San Leandro mayor blames residents for failing streets

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San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez III wants to tackle the city’s chronically failing streets, but an infrastructure bond may be too heavy of a lift at the ballot box.

CITY NEWS

SAN LEANDRO

—BLAME GAME—The condition of San Leandro’s streets are second-worst in Alameda County. It’s been the case for most of this century, despite numerous tax measures intended to remedy its declining roads.

—Who is to blame for the city’s failing streets?

—San Leandro Mayor Juan Gonzalez III said it resides with himself, but most surprisingly, with San Leandro residents.

—“We’ve let that happen in our city and people say, whose fault is that? Well, you know, I’m going to say, ‘It’s my fault.’ I’ve been a resident in the city for 30 years and I didn’t hold my electeds accountable.”

—He added, “For all the property owners that have been here for 50 years investing in the city, whose fault is it? It’s your fault. Now, we’re the second-worst in the entire county.”

—Gonzalez has been hinting since last year that an infrastructure bond measure will go far in tackling a large backlog of the city’s maintenance projects, including roads.

—A recent survey showed the city’s appetite for approving a general obligation bond this year is not likely to surpass the two-thirds majority needed for passage.

—Blaming residents for the city’s budgeting issues isn’t likely to help any revenue-generating ballot measures from passing, be it a bond, or the Utility Users Tax measure likely to come before voters in November.

—Gonzalez’s comments at Monday’s council meeting also included yet another jab at his council predecessors. He asserted a long line of past councils failed to keep up with maintenance of the city’s infrastructure.

—“We have not investing in infrastructure in the city for many, many years. That is simply undeniable,” Gonzalez said. He made the same assertion last fall and during last year’s state of the city address.

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