The Daily Review wrote a good summary of the Tuesday night City Council meeting on the plans to ban recreation and entertainment in the industrial area of San Leandro. At the meeting, Meyers Nave attorney Deborah Fox was forced to admit that the real reason behind the proposed ban was one of legal strategy in the Faith Fellowship case. Fox is the attorney that represented that unsuccessfully represented the City before the 9th Circuit in this case. The City had prohibited the Faith Fellowship church from opening a Church in the industrial area of town in violation of federal law.
I will write more myself about the revelations at the meeting , but what became very, very clear is that the staff (presumably by order of the city’s attorneys) lied to the Planning Commission and the community about the real reasons for the change. I find that completely outrageous. It also appears that the City Council was fully aware that the zoning change was part of the legal strategy in the Faith Fellowship case, presumably they were briefed during the numerous closed sessions they’ve held on this case. However, per the Brown Act all discussions about public policy have to take place in open session. It would appear that once again they flouted the law.
San Leandro City Staff lied? You’ve got to be kidding. Seriously people, the city staff is the bath water that needs to get thrown out before they drown this baby. They are dirty, ubiquitous, and I think the council and even the Mayor is afraid of them.