Military equipment slow creep
San Leandro's police chief wants ability to act and answer questions later; Hayward has big plans for reaching carbon neutrality by 2045; Fremont's robust budget
CITY NEWS
SAN LEANDRO
—EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES—Over the past two weeks, many local city councils have reviewed their police department’s military equipment use policy, as mandated by AB 481, the groundbreaking state law that aims to bring greater public transparency to law enforcement’s use of weapons of war.
—This is the second year of the annual policy requirement and for the most part, local cities seem to have a better handle on what to expect.
—However, in San Leandro this week the city’s police chief pushed hard for greater autonomy when determining what types of military equipment he can use.
—The issue surrounds a new policy in San Leandro’s military equipment use policy that effectively gives Police Chief Abdul Pridgen the ability to use whatever tool he chooses if he deems a threat to be imminent. Pridgen would then have to explain his decision 30 days or so later to the City Council.
—“It sounds a lot like the War Powers Act, but like on a local level, which I don’t love,” said Councilmember Celina Reynes. “Do something and then ask permission later. Not crazy about that.”
—Prior to being elected to the San Leandro City Council last fall, Reynes was one of the driving forces that led to the creation of the city’s Community Police Review Board (CPRB).
—During a meeting last month, the CPRB offered Pridgen to either define “exigent circumstances” in the military equipment use policy or get rid of it altogether. “The board gave us an option: exclude or define. So we defined,” Pridgen told the council on Monday night.
—“If we have to wait 30 days or however long it takes to get on a council agenda when there’s an item that can help keep our community safe, it doesn’t make sense from an operational standpoint not to be able to do that,” Pridgen said.
—Alameda and Hayward also dealt with the issue of exigent circumstances, but both decided against its inclusion in their military equipment use policy.
—Reynes, who often flashed exasperation with Pridgen’s comments, said the police chief’s ask was contrary to the spirit of AB 481 and its intent to allow cities to place boundaries on the types of military equipment used by police.
—“I guess I can go either way,” Pridgen said of the choice to define or exclude the exigent circumstances clause, “because at the end of the day, I’m going to do what I think is best for the city, whether it’s there or not.”
—RIFLE REQUEST—Last year’s inaugural AB 481 discussion in San Leandro is also yielding positive results for the police department. It was disclosed last year that around 40 San Leandro police officers were using personally-owned rifles while on duty.
—So, this year, San Leandro Police Chief Abdul Pridgen is asking the council to approve the purchase of 40 patrol rifles. And also, how about throwing in five drones while you’re at it. Each drone cost $20,000, Pridgen said.
—It should be noted that Pridgen can get away with some of these moves because he is very well-liked not only among city officials, but also the public. Even the city’s most vociferous critics of law enforcement begrudgingly like and respect Pridgen.
HAYWARD
—CLEAN AND GREEN TEAM—Hayward has a 2030 goal of reducing its emission by 55 percent below 2005 levels. Hayward city officials also want to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. “This goal will not be easy to achieve,” said a staff report, and will require all hands on deck.
—But Hayward has been a local leader on environmental issues for some time, except, of course, for that natural gas-fired power plan on the shoreline.
—Fully electrifying all new buildings in Hayward, however, may not be an immediate area in which emission will be reduced.
—This week came reports that world famous chef Jose Andres’ plans for a restaurant in Palo Alto hit a standstill with local officials. Andres was adamant about using gas stoves. Palo Alto said no. Then on Thursday, they said yes.
—Hayward city officials are fully aware of the potential issues that some non-residential property owners have with all-electric buildings.
—“There was concern that there’s still some technology issues in terms of building new industrial buildings without natural gas, and also restaurants, said Erik Pearson, Hayward environmental services manager. “There’s still some questions about how cost-effective it is to build a restaurant that is all-electric,”
—Electrification is encouraged for non-residential buildings at this time, Pearson said, with a target for mandating all-electric by 2026.
—VIDEO CLIP— A moment of levity from Hayward Councilmember Angela Andrews.
—STRAW BAN COMING—Later this year, the Hayward City Council’s Sustainability Committee will likely begin discussions about a ban on single-use plastic utensils and plastic straws. Both issues are a bit passé, with most East Bay cities already doing so several years ago.
—Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, who has served 10 of the last 12 years on the City Council offered remarks last Tuesday about paper straws being much better for the environment, but neglected to mention why he and his colleagues over the years never passed an ordinance.
FREMONT
—BUDGET SEASON—Even with a proposed budget outlook in Fremont that takes into account a likely slow down of the economy, the city’s coffers are spilling over.
—Fremont’s revenues are projected to increase for several years, although not as robustly as the past two years, Fremont Finance Director David Persselin said on Tuesday.
—During the pandemic, Fremont lost $37.8 million in sales tax revenues, Persselin said. Pent-up demand and fattened bank accounts amassed during the pandemic has brought a steep increase in sales tax to Fremont.
—However, because sales tax receipts can be volatile, all the extra tax dollars may bring additional uncertainty to the city’s future budgets. But that’s a good problem to have.
—The budget proposal includes a one-time allocation of $7.5 million to its budget uncertainty reserve, now totaling $20 million. Altogether, Fremont’s reserves total $66. 4 million.
—“We’re definitely not planning for revenues to flatten or drop,” Persselin told the council. If so, the city will dip into the budget uncertainty fund. Under the proposal, 21 full-time positions will be added. Fremont has one of the lowest staffing levels per capita in Alameda County.
CONGRESS/LEGISLATURE
—WHAT A MESS—It’s become more and more difficult to discern whether the stories about Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the past day is reality or from the scripts of House of Cards or Scandal. Here goes:
—The New York Times reported on Thursday that Feinstein’s medical issues were more than shingles. The 89-year-old senator was also battling encephalitis, which can include swelling of the brain in some occasions.
—Earlier this week, Feinstein denied to a reporter that she had been gone from the capitol and had in fact been voting. Of course, this is not true and only heightened concerns about her mental acuity.
—In addition, Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s daughter has been keeping watch over Feinstein, the Times reported. Pelosi, you recall, has endorsed Rep. Adam Schiff to replace Feinstein next year.
—The inference here is that Pelosi may be attempting to keep Feinstein from resigning. That’s because Gov. Gavin Newson has already said he favors selecting a black women for the appointment. Top of the list is likely to be East Bay Rep. Barbara Lee, who is also a candidate for the seat.
—The Times also reported that Newsom had tried to contact Feinstein, but was rebuffed by her staff.
—STATE SENATE PASSES CASTE BILL—State Sen. Aisha Wahab’s legislation to ban discrimination based on the caste system sailed through the state Senate last week, 34-1.
—The bill heads for a vote in the Assembly. Last month, AB 403, created a maelstrom of public commentary from sides of the issue during a Senate Judiciary Committee. Similar to the senate floor vote, the Judiciary Committee moved the bill forward with a 7-1 vote.
—LET’S GET PHYSICAL—San Leandro Councilmember Bryan Azevedo on the city’s “physical year” budget.