Let’s begin by mentioning Hayward, with a diverse population of roughly 140,000, needs district-based elections. Although this council is clearly diverse– three Latinos, one Afghan American, for example- there is little diversity of opinion. The Hayward City Council, despite being… Read More ›
Earlier this month, Hayward Councilmember Elisa Marquez and Mark Salinas – two of three incumbents seeking re-election this November – flashed moments of anger and disdain toward their more progressive opponents when challenged about their respective records. In one exchange,… Read More ›
Alameda County Supervisor District 1 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 equal east county and Fremont district. Amazingly,… Read More ›
The field of 13 candidates this November, includes three incumbents, and a field of newcomers baptized by Hayward’s dramatic push to the left stoked over the past two years by progressive Councilmember Aisha Wahab and an energized coalition of young… Read More ›
During a somewhat routine update to Hayward’s rent stabilization ordinance last week in which certain tweaks and language intended to align the ordinance with changes in state law were offered by city staff, Hayward Councilmember Aisha Wahab sought a significant… Read More ›
Hayward councilmembers approved a $169 million budget for the next fiscal year that includes a $4.1 million cut to the Hayward Police Department. The move comes following several weeks of advocacy by Hayward residents for the City Council to incorporate… Read More ›
Hayward Councilmember Francisco Zermeño apologized for diminishing the Black Lives Matter movement by previously using derivatives of the phrase, such as Latino Lives Matter and Police Lives Matter. The statement was made through social media accounts connected with Zermeño’s re-election… Read More ›
As Hayward councilmembers thanked its executive team and firefighters on Tuesday night for foregoing two percent cost-of-living increases to help lower the city’s ballooning covid-related deficit, in addition, to their own two percent cut in council pay, Hayward Councilmember Aisha… Read More ›
Workers earning a minimum wage in Hayward will not receive a previously promised $2 an hour raise for, at least, another six months, the Hayward City Council decided on Tuesday. A majority of the council, some voicing regret for delaying… Read More ›
Since the coronavirus outbreak took full force last week, Hayward Councilmember Mark Salinas said he’s received numerous phone calls from small business owners in Hayward who are extremely worried about the dramatic loss in revenue due to the coronavirus, and… Read More ›
After receiving push back from some local labor unions, Hayward Councilmembers Elisa Marquez and Francisco Zermeno pulled their endorsement of Janevette Cole, a candidate for the Alameda County Board of Education whose campaign is supported by charter schools. Marquez told… Read More ›
UPDATE – After talking to, Hayward councilmembers rescind support for charter school canddiate. A surprising number of elected officials on the Hayward City Council and Hayward school board are backing a candidate for the open Alameda County Board of Education… Read More ›
The three Hayward councilmembers who proposed regulations on flavored tobacco and vaping products last month are each up for re-election next year. Hayward Councilmembers Al Mendall, Francisco Zermeño, and Elisa Márquez will undoubtedly use any new restrictions on teenage vaping… Read More ›
Over the past year, East Bay cities such as Oakland, Richmond, Livermore, Alameda, and San Leandro have moved toward some type of restriction on the sale of flavored tobacco products, including those used for vaping. “We have all seen it… Read More ›
A 37-acre parcel of hillside land near Cal State East Bay in Hayward, long ago envisioned by CalTrans as part of a freeway extension, moved closer to development on Tuesday, but not without concerns the future neighborhood will cater to… Read More ›
A new rent stabilization ordinance in Hayward was formally approved Tuesday night. But the ordinance does not come into effect until July 25. In order to prevent potential rent gouging in the interim by Hayward landlords, the Hayward City Council… Read More ›
After decades of landlords slowly whittling away the number of units protected by a city rent ordinance to as low as 1,000 through vacancy decontrol, the Hayward City Council voted late Tuesday night to repeal and replace the ordinance with… Read More ›
With frustrations from the family of the man slain by Hayward Police last November running high, the Hayward City Council unanimously, but cautiously, approved a referral asking city staff to prepare an independent investigation policy for instances when deadly force… Read More ›
The tension at Hayward City Hall has been building for months between some elected officials and the insurgent councilmember appearing to set a new paradigm in the city’s politics. The mean-spirited comments and backbiting that have been evident in the… Read More ›
Vote next Tuesday night would stop evictions without cause, perhaps, up to one year.
After several years of incremental action to limit the rise of rents in Hayward, the City Council last week indicated a preference for enacting a number of rent protections, including binding arbitration to resolve rent increase disputes, an end to… Read More ›
Hayward’s General Fund reserves estimated last June to fall below 20 percent of its expenses, a threshold mandated by the City Council.
Measure T would double Hayward’s existing real property transfer tax from $4.50 per $1,000 of property value on residential and commercial buildings to $8.50.
Salinas, who is running for mayor this fall, called the City Council opportunistic for welcoming the cannabis industry into Hayward
Hayward councilmembers unanimously approved moratoriums on vacancy decontrol and added just cause protection to nearly 15,000 rental units.
