Blog Feed: Action Alameda News

Earth Day Festival Tomorrow

Published on 2013-04-19 14:59:03

Alameda celebrates Earth Day tomorrow, Saturday, April 20th, 2013. (City of Alameda)The City of Alameda’s Earth Day festival is tomorrow, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Washington Park. Activities start as early as 8:30 a.m. for those aged 10

Electric Rates Going Up

Published on 2013-04-18 13:54:44

The City of Alameda’s Public Utilities Board approved an electric rate increase this week.(File Photo)Earlier this week, the City of Alameda’s Public Utilities Board unanimously approved the fourth year of Alameda Municipal Power’s

City of Alameda Meeting on Backyard Farm Animals

Published on 2013-04-17 11:49:50

The City of Alameda is hosting a community meeting to discuss regulatory changes regarding backyard farm animals. (Niman Ranch)The City of Alameda is holding a community meeting to discuss updates to the City’s code to make adjustments for the

Police Warn of Phone, Internet Scams

Published on 2013-04-17 10:59:25

Alameda police are warning the public about internet and telephone scams after a fraud report earlier this week.Alameda Police are warning the public about Internet and telephone scams after a report earlier this week from a grandmother defrauded by

Final Reading of Park Street North of Lincoln Zoning Changes Tonight

Published on 2013-04-16 11:04:49

Alameda City Council is expected to pass tonight with little discussion an ordinance that would implement zoning changes to support the Park Street “gateway” plan, also known as the Park Street North of Lincoln plan. The ordinance codifi

Relocating Admin Offices Back to High School Has Always Been an Option, Facilitator Says

Published on 2013-04-15 14:00:29

Alameda Unified School District current head office, 2060 Challenger Drive, Alameda. (Action Alameda News)The option of moving Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) administrative offices back to the Alameda High School building has always been an o

Southbound Mariner Square Loop Closed Due to Target Construction

Published on 2013-04-15 07:14:47

The road alongside Alameda Landing, where a new Target store is being constructed, is subject to a two-month lane closure beginning today. (Action Alameda News)Hand-written signs behind the Webster and Posey Tube portals on the Alameda sign warn of a

Increased Parking Fees, Fines to Help Balance Alameda Budget

Published on 2013-04-12 15:20:49

The City of Alameda is set to increase parking rates and parking citations to help balance the budget.(File photo.)Increases in parking rates, and parking citations are part of the City of Alameda’s plan to balance its budget. Parking rates wil

City Responds on Software Purchase Questions

Published on 2013-04-12 15:06:59

The City of Alameda responded yesterday to a public records request for information about a planned purchase of software from Autonomy, a Hewlett-Packard company that was accused last year of defrauding the Palo-Alto giant with what one industry insi

City of Alameda Produces No Records Pertaining to “Vaporware” Software Contracts

Published on 2013-04-11 10:25:31

Some 20 days on from the original request date, the City of Alameda has produced no documents in response to an Action Alameda News public records request pertaining to over $300,000 in city contracts to deploy software from Autonomy, a company that

Navy Proposes Cheaper Cleanup Plan for Contaminated Site at Alameda Point

Published on 2013-04-10 14:11:21

Roughly a dozen people turned out for a U.S. Navy sponsored meeting regarding remediation for Site 1, including the former burn area, at Alameda Point. (Action Alameda News)About twelve people showed up at the Alameda Free Library late yesterday to h

Project Leaf Pushes for Green Space, Urban Farms, in Alameda

Published on 2013-04-09 08:45:07

Project Leaf volunteer Nanette Burdick. (Project Leaf Blog)Melanie Wartenberg, co-director of Project Leaf, a grassroots Alameda organization that formed around the issue of redevelopment of the former Island High School Site, wants you to know that

Oyster Point Ferry Service to Expand Hours

Published on 2013-04-08 14:10:39

The Oyster Point ferry service is expanding. (San Francisco Bay Ferry)The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) has announced expanded service for its Oyster Point ferry service, beginning at the end of this month. I

Alameda City Prepares for Phase One of Navy Land Transfer

Published on 2013-04-08 10:44:26

The City of Alameda is progressing towards conveyance of the former Naval Air Station Alameda. By Erica Madison The City of Alameda is well on its way to acquiring the 1,704 acres of U.S. Navy land and in preparation of the first phase of the transfe

City Moves Forward With Purchase from “Vaporware” Company

Published on 2013-04-05 12:10:45

Earlier this week, Alameda City Council gave the go-ahead to a $205,000 expenditure with Autonomy, a software company accused of defrauding Hewlett-Packard to the tune of $8.8 billion with what insiders have called “vaporware.” Additiona

Updated Alameda Unified School District Salary Database

Published on 2013-04-04 16:26:33

Alameda Unified School District head office, 2060 Challenger Drive, Alameda. (Action Alameda News)Pursuant to a public records request from Action Alameda News, the Alameda Unified School District has provided an updated employee salary listing, avai

Alameda Municipal Power Gets State Ranking

Published on 2013-04-03 13:09:48

Alameda Municipal Power announced today that RKS Research & Consulting has found through a survey that the utility’s overall customer satisfaction score of 88 percent ranks it ahead of the average score of 66 percent among municipal utilities i

Alameda Community Development Directory Leaving for Hayward

Published on 2013-04-03 13:04:28

The City of Alameda announced yesterday that Community Development Director Lori Taylor is leaving her position to head Economic Development for the City of Hayward. City Manager John Russo has appointed Debbie Potter as Interim Community Development

Open Letter to AUSD Board President Niel Tam

Published on 2013-04-02 08:35:26

Action Alameda News received a copy of this letter for publication… Dear Niel, I appreciate your letter but I feel as though the board and the superintendent of schools are failing to hear the majority voice of our community. Recent decisions

County Set to Ban Coffee Carrier Trays

Published on 2013-04-01 07:01:33

A proposed ordinance would ban coffee carrier trays such as this one, caught in the wind against an Alameda fence. (Action Alameda News)Hot on the heels of a plastic bag ban, the county is now set to tackle another source of environmental waste and u

Planning Board to Review Vision Statement for Alameda Point

Published on 2013-03-29 13:57:25

The City of Alameda Planning Department is recommending carving up Alameda Point into six sub-districts.On April 8th, the City of Alameda Planning Board will review a plan from city staff on dividing Alameda Point up into six sub-districts. The board

Presentation on the State of Alameda Schools Tonight

Published on 2013-03-28 14:21:02

Tonight, Alameda Unified School District Superintendent Kirsten Vital and district board president Niel Tam will speak at the Cardinal Point Retirement Community on the state of Alameda’s public schools. The pair intend to talk about the distr

Alameda’s Perforce Software Introduces New Document Collaboration Product

Published on 2013-03-27 12:50:03

Perforce Software has historically been used almost exclusively by software engineering departments. (Google Street View)Alameda’s Perforce Software announced a new enterprise version management software product yesterday intended for use by co

Alameda High School Community Meeting Rescheduled

Published on 2013-03-27 11:28:38

The Alameda Unified School District is scheduling a series of community meetings to gather input on the future of the Alameda High School building. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District has re-scheduled one of several upcoming meet

Poll:Supreme Court Ruling on Proposition 8, Same-sex Marriage Case

Published on 2013-03-26 14:47:17

Today, Tuesday, March 26th, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments in Dennis Hollingsworth, et al., Petitioners v. Kristin M. Perry, et al., case number 12-144, the case regarding the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measu

Overnight Park Street Fire Damages Six Apartments, Two Businesses

Published on 2013-03-26 12:28:26

A two-alarm fire burned overnight at 1203 Park Street. (Alameda Fire Department)A fire overnight at 1203 Park Street that caused extensive damage to six apartments and two ground floor businesses brought 25 Alameda firefighters and mutual aid support

Lack of Inventory Constrains Home Sale Volume

Published on 2013-03-25 07:41:38

A lack of homes available for sale is limiting the volume of sales. (East Bay Real Estate Directory)Alameda, like much of the rest of the state, is facing a shortage of homes for sale, which is limiting sales volume. According to the California Asso

Easter Egg Scramble Schedule Scrambled

Published on 2013-03-22 07:45:25

The City’s annual egg scramble is tomorrow. (City of Alameda)The City of Alameda’s annual spring egg scramble is early this year, taking place tomorrow, due to the early arrival of Easter. A full moon is expected for March 27th, with Eas

City of Alameda Plans to Spend $205,000 with “Vaporware” Company

Published on 2013-03-21 19:28:27

The City of Alameda plans to spend $205,000 with Autonomy, the company accused of swindling Palo Alto-based computer giant Hewlett Packard in a $8.8 billion accounting scandal. The initial cost to purchase Autonomy’s iManage Document Managemen

School Parcel Tax Exemption Deadline Approaching

Published on 2013-03-21 12:06:03

The deadline to apply for an exemption to the school district Measure A parcel tax is June 28, 2013. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District notified the media today that the deadline for senior citizens and Supplemental Security Inc

City and School District to Discuss Swimming Pools Arrangement

Published on 2013-03-20 20:20:40

An Alameda City Council sub-committee will meet with the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees one week from today to discuss the swimming pools jointly managed by the two agencies. Under a previously struck agreement, the City of Alamed

Former City Council Candidate Up for School Contract

Published on 2013-03-19 13:10:22

The Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees is expected to approve a $6,925 contract for former city council candidate Jeff Cambra.The Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees is expected to approve tonight a $6,925 contract for fo

North Park Street Rezoning Hearing Delayed

Published on 2013-03-18 12:06:35

A hearing scheduled for tomorrow on a package of zoning changes for the North Park Street area has been pulled from the agenda and rescheduled for April 2nd, 2013. The City of Alameda explained that the change is due to the 220 page document package

Teachers Ratify Contract, On to School Board

Published on 2013-03-15 11:22:59

The members of the Alameda teachers union have voted to approve a tentative contract agreement with the Alameda Unified School District. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District announced yesterday that members of the Alameda Educatio

Parks Department to Report Beltline Survey Tonight

Published on 2013-03-14 13:17:08

City officials will present the result of the Beltline park survey tonight at City Hall.At the Recreation and Park Commission meeting tonight, City of Alameda staff will report on the results of a community outreach effort to shape the development of

Alameda City Council to Vote on Park Street Gateway Plan

Published on 2013-03-13 18:04:41

Alameda City Council will entertain a first reading, Tuesday, March 19th, of draft zoning text and map amendments to support the North Park Street Gateway Strategic Plan. The Gateway Plan is intended to revitalize the north Park Street area known as

Police Release Photos of Suspects in Attack Near Alameda Police Headquarters

Published on 2013-03-12 11:10:41

Alameda police have released photographs of suspects in an armed robbery and beating that took place near the Alameda Police Department building at Lincoln and Oak in the early hours of March 3rd. Police provided the photographs of the suspects belo

Bonta Bill Unlikely to Succeed, Alameda Probably Stuck With Parcel Tax Ruling

Published on 2013-03-11 12:28:45

The Alameda Unified School District is considering its next steps after an appeals court affirmed a ruling on the Measure H parcel tax lawsuit. (Action Alameda News)Alameda is likely stuck with the Measure H parcel tax lawsuit ruling, putting the sch

Encinal Yacht Club Holds Open House

Published on 2013-03-10 17:39:10

Encinal Yacht Club held an open house today to support its junior sailing program. According to its website, the club was founded in 1890 on the bay side of Alameda. After World War II, landfill activity on the south side of the bay forced the club

School District Says $7.4 million at Risk in Measure H Case

Published on 2013-03-08 19:31:33

The Alameda Unified School District says that $7.4 million is at risk in lawsuit. (Action Alameda News)Alameda Unified School District Kirsten Vital said that the district will review its options at next week’s board meeting after an appeals co

Alameda Police Chief Noonan to Retire

Published on 2013-03-07 10:22:06

Alameda Police Chief Michael Noonan has announced his retirement. (City of Alameda)Alameda Police Chief Michael Noonan has announced that he will retire on June 1st, 2013. By that date, he will formally have served as Chief of Police for just under

Appeals Court Affirms Ruling on Measure H Lawsuit, Directs Lower Court to Determine Remedies

Published on 2013-03-06 18:26:06

The California Appeals court affirmed a previous ruling declaring part of Measure H unlawful. (Action Alameda News)The California Court of Appeal affirmed today a previous decision ruling part of 2008′s Measure H school tax illegal, and directi

Alameda’s InSite Vision Reports 2012 Financial Results

Published on 2013-03-06 10:21:51

InSite Vision reported full-year financial results yesterday. (Google Street View)Alameda’s InSite vision reported fourth quarter and full-year 2012 financial results yesterday. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2012 were $21.6 million c

Italian Team to Base Itself in Alameda to Prep for America’s Cup

Published on 2013-03-05 11:23:15

The Italian sailing team will base itself in Alameda in preparation for the 34th America’s Cup. (City of Alameda)The Italian sailing team Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 has leased a 65,400 square foot former airplane hangar at Alameda Point to prepa

Community Perception Survey Not Ours, Says AUSD

Published on 2013-03-04 06:07:12

The Alameda Unified School District says a community perception survey being circulated is not their effort. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District says that a three-page “AUSD Community Perception Survey,” intended to g

AUSD Website Apparently Hacked for Viagra Sales

Published on 2013-03-02 17:39:01

Dropdown menus an AUSD’s website show a listing for viagra sales.The Alameda Unified School District’s website has apparently been hacked, as suggested by links promoting Viagra sales appearing in dropdown navigation menus on the site. A

School District Announces Tentative Agreement With Teachers

Published on 2013-03-01 14:58:33

Alameda Unified School District announces tentative agreement with teachers. (Action Alameda News)This morning, the Alameda Unified School District announced that it has inked a tentative contract with the Alameda Education Association, the bargainin

Orthopedic Surgeon Breaks a Leg to Help Alameda Girl

Published on 2013-02-28 11:34:47

Ten-year-old Mary Lisanti of Alameda with orthopedic surgeon Scott Hoffinger, who corrected a problem with Mary’s left leg.Mary Lisanti of Alameda was born with fibular hemimelia, a birth defect that caused her left leg to be three inches short

Alameda Teachers Rally at City Hall Before School District Board Meeting

Published on 2013-02-27 11:23:50

Alameda teachers are at an impasse in contract negotiations with the Alameda Unified School District. (Action Alameda News)Following the previous night when contract negotiations with the Alameda Unified School District proved fruitless, Alameda teac

Public Meeting Set for March on Alameda Point VA Transfer

Published on 2013-02-26 12:33:27

This map from a 2008 Veterans Affairs presentation outlines the portion of Alameda Point that the department would receive from the U.S. Navy in a so-called fed-to-fed transfer.The Departments of the Navy and Veterans Affairs (VA) have set a public m

This Week’s Park Street Tree Trimming

Published on 2013-02-25 11:05:19

The City of Alameda will be trimming trees along Park Street this week. (Google Street View)The City of Alameda will be trimming trees along Park Street this week, the first of three phases. The City of Alameda Public Works Department says that matu

Wind River Host BUILD Youth Entrepreneurship Event

Published on 2013-02-22 12:49:24

Earlier this week, Wind River hosted a BUILD entrepreneurship event for area youth. (Courtesy Photo)On Wednesday, Alameda-based Wind River, in conjunction with BUILD, hosted a youth entrepreneurship for students to practice the development of their b

Alameda County Every Child Counts Agency Moving to Alameda

Published on 2013-02-21 14:56:21

Worker puts finishing touches on main conference room at the new First 5 Alameda County headquarters on Atlantic Avenue. (Courtesy Photo)First 5 Alameda County, a public agency funded by Proposition 10 cigarette tax revenues, has purchased a building

Zillow Forecasts an 8 percent to 10 percent Rise in Alameda Home Prices This Year

Published on 2013-02-20 06:14:47

Zillow is forecasting a home value jump of roughly 10% in Alameda this year.Zillow, a housing information service and marketplace, is forecasting an 8% to 10% percent rise in home prices in Alameda this year, coming off a bottom in the first quarter

Detailed Descriptions Lead to Robbery Arrests

Published on 2013-02-19 12:05:52

Alameda police have made arrests in recent strong-arm robberies.Alameda police are crediting detailed suspect descriptions for prompt arrests in two recent strong-arm robbery cases. On February 15th, just before 5:00 p.m. an adult male was approache

Hearing Tomorrow on Webster Street Massage Business

Published on 2013-02-18 13:26:03

The owner of Beauty Unlimited on Webster Street wants to convert the day spa to a massage salon with acupuncture. (City of Alameda)Tomorrow evening, the City of Alameda will hear a user permit change application from the owner of Beauty Unlimited at

Man Taken Into Custody at City Hall

Published on 2013-02-16 16:14:37

Last Wednesday, Alameda police took a man into custody at City Hall. (File photo.)A man was taken into custody at City Hall on Wednesday night, during a public meeting regarding the development of the Beltline railway property into parkland. Accordin

School District to Hold Special Meeting on Tuesday Regarding Wood School, Junior Jets

Published on 2013-02-15 12:08:47

The Alameda Unified School District is holding a workshop at Encinal High School regarding the relocation of ACLC charter school to Will C Wood. (Google Street View)The Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees have scheduled a workshop for T

New Sign Source of Ferry Flap

Published on 2013-02-14 12:02:51

The San Francisco Ferry Building has a new flap sign posting ferry departure times.(MTC)The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is unveiling a new, old-style, “flap sign” at the San Francisco Ferry Building today which will post

Encinal High to Get New Health Services Portable Thanks to Agreement with Alameda Family Services

Published on 2013-02-13 16:40:12

The Alameda Unified School District has approved a joint use agreement with Alameda Family Services to replace a health services portable at Encinal High School.(Action Alameda News)At last night’s Alameda Unified School District Board of Trust

City Holds Meeting on Park Proposal for Former Beltline Railway Property

Published on 2013-02-12 12:22:08

Doug deHaan speaks at a public meeting regarding plans for the park on the former Beltline property. (Joseph Woodard)Last Saturday, the City of Alameda held a well-attended public meeting regarding the future of the former Alameda Belt Line railway l

Judge Throws out Zack Family Lawsuit Against City of Alameda

Published on 2013-02-11 18:56:13

In a ruling handed down today, after a hearing last Thursday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge George C. Hernandez threw out a lawsuit against the City of Alameda filed by the family of Raymond Zack, the man who drowned in the water off Crown Beac

Shopping Center Owner to Ask Planning Board for Flexibility to Fill Vacancies

Published on 2013-02-09 22:22:34

Jamestown Properties, owner of the South Shore Shopping Center, is asking the City of Alameda Planning Board for flexibility in filling some of the many vacancies along the interior courtyard of the shopping plaza. The shopping center went through a

City to Transfer Ownership of Meyers House to Alameda Museum

Published on 2013-02-08 13:22:34

The City of Alameda is expected to approve a transfer of ownership of the Meyers House museum and garden to the Alameda Museum. (Google Street View)At a meeting on February 19th, Alameda City Council is expect to approve the transfer of ownership of

Alameda Firms Win Innovation Awards

Published on 2013-02-07 13:31:08

Alameda’s Penumbra, Inc. won a Life Sciences category innovation award.Penumbra, Inc. and St. George Spirits were recognized last week in the first annual East Bay Innovation Awards ceremony. Penumbra was given an award in the Life Sciences ca

Alameda Firefighters Close 2012 with Almost $30,000 in Political Warchest

Published on 2013-02-06 11:27:06

The Alameda firefighters political committee spent over $42,000 in 2012.The Alameda Firefighters Association Political Action Committee closed 2012 with $29,494.48 in its warchest. The Firefighters Association committee spent over $42,000 in 2012, m

Hearing This Thursday on Raymond Zack Lawsuit

Published on 2013-02-05 11:03:00

The City of Alameda will try this week to have a lawsuit over Raymond Zack’s death thrown out of court.(File photo.)At a hearing this Thursday afternoon at the Hayward Hall of Justice, the City of Alameda will attempt to have a lawsuit filed by

Temple Israel to Install New Rabbi This Weekend

Published on 2013-02-04 17:49:31

Temple Israel invites the community to participate in the installation of new Rabbi Barnett Brickner this weekend.Temple Israel, the only Jewish congregation in Alameda, now in its 92nd year, will install Rabbi Barnett Brickner this weekend and celeb

Alameda Transportation Commission Denies Citizen’s All-Way Stop Petition

Published on 2013-02-01 13:15:16

Residents have been asking the City of Alameda for an all-way stop at Robert Davey Jr. Drive and Channing Way.By Erica Madison “From an engineering perspective there’s not much we can do,” Matthew Naclerio said in a recent Alameda Transportatio

Alameda Paratransit Shuttle is Open to the Public

Published on 2013-01-31 14:45:29

By Erica Madison Soon Alameda’s Paratransit Shuttle service will be free to use for all Alameda residents. The paratransit program started in 2009 and is funded through Measure D. The shuttle was originally designed to provide transportation for se

California Gun Crime Data Thin, And No Moves Afoot to Improve It

Published on 2013-01-29 12:10:30

The California Attorney General report on firearms used in the commission of crimes has very little data.At a time when public furor over mass shootings is peaking, Alameda residents are petitioning to halt the sale of semi-automatic rifles at the lo

Alameda Point Historical District Grows

Published on 2013-01-28 13:34:52

Alameda Municipal Airport as it appeared in 1936. (From U.S. Navy historical report on Alameda Point.)At next week’s meeting, Alameda City Council will vote on a recommendation to add the Seaplane Lagoon, accompanying boathouses and other build

School District Presents Contract Offer to Teachers

Published on 2013-01-25 10:55:55

The Alameda Unified School District has made a new contract offer to the teachers union. (Action Alameda News)Yesterday, the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) announced that it had mad a new contract proposal to the Alameda Education Association

Alameda Hospital Employee Reports Gun Threats

Published on 2013-01-24 12:32:03

A former temporary employee of Alameda Hospital has been arrested for making threats of violence.(Google StreetView)Yesterday, Alameda Police arrested a former temporary employee of Alameda Hospital for allegedly making death threats against former c

Alameda’s Niman Ranch Hosts Sustainable Agriculture Program

Published on 2013-01-24 12:14:41

Alameda’s Niman Ranch sponsors a food industry education program on sustainable agriculture. (Niman Ranch)Last week, Niman Ranch hosted a two-day course on sustainable agriculture at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The comp

Body Found at Crab Cove in Alameda

Published on 2013-01-23 16:35:08

An Alameda resident called police this morning just before 10:00 a.m. to report a body floating in the water near crab cove. Alameda Police say that emergency personnel from Alameda Police, Alameda Fire, East Bay Regional Park District Police, and Al

School District to Hold Community Meetings on Future of High School Building

Published on 2013-01-23 12:31:51

The Alameda Unified School District is planning a series of community meetings to gather input on the future of the Alameda High School building. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District is planning a series of meetings to gather comm

