HAYWARDWhen Stephen Cassidy was the mayor of San Leandro he believed the city’s approval of medical cannabis dispensaries would put children at risk. As legend has it, Cassidy toured the nearby Harborside Health Center in Oakland and his views dramatically… Read More ›
Stephen Cassidy
San Leandro Dems deliver surprising rebuke to council incumbent up for re-election
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL–ELECTION 2018–It’s still very early in San Leandro’s campaign season, but an endorsement result last week might be signaling that District 2 Councilmember Deborah Cox is in for a tough re-election campaign this fall. The San Leandro Democratic… Read More ›
5 MORE THINGS I THINK ABOUT EAST BAY POLITICS…
ELECTION 2018 By the looks of it, Alameda Mayor Trishmight be running for re-election againstthe entire City Council. ➤I think after what the East Bay Times and columnist Daniel Borenstein pulled with the Alameda City Council and city manager interference story, you… Read More ›
Three ex-San Leandro mayors clash: Cassidy calls himself city’s best mayor; Santos says, ‘He’s full of sh*t!’
Clockwise: Former San Leandro Mayors Stephen Cassidy, Tony Santos and Shelia Young. SAN LEANDRO | Former San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy believes he’s one of the most effective leaders the city has ever had. “I was most progressive mayor San… Read More ›
Cassidy is no longer mayor, but he isn’t leaving San Leandro politics
Stephen Cassidy: Out of power, but not out of things to say. SAN LEANDRO | Stephen Cassidy left the mayor’s office in San Leandro after just one term. There was no specific public reason for why he left thousands of… Read More ›
San Leandro may place limits on proposed armored police vehicle
A Lenco Bearcat MedEvac on loan to the San Leandro Police Department on display for public viewing Thursday before a public meeting at the San Leandro Senior Community Center. PHOTOS/Steven Tavares A speaker addresses the city’s police force and City Council… Read More ›
San Leandro to discuss militarization of its police department
The Lenco Bearcat MedEvac is really a heavily-fortified Ford F-550. SAN LEANDRO | When it comes to armored personnel carriers, San Leandro is one of few East Bay jurisdictions without the controversial vehicles, which some opponents charge overtly militarizes small… 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 ›
SAN LEANDRO ELECTION PREVIEW: A New Hope?
San Leandro mayoral candidates Councilmember Pauline Cutter, Bal Theater owner Dan Dillman and Councilmember Diana Souza. THE CANDIDATES When Mayor Stephen Cassidy made the surprising announcement that he would not seek re-election after just one term; you would expect a… Read More ›
A Proxy War for Mayor in San Leandro
San Leandro mayoral candidates, Councilmember Diana Souza, Dan Dillman and Councilmember Pauline Cutter, at a forum Sept. 11 at the San Leandro Main Library. PHOTO/Steven Tavares SAN LEANDRO | MAYOR | San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy decided earlier this year… Read More ›
Oakland Garbage Contract Hangs Over San Leandro Council, Elections
My story in this week’s East Bay Express on the fallout from Oakland’s garbage contract pinching into San Leandro’s general fund to the tune of around $500,000 annually is reverberating through the city administration and council. It may also end… Read More ›
Oakland’s New Garbage Contract Will Greatly Affect San Leandro
SAN LEANDRO | When the Oakland City Council awarded a garbage contract to locally owned recycling company California Waste Solutions earlier this month and passed over what seemed like a stronger competing bid from Waste Management, the effects of the… Read More ›
Is Khanna’s Political Consultant Taking Him For A Ride?
Over a year ago, news reports and various pundits attached words like “epic” and “grudge match” to the 17th Congressional District race between Rep. Mike Honda and Ro Khanna. On the heels of Eric Swalwell’s intra-party upset of Pete Stark… Read More ›
Asian American Electorate May Decide Next San Leandro Mayor
Councilmember Benny Lee, second from left, is a byproduct of the new found strength in San Leandro’s Asian American populace. SAN LEANDRO | MAYOR | It would have been unthinkable a generation ago that any demographic in San Leandro other… Read More ›
Husband and Wife May Run for Office in San Leandro
SAN LEANDRO | They are well known to those who follow San Leandro politics and sometimes loathed by some of their outspoken activism. As San Leandro school board member Mike Katz-Lacabe seeks the open District 1 seat on the City… Read More ›
Former San Leandro Mayor Calls Out Current One for Stance on Tax Measure
San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy and former Mayor Tony Santos are still rivals four years later. SAN LEANDRO | Former San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos says the current mayor should apologize to residents for opposing a quarter percent sales tax… Read More ›
San Leandro Places 30-Year Sales Tax Extension on November Ballot
SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | Nearly four years after voters in San Leandro approved a much-needed sales tax measure viewed by many to have helped the city escape the worst of the Great Recession, city leaders will again ask them… Read More ›
Early Crop of San Leandro Mayoral Candidates Failing to Excite, Leaving Others to Contemplate a Run
The lack of quality mayoral candidates in San Leandro leads some to suggest Ellen Corbett, left, should run in the fall. PHOTO/Steven Tavares SAN LEANDRO | MAYOR | When San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy said last month he would not… Read More ›
Why is Bob Wieckowski Talking About His Own Sex Tape?
