San Leandro Bytes

Local Company Fined by EPA

According to a press release issued August 29, 2007, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Copper Harbor Company, a San Leandro firm that manufactures pesticides, was fined $5,200 for allegedly violating reporting requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Copper Harbor reportedly failed to submit its annual pesticide production report for 2006 by the March 1, 2007, deadline, but has since filed the report.

Copper Harbor is located at 2300 Davis Street in San Leandro.

Housing Bust Hits San Leandro

With housing prices on the decline, increasing numbers of foreclosures, and fewer people buying houses, Wachovia Bank announced it is laying off 100 people in San Leandro and 15 people in Walnut Creek. According to a spokesman for Wachovia, the people being laid off were loan closing specialists, underwriters and loan processors. According to this posting, those laid off were in the "ELOC group and Portfolio Retention."

Public Hearing on Downtown Transit-Oriented Development August 23, 2007

On Thursday, August 23, 2007, the San Leandro Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on whether to "make a recommendation to the City Council on certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), adoption of the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy and related changes to the San Leandro Zoning Code and Zoning Maps that will introduce new land use regulations and design guidelines that will affect new development in the Downtown Area and will introduce Special Review Overlay Criteria for the development of certain properties within the ½ mile radius of the intersectIon of East 14th and Davis Streets."

The full text of the public notice is available below:

NOTICE OF COMPLETION/AVAILABILITY
OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (FEIR) FOR DOWNTOWN SAN LEANDRO
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD) STRATEGY

NAME OF PROJECT: Downtown San Leandro Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy (SCH#2006052102)

LOCATION OF PROJECT: The Downtown San Leandro Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy Area is the ½ mile radius around the intersection of East 14th and Davis Streets, representing 502 acres. The Study Area is located in the northern portion of the city and encompasses the downtown core, the downtown BART station area, and the Creekside and Best Manor neighborhoods. The TOD Strategy Area is roughly bounded by East 14th and Georgia Way to the north, Castro Street to the south, Bancroft Avenue to the east, and Orchard Avenue and Davis Street to the west.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: The City of San Leandro was awarded a $450,000 pilot planning grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and a $51,750 grant from Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) to study the potential for transit-oriented development (TOD) in the greater downtown area. The study area, hereby referred to as TOD Strategy Area is the ½ mile radius around the intersection of East 14th and Davis Streets, representing 502 acres. This grant recognizes the TOD opportunities offered by both enhanced AC Transit bus service and the existing BART station in the downtown area. The proposed Downtown San Leandro Transit-Oriented Development Strategy (TOD Strategy) establishes a land use framework, a comprehensive circulation system, design and development guidelines, and a series of implementation actions that will guide new development in TOD Strategy Area San Leandro for the next 25 years. The Strategy establishes the policies that developers and the City's Planning and Community Development staff will follow for new projects in the TOD Strategy area, informing them of required or allowable uses, building heights and various elements of building design. Therefore, the TOD Strategy does not represent an actual project involving physical development or improvements. Rather, it proposes regulatory changes to encourage future development within the Strategy Area.

The TOD Strategy Area is substantially developed; however, the Strategy identifies 39 opportunity sites, representing approximately 88 acres, where development could occur over the next 25 or so years (to 2030). An adjustment of an additional 15 percent was used to establish potential maximum development in the Strategy Area of 3,411 residential units, 718,240 square feet of office development and 120,870 square feet of retail development by 2030. Fifteen percent of this development activity is expected to occur by 2015 and 90 percent of development is expected to occur by 2030. The City's existing General Plan, with a horizon year of 2015, anticipated 590 residential units, 781,200 square feet of office development, and 195,300 square feet of retail development. The TOD Strategy "Project" is therefore the amount of potential development for the TOD Strategy Area above and beyond what was envisioned in the General Plan and examined in the General Plan EIR; namely construction of 2,841 residential units.

REPORT AVAILABILITY: This is to certify that a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the project listed above has been prepared by the City of San Leandro, Community Development Department. The report may be found on the City of San Leandro website at: http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/CDTODOview.asp and at the San Leandro Main Library. The Final EIR, Draft EIR, the Public Draft TOD Strategy and other material related to the Downtown TOD Strategy is available for public review on the City website, at the City's Community Development Department at 835 E. 14th Street or at the Main Library. Copies of the FEIR and DEIR may be obtained at the Community Development Department for the cost of reproduction.

