“If you think Alameda should aspire to becoming a racist backwater, sign it,” says Bonta, who was also hit with a spurious ‘birther’ claim recently.
Rob Bonta
Bonta hit with ‘birther’ claim
Republican assembly challenger wants Bonta to prove his U.S. citizenship
Additional revelations from Alameda’s investigative report on council interference
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILA long-awaited investigative report from Southern California Attorney Michael Jenkins released Wednesday night found Alameda Councilmember Jim Oddie violated the City Charter by sending a letter of recommendation for the firefighters union-preferred candidate to the city manager while… Read More ›
John Knox White is running for Alameda City Council
John Knox White is the first to officially enter the race for Alameda City Council. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL–ELECTION 2018–John Knox White, a well-known city activist and former Alameda Planning Board member, is the first to officially declare their candidacy for… Read More ›
There’s going to be two Bontas on the ballot in Alameda next fall
Mialisa Bonta is the founder and CEO of the Oakland education non-profit LitLab. ALAMEDA–ELECTION 2018–Apparently, it’s what political couples do for romance. Last Valentine’s Day, Assemblymember Rob Bonta posted a photo on his Facebook page taken at the Alameda County… Read More ›
Libby Schaaf: ‘Bay Area liberal standard-bearer’?
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf was the subject recently of at least three profiles published by national publications. OAKLANDIn 2014, the New York Times proclaimed Oakland as “Brooklyn by the Bay.” Former Mayor Jean Quan loved the New York Times’ portrayal… Read More ›
East Bay congressmembers team up to legalize cannabis at the federal level
East Bay progressives Reps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna. CONGRESSReps. Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna introduced legislation Wednesday that would end the federal prohibition on cannabis. The bill piggy-backs similar legislation introduced with great fanfare last year by Sen. Cory… Read More ›
Costa-Hawkins repeal bill fails in committee; Bonta votes yes
Assemblymember Rob Bonta at a Housing and Development Committee hearing Thursday in Sacramento. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTAssemblymember Rob Bonta, and throngs of rental housing advocates from Oakland, Alameda and across the state, were ready for a fight Thursday in favor of… Read More ›
Bonta bill would make it easier for people to expunge cannabis-related criminal records
Assemblymember Rob Bonta authored the state’s medical marijuana regulatory framework in 2015. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTWith cannabis seen as the future in California following legalization that began this month, East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta believes the state must first look to… Read More ›
Renters at infamous Alameda apartments received evictions five days before Christmas
Assemblymember Rob Bonta, left, and Alameda Councilmember Malia Vella, right, listen to concerns Friday from tenants at the Bay View Apts. ALAMEDA“Everyday I open my door to check and see if there’s a eviction notice,” said Alameda renter Julia Balthasar. Just… Read More ›
2017 Year in East Bay Politics: We grabbed Trump by the politics
2017 YEAR IN EAST BAY POLITICSIt’s difficult to imagine what the prevailing story line of politics in the East Bay would have been without the daily barrage of tweets and general insanity emanating from President Donald Trump in 2017. Much… Read More ›
2017 Year in East Bay Politics: Part II: April-June: Richmond’s Ellis loses Dem chair race
2017 YEAR IN EAST BAY POLITICSHeading into the spring, most a number of East Bay cities had already moved toward declaring sanctuary city status. Some began contemplating the next step: urging Congress to impeach Trump. But issues closer to home… Read More ›
2017 Year in East Bay Political Quotes. ‘Let’s kick Trump’s ass!’
2017 YEAR IN EAST BAY POLITICS“My friends’ first question is not why am I running for DA. The first question is ‘have you lost your mind?’–Oakland attorney Pamela Price, in June, announcing her candidacy to challenge Alameda County District Attorney… Read More ›
Bonta and Wieckowski’s holiday wish: Let’s kick Trump’s ass!