Free Credit in San Leandro | Who Will Win In Hayward? | Swalwell’s First Political Consultant CHAPTER 17 | Here’s the thing about Bob Wieckowski. He’s not who you think he is and whatever you might think about him is probably… Read More ›
San Leandro Councilmember Diana Souza to Run for Mayor
First in: Councilmember Diana Souza SAN LEANDRO | MAYOR | After months of chatter speculating San Leandro Councilmember Diana Souza would run for mayor this year, the two-term District 3 representative officially filed papers for a bid to replace Mayor… Read More ›
No Mention of Mayor Cassidy Quitting; Squabble Over Naming Vice Mayor
First term Councilmember Benny Lee is San Leandro’s next vice mayor. SAN LEANDRO CITY COUNCIL | The level of quiet acrimony at the San Leandro City Council is beginning to bubble over. A day after Mayor Stephen Cassidy announced on… Read More ›
San Leandro Mayor Will Not Seek Re-Election After One Term
Stephen Cassidy SAN LEANDRO | MAYOR | San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy announced late Sunday night he will not seek re-election later this year after serving just a single term in office. “I have concluded it is in the best… Read More ›
Will She or Won’t She? Time is Running Out for Kaplan to Run for Mayor
Honda-Khanna: Friends for Now | Big News in San Leandro? | Quan: Huh? What? CHAPTER 14 | The number of candidates hoping to be the next mayor of Oakland has reached 17, but the potential eighteenth entrant could have the… Read More ›
Amid Scandal, A Conversation Changed in the 17th Congressional District
Hayward Mayoral Candidates Face Labor | Mr. Know-It-All | Guillen is a Lock | Forum Schedule CHAPTER 9 | Sometimes all a campaign needs is a little luck. Just as pressure was renewed for Rep. Mike Honda to debate his… Read More ›
The Case for Candidates Avoiding The Bay Area News Group Editorial Board
Bonta’s Fundraising Drive | Nobody Wants To Run For Mayor In San Leandro | Swalwell OK With His Ethics CHAPTER 7 | In the fall of 2012, San Leandro Councilmember Jim Prola was gearing up for a likely winning re-election… Read More ›
After Dividing San Leandro over Fiscal Fears, Cassidy Now Exploiting Race
SAN LEANDRO | ANALYSIS | Last September, a group of Chinese Americans in San Leandro asked the city to fly the red and gold banner of their homeland at City Hall in honor of the country’s national day on Oct…. Read More ›
Cassidy Pads Resume with Falsehoods when Truth is more Compelling
CAMPAIGN 2014 | SAN LEANDRO | Politicians take credit for things. It’s a fact of life that becomes amplified during campaign season. So, it’s no surprise San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy is pumping up his resume over the last four… Read More ›
Swalwell: I’m Liberal! But not for the East Bay, says Rankings
Talking out Both Sides of their Mouths Edition | What was Schaaf Thinking? | Zany Zermeno CHAPTER 5 | Apparently, being called out for numerous lapses of ethical conduct is a problem than can be worked out for Rep. Eric… Read More ›
The Skinny: San Leandro City Council Preview, Mar. 3, 2014
San Leandro City Council Preview835 East 14th Street, San LeandroMonday, Mar. 3, 2014, 7 p.m.[FULL AGENDA HERE]Twitter Hashtag: #slmtg >>> REASON TO FILL OUT A SPEAKER’S CARD Reconstructed Burrell Field in San Leandro. PACIFIC SPORTS COMPLEX AGREEMENT Four years ago, San… Read More ›