PUBLIC REVIEW: The 45-day public review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) started on June 5 and concluded on July 19, 2007.

PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing will be held at the Planning Commission's August 23, 2007 meeting. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council on certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), adoption of the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy and related changes to the San Leandro Zoning Code and Zoning Maps that will introduce new land use regulations and design guidelines that will affect new development in the Downtown Area and will introduce Special Review Overlay Criteria for the development of certain properties within the ½ mile radius of the intersectIon of East 14th and Davis Streets.

A public hearing will be held at the September 4, 2007 City Council meeting. The City Council will consider certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), adoption of the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy and related changes to the San Leandro Zoning Code and Zoning Maps that will introduce new land use regulations and design guidelines that will affect new development in the Downtown Area and will introduce Special Review Overlay Criteria for the development of certain properties within the ½ mile radius of the intersection of East 14th and Davis Streets.

The hearings will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 835 E. 14th Street, San Leandro. Anyone challenging the item noted above may be limited to addressing only those issues raised in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City prior to the close of the comment period.

MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Final EIR, Draft EIR or on the public hearing process, please contact the following planning staff at the City of San Leandro Community Development Department: Kathleen Livermore at (510) 577-3350 or by e-mail at klivermore@ci.san-leandro.ca.us.

Date: August 17,2007

Fire Destroys West Coast Sporting Goods

West Coast Sporting Goods at 13720 E 14th St. was destroyed by a fire late Friday, August 17, 2007. The business was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, filling the neighborhood with smoke while burning embers floated up and over the adjacent building of doctors' offices. The fire spread to the wall of the neighboring Casa Camelias apartment building. Firefighters were able to put it out before it damaged the interior of the apartment building, but smoke and water caused some damage. With nearly a dozen fire engines, including some from Oakland, the firefighters had nearly extinguished the fire by midnight. No injuries were reported.

New coverage from KTVU, Daily Review, San Francisco Chronicle, and KPIX.

Update: According to the Alameda County Fire Department, the cause of the fire was accidental. West Coast Sporting Goods is now operating out of its warehouse at 1855 Alvarado Street in San Leandro.

Meetings to Finalize the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy

Notices were sent out recently for public hearings on the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy before the Planning Commission on August 23, 2007, and before the San Leandro City Council on September 4, 2007. The Planning Commission will decide whether to recommend certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, adoption of the Downtown TOD Strategy and zoning and land use regulation changes to implement the TOD. The City Council will then vote on whether to accept the Planning Commission's recommendations.

The Planning Commission meeting will be held at 7:00pm on August 24, 2007, in the City Council Chambers at 835 E. 14th Street. The City Council meeting will be held at 7:00pm on September 4, 2007, in the City Council Chambers at 835 E. 14th Street.

The complete text of the notice of public hearings is included below:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
NOTICE is hereby given that PUBLIC HEARlNGS will be held before the PLANNING COMMISSION and CITY COUNCIL of the City of San Leandro in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street, San Leandro, California, on Thursday, August 23, 2007 for the Planning Commission and Tuesday, September 4, 2007 for the City Council at 7:00 p.m. as follows:

MATTER OF CERTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (FEIR) AND ADOPTION OF THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD) STRATEGY. MATTER OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO REZONE CERTAIN PROPERTIES WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT STUDY AREA GENERALLY WITHIN A 1/2 MILE RADIUS OF THE INTERSECTION OF EAST 14TH AND DAVIS STREETS FROM RS, RD, RM-1800, RM-2500, RM-3000,CN, CC, CD, NA-1, NA-2, P, PHD, IL, IP AND PS TO PROPOSED NEW DOWNTOWN AREA (DA) DISTRICTS: DA-1, DA-2, DA-3, DA-4, DA-5 AND DA-6. ALSO TO REZONE CERTAIN PROPERTIES WITHIN THE ½ MILE RADIUS TO S-OVERLAY, INCLUDING DA-1 (S), DA-4 (S), DA-5 (S), DA-6 (S), PS (S) AND OS (S); MATTER OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO ZONING CODE: ARTICLE 6: COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL DISTRICTS; ARTICLE 16: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS; ARTICLE 17: OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING REGULATIONS; ARTICLE 25: SITE PLAN APPROVAL.

