Lackluster state of the city
Alameda City Council denied lucrative lease to bioscience company because of animal testing; beleaguered Alameda County EMS provider gets a two-year extension
CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—STATE OF THE CITY—After a week in which Oakland surpassed 100 homicides this year, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao issued few stern rebukes on Tuesday afternoon to those committing violent and property crimes during her first state of the city address.
—As public safety has yet again become the city’s top issue amid a rise in violent crime, break-ins, and automobile threats, Thao did not use the state of the city to offer more aggressive tone toward those committing crimes, as San Francisco Mayor London Breed did earlier this year.
—“We are facing some of the most trying times in our history,” Thao said.
—However, Thao acknowledged the current rise in crime “feels different.”
—“A small group of people are causing the most harm in our communities,” Thao said.
—Thao proposed additional police officers, expanding citywide police foot patrols from six officers to 12, and deploying technology to combat crime.
—On Oakland inexplicably failing to apply for a $7 million state grant to fight retail theft, Thao took accountability for the blunder.
—“We missed an opportunity. As mayor, I own that. The buck stops with me,” she said.
—Thao suffered great criticism for the error last month and raised eyebrows when she appeared to publicly blame the new city administrator for the mistake.
—Overall, Thao’s state of the city offered few highlights. However, she ended the nearly hour-long address with a rousing defense of Oakland and a belief its residents will overcome the current state of affairs.
ALAMEDA
—MONKEY BIZ—The Alameda City Council turned away a proposed lease to a quickly-rising bioscience company with plans to occupy a publicly-owned building at Alameda Point.
—A majority of the five-member council voiced concerns about Science Corp. and its use of animal testing on primates, rabbits, and rodents.
—“This isn’t in line with where my values are at,” Alameda Councilmember Malia Vella said.
—“I’m not comfortable moving forward on this lease,” Vella added. She worried about the use of animal testing and comments made by Science Corp. CEO that if some types of animal testing are not done at the proposed location, they would occur elsewhere.
—Alameda Councilmember Tony Daysog said Science Corp. and its animal testing were inconsistent with the city’s policies for its animal shelter. “When it comes to a public facility, we have a commitment to no-kill,” he said.
—Science Corp. already does its work in Alameda, but was a seeking a larger site at Alameda Point, a 110,500 sq. ft. building on West Tower Avenue.
—The bioscience company is working on retinal prosthesis technology for the blind.
—The proposed lease was recommended for 10 years with a monthly rent of $121,617 a month.
—Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Councilmember Tracy Jensen expressed support for approving the lease. However, the lease required four vote of five votes for approval.
—“I want to be at a place where we don’t have to do any animal testing,” Ashcraft said, but added. “In Alameda, there’s room to do this. I feel there’s a place for this science.”
—Earlier in the discussion the CEO of Science Corp. Max Hodak said the company’s research cannot avoid animal testing because of requirements by the FDA.
—Hodak is a cofounder of Neuralink, the groundbreaking biotech company with ties to Elon Musk.
—After it became clear the lease would not be approved late Tuesday night, Hodak appeared angered by the development. He warned the city council’s decision will greatly hinder other biotech companies from moving to Alameda Point.
—Alameda City Manager Jennifer Ott underscored Hodak’s statement. “I agree, it will have an impact on our economic development at the base,” Ott said.
—UNORTHODOX MOVE—Emeryville Mayor John Bauters called into Tuesday night’s Alameda City Council meeting to oppose the Science Corp. lease at Alameda Point.
—Bauters said the company’s mission does not conform with “Bay Area values.”
—You rarely see a neighboring elected official weigh-in on another city’s issue, especially when it does not directly impact their own city’s interests.
—Perhaps in a bit of a tweak to Bauters, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft noted in her comments that Emeryville has a number bioscience companies and they likely conduct animal testing at those locations.
COUNTY NEWS
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—FALCK, MAN—Alameda County is stuck with Falck, its current emergency medical services vendor, for another two years.
—Falck’s five-year contract expired last summer. The underperforming EMS provider has been vexed by poor response times.
—But replacing an EMS provider is a lengthy process made worse by the state’s intransigence when its comes to approving the county’s Request For Proposal (RFP).
—State officials have not given county staff a timeline for the RFP review to be completed, said Colleen Chawla, director of the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency.
—New equipment, such as ambulances; hiring and training; and implementing new technologies, are among the factors that lengthen a transition to a new provider, Chawla told the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 3.
—“Two years, we’re hoping, gives us ample time to go through all of that process and make sure the next contract is up and running.”
—The new provider, when selected sometime in January 2025, the county hopes, will have a year to ramp up services, and may not fully take over until as late as July 2026.
ELECTION 2024
14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—ALL-IN—It remains to be seen whether Republican Vin Kruttiventi’s campaign against Rep. Eric Swalwell in the 14th Congressional District is a rich man’s vanity project, a bid to boost his gravitas within the Tri-Valley, tech world, or social community.
—Kruttiventi, a Pleasanton tech entrepreneur, raised eyebrows when he loaned his campaign $250,000 last summer. But we’ve seen wealthy individuals in longshot races do this in the past. More often than not, the money is not spent and defeat is certain.
—But Kruttiventi appears to be all-in. He hired out-of-state consultants, produced an excellent debut campaign video, and organized a top-flight kickoff event that reportedly included an open bar.
—About that lavish kickoff event at Pleasanton’s Castlewood Country Club last August. It cost the campaign $33,165, according to federal finance reports released on Monday. The outlay covered the venue, food and drink, photography and videography, and DJ.
—The biggest hint that Kruttiventi’s campaign is legit is that he’s registered a number of large individual donations during the third quarter reporting period.
—But while Swalwell may not be the most popular Democrat in Alameda County, he still holds strong support in a blue district, Kruttiventi’s efforts will likely only translate into a spot in the top two November 2024 General Election.
12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
—CROWDED HOUSE—The race to replace Rep. Barbara Lee is brimming with candidates.
—Twelve candidates have filed intent to run in the Mar. 5 primary, as of Tuesday.
—In addition, seven candidates have taken further steps toward qualifying for the ballot by pulling papers in recent weeks.
—This number doesn’t even include Lateefah Simon, the frontrunner in the 12th Congressional District primary, who has yet to pull papers, and Tim Sanchez, the next highest fundraiser in the race. The deadline to file is Dec. 8.
—Among the dozen prospective candidates, only two are Republicans—Ned Nuerge and Stephen Slauson, a perennial candidate in this congressional district and the region’s 18th Assembly District.
12th District Candidates (Oakland-Berkeley-Alameda-San Leandro)
🗄️Indicates candidate has pulled papers with Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
Tony Daysog-D, Alameda councilmember🗄️; Denard Ingram-D; John Marks-D; Ned Nuerge-R🗄️; Tim Sanchez-D, businessman; Abdur Sikdur-D🗄️; Lateefah Simon-D, BART board director; Stephen Slauson-R🗄️; Andre Todd-D🗄️; Jennifer Tran-D, university professor; Charlene Wang-D🗄️; Eric Wilson-D🗄️
—The enthusiasm among Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda candidates to run for state and federal office is clear.
—The open 7th State Senate District, which overlays the 12th Congressional District, has eight potential candidates planning to run in the March Primary.
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—NO ENDORSEMENT—In an up-for-grabs race like the open 7th State Senate race, it’s not surprising the City of Alameda Democratic Club members could not offer an endorsement.
—The SD7 Democrats, including frontrunners Jesse Arreguin and Kathryn Lybarger, met at a forum hosted by the club last week. The threshold for endorsement was 55 percent support, which none of the candidates reached, the club reported on Tuesday.