San Leandro Talk is a new blog for sharing news and information about what’s going on in the city of San Leandro, California as well as matters that concern San Leandro residents as a whole. It’s a place where we can have serious and adult conversations while building community. I (Marga, more about me below) am starting this place because I think there is a real need for a place where San Leandro citizens can virtually meet to learn what’s going on in town and discuss the future of this town, and because the existing media shows little inclination to dig below the surface of what’s happening in town. I am starting this blog myself, but I’m hoping other San Leandro residents will join me in leading the conversation.
The rules for this blog are pretty simple. I expect everyone to treat everyone else with respect, but I define that broadly. If you’re easily offended by people’s language or opinions, this is not the place for you. Your first comment to the blog will be moderated, subsequent comments will not. Please don’t post anonymously unless you are in a situation where your comments would jeopardize your job (e.g. you are a school or city employee talking about those entities).
As for me, I’m in my 40’s, I’m married to Mike Katz-Lacabe (editor of San Leandro Bytes and member of the SL School Board) and we have two little girls that attend Roosevelt Elementary. I have lived in San Leandro for 11 years. My personal website is at Marga.org. I was a founding member of the San Leandro Community Action Network, I’m currently a member of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee ad I have worked on several campaigns for local office. I’m quite liberal 🙂
Marga, your present internet security certificate does not allow for comments to your blog, you may want to consider updating them.
I am astounded by your recommendation and support for Jeff Smith the Frugal Gourmet. He was outed as a child abuser in 1997. Though you may find there is value to his work, I cannot see the support to his estate and his copyright. I believe he should be treated as a pariah.
If you are unfamiliar with the facts on him, this is a fair assessment through wikipedia of his contributions to child abuse: His public career came to an end when two of his male assistant chefs brought charges of sexual harassment against him, when they were teenagers. Shortly thereafter, in 1998, seven men alleged that he had sexually assaulted them in the 1970s, when they worked for him as minors. Smith denied the accusations but his alleged actions were the subject of much talk around the city of Tacoma for years. He was taken off the air shortly afterward. Though he was never charged with a crime, he and his insurance company settled with the plaintiffs out of court, and Smith never returned to the airwaves. He died in 2004.
Thomas, the security certificate issues is why I started this blog here, rather than on my own server. My other blogs are hosted at home, and security certificates don’t come cheap so we don’t have one, thus the comments issue.
I do remember the case of Jeff Smith very well, and I feel awful about it. But I don’t think we need to throw away his recipes to protest the man (who is dead anyway). His books are no longer being printed and buying a used copy will not benefit his state.