San Leandro Councilmember Lee Thomas SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILWith a number of San Leandro housing projects in the pipeline and a potential push for retail cannabis permits in the near future, Councilmember Lee Thomas believes the city needs a lobbying… Read More ›
Lee Thomas
5 THINGS I THINK: THANKSGIVING EDITION
THINGS I THINK1➤I think Rep. Eric Swalwell is the greatest salesman in America. Over the past two years or more absolutely nobody, except for fellow Golden State Rep. Adam Schiff, has leveraged cable news and social media better to raise… Read More ›
San Leandro: BAL Theatre receives half million in city loans; Flavored tobacco ban finalized; Dispensary receives deadline extension
BAL Theatre owner Dan Dillman in front of the theater’s marquee in 2014. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILThe BAL Theatre, San Leandro’s last Art Deco performing arts building has proven scrappy in keeping its doors open while attracting former A-list Hip… Read More ›
San Leandro dispensary faces another hurdle as permit deadline extension nears
San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter has publicly opposed the proposed site of the Davis Street Wellness Center dispensary. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILSan Leandro city administration is standing firm in its stance against the conditional-use permit for a medical cannabis… Read More ›
San Leandro zoning board overturns city’s denial of medical cannabis dispensary use permit
A rendering of the Davis Street Wellness Center retail area at its proposed dispensary on Teagarden Street. PHOTO/DSWC SAN LEANDROAfter several San Leandro zoning commissioners downplayed a city staff report opposing the issuance of a conditional-use permit for the Davis… Read More ›
San Leandro bans flavored tobacco sales, passes for now on menthol cigarettes
An proponent of San Leandro’s ban on flavored tobacco sales address the City Council Monday night with supporters in the foreground. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILLike some of its neighboring cities, the San Leandro City Council approved Monday night a prohibition… Read More ›
San Leandro begins debate on whether to honor city’s first African American councilmember
Former San Leandro Councilmember Surlene Grant served from 1998-2008. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILNear the end of former San Leandro Councilmember Ursula Reed‘s second term in office, she began exploring ways to honor her predecessor in District 2, Surlene Grant, the city’s… Read More ›
San Leandro tenant relocation payment ordinance stymied, sent back to Rules Committee
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILFor the second time in as many weeks, a proposed tenant relocation payment program in San Leandro has failed to move forward. The San Leandro City Council sent back to committee, 5-2, Monday night a second iteration… Read More ›
San Leandro looks to ban flavored tobacco products, but falls short on menthol cigarettes
San Leandro Councilmember Lee Thomas wants to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes within city limits. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILThe San Leandro City Council is set to take on the tobacco and vaping industries after its Rules Committee voted Monday to… Read More ›
Despite threat of losing federal funding, San Leandro declares sanctuary city status
San Leandro recieves more than $9 million in federal funding, but Trump’s threat to defund sanctuary cities did not make the council pause. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCILSan Leandro became the fifth sanctuary city in Alameda County and the third local… Read More ›
Possible changes coming to San Leandro’s surveillance policies
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | San Leandro may tear up its contract with its red-light camera vendor. Mayor Pauline Cutter urged Monday night for the City Council to examine the possibility of ending its contract for red-light camera services, in… Read More ›
San Leandro rules committee nixes extending council term limits; ban on flavored cigarillos proposed
San Leandro Councilmember Ursula Reed’s bid to lengthen term limits is falling flat. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL |Using the same rationale that led to the extension of term limits to 12 years in the state Legislature, San Leandro Councilmember Ursula… Read More ›
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW: Slim pickings across the board
Bryan Azevedo and Ed Hernandez face-off in the San Leandro City Council’s District 2–the only contested race of three open seats this fall. MEET THE CANDIDATESIn San Leandro, just four candidates filed for three seats this fall. But it gets worse…. Read More ›
San Leandro approves $15 minimum wage ordinance without small biz exemption
Union members and small business owners packed the San Leandro City Council chambers Tuesday night to discuss raising the minimum wage. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL |Union members gathered for a group photo in front of the council dais and chanted… Read More ›
San Leandro City Council rolls back minimum wage carveouts for small biz; approves original $15 wage by 2020
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The San Leandro City Council reaffirmed its goal of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020 Monday night, but in a reversal, removed a previously approved one-year exemption for small businesses. The… Read More ›
San Leandro minimum wage ordinance now includes one-year delay for small biz
San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter’s substitute motion will push passage of the city’s minimum wage ordinance to next September. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL |A successful substitute motion offered by San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter will give some small businesses an… Read More ›
San Leandro may raise its city wide minimum wage to $15 by 2020
Councilmember Jim Prola proposes raising San Leandro’s minimum wage to $15 by 2020. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL |The minimum wage in San Leandro could reach $15 an hour by 2020, the city council proposed Monday night. If approved at the… Read More ›
Palpable fears of rising rents and evictions move to San Leandro
San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter is skeptical about rent control despite a chorus of speakers Monday advocating for greater protections. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | After months of public comment and vetting, the San Leandro City Council approved this week… Read More ›
San Leandro approves workforce agreement long sought by progressives
San Leandro Councilmember Jim Prola sought a community workforce agreement during his first term, but the proposal failed by one vote. Pact sets $1 mil threshold for construction projects. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | For years, progressive members of the… Read More ›
New San Leandro council members hail city’s promising future
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | Upon receiving the oath of office from former San Leandro Mayor Ellen Corbett, Mayor-elect Pauline Russo Cutter said she is enthusiastic about her new job. “I’m just as excited as I was 17 years ago,”… Read More ›
San Leandro to swear-in four new City Council members
Mayor-elect Pauline Cutter will be sworn-in Monday, but won’t assume office until Jan. 1. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The largest class of new San Leandro council members in the city’s history will be sworn-in during a special meeting Monday… Read More ›
SAN LEANDRO ELECTION NOTES: RCV Isn’t Going Away; Mayor-Elect Cutter Won’t Be Like Cassidy
Mayor-elect Pauline Cutter will definitely be a change of pace from her predecessor. SAN LEANDRO | There were no surprises in San Leandro’s moribund races last week. Mayor-elect Pauline Cutter came within two points of gaining a majority without the… Read More ›
CUTTER ELECTED SAN LEANDRO MAYOR; THREE NEWCOMERS ADDED TO NEXT CITY COUNCIL
San Leandro Mayor-elect Pauline Cutter. SAN LEANDRO | MAYOR | CITY COUNCIL | Councilmember Pauline Cutter will be the next mayor of San Leandro after ranked choice voting Wednesday morning built upon an 11-point lead over Councilmember Diana Souza. Cutter… Read More ›