The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council on certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), adoption of the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy and related changes to the San Leandro Zoning Code and Zoning Maps that will introduce new land use regulations and design guidelines that will affect new development in the Downtown Area and will introduce Special Review Overlay Criteria for the development of certain properties within the ½ mile radius of the intersection of East 14th and Davis Streets.

The City Council will consider certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), adoption of the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy and related changes to the San Leandro Zoning Code and Zoning Maps that will introduce new land use regulations and design guidelines that will affect new development in the Downtown Area and will introduce Special Review Overlay Criteria for the development of certain properties within the ½ mile radius of the intersection of East 14th and Davis Streets.

Specifically, the changes to the Zoning Code affect the Zoning Maps to create new "Downtown Area" zoning districts and other map changes that will adjust the zoning district boundary affecting the Residential Single-Family (RS), Residential Duplex (RD), Residential Multi-Family (RM), Commercial Neighborhood (CN), Commercial Community (CC), Commercial Downtown (CD), North Area-1 (NA-1), North Area-2 (NA-2), Professional Office (P), Professional High Density Office (PHD), Industrial Limited (IL) and Industrial General (IG) zoning districts within the Downtown TOD Development Strategy study area. Other map changes include establishment of a Special Review Overlay District on certain properties within the study area.

Environmental Status: A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was circulated for a 45-day public review period from June 5 to July 19, 2007 under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. A Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), which responds to comments received on the EIR, was prepared. Copies of the DEIR and FEIR are available at Community Development Department in City Hall for public review.

Any interested party or agent may appear and be heard. Anyone instituting a legal challenge to the Public Hearing items noted above may be limited to addressing only those issues raised at the Public Hearings described in this Notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Leandro, Community Development Department, 835 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94577, at or prior to the Public Hearing.

For further information, contact Kathleen Livermore, Interim Planning Manager at (510) 577-3350, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

KATHLEEN LIVERMORE
Interim Planning Manager

Financial Disclosures from City Council and Staff for 2006

Members of the City Council are required to file a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) upon election or appointment, annually, and upon leaving office. Certain city staff, including the City Manager, City Attorney, Police Chief and police captains are also required to file these documents. These are public documents on file at the City Clerk's office at City Hall and are available to anyone who requests them for $0.10 per page.

The following disclosures are for the San Leandro City Council for 2006 or assuming office:

• Surlene Grant
• Michael Gregory
• Jim Prola
• Tony Santos
• Diana Souza
• Joyce Starosciak
• Bill Stephens - Filed, but not available at this time

The following financial disclosures are for members of the City staff:

• City Manager John Jermanis
• City Attorney Jayne Williams
• Finance Director Jesse Baloca
• Police Chief Dale Attarian

Annual Economic Interests Disclosures for Planning Commission and BZA

Members of the Planning Commission are required by the state to complete a Statement of Economic Interests (Fair Political Practices Commission Form 700), to disclose financial interests that could lead to a conflict-of-interest. In San Leandro, the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) is also required to complete Form 700. Members are required to complete the disclosures annually and within 30 days of assuming office.

These disclosures are public documents and any member of the public can inspect and obtain copies ($0.10 each) of these disclosures. However, obtaining these documents usually involves making a trip to City Hall.

Below are the disclosures for 2006 for current members of the San Leandro Planning Commission and San Leandro Board of Zoning Adjustments:

Board of Zoning Adjustments

• Philip Daly
• Charles Gilcrest
• Amanda Goldt
• Melody Marr
• Neal Pearson
• Daryl J. Shields
• Frank Sidari

Former BZA Members

• Alice Chin
• Cynthia Eliason
• Gil Raposo

Planning Commission

• Denise Abero
• Esther Collier
• Thomas C. Dlugosh
• Heidi Finberg - Assuming Office statement not yet filed.
• Marcene Nardine - Assuming Office statement not yet filed.
• Rene Ponder
• Dale Reed

Former Planning Commissioners

• Susan Kleebauer
• William Perras
• James R. Wohltmann

For last year's disclosures, click here.

