Fremont bans homeless encampments
Fremont follows Berkeley is strengthening encampment bans; First glimpse of intra-council problems in Dublin; Oakland balances budget, Why picking Kaplan to replace Bas is a curious idea
CITY NEWS
FREMONT
—CAMPING BAN—Fremont approved a ban on camping and the storage of personal belongings by unhoused individuals on Tuesday.
—The ordinance also gives the city greater ability to shut down and clear existing encampments.
—Non-compliance with the ordinance could be punishable as a misdemeanor, in addition to fines.
—The move follows the Grants Pass ruling issued last summer by the U.S. Supreme Court that allows municipalities to enforce bans on public camping even if shelter is not available.
—Camping is already on the books in Fremont in some situations, such as in public parks and private properties, which constitutes trespassing, said Allen DeMers, Fremont’s deputy city manager.
—The ordinance will not necessarily reduce the number of homeless people in Fremont, which is estimated to be 800. Instead, DeMers said, creating more housing units would alleviate the problem.
—Nevertheless, growing concerns about homelessness in Fremont has become a major quality of life concern.
—“Being homeless is not a crime and this proposed camping ban is not criminalizing homeless people,” Fremont Councilmember Yang Shao said. “However, being homeless does not mean that person is above the law and can do whatever he wants.”
—Since enforcement is complaint-based, Councilmember Desrie Campbell said she worried the ordinance will be used in a discriminatory manner.
—“I just have very, very, very mixed feelings about this,” she said, noting that one of her children was once unhoused. “I feel like we need to do something, but I’m not sure this is it.”
—The ordinance was approved, 4-2, with Councilmembers Kathy Kimberlin and Campbell voting no. Councilmember Teresa Keng was absent.
—If Fremont’s camping ban is finalized by the council next month, it would come into effect sometime in February.
—In Alameda County, homelessness in Oakland and Berkeley gets quite a bit of attention. The issue in Fremont has persisted somewhat under the radar in the greater public consciousness.
—In September, the Berkeley City Council approved a somewhat similar ordinance giving city staff greater authority to clear homeless encampments.
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DUBLIN
—JOSEY’S ON A VACATION FAR AWAY—Decorum has been lacking at several Alameda County cities over the past two weeks when it comes to the peaceful transfer of power.
—In typically staid Dublin, the first glimpse of potential problems appeared between new Mayor Sherry Hu and the person she defeated last month, Councilmember Jean Josey.
—Not long after Hu was sworn in on Tuesday night, Josey voiced qualms with some of the new mayor’s picks for city boards and commissions.
—Josey specifically questioned Hu’s picks for the Planning Commission, in addition to protestations about other current commissioners seeking reappointment for a second term being left off the list.
—Later, Josey registered issues with a few of Hu’s choices for council appointments, specifically, to the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA).
—The series of objections could potentially undermine Hu’s ability to govern. Local mayors do not possess sweeping powers.
—They serve as the city’s spokesperson and chair council meetings. However, one of the few real powers they possess is ability to select city commissioners.
OAKLAND
—BUDGET CUT—The plan to balance Oakland’s $129 million budget shortfall was approved by the City Council on Tuesday night.
—The move, however, means drastic budget cuts are coming to public safety departments, including the temporary closures of two fire stations.
—In addition, $25 million in overtime will be cut from the police department, placing additional stress on already short staffed police.
—The council’s move may only be a stopgap. Oakland’s structural deficit is likely to create similar shortfalls next years.
—SURPRISING MOVE—Acting Oakland Mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas’ call on Tuesday night for now former Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan to replace her in District 2 on an interim basis was a surprising turn of events. The pick is also curious in light of the FBI raids last June.
—We will soon learn why the FBI raided the home of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, and the residences and offices belonging to California Waste Solutions, the city’s recycling franchisee.
—While we don’t know if Kaplan is part of the investigation, we do know that three of her former staff members are potentially persons of interest, according to a subpoena sent to the city—Thao, her boyfriend Andre Jones, and Julie Wedge.
—If indictments are handed down soon, the selection of Kaplan as interim District 2 councilmembers will insert turmoil from the investigation inside the council chambers.
—STRENGTH AND STABILITY—On the latest episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast, co-host Shawn Wilson and myself discussed Oakland’s upcoming mayoral special election and who could standout.
—Wilson believes a successful candidate needs to show strength and stability. But, I worry that Loren Taylor, one of the candidates, will be hampered by supporters of Sheng Thao who seek retribution for her recall from office.
—Below is a transcript from our conversation:
SHAWN WILSON: You need to be a leader… You need to be the face of Oakland. So you have to be able to stand in front of people and make the residents of Oakland feel like you know what you're doing.
I think Loren [Taylor] could be that guy. Definitely, for sure. Without a doubt.
Ignacio [De La Fuente] would just get it done. I mean, Barbara Lee knows how to do a bunch of stuff. You have to be a delegator. You need some serious guns to come in there.
I commend everyone who wants to do that job. You want to do that job, man, go and knock yourself out. That's one hell of a job to take.
STEVE TAVARES: I think I agree that Loren Taylor is the guy, but here's my nagging feeling about it. He's the guy that the other side—the people that are for Sheng Thao—are not going to allow to succeed. They won't allow it. It's none of his fault.
I just think there's going to be this feeling of payback. We're going to make him the guy who we take out because they took out our person. That's my nagging feeling.
So you go, who's the one that can unite both sides? Well, the obvious one is Barbara Lee. And I'll tell you something right now. What has Barbara Lee done for me or you or anybody? Not much. Let's be real. She had her one greatest hit and everybody knows that song, and her song, her A-Ha, her “Take On Me” song was the [Iraq] war.
COUNTY NEWS
ELECTION COMMISSION
—ELECTION AUTOPSY—Many of the criticisms raised by election accountability activists against Alameda County Registrar Tim Dupuis on Tuesday will be discussed at the county’s Elections Commission this afternoon.
—The commission ends its first year of existence on the topic that led to its creation, oversight of the county registrar.
—An assessment of Dupuis’ performance during the past election cycle may receive a thumbs-up from the commission that would detail his successes and failures.
—Although nothing catastrophic has emerged from Dupuis’ handing of the election this year, some issues emerged, along with others that are longstanding.
—Among the “controversies and criticisms” that the commission may highlight in a report possibly due sometime in February:
Late arriving or missing Voter Information Guides that appeared centered in Berkeley.
Struggles for registrar to approve timely release of Cast Vote Records.
Languid pace of vote-counting—a persistent problem under Dupuis.
Concerns about the publics ability to visually observed the vote-counting process.
Oakland at-large council candidates who registered a complaint about the placement of their names on electronic voting devices.