Author Archives: Irene

Democracy on Front Burner

Posted on April 22, 2021 by Irene

Democracy is at the forefront of today’s political debate.  Alameda is no exception. Alameda’s plurality voting system allows top vote-getters to win, even when a majority of voters did not vote for them.  And lopsided expenditures contribute to the impression … Continue reading →

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Funding the Police

Posted on October 15, 2020 by Irene

Alameda is joining numerous cities across the country in rethinking how we provide policing before next year’s city budget is prepared.  What level of policing we want and expect from the Alameda Police Department (APD) will determine the funding we … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Education, Quality of Life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Shameful Demolition of Homeless Housing

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Irene

What a shame.  What a waste.  There is decent former Navy housing for the homeless near the Main Street Ferry Terminal just two blocks from Target, but our city is tearing it down.  Meanwhile a for-profit developer has upgraded similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Alameda Point, Housing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Start Paving the Way to Recovery

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Irene

There is no better time than now to finish repaving and restriping Park Street.  The COVID-19 shelter-in-place directive provides an opportunity to get the job done with the least amount of disruption to our local businesses.  Plus, the upgrade would … Continue reading →

Posted in Alameda Businesses, Economic Development | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Infrastructure Ballot Measures Should be Focused

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Irene

On March 17, the city council will discuss placing measures on the November 2020 ballot to raise revenue for city-infrastructure needs.  Items at issue include upgrades to streets and sidewalks, city buildings, and handling the impacts of climate change and … Continue reading →

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Watchdog has no bite

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Irene

On February 18, the city council stripped the Open Government Commission of its authority to enforce the Sunshine Ordinance, Alameda’s open-government law.  The commission no longer has the power to nullify an action passed in violation of the Sunshine Ordinance … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Open Government | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Unchecked Executive Privilege at City Hall

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Irene

So authoritarian.  An effort is underway to amend the enforcement provision of Alameda’s Sunshine Ordinance, its open-government law.  The change would grant the city council the sole right to police itself when a violation occurs, unless the matter is taken … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Open Government | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Get Pumped

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Irene

Sea level rise will eventually come, but a much more immediate threat to Alameda is flooding caused by stalled, prolonged storm systems.  Major storms are becoming more common as the changing climate causes erratic, unpredictable and devastating weather events. In … Continue reading →

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Take a Hike (and a Survey)

Posted on July 11, 2019 by Irene

As the East Bay Regional Park District celebrates its 85th anniversary and makes plans for the future, they want to know what features and activities locals would like to see added, and what you think can be improved.  All are … Continue reading →

Posted in Alameda Point, Parks and Open Space, Trees | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Enviros Turn the Tide

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Irene

What started off under the radar ended up in the spotlight. On June 18, the city council unanimously rejected a lease at Alameda Point for a digital data storage facility that would have been part of “the cloud.”  Just six … Continue reading →

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