Flu Activity on the Rise

Published on 2013-01-22 11:42:07

Flu activity in California is on the rise, according to the California Department of Public Health. But there’s no shortage of flu vaccine in Alameda County, according to the County public health department’s website. “California is se

Frank Bette Call for Artists for Alameda on Camera

Published on 2013-01-21 12:09:02

The Frank Bette Center for the Arts has issued a call for artists for the 7th Annual “Alameda on Camera” 48 hour photography challenge. Forty-eight artists will be invited to photograph Alameda between 9:00 p.m., Friday, February 22nd th

Public Hearing on Environmental Impact Report for Alameda Point

Published on 2013-01-18 10:54:23

The City of Alameda will hold a public hearing on Alameda Point on January 28th.The City of Alameda Planning Board will hold a public hearing to accept input regarding the scope of a proposed Environmental Impact Report for a new attempt to redevelop

Mayor Appoints Ashcraft as Transportation Commission Representative

Published on 2013-01-17 15:00:34

The City of Alameda has representatives on some 37 regional boards and commissions. (File photo.)At a special meeting of City Council earlier this week, Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore appointed Councilmember Marilyn Ashcraft to the City of Alameda’

Fiscal Cliff Worries Drove Home Sales Up in December, Says Realtors Association

Published on 2013-01-16 19:05:34

Overall, home sales in California above $500,000 were up 42 percent in December.The California Association of Realtors released data yesterday saying that fiscal cliff worries drove up the sales of homes priced $500,000 and higher by nearly 42 percen

Alameda Municipal Power Launches Powerstar Contest

Published on 2013-01-15 12:59:41

Alameda Municipal Power is looking for innovative power savers. (File Photo) Alameda Municipal Power, the city-owned electrical utility is looking to spotlight customers who have demonstrated innovative approaches to energy savings and greener power

Alameda High Twelfth Grader Ranks in Mobile App Contest

Published on 2013-01-14 10:59:23

Alameda High 12th grader James Fong ranked as a finalist in Samsung’s Mobile Apps Boot Camp contest.James Fong, a 12th grader at Alameda High School, will receive a new Samsung smartphone after ranking fifth in the company’s 2012 Mobile A

Alameda Family Pays Restitution for Child Care Fraud

Published on 2013-01-11 18:32:10

An Alameda family has negotiated a settlement in a child care fraud case.The Alameda County District Attorney’s office has announced a $111,000 negotiated settlement in a child care fraud case involving an Alameda family. Between October 2002

Park Street Height Limits to Go Up

Published on 2013-01-11 10:58:18

A 40′ height limit for Park Street buildings may soon be deleted from Alameda’s General Plan. (File photo.)A 40 foot height limit for buildings on Park Street may soon go the way of the main street’s former auto businesses, accordin

City to Consider Relaxed Requirements for Food Trucks

Published on 2013-01-11 10:42:21

The City of Alameda is considering relaxed guidelines for food trucks. (Action Alameda News)At next week’s City of Alameda Planning Board meeting, city staff will present a report that recommends slightly relaxed requirements for food truck ope

Forum on American Labor Crisis

Published on 2013-01-10 12:23:10

This week’s forum is on the Crisis in American Labor.The Alameda Public Affairs Forum is offering a forum at the Alameda Free Library this Saturday, titled, “Crisis in American Labor.” Organizers of the forum explain the need for a

Health Care District Releases Board Applicant Packet

Published on 2013-01-09 12:40:42

The Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors has a vacancy since Stewart Chen resigned after his election to Alameda City Council. (Google Street View)The Alameda Health Care District, which oversees Alameda Hospital, has released to Action Al

City Announces Planning Sessions for Beltline Park

Published on 2013-01-08 17:40:44

Planning for a park on the old Beltline property begins in February, 2013.Just hours after Action Alameda News published a letter from a reader regarding planning for a park on the former Alameda Beltline railway land, the City of Alameda formally an

Planning Begins for Jean Sweeney Open Space Park on Beltline Property

Published on 2013-01-08 11:32:24

Planning for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park on the old Beltline property begins in February, 2013. Dear Editor, In 2002, Jean Sweeney collected signatures and got an initiative placed on the ballot so we could vote to protect 23 acres of former Ala

Appeals Court to Reconsider Parcel Tax Ruling

Published on 2013-01-07 17:47:25

The Alameda Unified School District has successfully petitioned the California Court of Appeal to rehear the Measure H parcel tax case. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District has successfully petitioned the California Court of Appea

BioTime Inks Deal With Geron for Stem Cell Assets

Published on 2013-01-07 12:15:40

BioTime is moving forward on it’s $53 million deal to purchase stem cell research and development assets from Geron Corporation. (Google Street View)BioTime, Inc., an Alameda-based biotechnology company, announced today that it has signed a dea

Thieves Steal Postal Collection Box, Police Say

Published on 2013-01-04 10:06:03

Thieves stole a mailbox over the weekend, police say. (Courtesy photo)Alameda police say a postal collection box was stolen over the New Year’s Eve weekend from right in front of the Alameda Main Post Office on Shoreline Drive. Police are advi

Bicycle Projects Top Transportation Priorities

Published on 2013-01-03 17:33:51

At a January 14th meeting, Alameda City Council will consider a transportation projects list that puts bicycle improvements projects at the top of the list. The prioritized transportation project list is used to guide the city in planning documents

Christmas Tree Recycling

Published on 2013-01-02 06:28:45

Alameda County Industries will continue Christmas tree pickup on regular service days through January 25th. (Action Alameda News)Alameda County Industries (ACI) offers no-charge collection of Christmas trees for residents of single-family homes. The

Alameda Man Faces Multiple Rape Counts

Published on 2013-01-01 22:18:01

An Alameda man is facing multiple charges after allegedly raping his girlfriend on Sunday.An Alameda man was arrested early Sunday morning after he allegedly raped his girlfriend twice at a Stanton Street residence. According to police logs, Joseph E

Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect Today

Published on 2013-01-01 13:15:56

A ban on plastic bags went into effect in Alameda County January 1, 2013.A county-wide ban prohibiting retailers from providing singe-use plastic bags goes into effect today. As of today, grocery stores and certain food retailers in Alameda County c

Alameda Police Provide Safety Tips for New Years Eve

Published on 2012-12-31 14:10:30

Alameda Police are providing tips for a safe New Years Eve.The Alameda Police Department is providing the following guidance for would-be New Year’s Eve revelers. Police are also reminding partiers that all Bay area law enforcement agencies wi

Pinball Museum to Get Five Year Lease at Alameda Point

Published on 2012-12-27 11:44:30

The Pacific Pinball Museum operates the Lucky JuJu gallery on Webster Street.On Wednesday, Alameda City Council is expected to approve a five year lease for space at Alameda Point on offer to the Pacific Pinball Museum, which operates the Lucky JuJu

Alameda: 2012 Year in Review

Published on 2012-12-26 10:53:17

In 2012, Alameda was left standing at the altar when Lawrence Berkeley National Labs chose a Richmond site over Alameda Point for a second campus, voters rejected a local sales tax measure, and three city council seats turned over. This is your year

Santa Last Spotted in Budapest, Hungary, NORAD Says

Published on 2012-12-24 16:42:19

As of press time, NORAD reports that Santa Claus is in Hungary, still several hours away from Alameda.The North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) annual Santa tracking effort is reporting that Santa Claus was last spotted in Budapest

Public Hearing on 89 unit Subdivision on Buena Vista

Published on 2012-12-21 16:47:00

Trident Partners wants to tear down the Chipman warehouse and divide the parcel into 53 lots for 89 housing units, including 38 duet condominiums.Alameda City Council will hold a public hearing on January 2nd regarding a planned 89-unit development a

Alameda to Settle With SunCal for $4.25 million

Published on 2012-12-19 23:02:26

The City of Alameda is settling lawsuits with SunCal for $4.25 million. Late today, the City of Alameda announced that the city and SunCal have agreed to a $4.25 million settlement to resolve lawsuits that SunCal filed over Alameda Point. The settle

Your New Alameda City Council Lineup

Published on 2012-12-19 15:37:08

Three new City of Alameda councilmembers were sworn-in last night. Alameda Superior Court Judge Delbert Gee swore-in three new Alameda City Councilmembers last night, and the returning City Auditor and Treasurer. Marie Gilmore Lena Tam Tony Daysog M

City Manager Appoints Elizabeth Warmerdam as Assistant City Manager for Alameda

Published on 2012-12-18 19:02:14

Alameda City Manager John Russo has appointed Elizabeth Warmerdam as Assistant City Manager. (Courtesy photo)Alameda City Manager John Russo has appointed Elizabeth Warmerdam as Assistant City Manager for the City of Alameda. Ms. Warmerdam has been s

Oakland Police Arrest Three in Connection with Murder of Teens

Published on 2012-12-18 18:54:52

Oakland Police have arrested, and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged Diantay Powell, 18 and Antonio Edwards, 19 in the murder of Bobbie Sartain, 16 years old, and Raquel Gerstel, 15 years old, on November 25th. The two gi

Holiday Drunk Driving Enforcement Well Underway

Published on 2012-12-17 11:01:53

The Alameda Police Department will stage a DUI/drivers license checkpoint this Saturday, in Alameda.The annual Bay area “Avoid the 21″ holiday DUI enforcement campaign is well underway. The Alameda Police Department will stage a DUI and d

Sandy Hook Tragedy Touches Alameda

Published on 2012-12-15 21:09:57

More than two dozen people attended a candlelight vigil on the steps of Paden Elementary School this evening, to honor the memory of those killed yesterday at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, and to call for an end to gun violenc

School District to Appeal Measure H Ruling

Published on 2012-12-14 14:36:04

The Alameda Unified School District is taking steps to appeal a ruling that invalidated a portion of Measure H, a 2008 parcel tax. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District announced today that it plans to appeal a ruling that invalida

Four Alameda Companies Nominated for East Bay Innovation Awards

Published on 2012-12-14 14:22:52

DOER Marine of Alameda has been nominated for an East Bay Innovation Award.Four of the 16 finalist nominees for the East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s (East Bay EDA) East Bay Innovation Awards are companies from Alameda. The new award ser

Biotech Firm AllCells to Relocate to Alameda

Published on 2012-12-13 11:37:23

AllCells LLC, of Emeryville, California, a life science industry provider of human hematologic tissue such as bone marrow, peripheral blood and primary cells announced today that it will relocate to Harbor Bay Business Park in Alameda next year. The

Move to New Building to Cost AUSD Almost $29,000

Published on 2012-12-11 14:03:17

The Alameda Unified School District is budgeting $28,830.50 to relocate its offices to a new facility at 2060 Challenger Drive. (Action Alameda News)The Alameda Unified School District is budgeting $28,830.50 to relocate its offices in a controversia

City on the Hook for Millions Over Firefighter’s Union Grievance

Published on 2012-12-10 14:04:24

UFCW Local 5 Mike Henneberry, IAFF Local 689 President Domenick Weaver, Lena Tam, IAFF Local 689 Political Director Jeff Delbono, Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore, Unidentified (File Photo)The City of Alameda is on the hook for millions of dollars owing t

School District Has “Significant Exposure” Due to Measure H Reversal

Published on 2012-12-07 17:42:52

An appeals court has reversed a previous decision in favor of the Alameda Unified School District regarding the legality of Measure H, a 2008 parcel tax. (Action Alameda News)The lawyer representing the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Alameda Uni

Appeals Court Partially Reverses Measure H Lawsuit Decision

Published on 2012-12-06 19:31:14

** BREAKING NEWS ** The California Court of Appeals has partially reversed, and partially affirmed, a lower court decision on a lawsuit challenging the validity of Alameda Unified School Districts 2008 parcel tax, Measure H. A notice from the court l

School Board Members to be Sworn In Next Week

Published on 2012-12-05 15:35:59

Newly elected Alameda Unified School District board members will be sworn-in on December 11th, 2012. (Action Alameda News)At next Tuesday’s Alameda Unified School District board meeting, the newly elected school board members will be sworn-in.

Bicycle Violator Diversion Program

Published on 2012-12-04 12:07:54

The Alameda Police Department introduced two new bicycle safety programs on December 1st. The first rewards children for demonstrating safe cycling skills, and the second offers a diversion program for adults cited under the California Vehicle Code.

Planning Board to Consider Density Bonus Application for Alameda Landing

Published on 2012-12-04 11:26:14

A Top Grade Construction crane begins demolition of WWII era buildings in Alameda to prepare the ground for Alameda Landing in July, 2012. (File photo)At next week’s meeting, the Alameda Planning Board will consider a density bonus application

Alameda City Council Has Full Legal Agenda

Published on 2012-12-03 12:04:32

At a special meeting this Wednesday night, Alameda City Council will review three existing suits against the City of Alameda, and one expected suit. First up on the agenda is the East Bay Regional Park District’s lawsuit against the City of Al

Storm Downs Massive Tree

Published on 2012-12-02 14:43:31

A powerful storm took down this tree overnight in Alameda at San Antonio and Bay Street.Last night’s storm took down this tree on San Antonio Avenue at Bay Street overnight.

Rain Soaks Alameda, More to Come

Published on 2012-11-30 11:21:05

This National Weather Service radar image shows a large system centered over the Bay area.A National Weather Service rain gauge reports over an inch of rain having fallen at Oakland International Airport in the past 24 hours. Alameda has been getting

Alameda County Median Home Price Up

Published on 2012-11-29 11:03:45

Yahoo! Homes reports 164 foreclosures in Alameda.Home sale volume and the median home price in Alameda County was up in October, according to the latest Bay Area statistics from Data Quick. Data Quick reports that sales volume in Alameda County in O

No Formal Charges yet for Planning Board Member Mike Henneberry

Published on 2012-11-28 11:30:48

UFCW Local 5 Mike Henneberry, IAFF Local 689 President Domenick Weaver, Lena Tam, IAFF Local 689 Political Director Jeff Delbono, Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore, UnidentifiedAs of this morning, the Alameda County District Attorney has not yet filed form

Open Letter to School Board Regarding Maya Lin School

Published on 2012-11-27 11:42:58

Action Alameda News received a copy of this letter addressed to the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees, and the accompanying pictures and captions…Bold and underlining in the original… Dear AUSD Board Members, The final dr

Alameda Per Capita Sales Tax Up

Published on 2012-11-26 11:41:37

Next week, Alameda City Council will receive the latest quarterly sales tax report for the period ending September 30th, 2012. In line with broader trends in Alameda County and the Bay area, per capital sales tax revenue for the city is up. City of

City Greens Holiday Display

Published on 2012-11-26 11:21:43

The City of Alameda’s holiday light display is powered with renewable energy and uses energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lights, the City said today. The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department worked with city-owned Alameda Municipal

Food Bank in Need of Some 300 Turkeys

Published on 2012-11-21 16:34:09

To date, the Alameda Food Bank has collected 654 turkeys for the holiday season. Hank Leeper, executive director of the food bank, told Action Alameda News their goal is 1,000, which would allow the food bank to provide one turkey to every client fam

Parking Meter Holidays Through December

Published on 2012-11-21 12:24:47

The City of Alameda has declared parking meter holidays on Park Street and Webster Street during the holiday season this year.(File photo.)The City of Alameda announced today that City Council is suspending parking meter fees on Saturdays in the Park

Poetry Reading at Frank Bette This Saturday

Published on 2012-11-21 11:40:37

The Frank Bette Center for the Arts hosts poetry readings.The Frank Bette Center for the Arts holds poetery readings on the second and fourth Saturday’s of the month. This Saturday, November 24th, the feature event will be readings by several

Alameda Municipal Power Warns of Telephone Scam Targeting Businesses

Published on 2012-11-20 18:00:39

Alameda Municipal Power is warning local businesses about a telephone scam. (File Photo)Alameda Municipal Power was warning local businesses today about a telephone scam aimed at duping customers into making payments to a fraudulent party. The utili

Alameda Public Works Bag Exchange

Published on 2012-11-19 17:30:26

The City of Alameda is sponsoring a plastic bag exchange to reduce the use of single-use plastic shopping bags.The City of Alameda Public Works Department will sponsor a plastic bag exchange event on December 1st, where you can trade in single-use pl

BioTime Moves Forward on Stem Cell Asset Acquisition

Published on 2012-11-16 11:33:45

BioTime is moving forward on it’s $53 million deal to purchase stem cell research and development assets from Geron Corporation. (Google Street View)Alameda biotech firm BioTime announced late yesterday that it is making progress on its efforts

City Releases Draft Economic Development Strategy for Alameda Point

Published on 2012-11-15 06:06:34

The firm of Keyser Marston Associates, Inc. has broken Alameda Point down into four major subareas for economic development.The City of Alameda released a draft economic development plan for Alameda Point this week, relying heavily on the firm of Key

California Launches Landscape Apprenticeship Program with Alameda Point Collaborative

Published on 2012-11-14 12:26:05

The California Department of Industrial Relations announced today that it has launched a new landscape apprenticeship program in conjunction with Alameda Point Collaborative. (Alameda Point Collaborative website.)The California Department of Industri

City of Alameda to Launch Smokefree Public Awareness Campaign

Published on 2012-11-14 12:02:44

The City of Alameda is launching a smokefree public awareness campaign this Saturday. Volunteers will pass out no-smoking information to Park Street shoppers and merchants. Last year, the City of Alameda passed a smoking ordinance which prohibits sm

Parks District Goes to Court Over City Actions On Crab Cove Parcel

Published on 2012-11-13 22:18:09

The East Bay Regional Parks District has challenged City of Alameda zoning for this property near the entrance to Crown Beach. (Google Street View)The East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) has filed a writ of mandate in Alameda County Superior Cou

School District Pushing for $5.9 million Purchase of New Headquarters Building

Published on 2012-11-13 11:16:25

Tonight, the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees will hear a recommendation from staff to exercise an option to purchase recently listed office space at 2060 Challenger Drive. (Action Alameda News)Trustees for the Alameda Unified School

City Offices Closed in Observance of Veterans Day

Published on 2012-11-12 10:49:30

City of Alameda offices are closed today in observance of Veterans Day, which officially was yesterday. A Planning Board meeting set for tonight has been cancelled as well. On November 29th, at Alameda City Hall, there will be a public meeting to di

Watching Precinct Vote Like Watching Sausage Being Made

Published on 2012-11-10 15:07:58

Dear Editor, Watching a precinct vote is like watching sausage being made. Once you do, you will never again trust the final product. On election day, I was a nonpartisan observer at precinct #305100 Ruby Bridges Elem School. I was sent there becaus

City to Appropriate $70,000 for the Inclusionary Housing Program

Published on 2012-11-09 16:09:13

At the November 20th Alameda City Council meeting, council is expect to approve a $70,000 appropriation from the affordable housing fund to allocate to the Housing Authority to operate the city’s inclusionary housing program. The inclusionary

County Updates Vote Tallies

Published on 2012-11-08 13:06:05

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters updated vote counts today. The registrar reportedly had some 140,000 provisional and vote-by-mail ballots to count as of yesterday. However, while the vote tallies are changing, the overall results are not. The

City of Alameda Election Results (November 2012)

Published on 2012-11-06 21:55:37

As of 10:26 p.m., 22 of 46 Alameda precincts reporting… Alameda City Council Marilyn Ashcraft leading followed by Tony Daysog and Stewart Chen… Alameda School Board Trish Spencer leading followed by Barbara Kahn and Niel Tam… Alamed

Federal Observers in Some Alameda Polling Stations Today

Published on 2012-11-06 17:55:03

The federal Department of Justice has observers in some Alameda polling stations today.Acting on a tip, Action Alameda News has confirmed that observers from the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, are present in some Alameda

General Election Day in Alameda

Published on 2012-11-06 10:45:38

Jon Murphy, candidate for the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees, exits Maya Lin Elementary School after casting his ballot. (Courtesy photo.)Today is election day, and in addition to national and state-wide races, Alameda voters will

City to Push Navy on Point Cleanup

Published on 2012-11-05 12:38:55

The City of Alameda is set to push the U.S. Navy for deeper cleanup of potentially radiologically contaminated drain lines at Alameda Point.The City of Alameda appears set to push the U.S. Navy to literally dig deeper to clean up contaminated soil an

Kohl’s Asks to Stay Open Later Year-Round

Published on 2012-11-02 10:49:41

Kohl’s department store is asking to stay open until 11:00 p.m. year-round. (Google Street View)Kohl’s department store at the South Shore Shopping Center will be back before the City of Alameda Planning Board on November 13th with a requ

Nob Hill Workers Ready to Strike

Published on 2012-11-01 10:20:22

Employees at Bay Area Nob Hill stores are set to strike this Saturday at midnight. (Google Streetview)Workers at one of Alameda’s largest grocery stores are ready to strike if federal mediation today doesn’t bring about a settlement to co

No Sunshine for City Council Closed Session Minutes

Published on 2012-10-31 11:56:01

Alameda City Attorney Janet Kern is recommending that the City of Alameda not disclose minutes of City Council closed-session meetings, in keeping with the City’s so-called sunshine ordinance, approved by council last year. The issue comes bef

Roads Used by Alameda Drivers Fair to Middling

Published on 2012-10-30 11:08:58

A new report rates pavement conditions in the Bay Area.(File photo)A report on Bay Area pavement conditions released yesterday by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) reveals what Alameda drivers already know – the roads they use rate “fair” at best. The report, “Pavement Condition Index (PCI) for Bay Area Jurisdictions, 2011″ grades more [...]

Alameda Hospital Defends Wellness Newsletter

Published on 2012-10-29 12:31:45

Alameda Hospital officials say they mail the community wellness newsletter every fall.Alameda Hospital officials are defending as routine the mailing of a glossy ‘community wellness’ newsletter depicting all five hospital board members at the height of election season. Action Alameda News readers had questioned if the piece sent out by the publicly funded hospital [...]

Bank of Alameda Parent Company Reports Profit

Published on 2012-10-26 11:32:35

NorCal Community Bancorp, the parent company for Bank of Alameda, reported financial results yesterday. The company realized third quarter net income of $265,000 or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to net income of $98,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the same quarter last year. “We are pleased to report a return to quarterly [...]

Alameda Police to Host Part of Urban Shield 2012

Published on 2012-10-26 11:23:35

The Alameda Police Department will host part of the 2012 Urban Shield event.The Alameda Police Department will host part of the Urban Shield 2012 event this weekend, which involves 32 different police SWAT teams training at two different Alameda locations. According to the Urban Shield website, the exercise is designed to assess and [...]

Makani Power’s CEO and Co-Founder Corwin Hardham Dead at 38

Published on 2012-10-25 21:12:14

Makani Power’s Corwin Hardham, dead at 38. (Courtesy photo.)Alameda’s Makani Power has announced that its co-founder and CEO, Corwin Hardham died unexpectedly on Tuesday at age 38. Makani Power, based at Alameda Point, had developed an airborne wind power turbine. As of Thursday evening, a Makani Power spokesperson had no further details on [...]

