The coarsening of our local discourse

From Fremont, Livermore, San Leandro to Alameda, the level of acrimony at the council dais and public lectern is reaching worrisome levels

Newly appointed Fremont Councilmember Kathy Kimberlin on Tuesday night.

CITY NEWS

FREMONT

—RUDE WELCOME—Kathy Kimberlin was appointed to the Fremont City Council’s District 3 seat on Tuesday night. She replaces Jenny Kassan, who resigned on Aug. 22, although her departure was not effective until a successor was named.

—“City councilmembers don’t have a magic wand to eliminate homelessness, traffic, and crime,” Kimberlin said. “It’s not so easy to make change if we don’t work together.” She also condemned “toxic tribalism” in politics during her interview.

—The latter message was ignored by Kassan, who delivered to Kimberlin an astoundingly bitter line of questioning that asserted Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert lacks integrity and ethics. Kimberlin works in Haubert’s supervisorial office.

—“I have nothing against Ms. Kimberlin,” Kassan said, “but I have concerns about someone willing to work for such a person.”

—Haubert defeated Kassan’s husband, Vinnie Bacon, in the 2020 race for county supervisor. Kimberlin finished second to Kassan in the 2020 race for the District 3 council seat.

—Two councilmembers overtly and passively took shots at Kassan after her comments about Haubert.

—Councilmember Yang Shao reiterated a previous accusation that Kassan has violated the council’s handbook by using a personal laptop to communicate with others during its meetings. Shao alleged Kassan was doing so during Tuesday night’s meeting.

—Councilmember Raj Salwan, who is running for mayor this fall against Bacon, asked Kimberlin if she will show up to committee meetings, if appointed by the mayor, and attend community events. Kassan is known to do neither on a consistent basis.

—Kassan was the lone vote in opposition to Kimberlin’s appointment. After the vote, Kassan gathered her things and left the chambers.

—Only Fremont Mayor Lily Mei and Councilmember Desrie Campbell made conciliatory comments about Kassan’s service on the council.

LIVERMORE

—BOILING POINT—Livermore’s city attorney publicly counseled a resident who twice labeled the mayor a rapist on Monday night to choose his words carefully.

—The public comment by Livermore City Attorney Jason Alcala is unusual, but highlights the increasingly bitter war of words between the resident and Mayor John Marchand witnessed at the Livermore City Council chambers in recent months.

—David McGuigan has routinely disparaged Marchand’s character, calling him a liar and cheat, while asserting without evidence that the mayor covered up wrongdoing by a Livermore police officer.

—In June, Marchand, clearly fed up with McGuigan’s commentary, called him an “admitted drunk driver.” The comment appears to have kicked McGuigan’s rhetoric to another level.

—On Monday, McGuigan ended his public comment by calling the mayor, “Johnny ‘The Rapist’ Marchand.”

—When McGuigan returned to speak on another item, he repeated the moniker. “Excuse me! Point of order!” Marchand exclaimed. “I’m being accused of criminal activity. I’m sorry. I’m not going to abide by that. This is not freedom of speech. This is slander.”

—Marchand deferred to Alcala, who said McGuigan is “treading into dangerous area.”

—“He has been very careful about how he has chosen his words in the past, but now has crossed the line and called the mayor a rapist directly,” Alcala said. “I encourage you to choose your words carefully as you move forward,” he told McGuigan.

—McGuigan, undeterred, he said the description of Marchand “was an appropriate salutation.”

Throw down in the 'Dro town

ALAMEDA

—FOOD BANK INSECURITY—The proposed new home of the Alameda Food Bank is at risk after an Alameda Point business owner and a local resident filed an intent to challenge approval of the project under the California Environmental Quality Act.

—The Alameda Food Bank is planning to move from its current location on West Ranger Avenue at Alameda Point to a new 10,000 square foot building across the street. Last year, the Alameda Food Bank distributed more than 2 million pounds of food.

—Tod Hickman, the owner of Building 43, a winery down the street from the food bank, and Shelby Sheehan, an Alameda resident, gave the city notice on Aug. 19 of their intent to file a petition to challenge the Alameda Planning Board’s decision in July to approve the project’s design review.

