Now former Alameda city manager Jill Keimach settled for a $900,000 payout this week, but she was asking for me, including having taxpayers pay for any potential criminal defense
John Russo
Former Alameda city manager John Russo fired in Riverside
John Russo left the Alameda City Manager’s Office in February 2015. ALAMEDAWith Alameda’s city manager situation in a state of disarray, comes news its former top administrator, John Russo, was fired Wednesday from the same position in Riverside. Russo left… Read More ›
LAST 5 THINGS I THINK ABOUT EAST BAY POLITICS
Rebecca Kaplan is going to sweep into the AD15 race late and take it. ELECTION 2018➤I think its absolutely useless to do an analysis of the 15th Assembly District’s current large field of candidates because the person who will sworn-in… Read More ›
Keimach becomes Alameda’s next city manager; mayor inexplicably votes no
Jill Keimach’s four-year contract includes a $245,000 annual base salary. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Alameda named its next city manager Tuesday night, but without the support of Mayor Trish Spencer. In an almost unprecedented move, Spencer was the lone vote… Read More ›
Moraga town manager to be named Alameda’s next city manager
Jill Keimach has served as Moraga’s town manager since Nov. 2010. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Moraga Town Manager Jill Keimach has accepted an offer to become Alameda’s next city manager, the city announced Wednesday. The Alameda City Council is expected… Read More ›
UPDATE: A’s strike out again at fan displaying an anti-ownership banner
A visual display in 2010 of disenchantment toward Oakland A’s ownership. PHOTO/CSNBayArea OAKLAND | An A’s fan was escorted out of the Oakland Coliseum during Monday’s night’s game for displaying a sign the team’s management may have found offensive. And it’s… Read More ›
The wild and wacky in Alameda politics
Alameda Mayor Trish Spencer’s first few months in office have been turbulent and highlighted by extremely lengthy meetings and passive aggressive comments amount council colleagues. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | After viewing a video recording of the March 3 Alameda City… Read More ›
Alameda mayor again called out for off-the-cuff comments
Alameda Mayor Trish Spencer and Councilmember Jim Oddie had testy exchange Tuesday. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | On the same day the Alameda firefighters union criticized Mayor Trish Spencer for comments she made in private against them and other council colleagues,… Read More ›
Alameda firefighters say audio recording shows mayor making inflammatory comments about them, council colleagues
Alameda Firefighters union says they obtained a recording of Mayor Trish Spencer speaking critical of them and two council colleagues. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | The day after the Alameda City Council approved new public safety contracts last month, Mayor Trish… Read More ›
Some in Alameda continue to press for severe austerity measure despite upturn
Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie noted last month the city’s 2011 forecast for FY2015 turned out to be $52 million off the mark. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Alamedans admittedly have an island mentality. The city, in fact, is an island, but… Read More ›
John Russo, Alameda’s big fish, moves to a bigger pond
Alameda City Manager John Russo accepted a new job in Riverside last February. ALAMEDA | Outgoing Alameda City Manager John Russo likes to use sports metaphors. So, when news broke in February that Russo, along with his oversize personality, was… Read More ›
Alameda’s interim city manager will earn more than her predecessor, John Russo
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Last month, Alameda City Manager John Russo’s assistant, Liz Warmerdam, was tabbed by the City Council to replace him on interim basis. In March, Russo accepted a $295,000 contract to become the next city manager of Riverside,… Read More ›
John Russo to Alameda’s mayor: ‘I need you to get control of the chamber’
A quiet mayhem has often highlighted recent council meetings in Alameda. Blogger Lauren Do captured one such scene in this video that precipitates a shocking admonishment of Mayor Trish Spencer by City Manager John Russo. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Oakland… Read More ›