City of Alameda to Begin Public Safety Labor Negotiations

Published on 2012-10-25 11:44:16

The City of Alameda is about to begin labor negotiations with its public safety labor groups (File photo.)The City of Alameda is about to begin labor negotiations with its public safety bargaining units. To that end, it is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, October 30th, at 7:00 p.m. to hear public input and [...]

Seen on the Street: Alameda Municipal Power

Published on 2012-10-24 15:29:34

An Alameda Municipal Power crew prepares to replace an aging utility pole. (Action Alameda News)An Alameda Municipal Power crew prepares to replacing an aging utility pole with a new one.

Lincoln School Polling Room to Return to Accessibility

Published on 2012-10-23 12:37:05

Alameda County Registrar of Voters Dave Macdonald says that polling at Lincoln Middle School will be back in a large, fully accessible, room this November 6th.Alameda County Registrar of Voters Dave Macdonald says that polling at Lincoln Middle School will return to a large, handicap accessible, room for the November 6th election. He was [...]

Exchange Approval Paves Way for Broader Development of Alameda Point

Published on 2012-10-22 15:04:23

An agreement approved by the California State Lands Commission pushes all public trust lands at Alameda Point to the waters edge, freeing up interior areas for broader development.The City of Alameda announced today that the California State Lands Commission has approved an exchange agreement that would push all public trust lands to the waters [...]

Alameda Police Warn on Daytime Residential Burglaries

Published on 2012-10-19 13:20:19

Alameda Police are warning residents about a rash of daytime residential burglaries.The Alameda Police Department is warning residents today regarding a rash of daytime residential burglaries in the area of Willow Street to Regent Street and Otis Street to Pacific Avenue. Police say they have a suspect – a black male in his [...]

BioTime Tries to Woo Geron Shareholders

Published on 2012-10-19 12:01:32

BioTime of Alameda has made a bid for stem cell research assets owned by Geron Corporation.Alameda’s BioTime has issued an open letter to shareholders of Geron Corporation, encouraging them to support a $53 million deal that would see a BioTime subsidiary acquire stem cell research and development assets from Geron. “BioTime and BAC [...]

Superintendent Performance Goals on AUSD’s Agenda Next Week

Published on 2012-10-19 11:29:53

The Alameda Unified School District will discuss performance goals for the Superintendent in an upcoming board meeting. (Action Alameda News)At Tuesday’s Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting, the board will consider proposed performance goals for the Superintendent for the 2013 to 2014 school year. AUSD Superintendent Kirsten Vital stands to earn a [...]

Redevelopment Successor Agency Board to Meet Tonight

Published on 2012-10-18 12:41:35

City Hall West at Alameda Point. The former Naval Air Station Alameda represented a vast redevelopment project area created by the former Community Improvement Commission of the City of Alameda.A City of Alameda body that has oversight of the winding down of the city’s redevelopment agency will meet tonight. Among the items on the [...]

Book Now for 12-12-12 Weddings at Alameda City Hall

Published on 2012-10-17 11:18:30

The Alameda City Clerk’s office is offering civil wedding ceremonies on Wednesday, December 12th, providing couples with the palindromic wedding date of 12-12-12. Last year, the Clerk’s office said they had eleven couples marry on November 11th. The next opportunity for such a wedding date is 89 years away, on January 1st, 2101. The [...]

Pedestrian Push-button Upgrades Proposed

Published on 2012-10-17 10:43:15

The City of Alameda is proposing pedestrian push-button upgrades at nine intersections to make crossing the street easier for the blind and visually-impaired.The City of Alameda’s Commission on Disability Issues is holding a meeting to discuss a proposal to install upgrades to pedestrian push-buttons at nine intersections across the city. The purpose is to [...]

Achievement Gap Persists in Alameda Schools

Published on 2012-10-16 11:55:56

Test score data shows that 13 percent of Alameda schools did not meet API growth targets, and 7 percent of schools declined or remained the same.Recently released test scores for the 2011 to 2012 school year show that despite improvement in some subgroups of Alameda students, the achievement gap persists. Washington Elementary school [...]

School District Spends another $55,000 on Controversial Fence

Published on 2012-10-15 18:24:11

The Alameda Unified School District has erected a large fence around the historic Alameda High School pursuant to a seismic retrofit of the building. (Action Alameda News) Last week, the Alameda Unified School District approved spending an additional $54,519 on the controversial seismic retrofit fence surrounding the historic Alameda High School building. Technically, [...]

Planning Board Seeks High End Retail Mix for Alameda Landing

Published on 2012-10-15 12:03:42

A Top Grade Construction crane begins demolition of WWII era buildings in Alameda to prepare the ground for Alameda Landing in July, 2012. (File photo)By Erica Madison “Please keep the bar high,” board member Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft said at a recent Planning Board meeting about Alameda Landing. Ashcraft and Lorre Zuppan were concerned that [...]

Friends of Alameda Wildlife Refuge to Receive $2,500 Donation

Published on 2012-10-12 17:44:18

Friends of theAlameda Wildlife Refuge will receive a $2,500 donation from the Cox Conserves Heroes program. Alameda resident Leora Feeney was a runner-up in the 2012 Cox Conserves Hero competition, sponsored by The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises. The program honors everyday environmentalists. The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association will receive $10,000 for [...]

New Homes Planned for Alameda’s Northern Waterfront

Published on 2012-10-12 12:23:12

Trident Partners wants to tear down the Chipman warehouse and divide the parcel into 70 lots for 89 housing units, including 38 duet condominiums.Trident Partners LLC wants to build 89 new housing units on the site of the existing Chipman warehouse, next to the former Del Monte building, on Buena Vista Avenue near Sherman [...]

City Seeks Applicants for Transportation Commission Citizens Advisory Commitee

Published on 2012-10-11 11:40:18

The City of Alameda is soliciting applications to serve a two-year term as the Alameda representative on the Alameda County Transportation Commission Citizens Advisory Committee.The City of Alameda is seeking applications from residents who would be willing to serve a two-year term on the Alameda County Transportation Commission Citizens Advisory Committee. The 22 [...]

City Council to Vote on 66 Year Lease for Bay Ship and Yacht

Published on 2012-10-10 11:15:05

Alameda City Council will consider a 20 year lease with multiple options for Bay Ship and Yacht, which operates a shipyard on Alameda’s waterfront, near the Main Street Ferry Terminal. (Google Maps)Next week, Alameda City Council will vote on a proposed lease with Bay Ship and Yacht that would have an initial term of [...]

Austrian Wind Power Giant Uses Alameda Technology

Published on 2012-10-09 10:48:43

Austrian wind power giant Bachmann electronic GmbH is using technology from Alameda’s Wind River in its next-generation wind turbine controller.Alameda-based Wind River, an Intel Corporation subsidiary, announced today that the Austrian wind power giant Bachman electronic has standardized on Wind River technology in its next-generation controller used in wind turbine applications. According to [...]

Fire Dispatch Services Contract Under City Council Consideration Next Week

Published on 2012-10-08 11:04:54

The City of Alameda’s contract with Alameda County fire dispatch services is up for renewal. (File photo.)At next week’s Alameda City Council meeting, Council is expected to renew it’s contract with the Alameda County Fire Department for operation of Alameda Fire Department dispatch services. The Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC) based [...]

Tepid Turnout for Neptune Beach Community Celebration

Published on 2012-10-06 16:14:40

Turnout was low for the Neptune Beach Community Celebration on Webster Street.With many competing events in San Francisco this weekend, Webster Street’s Neptune Beach Community Celebration realized a relatively low turnout early Saturday afternoon. Some families took advantage of the fun slide and inflatable bounce houses, and some danced to live music, but [...]

Wilma Chan Pays Husband’s Campaign Printing Bill

Published on 2012-10-06 13:20:36

Wilma ChanCampaign filings show that Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan paid a $135.86 printing bill for her husband Michael McCormick, an incumbent running for re-election on the Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors. It’s not clear from the filing if the bill was related to a $222.55 payment to In/Out Printing of [...]

Alameda Firefighters Back Ashcraft, Chen and Cambra

Published on 2012-10-05 17:19:03

The Alameda firefighters union is backing Ashcraft, Chen and Cambra for Alameda City Council.Campaign filings made this week by the Alameda firefighters union show the union to be backing Marilyn Ashcraft, Stewart Chen and Jeff Cambra for Alameda City Council. According to the filings, the union gave $500 each to the campaign committee [...]

Alameda Ferry Fleet Week Schedule

Published on 2012-10-05 11:03:18

This weekend, ferry service across the bay will be tripled to handle increased demand due to fleet week, football and baseball games, and other events in San Francisco. The San Francisco Bay Ferry website is reporting the following capacity increases from the Alameda Main Street terminal to San Francisco: ALAMEDA MAIN STREET- OAKLAND JACK [...]

Alameda Marketplace Goes with Green Energy

Published on 2012-10-05 07:02:39

The Alameda Marketplace has joined Alameda Municipal Power’s Green program, choosing 100 percent renewable energy. (Courtesy photo.)Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) announced this week that the Marketplace shopping emporium is the first business participant to join AMP’s Green energy program. Participants in the program choose 100 percent renewable energy from the utility. AMP estimates [...]

Alameda City Council Approves Purchase of New Fire Boat, New Police Vehicles, and New Armored Vehicle

Published on 2012-10-04 07:01:37

The Alameda Police Department will buy a Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport (BATT) vehicle for $174,000 At Tuesday’s Alameda City Council meeting, Council approved the purchase a new $500,000 fire boat, a $174,000 armored vehicle and 10 additional staff and patrol cars for the police fleet. Standing in for Police Chief Mike Noonan, Captain [...]

Fleet Week Begins Today, Runs Through Monday

Published on 2012-10-03 14:09:49

San Francisco Fleet Week begins today and runs through Monday. There will be events in and near Alameda. (Courtesy photo.)San Francisco Fleet Week begins today and runs through Monday. Apart from the well-known air show, the celebration will include a US navy Band concert at Jack London Square honoring East Bay veterans, and [...]

Expect Traffic in Alameda this Weekend, Police Say

Published on 2012-10-03 11:31:11

The Alameda Police Department is advising residents of a number of events in town this weekend that are likely to create traffic delays. (File photo.)Alameda police are advising residents of a number of events this weekend that will likely impede traffic flow. The Alameda Police Department is encouraging residents to take public transportation [...]

Total Woman Gym and Day Spa Coming to Alameda

Published on 2012-10-02 10:43:48

Total Woman Gym & Day Spa is coming to South Shore Shopping Center.The former Borders storefront at South Shore Shopping Center will have a new tenant by year’s end – the Total Woman Gym and Day Spa. Based in Southern California, with 13 locations there already, Total Woman has opened a temporary [...]

City of Alameda Working on O.Co Noise

Published on 2012-10-01 15:09:48

Update: 8:50 p.m. – The City of Oakland Mayor’s office sent the following statement, below. The City of Alameda issued a statement today saying that it is working with Alameda County Supervisors, Oakland, and the O.Co Coliseum to ensure there is no repeat of last Saturday’s event, which shook windows in San Leandro and [...]

Alameda County Lands $63 million in Transportation Grant Money

Published on 2012-10-01 10:45:28

The Alameda County Transportation Commission has secured $63 million in grant funding for transportation projects, including money to spend on areas such as Alameda Point and Alameda’s Northern waterfront.On Friday, the Alameda County Transportation Commission announced that it has secured $63 million in grants over four years for transportation projects, from the One [...]

Governor Brown Signs Fertility Equality Bill Conceived by Alameda Resident

Published on 2012-09-28 19:22:59

Leland Traiman who conceived of the idea behind AB 2356. (File photo)California Governor Jerry Brown has signed bill AB2356, the idea for which was Leland Traiman’s of Alameda. Traiman is a Nurse/Legal Consultant and candidate for the Alameda Health Care District Board, which oversees Alameda Hospital. The bill makes it easier for [...]

Alameda City Council to Consider Mapes Ranch Subdivision Plan

Published on 2012-09-28 07:27:44

Property owner Clifford Mapes wants to subdivide the 1.29 acre site at Fernside Boulevard and Tilden Way into 11 lots on which would be built single family homes.At Tuesday’s council meeting, Alameda City Council will consider a plan to subdivide the vacant lot at the corner of Fernside Boulevard and Tilden Way into [...]

Veterans Administration Inches Forward with Alameda Point Plan

Published on 2012-09-27 14:37:55

This map from a 2008 Veterans Affairs presentation outlines the portion of Alameda Point that the department would receive from the U.S. Navy in a so-called fed-to-fed transfer.The Department of Veterans Affairs is moving forward with its plan to build a 158,000 square-foot, two-story out patient clinic and other facilities at the former [...]

Alameda Residents Not Represented on Transportation Commission Watchdog Committee

Published on 2012-09-26 07:01:36

City of Alameda residents are not represented on a watchdog committee charged with oversight of billions of dollars of transportation funds spending. Yesterday, the Alameda County Transportation Commission announced its 10th annual Citizen Watchdog Committee report to the public. However, Alameda residents are not represented on the watchdog committee. The Commission oversees [...]

Street Resurfacing Begins Next Week

Published on 2012-09-25 10:06:39

Starting next Wednesday, the City of Alameda will begin street repairs on Harbor Bay Parkway, Clement Avenue, Santa Clara Avenue and Sherman Street. The work is expected to take two weeks, and it will disrupt traffic, restrict street access, close lanes and temporarily eliminate parking spaces. Clement Avenue may lose all on-street parking [...]

Alameda Fire Department to Buy Fire Boat

Published on 2012-09-24 12:26:12

The Alameda Fire Department wants to spend up to $500,000 to buy a new, fully-equipped, firefighting boat. Pictured is the San Francisco Fire Department’s Phoenix fire fighting boat. (Wikipedia) The United States Department of Homeland Security has approved a $375,000 port security grant to help the Alameda Fire Department buy a new, fully-equipped, [...]

Alameda Police Department to buy $174,000 Armored Tactical Vehicle

Published on 2012-09-21 09:24:47

The Alameda Police Department wants to buy a Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport (BATT) vehicle for $174,000Citing a growing need for a special response/rescue vehicle to respond to emergency incidents, such as terrorist attacks, the Alameda Police Department wants to spend $174,000 to buy a Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport (BATT) vehicle to add to [...]

Catellus Shifts Retail Tenant Strategy for Alameda Landing

Published on 2012-09-20 17:57:16

Citing changes in the retail industry, and the economic downturn that begin in 2008, Catellus has reworked it’s tenant leasing strategy for Alameda Landing. The Economic Development Commission will have a chance to weigh-in on it next Thursday evening. Under the newly prepared leasing strategy document, Target would remain the anchor tenant, occupying [...]

Free Teen Driving Clinic This Weekend

Published on 2012-09-19 13:01:53

In conjunction with the Alameda Police Department, Bridgestone is offering a free teen driving clinic this weekend at Alameda Point. The training focuses on vehicle dynamics, accident avoidance, smart driving choices and eliminating distracted driving. The half-day program is intended to equip new, young, drivers with the requisite skills to manage on today’s [...]

Alameda Citywide Emergency Notification Test Today

Published on 2012-09-19 07:32:40

The City of Alameda will test its CodeRED emergency notification system today at 11:00 a.m. The system will call all phone numbers for residents who have opted-in to notification and play a message indicating that it’s a test. CodeRED is a high-speed telephone communication system used for emergency notifications, capable of dialing 50,000 [...]

Alameda Police Arrest Armed Robbery Suspects

Published on 2012-09-18 19:14:46

Alameda police say they arrested two Oakland residents today suspected of armed robbery in Alameda on August 17th. Police say that in the early morning of August 17th, 2012, 12 adult males were in the parking lot at 3000 Main Street, the ferry terminal, when they were approached by three to four adult [...]

Alameda’s Niman Ranch Awards $36,000 in Scholarships

Published on 2012-09-18 09:18:50

Jeff Swain, Niman Ranch CEO and Kyle Larsen, Next Generation Scholarship recipient. (Photo: Business Wire) Last weekend, Niman Ranch held its 14th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, to celebrate its stable of more than 550 U.S. family hog farmers and award college scholarships from its Next Generation Scholarship Fund. [...]

City Wins Partial Judgment Against SunCal

Published on 2012-09-17 19:27:48

On September 14th, US Northern District Court Judge Charles Bryer handed down a judgment dismissing SunCal’s claims of $17 million in a suit against the City of Alameda, filed after the city terminated a master developer negotiation agreement with the developer.The City of Alameda announced today that United States District Court Judge Charles [...]

Ron Mooney Effectively Tosses School Board Re-election

Published on 2012-09-17 10:22:31

Incumbent Alameda Unified School District trustee Ronald Mooney appears to be uninterested in winning re-election. In August, Mr. Mooney filed a Fair Political Practices Form 470, indicating he expects to receive and spend less than $1,000 on his campaign this year, and that he’s aware of no committees that would be making expenditures [...]

Frank Bette Center Call for Art – Reflections

Published on 2012-09-14 15:22:35

“Golden Bow” by Margaret FagoThe Frank Bette Center for the Arts has issued a call for submissions for its “Reflections” exhibit which will run from October 5th to December 22nd. Receiving Day is Sunday, September 30th, from 11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. The Center invites work in all mediums, including paintings, photography, [...]

Starlight Movie in the Park Tonight – “Kung Fu Panda 2″

Published on 2012-09-14 11:05:19

The City of Alameda-sponsored Starlight Movie in the Park event tonight will feature “Kung Fu Panda 2 – The Kaboom of Doom” at Leydecker Park Field on Bay Farm island. “Starlight Movies in the Park” is a free series sponsored by the City of Alameda. No barbecue grills, pets or alcoholic beverages are [...]

Alameda Named One of 100 Best Communities for Young People

Published on 2012-09-12 12:47:01

Today, America’s Promise Alliance announced its list of 100 Best Communities for Young People in the U.S. Alameda made the list for a third time. In a statement, the organization cited Alameda’s Bullying Prevention Initiative, Alameda High School’s restorative justice program, and the let’s Move Alameda anti-obesity and healthy living program. The city [...]

Coastal Cleanup Day This Saturday

Published on 2012-09-12 10:52:13

The City of Alameda is looking for volunteers to participate in Coastal Cleanup Day, this Saturday, September 15, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Participants remove trash and debris from the shoreline. The event is planned in partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District; volunteers can pre-register by visiting www.EBParks.org or calling 888-327-2757 [...]

City to Press Forward with Fire Station Replacement

Published on 2012-09-11 09:46:49

The City of Alameda is pressing forward with what it calls a long-term project to replace Fire Station #3 with a new station and emergency operations center. On June 5th of this year, Alameda voters rejected Measure C, a 30-year sales tax increase the city said would fund, among other things, the new station [...]

Appellate Court SLAPPs Down Kapler’s Claims

Published on 2012-09-10 19:09:22

Vintage sign captured in Park Street store front. The first appellate district of the California court of appeal has reversed a trial court decision and used free speech legislation to dismiss claims against the City of Alameda in a lawsuit filed by the former fire chief. To read more, click [...]

Faction Brewing Company to Sign Five-year Lease at Alameda Point

Published on 2012-09-10 11:41:57

At next Tuesday’s Alameda City Council meeting, the council will consider a lease that would see Faction Brewing Company LLC occupy roughly 32,500 square feet of space at building 22, a former aircraft hangar, at Alameda Point. The start-up brewery plans to produce 8,000 barrels of bear a year in at least five [...]

Teacher’s Union Kicks-off Fall Campaign for Favored School Board Candidates

Published on 2012-09-08 16:16:28

The Alameda Education Association, representing teachers in the Alameda Unified School District, kicked-off its fall campaign this morning to boost the chances of three candidates the union favors for the school board. Roughly 80 people, mostly teachers, attended the event in front of Alameda High School. Union president Gray Harris characterized the three [...]

Alameda’s Bonnie Joy Cooks for Cash

Published on 2012-09-07 16:31:38

Self-taught cook Bonnie Joy of Alameda competed today at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California in San Diego for a possible $10,000 grand prize in the Foster Farms fresh chicken cooking contest. Last month, Ms. Joy’s Nut Crusted Chicken with Roasted Beet Medallions, Beet Greens Gremolata and Arugula Salad [...]

Clipper Card Comes to Alameda-Oakland Ferry Routes

Published on 2012-09-07 14:30:50

Effective October 1st, 2012, passengers will be able to use their Clipper Card to pay for passage on the Alameda/Oakland and Harbor Bay ferry routes. The Water Emergency Transit Agency (WETA) approved the decision, and a new ferry to MUNI transfer policy, at its regularly scheduled Board meeting yesterday. “Introducing Clipper on the [...]

Updated City of Alameda Management Salaries Added to Salary Database

Published on 2012-09-06 16:24:29

Updated salary data for City of Alameda management employees has been added to the salary database. See which managers work a four-day, or five-day, work week.

City Departments to Close for Employee Picnic

Published on 2012-09-06 10:25:17

Next Thursday, some City of Alameda departments will be closed for all or part of the day for an employee picnic. Billed as an annual “Employee Picnic and Health and Wellness Fair,” the event will take place on Thursday, September 13th. All library branches will close at 1:00 p.m. that day, and the [...]

Alameda Hospital Continues to Lose Money

Published on 2012-09-05 11:30:44

At tonight’s meeting of the Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors, the Board will hear a financial report showing that the hospital lost $309,000 in July, compared to an expected loss of only $172,000. The management report also reveals an error in the fiscal year 2013 operating budget. The “temporary agency expense” category [...]

Low-Level Helicopter Flights to Continue Through Tomorrow

Published on 2012-08-31 10:46:48

Many Alameda residents have noticed a low-flying helicopter over Alameda these past few days. It’s taking measurements of naturally-occurring background radiation, and the flights will continue through tomorrow. A Monday, August 27th notice from the Oakland Police Department explained that the helicopter would be making daily flights over parts of San Francisco, Oakland [...]

Alameda Landing Residential Study on Upcoming Planning Board Meeting

Published on 2012-08-31 10:30:16

An upcoming City of Alameda Planning Board meeting will include a study session on planned residential development at Alameda Landing. TriPointe Homes has submitted to the City of Alameda a Development Plan, Design Review and Density Bonus application for 280 housing units, open space and other improvements on 22.3 acres of land within [...]

Alameda Police Remind Residents of Back to School Safety

Published on 2012-08-30 12:07:43

Alameda Police are reminding drivers to be vigilant on the roads as summer ends and kids return to school. They’ve provided the following guidelines. Slow Down – Traditionally, at the beginning of the school year, parents and children are trying to adjust to their new daily routines and become rushed. Many times they [...]

Alameda Municipal Power to Refurbish Headquarters Building

Published on 2012-08-30 12:02:26

Alameda Municipal Power’s headquarters at 2000 Grand Street was built in the late 1980s. The utility says the building is showing its age and is due for a makeover. In making the case, Robert Orbeta assistant general manager, noted a number of ad hoc renovations to the facility over the years, some related [...]

