chris Zapata its next city manager. The announcement was made Thursday evening after a special closed session. The new city manager has held the… Read More ›
San Leandro Police Chief Says Oakland Knew ‘Civil Unrest’ Would Follow Occupy Raid
OCCUPYOAKLANDSAN LEANDRO |Nov. 8, 2011| San Leandro Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli indicated Monday night that Oakland officials expected civil unrest after the Oct. 25 raid on Occupy Oakland protesters and it would necessitate mutual aid from neighboring public safety agencies. “They… Read More ›