Alameda's war on science
Well, it's only two Alameda councilmembers obstructing research at Alameda Point; Russell City Reparation Justice Project ends work on a bitter note; DA Price called out the sheriff on social media
CITY NEWS
ALAMEDA
—In April, the city of Alameda was featured on the front page of The New York Times. Aboard the U.S.S. Hornet, researchers shot water vapor from a cannon-like device into the air to study if the aerosol mist could one day be used to limit the heating of the Earth’s atmosphere.
—The research was stopped last month by city officials over concerns about its effect on the environment and a protected bird colony in the area. The city subsequently found the scientific activities aboard the U.S.S. Hornet are safe.
—On Tuesday night, the Alameda City Council will decide whether to allow the research to continue.
—But the controversy is yet another instance in which a minority of the Alameda City Council has attempted to scuttle or undermine research and valuable leases to scientific firms at Alameda Point.
—The war against science at Alameda Point is led by Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer, a former mayor whose vision for the former Naval Air Station is one giant pub. Councilmember Tony Daysog has also ridden Spencer’s coattails on this subject recently.
—Opposition to research aboard the U.S.S. Hornet is the latest in a string of obstruction against biomedical research and companies seeking sustainability projects.
—Science Corp, a biomedical firm sought a long-term lease at Alameda Point to study creating a prosthetic eye to allow people to regain their vision. Spencer led the push to deny the lucrative lease by stirring up concerns about the firm’s use of animal testing.
—Also on Tuesday night’s agenda, Spencer and Daysog pulled for review a design permit by another Alameda Point company, Natel Energy, for a hydraulic testing facility. Among the concerns is the proposed unit will blocked a nebulous “view corridor” at the point that features the San Francisco skyline.
—The same “view corridor” complaint has been lodged by Spencer and Daysog at several Alameda Point properties this year without much success other than significantly lengthening council meetings.
HAYWARD
—RUSSELL CITY’S NEXT STEPS—The Russell City Reparative Justice Project recently disbanded, but its work is far from done.
—The group was created by the Hayward City Council to study and make recommendation for bringing justice to Russell City residents who were forced out of the incorporated area by the county in the early 1960s, and later annexed by Hayward.
—In late March, the group provided 26 recommendations to Hayward officials, including a community land trust, among others.
—But bitter feelings about the process and treatment by some Hayward officials were on display at the group’s final meeting on May 20.
—“What we allow is what will continue, said Michael V. Johnson, a member of the group, “and what happened to this community 61 years ago is reflective of what we experienced throughout this experience.”
—He added, “There was a lack of transparency and some city officials were unable to fathom the pain inflicted on Russell City residents.”
—Some older former Russell City residents expressed worry that a solution for some type of compensation from the city will not be found within their lifetimes.
—Others remain skeptical about allowing the city—the party that caused them harm—to decide how they will be made whole.
—“If it feels unfinished because it is unfinished,” said Aiyana Knowles, also a Russell City committee member. “There was no plan. There was no timeline. There was a budget. There was a calendar and that was it and we hit the deadline.”
COUNTY NEWS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
—FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE—The disconnect between Alameda County’s district attorney and sheriff was on display over the weekend.
—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price called out Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez in a highly unorthodox posting on social media.
—Price, through her campaign feed on X, took exception with a posting on Facebook by the sheriff’s office that was critical of her office’s decision to not charge a suspect apprehended by sheriff’s deputies.
—A spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office later told a news outlet that it wasn’t the first time Price’s office has not charged a suspect.
—“Has Sheriff Sanchez pointed this out to DA Pamela Price?” Price’s campaign wrote on Facebook. “If so, when? Has Sheriff Sanchez picked up the phone or requested a sit-down conversation to voice her concerns about cases not being charged by the DA’s office? No, that has not happened.”
—The Price campaign’s posting highlights the schism between her office and not only the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, but almost every local police department in the county.
—It’s also another strange strategy for Price’s campaign to fight off the recall following the back-and-forth last month with Rep. Eric Swalwell.
—In some sections of Price’s complaint on Facebook, one could be mistaken to believe the screed was intended for Sanchez’s private email, not for the entire world. At one point, Price’s campaign asked for a meeting with Sanchez.