Equal Access to Fertility Bill Sponsored by Alameda Resident Passes in California Senate

Published on 2012-08-29 10:41:33

Yesterday, the California State Senate voted 26 to 10 to approve a bill that ensures equal access to fertility services for all women. The bill was conceived by Alameda resident and candidate for the Health Care District Board, Leland Traiman. The bill clarifies existing law to ensure that single women, and women in [...]

New Cafe to Modify Boniere Bakery Sign

Published on 2012-08-29 07:22:43

A new cafe is coming to 1417 Park Street, the location of the former Boniere Bakery. However, it might mean modifications to the history bakery sign. Betty Gee, owner of Betty’s Cafe, said to be “coming soon” to the location, is seeking approval to alter the historically designated “Boniere Bakery” sign. The site [...]

Planning Board to Review Application for Former Good Chevrolet Site Tonight

Published on 2012-08-27 12:18:32

Tonight, the City of Alameda Planning board will consider a design review and conditional use application for 1600 Park Street, the former site of the Good Chevrolet automobile dealership. The proposed project would see two one-story buildings constructed on the site with a parking lot in behind. One of the buildings would be designed [...]

Candidate Declines Invitation to Speak at Alameda Democratic Club Endorsement Meeting

Published on 2012-08-25 17:56:57

Action Alameda News received a copy of this message sent to the City of Alameda Democratic Club… My response to an invitation to speak at the endorsement meeting of the City of Alameda “Democratic” Club Your club has chosen to support Rob Bonta, a candidate who was elected because Republican developers, using the [...]

Car Seat Check-up This Saturday with the Alameda Police Department

Published on 2012-08-23 12:49:05

The Alameda Police Department is hosting a child car-seat check-up this Saturday, August 25th at the police department parking lot, at the corner of Oak Street and Lincoln Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The police department says that 95 percent of car seats in Alameda County are used or installed incorrectly. [...]

Crackdown On Impaired Driving

Published on 2012-08-22 16:26:40

Alameda Police are scheduling DUI Saturation Patrols for this Friday, August 24th, and on Saturday, September 1st, as part of a statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Some 21 law enforcement agencies in Alameda County participate in the Avoid the 21 Task Force by deploying DUI Driver’s License Checkpoints and roving [...]

Friends of Alameda Wildlife Refuge in Running for Cox Conserves Heroes Award

Published on 2012-08-22 11:33:07

Yesterday, KTVU Channel 2 and The Trust for Public Land announced finalists for the Bay Area’s Cox Conserves Heroes program. The Friends of the Alameda Wildlife Refuge group stands to receive a $10,000 donation, thanks to finalist Leora Feeney, who named that group as the beneficiary of her choice. Ms. Feeney is competing with [...]

Racial Discrimination Alleged in City of Alameda Recreation Department Hiring

Published on 2012-08-20 18:29:19

The City of Alameda Civil Service Board will hear a report this Wednesday evening on an external personnel investigation regarding the filling of a Recreation Services Specialist Position, and also to consider a request to vacate the recruitment. Karen Kramer, an attorney with Karmer-Wiese filed her report on August 13th, in response to [...]

Special School Board Meeting on Monday

Published on 2012-08-17 18:53:01

The Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Monday, August 20th, at 5:30 p.m. in the Superintendent’s conference room at District headquarters. The board is looking at a full agenda, including a 137 page packet, reproduced below: 1. Approval of Lease Agreement between Alameda Unified School District [...]

Protect the Parks Initiative on Ballot as Measure D

Published on 2012-08-16 16:31:30

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters has assigned the letter “D” to the November 6th citizen-sponsored “Protect the Parks” ballot measure. The ballot question for “Measure D” reads as follows: “Charter Amendment Changing Requirements for When a Citywide Ballot Measure is Needed to Authorize Certain Sales or Disposals of City Parks “Shall the [...]

Audit Finds Alameda Landlords Discriminate Against Potential Disabled Tenants

Published on 2012-08-16 13:38:38

A fair housing audit prepared by The Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity, (ECHO) to be presented to the Alameda Social Service Human Relations Board tonight, suggests that Alameda landlords discriminate against prospective tenants who are disabled and may need reasonable modifications to the rental property. Under federal and state fair housing laws, [...]

Finances May Force Alameda Kindergarteners out of St. Joseph High School

Published on 2012-08-15 18:18:36

By Erica Madison St. Joseph Elementary School has filed a building permit to move the kindergarten class into a 720 square foot modular building, to be built adjacent to the elementary school. The building will be placed between the St. Joseph elementary school and the playground. The ability to add a modular classroom [...]

Alameda Residents Support Local Valero station

Published on 2012-08-14 11:23:58

By Erica Madison Owners of the Valero gas station at 1310 Central Avenue submitted an application for an amendment to their use permit, with several members of the community voicing their support for the changes. “The station is a convenience, not a detriment,” said an Alameda resident. The gas station has been around [...]

Alameda Goes Green: AMP Offers New Renewable Energy Option

Published on 2012-08-13 15:00:42

By Erica Madison Alameda City joins Oakland, Berkeley San Francisco, Richmond, Palo Alto, Santa Clara and Marin in offering a 100% renewable energy option. Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) is rolling out a new Alameda Green program. Effective August 8th, 2012 consumers can opt in to purchase wind and solar power. The new program will [...]

Alameda City Council Candidates for November 6, 2012 General Election

Published on 2012-08-13 14:19:50

There are eight candidates qualified to run for Alameda City Council in the November 6th, 2012 general election. Here are the names, in alphabetical order by last name, of the candidates: Jeff Cambra Stewart Chen Joana Darc Weber Tony Daysog Marily Ezzy Ashcraft Beverly Johnson Jane Sullwold Gerard Valbuena Dumuk Auditor for the [...]

BioTime of Alameda Reports Financial Results

Published on 2012-08-10 11:14:25

BioTime, a biotech company based in Alameda announced second quarter financial results yesterday. For the quarter ended June 30, 2012, the company realized a net loss of $5.5 million or $0.11 per share. For the first six months of this year, the company reported a loss of $10.4 million, worse than the $7.6 million [...]

AC Transit to Hold Job Fair for Potential Bus Drivers

Published on 2012-08-09 18:15:05

On Saturday, August 25th, AC Transit will hold a job fair in Hayward to recruit applicants for bus operator positions. AC Transit General Manager David Armijo said the agency is increasing the number of bus operators to improve the reliability of its services. “Providing transit service to the East Bay requires hundreds of [...]

SunCal Lawsuits Against City of Alameda Grind On

Published on 2012-08-08 12:42:04

Two years after SunCal first filed a lawsuit against the City of Alameda over the company’s ouster as master developer for Alameda Point, court records show two cases dragging on. In September of 2010, SunCal sued the City of Alameda in California Superior Court, alleging that the City violated the public records act. [...]

Piece of Alameda Now on Mars

Published on 2012-08-06 11:07:30

Wind River, an embedded and mobile software company owned by Intel and based in Alameda, announced today that NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory uses Wind River technology on the Curiosity rover that agency successfully landed on the planet Mars last night. The space agency said that the rover landed on Mars last night at [...]

Council Approves 20 Year Golf Course Lease with Greenway Golf Associates

Published on 2012-08-03 16:40:56

At Tuesday’s Alameda City Council meeting, the council approved a 20-year lease with an option for a 5-year extension with Greenway Golf Associates, Inc. to operate the Chuck Corica Golf Complex. Approval of the lease required four out of five councilmembers to vote “yes”; all five voted in favor. The item was brought [...]

National Night Out is Next Tuesday, August 7th

Published on 2012-08-02 17:22:33

Next Tuesday is National Night Out, an annual event, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, designed to build neighborhood relationships, strengthen community-police relationships, and prevent crime. On a National Night Out, residents are asked to spend the evening outside with neighbors, socializing with each other with a BBQ or potluck dinner. [...]

Updated Campaign Financing Statements on Measure C Election

Published on 2012-08-01 16:35:13

Semi-annual campaign disclosure filings provide an updated picture of financing for the June 5th sales tax increase ballot measure, Measure C. The measure failed at the ballot. Measure C promised to fund public safety equipment, a new emergency operations center, a new fire station number 3, a new aquatic center, library renovations and [...]

City to Replace Lagoon Seawall at Foot of Walnut Street

Published on 2012-07-31 11:00:29

The City of Alameda will remove and replace a portion of the seawall along the lagoon at the southern-most end of Walnut Street. Nearby residents will endure pile driving, dust, noise and the loss of four on-street parking spaces. The new seawall will be a concrete wall topped with a chain link fence. [...]

Teachers Slam School District Headquarters Vote

Published on 2012-07-30 14:07:07

The Facebook page for the Alameda Education Association, the labor union representing teachers in the Alameda Unified School District, lit up after the school district board of trustees approved a $3.5 million plan to move the district’s headquarters office from Alameda High School to privately leased space near Marina Village. Previously Alameda Education [...]

Alameda Environmental Advocate Joins Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps

Published on 2012-07-30 11:39:09

Jessica Robinson, a local actor and environmental advocate will join former vice-president Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps as a Climate Leader. Mr. Gore himself will lead a full-day training session for Climate Leaders next month in San Francisco. The Climate Reality Project claims five million members and supporters worldwide. “I’m thrilled to [...]

Property Tax Assessments Arriving in the Mail

Published on 2012-07-27 19:06:44

Alameda County property owners are receiving their property tax assessment notices in the mail. Owners have until September 17th, 2012, to appeal the assessment of their property before bills arrive in October. Last year, the Alameda County property tax assessor’s office independently reviewed over 108,000 properties and provided reduced assessments due to market [...]

City of Alameda Moves to Have Raymond Zack Lawsuit Thrown Out

Published on 2012-07-27 07:42:43

Last week, attorneys for the City of Alameda file a 20-page demurrer in an attempt to throw out of court a lawsuit brought against the City and County of Alameda over the death of Raymond Zack on Memorial Day, 2011. Raymond Zack died after standing in the water about 150 yards offshore for [...]

Police Arrest Suspect in Strongarm Robbery

Published on 2012-07-26 17:40:22

Alameda Police arrested a man in Oakland today on suspicion of strongarm robbery of the Lucky supermarket at Marina Village earlier this month. According to police, on July 14th, at around 9:00 p.m., two adult men loaded a shopping cart with merchandise inside the story and one of them pushed it into the [...]

Council Approves Halt to Controversial Power Undergrounding Project

Published on 2012-07-26 07:40:24

At last week’s Alameda City Council meeting, council voted unanimously to accept a status update from Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) that explained how the city-owned utility was going to halt its undergrounding program, take a step back and re-work it. The undergrounding effort involves moving aerial utility service wires, such as those for [...]

Bike Paths to be Repaired on Bay Farm Island

Published on 2012-07-25 11:10:14

The City of Alameda will be repairing the bicycle paths along Veterans Court, Island Drive and Mecartney Road next month. Many sections of the bike path have been damaged by tree roots; these sections will be replaced with a paved ramp. Construction will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through [...]

Peet’s Coffee & Tea to be Acquired for $1 Billion

Published on 2012-07-24 11:08:43

Peet’s Coffee & Tea, which operates a large roast-to-order facility in Alameda, on Bay Farm Island, announced yesterday that it will be acquired for roughly $1 billion by Joh. A. Benckiser, a private equity group based in Germany. The agreement has been approved by Peet’s Board of Directors, and the $73.50 per share [...]

School District to Consider $552,000 Annual Lease for Headquarters

Published on 2012-07-24 07:01:29

This Friday, at 5:00 p.m., in a special meeting of the Board of Education, trustees will consider a six-year, $3.1 million lease to house the district main office and the Alameda Adult School. The proposed lease with Legacy Partners I Alameda, LLC, will cost up to $552,000 per year, and provides the district [...]

State Forces Alameda to Break Measure A Initiative

Published on 2012-07-23 18:18:53

By Erica Madison and staff The City of Alameda announced today that the State of California has certified its housing element. After 22 years, the City of Alameda has a State-certified General Plan Housing Element, and City officials say that, as a result, some $230 million in regional transportation funds is still on the [...]

Transportation Commission to Review Outcome of Shoreline Drive Traffic Lane Reduction Meeting

Published on 2012-07-23 11:33:14

This Wednesday, the Alameda Transportation Commission will accept a report on a June 28th meeting to discuss a proposal to reduce automobile lanes on Shoreline Drive in favor of implementing bicycle lanes. According to the report from the meeting, some questioned why the project is being undertaken at all. Reported comments from the [...]

Community Meeting on Invasive Spartina Coastal Cordgrass

Published on 2012-07-20 16:46:26

The Public Works Department and the California State Coastal Conservancy are planning a community meeting on Thursday, August 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss efforts to control Spartina, an invasive species. According to the San Francisco Invasive Spartina Project website, the invasive Spartina cordgrass has spread rapidly over the last 25 years, altering [...]

Catellus Breaks Ground for Alameda Landing Project

Published on 2012-07-19 07:01:32

At a ceremony near the site yesterday, Catellus broke ground on the Alameda Landing development project, which would bring a Target store to Alameda and provide 300 units of housing and up to 400,000 square feet of office space. The site is located close to the Alameda side of the Webster and Posey [...]

Council Approves Ordinance Implementing Zoning Disricts with Measure A Override

Published on 2012-07-18 11:56:56

In a four to one vote, Alameda City Council last night approved an ordinance that introduced new zoning districts in Alameda that override long-standing restrictions on high density housing in the city, commonly known as “Measure A.” Amendments to the city charter enacted in March 1973 and in 1991 prohibit the construction of [...]

Lincoln Avenue Could see Rapid Bus Service from Alameda Point through to Fruitvale BART

Published on 2012-07-17 13:27:49

Residents along Lincoln Avenue might either benefit from or have to contend with a Rapid Bus Service proposed to run from Alameda Point, through the city, and across the Miller Sweeney Bridge to Fruitvale BART, if a $9 million city-sponsored projects comes to pass. The proposal is one of roughly half a dozen [...]

City of Alameda Website Down

Published on 2012-07-17 12:31:55

The website for the City of Alameda was unresponsive this morning, returning a server error message. Yesterday, links under the “City Hall” section of the website were inoperable as well. Action Alameda News has asked the City Manager’s office for an update.

Letter Regarding Overlay Exceptions to the City Charter

Published on 2012-07-16 12:26:01

Action Alameda News received this letter addressed to the Mayor of Alameda and City Council. The author is known to Action Alameda News, but asked not to be identified… MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL: Re: Proposed Ordinance Creating Overlay Exceptions to the Charter Sec. XXVI INTRODUCTION The City of Alameda is an island predominantly [...]

City Election Nomination Period Opens Monday

Published on 2012-07-13 10:01:22

The filing period for nomination documents for Alameda’s general municipal election opens Monday, July 16, and runs through August 9th. Up for grabs are two city council seats currently held by Doug deHaan and Beverly Johnson, and the City Auditor and City Treasurer posts, held by Kevin Kearney and Kevin Kennedy, respectively. A [...]

Police Department Hosts Bin for Safe Disposal of Medication

Published on 2012-07-12 17:22:19

The lobby of the Alameda Police Department administration building at 1555 Oak Street is now host to a disposal bin for expired and unused medication. Provided in partnership with Alameda County Environmental Health and East Bay Municipal Utility District, the bin is accessible from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. In recent years, [...]

Alameda Fire Chief to Get New SUV

Published on 2012-07-12 08:56:41

Alameda Fire Chief Mike D’Orazi will get a new $36,000 sport utility vehicle (SUV) as a command car if Alameda City Council approves a staff recommendation next Tuesday night. The fire department also wants to replace a 2003 fire engine, a 1995 aerial ladder truck and a 2005 paramedic van. Under the least [...]

VF Outdoor Opens Alameda Corporate Headquarters

Published on 2012-07-11 09:53:47

VF Outdoor announced yesterday that it opened its new corporate headquarters in Alameda’s Harbor Bay business park. The 160,000 square-foot location is home to brands such as The North Face, Jan Sport and lucy. The plans for the locating the headquarters in Alameda have been in the works for at least two years. [...]

Recycle Woman Lands Contra Costa County Contract

Published on 2012-07-11 07:25:35

Jessica Jane Robinson, an Alameda actress and environmentalist also known as “Miss Alameda” from her participation in the 2010 and 2011 Miss California USA pageants has landed a contract with the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority to expand her waste prevention outreach program to schools in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga and Danville. [...]

Park Street Bridge Repairs Impact Boat Traffic

Published on 2012-07-10 10:23:53

Electrical repairs on the Park Street bridge mean the Alameda side of the bridge won’t lift for estuary vessel traffic through to next Wednesday. The bridge leaf on the Oakland side of the estuary will remain operable for vessel traffic, but the leaf on the Alameda side will be closed to marine traffic [...]

Alameda Hospital Releases Employee Salary Data

Published on 2012-07-09 07:17:35

Responding to public records requests, Alameda Hospital has released employee salary data. The hospital is governed by the Alameda Health Care District which collects roughly $6 million per year from Alameda taxpayers via a $298 per parcel tax. The data shows that of just over 600 employees, 93 have base salaries above $100,000 [...]

Single Vehicle Injury Crash On Island Drive Puts Teen in Critical Condition

Published on 2012-07-06 11:34:54

Alameda police say that they responded, just after 1:30 a.m. this morning, to a single vehicle crash that sent the 15 year-old driver of the car to Highland Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Six teenagers were in the car, including five 15 year-olds and one 13-year old. Apart from the driver, one passenger was [...]

Council to Vote on Zoning to Override Measure A Housing Density Limitations

Published on 2012-07-06 10:33:54

On Tuesday, June 17th, Alameda City Council will vote on an ordinance that introduces a new zoning element that would override the housing density limitations embodied in Article 26 of the city charter, commonly referred to as “Measure A.” According to the ordinance, “the multifamily residential combining zone (MF District) is an overlay zone [...]

Fourth of July Mostly Uneventful for Alameda Police

Published on 2012-07-05 17:36:18

Today, Alameda Police were thanking the public for a mostly uneventful Fourth of July celebration. Police credit the closure of Main Street west of the ferry terminal for helping to keep vehicular traffic and potentially troublesome activities to a minimum. In past years, Fourth of July celebrants have congregated at the estuary along [...]

Alameda Fire Department Takes Delivery of New, Tractor-drawn Aerial Ladder Truck

Published on 2012-07-05 07:01:31

Almost one month to the date that Alameda voters rejected a sales tax increase that would have spent new revenues on equipment purchases for the Alameda Fire Department, the Department took delivery of a new tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck. The City of Alameda and the Alameda firefighters union lobbied voters heavily to pass [...]

Alameda City Treasurer & Auditor Call for 10% Salary Cuts to Public Safety

Published on 2012-07-04 15:12:35

By Erica Madison “We don’t have a unilateral right to cut salaries. It’s a negotiation,” said Mayor Marie Gilmore at the June 26, 2012 City Council meeting. After hearing that one-time funds were being used to balance the budget, Alameda City Treasurer Kevin Kennedy and Alameda City Auditor Kevin Kearney, both told the [...]

Alameda Fourth of July Parade (2012) Photos

Published on 2012-07-04 15:08:09

Running over three hours long and with well over one hundred floats, the Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade kicked off this morning at 10:00 a.m., running through the core of Alameda. Organizers say that over 30,000 spectators watched the parade last year. Here are some pictures from this year’s parade route. [Show as slideshow] 1234►

Photography Not a Crime in Alameda

Published on 2012-07-03 10:25:10

Representatives from PM Realty, a property management firm hired by the City of Alameda to handle leasing at Alameda Point, have been mum after Action Alameda News asked about a recent complaint from a photographer told that no form of photography is possible at Alameda Point without a City-issued permit. In a letter [...]

Alameda Fire Department Launches Non-emergency Ambulance Transport Service

Published on 2012-07-03 09:35:25

The City of Alameda announced yesterday that it has launched a non-emergency ambulance transport service for patients who need to get to or from medical facilities. The service is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A trip can be scheduled by [...]

Heather Marie Pol Representing Alameda for Miss California USA 2013

Published on 2012-07-02 14:18:54

The word “serendipity” comes to mind when speaking with 25 year-old Heather Marie Pol, who is representing Alameda for Miss California USA 2013. On a whim, she applied to represent Alameda in the Miss California USA 2013 pageant, and was accepted. This, after arriving in Alameda about a year ago, almost by accident. [...]

City of Alameda’s Budget Deficit drops from $5 Million to $700,000

Published on 2012-07-02 08:26:17

By Erica Madison After major cuts and loss of redevelopment money, Alameda finally presented its residents with good news; a balanced budget. At Alameda’s special City Council meeting on June 26, City staff presented the Council with a budget, which saved $4.4 million for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. In order to reduce the [...]

Metropolitan Transportation Commission Awards Alameda $200,000 for Alameda Point Planning

Published on 2012-06-29 07:38:15

The City of Alameda announced yesterday that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission has awarded $200,000 to the City to plan a waterfront town center at Alameda Point. According to the City of Alameda, the Waterfront Town Center, along the waterfront at the Seaplane Lagoon at the former Naval Air Station Alameda, would be the [...]

Alameda City Council Passes Budget for 2012 to 2013 Fiscal Year

Published on 2012-06-28 07:20:46

On Tuesday evening, Alameda City Council passed a budget for the 2012 to 2013 fiscal year, which begins this Sunday, July 1st. The $71.8 million budget includes reductions, like closing the jail at the Alameda Police Administration building on Oak Street. In an announcement, the City of Alameda asserted that there would be [...]

Wind River Toastmasters Club Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

Published on 2012-06-27 21:18:52

WindMaster, a Toastmasters International public speaking and leadership club that meets at Alameda-based Wind River, celebrated its tenth anniversary yesterday. Michael Notaro, the current president of Toastmasters International, and principal of the Notaro Law Group, also based in Alameda, was on hand for the event. According to a Wind River spokesperson, Mr. Notaro [...]

Main Street West of Ferry Terminal Closed on July 4th

Published on 2012-06-27 10:30:25

Next Wednesday, July 4th, the City of Alameda plans to close off the west end of Main Street, between the ferry terminal and the former western gate to the naval air station from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Alameda police say the move is necessary due to heavy vehicle traffic in the past, as [...]

Alameda Budget Vote Tonight

Published on 2012-06-26 09:47:23

Alameda City Council will vote on a budget tonight that will see a seven percent reduction in Administrative Services expenses, a six percent reduction in General Government expenses, a five percent reduction in the police department budget, and two percent reduction in the fire department budget. Some of the cost savings measures have [...]

Community Meeting to Discuss Travel Lane Reduction on Shoreline Drive

Published on 2012-06-25 09:58:12

Later this week, the City of Alameda Public Works Department will host a second community meeting regarding a proposal to convert automobile lanes on Shoreline Drive/Westline Drive to bicycle lanes. The Public Works Department invites the public to the second community meeting to discuss a potential project to restripe Shoreline Drive/Westline Drive to [...]

