We Are Ferguson

 We Are Ferguson  Civil Liberties, Community, Police, Politics  1 Response »
Aug 172014
 
We Are Ferguson

The New York Times has a story,titled “Around St. Louis, a Circle of Rage” about how police harassment and political ostracism of African-Americans has given fuel to the protests we see in Ferguson.  You can substitute “Oakland” or “San Francisco” for St. Louis and get the same story. People of color – mostly, but not exclusively, African-American – are tired of having their children shot and being the object of police harassment. When you add to these issues, the fact that the middle class is being decimated, that jobs and opportunities for youth are disappearing and that America is no [Continue Reading]

The Answer to Police Militarization is Voting

 The Answer to Police Militarization is Voting  City Hall, Police  2 Responses »
Aug 162014
 
The Answer to Police Militarization is Voting

All this week in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis, not too unlike San Leandro, we have seen the consequences of the militarization of police. Peaceful protesters are met with tear gas, batons and even guns. When some people take advantage of the situation to loot, the Police, rather than protect the businesses, used it as an excuse to further repress the protesters. Meanwhile, the civilian authorities back the police and excuse their behavior. After talking to San Leandro City Manager Chris Zapata, it became clear that he would support the SLPD no matter what they would do. When I [Continue Reading]

Final List of Candidates for San Leandro Offices

 Final List of Candidates for San Leandro Offices  Politics  7 Responses »
Aug 132014
 
Final List of Candidates for San Leandro Offices

These are the candidates that will be vying for elected office representing San Leandrans.  The candidate’s ballot designations are in parenthesis. Candidate statements, when available, follow the description of each candidate. Remember, all San Leandro voters get to vote for all members of the San Leandro City Council and School Board, regardless of the district/area they represent. San Leandro Mayor Pauline Cutter (City Councilmember/Teacher) is the clear favorite to win this race. She served for many years on the San Leandro School Board, and was elected Board president three times, so she has experience as the executive officer of a [Continue Reading]

Alameda County Democratic Central Committee to Vote to Censure Me

 Alameda County Democratic Central Committee to Vote to Censure Me  ACDCC  6 Responses »
Aug 122014
 
Alameda County Democratic Central Committee to Vote to Censure Me

I May Be Responsible for the FPPC Investigating the Committee Update (January, 2017): A Democratic Party organ laundered $60K in contributions for the Fremont Mayor race. Read more about it. The leadership of the Committee has been working to expel me, though perhaps they were thwarted on that idea by the fact that they don’t have any legal grounds to do so. Update (October, 2016): They ACDCC never censured me. Instead, they recruited a candidate to run for City Council against my husband in Nov. 2014.   Then in 2016, the incumbents in my district ran for re-election on a slate [Continue Reading]

I’ve Decided to Not Run for School Board

 I’ve Decided to Not Run for School Board  Short Notes  No Responses »
Aug 042014
 

A couple of weeks ago I pulled papers to run for San Leandro School Board (see below).  After much consideration, I’ve decided that I will not be running for the office. I have several reasons, but they all come down to the fact that I don’t really want to do it.    A friend of mine, campaign manager Charles Gilcrest, told me once that if you had to chose between two equally good candidates, you should go for the one that has the fire in her belly.  I don’t feel fired up when I think about serving in the School [Continue Reading]

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