Update: The City Clerk received Marcene Nardine's Assuming Office Statement on August 17, 2007.

The Race for 2008 City Council Begins

In the latest campaign finance disclosures by local candidates, Councilmember Joyce Starosciak appears to be gearing up for a re-election campaign in 2008. Starosciak has raised more than $4,000, nearly a year before the June 2008 election. Former Mayor Shelia Young's expenditures seem to indicate she's going to run again in 2008 as well. Young was termed out of office in 2006 and ran unsuccessfully for Alameda County Supervisor. The current Councilmember for Young's district, Surlene Grant, will be termed out and cannot run for re-election in 2008. Councilmember Jim Prola, who was appointed in February 2007, is expected to seek re-election.

During the first six months of 2007, Starosciak spent $636, including expenditures of $120 to CITIPAC, a political action committee of the League of California Cities, and $100 to the California List, a political fundraising network to elect pro-choice women to California state government. Starosciak also raised $4,430, including contributions of $1,000 from the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council and $500 each from Madison Marquette (owner of Bayfair Center), Eden Realty, Quadric Group, and United Association Local Union 342. As of June 30, 2007, Starosciak had $4,617 in her campaign account.

Starosciak's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Mayor Tony Santos spent $7,469 during the first six months of 2007, including expenditures of $6,500 to Charles Gilcrest and $270 to the Central Labor Council for its annual dinner. Santos also raised $8,856, including contributions of $1,000 from the Rental Housing Owners Association and $500 each from Tom Silva of Eden Realty, Applied Fusion, Eden Realty, Madison Marquette, Quadric Group, The Sentinels, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 104. As of June 30, 2007, Santos had $3,934 in his campaign account and more than $25,000 in outstanding campaign debt.

Santos' Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Bill Stephens spent $795 during the first six months of 2007, including expenditures of $200 to the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club, $150 to the San Leandro Scholarship Foundation, and $150 to the California State University East Bay Education Foundation. Despite not raising any money so far this year, Stephens still has $4,977 in his campaign account. Stephens' current term expires in 2010 and he cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

Stephens' Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Surlene Grant spent $175 on postage for a Business Association of South San Leandro mailing but didn't raise any money during the first six months of 2007. As of June 30, 2007, Grant had $2,370 in her campaign account. Grant's current term expires in 2008 and she cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

Grant's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Michael Gregory didn't spend or raise any money during the first six months of 2007. Gregory had $1,663 in his campaign account and $7,222 in outstanding campaign debt.

Gregory's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Councilmember Diana Souza spent $388 during the first six months of 2007, including an expenditure of $104 to the Washington Manor Swim Team. Souza didn't raise any money and terminated her campaign account as of July 10, 2007, with almost $8,500 in outstanding campaign debt.

Souza's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Julian Polvorosa, Souza's opponent in 2006, had no expenditures or contributions during the first six months of 2007 and as of June 30, 2007, had $17 in his campaign account. With this amount of money in his account, Polvorosa is likely to close his campaign account by the end of the year.

Polvorosa's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Former Mayor Shelia Young spent $560 during the first six months of the year, including $300 to Patrick Tracy for photographic services and $120 to the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce for annual dues. As of June 30, 2007, Young had $11,889 in her campaign account.

Young's Campaign Statement for January 1 to June 30, 2007.

Financial disclosures for former City Councilmember Orval "OB" Badger weren't available but The Sentinels reported contributing $500 to his campaign during the first half of 2007.

Who are The Sentinels?

The oldest recipient committee (similar to a political action committee) in San Leandro is a group called The Sentinels (ID #782563) that most local residents know little or nothing about. The Sentinels are largely a group that exists to exert its influence on local politics by contributing financially to political campaigns.

While the name of the group may seem somewhat ominous, it was formed in October 1978 by former San Leandro Mayors Jack Maltester, John Faria (Faria Bros. ACE Hardware), and others as a way to be politically active and influential after Maltester was forced out of office by term limits.

It is just one of a number of similar groups that are focused on San Leandro politics. Other active groups include the Political Action Committee for Excellence (P.A.C.E.), San Leandro Teachers Advocating New Directions (S.T.A.N.D.), and Citizens for San Leandro Schools.

