Can. Meet road. Alameda County supervisors deliver another setback to renters protections
Vote triggers strong words from two county supervisors: On the way out, Thao breaks two council ties; Bas wants council to appoint D2 interim; Alameda swears in duo, Spencer shows up
COUNTY NEWS
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—JUST BECAUSE—A watered down Just Cause ordinance for unincorporated Alameda County residents again failed to achieve final approval on Tuesday.
—The demise of Just Cause, after several years of vetting and conversation, triggered condemnation from Supervisors Elisa Marquez and Keith Carson.
—“This is a complete embarrassment that we have already compromised on so many components of this ordinance and we are saying it’s still not enough,” an exasperated Marquez said.
—“I would really ask my colleagues, what is the purpose of serving on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors if you're not going to protect the most vulnerable people in the community? That is our charge. Our charge is to provide less harm, not more harm,” she continued.
—Marquez has voiced frustration for months about delays and political gamesmanship being employed by pro-landlord members of the Board of Supervisors.
—“Shame on you if you vote no on this,” Marquez said.
—The motion to approve the second and final reading of the ordinance failed, 2-2, with Supervisor Lena Tam abstaining. Supervisors Nate Miley and David Haubert voted no.
—Miley said the Just Cause ordinance should be based on equity between both parties—landlords and tenants—and the current version is not there yet.
—Like Marquez, Carson was irritated by their colleagues opposition to the Just Cause ordinance.
—“For us to not be able to pass this measure today sends it all the way back to the beginning. It honestly does. Let's just be straight up about that. We know we are playing politics if we don't pass this today,” Carson said.
—Renters have made more concessions than landlords and deserve some semblance of protections, Carson added. “So what do we want? We want every ounce of blood?”
—“I'm not looking for blood or anything,” Miley quickly responded, before taking umbrage with Carson’s tone, warning him that “I don’t get intimidated easily.”
—Miley plans to bring back a modified version of the Just Cause ordinance back to the board at its Jan. 7 meeting.
—FAREWELL TO CARSON—The brief burst of acrimony between Supervisors Nate Miley and Keith Carson that was witnessed over the Just Cause vote quickly dissipated.
—The Alameda County Board of Supervisors paid tribute to Carson’s 32-years of service on Tuesday afternoon.
—Miley called Carson the board’s G.O.A.T—the greatest of all-time.
—The county administrator confirmed that Carson’s 32 years on the Board of Supervisors is longest in the county’s history. At the time of his retirement, Carson is the longest-serving county supervisor in the state.
—Above is the video of appreciation played at Tuesday’s board meeting.
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CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—PUTTING A KAP ON IT—Acting Oakland Mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas urged the City Council on Tuesday night to entertain the possibility of naming an interim candidate to replace her as the District 2 representative.
—Who does Bas have in mind for the interim position? Newly termed out At-Large Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.
—Kaplan lives in District 2 and has no desire to stay in public office past April, Bas said.“I believe she is uniquely qualified to jump in and immediately help the district.”
—The interim would serve as a caretaker through the special election, which the council set on Tuesday for April 15. The appointee would also declare that they would not run for the seat.
—Under one previous proposal, the District 2 seat would be left vacant until the special election. Constituents services for District 2 residents would go through the at-large representative’s office.
—Bas will serve as acting mayor until she is sworn in as county supervisor on Jan. 6. She will be replaced by the next council president, which is expected to be Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who then becomes acting mayor.
—END OF AN ERA—Sheng Thao ended her brief two-year run as Oakland mayor by casting the tie-breaking vote on two items before the city council on Tuesday night.
—In actuality, Thao’s vote was needed to gain a five-vote majority since Councilmembers Janani Ramachandran and Carroll Fife were absent from Tuesday’s final meeting of the year, and one no vote was cast on each item.
—Thao voted affirmatively on both agenda items, one to amend the city’s Just Cause ordinance, the other to amend Oakland’s Local And Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) Program.
ALAMEDA
—NEW TEAM—Alameda Councilmembers Michele Pryor and Greg Boller received the oath of office on Tuesday night.
—Pryor was named vice-mayor. Alameda traditionally selects the top vote-getter in its at-large election for the ceremonial moniker.
—“It’s an honor to serve the city that I love,” Pryor said,.
—Boller, who is an Alameda County prosecutor, said the city will require levels of collaboration rarely seen in order to improve Alameda. “We’re in a period of transition,” Boller said. “It’s an important time for the city.”
—The city said goodbye to Councilmembers Trish Herrera Spencer and Malia Vella, who is termed out of office after eight years.
—Although two years is a long time in politics, there’s a possibility that Spencer and Vella both run for mayor in 2026 when Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft is termed out.
—A quirk in Alameda’s city charter calls for the meeting to swear-in new councilmembers to be no later than 8 p.m. Farewell remarks for Spencer and Vella concluded just a minute before the deadline.
