Feinstein's passing changes electoral calculations
GOP opponent may paint Eric Swalwell as out-of-touch and living a 'bachelor's lifestyle;' County may raise fees after flood wall damage; What happened to the sheriff's pair of machine guns?
ELECTION 2024
FEINSTEIN APPOINTMENT
—LOCAL CHOICE—The passing of Sen. Dianne Feinstein last Friday received an outpouring of gratitude for her historic service the Bay Area and the nation.
—But it didn’t take long for campaigns jockeying to be her replacement to begin.
—Supporters of Rep. Barbara Lee reignited their desire for the East Bay progressive to be Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pick. But Newsom has already said he will not choose a candidate currently running in the U.S. Senate March Primary.
—{Update] On Sunday night, The New York Times reported that Newsom is expected to pick Laphonza Butler, the president of Emily’s List.
—One of the names bandied about over the weekend was BART Board Director Lateefah Simon.
—Simon is seeking to replace Lee in the East Bay’s 12th Congressional District and like other names being mentioned, there’s much to gain in the short-term, but possibly much more to lose in the long-term.
—For Simon, it would mean jettisoning her congressional campaign, which has raised $600,000, according to mid-year finance reports, for a historic seat in the U.S. Senate, albeit interim.
—However, if there’s a March Primary special election, and it does not work out for Simon, there’s a path back to elected offices in 2024.
—Simon’s BART Board seat is on the ballot in November 2024.
14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—PUSH POLL—In a bid to unseat Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell, Republican Vin Kruttiventi loaned his own campaign $250,000. In another sign that Kruttiventi is willing to actually spend the money, some voters in the 14th Congressional District received a push poll last week.
—The questions and assertions made in the online survey, suggest Kruttiventi intends to cast Swalwell as an attention hog who seeks celebrity rather than caring for his constituents.
—“Vin Kruttiventi isn’t prioritizing national soundbites that generate news but don’t impact our lives. Vin is running to reduce energy and water costs and find solutions to reduce inflation and crime,” said a description of Kruttiventi in the survey.
—Conversely, Swalwell, according to the survey, “lives a bachelor lifestyle” and “rarely returns home to California to experience the water and energy prices, rising crime, and other challenges we face daily.”
—“Eric Swalwell is more concerned about his TV appearances, building a national profile, and partying like a celebrity on your dime.”
—Whether or not the strategy of spotlighting Swalwell’s long-apparent desire to be a cable news talking head gathers some steam, it’s the first time someone has attempted to test whether there really is an undercurrent of disenchantment for Swalwell in the Tri-Valley, Hayward, and Fremont.
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—SECOND TRY—The committee seeking to recall state Sen. Aisha Wahab filed a second notice to intention last week.
—Last August, the “Committee to Support the Recall of Aisha Wahab” filed a notice of intention to recall the first-term state senator. This is the step before the process of gathering signatures begins.
—But the notice was rejected by the California Secretary of State’s office in August due to errors in their paperwork.
—The subject of the committee’s ire is Wahab’s legislation to ban caste-based discrimination in California. The bill, SB 403, passed the state Legislature last month and is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.
CITY NEWS
SAN LEANDRO
—TRASH TALK—San Leandro’s garbage contract comes before the city council tonight. It’s a big contract and it could affect the pocket books of San Leandro residents.
—The city is currently in renegotiations with ACI, the current garbage franchise-holder, and working on a Request for Proposal for a recycling provider.
—The next contract could be 10-15 years, according to the staff presentation. A new contract is expected to be awarded by the council in March 2024.
—San Leandro’s garbage contracts took on added scrutiny after Councilmember Bryan Azevedo was quite open about sharing his meetings with Oakland’s recycling provider on social media. The company, California Waste Solutions, also contributed to Azevedo’s mayoral campaign last year.
OAKLAND
—FOREVER OAKLAND—Greg “Godfather Griz” Jones, the founder of the 66th MOB, a non-profit that tied love of the Raiders with love of Oakland, is getting a corner near the Coliseum named in his honor.
—The Oakland City Council will “commemoratively” rename the corner of 66th Avenue and Coliseum Way as “Godfather Griz Jones Way” on Tuesday night. The resolution is offered by District 5 Councilmember Noel Gallo.
—Jones passed away in 2022. He was 52. MOB stands for “Make Oakland Better.”
COUNTY NEWS
FLOOD CONTROL
—AFTER THE WATER RECEDED—An especially wet winter last year (and the year before) revealed the county’s flood control infrastructure is in need of major upgrades.
—The Alameda County Flood Control & Water Conservation District is asking the Board of Supervisors to increase its assessment fees in order to fund upgrades in three zones (2, 4, and 9). They include San Leandro, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and parts of Hayward.
—Flooding last winter was particularly destructive in places like San Leandro where the homes near the San Lorenzo Creek and Estudillo Canal watershed were significantly impacted by failing retaining walls.
—The repairs to the wall at the Estudillo Canal have already begun at a cost of $1.4 million, according to a staff report.
—The district says some of the county’s infrastructure is 70 years old, along with up to $700 million in deferred maintenance. Assessment fees have not been increased since 1994, the district says, while construction costs have skyrocketed.
—Homeowners in the zones affected pay between $17.80 and $26.80 per year in taxes, totaling around $8 million annually to the county, half of which is alloted to design and construction, the district said.
—At last week’s Alameda County Board of Supervisors Transportation and Planning Committee meeting, the district sought to create an overlay district for the three zones.
—As a presentation by district notes, creating another line item on homeowners property tax may create confusion and anger some residents unaware they are being assessed an additional tax on top of existing fees for their zone.
ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE
—PRESSURE VALVE—A pilot program that hopes to divert “low-severity” 9-1-1 calls to a team that includes a nurse practitioner and a paramedic is expected to come before the Alameda County Board of Supervisors soon.
—The proposal offered by the Alameda County Fire Department was heard last week at a board committee. It hopes to take some pressure off police and firefighters already inundated with emergency calls
—Alameda County Fire officials are already working with San Leandro officials. San Leandro contracts its fire services with the county, and is willing to cover half of the pilot program’s costs, said Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nishimoto.
ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF
—ARMS CONTROL—The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office took some heat and ridicule last year when it was learned during an annual disclosure of its military arsenal that it possessed two Browning .50 caliber machine guns.
—A representative from the sheriff’s office told the Board of Supervisors last Thursday that the machine guns were destroyed in July.
Program note: The East Bay Insiders Newsletter is taking a break until Monday, Oct. 16. For subscribers, I will pause your accounts. The length of your current subscription will be extended 10 days. In the meantime, enjoy today’s newsletter and the latest episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast released later this morning. Thank you for your support! -steve