Tag: Pauline Cutter

San Leandro approves budget, sets aside $1.7m that could be reallocated from SLPD

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 →

San Leandro: Mayor takes heat for saying man killed by police ‘passed away’

As San Leandro remains stunned by the shooting of 33-year-old Steven Taylor by police  inside a Walmart store last Saturday afternoon, a statement by the mayor on Monday night, is attracting additional criticism after it failed to mention the decedent's name. In addition, the prepared statement read at the beginning of Monday night's council meeting … Continue reading San Leandro: Mayor takes heat for saying man killed by police ‘passed away’ →

San Leandro mayor to lead regional transportation commission

San Leandro is about to take a higher profile in the East Bay's issues with traffic and transportation. The Alameda County Transportation Commission named San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter as it next chairperson on Thursday. Cutter served as vice chair of the regional transportation commission last year. Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle previously served … Continue reading San Leandro mayor to lead regional transportation commission →

How he became San Leandro’s Vice Mayor Pete

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 →

San Leandro mayor is asking for a pay raise

San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter wants a pay increase equal to three times that of her council colleagues. Cutter, who is in her second term as mayor, wrote a letter to the city highlighting in great detail why the council should raise her annual salary from $30,240 to $45,360 at its meeting on Nov. … Continue reading San Leandro mayor is asking for a pay raise →

San Leandro: Incumbents up for re-election help vote down restrictions for becoming vice-mayor

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 →

San Leandro: Cannabis tax rate may stay put for another year

San Leandro's cannabis industry has failed to gain a foothold nearly four years after approving its first medical cannabis dispensary. The first dispensary to open, actually the third permit given by the city, only opened earlier this year. Three years ago, voters gave the city permission to begin taxing cannabis sales and a schedule was … Continue reading San Leandro: Cannabis tax rate may stay put for another year →

San Leandro to finalize new regulations on mobile home rents, short-term AirBNBs

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 accepts federal grant for drone without specific policy for its use

San Leandro accepted a nearly $32,000 federal grant that will allow its police department to purchase a drone. The San Leandro City Council, however, did so despite the city not having a specific drone policy. The lack of a policy for local law enforcement to use drones has drawn concerns from privacy advocates in the … Continue reading San Leandro accepts federal grant for drone without specific policy for its use →

San Leandro may reset cannabis tax schedule

In early 2017, the San Leandro City Council approved a tiered schedule for taxing cannabis sales that gradually increases to eight percent by 2021. But as San Leandro's tax rate is set to increase from six percent to seven percent on July 1, the city may choose to reset the clock on the tax regimen … Continue reading San Leandro may reset cannabis tax schedule →

San Leandro: Council committee paralyzed over Wells Fargo contract

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 →

San Leandro questions whether its red-light camera contract is a good deal

In the run up to the San Leandro City Council's decision Monday night to renew a 14-year-old contract for red-light camera services, a few elected officials were alerted to the website HighwayRobbery.net. The no-frills site created by an activist who opposes red-light cameras, is a treasure-trove of data covering the entire state, in addition, to helpful … Continue reading San Leandro questions whether its red-light camera contract is a good deal →

San Leandro mobile home ordinance put on hold; park owners offer moratorium on rent increases

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 moves to reduce density on proposed 45-unit green building near transit

At the same time acknowledging the need to diversify its mix of new housing, the San Leandro City Council, nonetheless, told the developer of a 45-unit green, multi-family apartment building on Bancroft Avenue that the project would not be approved unless he lowered its density from 45 units to 39 units or less, citing strong … Continue reading San Leandro moves to reduce density on proposed 45-unit green building near transit →

San Leandro mobile home park rep says evicted elderly renter who was arrested wants to be a martyr

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 →