Civil right attorney Pamela Price is turning up the heat on Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley in recent weeks. ALAMEDA COUNTY DA–ELECTION 2018–Last week ,the campaign for Alameda County District Attorney candidate Pamela Price attempted to highlight a link… Read More ›
sacramento
Richmond’s Kimberly Ellis falls just short of taking over the California Democratic Party
Richmond resident Kimberly Ellis narrowly lost Saturday’s race for California Democratic Party chair by only 60 votes. STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONThe race for the future of the California Democratic Party amounted to two choices: stick with the status quo that has… Read More ›
Two East Bay campaign ads used actors, similar strategies to attack opponents
ELECTION 2016 | In the East Bay recently, two major campaigns felt the sting of similar negative television ads. Both used stand-ins to portray the challenger and both attempted to describe their alleged ties to powerful special interests groups. While… Read More ›
Hawaiian adventure: East Bay lawmakers Wieckowski, Bonta frolic on the beach
State Sen. Bob Wieckowski and Assemblymember Rob Bonta both attended a special interests-paid junket in Hawaii. STATE LEGISLATURE | When visiting the Hawaiian Islands they say you’re always among family. It’s no different when the annual Hawaii junket, frequently derided… Read More ›
Hayward may back Bonta’s dispensary bill, but still doesn’t want them in their city
A Hayward councilmember said last month he wants no “marijuana stores” in the city. City backs local control aspect of regulatory bill HAYWARD CITY COUNCIL | Medical marijuana dispensaries in Hayward have long been viewed by city leaders with great… Read More ›
What does Don do for Alameda?
Former State Senate Pro Tem Don Perata is making a good living in his second career as a lobbyist. ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Following Don Perata’s unsuccessful bid in 2010 to be Oakland’s next mayor, one of the East Bay’s… Read More ›
Gov. Brown calls for state to increase renewables to 50 percent by 2030
Gov. Jerry Brown’s fourth and last term as California’s governor begins today. Brown was sworn-in to office Monday morning and quickly offered an ambitious vision for continuing to wean the state off carbon-based fuels. From the Los Angeles Times: By… Read More ›
Primary Questions: CA-15 Preview
Rep. Eric Swalwell, State Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett and Hugh Bussell. THE CANDIDATES All you really know about Rep. Eric Swalwell’s first 18 months in Congress is he has compiled 350,000 frequent flier miles traveling from the East Bay… Read More ›
For His Re-Election Bid, Bonta Isn’t Taking Anything for Granted
Assemblymember Rob Bonta takes a moment to collect his thoughts at a candidate’s forum Tuesday evening in Alameda. PHOTO/Steven Tavares ASSEMBLY | 18TH DISTRICT | During his 2012 campaign for the State Assembly, Rob Bonta often participated in a number… Read More ›
Wieckowski Aide Filed Unsuccessful Restraining Order Last Year Against Wife of Alberto Torrico
STATE SENATE | 10TH DISTRICT | A violent feud between the wife of a former East Bay state Assemblymember and the ex-chief of staff of a current one is raising questions about the use of taxpayer funds on what appears… Read More ›
Judge Disqualifies Republican Candidate in Honda-Khanna Race Following Lawsuit
Ro Khanna, Rep. Mike Honda CONGRESS | 17TH DISTRICT | A Sacramento Superior Court judge ordered the removal Wednesday of one of the three Republican candidates in the 17th Congressional District race from the June 3 primary ballot after invalidating… Read More ›
Bonta Offers Struggling Community Colleges a Makeup Exam
ASSEMBLY | 18TH DISTRICT | EDUCATION | The Sacramento Bee’s Dan Walters says the City College of San Francisco is using friends in high places to get out from under threat of losing its accreditation. The City’s state senator has… Read More ›
Alameda Hires Perata As Consultant
Alameda Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen lists the city’s state legislative agenda Tuesday before the Alameda City Council. PHOTO/Steven Tavares ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL | Alameda is turning to one of the most notorious local politicians in recent memory to lobby… Read More ›
Nearly 90% Of Bonta, Quirk’s Donors This Year Are Unions, Special Interests
Asms. Rob Bonta and Bill Quirk. ASSEMBLY//CAMPAIGN FINANCE | East Bay Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Bill Quirk both won election to the Legislature last year. While Bonta quickly moved to the top tier of Democratic legislators in the lower house, Quirk… Read More ›
OUTGOING GOP STATE CHAIR CRIES WITH LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS
Former Calif. State GOP Chair Tom Del Beccaro. PHOTO/Shane Bond CAGOP CONVENTION | On his next to last day as chair of the California Republican Party, Tom Del Beccaro was wistful. When he spoke to the gay sliver of the… Read More ›
Freshman Assemblyman Bill Quirk Still Learning the Ropes in Sacramento
