Open Primary Opens Eyes

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Irene

I couldn’t believe my eyes!  As I thumbed through Alameda County’s sample ballot and voter information pamphlet, I saw what resembled a campaign piece.  That’s right!  There in black and white, political party endorsements were listed.

The county’s pamphlet, a quarter-inch thick, is filled with new pages because California now has an “open primary,” where voters can vote for a candidate for statewide office who is outside their party affiliation.  Only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, will go on to the general election in November. Continue reading →

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Are You Ready?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Irene

If you’ve ever heard someone shout “Are you Ready?” from a table at our local street fairs, it was probably a volunteer from Alameda’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  There are over 700 CERT graduates in Alameda and the number is growing.

When disaster strikes, CERT members support first responders, assist victims, and organize volunteers.   Continue reading →

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Opportunity Knocks Once Again

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Irene

Not long ago the city jumped through hoops to attract the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to Alameda.  Now we have a new opportunity that is worthy of the same enthusiasm.  Only this time we’ve already been selected.

The East Bay Regional Park District wants to develop and manage Alameda Point parkland.  They are already poised to manage the wildlife refuge.  And next to the refuge, they want to develop the long-awaited Bay Trail and Alameda Point Park on the Northwest Territories, including creating a Veterans Memorial Park near a veterans’ facility.  This parkland could become the signature element that attracts future development to the Point. Continue reading →

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Slow Your Run on Route 61

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Irene

Go on, admit it.  You drive over 25 mph on Broadway—State Route 61.  It’s easy to go over the speed limit there, particularly between Otis Drive and Encinal Avenue.  The wide street, with only a distant stoplight, makes it feel like a highway. Continue reading →

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Northwest Territories: A Fixer-upper

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Irene

Up for discussion is the East Bay Regional Park District developing and managing part of the Northwest Territories, depending upon where the proposed veterans’ facilities are built.  The following slideshow illustrates some of the physical challenges on the Northwest Territories: Continue reading →

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East Bay Regional Park District Spearheads City/VA Parkland Deal

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Irene

It seemed as though the plans for a veterans’ facility at Alameda Point were moving full steam ahead.  But no.  Last year the project almost died until the East Bay Regional Park District stepped in to help.

The $210 million veterans’ project includes an outpatient clinic, a columbarium, administrative space, and associated parking.  It will provide primary and specialty care, including ancillary services, mental health, substance abuse, ambulatory surgery, and vocational rehab for over 7,000 veterans from Northern Alameda County. Continue reading →

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Occupy the Message

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Irene

The protest violence in Oakland on Saturday, January 29 was the last straw for me.  I’ve had it with the impostors in Oakland spoiling the Occupy Movement’s message of economic injustice that millions of people identify with.  Mayor Quan should use every opportunity to remove their costumes.  Halloween is over.

These pseudo-lefties are wandering around Oakland looking for someplace to “occupy” and, in the process, zeroing-in on targets that have nothing to do with the country’s economic inequalities.  In fact, they have settled on making municipal government—its buildings, its mayor, and law enforcement—their symbol of the 1% they want to attack.  One protester claimed that police instigated Saturday’s violence because they wouldn’t let the “occupiers” take over the closed Kaiser convention center.  Another protester used the movement as a vehicle to recall Mayor Quan. Continue reading →

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Point Progress Report

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Irene

As directed by the Supreme Court’s opinion dissolving California’s redevelopment agencies, the city council dissolved its Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority (ARRA) on February 7 and accepted the ARRA’s assignment of its rights, assets obligations, responsibilities, duties and contracts in order to manage and implement development of Alameda Point.

The city council postponed taking any action on how to proceed with Point development, however.  Staff had recommended the city itself, rather than a master developer, control the entitlement process that deals with the pre-construction process and requirements of obtaining the permitting, getting the land-use approved, utility easements approved, etc. Continue reading →

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Next Steps at Alameda Point

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Irene

Although Alameda lost its bid to become the future site of the new Lawrence Berkeley Lab, city staff is wasting no time in moving forward with Alameda Point planning.

At a special joint meeting of the city council and the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority (ARRA) on Feb. 7, staff will present concrete ideas on moving forward at Alameda Point.  It includes a zoning ordinance and general plan amendment aimed at clearly establishing the guidelines for future development.  According to the staff report, “Such clarity will reduce entitlement risk and delay in any future development efforts.  Clear policies will help Alameda avoid ‘starting from scratch’ with, or ceding too much control over the direction of future development to, a new private partner.” Continue reading →

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The Buzz from City Hall

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Irene

Anyone who’s watched televised meetings from city hall knows about the background buzz when the camera angle changes.  It sounds like a short circuit in the video wires.  “Councilmember bzzzzzzzzzz.”  “Whabzzzzzzzz is the bzzzzzzzz fiscal bzzpact of bzzzzzz.”

Once when this happened, my husband complained and I switched the channel only to hear Judge Judy say, “Get over it.”  Now we can indeed get over it because the buzzing is expected to be gone soon.  The city is in the process of overhauling all its video equipment. Continue reading →

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