Assemblymember Rob Bonta has used fiery rhetoric against President Trump in the past. ALAMEDA COUNTYAlameda County Democrats, led by Assemblymember Rob Bonta and State Sen. Bob Wieckowski, were in a festive holiday mood last week, except when it came to talk… Read More ›
Bonta hopes Trump continues to be successful at failure
Assemblymember Rob Bonta hopes Trump continues to be the failure-in-chief. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTAssemblymember Rob Bonta had some negative thoughts about President Donald Trump at Tuesday night’s Oakland City Council meeting. In attendance to discuss his legislative year in the Assembly,… Read More ›
Alameda City Council approves independent probe into city manager’s interference claims
Over the shoulder of Assemblymember Rob Bonta, Alameda Mayor Trish Spencer, Council- members Malia Vella, Jim Oddie, and City Manager Jill Keimach duirng at a council meeting Tuesday. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAccusations made by Alameda City Manager Jill Keimach earlier this… Read More ›
Khanna floats Lee for U.S. Senate: A look at the political earthquake that would hit the East Bay
CONGRESSBefore Rep. Ro Khanna dropped fellow Alameda County Rep. Barbara Lee‘s name today as a possible progressive challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who announced Monday that she is running for re-election next year, the idea of such a run was… Read More ›
Alameda city manager’s choice of a new fire chief could put her in the hot seat
ALAMEDA CITY COUNCILAlameda’s city manager is in a tough bind. With the retirement of Alameda Fire Chief Doug Long last week, City Manager Jill Keimach is likely to tab an outsider to lead the fire department, according to sources, possibly… Read More ›
Bonta on Charlottesville: ‘This is not who we are.’ Says no permits should be given for hate rallies
Assemblymember Rob Bonta 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTEast Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta says President Donald Trump‘s comments last weekend asserting a moral equivalence between white supremacists marching in Charlottlesville and protesters marching in opposition were “irresponsibly and dangerously stated.” On two separate… Read More ›
Bonta urges Alameda to disqualify landlord referendum accused of violating election law
Assemblymember Rob Bonta 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTAssemblymember Rob Bonta wants the Alameda City Council to investigate and potentially disqualify a pending ballot referendum brought forth last month by local landlords after a raft of complaints that signature-gatherers intentionally misled residents. The… Read More ›
Ro Khanna endorsed Kimberly Ellis for state party chair, but didn’t vote for her
Rep. Ro Khanna 17TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTLt. Gov. Gavin Newsom last month famously announced support for both candidates in the hard-fought state Democratic Party chair race. But in the aftermath of the contentious campaign won by Los Angeles Democratic Party Chair… Read More ›
Bonta bail reform bill narrowly fails in Assembly
18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTPotential landmark legislation that would reform the state’s troubled money bail system was narrowly defeated Thursday night in the Assembly. East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta’s Assembly Bill 42 failed by one vote, 36-37, after seven legislators did not… Read More ›
Bonta, Thurmond, Quirk join new Assembly Progressive Caucus
STATE ASSEMBLY Last January, when a groundswell of progressive angst coarsed through the veins of local activists hoping to secure spots as delegates to last weekend’s state convention, many in the East Bay were surprised to learn the most left-leaning… Read More ›
Citing concerns of Vietnamese-American groups, veterans; Bonta pulls bill related to communists
Assemblymember Rob Bonta says AB 22 was intended to clean-up language in state law long deemed unconstitutional. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTA bill that would have stricken a Cold War-era reference in state law that allows for the firing of a state… Read More ›
Bonta bail reform bill may cost ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’
Assemblymember Rob Bonta during a Public Safety Committee hearing in April. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTA legislative analysis of East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta’s widely-watched bail reform bill estimates its costs will run in the “hundreds of millions of dollars” in state… Read More ›
Rob Bonta tries to erase vestiges of Red Scare from state law
Assemblymember Rob Bonta 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTBeing a member of the Communist Party can get you terminated from a state job, according to existing California law. A bill authored by East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta remove from state law a provision… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA — May 5-11 — AC TRANSIT’s school bus controversy continues – Water rates going up? – ‘Compassionate’ UNION CITY – More HAYWARD Housing
THE WEEK OF MAY 5-11After Tuesday night in Union City it’s likely the Hayward City Council will be sitting quite alone when it comes to taking no official stance toward President Trump’s immigration rhetoric and policies. Of course, what were… Read More ›
Bonta’s landmark bail reform bill passes Assembly committee
Assemblymember Rob Bonta addressing the Assembly Public Safety Committee Tuesday. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTLegislation that would greatly reform the state’s money bail system passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee Tuesday. The bill, authored by East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta, would limit… Read More ›
EBC AGENDA — April 14-20 – ALAMEDA COUNTY budget shortfall – ALAMEDA hopes to avoid another GHOST SHIP – BONTA buzz
THE WEEK OF APRIL 14-20Spring Break and Easter in the rearview window, East Bay government begins to heat up again and many of the pressing questions that will begin to be asked revolve around the upcoming budget season. Here’s your… Read More ›
Eden Health District escapes Chan’s bid for dissolution
Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan has threatened dissolution of the health district for differing reasons since 2012. EDEN HEALTH DISTRICTThere is not a need for the embattled Eden Health District to be dismantled and its assets distributed to various health… Read More ›
