Tag: Pete Ballew

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 →

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 scuttles campaign finance reforms

Cities without campaign contribution limits, however, will be preempted by a new state law coming into effect in 2021.

Public records requests are going up in San Leandro, and so are costs

San Leandro City Clerk Leticia Miguel said a rising number of public records requests are taxing her office. Following passage of AB 1421, which opened up access to video footage and records related to police officer-involved shootings and police misconduct, the number of request in San Leandro has nearly double over the past two years, … Continue reading Public records requests are going up in San Leandro, and so are costs →

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: Unopened dispensaries get deadline; council moves toward allowing adult use cannabis

San Leandro dispensaries say medical cannabis-only sales put them at a serious economic disadvantage against adult use stores.

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 →

San Leandro is already eyeing tax measures for 2020

A structural deficit in San Leandro may worsen if the economy turns downward soon. High turnout elections in 2020 could help support tax measures.