Alameda Municipal Power to Set Next Year’s Budget at Monday Meeting

Published on 2012-06-22 11:22:09

The Public Utilities Board is set to review and approve the fiscal year 2012 through 2013 budget for Alameda Municipal Power at Monday’s meeting. The city-owned utility expects to transfer $2.8 million to the City of Alameda general fund next year. The utility’s $60 million budget includes $31 million in expenditures for purchased [...]

Summer Sailstice 2012 this Saturday at Encinal Yacht Club

Published on 2012-06-21 11:31:04

Summer Sailstice returns to Alameda at the Encinal Yacht Club this Saturday, June 23rd. Boat building begins at 9:00 a.m. and the exhibition opens at 10:00 a.m. Planned events also include a United States Coast Guard helicopter rescue demonstration and an appearance by past America’s Cup racer, USA 76. Parking and admission are [...]

City Calls for Bids for Janitorial Service and HVAC Systems in City Buildings

Published on 2012-06-21 10:03:12

Earlier this week, Alameda City Council approved calls for bids for janitorial service and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance in city facilities, including Fire Station #5 and a building at Alameda Point used by the fire department for training. The janitorial bid request calls for Fire Station #5 at Alameda Point [...]

City Agrees to Share Swim Center Costs with School District for Another Year

Published on 2012-06-20 11:34:33

At last night’s council meeting, Alameda City Council approved a one-year agreement with the Alameda Unified School District to share the operating and maintenance costs for the Emma Hood and Encinal Swim Centers. The anticipated cost to the City of Alameda is $147,500. The agreement has each agency assuming fifty percent of all [...]

Are Off the Grid Food Trucks Green?

Published on 2012-06-19 16:33:52

Off the Grid organizers describe their food truck market concept as a “roaming mobile food extravaganza — bringing you delicious food, with free sides of music, craft and soul.” On recent Saturdays, several trucks have parked for several hours at the Alameda South Shore Center, drawing crowds with a diverse range of food [...]

Alameda Point Site Tour This Saturday

Published on 2012-06-19 16:01:27

This Saturday, the U.S. Navy will conduct a tour of cleanup sites at the former Naval Air Station Alameda, now known as Alameda Point. Check-in will be at 8:45 a.m. at City Hall West, 950 West Mall Square on Alameda Point. Attendees will board a bus at 9:00 a.m. and tour the following [...]

Alameda Police Arrest Orion Street Shooting Suspect

Published on 2012-06-15 16:43:56

Alameda police say that, last night, they made an arrest related to last Sunday’s shooting on the 2700 block of Orion Street. Pursuant to an investigation, Alameda police identified an adult male suspect and executed a search and arrest warrant at his Berkeley home. The man, who police have not named yet, was [...]

Teachers, District, Agree on Class Sizes, Calendar for Next Two Years

Published on 2012-06-15 12:05:55

The Alameda Unified School District announced yesterday that the Alameda Education Association (AEA) ratified an agreement that sets class sizes and the school year calendar for the next two years. However, negotiations on the entire teachers’ contract will continue. The agreement allows the district to increase K-3 class sizes above a 25:1 ratio [...]

Street Work on Central Avenue Between Webster and Pacific Begins Today

Published on 2012-06-15 10:15:57

Traffic impacting street work begins today, June 15th, on Central Avenue between Webster Street and Pacific Avenue. The project is expected to last three weeks, subject to the weather, and the work will be performed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. One lane of traffic in each direction will be [...]

Poll: How Did You Get to Work This Morning With the BART Shutdown?

Published on 2012-06-14 15:46:25

With BART shutdown between Oakland and San Francisco this morning, tens of thousands of East Bay workers, including thousands of Alamedans, were forced to find alternate ways of getting to work. There will be additional ferries and a free bus bridge to get commuters home to the East bay tonight, but how did [...]

San Francisco Bay Ferry to Provide Extra Service in Response to BART Shutdown

Published on 2012-06-14 15:24:20

San Francisco Bay Ferry announced additional service today in response to the closure of BART service between San Francisco and the East Bay. The service is adding capacity to its afternoon and evening schedule as follows: SAN FRANCISCO – OAKLAND JACK LONDON SQUARE – ALAMEDA MAIN STREET: SF Bay Ferry will deploy two [...]

More Airport Construction This Weekend

Published on 2012-06-14 13:18:18

Airfield construction this weekend at Oakland International Airport is likely to generate noise for Alameda residents. The big, 10,000 foot runway, 11/29, will be restricted on Saturday and Sunday evenings, forcing some aircraft to use the North Field runways, overflying nearby residential areas and creating atypical noise. Residents with concerns can contact the [...]

No BART Service Across San Francisco Bay

Published on 2012-06-14 11:04:16

Due to an early morning fire at a building under construction right next to the West Oakland BART station, BART between the East Bay and Oakland is shut down. According to BART, at about 2:15 a.m., a fire broke out at a senior housing building under construction near the station, and spread to [...]

Alameda Police Seek Help in Identifying Serial Bank Robber

Published on 2012-06-13 12:45:16

Alameda police believe a man responsible for two bank robberies in Alameda within the past several weeks is also responsible for other bank robberies throughout the Bay Area. They are asking for the public’s help to identify him. In Alameda, the First Community Bank inside of the Nob Hill grocery store was robbed. [...]

Final Measure C Ballot Counts In

Published on 2012-06-13 11:39:02

Alameda County has finished counting all ballots from the June 5th primary election. The total number of votes increased, but the results for Measure C did not. Updated figures from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters confirm that Measure C realized 8,616 “yes” votes, or 50.56 percent of the vote. The Registrar recorded [...]

Pay Parking Citations Direct with Alameda Police

Published on 2012-06-12 09:48:06

The Alameda Police Department has moved customer service for parking citations back in-house, after persistent complaints about poor customer service. Alameda Police announced the move this morning. The department had outsourced processing for parking citations at the end of 2010 to save roughly $80,000 annually in costs. Moving customer service back to Alameda [...]

Shootings in Alameda Yesterday

Published on 2012-06-11 11:54:18

Yesterday was a violent day in Alameda, with at least two shootings, one on Webster Street and another on Orion Street. Alameda Police released this summary, below, this morning and are asking anyone with more information to call the Anonymous Hot-Line at 510/835-2267. #12-3377 Assault with a Deadly Weapon On June 10, 2012 [...]

Merchants Rip Park Street Business Association

Published on 2012-06-11 07:41:45

At last week’s Alameda City Council meeting, Park Street merchants raised concerns about the operation of the Park Street Business Association, and questioned if it was actually serving all members. The occasion was Alameda City Council’s consideration of the annual business improvement area assessment for the Park Street area. The City of Alameda [...]

New Parking Meter Kiosks on Park Street

Published on 2012-06-08 07:01:51

Parking kiosks, similar to those already in Berkeley and Oakland, have to come to Alameda, on Park Street, between Central and San Jose avenues. The kiosks allow you to pay with either coins or a credit/debit card, and buy the amount of time you need, but require you to place the printed receipt [...]

Parks Initiative Heads to November Ballot

Published on 2012-06-07 10:14:39

Last night, Alameda City Council unanimously approved a consent calendar item that puts a parks protection initiative on the November ballot. Citizen group Protect our Alameda Parks turned in over 10,000 signatures to the City Clerk in April, in support of a ballot measure that would create a “charter amendment changing requirements for [...]

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Gives Final Approval to November Transportation Sales Tax Hike Measure

Published on 2012-06-06 13:48:32

A new tax measure would double the Alameda County “Measure B” half-cent sales tax for transportation to one full cent, and extend the new, higher, tax rate through 2022 into perpetuity. The estimated $7.8 billion raised will support the Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC) Transportation Expenditure Plan. Alameda City Council approved the [...]

School District Classified Employees Ratify Contract

Published on 2012-06-06 09:52:58

The Alameda Unified School District announced yesterday that classified employees, represented by Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) local #27, have voted to ratify a recent tentative contract agreement. Classified employees will get a 1 percent pay increase at the end of the current school year, and a one-and-a-half percent increase for the next [...]

Measure C Election Results

Published on 2012-06-05 22:17:44

Measure C needs a 2/3rds majority ‘yes’ vote to pass. 24 precincts reporting, 10:53 p.m. Yes 4650 50.62 No 4536 49.38 11 precincts reporting, 10:24 p.m. Yes 3885 52.02 No 3583 47.98 7 precincts reporting, just after 10:00 p.m. Yes 3653 51.86 No 3391 48.14 Absentee ballots reporting, just after 8:00 p.m. [...]

City Braces for Failure of Measure C

Published on 2012-06-05 22:01:19

Late today, City of Alameda officials distributed notice of a special city council meeting for next Tuesday, June 12th, at 7:00 p.m. for a “Council Discussion of the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Budget in the Event Measure C Fails.”

New Ferry Service Launches

Published on 2012-06-05 10:23:55

A new ferry service from the Alameda Main Street terminal and Oakland’s Jack London Square to Oyster Point in South San Francisco ran for the first time yesterday. The new service primarily serves the biotech campus cluster in South San Francisco, which includes companies like Genentech. Two boats, each carrying 149 passengers, service [...]

School Employees Union Ratifies Contract with Alameda Unified School District

Published on 2012-06-04 07:01:57

On Friday, the Alameda Unified School District announced that members of the California School Employees Association #860 Union, Maintenance Operations and Food Service Unit have voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement with the district. Last month, AUSD announced a tentative agreement with the bargaining group. Union members unanimously approved a three-year contract [...]

Three Employee Groups Accept Four-year Contracts with City of Alameda

Published on 2012-06-01 10:36:10

The City of Alameda announced yesterday that the Alameda City Employees Association (ACEA), the Alameda Management & Confidential Employees (MCEA), and the Alameda Police Officers Association (PANS) Non-Sworn Unit have voted to accept new four-year contracts. The ACEA includes clerical, maintenance, building, and code enforcement staff and MCEA includes mid-managers and executive assistants. [...]

File Alameda Police Reports Online

Published on 2012-05-31 07:27:16

Starting next week, the Alameda Police Department will begin accepting police reports online. Only certain types of crimes will be eligible for online reporting; to be reported online, the crime must not be in progress, must have no suspect leads and no witnesses, and have no evidence to be collected. Further, the alleged [...]

More Boats is Not Enough

Published on 2012-05-30 14:18:47

Dear Editor, One year ago today, Raymond Zack waded into the Shallow Waters off Alameda’s South Shore Beach and for unknown reasons, lost consciousness & drowned. Dozens of people, before and since, have waded into those same waters, at the same time of year, and suffered no ill effects. We still don’t know [...]

Measure C Campaign Filings Now Available

Published on 2012-05-30 12:04:38

Citizens for Preserving Alameda Committee for Measure C, and Alamedans Against Measure C, two local political action committees campaigning on the sales tax increase ballot measure on the ballot next week, have filed their campaign statements with the Alameda City Clerk’s office. Citizens for Preserving Alameda Committee for Measure C reported $51,848 in [...]

Speak Truth to Power

Published on 2012-05-29 09:45:12

Dear Editor, I feel that most people want to believe that firefighters, as well as police officers, are “our friends.” It is, therefore, quite alarming to hear a number of Alamedans express fear and concern when it comes to our local Fire Department. When residents… * know about the callous act of our [...]

Alameda Questions Funding for Regional Transit Plan

Published on 2012-05-29 08:01:25

By Erica Madison A skeptical, yet unanimous vote from Alameda City Council approved a transportation sales tax measure for the November 2012 ballot. The measure increases the current tax from one-half cent to one full cent, and is part of the funding plan for the transportation expenditure plan and for the Sustainable Communities [...]

Greenway Golf Wins Chuck Corica Golf Complex

Published on 2012-05-25 15:18:23

By Erica Madison With ninety percent of the crowd voicing support for Greenway Golf, it came as no surprise when City Council unanimously voted last week for Greenway Golf to take over management of the Chuck Corica Golf Complex. City of Alameda staff clearly favored Kemper, and City Manager John Russo spent the [...]

Raymond Zack Family Sues City of Alameda and County of Alameda

Published on 2012-05-25 14:25:27

Today, relatives of Raymond Zack, an Alameda man that drowned at Crown Beach last Memorial Day, filed a lawsuit against the City of Alameda and the County of Alameda over his death, claiming unspecified damages. The case is RG12632015 in Alameda County Superior Court. According to the suit, first responders on the scene [...]

BREAKING NEWS: Raymond Zack Family Files Lawsuit Against City of Alameda

Published on 2012-05-24 18:44:18

BREAKING NEWS: Raymond Zack family files lawsuit against City of Alameda over Memorial Day 2011 death while first responders stood on beach. More news as its available.

More Airline Traffic Coming to Oakland Airport

Published on 2012-05-24 13:54:09

A new report by the Regional Airport Planning Committee (RAPC), released this week, recommends encouraging airlines to add more flights to Oakland International Airport, to shift passengers there from San Francisco International Airport. The result could be more noise for Alameda residents. According to the Regional Aviation Activity Tracking Report, from 2007 to [...]

Artemis Racing to Prepare for America’s Cup in Alameda

Published on 2012-05-24 10:15:06

Artemis Racing, representing the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, will prepare for next year’s 34th America’s Cup in Alameda. The City of Alameda announced yesterday that the team will be leasing a 110,000 square foot former airplane hangar as its base of operations at Alameda Point. “Alameda offers convenient shoreline water access to our [...]

Projected Alameda Budget Shortfall Grows

Published on 2012-05-23 10:58:03

The projected Alameda general fund budget shortfall for the 2012 to 2013 fiscal year has grown from $4.4 million to $5.1 million. Part of the problem is rising pension costs for city employees in the public safety and miscellaneous categories. A presentation prepared by city staff for a May 29th City Council budget [...]

Social Rewards Internet Startup Launches in Alameda

Published on 2012-05-22 08:17:08

An Alameda-based social rewards Internet startup company, Givegoods, was launched on May 18th. Givegoods works with local businesses to provide discount coupons in return for a charitable donation. For example, a local restaurant might over $20 off a $40 dinner in return for a $20 charitable donation through Givegoods’ website. Of the $20 [...]

City Asks for Proposals for Website Redesign

Published on 2012-05-21 10:04:21

The City of Alameda has issued a request for proposals to design a new website. According to the call-for-proposals document, “The goal is to have a cost-effective, architecturally sound website that is easy to use and maintain yet flexible enough to support future upgrades and initiatives.” A new website design was previously launched [...]

School District Says It’s Reached a Tentative Agreement With CSEA Local

Published on 2012-05-18 16:46:16

The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) says that it has reached a tentative agreement in negoations with the California School Employees Association #860. AUSD says it will provide Maintenance, Operations and Food Service Unit members a one percent one-time increase in compensation at the end of this school year, and a one-and-half percent [...]

Alameda to South San Francisco Ferry Service to Begin June 4th

Published on 2012-05-17 07:01:13

A new ferry service will begin June 4th to take passengers from Alameda and Oakland to South San Francisco, and the first week is free. The ride from the East Bay to Oyster Point in South San Francisco – a biotech hub – will take 40 to 50 minutes, according to the Water [...]

PG&E Closes Gas Leak at Cardinal Point

Published on 2012-05-16 22:24:21

Early this evening, PG&E secured a natural gas leak near Cardinal Point. At around 6:00 p.m., Alameda Police had Mariner Square Drive north of Marina Village Parkway closed as police and firefighters responded to a 4″ natural gas relief valve “off-gassing” near the Cardinal Point assisted living facility. Previously, officials had issued a [...]

Mother Has Unanswered Questions on Anniversary of Son’s Death

Published on 2012-05-16 07:01:37

by Tammy Sorensen As the one year anniversary of my 13 year old son Brandon Sorensen’s death approaches, there are many questions still left unanswered and some rumors I’d like to clarify. Since the tragic day of May 16th, 2011, I struggle every day with what happened and how the case was handled. [...]

National Police Week

Published on 2012-05-15 09:56:41

This week is National Police week, which recognizes officers killed in the line of duty. According to an announcement from the Alameda Police Department, the names of 362 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, this year. These 362 names [...]

City Council to Give John Russo a Performance Evaluation

Published on 2012-05-11 11:10:08

In a closed session meeting on Tuesday, Alameda City Council will give City Manager John Russo a performance evaluation. Mr. Russo is up for a $10,000 per year salary increase. John Russo, formerly the City Attorney for Oakland, started a five year contract on June 13th of last year with an annual salary [...]

Alameda Solidier Killed in Afghanistan

Published on 2012-05-08 10:03:06

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier from Alameda, who was killed in Afghanistan. According to a media release, Staff Sgt. Thomas K. Fogarty, 30, of Alameda, died on Sunday, in Ahmad-Kheyl, from injuries after his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to [...]

Alameda Municipal Power Website Hacked

Published on 2012-05-07 18:05:31

Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) announced today that its website was hacked last week and links to outside sites were inserted in its web pages. The City of Alameda-owned utility said that no customer sensitive data was compromised, as it is located in a separate secure server. Action Alameda New readers alerted this publication [...]

FPPC Says Hospital Board Doctor Has No Conflict of Interest

Published on 2012-05-07 07:01:46

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has ruled that Dr. Robert Deutsch, M.D., who operates a pulmonary practice out of Alameda Hospital and sits on the Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors, does not have a conflict of interest when voting to impose the Hospital’s annual parcel tax. Alameda Hospital is [...]

Expect Airport Noise This Weekend

Published on 2012-05-04 09:56:55

The City of Alameda is warning residents that a temporary runway closure this weekend at Oakland Airport is likely to generate noise for Alameda residents, as flight activity shifts to the north field. The 10,000 foot long runway 11/29 will be closed temporarily for a taxiway reconstruction project from 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, [...]

Alameda Hospital Director Speaks Out on Financial Condition

Published on 2012-05-03 10:04:54

Through a parcel tax, Alameda taxpayers subsidize Alameda Hospital to the tune of roughly $6 million per year. Recently, in an exchange of op-ed articles in the local press, former Alameda City Councilmember Frank Matarrese suggested that we can no longer afford to support a full service hospital in Alameda, and Alameda Hospital CEO [...]

Alameda Resident’s Equality Bill Passes Assembly Health Committee

Published on 2012-05-02 11:10:21

A bill intended to equalize access to fertility medical care for LGBT people, conceived by an Alameda resident, has cleared the California Assembly Health Committee. Bill AB2356, driven by Alameda family nurse practitioner Leland Traiman, passed committee yesterday on a 13 to 5 vote and moves on to the State Assembly. The bill [...]

Alameda City Council to Consider Approving Alameda Point Development Strategy Next Week

Published on 2012-05-02 11:00:37

At a special city council meeting next week, city staff will ask the council to approve a development and disposition strategy for Alameda Point. The City of Alameda expects that significant portions of Alameda Point will be transferred from the U.S. Navy to the City this year. The latest development strategy from the [...]

City Cancels Special Budget Hearing Due to Lack of Clarity

Published on 2012-04-30 23:33:51

The City of Alameda has cancelled a planned special budget hearing for May 8th, citing lack of sufficient clarity on key general fund variables such as changes in investment assumptions by the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). In February, CalPERS notified public agencies that it was considering changing its investment assumptions; when [...]

California’s Job-Housing Plan Puts Financial Pressure on Alameda

Published on 2012-04-30 10:03:22

By Erica Madison On April 23, 2012, Planning Manager Andrew Thomas revealed a flaw in California’s new green plan for the Bay Area. In an effort to reduce greenhouse gases, California passed the Sustainable Communities Strategy—Senate Bill 375(SCS). The bill’s author, which was passed in 2009, believes building homes closer to core job [...]

Bank of Alameda Parent Announces First Quarter Earnings

Published on 2012-04-27 10:06:26

Yesterday, NorCal Community Bancorp, the parent company of Bank of Alameda, reported earnings for the first quarter of 2012. Profit for the quarter was $269,000 or $0.03 per diluted share; in the same period in 2011, the company realized a net loss of $195,000 or a loss of $0.02 per diluted share. In [...]

Report: California sees large returns on higher-ed investments

Published on 2012-04-26 13:45:06

By Sarah Butrymowicz, The Hechinger Report Is it worth it for California to invest in higher education? That’s the central question posed by a new report examining the state’s spending on its university system and how much graduates end up contributing back to the state budget. The answer? “A resounding yes,” said Michele Siqueiros, [...]

Metropolitian Transportation Commission Seeks Residents to Fill Policy Advisory Council Vacancies

Published on 2012-04-24 21:48:22

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is seeking Bay Area residents to fill four vacancies on its Policy Advisory Council. At least one position can be from a resident of Alameda County or any of the other eight Bay Area counties. The at-large representative of the economy or the environment may be from any of [...]

Alameda Police Seek Graffiti Vandals

Published on 2012-04-20 15:01:16

Alameda police are seeking information on whomever is painting graffiti across the city. Police say the photos taken below are of the side of the Alameda theater, and that there are eight documented incidents of similar acts of graffiti across Alameda. Some of the graffiti reads “Dirty Boy(z)” and “Cop Killer.” Police ask [...]

Councilmember Asks For Review of November 2010 Election

Published on 2012-04-20 13:07:20

Alameda City Councilmember Doug deHaan has put a referral item on the May 1st City Council meeting agenda that would have city staff perform an analysis of campaign financial activities during the November 2010 election, based on the proposed Campaign Financial Reform Ordinance proposed by the Sunshine Task Force. Councilmember deHaan is also [...]

Alameda Municipal Power Hikes Rates

Published on 2012-04-19 15:03:21

At Monday’s Public Utilities Board meeting, the board approved an overall 3.25% rate increase for Alameda Municipal Power. The new rates become effective July 1 of this year; they are the third increase in a planned five year rate increase plan. According to a media statement from the utility, the average residential customer [...]

Stop Wasting Taxpayer Dollars

Published on 2012-04-18 07:01:36

City Staff: Stop Wasting Taxpayer Dollars by Eugenie Thomson, P.E. Have you ever said to yourself, I wish bureaucrats understood real money? Or thought, why does City Hall make things so complicated and expensive? Those are my thoughts of late, not to mention wondering why, as a retiree, I’m spending my time trying [...]

City of Alameda Hires Amy Woolridge from Pinole for Rec and Park Director

Published on 2012-04-17 11:26:06

The City of Alameda has hired Amy Woolridge, most recently the Recreation Director for the City of Pinole, to serve as Alameda’s new Recreation and Park Director. Ms. Woolridge replaces Dale Lillard, who recently retired. According to a media release from the City Manager’s office, Woolridge was the recreation director with Pinole since [...]

Park Street Planting Proceeds

Published on 2012-04-16 13:27:01

Roughly six months after mature trees were removed from Park Street, the major business district in Alameda, to much uproar, the trees are no returning. There was a huge outcry from Alameda residents last fall when mature trees up and down Park Street were ripped out, leaving the street bare just before the [...]

