Landlord wants Alameda County housing director ‘written up’
FREE FRIDAY! Housing director cautioned against supervisor recording video for landlords; Oakland mayor on A's selling; Campaign finance data for April and debut of the 2024 East Bay Candidate List
COUNTY NEWS
RENTAL HOUSING
—An unincorporated Alameda County landlord wants the county’s housing director “written up” for disobeying the Board of Supervisors’ directive to include the California Apartment Association and Bay East Association of Realtors in discussions for wrapping up the county’s eviction moratorium.
—Landlord Tom Silva, well-known to the political establishments in San Leandro and the unincorporated areas, said, despite direction last November and earlier this year from county supervisors to include landlord groups in discussions, Alameda County Housing Director Michelle Starratt took a “deliberate course of action to keep us away from the table.”
—Silva said he’s serious about getting Starratt written up. He sent a letter this week to Starratt’s boss, Alameda County Community Development Director Sandra Rivera, asking her to “investigate and adjudicate our complaint as per the Alameda County Civil Servant Disciplinary procedures.”
—In hindsight, there were hints at last Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting that something was amiss during interactions between Starratt and Supervisors David Haubert and Lena Tam. During the meeting, they urged Starratt to include both landlords groups in further conversations.
—According to emails between Starratt and a local representative of the California Apartment Association, and county staff, she resisted inclusion of the groups, highlighting they are essentially special interests groups supporting property owners.
—A video created by the California Apartment Association intending to help local residents navigate the end of the county’s eviction moratorium, and featuring Supervisor Tam, was a point of contention, according to the emails.
—Among some insiders in San Leandro and San Lorenzo, the video elicited some level of scorn, largely because Tam voted to roll back renters’ protections for unincorporated residents last January.
—Starratt opposed the short video, according to emails. She believed the video oversimplified renters’ post-moratorium rights, in addition, to some “misleading statements” that could make it less likely renters will seek assistance from the county.
—She also had issues with Tam appearing in the landlords’ video. “I would be concerned that the Supervisor is directing tenants away from the existing tenant support infrastructure to a landlord advocacy organization which prioritizes landlord needs and perspective over over tenants interests through her recorded video message.”
—In another email, Starratt resisted efforts from Tam’s office to meet with the California Apartment Association. Instead, she offered an underling to meet with them.
CITY NEWS
OAKLAND
—UPROOTED IN OAKLAND—A week after the devastating news of a possible relocation of the A’s to Las Vegas, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao made the rounds on local television.
—However, it was Thao’s interview with KRON that was the most illuminating. Thao was asked about speculation that A’s ownership’s recent moves are merely to increase the value of the franchise in order to sell.
—“It wouldn’t be shocking, if I’m being honest. It wouldn’t be shocking if that’s the play. However, if that is the play, they overplayed their hand this time,” Thao said.
—Thao reiterated to KRON and other outlets that she would be receptive to resuming negotiations with the A’s. “The ball is in their court,” she said.
—COLISEUM PROTEST—Tonight’s game is the first game at Coliseum since news of the A’s land deal in Las Vegas. Fans have organized a protest of the potential move at the Coliseum BART ramp, starting at 5 p.m.
—A so-called “reverse protest” in still scheduled for the June 13 game. Organizers hope to pack the stands in an effort to show the problem in Oakland is not fans, but terrible ownership.
ALAMEDA
—SAME MOLD STORY—Alameda has a quite stringent rent stabilization ordinance on its books, but an exemption for capital improvement pass-throughs could result in $300 monthly fees for up to 450 tenants at the Shore Shore Apartments.
—Alameda renters advocates say the corporate-owned landlord has failed with upkeep of the apartment complex, resulting in the dangerous presence of mold in some units.
—The building’s owners recently slapped a coat of paint on units and remodeled tennis courts. The entire capital improvement project is estimated by renters’ groups to cost $24 million.
—Alameda’s Rent Program is holding a community meeting about the South Shore Apartment’s proposal on Monday at City Hall.
—The simmering controversy, amid the end of the eviction moratorium and rising rents, could rejuvenate Alameda rental housing advocates who worked tirelessly to pass a number of rent protections over the past 7-8 years, but have since appeared to have lost some of its past vigor.
