Change was made uptown and Ed Reiskin left the band
Oakland city administrator resigns as the Thao administration readies its move into the mayor’s office
CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—NEW ORDER—Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin announced he is resigning, effective at the end of January just as the incoming Thao administration moves into the mayor’s office. Reiskin’s contract is due to end next month.
—“I have a deep love for this city and this organization, so this has not been an easy decision for me,” Reiskin said. “But the timeline of my agreement necessitated that I plan forward, while at the same time providing the new mayor an opportunity to engage in her own process to select a new leader for the organization over which she will preside.”
—Reiskin replaced Sabrina Landreth, now the general manager at the East Bay Park and Recreation District, during the early months of the pandemic in May 2020. Prior to that, Reiskin served eight years as head of the San Francisco MUNI.
—“Though I will be leaving this position come February, my heart will always be here, and I will be always rooting for Oakland’s continued success,” Reiskin said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
—The writing was on the wall at City Hall after Sheng Thao pulled off the come-from-behind win last month over Loren Taylor in the mayor’s race. Progressives, many who backed Thao’s candidacy, often had issues with Reiskin’s leadership. One name bandied about last month to replace Reiskin is noted Oakland civil rights attorney Dan Siegel.
—MORE ELECTION CONSEQUENCES— Oakand Mayor-elect Sheng Thao further flexed her new legislative powers on Tuesday.
—Thao pulled a number of appointment to boards and commissions recommended by outgoing Mayor Libby Schaaf, effectively blocking them from consideration.
—Thao said she wants to vet each recommended appointee. Holding off until she is sworn-in doesn’t mean some will not be appointed in the near future, she added.
—But not filling some of the pending appointments could create logistical problems, specifically maintaining quorums on some boards and commissions, city officials warned.
—Oakland City Administrator Ed Reiskin interjected that the city’s rent review board has not held a quorum of its current members over the past few months. He added that any appeals by renters may have to be push forward if the board’s open seats are not filled promptly. The rent board’s next meeting is Jan. 12.
—CITY MANAGER MERRY-GO-ROUND— The upcoming New Year is always a good time for starting with a new slate on the job front. Keep an eye on some city managers in Alameda County over the next month or so.
—We already saw Alameda pluck Jennifer Ott back from Hayward to become its next city manager. But that position has been open for awhile.
—Oakland is now looking for a new city administrator and I’m hearing some rumblings about city managers in some other East Bay cities. That could be problematic.
—The city manager hiring process is time-consuming. If a city manager leaves, the potential disruption at City Hall could last until next fall.
—Furthermore, the road ahead for 2023 is fraught with big issues, including the possibility of an economic downturn and the response to a predicted wave of evictions following the end of the state of emergency decree at the end of February.
HAYWARD
WAHAB’S RESIGNATION New State Sen. Aisha Wahab resigned her Hayward City Council seat on Dec. 4, said Michael Lawson, Hayward’s city attorney.
—Wahab took the oath of office in Sacramento the next day. Wahab is the first Hayward elected official to rise to the state Legislature since Michael Sweeneyserved in the State Senate in nearly two decades. Sweeney returned to Hayward and served two terms as mayor.
—Wahab will make one last appearance at the swearing-in next Tuesday of the incoming new council members.
—Later, now former State Sen. Bob Wieckowski was feted by the Hayward City Council on Tuesday night with a proclamation for her service to the city and district.
COUNTY NEWS
—VALLE’S HEALTH—Yesterday’s Alameda County Board of Supervisors meeting did not turn out as rental housing advocates would have hoped. But the trio of rental housing ordinances, including one for just cause protections will live another day, at least until the next meeting on Dec. 20.
—But it could have been worse. Supervisor Richard Valle was not expected to attend Tuesday afternoon’s meeting. Supervisor Keith Carson alluded to the fact during the meeting, but like Wes Unseld hobbling to the court during the 1970 NBA Finals, Valle triumphantly joined the meeting via Zoom.
—However, it’s becoming clear that Valle’s health is becoming more of an issue. Valle never turned on his video during the meeting and his voice was noticeable weak and thin. He often starting sentences by repeatedly clearing his throat, but he appeared as engaged with the meeting as ever. I reported last summer that Valle was fighting a bout with cancer.
—This makes the lawsuit questioning Supervisor Dave Brown’s appointment last year even more pressing. Regardless of your take on the Brown issue, an opinion by the state Attorney General’s office, nonetheless, urged the Board of Supervisors to remove ambiguities in its municipal code involving board appointments. Specifically, about residency and if an appointee is viewed as also being elected.
—Remember, Valle just won re-election to his Tri-Cities and Hayward board seat last June, and there is a possibility that Valle gives up his seat within the next four years.