—The Alameda City Council and Planning Board approved the project earlier this year.

—The notice of intent alleges violations of the Brown Act, the state’s government transparency law; and non-compliance with various regulations, including standards for rehabbing historic properties.

—Teale Harden, the Alameda Food Bank’s executive director, worries a potential lawsuit will hamper its ability to fundraise and begin construction.

—“Any delay in our work would disrupt our services and negatively impact the quality of service we provide to our clients and the community,” Harden told Alameda councilmembers. 

—In addition, any CEQA complaint will delay the food bank’s departure from its current location, which the city hopes to place on the market, she said.

—FOOD FOR FOUGHT—Hickman and Sheehan have become notable regulars at Alameda City Council meetings in recent months for a host of complaints against the city and certain councilmembers.

—Earlier this month, Hickman was allowed to repeatedly post on the council chamber’s overhead a nearly decade-old photo of Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft then a councilmember, with Andy Duong, an owner of California Waste Solutions, the Oakland recycler that was raided by the FBI in June.

—Hickman’s rhetoric at council meeting has increasingly become aggressive. He often calls Ashcraft “not smart” during public comment periods.

—The city is currently in negotiations with Hickman over his lease at Building 43, according to closed session council agendas.

ELECTION 2024

55 days to Election Day

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

—💰MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on Sept. 10:

ALAMEDA COUNTY

BART BOARD OF DIRECTORS

—Melissa Hernandez (District 5), Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Small Contributor Committee, $2,500. TOTAL: $2,500.

—Victor Flores (District 7), Northern California Carpenters Regional Council Small Contributor Committee, $1,500. TOTAL: $1,500.

CHABOT-LAS POSITAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

—Hector Garcia (Area 1), Joan Sieber of Castro Valley, $4,000. TOTAL: $4,000.

EAST BAY MUD

—Jim Oddie (District 5), Jim Oddie of Alameda, $3,000; Variphy, Inc., $1,000. TOTAL: $4,000.

CITIES

FREMONT

—Support Fremont Schools (Supporting Measure M bond measure), Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Local Union No. 104 Issues Committee, $3,000. TOTAL: $3,000.

OAKLAND

—Rowena Brown (Oakland City Council-At-large), Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 104 PAC, $1,200. TOTAL: $1,200.

PLEASANTON

—Jack Balch (Pleasanton Mayor), Northern California Carpenters Regional Council POWER PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $1,000.

STATE LEGISLATURE

STATE SENATE

—Jesse Arreguin (7th Senate District), California Hospital Association PAC, $2,500; Sims Metal Management, $1,000; DailyPay, Inc., $1,000; International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 8 PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $5,500.

—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), Operating Engineers Local Union 3 Statewide PAC, $5,500; Ford Motor Company Civic Action Fund, $3,000; United Parcel Service Inc. PAC, $1,500; DailyPay, Inc., $1,000; American Chemistry Council, $1,000. TOTAL: $12,000.

—Jerry McNerney (5th Senate District), California Hospital Association PAC, $1,500; Charter Public Schools PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $2,500.

STATE ASSEMBLY

—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), AT&T Services Inc. and its Affiliates, $2,500; California Manufactured Housing Institute PAC, $1,500. TOTAL: $4,000.

—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), Amazon.com Services, LLC, $3,000; D.R.I.V.E. - Dem, Rep, Ind Voter Ed (The PAC of the Int'l Brhd of Teamsters), $1,500. TOTAL: $4,500.

—Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (16th Assembly District), Amazon.com Services LLC, $5,000; California Credit Union League PAC, $3,000. TOTAL: $8,000.

CANDIDATE FORUMS

—City of Alameda Democratic Club: Alameda City Council candidates, BART Director-Dist. 7, EBMUD Director-Ward 5, East Bay Regional Park District Director-Ward 4; Wednesday, 6 p.m.; 1303 High Street, Alameda. ZOOM.

—League of Women Voters Eden Area: San Leandro City Council-District 2; Thursday, 5:30 p.m. ZOOM.

—Forum on Seniors Issues: Alameda County District 5 Supervisors; Wednesday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m., St. Mary's Center, 945 Brockhurst Street, Oakland.