ELECTION 2024
—CAMPAIGN FINANCE DATA—Below is Form 497 campaign contributions ($1,000 or more) filed Apr. 12 through April 27.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Jesse Arreguin (7th Senate District), Western States Council of Sheet Meal Workers Political Action Committee, $10,900 (Apr. 20)’ Williams Robbins of San Rafael, $5,000 (Apr. 12); U.A. Local 342 P.A.C., $5,500 (Apr. 7); Berkeley Auto Group, LLC, $5,500 (Mar. 30); Sprinkler Fitters Local 483 Legislative PAC, $5,500 (Mar. 29).
—Sandre Swanson (7th Senate District), Victoria Gallagher of Oakland, $5,500; Elizabeth Gallagher of Lafayette, $5,000; Raymond Gallagher of Walnut Creek, $5,000 (Apr. 10).
—Dan Kalb (7th Senate District), Melvyn Mark of El Cajon, $5,500 (Apr. 21).
SD7 PUBLICLY REPORTED CONTRIBUTIONS
Jesse Arreguin $64,900
Kathryn Lybarger $41,300
Sandre Swanson $26,500
Dan Kalb $5,500
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), William Crotinger of Emeryville, $5,500 (Mar. 26); San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, $5,500 (Apr. 19); California State Association of Electrical Workers Small Contributor Committee, $5,000 (Apr. 20).
—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), California State Association of Electrical Workers Small Contributor Committee, $5,000 (Apr. 20).
—Alex Lee (24th Assembly District), LGBT Leadership Caucus Fund, $5,500 (Apr. 21).
—MARCH PRIMARY—Primary Day is just around the corner. Normally, Primary Day is in June, but since next year is a presidential election year, the primary in California is Mar. 5. Four years ago, voter participation in Alameda County was a sizable 51 percent.
—Next March the big races will likely be contests for Oakland’s 12th Congressional District, the 7th State Senate District, and the U.S. Senate race that includes the East Bay’s Barbara Lee. In addition, four of the five county supervisors will be on the ballot.
—Below is the current candidate list. You can find daily updates to the list on the East Bay Insiders homepage from today through Election Day.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Board of Supervisors - 1st District (Dublin-Livermore-Sunol-Fremont)
*David Haubert, supervisor
Board of Supervisors - 2nd District (Hayward-Union City-Newark-Fremont)
Ariana Casanova, labor leader
Elisa Marquez, appointed supervisor
Board of Supervisors - 4th District (East Oakland-Castro Valley-Pleasanton)
Jennifer Esteen, RN
*Nate Miley, supervisor
Board of Supervisors - 5th District (Berkeley-Oakland-Emeryville-Albany)
*Keith Carson, supervisor
Board of Education - Area 2
*Angela Normand, trustee
Board of Supervisors - Area 5
*Janevette Cole, trustee
STATE SENATE
5th District (San Joaquin County-Livermore-Dublin-Pleasanton-Sunol)
Rhodesia Ransom-D, former Tracy councilmember
Edith Villapudua-D
7th District (Berkeley-Richmond-Oakland-Alameda)
Jesse Arreguin-D, Berkeley mayor
Jovanka Beckles-D, AC Transit board director
Dan Kalb-D, Oakland councilmember
Kathryn Lybarger-D, AFSCME Local 3299 president
Uche Uwahemu-D, Richmond board commissioner
9th District (Contra Costa County-San Leandro-Castro Valley-San Lorenzo)
*Steve Glazer-D, state senator
ASSEMBLY
14th District (Richmond-Piedmont-North Oakland-Berkeley)
*Buffy Wicks-D, assemblymember
16th District (Lamorinda-Walnut Creek-Pleasanton-Livermore-Sunol)
*Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, assemblymember
18th District (Oakland-Alameda-Berkeley)
*Mia Bonta-D, assemblymember
Mindy Pechenuk-R
20th District (San Leandro-Hayward-Dublin)
*Liz Ortega-D, assemblymember
25th District (Fremont-Milpitas-San Jose)
*Alex Lee-D, assemblymember
U.S. SENATE
Barbara Lee-D, CA-12 congressmember
Katie Porter-D, CA-47 congressmember
Adam Schiff-D, CA-30 congressmember
CONGRESS
10th District (Concord-Brentwood-Walnut Creek-San Ramon-Dublin)
*Mark DeSaulnier-D, congressmember
12th District (Oakland-Berkeley-Alameda-San Leandro)
Tony Daysog-D, Alameda councilmember
Tim Sanchez-D, businessman
Lateefah Simon-D, BART board director
14th District (Tri-Valley-Hayward-Tri-Cities)
*Eric Swalwell-D, congressmember
17th District (Fremont-Milpitas-San Jose-Santa Clara)
*Ro Khanna-D, congressmember
