Kicking the can
County supervisors postpone sheriff’s oversight vote; Alameda to study district-based elections; San Leandro is cracking down on public safety nuisances; Oakland/County/A’s still not on the same page
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COUNTY NEWS
—GET OFF THE POT—Not much is getting done at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors as of late.
—On Tuesday, a much-anticipated ordinance to create a Sheriff’s Oversight Board and Office of the Inspector General was continued to the board’s April 30 meeting.
—There’s been quite a few cans being kicked down the road on Oak Street.
—Last week, the Board of Supervisors failed to take action on tenants protections for unincorporated Alameda County that has been vetted for more than two years.
—The issue of sheriff’s oversight has been on the table since 2020. Also, last week, the board punted on a evenly-worded statement on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
—BUDGET SEASON RETURNS—Alameda County supervisors will meet this morning for its first budget workshop session.
—An update on the state’s economic outlook will be received by Supervisors Keith Carson and David Haubert, along with an update on the county’s budget.
—Don’t expect any concrete numbers on the county’s specific budget shortfall. That’s always a state secret in Alameda County for some reason.
—But here’s some context: Last year’s budget shortfall was $54 million, which was actually a positive number.
—Based on Oakland’s current estimated shortfall based on declining Real Estate Transfer Taxes, this year’s countywide shortfall is probably higher than last.
—This particular tax is volatile and if it adversely affected Oakland, it likely did the same in high-priced bedroom communities in the Tri-Valley and Fremont.
—COLISEUM LEASE—For the foreseeable future will they be the Oakland A’s? Sacramento A’s? Salt Lake City A’s? No decision was made on Tuesday on a short-term lease for the A’s to play at the Oakland Coliseum for at least the next three seasons.
—Oakland officials revealed a three-year, $97 million proposal over the weekend. The A’s said the parties remain far apart, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
—However, Oakland and Alameda County officials did not show a united front in negotiations, according to a report.
—Part of the proposal includes the A’s selling the 50 percent interest in the Coliseum complex they purchased from the county.
—One telling comment by Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert to the Chronicle was questions about whether the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) has the cash to purchase the A’s half of the Coliseum complex.
—Oakland officials apparently believe in AASEG, but some members of the investment group have been involved in other questionably financed proposals, including one for a football stadium at the Coliseum that included NFL great Ronnie Lott.
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CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—INFIELD DIRT—The deal between the Oakland Ballers, a minor league team set to debut next month, and the city of Oakland was altered last week.
—The deal to remodel Raimondi Park calls for the Ballers to pay $1.6 million for infrastructure improvements in exchange for $570 in monthly rent.
—But a $250,000 professional services agreement was added to the deal at last week’s Oakland City Council Rules and Legislation Committee that calls for the team to remove a contaminated soils stockpile at 1707 Wood Street.
—Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife was added as sponsor for the legislation. The team plans to use the site for additional parking.
—The contract is slated to come before the council next week for approval of a first reading.
—Last week, Oakland Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas called for a special meeting on April 30 that will deal solely with approving a second and final reading of the Ballers contract.
ALAMEDA
—ELECTION REFORMS—Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft created a council sub-committee on Tuesday to study the possibility of district-based council elections, in addition to campaign finance reform.
—Councilmember Tony Daysog rebutted a refrain often heard that Alameda’s population is too small for district elections. Under the current five-member council, each would represent roughly 21,000 residents. “It’s not too small,” he said.
—Alameda has so far avoided any threat of litigation under the state’s voters rights act if the city did not switch from at-large to district-based elections.
—Waiting for a complaint letter makes no sense, said Councilmember Malia Vella, who added that district-based elections in Alameda are an eventuality
—The sub-committee will not study the feasibility of ranked choice voting. A citizen-led effort to place the ranked choice voting question on the November ballot failed to gain roughly 7,500 signatures before its deadline earlier this year.
—In an effort to attract a greater pool of candidates, the council added support for placing a $1,000 cap on the cost of ballot statements.
SAN LEANDRO
—BETTER LATE THAN NEVER—San Leandro, like many East Bay communities, has suffered from rampant catalytic converter thefts and sideshows for several years.
—The San Leandro City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved ordinances adding $1,000 fines and the threat of jail time to those in possession of stolen catalytic converters, in addition to criminalizing attendance at sideshows.
—Catalytic converter thefts, though, have fallen over the past year, as have the number of sideshows in San Leandro.
—Nevertheless, public safety and quality of life issues remain paramount in the minds of San Leandrans.
—“People are tired about what is going,” Mayor Juan Gonzalez III said.
—When it comes to the sideshows, interim San Leandro Police Chief Kevin Hart said the ordinance will be difficult to enforce, but nonetheless a useful tool for the police department.
—Alameda County, Oakland, and most recently, Hayward, approved sideshow ordinances.
—STATE OF THE CITY—Mayor Juan Gonzalez III will hold his second state of the city on April 23, he announced on Tuesday. Last year’s address lasted a soul-crushing one hour, 40 minutes.
ELECTION 2024
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - DISTRICT 5
—ENDORSEMENT—Alameda County District 5 supervisorial candidate Nikki Fortunato Bas received the endorsement of Ben Bartlett, one of her top opponents in the March Primary.
—“I trust Nikki to lead on the issues that impact us all,” said Bartlett, who finished third in last month’s election behind Bas and John Bauters.
NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION
—STATEMENT OF INTENT—Todd Andrew filed an intent to run for the open Berkeley City Council seat in District 5.