Thanks for Reporting on Grants for Alameda Firefighter Wildfire Training

Published on 2012-04-14 08:47:39

Dear Editor, Thank you for reporting on the grant that Alameda’s firefighters received to learn how to fight wildfires. Once as children, my brother and I accidentally ignited some dead grass with a magnifying glass. We were able to put it out before our mother caught us. We have lived in fear of wildfires [...]

Another Schools Parcel Tax on the Ballot on June 5th

Published on 2012-04-13 11:50:02

In addition to Measure C, Alameda voters will consider on June 5th a $48 per parcel tax put on the ballot by the Peralta Community College District. Measure B would tax all parcels in the district, including parcels in Alameda, a flat $48 to raise money for the College of Alameda, Laney College, [...]

Who Gets Access to Publicly Owned Swimming Pools?

Published on 2012-04-13 07:01:46

A letter from Action Alameda News publisher David Howard Measure C promises to build yet another swimming pool in Alameda, which we surely can’t afford to maintain better than any of the existing four pools. Construction generally amounts to 1/3rd of a facility’s total lifetime cost to operate, and Measure C provides no operating [...]

City Reaches Agreement with Jim’s on the Course

Published on 2012-04-12 13:04:39

The City of Alameda announced this week that it has reached a 25 year lease agreement with Jim’s on the Course at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex. According to a media release provided by the City of Alameda, the agreement will allow Tom Geanekos, the owner of Jim’s, to renovate and expand by [...]

Residents Push Back on Public Works, Allege False Filings with Feds

Published on 2012-04-11 15:48:09

A group of east-end Alameda residents is pushing back on a City of Alameda Public Works plan to modify a neighborhood intersection, amidst allegations of false statements on federal grant applications. The intersection in question is that of Gibbons Drive and Northwood Drive and Southwood Drive, just north of Lincoln Avenue. The City [...]

Alameda Municipal Power Budget Workshop, Rate Increase, Next Monday

Published on 2012-04-10 10:44:53

Alameda Municipal Power, a city-owned utility, will host a public budget workshop next Monday, April 16, in advance of finalizing its 2012/2013 fiscal year budget. The budget workshop will begin at 4 p.m. at the Alameda Main Library at 1550 Oak Street; utility staff will present its proposed 2013 fiscal year budget to [...]

Questions abound as districts shift to merit pay for teachers

Published on 2012-04-09 16:09:34

By Scott Elliott, The Hechinger Report Raymond Park Intermediate Academy Principal Ryan Russell sits in on the fifth-grade classroom of Jen Hess for a three- to five-minute “walk through” evaluation of her class. If your child’s teacher seems a little bit on edge this year, it might not be your imagination. Education [...]

Update on Golf Complex Finances Tomorrow

Published on 2012-04-09 11:54:59

The Alameda Golf Commission will get an update on the golf complex finances tomorrow from Kemper Sports. According to the staff report, revenue is up. Revenue for February was $260,775, up $76,925 from the same month in 2011. Golfers played 8,488 rounds in February, up 2,296 rounds from the same month in the [...]

City of Alameda to Receive $271,135 Federal Grant for Wildland Firefighting Equipment

Published on 2012-04-06 13:02:52

On April 17th, Alameda City Council will consider a staff recommendation to appropriate $54,227 in matching funds from the City’s general fund to secure a $271,135 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program for the Replacement of of Wildland Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment and Firefighter Survival Training. [...]

Issuing Bonds Against Measure C will Increase the Cost of All Purchases

Published on 2012-04-06 10:45:05

Dear Editor, When I was Vice-Mayor and advocating for a new fire station on Bay Farm Island (BFI), I walked into the old BFI station for a tour. I was greeted by firefighters in lounge chairs watching pornography. They got all the cable channels. Their full kitchen and living quarters were better than [...]

Alameda Police Focusing on Distracted Driving This Month

Published on 2012-04-05 22:37:38

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated the month of April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Alameda Police will be focusing on distracted driving all this month. The most common distractions while driving observed by Alameda Police are: talking or texting on mobile phones, using smartphone maps, eating, applying make-up, [...]

Alameda Municipal Power Says Birds and Balloons Cause of Last Night’s Power Outages

Published on 2012-04-04 16:48:47

Alameda Municipal Power spokesperson Bill Garvine said that birds and mylar balloons were the cause of power blips and outages that affected Alameda last night. Not all the details were confirmed, but Mr. Garvine said a “blip” at 10:11 p.m. affected about 1,000 east-end customers, and a roughly four hour outage began at [...]

Special City of Alameda Budget Meeting Planned for May 8th

Published on 2012-04-04 16:01:14

At a Kiwanis Club luncheon meeting today, Alameda City Manager John Russo said that at a special budget meeting planned for May 8th, city staff will present to council a plan to address the city’s general fund deficit through fiscal year 2015/2016. A handout provided by Mr. Russo indicated a budget deficit of [...]

Q&A with Steve Barr: Lessons from charter schools in L.A. and New Orleans

Published on 2012-04-04 13:13:50

by Sarah Carr, Hechinger Report. Reprinted with permission. Steve Barr has often found himself in the minority as a charter school founder who supports teacher unionization, albeit of a transformed nature. About 12 percent of charter schools nationally employ unionized teachers, according to recent data from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. [...]

Alameda Teachers Reject Tentative Bargaining Agreement

Published on 2012-04-03 12:43:50

Updated: April 3rd, 12:26 p.m. – AUSD Superintendent Kirsten Vital comments on union rejection of agreement. Late last week, Alameda teachers rejected a tentative agreement with the Alameda Unified School District that would have provided them a 1 percent raise for the 2011-2012 school year, and kept K-3 class sizes at 25. A [...]

Rain Bumps Spring Egg Scramble

Published on 2012-04-02 12:24:55

Wet and wild weather on Saturday forced the City of Alameda to re-schedule the Spring Egg Scramble for this coming Saturday, April 7th. The free event is now scheduled to take place this Saturday, April 7th, at 10 a.m. at Crab Cove. There will be arts and crafts, photos with the Easter bunny [...]

Alameda Police Shoot, Kill Pitbull

Published on 2012-04-01 22:21:55

Alameda Police said tonight that an officer shot and killed a pitbull dog on the 3200 block of Fiji Lane after responding to a report of a disturbance. The Alameda Police Department said that at about 5:45 p.m. on Sunday evening, police responded to a call from an adult male reporting that his [...]

Alameda County Transportation Tax Increase, Extension, on Ballot in November

Published on 2012-03-30 10:18:57

In addition to Measure C in June, and a State of California Sales Tax Increase in November, voters in Alameda and environs will also have a chance to vote in November on a transportation tax increase sponsored by the Alameda County Transportation Commission. The measure would double the Alameda County “Measure B” half-cent [...]

City-sponsored Easter Egg Scramble at Crab Cove on Saturday

Published on 2012-03-28 23:15:33

The annual City of Alameda-sponsored (Easter) egg scramble will be held this Saturday at Crab Cove at Robert Crown Memorial State Beach. The event is free to the public and begins at 10 a.m. and runs to 11:40 a.m. In the event of rain, a “rain or shine” make-up event will be held [...]

Special Alameda City Council Meeting Next Week

Published on 2012-03-28 23:10:58

Alameda City Council will hold a special meeting next Tuesday, April 3rd, at 6pm, in the City Council Chambers conference room. The closed-session items for discussion are: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION (54956.9) Name of Case: Liz Williams v. City Council, et al. Superior Court of California, Alameda County Case No. [...]

Alameda Police Search for Alleged Cosmetics Thieves

Published on 2012-03-27 16:40:39

Alameda Police are looking for a man and a woman alleged to have stole over $1000 in cosmetics from the CVS drug store at Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center. According to police, a man and woman entered the store on the afternoon of Saturday, March 24th, and placed over 130 items in a [...]

511 Trip Planner Released as an iPhone App

Published on 2012-03-27 07:01:51

A free 511 Transit App for the iPhone is now available on the iPhone App Store. An Apple iTunes account is required to download the application. A version for Android phones is also available on Google Play. According to a statement from the Metropolitan Transit Commission, “he app provides door-to-door transit trip planning [...]

City of Alameda Approves Housing Authority Deregulation

Published on 2012-03-26 22:06:01

By Erica Madison Starting April 22, 2012 the Housing Authority will become an independent organization. The details were ironed out at a Special City Council meeting on Tuesday March 20, 2012. In order for the Housing Authority to become an independent entity, Alameda City Council had to relinquish their roles as the Board [...]

School District Reaches Tentative Agreement With Teachers

Published on 2012-03-26 07:01:54

The Alameda Unified School District says that it has reached a tentative labor agreement with the bargaining unit representing teachers in the district. According to a release provided to the media on Friday by Kerri Lonergan, Superintendent’s Assistant for AUSD, negotiating teams for both the district and the Alameda Education Association reached an [...]

Approval of $7.7 Billion Transportation Tax Measure Delayed by Alameda City Council

Published on 2012-03-23 15:06:16

By Erica Madison Alameda County Transportation Commission presented their thirty year one-cent tax proposal to Alameda City Council on Tuesday March 20, 2012, but Alameda City Councilmember Lena Tam pushed to delay the council’s decision, citing “a lack of education” as the reason. The Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) wants to update measure [...]

Public Meetings on Single-Use Bag Reduction Ordinance

Published on 2012-03-20 11:18:40

Recently, the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (ACWMA) adopted an ordinance to reduce the use of plastic bags provided by stores. The City of Alameda almost opted out of the program, but, in the end, did not. Now, the City of Alameda Public Works Department will hold two public meetings on the matter. [...]

Upcoming Hearing on State Budget Impact on Subsidized Child Care and Early Education

Published on 2012-03-19 07:01:11

On Wednesday, there will be a meeting where Alameda County representatives will discuss with the public the impacts of state budget cuts on subsidized child care and early education. Alameda resident Caroline Topee, who has worked in the past to preserve the services provided by the Woodstock Child Development Center told Action Alameda [...]

West-end Commuters to Get Caffeine Relief When Starbucks Re-opens

Published on 2012-03-16 09:28:37

Monday morning should be a better day for commuters in the West end of Alameda, as the Starbucks at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Webster is set to re-open. The store was closed roughly 10 days ago for renovation and expansion, after the neighboring Togo’s sandwich shop closed. A spokesperson for [...]

City of Oakland Denies Pot Dispensary Proposed Near High Street Bridge

Published on 2012-03-15 13:20:40

The City of Alameda alerted the media today that an application for a cannabis dispensary proposed in the City of Oakland at 4709 Tidewater Avenue, near the High Street bridge in Alameda’s East end, was denied. The location set off alarm bells with some Alameda residents, who objected to the club’s proximity to [...]

Alameda’s Wind River Receives Customer Excellence Award

Published on 2012-03-15 11:40:49

Wind River, and Alameda-based technology company, announced this week that it has been awarded a MarketTools Achievement in Customer Excellence award. According to a company statement, to be eligible for the award, contenders must have conducted one or more surveys to assess customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, or partner satisfaction between October 1, 2010 [...]

Estuary Crossing Shuttle Funded for Another Year

Published on 2012-03-13 10:32:27

The City of Alameda Public Works Department has announced that the San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District has granted a second year of funding for the Estuary Crossing Shuttle. The shuttle runs between West Alameda and downtown Oakland, and is designed to help pedestrians and bicyclists overcome the challenge of getting [...]

Federal Education Data Shows Racial Disparities in Alameda Schools

Published on 2012-03-12 07:01:06

Released last week, new federal education data highlights stark disparities among students of different races in a school district that promises “excellence & equity for all students.” The conclusions come from an analysis of data by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. According to ProPublica, which provided the story we [...]

Alameda Firefighters Hire Media Relations Consultant

Published on 2012-03-10 16:04:32

In the wake of the controversy over the drowning death of Raymond Zack, when first responders stood on the beach while the Alameda resident drowned in shallow water last year, the Alameda Firefighters union, IAFF Local 689, has apparently hired media relations consultant. The website for Duffy & Capitolo, a political campaign management [...]

Alameda’s Coast Guard Island Participates in Naval Research Lab Satellite Test

Published on 2012-03-09 10:03:30

The United States Naval Research Laboratory announced today that the Eleventh Coast Guard District, headquartered on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, participated in a successful experiment with the laboratory’s TacSat-4 communications satellite on January 24th, by communicating with Coast Guard cutter Healy in the Bering Sea, roughly 260 nautical miles south of the Arctic [...]

Alameda City Council Puts Sales Tax Increase on the Ballot

Published on 2012-03-08 10:14:07

Alameda City Council voted last night to put a one-half percent local sales tax increase on the ballot, increasing the tax to 9.25 percent. The stated purpose of the tax is to pay for a number of items, including a new police vehicle fleet, a new emergency operations center, a new 50-meter swimming [...]

Alameda City Council Rejects Mif Albright Land Swap Proposal

Published on 2012-03-07 11:12:26

Last night, Alameda City Council voted 5 to 0 to reject a controversial land swap deal that would have seen developer Ron Cowan build 130 new homes built on a portion of the Chuck Corica Golf Complex. Mary Theresa Anderson, President of Protect Our Alameda Parks, told Action Alameda News, “I am very [...]

School of Hard Knocks: Fed Education Data Shows Racial Disparities, Unequal Opportunity

Published on 2012-03-06 13:28:00

by Marian Wang ProPublica, March 6, 2012, 1:25 p.m. Eastern � Schools serving the most black and Hispanic students are less likely to offer rigorous subjects such as calculus and physics and more likely to employ teachers with only a year or two of experience. Those findings come from a new data analysis [...]

Mif Albright Swap Proposal Before Alameda City Council Again Tonight

Published on 2012-03-06 10:37:34

The controversial question of a proposal to turn over a portion of the Chuck Corica Golf Complex to local developer Ron Cowan will be considered by Alameda City Council tonight. Mr. Cowan has proposed exchanging undevelopable land his firm owns on North Loop Road for a portion of the golf complex, where he [...]

Earthquake Wakes Alameda at 5:33 AM

Published on 2012-03-05 08:08:50

The East Bay, including Alameda, was shaken by a magnitude 4.0 earthquake this morning just after 5:30 am. The US Geological Service put the epicenter of the quake 1 mile north of El Cerrito, and 5.5 miles deep. By 6:00 am, over 140 Alameda residents had filed a report with the service.

Alameda Sales Tax Increase Proposal is a Rush to Folly

Published on 2012-03-05 06:01:54

A letter from Action Alameda News publisher David Howard. Alameda City Manager John Russo’s proposal to increase the sales tax rate in Alameda to 9.25 percent won’t solve the current general fund deficit problem, and is not likely to raise the money to pay for all his promises in a meaningful time frame. What’s [...]

Alameda City Council Holds Private Town Hall Meeting for Pro-Swap supporters

Published on 2012-03-04 06:01:47

By Erica Madison The Mif Albright swap forces a race against time, between members of Alameda City Council and the citizen action group Protect Our Alameda Parks. There is a lot of opposition against the Mif Albright swap for North Loop Road property. The Protect Our Alameda Parks citizens’ action group was created [...]

Alameda Citizens Debate Over Winners and Losers in Mif Albright Swap (Part 1)

Published on 2012-03-03 13:46:50

By Erica Madison Golf, youth sports, traffic increases, infrastructure pressures and $7.2 million dollars have divided Alameda Citizens; a passionate debate leaves children as the common denominator in the middle of it all. Section 22-12 of the Alameda City Charter says: public parks cannot be sold without a vote of the public, except [...]

Alameda Citizens Debate Over Winners and Losers in Mif Albright Swap (Part 2)

Published on 2012-03-03 13:46:17

By Erica Madison [Go back to Part 1] Bail’s dream come true is actually a nightmare for the opposition. Jane Sullwold, who is president of the Golf Commission has many reasons for her opposition. Here’s the problem the Mif Albright Swap presents: The City of Alameda will give the Chuck Corica Golf Complex [...]

City to Kick-in Another $46,154 to Corrupted Social Services Agency

Published on 2012-03-02 10:06:17

Alameda City Council will vote next week on a recommendation from City Manager John Russo to contribute another $46,154 to the winding down of the Alameda County Associated Community Action Program, a social services agency that failed last year and whose executive director has been charged with felony grand theft and misuse of public [...]

Alameda City Manager John Russo to put 1/2% Sales Tax Hike Before Council on March 7th

Published on 2012-02-29 19:12:32

Alameda City Manager John Russo will present his idea for one-half of one-percent sales tax hike to Alameda City Council on March 7th. Will it help or hurt Alameda? The current sales tax rate in Alameda is 8.75 percent and the one-half percent would take that rate to over 9 percent. Mr. Russo [...]

Police Seek Help in Identifying Metro PCS Theft Suspect

Published on 2012-02-29 18:16:39

Alameda police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who took items from Metro PCS on February 20th. Police allege that the man in the photographs below, whose name is unknown to them, twice entered Metro PCS offices at Marina Village Parkway on February 20th and stole a number of [...]

Alameda: More taxes, Higher Fees and Less Services to Bridge $4.4 million Deficit in 2012-2013

Published on 2012-02-29 10:14:19

By Erica Madison “We’re cutting out the bone marrow now. I don’t think we can absorb more cuts, City Councilmember Lena Tam said, at the second special City Council five year budget forecast meeting. The City of Alameda is facing hard decisions in terms of generating enough money to prevent dipping below their [...]

Parks Protectors Proceed With Ballot Initiative

Published on 2012-02-29 06:01:36

Citing Alameda City Council’s refusal last week to place an initiative on the ballot to tighten restrictions on the sale of city-owned park land, “Protect our Alameda Parks” is moving forward to collect signatures to put it on the ballot themselves. A circular from the group notes that they have already begun gathering [...]

Alameda Planning Board Approves Landscape and Open Space Plan for Target Retail Center

Published on 2012-02-28 13:29:59

Last night, the Alameda Planning board approved a resolution, with conditions, allowing the Alameda Landing retail center, which includes plans for a Target discount department store, to go forward. The conditions centered mostly around changes to landscaping, the pedestrian experience, and signage plans. City of Alameda Planning Services Manager Andrew Thomas promised [...]

Alameda Hospital Sued for Medical Malpractice

Published on 2012-02-28 10:42:54

Last week, a medical malpractice lawsuit against Alameda Hospital was filed in Alameda County Superior Court, claiming damages of less than $10,000. Plaintiff Paul Simms claims that on August 20th, 2011, he was at Alameda Hospital for x-rays, and asked to sit down because he felt dizzy and faint. “At this time, plaintiff [...]

Alameda Resident Drives Introduction of Fertility Equality Legislation in Sacramento

Published on 2012-02-27 06:01:06

Last Friday, California 14th Assembly District representative Nancy Skinner introduced assembly bill AB 2356 into the state legislature. The bill would ensure that single women and same-sex female couples using a known sperm donor would have the same access to fertility services as heterosexual women seeking to conceive using a male partner, and the [...]

Bank of Alameda Parent Company Posts Fourth Quarter Profit

Published on 2012-02-24 15:34:19

This week, NorCal Community Bancorp, the parent company of the Bank of Alameda, reported a 2011 fourth quarter profit of $205,000 or $0.02 per share, fully diluted. The quarter compares favorably with the same period in 2010, when the company reported a net loss of $2.0 million or ($0.27) per share. For 2011, [...]

Poetry Tomorrow at Frank Bette Center for the Arts

Published on 2012-02-24 11:54:54

As part of its ongoing “4th Saturday Poetry & Prose Reading Series,” host Jeanne Lupton will feature two poets tomorrow at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts. Luke Warm Water of Oakland has been featured at the Geraldine R. Dodge poetry festival and was the first spoken-word poet to receive an Archibald [...]

Alameda City Council Declines to Put Parks Protection Initiative on the Ballot

Published on 2012-02-23 11:19:58

At Tuesday’s Alameda City Council meeting, the council refused a request from member Doug deHaan to put an initiative on the November ballot that would tighten restrictions on the city’s ability to sell or exchange park land. Earlier this month, residents had filed an intent to circulate a petition with Alameda City Hall [...]

Samsung Selects Wind River for Android Smartphone Development and Testing

Published on 2012-02-22 09:42:38

Wind River, an Alameda-based technology company owned by Intel, announced yesterday that Samsung Electronics is using its software for development and testing on Android smartphones. Android is a smartphone operating system produced by Google that, when paired with a mobile phone handset, competes with Apple’s iPhone. Samsung is using Wind River’s Framework for [...]

Alameda City Hall Busy With Parks Initiative, Living Wage Ordinance Idea

Published on 2012-02-21 21:23:15

Alameda City Hall was busy tonight with two distinct groups assembling to voice support for councilmember referral issues. “Protect our Parks” supporters gathered for a rally at Alameda City Hall to support a councilmember referral that would tighten restrictions on the sale or exchange of city park land. The movement behind the initiative [...]

San Francisco Bay Bridge Opens Well in Advance of Tuesday Morning Commute

Published on 2012-02-20 22:06:42

The westbound deck of the San Francisco Bay Bridge re-opened at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night, 34 hours ahead of schedule. The westbound lanes of the bridge closed at 8:00 p.m. Friday evening to allow CalTrans to complete work that adjusted the westbound approach southward, to facilitate ongoing work on the Oakland touchdown of [...]

Alameda Tongue Twisters Toastmasters Club to Hold Open House

Published on 2012-02-20 06:02:55

Alameda Tongue Twisters, a local public speaking and leadership skills club sanctioned by Toastmasters International, will host an open house tomorrow for guests who are interested in learning more about Toastmasters or becoming members. Kellie Wood, a current member and Secretary for the club, said, “What sets Toastmasters apart from other leadership training [...]

Special Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday

Published on 2012-02-18 16:33:14

The Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. In closed session, the board will discuss labor negotiations with teachers and other staff, and a lawsuit against the district identified only as “J.J. v. AUSD.” The board will also discuss certificated layoff issues, including [...]

Delivery Service Fills Pot Hole in Alameda

Published on 2012-02-17 06:01:04

Following the shutdown of the Purple Elephant medical marijuana dispensary on Webster Street, and controversy over a new dispensary in Oakland in the vicinity of the High Street bridge comes word of a collective that offers to deliver to Alameda. On a “find your bud” medicinal marijuana dispensary locating website, the Greenline Collective [...]

Median Home Prices in Alameda County Dropped in January

Published on 2012-02-16 09:49:05

According to data released today by the California Association of Realtors, median home prices in Alameda County dropped 9 percent from the same month a year ago. For January 2012, the median home price in Alameda County was $395,830, down 12 percent from December 2011, and down 9 percent from January 2011, when [...]

Last Transbay Bus Tomorrow Night at 8:30 p.m.

Published on 2012-02-16 06:01:43

The last transbay bus from San Francisco to the East Bay until Tuesday night will leave at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow night, in advance of the Bay Bridge closure. The westbound deck of the Bay Bridge will be closed through the weekend as CalTrans makes modifications to accommodate the new eastern span. The bridge [...]

