City Hall

San Leandro City Council Systematically Violates Open Meeting Laws

San Leandro City Council Systematically Violates Open Meeting Laws City Hall, Legal, Transparency 3 Responses »

Feb 062012

It’s worse than I thought, but is it intentional or just careless? Just ask public officials, perhaps over a few beers, how they feel about the pesky public looking over their shoulder as they try to “get things done.” They hate it. Public oversight means they have to worry about following the law, hiding any corrupt deals and being held accountable for their actions. As the corruption facilitated by secrecy has dire consequences for society at large (just think of the City of Bell), the California legislature long ago passed the Brown Act to guarantee the public notice and access to [Continue Reading]

City Council Quietly Negotiates Sale of Albertson’s Property

City Council Quietly Negotiates Sale of Albertson’s Property City Hall, Featured, Legal, Transparency No Responses »

Feb 012012

According to the latest agenda, the San Leandro City Council will meet on Feb. 6th to discuss the price and terms of payment for the former Albertson’s property to developer David Irmer (president of Innisfree Co.), who plans to turn it into a strip mall. Apparently, the City Council has already quietly agreed to sell the property to him. The City bought the property for $6M in April 2009 and then immediately turned it over to Irmer to develop. Three years later, it is selling it to Irmer for about $2.5M*, 60% less than it paid for it and a [Continue Reading]

Is Wal-Mart coming to Downtown San Leandro?

Is Wal-Mart coming to Downtown San Leandro? Businesses, City Hall, Featured 3 Responses »

Jan 062012

Despite community opposition, the San Leandro City Council is set to approve the development of the old-Albertson’s property downtown into yet another strip mall, euphemistically dubbed “Village Marketplace“. The anchor of the mall, occupying slightly less than half the total space, is supposed to be a branch of the “Fresh & Easy” grocery stores – but it’s just as likely that it will actually be a Wal-Mart, San Leandro’s third. Fresh & Easy is a chain of small grocery stores, mostly located in California. It was started in 2007 by British supermarket giant Tesco as a daring attempt to break [Continue Reading]

Help Keep City Government Transparent!

Help Keep City Government Transparent! City Hall, Community, Transparency 1 Response »

Oct 092011

What is the San Leandro city government up to? Often times I wonder myself, but without a local press that digs into its deeds (and misdeeds), we generally have no idea. I think we should change that! If the press won’t keep an eye on local government, let’s do it ourselves! What I propose is simple: let’s have members of the community volunteer to attend key public meetings and update the rest of the San Leandro community as to what was discussed at those meetings. It sounds boring, but it might actually be pretty significant. For example, at the [Continue Reading]

The search for City Manager continues, but will it be transparent?

The search for City Manager continues, but will it be transparent? City Hall, Legal, Transparency No Responses »

Sep 072011

The San Leandro City Council is meeting tonight in closed session to discuss the appointment of a new City Manager. At its July 5th meeting, the Council hired Teri Black & Company to conduct a broad search for a City Manager. The search, which should start some time this month, will be open until October 16th. According to the agenda for tonight’s meeting, the City Council will update the public on this search. It’s not clear why the City Council is meeting in closed session before the public meeting. Under the law, all meetings of the City Council must be [Continue Reading]

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