Until recently, The Sentinels were probably one of the most influential political groups in San Leandro. For example, after Gordon Galvan, a member of The Sentinels, resigned from the City Council in June 2001, the final choices to replace him were Orval 'OB' Badger and Dale Reed, both members of The Sentinels. OB Badger was appointed to replace Galvan by a vote of five to one. Although it remains one of the single largest sources of local campaign contributions, many of the candidates it endorsed in 2006 failed to win, including Shelia Young, OB Badger, Jill Buck, Julian Polvorosa, and Pete Lismer. Its $4,000 contribution to Julian Polvorosa's 2006 City Council campaign and $2,000 contribution to Pete Lismer's 2006 School Board campaign were the largest contributions to each campaign.

Pat Raposo of Broadmoor Electric appears to have been the first female member of The Sentinels in 1998, based on records reviewed at the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Those same records indicate that each member of The Sentinels contributes $125 per quarter or $500 per year to the group. All of the group's funds appear to come from member dues, although Pacific Union Ventures contributed $1,000 to the group on one occasion in 1998. Meetings are held at Vila Cereja restaurant (formerly Jake's Lion). Some of the group's meetings have included speakers such as Chronicle columnist Phil Matier, former Alameda County Sheriff Charles Plummer and Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker.

Despite attending meetings of The Sentinels and being listed as a member in a City of San Leandro press release, former San Leandro Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Finberg hasn't been listed on the group's financial disclosures since 2001. Current CEO Diana Gentry does not appear in any of the group's financial disclosures.

During each election cycle, The Sentinels invite each candidate for contested local offices to a meeting where the members can ask questions and the candidate has an opportunity to make their case for The Sentinels' endorsement and financial support. During the June 6, 2006, election, The Sentinels contributed $2,500 to Sheila Young for District 3 County Supervisor, $2,000 each to Tony Santos and Orval "OB" Badger for San Leandro Mayor, and $1,500 to Michael Gregory for District 1 City Council. During the November 2006 election, The Sentinels contributed $4,000 to Julian Polvorosa for District 3 City Council, $2,000 to Jill Buck for the California State Assembly, $2,000 to Pete Lismer for San Leandro School Board, and $1,000 to Measure B, the school facilities bond. After the election, The Sentinels contributed $500 to help OB Badger and Tony Santos to pay down their campaign debts. As of June 30, 2007, The Sentinels had more than $26,000 in their account.

The members of The Sentinels consist of mainly former elected officials and business people. Approximately 75% of the members are San Leandro residents. Former mayoral candidate OB Badger was a member of The Sentinels until he was appointed to the City Council in 2001. Badger attended meetings as an honorary member while he was on the City Council. The most recent financial disclosures for the group are from October 1 to December 31, 2006 and January 1 to June 30, 2007. Members of the group were determined from these most recent financial disclosures and are listed below:

• Mike Betts, President of Betts Spring Co. and a member of the 2006 Board of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.
• George Bischalaney, CEO of Eden Medical Center
• Burt F. Boltuch, a lawyer who serves as VP of Legal Compliance for the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.
• Robert Brannan, General Manager of Marina Mediavision, President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, and a San Leandro Recreation and Parks Commissioner since 2005. Marina Mediavision is owned by Anthony Batarse.
• Charles Bray, a consultant
• David D. Davini, a CPA and treasurer for The Sentinels
• Henry P. Deadrich, owner of Deadrich Realty.
• Tom Dlugosh, owner of Dlugosh Cabinet. Dlugosh has also served on the San Leandro Planning Commission since 2005.
• John Faria, former San Leandro Mayor and former owner of Faria Bros. Ace Hardware. He ran unsuccessfully for the Board of the Oro Loma Sanitary District in 2006.
• Joe Flynn served on the Human Services Commission from 2001 until early 2007 and served as campaign manager for OB Badger's 2006 mayoral campaign.
• Gordon Galvan, President of San Leandro Transportation Management Organization and former San Leandro councilmember. Galvan has also worked as a lobbyist for Eastshore Energy a subsidiary of Tierra Energy, a Texas-based energy company that has been trying to site a power plant in Hayward.
• Charles Gilcrest, campaign consultant. Gilcrest is on the San Leandro Board of Zoning Adjustments and served on the Human Services Commission from 2002 until 2006. He is also a director for the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and was Tony Santos' campaign manager.
• Dan Gray, co-owner of developer Gray & Reynolds
• William Howard, owner of Berkeley Asphalt/Ready Mix
• Robert Jones, owner of Robert Jones & Associates.
• Laython Landis, former San Leandro Councilmember, Ora Loma Sanitary District board member
• Don Lee, owner of San Leandro Electric Supply.
• Jack Maltester, former San Leandro Mayor
• Milton Murray, a self-employed engineer
• Ron Musgrove, owner of Applied Fusion
• Kent Myers, controller at D.W. Nicholson. Myers is a former San Leandro Councilmember. Myers has also served on the San Leandro Personnel Relations Board since 2001.
• Gary Naman, owner of Gans-Trans Trucking and former Port Captain for the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club
• Louie Pellegrini, Alameda County Industries
• Pat Raposo, owner of Broadmoor Electric. Her husband, Gil Raposo, served on the Board of Zoning Adjustments from 2001 until early 2007.
• Dale Reed, owner of Acme Scale. Reed has also served on the San Leandro Planning Commission since 1987. He is part of the Executive Board of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. His wife has served on the Library-Historical Commission since 1986.
• Jon Reynolds, co-owner of Reynolds & Brown
• Robert Smith, a consultant
• Dan Walters, Copper Harbor and Past President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.

