San Leandro councilmember resigns after just one year in office

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San Leandro Councilmember Celina Reynes resigned on Thursday.

SAN LEANDRO

—DISTRICT ONE AND DONE—San Leandro Councilmember Celina Reynes resigned on Thursday after serving only one year in office.

—“Each individual deserves care, and our well-being necessitates it. To better serve my community, I must now take time to prioritize my own well-being and that of my newborn daughter,” Reynes said in a statement.

—“I hold nothing but the highest regard for the San Leandro community, which has been my family's home since my grandparents immigrated here nearly eighty years ago.”

—There had been speculation that Reynes was thinking about vacating her seat recently. In tandem, there is chatter that another San Leandro councilmember is also thinking about resigning.

—Last Monday’s city council meeting indicated that something was bothering Reynes. Following a combative public comment period that included activists demanding for a Gaza resolution, Reynes become very emotional while addressing the resolution.

—Reynes came into office last January with high hopes. I declared her a rising star in East Bay politics.

—Over the course of this year, however, it was clear that Reynes was struggling with the languid pace of movement concerning her pet project—bringing much-needed tenant protections to San Leandro.

—Without Reynes at the council dais, the odds that San Leandro renters will receive tenant protections anytime soon are now very low.

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