Signal Timing Initiative Should Boost Mobility, Reduce Emissions

Published on 2012-02-15 13:52:59

The Program for Arterial System Synchronization (PASS) program, a joint effort of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), in partnership with Caltrans and local governments, is coming to Alameda to improve streetlight signal timing. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, in a media announcement yesterday, said that $1.25 million was spent on 339 traffic signals in [...]

Judge Throws Out SunCal’s $100 million Claim Against City of Alameda

Published on 2012-02-14 14:01:00

This morning, the City of Alameda announced that a federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit claim by former would-be Alameda Point developer SunCal, which had sued the city for $100 million in lost profits. According to a prepared statement from Alameda City Hall, United States District Court Judge Charles Breyer dismissed the [...]

Overnight Murder-Suicide on Alameda Avenue

Published on 2012-02-14 09:45:58

Two lovers are dead this Valentines Day morning after an apparent murder-suicide on the 2100 block of Alameda Avenue last night. Alameda police say that last night around 6:36 p.m. they received reports of gunshots on the 2100 block of Alameda Avenue. When they arrived, police found a 30 year-old Alameda woman and [...]

Environmental Group to go Door-to-door in Alameda

Published on 2012-02-14 06:01:34

Forests Forever, a non-profit and environmental lobby will be soliciting door-to-door in Alameda through March 31st. Alameda police received a courteously notice from the group who will be soliciting until 9:00 p.m. during the week and until 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Door-to-door soliciting can be a concern for residents, particularly in Alameda which [...]

Alameda City Hall Offering Valentines Day, Leap Day, Weddings

Published on 2012-02-13 06:01:11

Alameda City Hall is offering Valentines Day wedding ceremonies tomorrow. Frugal grooms may want to defer to February 29th of this year, when Alameda City Hall offers “The Groom’s Special” – wedding ceremonies on a date that provides an anniversary only once very four years. Alameda City Hall had eleven wedding ceremonies on [...]

Action Alameda News to Live Tweet Alameda Police Department Ride-along

Published on 2012-02-10 09:46:34

Follow Action Alameda News tomorrow, Saturday, February 11th, from 2pm to 6pm, as we live-tweet during a ride-along in a patrol car courtesy of the Alameda Police Department. You can listen to police dispatches here, and follow Action Alameda News tweets on Twitter.

Group Files to Circulate Petition Blocking Swap of Park Land

Published on 2012-02-10 09:39:31

An Alameda group has filed a notice of intent to circulate a petition to modify Alameda’s City Charter to prevent the exchange of park land without voter approval. The move was prompted by a proposal to exchange a portion of the Chuck Corica Golf Complex with developer Ron Cowan. In a prepared statement, [...]

Alameda City Manager Proposes Budget Cuts Across Departments

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By Erica Madison Fire, Police, Public Works, Libraries, Parks and Administrative services in City Hall, will all receive a budget cut. According to acting City Manager Lisa Goldman at last week’s special joint meeting of the Alameda City Counc

City of Alameda Calls for Independent Investigation Into Raymond Zack Incident

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A City of Alameda press release distributed to the media late today says that Alameda City Council unanimously called for an “independent review” into the Memorial Day drowning of Raymond Zack. However, there was no formal vote at last ni

City of Alameda Cancels Workshop on Managing the Unexpected

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The City of Alameda has canceled a workshop, “Managing the Unexpected,” previously scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, at the Alameda Main Library. No explanation was given for the cancellation, and the City did not provide a future date for

Alameda Deputy Fire Chief Says Budget Cuts Are Not the Reason Man Drowned

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By Erica Madison In a telephone interview with Alameda’s acting Deputy Fire Chief Daren Olson, the Deputy Chief said the Fire department’s budget cuts in no way impacted their decision to watch 52-year-old Raymond Zack drown. For a week now the

Alameda Residents Cry for Criminal Prosecution Over Beach Drowning Tragedy

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By Erica Madison Last week, Alameda residents expressed their anger over the Robert Crown Memorial Beach drowning at a special joint meeting of the Alameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority and Community Improvement Commission.

Action Alameda News Launches The Raymond Zack Project

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Over the weekend, Action Alameda News launched the Raymond Zack Project, an ongoing inquiry into the unfortunate death of Alameda resident Raymond Zack at Robert Crown Memorial Beach on Memorial Day, 2011, while police officers and firefighters looke

Alameda Fire Department Planned and Budgeted for Eight Emergency Water Rescue Responses this Year

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Detailed department-by-department budget documents available on the City of Alameda’s website indicate that the Alameda Fire Department was budgeting and planning for eight emergency water rescue responses in Fiscal Year 2010/11 and ten in Fisc

Rescue Boats Stood Ready, but Alameda Never Requested Them

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According to the Alameda County Fire Department, County rescue boats stand ready in San Leandro, but contrary to an Alameda Police Department press release earlier this week, Alameda public safety officials never asked for them to be dispatched in re

Alameda Fire Department Memo Contradicts Department Claims

Published on 0000-00-00 00:00:00

A memo produced for the media by Interim Alameda Fire Department Chief Mike D’Orazi to defend firefighters’ actions on Crown Beach this past Memorial Day, when police and firefighters watched for over an hour as Alameda resident Raymond Z

Alameda Point Sustainability Workshop

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The City of Alameda issued a press release this morning reminding citizens that it’s workshop, “How to Make Alameda Point a Sustainable Community” will take place June 14th at the Albert H. DeWitt O’Club, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:3

House Fire Blocks Central Avenue

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A house fire blocked Central Avenue at St. Charles today in Alameda at around 6:15 p.m. At least six fire trucks and engines responded to the scene. The fire seemed to be out when Action Alameda News arrived, but westbound Central Avenue drivers wer

Pictures from La Val’s Pizza 8th Annual Car Show

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Action Alameda News captured these pictures below, today, from the first of two events in La Val’s Pizza 8th annual car show series at the Harbor Bay Shopping Plaza. Jerry Clancy of Alameda had just finished buffing his ’56 Chevy Bel Air

City Promises Policy Changes in Wake of Beach Death

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The City of Alameda is promising policy changes at the Alameda Fire Department in the wake of the death of an Alameda resident who evidently took his own life by standing in the waters of the San Francisco Bay 150 yards from the shore of Robert Crown

Annexation of City of Alameda into Alameda County Emergency Medical Services District Moves Forward

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Alameda property owners have a chance to protest the proposed annexation of of the City of Alameda into the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District. If the annexation goes through, residential property owners will see a new fee of $2

Alameda Point Infrastructure Upgrades to Cost $650 million

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Alameda Point infrastructure upgrades are estimated to cost $650 million, excluding public benefits such as a sports complex and public library, according to a City of Alameda presentation delivered to the public via webinar on May 18th. The presenta

City Moves to Evict Nelson’s Marine From Alameda Point

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The City of Alameda, through the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, has moved to evict Nelson’s Marine from Alameda Point for failure to pay rent. Attorneys for the City filed an unlawful detainer action with Alameda County Superior Co

Group Holds Second Community Forum on City of Alameda Budget

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Last night, at the Alameda Main Library, the community group “Alameda Citizens Task Force” (ACT) held its second workshop on the Alameda city budget. Alameda City Treasurer, Kevin Kennedy and Alameda City Auditor, Kevin Kearney were on ha

Alameda Unified School District Scores a D+ on Serving Minorities and Low-Income Students

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A new report from The Education Trust—West called “A Report Card on District Achievement: How Low-income, African-American and Latino Students Far in California School Districts” gives the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) a poor o

Bank of Alameda Closes Bay Farm Island Branch

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The Bank of Alameda has closed its branch at Harbor Bay Shopping Plaza on Bay Farm Island. A recent visit revealed that the former branch had been mostly cleaned out, and signs posted on the doors. One sign announced that the branch was closed, and

Kapler Lawsuit, Lawrence Berkeley Labs Proposal on Closed-Session Agenda Tomorrow

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Tomorrow night in closed-session, Alameda City Council will conference with legal counsel, and real property negotiators, regarding the lawsuit against the City filed by former Alameda Fire Chief David Kapler, and the City’s proposal to host La

Mayor Gilmore Appoints Mike Henneberry, David Burton, to Planning Board

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At Tuesday’s Alameda City Council meeting, Mayor Marie Gilmore nominated Mike Henneberry and David Burton to the two vacant positions on the Planning Board. David Burton is a founding member of CASA (Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda)

Alameda Municipal Power Says Nuveen Lawsuit Dismissed

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Alameda Municipal Power and the City of Alameda announced yesterday that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has dismissed a more than $15 million lawsuit against the City for losses that investors incurred with the demise

Councilmember Lena Tam to Sue City of Alameda?

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Alameda City Council will meet in closed session tonight to discuss an item that suggests that Alameda City Councilmember Lena Tam may sue the City of Alameda to recover legal expenses she incurred defending herself last year against allegations of o

Forum Tonight on De-Mystifying the City Budget

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The Alameda Citizen’s Task Force is sponsoring a forum tonight on the City of Alameda’s budget, with City Treasurer Kevin Kennedy and City Auditor Kevin Kearney. Billed as an “explanation of the Alameda city budget – where we

City of Alameda to Consider Mandatory Recycling Rules for Commercial Buildings

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The City of Alameda is considering implementing recycling regulations that would be mandatory for commercial and multi-family buildings. To that end, the City will hold two community meetings for businesses and multi-family property owners. The City

Where are the cops?

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Action Alameda News received this letter before noon on Monday, May 16th. Dear Editor: Where are the cops when people are speeding down every street (including in school zones), running red lights and stop signs, and failing to stop for pedestrians?

Frank Bette Center Call for Art

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The Frank Bette Center for the Arts has put the call out for submissions for its “Rhymes with Orange” exhibit, June 3rd to July 30th. Receiving day is Sunday, May 29th at the Center. The themes for this exhibit include the color orange,

AC Transit Approves Fare Increase

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The AC Transit Board of Directors has approved a fare increase that automatically raises fares at regular intervals over a 10-year period. Action Alameda News previously reported on the proposed increases last month. The transit agency announced the

Early Morning Service This Sunday to a Subdued Bay to Breakers Run

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The Oakland/Alameda Ferry will offer early morning ferry service this Sunday, May 15th, for the Bay to Breakers run in San Francisco. The event this year promises to be more subdued after a crackdown on public intoxication along the route. The speci

Alameda Point on Short-List for Lawrence Berkeley National Labs Second Campus

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Earlier this week, the City of Alamada announced that the City’s proposed site at Alameda Point was one of the finalists for a second campus for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The LBNL main campus is located in the Berkeley

Dr. Deutsch Responds to Latest Allegations

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Yesterday, Action Alameda News published a letter regarding allegations against Alameda Hospital’s Dr. Robert Deutsch. By press time, Dr. Deutsch had not responded to a request for comment on the allegations. However, after publication, we rece

Allegations of Abuse of Power and Conflict of Interest Against Alameda Hospital’s Dr. Robert Deutsch

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Last week, Action Alameda News received a copy, for publication, of a letter, below, addressed to the Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors. Action Alameda News tried to reach Dr. Robert Deutsch of Alameda Hospital for comment but we’

City to Kick-off Alameda Point Workshop Series, Including Webinar on Financing Redevelopment

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The City of Alameda is starting a fresh round of workshops to educate the public about Alameda Point redevelopment, including a May 18th Internet webinar covering the “financial basics” of redeveloping Alameda Point. According to a state

Schools to Face Cuts Despite Measure A Win

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In an April community newsletter, released to the press yesterday, Alameda Unified School District Superintendent Kirsten Vital warned that the school district still faces program cuts despite the passage of Measure A in March. “The unfortunat

Alameda City Council Names John Russo City Manager

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At a special closed meeting last night, Alameda City Council approved a contract naming John Russo as Alameda’s City Manager. Russo is currently the Oakland City Attorney. Russo will start with an annual salary of $215,000 that will rise on hit

City to Restructure Boards and Commissions

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A staff recommendation before Alameda City Council tonight would fold the Alameda Film Commission into the Economic Development Commission, and the Public Art Commission into the Planning Board. The report justifies it on the basis of cost-savings.

Michele Ellson Shutters “The Island”

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Last Friday, local independent reporter Michele Ellson announced that she is shuttering her news website, “The Island.” “After more than three years of being your daily local news source,” she wrote, “The Island is shut

City of Alameda to Buy John Patrick’s Bar

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Next Tuesday, Alameda City Council will consider a resolution authorizing the city manager to purchase John Patrick’s Bar at 1813 Park Street, which has gone into tax default. The City plans to buy the property for the price of the defaulted ta

Oakland City Attorney John Russo Set to be Named Alameda City Manager

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Agenda documents for next week’s City Council meeting show that the City of Alameda is set to appoint Oakland City Attorney John Russo as Alameda’s latest City Manager. In last year’s council election, Russo contributed money to May

SunCal and City of Alameda Move to Resolve Lawsuits Through Mediation

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Court filings in federal court and Alameda County Superior Court this month show that the City of Alameda and SunCal will try to resolve SunCal’s Alameda Point and California Public Records Act lawsuits, respectively, against the City of Alamed

AC Transit Set to Raise Fares

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AC Transit is set to raise fares in August. The agency will hear public comments on proposed fare structures and increases tomorrow at its downtown Oakland office. Under the proposal, local adult youth rates would rise from the current $2.00 to $2.5

Jessica Robinson to Help Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer though Orange County Pageant

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Jessica Robinson, an Alameda resident and actor who has participated multiple times in the Miss California USA pageant as “Miss Alameda,” will participate this year in the “Real Crown Champion: Ms. and Mrs. Orange County Regional Pa

Monday’s Planning Board Meeting Jam-packed

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Alameda’s planning board faces a full agenda this coming Monday. At least two items should be of broad interest to Alameda residents. Item 9-C covers the City of Alameda’s response to a joint Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) an

Former Fire Chief David Kapler Lawsuit Against the City of Alameda

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On April 14th, former Alameda Fire Chief David Kapler filed a lawsuit against the City of Alameda, and others, for wrongful termination, breach of contract, defamation and other causes, over his dismissal from the City of Alameda late last year. In h

The Otaez Series – Part VII

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As part of a week-long series, Action Alameda News is publishing photographs from Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2nd, 2010, election party at Otaez Restaurant on Webster Street in Alameda. The pictures were downloaded from Mayor Gilmore’s

Former Firefighter Wins $680,000 Judgment Against City of Alameda

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In a case that dates back to 2006, a former City of Alameda firefighter has won a judgment of just over $680,000 in a wrongful dismissal suit against the City of Alameda. The jury verdict comes after an appellate court reversed an earlier decision in

The Otaez Series – Part VI

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As part of a week-long series, Action Alameda News is publishing photographs from Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2nd, 2010, election party at Otaez Restaurant on Webster Street in Alameda. The pictures were downloaded from Mayor Gilmore’s

Murder on Buena Vista

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Alameda police responding to reports of a disturbance on the 500 block of Buena Vista Avenue just before noon this morning arrived to find an adult male dead, apparently of gunshot wounds. One man was detained at the scene and is being questioned as

The Otaez Series – Part V

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CORRECTION: In a photograph caption in yesterday’s posting in this series, we incorrectly identified Jon Spangler as a member of the City’s City Manager citizen selection committee. The caption has been corrected. We regret the error and

The Otaez Series – Part IV

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As part of a week-long series, Action Alameda News is publishing photographs from Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2nd, 2010, election party at Otaez Restaurant on Webster Street in Alameda. The pictures were downloaded from Mayor Gilmore’s

Alameda Firefighters Threaten Legal Action Over “Otaez Series”

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This morning, the president of the local firefighters union, Domenick Weaver, president of IAFF Local 689, asked Action Alameda News to remove, on threat of legal action, the pictures of Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2010 election party, poste

The Otaez Series – Part III

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As part of a week-long series, Action Alameda News is publishing photographs from Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2nd, 2010, election party at Otaez Restaurant on Webster Street in Alameda. The pictures were downloaded from Mayor Gilmore’s

The Otaez Series – Part II

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As part of a week-long series, Action Alameda News is publishing photographs from Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2nd, 2010, election party at Otaez Restaurant on Webster Street in Alameda. The pictures were downloaded from Mayor Gilmore

Alameda Earth Day Festival

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Alameda’s Earth Day festival at Washington Park was sparsely attended this year, however visitors that did come enjoyed clear skies, balmy temperatures and entertainment. Sponsored by the City of Alameda and Alameda Municipal Power, the event

The Otaez Series – Part I

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As part of a week-long series, Action Alameda News is publishing photographs from Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore’s November 2nd, 2010, election party at Otaez Restaurant on Webster Street in Alameda. The pictures were downloaded from Mayor Gilmore

Minor Sues City of Alameda and Alameda Unified School District for Injuries

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Through her guardian, an Alameda child has filed suit against the City of Alameda, the Alameda Unified School District, and a city employee for injuries she sustained after the employee, Joey Ogden, allegedly fell on the child during playground game

Local Actor Jessica Robinson in Newly Released Hip Hop Video

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Local actor Jessica Robinson appears in a newly released video, “Bad Girl,” by Pleasure Ellis and produced by MC Hammer. The new video was released early this week. Like MC Hammer, Ms. Robinson was born in Oakland, however, she now calls

League of Women Voters Charges $10 for Access to Elected Officials

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Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore donated her time and accessibility to the Alameda League of Women Voters tonight, at a fundraiser for that organization that promised access to “your elected and appointed officials” for $10 per head. The fund

Alameda Celebrates Earth Day This Saturday

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Alameda will celebrate Earth Day with a festival this Saturday, April 16th, at Washington Park, at Central Avenue and Eighth Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The festival will feature exhibitors, live entertainment and an environmental film festi

Firefighters Comment on City of Alameda Budget Issues

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Opinion-Editorial by Domenick Weaver, President of Alameda Firefighters Citizens of Alameda and beyond, As we once again enter the process of developing the budget of the City of Alameda, many questions have been raised about the fiscal practices and

Residents Comment on City of Alameda Budget Issues

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Opinion-Editorial signed by various Alameda residents. The City of Alameda is facing the most serious budget crisis in its history. The financial commitments to the firefighters’ union and other unions in the long-range budget currently before the

No Response Yet From City on SunCal’s Motion for $1 million in Sanctions in Federal Lawsuit

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As of last Friday, the City of Alameda has not filed an opposition response to SunCal’s motion for $1 million in legal sanctions for spoilation of evidence against the City in their federal lawsuit. The case number is 10-cv-05178 in United Stat

Naval Air Station Alameda Restoration Advisory Board Meeting Tonight

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Tonight’s Restoration Advisory Board meeting will provide an update on the Seaplane Lagoon cleanup. Details on the cleanup are provided by the United States Navy in their January 2011 fact sheet. The agenda will also cover planning for a July

Alameda Public Affairs Forum This Saturday

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This Saturday, April 9th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Alameda Public Library, the Alameda Public Affairs Forum will discuss the turmoil in the Middle East. “Upheaval in the Middle East: End of the Washington Consensus and the Fight for Democratic Self

City Seeks Direction on Secondhand Smoke Law

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Tonight, at the Alameda City Council meeting, city staff will ask Council to provide direction on improving the City’s secondhand smoke and tobacco control policies. The staff report to council breaks down the considerations into four major ar

School District Asks For, Receives, Extension to File Measure H Appeal Brief

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Attorney’s for the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) have requested, and received, from California Appellate Court, 1st Appellate District, a time extension to respond to the appeal filed in the Measure H lawsuit, George Borikas as Trustee

City Manager Selection on City Council Agenda Again Next Week

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The issue of a new Alameda City Manager will be back before Alameda City Council next Wednesday, April 6th, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. It has been reported and widely rumored that Oakland City Attorney John Russo is the leading, if not chosen, candi

Planning Board Shoots Self in the Pedicure

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Dear Editor, Under “Beauty Salons & Services” in the 2010 Alameda Telephone Directory, there are 97 entries (I counted). It appears some are hair, some nails, others facials & waxing. But most overlap in these areas & many

Google High-speed Fiber for Communities Going to Kansas City

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Google announced today that Kansas City, Kansas, was selected for their free high-speed broadband network project. The City of Alameda had applied to the program just over a year ago. In an announcement, Google wrote that, “In selecting a city,

Planning Board Public Hearing Regarding 1348 Weber Street

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[Editor Note - the correct address is 1348 Weber Street, not Webster Street. We apologize for the error.] The Planning Board of the City of Alameda will hold a public hearing regarding the parcel at 1348 Weber Street at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11t

School Boundary Changes on AUSD Agenda Tonight

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Tonight, the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees will consider a resolution to change the attendance zones for Ruby Bridges and Paden elementary schools, to alleviate overcrowding at Ruby Bridges school. The existing attendance zone bou

Planning Board Public Hearing Regarding 1348 Webster Street

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The Planning Board of the City of Alameda will hold a public hearing regarding the parcel at 1348 Webster Street at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 11th, 2011 at City Hall. The proposed change for the 2,738 square foot parcel is a rezoning. It would be re

Special Closed-session City Council Meeting Regarding City Manager on Tuesday Night

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Tommorow, Tuesday, March 29th, at 5:59 p.m., the Alameda City Council will hold a closed-session special city council meeting to discuss the vacant city manager position. The meeting will be in the City Council Chambers Conference Room in City Hall,

Upcoming Meetings on Alameda City Manager Candidates

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Tomorrow and Saturday, at 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., respectively, the City of Alameda will hold special meetings pertaining to the selecting of a new full-time City Manager. Both meetings are open for public comment on the agenda items only, for a max

Alameda Rent Review Advisory Committee Accepting Applicants

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The Alameda Rent Review Advisory Committee is accepting applications from tenants who would like to serve. The Committee mediates between landlords and tenants over complaints about rent increases. The Committee meets on the first Monday of the month

Habitat for Humanity Warehouse Liquidation at Alameda Point

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Habitat for Humanity’s East Bay ReStore, a not-for-profit retail store, will hold a warehouse liquidation sale of new and used building materials at its Alameda Point warehouse on April 1st, 2nd and 3rd. According to a spokesperson for the agen

Alameda Municipal Power to Issue RFP for Study of Electricity Rates and Technology Trends

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Tonight at the Public Utilities Board meeting, Alameda Municipal Power staff will ask for input from board members on a Request for Proposal (RFP) they want to issue to study emerging trends in electricity rates and electrical utility technologies. T

Alameda’s Celera to be Acquired by New Jersey’s Quest Diagnostics

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In a joint announcement today, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated of Madison, New Jersey, announced that it would acquire Alameda-based biotech firm Celera Corporation for approximately $344 million. According to the announcement, Celera generated revenu

Alameda Unified School District Special Closed-session Meeting Tonight

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Tonight, March 16th, 2011, at 5:00 p.m., the Alameda Unified School District will hold a special closed-session meeting to conference with labor negotiators. The meeting will take place in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at 2200 Central Av