Former members, based on the group's filings dating back to 1997, include:

• Jeff Abramson, a project manager with Pacific Union Ventures


• Herman Alexander, Santos Linguisa


• Orval Badger, former member of the San Leandro City Council


• Joseph Bellini


• William Biggs


• Leland Bruner, owner of Bruner & Nash


• John Chovanes, former owner of Chovanes Ford


• Gerald Cockrill, owner of Cockrill & Low


• Ed Cryer, Manager at Peterson Tractor


• Timothy Dam, President of Saags Products


• Bob DeBorba, Cooper & Cook


• Frank Denevi, Denevi Cameras


• Oliver DeSilva


• Bill Dobert, Treasurer of San Leandro Disposal


• Heidi Finberg, San Leandro Planning Commissioner and former CEO of San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. Finberg pulled papers in 2002 to run for City Council against Bill Stephens and in 2006 to run for the School Board against Pauline Cutter, but in both races did not complete the paperwork to become a candidate.


• Richard Gorkosky, Merritt Tire & Brake


• Donald Kane of Mark Container Corp.


• Richard Karn, Bissell & Karn


• J. Dudley Knapp


• Kati Knox, Owner/CEO Senior Assisted Living and Transportation and KMJ Associates


• Lawrence E. Martin, General Manager of Martin Land Co.


• Ben Moal of Ben Moal Investors


• Rene Moal


• Dale Munson, Manager at Peterson Tractor


• Ken Papierniak, Bridgeport Associates


• William Peluso, President of Pel-Mar, Inc.


• Meryl Pethan, Realtor


• Albert P. Russello, Pacific Electric Supply


• George Samson, Samson Construction


• Cliff Sherwood


• Joseph Smith


• James Strauch


• Karen Thompson, Project Manager for Pacific Union Ventures


• Terry Tinsley, self-employed with Howe Insurance


• Raymond Ward, Oakland Coliseum


• Gerald Wen, a manager for San Leandro Disposal


• Jim Wilburn, Sr., Orlando Homes, Inc.


• Jim Wilburn, Jr., Orlando Homes, Inc.


• Gil Zaballos, a general contractor and developer

SLCAN Film Screenings Thursday August 2

On Thursday, August 2, 2007, the San Leandro Community Action Network will show the short films Daddy & Papa and Both My Moms' Names Are Judy.

Daddy & Papa is a one-hour documentary exploring the personal, cultural, and political impact of gay men who make the decision to raise children themselves. Through the stories of four different families, the film delves into some of the particular challenges facing gay men who decide to become dads.

Both My Moms' Names Are Judy was produced as part of an in-service training for elementary school educators and administrators. The film features children with gay parents discussing how they feel about being teased about their parents and how classroom silence about homosexuality affects them. The film is 11 minutes long.

The films will be shown for free starting at 7pm on August 2, 2007, at Zocalo Coffeehouse, which is located at 645 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.