ASSEMBLY | Assemblyman Bill Quirk has been relatively quiet in his first few months as a legislator, but in an interview last Sunday, he admits having some initial difficulties understanding how Sacramento works. There had been some talk among Democratic insiders… Read More ›
Confident Quirk Took A Late Nap Before Hearing Election Returns
A headline in the June 2011 EBCitizen.com. ASSEMBLY 20 | Nobody epitomizes their surname better than Assemblyman-elect Bill Quirk. His personality and style sometime takes precedent over his actions, but the sketching of a stodgy patrician is often incorrect. In… Read More ›
Hayashi’s Problem Is Not "The Mugshot," It’s Her Inattention To Needs Of Alameda County
ELECTION ’12//ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERVISOR | With Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi’s plans to run for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors this fall now a certainty, the convicted shoplifter is hoping contrary to what she told the Bay Area News Group this… Read More ›
Swanson Places Progressive Backing On Bonta Over Guillen In 18th Assembly District
Bonta, Swanson ELECTION ’12//ASSEMBLY 18 | A week that already included the all-important blessing of the California Democratic Party got even better for Rob Bonta Wednesday night as Assemblyman Sandre Swanson announced his endorsement of the Alameda Vice Mayor in the… Read More ›
Candidates For 18th Assembly District, Minus One, Debate In San Leandro
ELECTION ’12//ASSEMBLY 18May 17, 2012 | The cavernous Bal Theatre in San Leandro with its bright light glaring down on three candidates for the 18th Assembly District made it difficult to see the faces of their future constituents. For a… Read More ›
Assembly Candidates, Minus One, Talk Higher Education At Cal State East Bay
ELECTION ’12//ASSEMBLY 20//DEBATEMay 1, 2012 | With the sole Republican in the race for the 20th Assembly District not in attendance , the four candidates to the left attempted to make distinctions between themselves in a debate last week focusing… Read More ›
Supervisor Chan Backs Bonta For Assembly
ASSEMBLY 18 April 9, 2012 | Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan is no stranger to the rigors of serving the East Bay in the State Assembly. Tucked between stints on the county board of supervisors, Chan was for the first… Read More ›
East Bay Cities Begin Task Of Taking Over Redevelopment Agencies
END OF REDEVELOPMENTHAYWARD | Jan. 11, 2012 | While councilmembers in San Leandro and Hayward moved swiftly, but quite reluctantly to take responsibility for the winding down of their respective redevelopment agencies this week, officials in Oakland took extra time… Read More ›
Alameda County Supervisors Lay Into Dissolution of Redevelopment
END OF REDEVELOPMENTALAMEDA COUNTYJan. 10, 2012 | A seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors is one of the safest seats in the East Bay. So, when a supervisors speaks on a controversial issue like the end of redevelopment… Read More ›
Wieckowski To Offer Resolution Overturning Citizens United
Asm Bob Wieckowski Jan. 3, 2012 | Fremont Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski announced Tuesday he will offer a resolution asking Congress to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s contentious Citizens United decision. The 2009 ruling found unlimited campaign financing by corporation amounted to… Read More ›
Despite Bleak Future, Redevelopment Ruling Won’t Impact Many Current Local Projects
Dec. 29, 2011 | The Legislature giveth redevelopment agencies and the Legislature can taketh, ruled the State Supreme Court Thursday. The court’s ruling to maintain the legality of Gov. Jerry Brown’s controversial plan to end redevelopment agencies and divert property tax revenue… Read More ›
Swanson Entering Race To Unseat Hancock in State Senate
STATE SENATE 9 Asm. Sandre Swanson Dec. 13, 2011 | Termed-out Alameda assemblyman Sandre Swanson made official what many have expected–a primary challenge against fellow Democrat Loni Hancock for her seat in the state Senate. The Tribune Tuesday reported Swanson’s… Read More ›
Guillen First To Incorporate Ideals Of 99 Percent Into Government
ANALYSISNov 28, 2011 | Assembly candidate Abel Guillen made the political calculation many lawmakers will soon need to make: make changes to the system or risk being trampled by the 99 percent. Protesters Nov. 2 at Citibank on Broadway in Oakland…. Read More ›
Hayashi’s Mugshot Is A Portrait Of Her Elusive Humanity
Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi ANALYSISNov. 21, 2011 | I have never seen Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi looks so human. Granted, in nearly three years hopping around the East Bay political scene, I have only seen the woman derisively called “Scary Mary” on… Read More ›
Corbett Calls On Governor, Lawmakers To Prevent Mid-Year Cuts to Education
Nov. 16, 2011 | On the heels of announcements last week of worsening receipts by the state’s controller, the state’s legislative analyst today said the prospects of triggering $2 billion in pre-approved budget cuts at the beginning of the year… Read More ›