Before 2010, San Leandro voters had never seen a city council incumbent lose re-election. With the aid of ranked-choice voting that year, San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos was upset by Stephen Cassidy. Two years ago, Councilmember Lee Thomas was narrowly defeated by Victor Aguilar. Next week, there's a good possibility a third incumbent in the … Continue reading San Leandro Council preview: A realignment toward NIMBYs
Alameda County Supervisor District 1 Alameda County District 1 supervisorial candidates, Fremont Councilmember Vinnie Bacon and Dublin Mayor David Haubert at an Aug. 17 virtual candidate forum. This race has already been the East Bay's most punishing for months. The Alameda County race for District 1 supervisor pits candidates from both halves of the roughly … Continue reading East Bay’s Top 10 November races to watch
Alameda County Democrats typically have a high bar when it comes to advocating for the removal of one of their own from office. While a number of Democratic incumbents for races this November in Alameda County failed to receive the party's endorsement over the weekend, in only four occasions, did the party choose to back … Continue reading ALCO Dems give some incumbents the cold shoulder in Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro
It won't be the first time you will hear about political candidates griping about their yard signs being stolen or defaced this election season. But two candidates in San Leandro and Union City took to social media over the weekend to accuse their city council and mayoral rivals of underhanded political shenanigans. Bryan Azevdeo, a … Continue reading Political yard sign skirmishes break out in San Leandro, Union City
Facing a hard deadline to put forth a balanced city budget by the end of the month, the San Leandro City Council closed a $7 million budget shortfall that includes the potential for later shifting more than $1.7 million from its police department to bolster various community services. Monday's council meeting featured over three hours … Continue reading San Leandro approves budget, sets aside $1.7m that could be reallocated from SLPD
For more than a year, San Leandro City Council candidate Bryan Azevedo has been doing good deeds around town. He’s received notoriety for organizing outings to pick up litter around the city, helped seniors during the pandemic, and delivered food supplies to the needy. Within the last two months, Azevedo has taken it a step … Continue reading San Leandro candidate admonished by county for food service violations at campaign events
Like vice-president and lieutenant governor, the honorific of vice mayor sounds important. But it's not. The ceremonial title's job prescription is solely to be a stand-in for the mayor at ribbon-cuttings and sometimes preside over a council meeting when the mayor is away. But most local voters don't readily know this, and come election time … Continue reading How he became San Leandro’s Vice Mayor Pete
Cities without campaign contribution limits, however, will be preempted by a new state law coming into effect in 2021.
Last fall, San Leandro Councilmember Deborah Cox sailed to re-election. The result was expected in a race that again displayed the power of the incumbency. But some believed Cox had another notable advantage during last year's election cycle after being named vice-mayor. The position is ceremonial and holds no power other than replacing the mayor … Continue reading San Leandro: Incumbents up for re-election help vote down restrictions for becoming vice-mayor
The last time the issue of a large city-backed forgivable loan came before the San Leandro City Council, the financial future of a beloved non-profit was in doubt, followed by a sexual misconduct scandal that made headlines because of rendezvous at Foster's Freeze and soft-serve ice cream cones. The city council believes another long-time San … Continue reading Did San Leandro learn its lesson? City gives forgivable loan to Boys and Girls Club
A pair of consequential ordinances bringing new housing protections to San Leandro will be finalized Monday night. Both navigated a lengthy vetting process to get to this point and each was approved by the San Leandro City Council on May 20. A second and final reading is scheduled for this Monday, June 3. The council … Continue reading San Leandro to finalize new regulations on mobile home rents, short-term AirBNBs
San Leandro city leaders are caught firmly between the desire of some councilmembers and progressive activists to completely divest from Wells Fargo, and a lack of viable options to replace the troubled institution as the city's banking services provider.. Nearly two years ago, San Leandro city officials directed staff to sell its $700,000 investment portfolio … Continue reading San Leandro: Council committee paralyzed over Wells Fargo contract
After San Leandro mobile home owners, many seniors with limited means, spoke Monday night of suffering harassment by their mobile home park owners, along with fears of retaliation, the San Leandro City Council voted to continue an agenda item that would have given them some protections from displacement. The council, which unanimously voted to direct … Continue reading San Leandro mobile home ordinance put on hold; park owners offer moratorium on rent increases
San Leandro's District 2 City Council election is essentially two years away, but two likely candidates are already talking trash in an odd, passive-aggressive standoff being played out in the city's weekly newspaper. In 2016, Ed Hernández defeated Bryan Azevedo to win the open seat. Azevedo contemplated a run for the San Leandro school board … Continue reading San Leandro councilman: ‘I’ve got garbage on my mind,’ in addition, to potential opponent
John Busch, the 82-year-old San Leandran who was evicted last year from his space at the Bayshore Commons mobile home park following his refusal to pay a large rent increase, has been a cause celebre for renters' rights advocates in the city. When Busch did not leave the space, Alameda County sheriff's deputy were summoned. … Continue reading San Leandro mobile home park rep says evicted elderly renter who was arrested wants to be a martyr
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