Alameda Ordered to Update Sewers

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Under a stipulated order announced yesterday, the City of Alameda and six other local municipalities in the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) will upgrade sewers and rainwater collection systems to prevent sewage overflows to the San Franci

Attempted Kidnapping Near Washington Elementary School Yesterday

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Update: March 16th 2:00 p.m. – From Alameda PD, “After further follow-up, the focus of the investigation will now concentrate on the possibility that an unknown suspect may have touched the victim inappropriately, rather than an attempted

BioTime Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2010 Financial Results

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BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Alameda on Bay Farm Island, reported today financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. The company reported a 91% increase in total revenue year-over-year for the fiscal year. Fo

Former City Attorney Files Claim Against City of Alameda

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Today, former City Attorney Teresa Highsmith filed a claim against the City of Alameda for personal injury damages pertaining to her dismissal on December 28th, 2010. In a claim filed by her attorney, William Rapoport, of Redwood City, Ms. Highsmith

State Controller’s Report Faults Redevelopment Agencies for Missed School Payments

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An audit of 18 California redevelopment agencies release last week by California State Controller John Chiang found that five of the 18 agencies failed to make $33.6 million in required payments to schools within their redevelopment areas. The missed

Dennis Green, 1940-2011

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Dennis Herbert Green September 13, 1940 – March 4, 2011 Dennis passed away on March 4, due to complications from septic shock. He was 70 years old and lived in Alameda, California. Born in Eugene Oregon, Dennis was the only son of Herbert and L

City of Alameda to Appropriate $1.3 million in Federal Funds for Islander Hotel

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At the March 15th Alameda City Council meeting, Council will consider a recommendation to appropriate $1.3 million in federal HOME funds to be used to rehabilitate the Islander Motel at 2428 Central Avenue. Last November, Alameda City Council members

Ann Marie Gallant Files Claim Against City of Alameda

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Former Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallant has filed a claim against the City of Alameda citing damages sustained at a closed-door Alameda City Council meeting on December 28th, 2010, wherein three council members voted to effectively terminate he

Alameda Police Recover Portion of Stolen Human Remains

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The Alameda Police Department announced yesterday that they had recovered a portion of the human remains previously stolen from Clergy at the Christ Episcopal Church on March 5th. According to police, on Saturday, while the family of the deceased mad

The Next Parcel Tax

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Dear Editor, Please advise the public of the next parcel tax to be considered by Alameda voters in a special tax election (regardless of the outcome of Measure A). I suppose no one will want to vote against this one because it ‘s for EMS (emerg

Vote “No” on Measure A

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A letter from Action Alameda News publisher David Howard… Having tracked the issue closely since the defeat of last year’s school parcel tax, this publication took an early position against the Alameda Unified School District parcel tax b

Measure A Election Results

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The polls closed at 8:00 p.m. tonight. Vote by mail ballots have been reported. Stay tuned and check back on this page for updates! The measure needs a 2/3rd majority to pass. 10:22 p.m. Measure PASSING “Yes” votes are 68.43% “No

New Toastmasters Club for Alameda Job Seekers

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A new Toastmasters club launches in Alameda next week, aimed at furthering the career aspirations of those who are employed, and helping those looking for work find it. The new Career Seekers club will hold its inaugural meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesd

Where to Vote on Measure A

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The vote on Measure A, the Alameda Unified School District parcel tax special election, will be an ‘in-person’ vote with ballot boxes and polling stations. Be sure to go to your correct polling station to be able to vote. Here is a list o

Yes on A Campaign Filing Complaints

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[Editor note: Bolding and italics are present in the original...] Dear Editor: The pro Measure A folks have filed a complaint about a letter I wrote. Their complaint states: “In the last three years, Alameda has had two parcel tax elections in

Alameda County Property Taxes Due April 10th

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The second installment of your Alameda County property taxes is due April 10th. After that date, unpaid property taxes will be considered delinquent. Your second installment for the 2010-2011 fiscal year is due April 10th, 2011; you may pay online at

Real Estate Developer Calls for End to Redevelopment Agencies

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There’s an e-mail circulating in Alameda urging readers to “Email, write, fax and call your state senator and assembly member and tell him or her that you support the governor’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies. Then email o

Alameda Rotary Club Holds Measure A Forum Today

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The on-again, off-again, Measure A forum at the Alameda Rotary club is on-again for today at 12 noon. AUSD Trustee Trish Spencer will speak in favor of the Measure A, and Alameda resident Leland Traiman will speak in opposition to the Measure. The fo

John Russo’s SunCal Connection

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Oakland City Attorney John Russo is rumored to be in the running for the job of Alameda City Manager. As Oakland City Attorney, he’s had extensive dealings with SunCal and Lehman Brothers regarding the stalled Oak Knoll Naval Hospital redevelop

Don’t Just Sit Back and Do Nothing on Measure A

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Dear Editor: One way for good people to lose is to sit back and do nothing. Normally supporting schools means supporting the children and that is a great thing for everyone and our future. Not so in Alameda. We have a district with too many administr

11 Reasons Why You Should Vote “No” on Measure A

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Dear Editor, Can you please publish my letter. 11 Reasons why you should vote NO on Measure A Dear Alameda Voters, I am a parent of four children that attend schools in AUSD. I want to urge you to vote no on Measure A. Here are 11 reasons to vote no.

No More Money Maintaining Business as Usual at AUSD

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Action Alameda News was provided with a copy of the following letter for publication, which the author sent to neighbors… Dear Neighbors, See Measure A per parcel list below for our blocks on Pacific Ave. Expect that most households with senior

Miss Alameda, Jessica Robinson, Wraps-up Filming for “Recycle Woman,” Moves on to Editing

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Local actress Jessica Robinson has completed principal photography for her short film “Recycle Woman,” which was shot at various locations around Alameda. Robinson has competed in the Miss California USA pageant as Miss Alameda. Robinson

Public Information Forum Tonight at Encinal High School

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Tonight, in the cafeteria at Encinal High School at 210 Central Avenue, student Dylan Moore will host a public information forum on Measure A, the latest AUSD school parcel tax, on the ballot March 8th. The forum is a project for Mr. Moore’s pa

State Legislative Analyst Office Spars With California Redevelopment Association

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As Alameda residents get ready to vote on another Alameda Unified School Parcel Tax, Measure A, on the ballot on March 8th, the non-partisan California State Legislative Analyst’s Office is sparing with the California Redevelopment Association

Time for Alameda SOS to Celebrate? Not so Fast.

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By Dennis Green Two huge, full-page ads endorsing the school parcel tax, Measure A, printed in the Alameda Journal and Alameda Sun, and signed by Harbor Bay developer Ron Cowan! What a coup for AUSD and SOS! And all those endorsements by the City Cou

Rain Swamps Alameda

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The return of steady rain after some balmy weekends has some Alameda streets looking like lakes. Cars parked along the curb in one west Alameda neighborhood were up to their axle’s in standing water for the length of one block. The rain is like

Special Closed Session Weekend City Council Meeting Tomorrow

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Tomorrow, Saturday, February 19th, at 9:00 a.m., Alameda City Council will hold a special weekend closed-session meeting at the Hampton Inn & Suites at 1700 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda. A single item is on the agenda – “3-A PUBLIC

Alameda’s Wind River to Work With McAfee on Security for Mobile Devices

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Yesterday, Alameda’s Wind River announced an agreement with McAfee, the anti-virus software company, to develop and market security solutions for devices other than personal computers, such as mobile devices. Wind River is a wholly owned subsid

Alameda Free Library Programs and Events for March 2011

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The Alameda Free Library has released an agenda of programs and workshops for the month of March, focused around this year’s theme, “Grow, Eat and Read Local.” Here is a list of the events as provided by the Library: The grand openi

Measure A Based on Fraudulent Plan B

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Dear Editor, The Draconian plan of school closures the Alameda Unified School District says it will have to implement if Measure A fails is a fraud. This plan, known as Plan B, was not written by educators or even the school district’s accounta

Broadway Management Installs Alameda’s First Public Chargepoint Station for Electric Vehicles at 1516 Oak Street

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Broadway Management, with the help of Alameda’s REJ Electric Company, and the ChargePoint America program, has installed Alameda’s first public Chargepoint charging station for electric vehicles at Broadway Management’s building at

Alameda Public Affairs Forum on Net Neutrality Tomorrow

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Tomorrow, Saturday, February 12th, at the Alameda Free Library at 7:00 p.m., the Alameda Public Affairs Forum will sponsor a hearing on net neutrality and the Internet – will the information superhighway be a freeway or a toll road? Peter Franc

AUSD Parcel Tax Guide

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Dear Editor, PARCEL TAX GUIDE Here is a simple guide to help you figure your tax under the proposed Measure A school tax. The tax is based on the size of your building. 1000 sq.ft. $320 2000 sq.ft. $640 3000sq.ft. $960 4000sq.ft. $1280 5000sq.ft. $16

Alameda’s Wind River Plays Role in Carrier Drone Aircraft Development

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Earlier this week, Wind River, of Alameda, announced that it has provided software for Northrop Grumman’s X-47B unmanned drone aircraft that would launch from and land on aircraft carriers and refuel in-flight. The X-47B completed its first fli

Measure A and Reduced Class Size

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Dear Editor, AUSD argues that it needs another $12 million in parcel taxes, on top of the $73 million per year it already receives, in part to preserve “class size reductions.” They say that smaller classes permit greater individual atten

AUSD Special Board Meeting Tonight

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The Alameda Unified School District has scheduled a special Board of Trustees meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the third floor conference room at the District’s head office, at 2200 Central Avenue. The agenda follows. Additional documents are av

SunCal Loses Fraud on Claims Against Gray 1 CPB LLC

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Court documents filed late last month in southern California show that SunCal has lost their counter-claim of fraud against Gray 1 CPB LLC and Central Pacific Bank over loans the bank made to SunCal for a development project. Gray 1 CPB had purchased

Concerns About Chain of Possession of Letter from Acting City Attorney

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Dear Editor, I have grave concerns about the chain of possession of the letter from Acting City Attorney Donna Mooney addressed to me and other Alameda citizens, dated 1/25/11. Between the time it was signed by ACA Mooney and delivered to my home, it

Council Commits Alameda Taxpayers to over $820 million Debt Burden

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When Alameda City Council approved agreements totaling $326 million in future redevelopment projects earlier this week, they effectively committed current and future Alameda taxpayers to a future debt burden of over $820 million. Trying to circumvent

Sources Describe “Stalinist Purge” At Alameda City Hall

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Sources close to Alameda City Hall describe events there this week as a “Stalinist purge” intended to get rid of employees that had any involvement in the investigation of Lena Tam, and strike fear in the hearts of employees to warn them

Residents React to City Manager Dismissal

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Alameda online communities erupted last week in reaction to a 3-2 decision by Alameda City Council to effectively dismiss Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallant, with at least one blogger urging residents to demand an investigation from the Alameda C

City’s Attorney Asks for Protective Order to Prevent SunCal’s Abusive Deposition Tactics

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The attorney representing the City of Alameda in SunCal’s public records lawsuit against the City has filed a motion for a protective order “to prevent abusive deposition tactics and the deposition of defendants’ counsel and for the

Gilmore, Bonta Form Subcommittee to Find City Manager

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At the regular meeting of the Alameda City Council last night, Mayor Marie Gilmore disclosed that at the December 28th special City Council meeting, a subcommittee of council consisting of Gilmore and Vice-Mayor Rob Bonta will lead the search for a f

Registrar of Voters Relents on Fifth Measure A Opposition Signature

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The Alameda County Registrar of Voters has backed down on its refusal to add a fifth name to the rebuttal argument against Measure A, the school parcel tax on the ballot on March 8th. The registrar reversed course after an attorney representing the C

Horst Breuer Resigns Chair of Alameda Economic Development Commission

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In a letter released to local media yesterday, the Chair of the Alameda Economic Development Commission, Horst Breuer, announced that he would resign his position as Chair of the Economic Development Commission in response to the dismissal of Interim

Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Gives One-Sided Endorsement of Measure A

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Sources close to the proceedings of Wednesday’s regular monthly meeting of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee say that the committee voted to endorse Measure A at that meeting, after a Measure A proponent gave a presentation that w

Alameda Power Outage

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Alameda Municipal Power is reporting this morning that power has been restored to roughly 6,800 Alameda residents after an outage. According to a statement from the utility, the outage began at about 4:18 a.m. this morning and affected customers in a

Jerry Brown Goes After Redevelopment in the Name of Schools

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A letter from Action Alameda News publisher David Howard… Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate some 400+ redevelopment agencies across the state of California comes as the Alameda Unified School District reaches out to voters yet agai

Attorney’s for Borikas File Appeal Brief in Measure H Lawsuit

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Late last month, attorney David Brillant filed with the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, an appeal on behalf of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit over the uniformity of the Alameda Unified School District’s (AUSD) 2008 parcel t

Pursue Lawrence Berkeley Lab for Alameda Point

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Dear Editor, I really hope the City aggressively pursues bringing the Lawrence Berkeley Lab 2nd Campus to Alameda Point. There is an RFQ that seeks almost exactly what the Point has to offer. Here’s the link: http://www.lbl.gov/Community/second

Argosy University and City of Alameda Team Up on Presentation Skills Presentation

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On Wednesday, February 2nd, the City of Alameda and Argosy University will present a seminar at the Alameda Elks Lodge on successful presentation skills. The event is free. Argosy University is a for-profit university with a San Francisco Bay Area ca

City Says Gallant Firing Legal, Brown Act Compliant

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In a press release issued yesterday by Lisa Goldman, Acting City Manager for the City of Alameda, the City said that the Council’s actions on December 28th, including the firing of former Interim City Manager Ann Marie Gallant, were legal and i

City’s Use of Mayers Nave Law Firm Provokes Consternation

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Dear Editor, CC: Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley CC: California State Attorney General Kamala Harris CC: the State Bar of California We have been following the recent actions in which the newly elected Mayor/Council, within days

City of Alameda Charter Violations

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Dear Editor, You’re kidding, right? Openly advocating violation of our City Charter by elected officials is “Mayor, council acted properly”, “made the right move?”, “strong leadership”?? Have any of you READ

Alameda Start-up Vook Raises $5.25 million in Venture Capital

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Alameda-based Vook, a self-described leading digital publisher of mixed-media reading, announced yesterday that it closed a $5.25 million Series “A” round of venture financing. Investors include VantagePoint Venture Partners and Floodgate

Alameda Point on Planning Board Agenda for Next Monday

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Alameda Point will be back on the agenda before the City of Alameda Planning Board again next Monday night. Item 9-A for the Planning Board Agenda for January 24th is called “Going Forward Community Planning Strategy for Alameda Point,” a

Special City Council Meeting Next Tuesday

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There will be a special joint meeting of the Alameda City Council, the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority (ARRA) and the Community Improvement Commission of the City of Alameda next Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers Con

Coast Guard Changes Rules Following November Fuel Odor Event

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Late last month, the United States Coast Guard changed the rules regarding the transfer of oil and hazardous materials between water-based vessels and facilities. The move came in response to oil transfer activities at Public Service Marine in Alamed

Alameda Unified School District Special Board Meeting Tonight

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In advance of its regularly scheduled meeting, the Alameda Unified School District tonight will hold a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. to discuss labor negotiations, and on-going and pending litigation. The special meeting will be held in the superinten

Alameda’s Wind River Works with Magneti Marelli on In-Vehicle Infotainment

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Wind River, an embedded and mobile software maker based in Alameda, announced today that it is working with Magneti Marelli of Italy on an in-vehicle infotainment solution for the automotive industry. In a prepared statement, Alexander Kocher, vice p

Council Makes Few Decisions in Closed Session Meeting

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In a closed session meeting last Tuesday, Alameda City Council considered several items but rendered few decisions. Documents obtained by Action Alameda News show the score. The first item, “anticipated litigation,” – widely believe

Island City Toastmasters to Hold Valentine’s Day ‘Meet and Greet’ Open Meeting

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Local chapter of Toastmasters, an non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills, says it has a history of match-making. The club normally meets on Monday evenings, and this year, Valentine’s Day falls on

Alameda Hospital’s Dr. Robert Deutsch Under FPPC Investigation

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Documents provided to Action Alameda News indicate that the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is investigating Alameda Hospital doctor and Alameda Health Care District Board Member Dr. Robert Deutsch following citizen allegations

SunCal Public Records Lawsuit Grinds On With Minor Victory for the City of Alameda

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Late last week, Judge David Hunter of the Superior Court of California, Alameda County partially granted a motion for a protective order requested by the attorney representing the City of Alameda. The order was requested to protect against “abu

School District Misses Deadline to File Response Brief in Measure H Appeal

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Notations on the California Appellate Court docket for case A129295, the appeal of the Measure H lawsuit ruling, indicate that attorneys for the Alameda Unified School District missed the end-of-May due date to file their brief in response to the pla

Alameda Firefighters Union Has Filled Leadership Vacuum

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Dear Editor, Here are two letters to the editor that I have sent to the local papers: We are all to blame As outrageous as what happened on Memorial Day weekend at Crown beach is, we, the citizens of Alameda are all to blame at some level. I for one

Alameda City Council Considers Outsourcing Animal Shelter

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By Erica Madison and Staff Reports Eliminating nine police officer positions or outsourcing the animal shelter. This is just one of the many choices and alternatives acting City Manager Lisa Goldman provided the City Council with at last week’s

John Russo Replaced by Barbara Parker in Oakland

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The City of Oakland announced today that outgoing City Attorney John Russo has appointed Oakland Chief Assistant City Attorney Barbara Parker as the City of Oakland’s Acting City Attorney, effective 11:30 a.m. this morning. Russo begins work in Ala

City, County, Drag Heels on Releasing Raymond Zack Records

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Both the City of Alameda, and the Alameda County Fire Department, are dragging their heels on responding to public records requests for documents and records related to the death of Raymond Zack on Memorial Day at Crown Beach. The Alameda County Fire

Alameda City Manager Appoints Mike Noonan Police Chief

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Former Oakland City Attorney John Russo started his first day on the job yesterday as Alameda City Manager. His first order of business? Appoint Interim Police Chief Mike Noonan as Police Chief. Mr. Noonan had been serving as Interim Police Chief si

Summer Sailstice Moves to Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda This Year

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Summer Sailstice, a global celebration of sailing that began in 2001 and takes place annually on the solstice, has moved this year from San Francisco’s Treasure Island to the Encinal Yacht Club, on the island of Alameda. Sailstice takes place t

VF Outdoors Changes Building Plans for its Alameda Campus

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By Erica Madison and Staff Reports Located on Harbor Bay Parkway, VF Outdoors‘ construction is on schedule to bring its business to Alameda, thanks to a recent unanimous parcel map approval from the Alameda Planning Board. Since 2010, construction

Call for Alameda City Council to Delay Vote on Firefighters Contract

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Dear Editor, I write today to ask every Alamedan to email the Mayor, Council members, City Manager, and Fire Chief, and urge them to postpone the approval of the firefighters contract by the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. Please c

On July 13th Alameda Residents are Invited to Woo Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

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By Erica Madison “We want everyone on their best behavior,” laughed Planning Services Manager Andrew Thomas, at Monday’s Planning Board meeting. At the meeting, the Planning Services Manager invited Alameda residents to a barbecue on July 13th

America’s Cup Class USA 76 Racing Yacht Comes to Alameda

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Alameda residents attending Summer Sailstice at the Encinal Yacht Club in Alameda today got a chance to see close-up and board an America’s Cup class yacht, USA-76. According to the International Sailing Federation’s website, USA-76 was

City of Alameda Settles Lena Tam’s Claims for Legal Expenses

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Late last Friday, the City of Alameda announced that it had settled a claim with Alameda City Councilmember Lena Tam for some $47,000 in legal expenses she incurred last year to defend against charges of official misconduct. A June 16th report from

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter Get Their Shot

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Yesterday, the Alameda Police Department announced that the City of Alameda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of Alameda that would allow the two groups to transfer operatio

Alameda City Council to Vote on Firefighters Contract Tonight

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Alameda City Council is set to vote tonight on a new 3-year agreement with the firefighters union, IAFF Local 689. The item is #5-N on the Alameda City Council Regular Meeting agenda. The contract, which starts retroactively on January 3rd, 2010, an

Alameda City Council Approves Firefighters Contract

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Last night, in a 4-1 vote, Alameda City Council approved a three-year contract between the City and the International Association of Firefighters Local 689. The contract begins retroactively effective January 3, 2010 and runs until June 29, 2013. Se

City of Alameda Secures $6.2 million in Low-income Housing Tax Credits for Conversion of Islander Motel

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The City of Alameda announced yesterday that it has secured a $6.2 million allocation of low-income housing tax credits to help convert the Islander Motel into a low-income housing site. Located two blocks from the corner of Park and Central, the con

Alameda Fire Dispatch Phone Recordings Paint a Picture of Confusion, Equipment Failures

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Telephone recordings from the Alameda County Fire dispatch center during the Raymond Zack incident paint a picture of confusion and equipment failures among first responders and responding agencies. Action Alameda News obtained a copy of the recordin

Alameda City Council to Vote on Budget Tomorrow Night

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At a City Council meeting tomorrow night at City Hall, Alameda City Council members will vote on a resolution adopting a capital and operating budget for the City of Alameda for the fiscal year (FY) 2011 to 2012, which begins July 1st, 2011. Document

Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees Special Meeting Tonight at 5:31 p.m.

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In addition to tonight’s regular meeting of the Alameda Unified School District Board of Trustees, there will be an Board of Trustees special meeting tonight at 5:31 p.m. At 5:40 p.m. yesterday, Kathleen Brooks, Administrative Assistant to AU

Alameda Residents May Face Higher Local Taxes to Fill Future Budget Deficits

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Opening last night’s Alameda City Council discussion on the 2011-2012 budget, Assistant City Manager Lisa Goldman told Council, “We are facing $7 million to $9 million deficits for the next 5 years, absent corrective actions…These c

United States Coast Guard Opens New Interagency Operations Center on Yerba Buena Island

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Earlier this week, the United States Coast Guard, Eleventh Coast Guard District, opened a new Interagency Operations Center on Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco. In a prepared statement, Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, commander of the Coast Guard

City of Alameda to Pay Consultant $19,500 to Conduct “Independent Review” of Raymond Zack Death

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The City of Alameda is set to pay a consultant $195/hour, plus expenses, for about 100 hours of work, or, roughly, $19,500, to conduct what the City has previously characterized as an “independent review” of the events leading to Raymond

Former Firefighter Questions if Ruben Grijalva Can Give an Honest Report on Raymond Zack Death

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When Andrew Jentzsch learned that Ruben Grijalva would be investigating the death of Raymond Zack on Crown Beach on May 30th, he thought, “What did I do to deserve this?” Mr. Jentzsch was a firefighter for twenty years with the City of Pa