Alameda County is already looking at options for more housing measures in 2024
San Leandro swears-in a new mayor while losing candidate menacingly glares
COUNTY NEWS
—MEASURE A1 REDUX?—Alameda County supervisors are thinking about placing on the 2024 ballot a renewal of Measure A1, a successful $580 million affordable housing bond measure that was approved by voters six years ago.
—However, a proposed regional ballot measure for creating new housing units, also planned for sometime in 2024, is signaling to some county officials that a wait-and-see approach is warranted for Measure A1.
—In addition, a proposed state Constitutional ballot amendment in 2024 would make it far easier for local jurisdictions to approve housing measures.
—In 2016, Alameda County voters exuberantly approved, with 73 percent support, a $580 million general obligation bond to help alleviate the affordable housing crunch. Roughly half of the amount has been used, but the housing crisis persists today and almost certainly will well into the future.
—Last June, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors directed staff to begin studying the possibility of renewing Measure A1 in 2024. Exactly how much more can be raised by extending the bond another 5-10 years will come to the board in the spring, said Michelle Starratt, Alameda County housing director.
—But before the report is unveiled, Starratt cautioned to the board’s Health Committee on Monday morning that the staff recommendation may include a suggestion to place the Measure A1 renewal on pause until after 2024.
—Instead, let the potential nine-county Bay Area regional ballot measure take the lead in the 2024 election cycle, she said. The regional affordable housing measure is estimated to yield between $10-$20 billion, with nearly $1 billion coming to Alameda County. Oakland would separately receive nearly $400 million.
—A statewide measure that would amend the state Constitution to lower the threshold for approving housing measures to a simple majority could be a game-changer going forward.
—Last month, Alameda County cities posted a uneven record for passing housing bonds. Oaklanders easily approved their $850 million bond, but Berkeley’s $650 million bond narrowly failed.
—However, Berkeley’s Measure L would have easily won if the threshold for approval was 50 percent plus one, as proposed in the Constitutional amendment, rather than the current two-thirds majority.
—Alameda County Supervisor Dave Brown said he believes allowing the regional ballot measure go first might be prudent. Following the pandemic and economic uncertainty, Alameda County voters may not be in the mood to approve large bond measures, Brown said. Berkeley, for example, may be a canary in the coal mine.
CITY NEWS
SAN LEANDRO
—NEW MAYOR—San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez, deploying some of the same sunny language that propelled his upstart campaign this fall, signaled his intent to foster collaboration with his potentially fractious new city council.
—Gonzalez’s short remarks came after he took the oath of office from his son on Monday night. “Thank you for putting your trust in me and the new council and that we will deliver on all our promises to you by working together,” Gonzalez said.
—The first-time candidate defeated San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo in the final round of ranked choice voting tabulations last month. This came despite finishing a close second to Azevedo in first-place votes.
—Hope and optimism of a different kind colored the inaugural speeches from the three council winners. Councilmember Celina Reynes joins the council in District 1. Reynes, who led the effort for a citizen police oversight board in recent years, tabbed the grandmother of Stephen Taylor to swear her into office.
—Taylor was killed by a San Leandro police officer inside a local Walmart in 2020. The incident sparked a major movement toward police reform and government accountability in San Leandro. The police officer later become the first police officer ever charged by Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.
—LINE IN THE SAND—Re-elected Councilmember Victor Aguilar, Jr., however, strongly suggested that the new progressive majority on the San Leandro City Council may not be interested in collaboration. Instead, they may ram progressive legislation, such as rent stabilization, down the council minority’s throats.
—Aguilar skewered some of his council colleagues who he claimed had attempted over the years to hinder “his success” in moving progressive policies forward in San Leandro. He added, “We have a progressive majority and we have a lot of work to do.”
—He added, the progressive majority consisting of himself, Reynes, Azevedo, and Councilmember Fred Simon, will move to pass rent stabilization legislation next year.
—THE GLARE—Councilmember Bryan Azevedo is apparently still smarting from a difficult result in last month’s mayoral race.
—Azevedo garnered the most first-place votes and performed remarkably well all over the electoral map. Yet, because of ranked choice voting, he was forced to watch his rival, Juan Gonzalez, take the oath of office on Monday night.
—Azevedo was clearly unhappy. A photo revealed Azevedo’s menacing glare (magnified above) as he watched Gonzalez being elevated to mayor. It’s almost the same glare seen from Anakin Skywalker just before he slaughtered Jedi younglings.
