Primary stakes for tenants and landlords

Alameda seeks grant to stem sea level rise; Swalwell's GOP opponent has loaned campaign $500k; San Leandro to set parameters for council appointment; ALCO Sheriff seeking recruits at Giants fanfest

Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point.

COUNTY NEWS

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

—On the campaign trail, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley’s primary opponent has sharply criticized him for taking too long to enact legislation for a sheriff’s oversight board and inspector general’s office.

—Two weeks, Miley used a committee hearing on the subject to highlight circumstances out of his control, such as the pandemic, as reasons for the torpid pace of creating the oversight board valued by many police accountability activists in the county.

—Miley followed by asking county staff a pointed question about how long it will take for the county to hire a inspector general. “That’s what happens when you have a little experience,” Miley crowed.

—Touting his experience has been Miley’s main argument against challenger Jennifer Esteen, a candidate that has never held elected office.

—Esteen has also been critical of Miley and the Board of Supervisors for their reticence in enacting renters protections for tenants in the unincorporated areas.

—On Tuesday, county staff will bring back the disputed Just Cause ordinance that was voted down on second reading by the Board of Supervisors in January 2023. However, there appears to be little new ground broken on the issue.

Tenants advocates laid out demands and walked out of meeting with county supervisor, landlords

—Miley met twice with rental housing and tenants groups this fall. Neither meeting was particularly productive.

—It’s unclear if there;s any tangible new steps included in the latest presentation scheduled to be heard on Tuesday afternoon.

—But, like the discussion on sheriff’s oversight, expect Miley to use the agenda item on Tuesday to publicly lay out all he’s done for renters in unincorporated Alameda County.

—Going forward, here’s the stakes for tenants and landlords: Advocates for tenants have dug in their heels, calling for nothing less than Just Cause, while landlords are standing pat.

—There is likely no reason to expect any change in this stalemate until after the March 5 primary. Tenants are hoping an Esteen win will flip the board back to a slim 3-2 majority in favor of rent protections.

—In this scenario the possible votes in favor of renters protections would be Esteen, and Supervisors Keith Carson and Elisa Marquez. But this scenario is looking less certain as the months have gone by. There is a sense that Marquez is more cozy with landlords than first thought.

—If Miley wins re-election, tenants lose all leverage and will have to seek the best deal they can get with local landlords. It’s also possible that landlords will mimic the move tenant advocates made last August and simply walk from the negotiating table and seek the status quo in the unincorporated areas.

—FOREIGN AFFAIRS—Protesters demanding a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war have disrupted council meetings in Alameda County since November. But the furor has mostly skipped the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

—County supervisors, however, may be preparing for their arrival. On Tuesday, they will begin discussions about a potential board policy regarding international affairs. Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley has said he supports a ceasefire.

—COPS AND BONDS—The men and women in blue, or whatever color Alameda County sheriff’s deputies wear, are ditching the green and gold for the black and orange. Sorry for the color wheel.

—The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office will ask the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to approve a $6,000 payment for a booth and next month’s San Francisco Giants fanfest at Oracle Park.

—The sheriff’s office will use the outreach opportunity to recruit potential applicants for careers in law enforcement. But San Francisco may not be the best place to be scouting.

—As Giants fans well know, recruiting top-notch talent has been a problem in recent years for the boys across the bay.

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