Tag: Francisco Zermeno

Hayward approves second downtown dispensary: ‘We’re basically making the downtown a drug hub’

A second cannabis dispensary is coming to downtown Hayward. A conditional-use permit was granted Tuesday night to Jiva Life for a retail establishment at the former Hayward Fishery restaurant on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and C Street. Hayward officials last year approved a cannabis dispensary on B Street. Like the location approved this week, … Continue reading Hayward approves second downtown dispensary: ‘We’re basically making the downtown a drug hub’ →

Blatant cronyism is rearing its ugly head again in Hayward as school board chooses Reynoso’s replacement

The coup that toppled Dr. Luis Reynoso from the Hayward school board is nearly complete. Using highly questionable legal maneuvers, Reynoso was jettisoned last month from the board after recently winning re-election for a fourth term. During the same election last November, Reynoso also won an open seat on the Chabot-Las Positas Community College Board … Continue reading Blatant cronyism is rearing its ugly head again in Hayward as school board chooses Reynoso’s replacement →

Hayward City Council election preview: A new hope

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 a union town, does not always espouse union values, and only acquiesces to the progressive … Continue reading Hayward City Council election preview: A new hope →

Hayward: Salinas, Marquez melt down following attacks on their records

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, Marquez belittled her opponent's portrayal of her record on the council as inattentive to the … Continue reading Hayward: Salinas, Marquez melt down following attacks on their records →

East Bay’s Top 10 November races to watch

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 →

Large, energized field of candidates in Hayward

Boosted by an emboldened group of progressives and activists, Hayward's sprawling 13-candidate race for four seats on the City Council could be a once-in-generation reconfiguration of its political power structure. 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 … Continue reading Large, energized field of candidates in Hayward →

Hayward: Zermeño apologizes for previously saying ‘Police Lives Matter’

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 campaign and after a large Black Lives Matter rally in front of Hayward City Hall … Continue reading Hayward: Zermeño apologizes for previously saying ‘Police Lives Matter’ →

Hayward officials ‘regrettably’ delay minimum wage increase for six months

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 the scheduled increase from July 1 to Jan. 1, 2021, made the decision in order … Continue reading Hayward officials ‘regrettably’ delay minimum wage increase for six months →

After talking to, Hayward council members rescind support for charter school candidate

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 the East Bay Citizen that she rescinded the endorsement for "political reasons." Following a news … Continue reading After talking to, Hayward council members rescind support for charter school candidate →

Márquez, Zermeño back charter school candidate for county Board of Education

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 seat who is likely to be heavily financed by proponents of charter schools. Two charter … Continue reading Márquez, Zermeño back charter school candidate for county Board of Education →

Hayward moves toward $15 an hr minimum wage by 2022

Hayward is nearing an increase in the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022, one year earlier than the state-mandated increase set for January 2023. The direction made by the Hayward City Council Tuesday night during a work session comes at a time when its neighboring cities have already accelerated their own local … Continue reading Hayward moves toward $15 an hr minimum wage by 2022 →

Why Hayward’s most fervent anti-smoking official was cut out of council’s vaping referral?

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 as a feather in their caps during next year's fall campaign. But it's notable that … Continue reading Why Hayward’s most fervent anti-smoking official was cut out of council’s vaping referral? →

Hayward is spending $75,000 for Robocop that yielded zero citations during one-year pilot program

Hayward officials extended a $75,000 pilot program for a surveillance robot that has roamed a parking garage across the street from City Hall for the past year. But while Hayward city staff argued the white, bullet-shaped robot had successfully decreased crime in the area, it also did not yield a single citation or prosecution. The … Continue reading Hayward is spending $75,000 for Robocop that yielded zero citations during one-year pilot program →

Hayward is preparing to join the list of cities snuffing out teen vaping

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 nationally, and here in Hayward, the epidemic of teen vaping that is just growing and … Continue reading Hayward is preparing to join the list of cities snuffing out teen vaping →

As housing crisis rages, Hayward aims to build only 74 homes on 37 acres of prime land

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 the rich at a time when housing displacement is becoming rampant in the city. The … Continue reading As housing crisis rages, Hayward aims to build only 74 homes on 37 acres of prime land →