Warmerdam in line to be named Alameda interim city manager
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | With Alameda City Manager John Russo announcing he is taking the same position in Riverside, who will run the day-to-day operations of city government in the interim? City Hall sources say Assistant City Manager Liz Warmerdam… Read More ›
UPDATE: John Russo says arrivederci to Alameda; takes new job in Riverside
John Russo begins his new job as Riverside city manager in May. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Alameda City Manager John Russo is leaving his post on the Island for the same position in Riverside, according to a local report Thursday… Read More ›
Odd Signals Coming from a Powerful East Bay Labor Group
The reasons why labor cleared the field for bad boy AC Transit board member Joel Young last month are still uncertain. The Alameda Labor Council appeared set to push Young’s endorsement through before members of SEIU Local 1021 intervened to… Read More ›
O’Malley’s In-N-Out Burger Order: Hold The Facts
ALAMEDA | Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley usually avoids the spotlight. But in late July, she stood before the City of Alameda’s planning board and voiced opposition to a proposed In-N-Out Burger at a new development slated for construction… Read More ›
With A Bright Future Ahead, Alameda Officially Takes Control Of Alameda Point
Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore signs the conveyance of Alameda Point June 24 with Roger Natsuhara, assistant secretary of the Navy. PHOTO/Steven Tavares ALAMEDA//DEVELOPMENT | Sixteen years after the Alameda’s Naval Air Station closed forever, the U.S. officially conveyed the scenic, but still… Read More ›
Alameda Group Files Petition to Recall Assembly Candidate Rob Bonta
ELECTION ’12//ASSEMBLY 18/ALAMEDA | By SHANE BOND | The CitizenELECTION ’12//ASSEMBLY 18/ALAMEDA | In Alameda, a familiar adversary for most of its City Council has collected over 40 signatures for a recall campaign against current 18th Assembly District frontrunner, Rob… Read More ›
For Smokers, Alameda May Be An Island Of Snitches
ALAMEDA | Nov. 28, 2011 | Nearly everyone in Alameda agrees smoking is bad for you. It is also bad for others who inhale your secondhand smoke, but some other things may ultimately be worse for the city’s overall civic health, critics say.The recently… Read More ›
Alameda Citizens’ Group Ask AG to Investigate Alleged Corruption; Wants To Disband Fire Dept.
ALAMEDA | Oct. 12, 2011 | An Alameda citizens’ group has asked the state attorney general to investigate allegations of corruption between members of the City Council and Fire Department. The group led by eight community members, including former council candidate… Read More ›
Answers In the Crown Beach Drowning Hard To Come By As Alamedans Press Public Safety
ALAMEDA | Oct. 12, 2011 | The former state fire chief hired earlier this year to investigated the tragic drowning of Alameda resident Raymond Zack faulted the city’s public safety agencies for its inaction and institutional jealousy, but failed to shed new light… Read More ›
Could Justice Department Sweep In Stark For Pot Legislation?
MEMO WARNING AGAINST LARGE SCALE POT CULTIVATION IS SIMILAR TO ADVICE GIVEN BY RUSSO TO OAKLAND CITY COUNCILBy Steven Tavaressteven.tavares@eastbaycitizen.comFollow @eastbaycitizen on twitter Medical marijuana advocates say DOJ memo is meant to intimidate local leaders and legislation. In what some… Read More ›
Do Gang Injunctions Curb Crime Or Allow Police Greater Focus?
Oakland city attorney againmocks plaintiff snagged by gang injunction OAKLAND CITY ATTORNEY DESCRIBES LATEST SUSPECT AS OMAR FROM “THE WIRE” City officials in Hayward are watching Oakland’s experience with gang injunction intently for clues on how it can use the… Read More ›
Russo to Alameda? The Wild Island Just Got Crazier
REPORTS SAY OAKLAND CITY ATTORNEY IS CHOICE FOR ALAMEDA CITY MANGERBy Steven Tavares When it comes to bizarre antics and dastardly political soap operas no city in the East Bay tops Alameda. From deposing its city attorney, city manager and… Read More ›