Tag Archives: Alameda

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

Holy Smokes!

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Irene

What a mess!  City staff made a mistake by not telling the city council that the amendments to the marijuana (cannabis) ordinance they were considering had not been properly noticed to the public.  Instead of admitting and fixing their mistake, … Continue reading →

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

Taking the Initiative

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Irene

The new year started with a bang at city hall. On January 2, 2019, the city council decided to put a measure on the ballot that challenges the McKay Avenue Open Space initiative previously qualified by citizens wanting to zone … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Housing, Parks and Open Space | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Will the real progressives please stand up?

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Irene

Here we go again.  It is unfortunate that yet another Alameda mayor has been elected without majority support.  Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft won the seat with only 41.97 percent of the vote.  Blame it on Alameda’s use of a plurality voting … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments