San Leandro Bytes

Last Chance to Get Local Census Jobs

The U.S. Census local office, which covers San Leandro, Alameda, San Lorenzo, and parts of Oakland and unincorporated Alameda County, will hold its last series of employment tests this week. Workers who qualify and are hired will earn $22 per hour.

The last series of thirty-minute long civil service tests will be held at 11am and 4pm on Wednesday March 10, 2010, and at 10am, 12:30pm, and 3pm on Saturday March 13, 2010, at the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue. Sample tests are available at the library or online (español). No appointment is necessary for aspiring workers, but two forms of identification are required. For more details on employment requirements and an application, click here.

For more information, call 510-764-2960.

Fundraiser for Bancroft at Drakes Brewing on Friday

Friday Night tastings are back at Drakes Brewing and this month's tasting on Friday March 5 will help raise money for Bancroft Middle School.

Each Friday Night will support a local school or non-profit. A donation of $5 is requested at the door. Over 21 please, though children may accompany their parents. For $15, you get a Drakes glass and three full pours. Additional drink tokens may be purchased for $3.50 with $1 of that going to Bancroft. Food from Roli Roti will be available for purchase as well. Relax by bringing your own folding chair, and be prepared for some rain because Friday's forecast calls for rain.

Drakes held Beer Festival and Washoes Tournaments in 2007 and 2008 as fundraisers to benefit Roosevelt and Jefferson Elementary schools.

Drakes is located at West Gate Center in the area between Wal-Mart and Sports Authority. For more information, see http://drakesbrewing.blogspot.com/2010/02/next-drakes-friday-march-5th.html.

Student Art Show Opening and Reception March 5

An opening reception for Hero Art: Exhibition of Youth Creativity will be held on Friday, March 5, at the San Leandro Museum and Art Gallery and will feature Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker. The exhibit runs from March 6 to 28 and features the artwork of students from the AP art class at San Leandro High School and students from Roosevelt, Washington, and Monroe elementary schools.

Guests will be treated to a musical performance by students from San Leandro High School and Bancroft Middle School.

The reception will be held from 6 to 8pm at the San Leandro Museum and Art Gallery, which is located at 320 W. Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro. The Arts Council of San Leandro and the San Leandro Public Library are sponsoring the event.

Recovery Funds in San Leandro: Who's Been Stimulated?

According to the recovery.gov web site, San Leandro groups and businesses have received about $20 million in stimulus money. The San Leandro Unified School District received the largest amount, $4.1 million in grants, all but $26,000 from the Department of Education. This money was used mostly to save jobs by filling in budget gaps from reductions in funding by the State of California.

Service West received a $3.2 million loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), which helped it complete the purchase of a 132,000 square-foot building in San Leandro. Service West installs office furniture and is located at 2054 Burroughs Avenue in San Leandro.

The City of San Leandro received more than $3.1 million in grants from the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Justice, Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Health and Human Services. $1.6 million from the Department of Transportation will be used to resurface Aladdin, Washington, and Bancroft Avenues, and Springlake Drive.

Building Futures with Women and Children received nearly $2.5 million in grants, most of which was for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. The Recovery.gov web site lists Building Futures by its legal name, Cornerstone Community Development Corporation. Building Futures partnered with Davis Street Family Resource Center for the homeless grants, which are part of the mid-county Housing Resource Center, serving San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, Hayward, and Alameda.

Alameda Applied Sciences Corp. received more than $650,000 in grants from the Department of Energy to develop a "device to provide next generation particle accelerators with potential applications to research, industry, and medicine" and "a high-energy cathodic, arc-based process to deposit an A-15 superconductor onto coupon substrates without requiring high temperature heating of the substrates." Alameda Applied Sciences is located at 626 Whitney Street in San Leandro.

New Comback International Corporation received a $1.1 million loan from the SBA. From the company web site, it's difficult to tell what they do. New Comback is located at 2040 Williams Street.

The dredging of the San Leandro Marina was shown as a $966,969 contract from the Department of the Army to Ahtna Engineering Services, Inc. More than 90,000 cubic yards of dredge spoil was removed in late 2009 as part of the partial dredge to five feet below the average low tide.

The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency received more than $700,000 in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services for capital improvement and to "increase services to health centers."

CellASIC Corporation received an $82,295 grant for work on a device for screening for liver damage. CellASIC is a bioengineering startup located at 2551 Merced Street in San Leandro.

Click here for a list of recipients. However, please note that the list from the recovery.gov web site shouldn't be considered exhaustive since the information reported by agencies and by recipients is frequently different.

Recovery Funds Help New Downtown Asian Restaurant

After receiving a $202,000 Small Business Administration loan, Ming Tasty is putting in a new kitchen and bathrooms and remodeling the dining area in preparation for opening in downtown San Leandro.

The restaurant is located at 1652 E. 14th Street, the previous location of La Cocina de Raquel, Andy & Joes, and Casa Maria #2.

Most Popular 2009 Movie Rentals in San Leandro

According to data from Netflix published by the New York Times, the most popular movies rented in 2009 in San Leandro were The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Changeling, and Slumdog Millionaire. These three movies topped the list of rentals for San Leandro zip codes 94577, 94578, and 94579.

Other movies that made the top ten movie rentals for 2009 were Doubt, Seven Pounds, and Gran Torino. Milk, Twilight, and Burn After Reading made the top ten list in 94577 and 94578, but not in 94579.

The complete list of top ten rentals for each zip code can be seen after the break.

Zip Code: 94577

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button


2. Changeling


3. Slumdog Millionaire


4. Milk


5. Doubt


6. Gran Torino


7. Seven Pounds


8. Burn After Reading


9. Twilight


10. The Wrestler

Zip Code: 94578

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button


2. Changeling


3. Slumdog Millionaire


4. Twilight


5. Seven Pounds


6. Doubt


7. Body of Lies


8. Gran Torino


9. Milk


10. Burn After Reading

Zip Code: 94579

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button


2. Changeling


3. Slumdog Millionaire


4. Body of Lies


5. Gran Torino


6. Doubt


7. Eagle Eye


8. Seven Pounds


9. Valkyrie


10. Righteous Kills

Help Re-Design San Leandro's Siempre Verde Park

The City of San Leandro is encouraging anyone interested in Siempre Verde Park to attend a series of community meetings in January and February as part of an opportunity to receive a state grant that could fund a complete re-design of the park.

The Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program of 2008 created a competitive grant program totaling $368 million for under-served California communities. The City of San Leandro intends to submit a grant application for Siempre Verde by the March 1, 2010 deadline. Siempre Verde was chosen based on its location in a densely populated area with small amounts of park space.

Input from the community meetings could result in a complete re-design of the entire park or major modifications such as replacing the bathrooms, re-doing the fields, or essentially anything within reason that comes out of the four community meetings.

The community meetings will be held as follows:

• Wednesday January 20, 2010, from 7 to 8:30pm
• Saturday, January 23, 2010, from 10 to 11:30am
• Thursday, January 28, 2010, from 7 to 9pm
• Wednesday, February 3, 2010, from 7 to 8:30pm

The first two meetings will provide background information and seek community input on what works at the park, what doesn't, and what is desired. The third meeting will take the input from the first meeting to come up with possible designs and the last meeting will present designs to the Recreation and Parks Commission.

All of the meetings will take place at the City Hall South Offices Conference Room at 999 E. 14th St., located behind the California Conservatory Theater.

More information is available from the City web site, including English and Spanish fliers.

Alice Lai-Bitker's State of District 3 Report on Feb. 4, 2010

Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker will present her 6th annual State of District 3 Report to the Community on Thursday, February 4, 2010.

According to a flier for the event, the report will include the following:

• Financial forecast and the impact of the state budget deficit on county programs
• neighborhood revitalization and economic development
• community health and resiliency initiatives
• 2010 priorities and goals

The talk is scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30pm at the Lecture Hall of the San Leandro Library. The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Attendees should RSVP to Jerl Laws at (510) 272-6693. Those unable to attend can watch it at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/state-of-the-district

Lai-Bitker recently announced she would not seek re-election, so this will be her last annual report.

District 3 includes San Leandro, Alameda, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Hillcrest Knolls and the Fruitvale, San Antonio, Chinatown portions of Chinatown portions of Oakland.

Christmas Lights in San Leandro 2009

769 Sybil Avenue

975 Estudillo Avenue

1171 Oakes Blvd.

739 Portola Dr.

15102 Chapel Ct. There are other decorated houses here, but none quite so elaborate.

Census Looking for Workers

The U.S. Census will hire nearly 1,000 workers for its local office, which covers San Leandro, Alameda, San Lorenzo, and parts of Oakland and unincorporated Alameda County. Workers who qualify and are hired will earn $22 per hour.

Thirty-minute long civil service tests are held at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue. Sample tests are available at the library or online (español). No appointment is necessary for aspiring workers, but two forms of identification are required. For more details on employment requirements and an application, click here.

For more information, call 510-764-2960.

Zocalo Holds Fundraiser for Davis Street Family Resource Center

According to a press release issued today, Zocalo Coffeehouse is holding a tree decorating fundraiser for Davis Street Family Resource Center. For donations starting at $5 and ranging up to $500 for the tree topper, you can decorate the very large tree occupying the center of Zocalo. All of the donations benefit Davis Street and Zocalo will match donations up to $5,000, for a total of $10,000 to Davis Street.

According to the press release, "For nearly 40 years the Davis Street Family Resource Center has assisted tens of thousands of families in our community via health clinics, job search, childcare, clothing and food banks, and more. The number of families in need turning to Davis Street has increased 5X in the past year alone and they are straining to support these needs." In late October 2009 through November, Davis Street, together with the San Leandro Unified School District, distributed H1N1 flu vaccine donated by Energy Recovery to San Leandro children and families.

The fundraiser starts today and will continue through the end of the year. Zocalo Coffeehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro. Davis Street is located at 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro.

Main Library Now has WiFi

The main San Leandro Library now has wireless access for people who like to work at the library with their laptops. According to library staff, the installation of wireless access points was completed in November 2009.

Like the Washington Manor library, which has had wifi since it opened in 2006, wireless internet access is free of charge. To use the wireless network, connect your wireless device to the "San Leandro Library" wireless network. Then open a web browser such as Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, enter any URL (http://www.sanleandrolibrary.org, for example) and you will be presented with a login page. Once you enter an email address to "login," you will be able to use the wireless network.

According to Information Services Manager Rayan Fowler, the main library has eight Bluesocket wireless access points, compared to two at the smaller Manor library. The internet connection is provided by TowerStream.

SLUSD, Davis Street, and Energy Recovery Offering H1N1 Flu Shots

Additional H1N1 flu vaccinations will be available at clinics today (November 19) through Tuesday November 24, supplies permitting at Davis Street Family Resource Center. H1N1 vaccinations are available free of charge.

The vaccine was purchased by San Leandro-based Energy Recovery, Inc., which has partnered with Davis Street and the San Leandro Unified School District to vaccinate San Leandro's at-risk populations.

Vaccinations will be available as follows:

Davis Street Family Resource Center is located at 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro.

Those at highest risk from the H1N1 flu, including pregnant women and young children are encouraged to get vaccinations.

Children between six months and nine years old will need a second dose of the vaccine three weeks after their initial vaccination.

The Alameda County Public Health Department will also host free H1N1 Vaccination Clinics, including one in San Leandro on Saturday, December 5, at City Hall at 9:00am.

Free Family Movie Night at Zocalo

The family movie Matilda will be shown on Friday, November 20, 2009, at Zocalo Coffeehouse as a fundraiser for Washington Elementary. The movie, popcorn, and coffee are free, but donations of books and cash are encouraged to support the library at Washington Elementary.

According to the Internet Movie Database, Matilda is the "story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable."

The event starts at 7pm and the movie begins at 7:15pm. Zocalo Coffeehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue (near Dutton) in San Leandro. The event is organized by parent Lisa Jackson, who has previously organized similar events.

Legal Documents Filed by Sutter Against Healthcare District

On October 27, 2009, Sutter Health sued the Eden Township Healthcare District for failing to abide by a March 2008 memorandum of understanding that granted Sutter an "unconditional option to purchase" San Leandro Hospital.

These documents were posted to an email list by Eden Township Healthcare District Board Member Carole Rogers and are posted here so that the public can review them.

Click here to see the summons.

Click here to see the Demand for Arbitration.

Click here to see the Notice of Lis Pendens.

Eden Township Heathcare District to Interview Candidates for Board Seat

The Eden Township Healthcare District will hold meetings on Thursday, November 5 and Tuesday, November 10, 2009, to interview candidates for the seat vacated by Dr. Walter Kran.

Kran abruptly resigned on September 28, 2009. His replacement will have a role in deciding the future of San Leandro Hospital and whether its emergency room remains open.

The meetings will be held at 4pm on November 5 and 5:30pm on November 10 at the Castro Valley Library at 3600 Norbridge Avenue in Castro Valley.

Documentary by Local Filmmakers Airs Tonight on KQED

Going on 13, a documentary by local filmmakers Dawn Valadez and Kristy Guevara-Flanagan about four young East Bay girls airs tonight on public television station KQED at 11pm tonight. The film was shown at Zocalo Coffehouse in August to a packed house.

Valadez lives in San Leandro and works at Davis Street Family Resource Center.

Halloween in San Leandro

Here's a list of Halloween events in San Leandro to entertain the whole family:

Friday, October 30:

Safe Treats, Safe Streets features trick or treating at 30 businesses near the corner of
Dutton Ave. and Bancroft Ave. from 3 to 5 pm. This event is free.

Across town at the Washington Manor Library, the Annual Halloween Extravaganza will be held from 4 to 5:30. The Manor Library is located at 1241 Manor Avenue. This event is free.

Washington Elementary will be transformed into a haunted house on Friday and Saturday from 5 until 8pm. Admission is $5 and goes to support the school. Washington Elementary is located at 250 Dutton Avenue.

October 31:

Alameda County Fire Station #12 will hold an open house from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, October 31. The first 100 kids will receive a free Halloween Fire Safety Treat. You can also enter a raffle to win a ride on a fire truck in a parade by bringing a $10 gift card for the Holiday Toy Drive. The fire station is located at 1065 143rd Avenue.

Mobile Solar Generator to Power Sausage and Suds

A mobile solar generator, dubbed the SolaRover, from Renewables West will help power the Sausage and Suds Food and Music Festival on October 4, 2009.

The trailer-mounted solar panels generate approximately 2 kilowatts of power.

One of the units was on display on Saturday, October 3, in the parking lot outside Ploughman's Restaurant in San Leandro.

Renewables West is a division of Mr. Plastics, a "full-service plastics distribution, fabrication and manufacturing company" that has operated in San Leandro for more than 20 years.

Sausage and Suds Sunday October 4, 2009

The Sausage and Suds Food and Music Festival will be held in downtown San Leandro on Sunday, October 4, 2009. Admission is free and the festival will be held on Parrott Street between E. 14th Street and Washington Avenue, where the Downtown Farmers Market is held each Wednesday. In addition to an array of sausages and beers, the scheduled musical performances include:

There will be a Kids' Green Zone that will feature local singer Asheba at 1pm and 3pm. A rock climbing wall and jumpers will also be available in the kids area.

According to the web site, the Sausage and Suds Food and Music Festival, which was first held in 1997 "was established to celebrate San Leandro's designation as the "Sausage Capital of California," by the California State Legislature."

Former San Leandro City Councilmember Bill Jardin Dies at 85

Former San Leandro City Councilmember Bill Jardin died on September 11, 2009, nearly a month after suffering a stroke. Jardin was 85 years old and is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eleanor. William F. "Bill" Jardin was first elected as the District 5 member of San Leandro City Council in 1982 when he defeated Sylvia Landt. Jardin continued to be active in civic affairs after leaving office and served on the Personnel Relations Board from April 2006 until his death.

Jardin grew up in Oakland and served in World War II in Europe and the Pacific. He moved to San Leandro in 1947, where he worked for 40 years at the telephone company and lived in the same house until he passed away.

As an avid golfer, Jardin served for five years on the Shoreline and Golf Advisory Commission and helped get a bridge built over the creek at the golf course. He was also on the San Leandro Recreation and Parks Commission from 1965 until he was appointed to the East Bay Regional Parks District Board in 1974, where he served for 20 years.

Jardin was also on the Board of Directors for the Classic Philharmonic of Northern California foundation and was active in the Lions and San Leandro Breakfast Club.

His funeral was held on September 24, 2009, and attracted family members from as far away as France and Hong Kong. The funeral was attended by former City Councilmembers Don McGue, Ed Suchman, John Faria, Bob Glaze, and Tony Santos.

Editor's Note: The story was corrected to reflect the correct date of the funeral.

Alameda County Constitutional Convention Town Hall Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors, in partnership with the Bay Area Council, Repair California and the Alameda County Citizens for Seniors and Persons w/Disabilities (ACCSPD), presents “Repairing California,” a Community Forum and Panel Discussion moderated by Nate Miley, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Fourth District.

Thursday, September 17, 2009
8:45 a.m. Registration | 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Program
Alameda County Administration Building | Board Chambers
1221 Oak Street, 5th Floor (Directions)
Oakland, CA 94612

Repair California is an organization supporting a California constitutional convention.

Friends of San Leandro Library Gives $31K to San Leandro Library

Friends of the San Leandro Library celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday, September 12, 2009, with a luncheon at the San Leandro Library. Most of the group's board members, the San Leandro City Council, and former Mayor Shelia Young were on-hand to honor the occasion along with Library-Historical Commissioners.

The luncheon featured a slide presentation of the history of the group and a proclamation from San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. Friends of the San Leandro Library also presented the Mayor with a check for $31,000 to honor a promise to provide additional funding to the library if budget cuts to the library were minimized.

Friends of the San Leandro Library raises money for programs and materials at the library such as the Summer Reading Program and carnival for kids, the Adult Summer Reading Program, reference books, and scholarships. The group raises money at two annual book sales, running the library gift shop and Booktique, and the annual Trivia Bee, which will be held on October 16, 2009.

Talk on Child Nutrition at Zocalo Thursday, September 3, 2009

On Thursday, September 3, 2009, the San Leandro Community Action Network will have a talk on child nutrition, focusing on healthy eating habits, weight and eating problems, and body image. The talk will be presented by Kinkini Banerjee, who has a degree in Clinical Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition, and Jill Rodgers-Quaye, a clinical psychologist specializing in eating and anxiety disorders.

The talk is free and will be held at Zocalo Coffeehouse starting at 7pm. Zocalo Coffehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro. Free coffee will also be provided.

Fire Dept. Community Forum Tonight

On Monday, August 31, 2009, the Alameda County Fire Department, which serves San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley and Dublin, will hold a community forum at the San Leandro Library.

The Fire Department is asking for your input on what should be the department's priorities, what services are important, your expectations, etc. The Fire Department is developing a five-year plan for how it serves its communities.

The forum will be held from 7pm to 9pm at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

For more information, call Sue Beville at (510) 618-3475 or email sue.beville@acgov.org.

San Leandro Resident Publishes Childrens Book

Local San Leandro resident and former Roosevelt PTA President Cynthia Jaynes Omololu recently published her first book, "When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco." The children's book shows what children living in time zones across the world are doing throughout the day.

Jaynes Omololu is currently working on her next book, Dirty Little Secrets.

When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco is available at Diesel Bookstore in Oakland and online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Healthcare District Votes Against Sutter Purchasing San Leandro Hospital

The Eden Township Healthcare District voted against Sutter Health's purchase option of San Leandro Hospital at its meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2009.

Board members Vin Sawhney, Carole Rogers, and Harry S. Dvorsky voted against Sutter Health's purchase option. The Board of Directors also voted to seek legal counsel on possible options. The Board action gives opponents more time in their fight to keep San Leandro Hospital open.

Further discussion of San Leandro Hospital's future will happen at Senator Ellen Corbett's town hall meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at the San Leandro Library. The meeting will start at 6pm. The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.

Hundreds Line Up for Stark Town Hall

More than 300 people lined up for Congressman Pete Stark's town hall meeting today at San Leandro's City Hall. People started lining up at 9am for the 10:30am meeting and those arriving by 10am were unable to get in. Stark's town hall in Fremont was held earlier in the morning with more than 500 people trying to get one of about 250 seats.

Supporters of health care reform appeared to be successful in getting people to the meeting as supporters substantially outnumbered opponents. Questions from the audience were selected randomly, however, and presented more of a balance between supporters and opponents.

Stark's email to constituents about the town hall meetings on August 12, 2009, covered health care reform, protecting the environment, improving mental heath care for young adults, helping working families, and opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last Family Night at Farrelly Pool Thursday August 13

The last Family Nights at Farrelly Pool of the summer is this Thursday and features Jimmy and the Wave Runners. The group plays its own flavor of Jimmy Buffet tunes, which sounds appropriate for a pool party.

Family nights have been organized by supporters of Farrelly Pool to encourage attendance at the pool and to help keep the pool open next year. The pool had been slated to close for the season as a result of City budget cuts, but supporters lobbied City Hall and managed to keep the pool open, but with reduced hours and increased fees.

Farrelly has grills for barbecues and you are encouraged to bring a picnic and family games.

For more information about Farrelly Pool, see the web site from the campaign to save Farrelly.

Admission is $5 (music included). Farrelly Pool is located next to Roosevelt Elementary at 864 Dutton Avenue in San Leandro.

Summer Movie NIght at Zocalo Sunday August 2

Once again, Lisa Jackson has organized a family movie night at Zocalo Coffeehouse. Jim Henson's The Muppet Movie will be shown at 7pm on Sunday, August 2.

This 1979 live-action musical features characters voiced by Jim Henson and Frank Oz and includes appearances by Mel Brooks, Edgar Bergen, Dom Deluise, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Jame Coburn, Elliot Gould, and Madeline Kahn.

The movie, popcorn and coffee are free. Bring blankets and pillows for the kids.

Zocalo Coffeehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue near Dutton Avenue in San Leandro.

Free Screening of "Torturing Democracy" on July 2 at Zocalo

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) will show the documentary Torturing Democracy as part of its monthly film series on Thursday, July 2, 2009. Award-winning producer Sherry Jones presents a comprehensive documentary—more than 18 months in the making—"tells the inside story of how the U.S. government adopted torture as official policy in the aftermath of 9/11."

“Please watch ‘Torturing Democracy.’ It isn't easy to watch; but what so many innocent (and guilty) individuals were subjected to in your name was unimaginably harder. As readers know, I've been fixated on this since Abu Ghraib. But that documentary made me ill by forcing me again to absorb the enormity of what Bush and Cheney have done—and the urgent, urgent task of repairing the damage. If America is to recover, those responsible must be put on trial. Including the president.”

—Andrew Sullivan, Atlantic Monthly.com

The screening is free and starts at 7pm at Zocalo Coffeehouse at 645 Bancroft Avenue (near Dutton) in San Leandro.

Swimming and Music at Farrelly Pool on Thursdays

Swim to the sounds of jazz music with Herd 'a Cats on Thursday night, June 25, 2009, at Farrelly Pool. Supporters of Farrelly Pool have organized a series of family nights on Thursday nights to encourage attendance at the pool and to help keep the pool open next year. The pool had been slated to close for the season as a result of City budget cuts, but supporters lobbied City Hall and managed to keep the pool open, but with reduced hours and increased fees.

Farrelly has grills for barbecues and you are encouraged to bring a picnic and family games.

For more information about Farrelly Pool, see the web site from the campaign to save Farrelly.

Admission is $5 (music included). Farrelly Pool is located next to Roosevelt Elementary at 864 Dutton Avenue in San Leandro.

Reprieve for San Leandro Hospital?

According to Charles Gilcrest, at this afternoon's meeting of the Government Affairs Committee of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, Eden Medical Center CEO George Bischalaney announced that Sutter Health would exercise its right to provide notice of termination within the next 30 days of its lease at San Leandro Hospital. Sutter Health also sent a letter to the Eden Township Heathcare District stating that it would assign all of its purchase rights to Alameda County or the Alameda County Medical Center.

The agenda for the June 15 meeting of the Eden Township Healthcare District does not include any action item for the Board to vote on, so it appears that there will be no vote at tonight's meeting. However, there is an item on the closed session agenda for discussion of real property negotiations for the San Leandro Hospital property.

Attendees of the Government Affairs Committee meeting included Alice Lai-Bitker representative Shawn Wilson, Eden Medical Center CEO George Bischelaney, San Leandro Councilmembers Michael Gregory and Diana Souza, and former San Leandro Mayor Shelia Young.

Activists who want to keep San Leandro Hospital and its emergency room open are discounting these reports and encouraging a big turnout at tonight's meeting.

Tonight's meeting of the Eden Township Healthcare District will take place at 6pm at the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro, California.

Coverage in the Daily Review.

Update: Removed information about possible extension of retrofit deadline since it hasn't been confirmed.

County Supervisors Approve the Eden Hospital EIR 5-0

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Sutter Health's environmental impact report (EIR) for Eden Hospital at its meeting on June 9, 2009. Opponents of closing San Leandro Hospital had hoped to use approval of the EIR as leverage in keeping San Leandro Hospital open.

The day before, hundreds of people who support keeping San Leandro Hospital open crowded the San Leandro Library for a meeting of the Eden Township Healthcare District. The meeting is the first of three meetings to be held at the San Leandro Library to discuss the future of San Leandro Hospital. Subsequent meetings will be held at 1pm on Thursday, June 11, 2009, and at 6pm on Monday, June 15, 2009.

Although not originally on the agenda, Prime Healthcare Services CEO Prem Reddy received a standing ovation after presenting his company's proposal to keep San Leandro Hospital open.

More video after the jump.

Prime Healthcare Services Expresses Interest in San Leandro Hospital

In a letter dated May 29, 2009, Prime Healthcare Services has expressed an interest in leasing and operating San Leandro Hospital.

The proposal states that Prime Healthcare would hire most of the employees of the San Leandro Hospital and "assume the existing Collective Bargaining Agreements."

But is Prime Healthcare the type of company that Sutter Health critics want?

Prime Healthcare is run by Prem Reddy, a cardiologist and healthcare entrepreneur. Prime Healthcare was started by Reddy as Desert Valley Medical Group in 1985. It has since acquired 13 hospitals, mostly located in Southern California.

According to published reports, Prime Healthcare has developed a reputation for taking over hospitals that were losing money and turning them around. However, its business practices have attracted the attention of the California Department of Managed Health Care, which filed a lawsuit in July 2008 to stop Prime Healthcare from a practice known as balance billing. According to a press release, the Knox-Keene Act "prohibits Prime’s practices, where the consumer is billed for emergency services which are the responsibility of the health plans." California DMHC Director Cindy Ehnes described Prime Healthcare as a "serial balance biller whose actions have unjustly threatened the credit rating of thousands of Californians.

A July 2007 article in the Los Angeles Times states, " When Reddy's company, Prime Healthcare Services Inc., takes over a hospital, it typically cancels insurance contracts, allowing the hospital to collect steeply higher reimbursements. It has suspended services -- such as chemotherapy treatments, mental health care and birthing centers -- that patients need but aren't lucrative."

Rally to Save San Leandro Hospital Attracts Enthusiastic Crowd

A rally to save San Leandro Hospital sponsored by the Community Coalition to Save San Leandro Hospital was held on June 2, 2009, and attracted more than 100 nurses, doctors, community members, and elected officials.

San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos and San Leandro Councilmembers Jim Prola and Michael Gregory were joined by California State Senator Ellen Corbett and California State Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi's representative Chris Parman. Former San Leandro Mayor Shelia Young and former San Leandro School Board Trustee Stephen Cassidy were also on hand to show their support.

Fifteen speakers, including doctors, nurses, community members, and elected officials Gregory and Corbett, spoke out against the possible closure of San Leandro Hospital.

Links to additional videos can be found after the break.

Mike Brannan, Calif. Nurses Association Labor Representative
Rabbi Harry Manhoff of Temple Beth Sholom
Jim Ryder and Kay McVeigh
Carole Rogers, R.N.
Dr. Miles Adler, Former Chief of Staff, Eden Medical Center
Dr. Vin Sawhney
Roxanne Lewis
Jennifer Ball
Subroto Kundu, Neurologist
Steven Rosenthal, Chief of Staff, Eden Medical Center

2009 San Leandro Cherry Festival Schedule and Map

The 2009 Cherry Festival is scheduled for 10am to 6pm on Saturday, June 6, 2009, on West Estudillo Avenue between Hays Street and San Leandro Boulevard. Admission is free.

According to a press release from the City, "The Cherry City Cyclists will provide free valet bicycle parking during the festival at the corner of Davis and Carpentier streets. San Leandro residents are strongly encouraged to walk or bicycle to the festival or take transit to avoid the hassle of traffic and parking."

Other activities include:

• An Alameda County Fire Department pancake breakfast at Station #9, located at 450 Estudillo Avenue, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., cost: $5.
• The City’s first juried art exhibition – called “Images of Northern California” – featuring the works of 20 local artists will be on display at the San Leandro History Museum and Art Gallery.
• The History Museum will also feature a history exhibit focusing on the activities and notable citizens involved with the 1909 Cherry Festival.
• San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos will welcome festival-goers and issue special anniversary proclamations at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage.
• Passport to San Leandro History – A commemorative passport booklet will be available for collecting stamps at 10 historic sites downtown between noon and 4 p.m. Passports booklets can be obtained from the History Museum.
• Casa Peralta tours will be held throughout the day at the historic Casa Peralta site, located at 384 West Estudillo Avenue.
• Living History Activities for kids will be offered at the History Museum courtyard between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., where children can play old-fashioned games such as bowling hoops and graces, make tin art, rope the museum’s own pet cow (made of plastic and wood!) and create tile rubbings.
• The festival’s Cherry Store will once again offer a variety of cherry-themed items, such as canvas bags, coffee mugs, wine glasses, jewelry and other hand-crafted items. [Receive a free water bottle with purchase of $5 or more (while supply lasts).]

San Leandro Family Bike Ride on Sunday

A group of parents has organized a family bike ride through parts of San Leandro in order to increase bicycle awareness in San Leandro. May is National Bike Month and featured "Bike to School" and "Bike to Work" days to encourage more people to ride bicycles to improve their health and reduce pollution.

According to a study at the University of New South Wales in September 2008, when more people ride bicycles in cities, the number of accidents actually decreases. The study looked at data from "Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, 14 European countries and 68 Californian cities."

Bicycle riders will meet at the Zocalo Coffeehouse parking lot at 9:45am, where the 5.6-mile ride will start and finish. For more information and a map of the route, see http://sites.google.com/site/sanleandrofamiliesride/

Parking at San Leandro BART Stations to Cost $1

The BART Board of Directors voted on May 28, 2009, to start charging $1 per day to park at a number of BART stations, including San Leandro and Bay Fair. The new parking fee begins in July along with a $.25 increase in the minimum BART fare, a 6.1% overall increase in BART fares, and a $2.50 increase for tickets to the San Francisco airport.

The actions were taken to help reduce an expected $54 million deficit.

San Leandro Student Wins Entrepreneur Competition

San Leandro High School student Alejandra Bonilla took first place in the Merrill Lynch/NFTE Bay Area Regional Youth Business Plan competition held May 28, 2009, at the University of San Francisco. As the winner of the competition, Bonilla will represent Northern California in the NFTE National Competition this fall in New York City.

Students from San Leandro High School took first place in the regional competition in 2008 and second place in 2007.

According to a press release, "The Merrill Lynch/NFTE business plan competition was created to inspire entrepreneurship and business ownership from an early age. It offers young entrepreneurs an opportunity to distinguish themselves as future business leaders, rewards their hard work, and exposes them to business professionals and government officials. NFTE awards the cash prizes to the winners to support the most innovative ideas among Bay Area teens and in invest in their long-term success."

Video of Bonilla's presentation:

More Meetings on San Leandro Hospital

Concerned community members will have more opportunities to speak out about the likely closure of San Leandro Hospital when the Eden Township Healthcare District Board, which owns the hospital, holds three meetings in the first half of June.

The lease between Sutter Health and the Eden Township Healthcare District Board expires on July 1, 2010.

In town hall meetings held at San Leandro City Hall on April 29 and May 8, community members expressed frustration at the lack of leadership from local elected officials, concern about San Leandro being without 24-hour emergency room service, and closed-door talks between Alameda County officials and Sutter Health. In meetings on May 11 and May 12, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors discussed San Leandro Hospital, with Supervisors Nate Miley and Scott Haggerty expressing frustration with San Leandro City Councilmembers Michael Gregory and Joyce Starosciak, who were lobbying to keep the hospital open. Opponents of closing San Leandro Hospital have attempted to link an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Castro Valley's Eden Medical Center to the closure of San Leandro Hospital. Supervisors decided to delay a decision on the EIR until their June 9 meeting.

The meetings will be held on June 8, 2009, at 6pm, June 11, 2009, at 1pm, and June 15, 2009, at 6pm. All meetings will be held in the Dave Karp room of the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue.

Documents on San Leandro Hospital, Sutter Health and Eden Township Healthcare District

For those seeking some history on San Leandro Hospital and Sutter Health, San Leandro Bytes is providing these documents:

• Eden Township Hospital District Resolution 359, June 11, 1997 and Resolution 364, December 17, 1997
• Restated Bylaws of Eden Medical Center, November 10, 1997
• Letter dated December 19, 1997 from Sutter Health to Eden Medical Center
• Restated Management Services Agreement Between Eden Hospital Health Services Corp. and Eden Medical Center, January 14, 1998
• Legal Opinion for Sutter Health, January 15, 1998
• Baywood Skilled Nursing Facility Employee and Facility Lease Agreement, January 15, 1998
• Agreement Regarding Approval of Members of the Board of Eden Medical Center, January 15, 1998
• Waiver of Condition Precedent Regarding Survey, January 15, 1998
• Sutter Health Closing Binder, January 15, 1998
• Exhibit 9.5, Required Government Consents, 1998
• Joint Defense Agreement between San Leandro Hospital, Triad Hospitals, Sutter Health, Eden Medical Center and Eden Township Healthcare District, December 10, 2003
• Lease and Hospital Operations Agreement, May 17, 2004
• Eden Township Healthcare District Asset Sale Agreement, May 25, 2004
• Wrap Around Agreement, May 25, 2004
• Eden Township Hospital District Resolution 378, June 2, 2004
• Preclosing and Closing Memorandum for Sale of San Leandro Hospital, June 29, 2004

Local 4-H Kids Receive President's Environmental Youth Award

San Leandro members of the East Hills 4-H Club were awarded the 2008 President's Environmental Youth Award for EPA Region 9 for a video they made entitled "A Plastic Predicament."

San Leandro students Clay Ferguson and Chance Boreczky made the video after they learned about the great Pacific garbage patch, a huge whirlpool of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean.

Ferguson was honored in 2007 as a finalist in the American Humane Association's Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest for fostering kittens. Ferguson also recently spoke before the San Leandro City Council in favor of changing rules that prohibit keeping chickens as pets.

The video was shown to the San Leandro City Council on May 19, 2008, and then to a meeting of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority in September 2008.

Region 9 of the U.S. EPA includes California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii.

Suessical the Musical Opens Tonight at Bancroft Middle School

Bancroft Musical Theatre's production of Suessical the Musical opens tonight at 7:30pm. Past productions have included Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast.

Tonight's show starts at 7:30pm. Shows on May 8 and May 9 also start at 7:30pm. A 2pm matinee will be held on May 10. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. There is no reserved seating.

Shows are held at Bancroft Middle School, located at 1150 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.

Downtown Farmers Market Returns Wednesday

The San Leandro Downtown Farmers Market returns Wednesday, May 6, 2009, after taking the winter off.

The Downtown Farmers Market was started a year ago and is held from 4pm to 8pm each Wednesday night. The opening will be marked by a raffle, children's coloring contest, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30pm.

Each Wednesday features a different theme: First Wednesdays are cooking demonstrations, second Wednesdays feature "green" themes, third Wednesdays have family entertainment, and fourth Wednesdays feature wine tastings.

The farmers market is held on Parrott Street, between East 14 Street and Washington Avenue. For more information, click here or call (510) 577-3311.

Grocery Outlet Set to Open While a Starbucks Will Close

By the end of April 2009, San Leandro will see the opening of Grocery Outlet and the closure of one of the eight San Leandro Starbucks locations.

The new Grocery Outlet will open at 2179 E 14th St., in the location previously occupied by the Salvation Army Thrift Store. It is located next to a site that is being developed for affordable senior housing at the corner of Estabrook Street and E. 14th Street, across from McKinley Elementary.

Grocery Outlet had previously sought to occupy the former downtown Albertson's location at 1550 E. 14th Street in August 2006 but was rebuffed by the City Council's designation of the site as an "opportunity" site as part of the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy.

As part of its closure of 200 stores across the U.S., the Starbucks location at 1443 E. 14th Street in downtown San Leandro will be closing by the end of the month. The closure was announced by Starbucks in January 2009. The closure should have little impact since there is also a Starbucks located less than 500 feet away in the nearby Safeway store.

SiCKO Screening at Zocalo on Thursday

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) will be showing Michael Moore's SiCKO on Thursday, April 2, 2009.

This documentary takes a look at the U.S. health care system and compares it to those of Great Britain, Canada, and France while highlighting the stories of everyday people in their quest for basic health care.

After the film, there will be a discussion about Sutter Health's plans for San Leandro Hospital's emergency room and other services. After Sutter Health purchased San Leandro Hospital in 2004, there has been widespread speculation that it would close the hospital, since Sutter also owns nearby Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Admission is free and the screening begins at 7pm at Zocalo Coffeehouse. Zocalo is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro.

Earthquake Workshop at San Leandro Library on Saturday

The City of San Leandro and Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker are sponsoring a free Earthquake Preparedness Fair at the San Leandro Library on Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Representatives from the Alameda County Fire Department, Red Cross, Salvation Army, East Bay MUD, and the US Geological Survey will be on-hand to answer questions and provide information for how to prepare for an earthquake, flood or fire.

A survival kit will be raffled every 30 minutes and emergency supplies will be available for sale at the fair.

The free workshop will be held from 10am to 2pm at the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Traffic Crackdown on E. 14th Street

If you're out on E. 14th Street today, make sure you obey all traffic laws. At least four motorcycle officers from the San Leandro Police Department and Alameda County Sheriff Department are pulling over large numbers of vehicles on Thursday, March 19, 2009, on E. 14th Street.

Family Valentine Movie Night at Zocalo

Bring the whole family to a enjoy an animated classic movie for Valentine's Family Movie Night at Zocalo Coffeehouse. Popcorn, and of course, coffee, will be provided at this free event organized by Lisa Jackson.

The event begins at 7pm. Zocalo Coffeehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.

San Leandro Teacher Sets Another Running Record

Bancroft Middle School teacher Jim Sorensen set a new record for the men's elite mile at the 42nd annual Hartshorne Memorial Masters Mile held at Cornell University on Saturday January 24, 2009. With a time of 4 minutes, 17.08 seconds, Sorensen eclipsed the record set in 1993 by John Bermingham and the fastest time in the events history.

Sorensen is 41 years old and has been setting new running records since he turned 40.

Some of his earlier accomplishments have been covered in June 2007 and December 2008.

Second San Leandro Walmart to Open January 14, 2009

San Leandro's second Walmart will open on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at the site of a former Target store. After a ribbon-cutting at 7:30am, the store will open for business at 8am.

In a press release highlighting the store opening, San Leandro Chamber of Commerce President David Johnson states, “The San Leandro Chamber is committed to the vibrancy of our business community, and we welcome Walmart and the more than 300 jobs this store is bringing to our community...We urge San Leandro residents and businesses to ‘Shop San Leandro First!’, supporting our businesses and keeping our tax dollars local, thereby helping to maintain our vital city services.”

Walmart is donating $15,000 to local organizations such as the Davis Street Family Resource Center, Catholic Charities, Boys and Girls Club, Girls, Inc., and the San Lorenzo Unified School District to demonstrate "its support of the area."

Despite the faltering economy, Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer, reported a 1.9% increase in same store sales in December 2008 compared to 2007. Walmart also recently agreed to settle 63 class-action lawsuits that alleged violations of labor laws. The settlements could cost up to $640 million.

The new Walmart is located at 15555 Hesperian Boulevard at the intersection with Lewelling.

Christmas Lights in San Leandro

Arguello Dr. (near Monterey Blvd)

15164 Wiley

15102 Chapel Ct. (near Farnsworth)

1171 Oakes Blvd.

975 Estudillo Ave.

Santa at the Fire House on Saturday, December 20, 2008

Santa Claus will join the Alameda County Firefighters on Saturday, December 20, 2008, for the second annual Santa at the Fire House. For a $10 donation, you can take a picture with Santa on an antique fire engine, have milk with some of San Leandro's Otis Spunkmeyer cookies and listen to firefighters read "A Firefighter’s Night Before Christmas."

Proceeds will go towards the Alameda County Firefighters Holiday Toy Drive and a scholarship in memory of Craig Alaniz, who lost his battle with cancer in January 2008. Alaniz was the inspiration for the first Santa at the Fire House event in 2007.

The event will take place at San Leandro Fire Station #9 at 450 Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro from 11:30am to 3:30pm. For more information or to make a donation call Aisha Knowles at (510) 618-3479 or email aisha.knowles@acgov.org.

San Leandro Teacher Jim Sorensen Named Masters Track & Field Athlete of the Year

San Leandro teacher Jim Sorensen was named Masters Track & Field Athlete of the Year in the Mens 40 to 44-year old category by USA Track & Field (USATF) at its Annual Awards Breakfast on December 6, 2008.

Sorensen set the world masters record for 1,500 meters on June 3, 2007, and the world masters record for 800 meters on June 30, 2007.

Sorensen teaches physical education at Bancroft Middle School in San Leandro, California. San Leandro Bytes previously reported on Sorensen's accomplishments in June 2007.

Last Chance to See Metamophoses at the San Leandro High School Pool

After Saturday night's performance of Metamorphoses was rained out, it will be performed for the last time on Sunday, November 9, 2008. The performance is based on the myths of Ovid and takes places in the pool at San Leandro High School. This unique performance was a hit with audiences, including a standing-room only crowd for the Friday night show. Click here to view scenes from the performance.

Tickets for Metamorphoses are $10 for adults and $7 for students. The performance begins at 7:30pm and doors open at 7pm. The entire performance takes about an hour and there is no intermission. Dress warmly as it is outside. The show is not appropriate for children younger than 13.

Second Kaiser Community Meeting

Artist rendering of Kaiser Permanente's new San Leandro Facility

Kaiser Permanente held a second community meeting at the San Leandro Library on November 6, 2008, to show off its planned development for the former grocery distribution center at the intersection of Marina Boulevard and Interstate 880. The presentation included a two-minute fly-over that incorporated a 3D rendering of the facility superimposed on an aerial photograph of the area.

Construction of the facility is expected to start in 2009 and it should be completed by 2012. The construction is expected to generate 3,000 short-term construction jobs.

Current designs include 263 beds for patients, all single rooms. According to the Kaiser Permanente representative, patients in single rooms have less hospital infections because they have less traffic than shared hospital rooms. The rooms also have accommodations for family, which also results in better outcomes for patients. The emergency room will have 41 beds.

The project will also include 250 residential units.

Attendees of the presentation received bags made from recycled soda bottles containing a flyer showing the proposed facility and a list of groups in San Leandro that received community grants from Kaiser in 2007 and 2008.

Another artist rendering of the new Kaiser Permanente facility in San Leandro.

San Leandro Police Web Site Goes Live

The San Leandro Police Department's new web site at http://www.slpdinfo.org/ was live as of October 22, 2008, although the official kickoff seems to be scheduled for October 24, 2008.

San Leandro Police Chief Dale Attarian plans to publish crime alerts, statistics, and other useful information for San Leandro residents.

For now, the site has little information and is difficult to read because of the background graphics that are used. Clicking on Crime Statistics gets you a "Coming Soon" page while Crime Alerts gets you what appears to be a test entry for someone wandering aimlessly at City Hall.

24 Lost Desperate Heros Wins Trivia Bee Again

24 Desperate Lost Heros made it two in-a-row by winning Project Literacy's 15th Annual Trivia Bee on Friday, October 17, 2008. One of the San Leandro Library teams took second and Katz for Morgan took third, nearly a repeat of last year's result, in which the Katz Team tied with the San Leandro Police Officers Association.

With the passing of Daily Review columnist Ray Orrock in March 2008, question reading was handled by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Kurtz and Leslie Frates, a San Leandro resident and professor who has appeared on the television quiz show Jeopardy 14 times. Kathy Kurtz served as the official time keeper and Sue Kleebauer was the emcee. There were 30 questions in the first round, 20 in the second round and 10 in the last round.

In addition to the Trivia Bee, a raffle featured a flat-screen television, a GPS system, tickets for Disneyland and dozens of other prizes from local businesses and individuals. Funds raised by the Trivia Bee help Project Literacy to provide literacy services to more than 200 adults and 1,500 kids each year.

Thirty teams competed in the annual fundraiser that brings in more than $10,000 each year for Project Literacy. Teams included businesses like State Roofing Systems, candidates (Ursula Reed and Katz for Morgan Mack-Rose), the San Leandro Library, Project Literacy, Alameda County Firefighters, the Kaplan Family, the San Leandro City Council, the Pontificators, and the San Leandro Police Officers Association.

Mayor Santos and the San Leandro City Council were on-hand to present trophies and medals to the top three teams. Also on hand were California State Senator and former San Leandro Mayor Ellen Corbett and California State Assemblymember Mary Hayashi.

Brian Copeland Hits 500 Performances for "Not a Genuine Black Man"

Local San Leandro author, comedian, radio and TV host and performer Brian Copeland will mark another milestone next week when his solo show "Not a Genuine Black Man" has its 500th performance.

That show will take place at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Friday, October 24, 2008. "Not a Genuine Black Man" is scheduled to run through November 30, 2008.

Copeland is offering San Leandro residents and their guests tickets for half price when they identify themselves as San Leandro residents when they call 925-943-SHOW (7469) to order tickets.

The show will also benefit the CaroLena Foundation, a non-profit Copeland founded to promote diversity through art, performance, and scholarship. The foundation will award scholarships to help students pay for tuition and books and fund artists doing similar work.

Six shows are scheduled for the Hudson Theatres in Hollywood on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning November 11, 2008. Tickets are available by calling 323-965-9996 or from www.plays411.net.

Copeland's solo show began at The Marsh in San Francisco more than four years ago. It tells the story of growing up black in San Leandro and its poignant story is familiar to anyone who has felt like an outsider. Copeland has performed the show throughout California and even off-Broadway in New York.

San Leandro Crossings Meeting on Monday October 20, 2008

Here's the text of the invitation from Westlake:

Westlake Development Partners, BRIDGE Housing Corporation and BUILD, LLC cordially invite you to attend a community meeting to discuss the proposed San Leandro Crossings Project. This meeting will be the fourth and final of four community meetings designed to present the development concept and to seek input from the community.

The project includes two sites located in the City’s Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy Area and is being designed to be fully consistent with the City’s recently approved TOD Area requirements.

- Site 1, located at the northeast corner of San Leandro Blvd and Juana Street (site of the current BART East Parking Lot) will include 200 market rate residential units, 5,000 square feet of retail space and 290 associated parking spaces. The residential units will include a mix of studios, one and two bedroom units. The project architect is Thomas P. Cox Architects, Inc.

- Site 2a, 100% of the existing public BART East Parking Lot spaces will be relocated to a new parking structure to be constructed on property owned by Westlake on the west side of the BART station.

- Site 2b, located on the west side of the BART station, will include 100 affordable residential units with a mix of one, two and three bedroom units and 100 associated parking spaces. The project architect is David Baker + Partners Architects.

For further information, please call Gaye Quinn at 415.970.9821.

Click here for a copy of the invitation.

The meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Monday, October 20, 2008, at the San Leandro Library. The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Drake's Sold to Triple Rock

San Leandro's Drake's Brewing Co. was sold to Berkeley's Triple Rock Brewery on Monday, October 6, 2008, according to published reports.

Roger Lind started Drakes as Lind Brewing in San Leandro in 1989. The Rogers Co. has operated the company since it purchased it in 1999 until its sale to Triple Rock.

In the past few years, Drakes has held a "Beer Festival and Washoes Tournament" that raised funds for Jefferson and Roosevelt Elementary Schools in San Leandro.

Triple Rock proprietor John Martin says that Drake's won't change with the change in ownership. Drake's Brewery is located at 1933 Davis St., Suite 177, in San Leandro.

Free Housing Crisis Workshop on Saturday September 27, 2008

On September 27, 2008, Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker together with Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA) and Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) will hold a free workshop on the housing crisis at the San Leandro Library. The workshop is for homeowners facing foreclosure, home buyers, and renters who are renting homes that are in foreclosure.

According to Default Research, there were 218 foreclosures in San Leandro in August 2008, up from 150 during the second quarter of 2008.

The workshop will be held from 10am to 12 pm at the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro. Click here for a flyer. For more information and to RSVP for the event, call (510) 278-0367.

San Leandro Library Offers New Digital Audio Books

The San Leandro Library has added Playaway audio books to the cassette tape and CD-ROM audio books it has offered for years. Unlike tapes and CD-ROMs, no separate player is required - each book comes as its own self-contained electronic device, much like an iPod. Users only need a pair of headphones and a library card to listen to the book.

The library currently has 26 Playaway audio books, including classics like The Great Gatsby, The Stranger, 1984, Animal Farm, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to modern titles like Angela's Ashes and The Kite Runner.

Like other audio books, checking out the Playaway audio books is free to library cardholders. The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Firefighters Over Police in Charity Softball Game

The Alameda County Firefighters defeated the San Leandro Police 16 to 15 in a charity softball game held at Thrasher Park on Saturday, August 23, 2008. The game was a fundraiser for the family of Nels Dan Niemi and American Cancer Society. The San Leandro Police were leading after the originally scheduled for six innings, but the Alameda County Firefighters managed to come back and win after three more innings.

Sausage & Suds Coming on October 5, 2008

The annual Sausage & Suds Music and Food Festival will be held in downtown San Leandro on Sunday, October 5, 2008. It will be held on Parrott Street between E. 14th Street and Washington Avenue.

Library Has Blu-ray Discs for Rental and Checkout

On August 8, 2008, the San Leandro Library began offering movies on high-definition Blu-ray discs in addition to standard DVDs and VHS tapes.

According to Senior Librarian Penny Peck, the library started with 100 discs and more will be added over time. The library's collection currently includes about 120 Blu-ray discs, including multiple copies of some movies. Like DVDs, the newer Blu-ray discs are available for rental at $3 per movie for three days.

Blu-ray discs require a Blu-ray player and will not play on standard DVD players. Blu-ray gets it name from the color of the laser used to read the disc.

The Blu-ray discs are located near the rental books and DVDs at the library to highlight their availability and reduce the potential for theft.

PACE Seeks Candidates for Leadership Scholarship

The Political Action Committee for Excellence (PACE) is seeking female candidates to apply for a full scholarship to the Leadership San Leandro program run by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.

PACE is a recipient committee, which is a group that can contribute money in support of (or against) candidates and ballot measures. PACE is composed completely of women and only contributes money to female candidates for office. The goal of PACE is to get more women elected and involved in civic activities. Members of PACE include Councilmembers Surlene Grant, Joyce Starosciak and Diana Souza, California State Senator Ellen Corbett, and former Mayor Shelia Young.

The Leadership San Leandro program consists of a two-day retreat and nine monthly one-day sessions from September to June with the goal of preparing community leaders. The value of the scholarship is estimated at $900.

According to information from PACE, the candidate requirements are:

• Live or work in San Leandro
• Female
• Submit a one-page statement describing yourself, your involvement in the City and/or Civic engagements and why you are interested in participating in the Leadership San Leandro program.
• Attend at least one PACE meeting
• Report back to PACE a summary of the program and provide feedback after completing the program
• Commit to the program attendance requirements

More information about Leadership San Leandro can be found here. Applicants should complete the Leadership San Leandro application and submit it with your one-page statement by August 29, 2008, to Diana Souza, PO Box 1976, San Leandro, CA 94577-0197. Contact Diana Souza for more information.

Community Meeting on Downtown San Leandro BART TOD Development

A community meeting will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2008, to discuss San Leandro Crossings, the first Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project in downtown San Leandro. According to a letter from Westlake Development Partners, the purpose of the meeting "is to introduce the project team, development concept and to gather input from the community that will be used as the planning and design process moves forward."

The development includes two sites: the BART parking lot east of the downtown BART station at San Leandro Boulevard and West Juana Avenue and the empty lot just west of the BART station.

The meeting will be held at 6:30pm in the Karp Room at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro. For more information, contact Gaye Quinn at 415.970.9821.

For the complete text of the letter, see below:

When: Thursday, August 7, 2008
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: The San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue - Dave Karp Room
For: San Leandro Residents and Interested Parties

Westlake Development Partners LLC, BRIDGE Housing Corporation and BUILD, LLC cordially invite you to attend a community meeting to discuss the proposed San Leandro Crossings Project. The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the project team, development concept and to gather input from the community that will be used as the planning and design process moves forward.

The project includes two sites located in the City's Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy Area and is being designed to be fully consistent with the City's recently approved TOD Area requirements.

Site 1 is located at the northeast corner of San Leandro Blvd and Juana Street (site of the current BART East Parking Lot) will include 200 market rate residential units, 5,000 square feet of retail space and associated parking. The residential units will include a mix of studios, one and two bedroom units. The existing public BART parking spaces will be relocated to a new parking structure to be constructed on property owned by Westlake on the west side of the BART station. The project architect is Thomas P. Cox Architects, Inc.

Site 2 is located on the west side of the BART station and will include 100 affordable residential units with a mix of one, two and three bedroom units and associated parking The project architect is David Baker + Partners Architects.

Light refreshments will be served. For further information, please call Gaye Quinn at 415.970.9821.

San Leandro High Teacher Recognized for Community Service

San Leandro High School history teacher and coach Jack Nelson received the Jefferson Award for public service and was recognized in the July 26, 2008, edition of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Nelson also teaches physical education at John Muir Middle School. Two years ago, Nelson formed a Jefferson Service Group at San Leandro High School. The students volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, and senior centers and pick up trash.

He has raised money for Children's Hospital, the families of two San Leandro High students who were killed in Oakland, a boy who was shot and paralyzed while taking piano lessons in Piedmont, and for San Leandro sports programs. His next fundraiser is a half-marathon and will benefit the Davis Street Family Resource Center.

Two Angry Moms to Screen at San Leandro Library on Wed. July 16

On Wednesday, July 16, 2008, the documentary Two Angry Moms will be shown at the San Leandro Library. The documentary follows Susan Rubin as she tries to get her school district to make its school lunches more healthy. The film was produced by independent filmmaker Amy Kalafa, who shared Rubin's goal of replacing fatty and sugary foods with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Rubin writes, "My hope is that other parents who aren't too pleased about the food and junk food rewards their kids receive at school will be inspired by the film to take action in their own schools. If you’re not angry about what is being served in your kid’s school, maybe you ought to be!"

Two Angry Moms will be shown at 7:30pm at the San Leandro Library at 300 Estudillo Ave. Admission is free but registration is required.

The movie is sponsored by Shaping Youth, Bay Area Parent, the Downtown San Leandro Farmers' Market, and Fresh Approach.

San Leandro Couple Married in Oakland

Weddings are not normally newsworthy, but Tuesday, June 17, 2008, was the first full day that same sex weddings took place in California and San Leandro couple Karen Fernandez and Luz Salcedo were married in Oakland that morning.

The couple celebrated in San Francisco's Castro district, where their photograph was taken by San Francisco Chronicle photographer Noah Berger:

Karen Fernandez is one of the founders of Quality of Life Services, a group that was formed in January 2008 in response to concerns about crime in San Leandro.

Free Wireless in San Leandro

When you want to get out of the house and relax with your laptop, food and ambience, here's a list of the places where wireless Internet access is available for free:

Cafe Americano
2150 Washington Ave
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 895-8044
SSiD/Network Name: 2WIRE385

Cafe Sorriso
1501 Washington Ave
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 351-3605
SSiD/Network Name: Cafe Sorriso

Hilton Garden Inn
510 Lewelling Boulevard
San Leandro, CA 94579
(510) 346-5533
SSiD/Network Name: HGI-OAKSL2 and OAKSL3

Mon Cafe
971 Manor Blvd
San Leandro, CA 94579
(510) 895-5282
SSiD/Network Name: moncafe

Planet Coffee
1423 E 14th St
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 351-5527
SSiD/Network Name: Planet-Coffee

Sabinos
1273 MacArthur Blvd
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 357-5282
SSiD/Network Name: Sabinos

San Leandro Marina Inn
68 San Leandro Marina
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 895-1311
SSiD/Network Name: Marina Inn Lobby

Washington Manor Library
1241 Manor Boulevard
San Leandro, CA 94579
SSiD/Network Name: San Leandro Library
Requires an email address

Zocalo Coffeehouse
645 Bancroft Ave
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 569-0102
SSiD/Network Name: Zocalo Coffeehouse

Free wireless is also advertised at Bayfair Center and Dennys, but San Leandro Bytes was unable to get a usable wireless connection at these locations.

If you don't have a laptop, free Internet access is available on six computers at Kmart at 250 Floresta Blvd:

San Leandro residents can get a library card and use computers at the library to access the Internet.

If you know of other places that offer free wireless Internet access, leave a comment.

2008 Cherry Festival Schedule and Map (May 31, 2008)

The 2008 Cherry Festival is scheduled for 10am to 6pm on Saturday, May 31, 2008. Admission is free.

High School Film Festival at Zocalo on June 5, 2008

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) celebrates the multimedia accomplishments of San Leandro High School's student filmmakers with a film festival highlighting the works of the San Leandro Academy for Multimedia (SLAM). These sophomores, juniors, and seniors are learning their core classes through use of digital photography, animation, web design, video production, 3D graphics, and special effects.

Animated shorts depict the reproduction cycle of a cell, Harvey Milk, a clay man who falls into a drawn world, the story of a boy with no name, and a pear dance.

Other films include:

• Memorials for Greg Ballard, Nayanci Gonzalez, Dominique Brown, and Melissa Jackson
• Two public service advertisements (PSAs) on the dangers of smoking
• The dangers of dancing without a belt
• a skateboard taking a ride without its owner
• how to make a tape shoe
• Steven Biko
• Sunkist soda
• a poem by Jason Wong
• an epic struggle for a hotpocket

The films will be shown at Zocalo Coffeehouse at 7pm on June 5, 2008. Zocalo Coffeehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro.

Downtown Farmers' Market Opens to Enthusiastic Crowd

The inaugural downtown Farmer's Market opened on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, to an enthusiastic crowd. Strawberries from Watsonville, seafood from Santa Cruz, baked goods from Alameda, Indian food from Hayward, gourmet Italian food from San Francisco, almonds from Modesto, and BBQ from Vallejo were among the variety of offerings. For kids, there was face-painting, balloon animals, and a walking over-sized carrot.

Mayor Tony Santos was joined by California State Senator and former San Leandro Mayor Ellen Corbett, Councilmembers Diana Souza and Joyce Starosciak, and City Manager John Jermanis in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to mark the start of the Farmer's Market.

The Farmers' Market is held on Wednesdays from 4 to 8pm on Parrott Street between E. 14th St. and Washington Avenue and will continue until October 22, 2008. The first Wednesday of the month will feature cooking demonstrations followed by live music, family entertainment, and wine tasting on subsequent Fridays.

For video of the ribbon-cutting, see below:

San Leandro Teacher Picks Up Sponsor for Video Podcast

San Leandro High School teacher Tony Farley has been publishing video podcasts of beautiful natural places since May 2007. Farley combined his job as a teacher in the San Leandro Academy of Multimedia (SLAM) with his love of hiking and the outdoors and now has the backing of On Networks, a producer of a variety of video podcasts.

On Networks provides production assistance and marketing. The assistance from On Networks is most notable in the additional narration. Farley will also get a cut of sales of related DVDs and apparel, when they become available. This will help him fund trips for future episodes farther from home, such as Hawaii. Prior to his current relationship with On Networks, Farley had been courting other possible sponsors, as in this post, "...if someone wants me to come to their neck of the woods, I would be more than happy to come out and do a show that includes something about whatever service they provide."

What is a video podcast? A video podcast is basically a shorter version of something you might see on television. They typically run less than 10 minutes and instead of being produced by major networks, they are usually homemade by enthusiasts. Many video podcasts are available for free and can be accessed using Apple's iTunes or Miro to find and "subscribe." After subscribing to a video podcast, future episodes are downloaded automatically each time you open iTunes or Miro.

So far, Farley's twelve podcasts have focused mainly on California places like Yosemite, Big Sur and Point Reyes with two episodes on Rocky Mountain National Park. Four more episodes have been filmed, but still need to be edited. The podcasts range in size from about 30 megabytes (MB) to 260 MB and all are less than 10 minutes long.

You can subscribe to the video podcasts using iTunes, Miro, and Zune (standard definition only), at http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/beautiful-places-in-hd/. The HD podcasts take longer to download, but they're worth it.

Building Demolished to Make Way for Affordable Senior Housing

Demolition of the last building at former site of Sir Richards Car Store Outlet was completed on May 7, 2008. The site will be developed into a 51-unit senior housing development by Eden Housing. Construction is scheduled to begin this Fall and completed in late fall 2009.

The lot is located at 2121 E. 14th Street.

Safety Group Touts Motion-Activated Lights to Fight Crime

The recently-formed group Citizens for a Safer Leandro is working to fund a pilot project to install motion-activated lights in about 500 to 600 homes in each of San Leandro's six council districts. The group made a presentation at the May 5, 2008, meeting of the San Leandro City Council. The cost of the pilot project is estimated at $5,700, and Councilmember Michael Gregory presented the group with a check for $500 from his empowerment fund at the conclusion of their presentation.

The group hopes that installation of the motion sensors will help reduce crime. Subsidies will be provided for those who can't afford the estimated $20 cost and the group will work with another group to get the motion detectors installed. Their goal is to get the sensors installed by mid-summer and to expand the program to the entire city next year.

During the presentation, one of the group's founders, Connie Stephens (wife of City Councilmember Bill Stephens), noted that San Leandro has had six residents killed during 2008, although it was unclear how these were related to crime in San Leandro, since all but one were killed outside of San Leandro.

Stephens also said she was concerned about students gathering at the library after school and noted that a student ran in front of her car without looking as she was parking during a "disturbance" at the library. Stephens told the City Council, "As I parked and went into the library, there were kids everywhere and I couldn't imagine what was going on...I wasn't so much concerned for myself, but my community and the seniors that have built this community deserve better. I think if I was a senior citizen I would be very intimidated to have to walk through that kind of disturbance."

Coverage at the Daily Review.

The entire presentation is posted below:

Connie Stephens:

Judith Collins and John Kaplan:

Long Wait for $.31 Ice Cream at Baskin Robbins

On April 30, 2008, Baskin Robbins and National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation joined together to honor America's firefighters. Baskin Robbins offered scoops of ice cream for just $.31 while Alameda County Firefighters were on hand to collect donations and hand out plastic firefighter hats to kids.

The line for ice cream stretched halfway through Pelton Center with a wait of more than an hour.

Baskin Robbins is located at 100 Pelton Center Way in San Leandro.

Local Restaurant Featured in San Francisco Chronicle

Sweet Fingers, a Jamaican restaurant on E. 14th Street in San Leandro, was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle. The articles states that owner Clive Barnes is from Jamaica and "has been in the food business for more than 15 years."

Reviews at Yelp are mostly positive. Local restaurant reviewer Marga Lacabe likes it as well, but she and the Chronicle both note that the service is leisurely.

Live entertainment includes open mic poetry on Thursday nights, In House Sound System on Friday nights, and a reggae band on Saturday nights.

Sweet Fingers is located at 464 E. 14th St. in San Leandro.

San Leandro Golfer Named WAC Golfer of the Week

Former San Leandro High School student Cristina Corpus was named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week for April 7-13, 2008, and San Jose State University's Student-Athlete of the Week. Corpus tied for third, her best college finish, in the Peg Barnard California Collegiate golf tournament at Stanford held April 11-12, 2008. Corpus lead her San Jose State University golf team to a fourth place finish and her fifth top-20 finish of the season.

Corpus was previously named WAC Women's Golfer of the Week for March 3-9, 2008 and WAC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year in 2007.

Bayfair Celebrates 50 Years on Saturday, April 12, 2008

Bayfair Center is celebrating its 50th Anniversary on Saturday, April 12, 2008. Bayfair opened in 1957 at the site of the former Oakland Speedway and was the first two-story open-air mall. The celebration will take place at the center court with the following schedule:

• 9:00am. . . . . . . . . . . . High School Art Contest begins
• 1:00pm. . . . . . . . . . . . Unveiling of Celebrate San Leandro photo exhibit
• 3:00pm. . . . . . . . . . . . The Motown tribute band, Picture Perfect
• 3:00pm. . . . . . . . . . . . Award winning balloon artists and face painters
• 4:00pm. . . . . . . . . . . . Mayor Tony Santos and members of the Chamber of Commerce will preside over a ribbon cutting and commendation followed by the announcement of the Art Contest winners
• 4:30pm. . . . . . . . . . . . Enjoy refreshments by Chevyʼs, Chiliʼs, Fresh Choice, and Jamba Juice and a FREE slice of 50th Anniversary celebration cake for everyone

Prizes will also be given away throughout the day.

For more information, see the Bayfair flyer.

Bonaire Civic League Disbands

At a meeting held on Wednesday, March 26, 2008, the Bonaire Civic League disbanded. The last president, Virginia Boepple, moved away from San Leandro recently and the organization had been inactive for some time.

The Bonaire Civic League was formed in 1953 as the Bonaire Homeowners Association and covers two square miles in the southern-most area of San Leandro. Beckett & Federighi built 699 houses in an area that had been used for cabbage and sugar beet farming to create the Bonaire community.

Former City Councilmember and San Leandro School Board Member Nathan Kleinstein was from Bonaire and served as the Bonaire Civic League President from 1965 to 1967. Former San Leandro City Councilmember and California State Assemblyman Johan Klehs received a scholarship from the Bonaire Civic League in 1970 as a graduating senior.

Continuing that tradition of supporting local schools, the Bonaire Civic League decided to distribute its remaining bank balance by giving $4,000 to scholarships for San Leandro High School students who are residents of Bonaire, $3,500 to the library at Madison Elementary, and the remainder to a local church.

Cherry Festival Returns on May 31, 2008

The Cherry Festival will be held this year in downtown San Leandro, on Saturday, May 31, 2008.

In 2007, the Cherry Festival returned after a three-year hiatus caused by budget cuts. Like last year, the Cherry Festival will be one-day instead of two and will take place downtown. Admission is free. More details as they become available.

Community Air Quality Input Meeting Thursday March 27, 2008

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will hold a workshop describing its Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program on Thursday, March 27, 2008, in the Dave Karp toom at the San Leandro Public Library from 6pm to 8pm. The workshop will also describe funding opportunities to reduce air pollution emissions and solicit community concerns and ideas on possible mitigation measures

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (Air District) Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program estimates health risks associated with exposure to outdoor toxic air contaminants (TACs) in the Bay Area. The CARE Program:

• Has examined TAC emissions from point sources, area sources and on-road and off-road mobile sources with an emphasis on diesel exhaust


• Will guide the development of additional measures to reduce toxic air pollution in areas with the highest health risk


• Will develop and implement mitigation measures to reduce TAC emissions in areas with the highest health risk

• The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program) is a state funded program that offers grants to owners of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment in order to reduce air pollution emissions from heavy-duty engines.


• The Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) program is to provide grants to implement the most cost-effective projects in the Bay Area that will decrease motor vehicle emissions, and thereby improve air quality.


• The Goods Movement Program (I Bond) provides grant incentives to owners of equipment to quickly reduce air pollution emissions and health risks caused by freight movement along California’s priority trade corridors.

The San Leandro Public Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Marina Park Easter Egg Hunt

San Leandro's Annual Easter Egg Hunt was held at Marina Park on Saturday, March 22, 2008. The San Leandro Muncipal Band entertained the crowd while the Easter Bunny (Teresa Glaze) posed for pictures and handed out lollipops.

The egg hunt was divided into five separate areas by age (1-2 year olds, 3-4 year olds, etc.) and children waited with their parents for the whistle to blow, signaling it was time to start.

Despite signs instructing parents not to help their children pick up candy and the admonitions of staff, once the whistle blew, some parents scooped up candy by the handful to fill baskets for their children. Some of these parents carried on, even when asked to stop or leave the area by staff.

San Leandro Company Receives $20 Million in Funding

According to a regulatory filing, ePAC, a San Leandro-based provider of printing and logistics solutions for the high-tech industry, has received $20 million of venture capital in Series C-1 funding from HarbourVest Partners. Menlo Ventures, Investor Growth Capital and Thorner Ventures are investors that have funded ePAC in previous rounds of financing. ePAC received $30.5 million in funding in May 2006. A second round of funding totaled $12.8 million in September 2003.

ePAC is located at 2561 Grant Avenue in San Leandro, but according to its web site, "ePAC is headquartered in Silicon Valley."

Pee Wee's Starts Rebuilding

Pee Wee's Pizza, a fixture on E. 14th Street for more than 50 years, has started rebuilding after it was gutted by a fire on September 5, 2006. The owner, Eddie Tarin, didn't have fire insurance and Tommy T's helped raise some money with a fundraiser three weeks after the fire. Tarin had worked at Pee Wee's as a cook before he purchased the business from the Caselli family, which started Pee Wee's in 1953.

Community Meeting on February 19, 2008, at San Leandro Library

A group called Quality of Life Services of San Leandro has organized a Community Open House partially in response to a meeting held on January 29, 2008, about crime in San Leandro. At that meeting, there was some confusion about whether the meeting was intended for all San Leandro residents, since maps of reported crimes on display at the meeting were only for Estudillo Estates and the area west of Estudillo Estates. The organizer of that meeting, Connie Stephens, indicated that the meeting was intended for all San Leandro residents.

Karen Fernandez was at that meeting and offered to hold another meeting, which has been scheduled for February 19, 2008. She intends to join efforts with HealthySanLeandro Environmental Collaborative to discuss the concerns of San Leandro residents from all neighborhoods.

At the meeting, Lt. Marc DeCoulode of the San Leandro Police Department is scheduled to give an overview of crime definitions. Seventy minutes of the meeting will be allocated for residents to speak about any subject.

The group has started a mailing list, which can be found at http://groups.google.com/group/QualityLifeSL.

The Community Open House will be held on Tuesday, February, 19, 2008, from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the San Leandro Library Lecture Hall at 300 Estudillo Avenue. For more information, contact slcitizens@gmail.com.

Daily Review coverage.

San Leandro Officer Moonlights as Voice Actor

San Leandro Police officer Brian Sommer was featured on the front-page of the Datebook section of the January 31, 2008, San Francisco Chronicle for his work as a voice actor for video games and advertising. There is also a podcast. Sommer has been working as a police officer in San Leandro since 1987.

According to Sommer's web site, he has done voice work for the video games SOCOM 3, America's Army, and Sam and Max. His web site also features samples of his work and a bio that says nothing of his day job in San Leandro.

Free Screening of Made in L.A./Hecho en Los Angeles on Feb. 7 at Zocalo

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) continues it monthly film series with a screening of Made in L.A./Hecho en Los Angeles at 7:00pm on Thursday, February 7, 2008.

According to the movie web site, "Made in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from a mega-trendy clothing retailer. In intimate verite style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice."

Admission is free and the movie will be shown at Zocalo Coffeehouse.

Sarah O'Neal Rush Speaks at San Leandro MK Jr. Celebration

Sarah O'Neal Rush, great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, spoke today, when we honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. The event was held at the Marina Community Center.

Ms. Rush's speech had to be split into three parts. Here are parts two and three.

Town Hall meeting for Washington Manor Residents Thursday January 10, 2008

On Thursday, January 10, 2008, Councilmembers Joyce Starosciak and Diana Souza will hold a Town Hall at the Marina Community Center for Washington Manor residents.

Issues to be discussed include crime, the Washington Manor Middle School gymnasium project, and the activities of the Washington Manor Homeowners Association. Refreshments will be served.

The meeting will start at 6:30pm. The Marina Community Center is located at 15301 Wicks Blvd. in San Leandro.

Turkey Vultures Atop Downtown Buildings Sunday Morning

A group of about 30 turkey vultures makes the trees or Memorial Park and near San Leandro Creek is resting spot most nights. On Sunday morning, December 30, 2007, the turkey vultures tooks to sunning themselves atop the First Presbyterian Church of San Leandro, Santos & Robinson Mortuary, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Turkey vultures atop the First Presbyterian Church of San Leandro

Turkey vultures sunning themselves on Wells Fargo Bank

Turkey vulture atop the Santos & Robinson Mortuary

Pat Bouligny Chosen as Interim CEO of San Leandro Chamber of Commerce

The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce announced today that Pat Bouligny has been chosen as its interim CEO. Bouligny is the President of Bouligny & Associates, which seems to be a human resources consulting firm. Bouligny has served on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area for six years and is also the current President of the Board. According to her biography, Bouligny was the first African American President of the Bay Area Girl Scouts. She also served on the Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors for the Tampa Boys & Girls Club.

Dan Walters, the Chair of the San Leandro Chamber's CEO Search Committee, is also on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area.

The other members of the Search Committee are Bernard Ashcraft, President Robert Brannan, Burt Boltuch, and President-Elect Rose Padilla Johnson.

Bouligny replaces Diana Gentry, who was CEO just less than a year.

Red Mountain Gets out Some Holiday PR

Red Mountain Retail Group recently placed this sign on the former Albertson's at 1550 E. 14th Street.

Happy Holidays "We can't wait to give the gift of a Grocery Store."

The Albertsons site has been vacant since 2005 and Red Mountain has filed a legal action to force the city to accept Grocery Outlet as the tenant of the property. Red Mountain lost an appeal of its classification as a supermarket before the San Leandro City Council in July 2007. The City Council decision came just days after Red Mountain and Grocery Outlet held a "picnic" at the site, where items from Grocery Outlet were handed out for free and recipients were encouraged to sign a petition in favor of Grocery Outlet.

San Leandro Chamber Announces Nominees for 2008 Board of Directors

The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce recently announced its 2008 Board of Director Nominees for terms that will end in 2010. The nominees are:

• Doug Devlin, TriNet
• Kathe Frates, San Leandro Surgery Center (also represents BASSL)
• Gordon Galvan, Galvan & Associates
• John Gooding, The Quadric Group
• Lathon "Judge" Landis
• Christine Lim, San Leandro Unified School District
• Pat Paddatori, Sanhyd, Inc.
• Terry Rodgers, Fremont Bank
• Dave Tucker, Waste Management
• Mike Tye, Saag's Products
• Rusty Weekes, Comcast

Officers for the 2008 Term:

• President: Rose Padilla Johnson, Davis Street Family Resource Center
• President-Elect: John Johnson, McDermott-Costa
• Past President: Robert Brannan, Lloyd Wise/Marina MediaVision
• Treasurer: Ken Pon, CPA (also represents Downtown Association)
• V.P. Business Development: Cynthia Colmenares, Jack Frost Design
• V.P. Legal Compliance: Burt Boltuch, Law Offices of Burt Boltuch
• V.P. Operations: Mary Corbett
• V.P. Government Affairs: Dan Walters, Copper Harbor Company
• Industrial Roundtable: Dale Reed, Double D Properties

Directors for the Term ending 2008:
African American Business Council Representative
Latino Business Council Representative

Directors with Continuing Terms Not Requiring Election:

• Robert Bernardo, Port of Oakland
• Mike Betts, Betts Spring Company
• Melissa Deadrich, Deadrich Realty
• Carrie Dobert, Alameda County Industries
• Charles Gilcrest, Gilcrest Management Services
• Wil Hardee, Pacific Gas & Electric
• Nora Klebow, Kaiser Permanente
• Jay Laude, McDermott Costa
• Arlene Lum, AT&T (also represents Asian Business Council)
• Cassandra Phelps, Eden Medical Center
• Hank Sullivan, Strategic Solutions (also represents Ambassadors)
Posted by mike at 6:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Davis Street's Rose Padilla Johnson Featured in Oakland Magazine

Rose Padilla Johnson, Executive Director of Davis Street Family Resource Center, is featured in the December 2007 edition of Oakland Magazine as one of its Hometown Heroes. According to the article, Davis Street provides "childcare, food and health care to more than 10,000 low-income residents in East Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley." The article notes that "Davis Street was originally founded as a ministry of the First Christian Church in 1970." Johnson joined Davis Street in 1991 and the organization moved into a new office on Teagarden Street in 2002.

Johnson will be President of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and she also serves on the San Leandro Rotary Club.

Johnson has three children and lives in Pleasanton with her husband, former Alameda County Fire Chief Bill McCammon.

Davis Street Family Resource Center is located at 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro.

Santa at Zocalo today

Santa is visiting Zocalo today, Sunday, December 2, 2007, until 1pm.

That's right, Santa and Mrs. Claus are at Zocalo right now visiting, having a hot cocoa and meeting children!

With a donation of $5 or a toy to exchange ($5 value max), you can join in on the gift exchange as well!

Come on down and your kids can get a Free Hot Chocolate!

Just head on back to the JavaGym to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus!
There's Christmas music, cookies and snacks.

San Leandro Lights Tree, Greets Santa

Kids decorated cookies with frosting and sprinkles, drank hot chocolate, and created ornaments while Girl Scouts handed out bags with energy-efficient flourescent light bulbs as hundreds gathered to watch the City of San Leandro's tree lighting on a chilly November 30, 2007.

After Mayor Tony Santos welcomed the crowd and introduced the City Council, the St. Felicitas Catholic School Choir peformed a number of Christmas carols for the crowd. The winners of the Gingerbread House contest were announced and were given awards by Mayor Santos and Councilmember Bill Stephens.

The winners were:

• Mommy & Me Category: Lily and Mom Nicole Flaner


• 3-8 year-old Category: Gabriel Riley


• 9-12 year-old Category: Athina Delacruz


• Traditional Adult Category: Peter Cleveland


• Nontraditional Aduly Category: Patricia Millar


• Group Category: Brownie Troop #306 led by Leslie Pestana

After the DC Dancers performed a few numbers, the very tall Christmas tree was lit to the delight of the crowd.

Soon after, Santa Claus arrived on an antique fire engine and sat down to hear what the excited children wanted on Christmas morning.

'Tis the Season in San Leandro

November and December feature a wide array of events for everyone in San Leandro. Below are some of the events from our schools and city.

Friday, Nov. 30 at 5:30 pm, Tree Lighting at City Hall, usually includes arts, crafts, and cookie decorating for the kids

Saturday, Dec. 1 at 5:00 pm, Lighted Boat Parade at the San Leandro Marina Harbor; includes refreshments at 5:00pm and parade at 6:00pm

Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 6:00 pm every night through Dec. 11, Lighting of the Menorah at Temple Beth Sholom at 642 Dolores Ave.

Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7:30pm, Hawaiian Holiday Concert at the San Leandro Main Library (Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the Main Library)

Friday, Dec. 7 from 5:00 – 9:00pm, Miracle on E. 14th Street at Pelton Plaza

Saturday, Dec. 8 at 9am, Breakfast with Santa at Monarch Bay Golf Course (purchase tickets at the door)

Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30pm, Winter Orchestra/Vocal Concert at San Leandro High School Gym

Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30pm, Winter Wind/Jazz Concert at San Leandro High School Gym

Saturday, Dec. 15 from 8am to 12pm, Pancake Breakfast and Santa at Wilson Elementary School

Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7:30pm, Holiday Puppet Show and Santa at the San Leandro Main Library with refreshments and a suprise from Santa for all the kids.

San Leandro highlights some of its residences in a special "Light up the Night" directory published on the San Leandro web site and in the San Leandro Times. In the past, the displays at the houses near the intersection of Chapel Court and Chapel Avenue have been spectacular.

Eden Township Healthcare Board Votes to Give Up Oversight Role

With more than 120 people packed into a conference room at Eden Medical Center for the November 12, 2007, meeting, the Eden Township Healthcare District Board voted 4 to 1 to give up its governing role over Eden Medical Center for a promise by Sutter Health to replace the hospital. Board members Harry Dvorsky, Walter Kram, Rajendra Ratnesar and Frank Rico voted to accept the contract. They all work or have worked as physicians at Eden Medical Center and San Leandro Hospital. Carole Rogers, a former nurse, was the sole vote against the contract. Rogers had motioned to delay the vote pending an opinion by the Attorney General on whether the board could legally remove itself from oversight of the hospital. The motion failed as none of the other board members seconded the motion.

The agreement means that San Leandro Hospital will remain open until 2009, but Sutter can decide to end services at San Leandro Hospital after 2009.

Public comment was limited to two minutes per speaker and a total of 90 minutes. Many of the two dozen advocates were employees and doctors who worked for Eden Medical Center and San Leandro Hospital. A slightly smaller number of opponents of the plan to dissolve the elected board included State Senator Ellen Corbett, and State Assemblymembers Alberto Torrico and Mary Hayashi. A number of speakers reminded the board members of Measure A, which was passed by voters in 1997 and promised to preserve local control with a publicly-elected board.

Eden Medical Center opened in 1954 and needs to be replaced because it doesn't meet current seismic standards.

Daily Review coverage.

New Team Takes Top Prize at 2007 Trivia Bee

The team "Twenty-four Desperate, Lost Heroes" won Project Literacy's 14th Annual Trivia Bee with The Pontificators taking second place at the Marina Community Center on October 19, 2007. For the first time, a tie was awarded for third place to the San Leandro Police Officers' Association and the Mike Katz Team after the two teams matched wits in more "sudden-death" questions than all of the questions in the last round. There were 27 teams competing this year, down from the 30 teams that compete during election years.

As usual, questions were read by Leslie Frates, a San Leandro resident and professor who has appeared on the television quiz show Jeopardy 14 times. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Kurtz was the official Trivia Bee judge and Kathy Kurtz was the official time keeper. There were 30 questions in the first round, 20 in the second round and 10 in the last round.

In addition to the Trivia Bee, a raffle featured prizes supplied by local businesses including a stay at a Bed & Breakfast in Healdsburg, a GPS system, a $100 gift card from Wal-Mart, $50 towards travel on Southwest Airlines, and dozens of other prizes from local businesses and individuals. Funds raised by the Trivia Bee help Project Literacy to provide literacy services to more than 200 adults and 1,500 kids each year. Last year, the Trivia Bee raised more than $14,000.

Members of the San Leandro City Council, including Michael Gregory, Vice Mayor Surlene Grant, Diana Souza, Joyce Starosicak, and Jim Prola were on-hand to present medals and trophies to the top teams. Mayor Tony Santos and Councilmember Bill Stephens are part of a delegation traveling in China and could not attend. Starosciak participated as a member of her own team and Councilmembers Grant, Gregory, and Souza competed as the San Leandro City Council Team.

Free Festival at Washington Elementary on Saturday October 13, 2007

The Kids Save the Planet/Los Niños Salvan el Planeta festival will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2007, at Washington Elementary School. The bilingual festival will include fun and educational festival for families of all ages. Community education booths will include live animals from Sulphur Creek Nature Center, Crab Cove, and Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center. Energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs and reusable grocery bags will be given away. Entertainment will include latin dance music, Hawaiian singing and dancing, traditional Aztec dancers and more. Complete all four education stations and register to win a kids Raleigh bike valued at more than $250. For kids five and younger, there will be a tot-lot. There will also be a special visit from California State Senator and former San Leandro Mayor Ellen Corbett. The festival highlights Washington Elementary's recent adoption of a Green School Initiative.

The festival is free and will take place from 11am until 3pm. Washington Elementary is located at 250 Dutton Avenue in San Leandro. For directions and more information, visit www.KidsSaveThePlanet.org or call Morgan at 510.589.8056.

Not a Genuine Black Man in Walnut Creek Starting Thursday

Brian Copeland's one-man show Not a Genuine Black Man starts a month-long run at the Lesher Center for the Arts on Thursday, October 4, 2007. Copeland's show will start at 8:15pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights until October 27, 2007. The October 4, 2007, show is already sold out.

The show chronicles Copeland's life from moving into San Leandro in 1972 at eight years old, the year after San Leandro was named one of the most racist suburbs in America, to his adult struggles. In a monologue that's both funny and poignant, Brian explores how surroundings make us who we are. Copeland has remained in San Leandro, helping to make it one of the most diverse cities in California.

Tickets are on sale for $50 each at tickets.com. The Lesher Center for the Arts is located 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, just two blocks from the Walnut Creek BART station.

Sausage & Suds Festival Returns to San Leandro on Sunday, October 7, 2007

After a four-year hiatus, the Sausage & Suds Festival returns to downtown San Leandro this Sunday, October 7, 2007. In past years, the San Leandro Downtown Association organized the festival, but this year, the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce is working with the San Leandro Downtown Association to bring back this celebration of San Leandro as the "Sausage Capital of California."

This free event features live music and a variety of food and beers. Thirty varieties of beer will be available in the parking lot the of the Englander Pub. Sausages from locals Aidells and Saag's will be served up by the Englander, Buon Tempo Club, Chicago Blues Cafe, D'Gonzalez Meat Market, and Moe's BBQ on Wheels. Pizza, italian ice, smoothies, and kettle corn will also be served up by other vendors.

Live music and a welcome from San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos will be featured on-stage as follows:

The Sausage & Suds Festival was first held in 1997. Photographs from previous festivals are available here (2002) and here (2003).

The Sausage & Suds Festival will take place in downtown San Leandro on Parrott Street between E. 14th Street and Washington Avenue between 10am and 6pm. Admission is free.

Encore Screening of The Suburban Wall and The Invisible Wall on Thursday, October 4, 2007

On Thursday, October 4, 2007, the San Leandro Community Action Network will show the "The Suburban Wall" and "The Invisible Wall," both documentaries about housing discrimination in San Leandro. This is an encore presentation of these documentaries, which were first screened in March 2007.

Admission and coffee are free and the documentaries will be shown at Zocalo Coffeehouse starting at 7pm. Zocalo is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue.

Kids Events at Cherrytown Kids and Manor Library on Saturday

Cowboy Jared will be at Cherrytown Kids on Saturday, September 29, 2007, from 3pm to 4pm for a kids sing-along.

The Manor Library will have stories, songs, crafts, refreshments, parenting mini-workshops, and a free book for children ages five and under at its Ealry Learning with Families event on Saturday, September 29, 2007, from 11am to 12pm.

Cherrytown Kids is located at 579 Bancroft Ave. and the Manor Library is located at 1241 Manor Blvd.

Halcyon-Foothill Area Community Town Hall on Wednesday, September 19

The Business Association of South San Leandro, the Halcyon Foothill Neighborhood Association and Vice Mayor Surlene Grant are hosting a Community Town Hall at Jefferson Elementary on Wednesday, September 19, 2007.

Police department personnel will be on hand with reports on activities in the area, neighborhood watch tips, and code enforcement procedures. Fire department personnel will provide information on emergency preparedness. There will be reports about current projects at the Bayfair Center, the High School, and the new Ninth Grade Campus.

Bayfair Center has seen a new Staples open in January, an Old Navy open in December 2006, and a new drive-thru Starbucks. Building permits are being reviewed for Jamba Juice at Bayfair and tenant spaces near Target are nearly completed, according to the August 16, 2007, Community Development Update.

The meeting will be held from 6:30pm to 8:00pm and light refreshments will be provided.

Jefferson Elementary is located at 14300 Bancroft Avenue, but the multi-purpose room is located on Lark Street on the back side of the school.

Free Screening of Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price on Thursday, September 6, 2007

The San Leandro Community Action Network (SLCAN) continues it monthly film series with a screening of Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price at 7:00pm on Thursday, September 6, 2007.

According to the movie web site, "The film dives into the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath. A working mother is forced to turn to public assistance to provide healthcare for her two small children. A Missouri family loses its business after Wal-Mart is given over $2 million to open its doors down the road. A mayor struggles to equip his first responders after Wal-Mart pulls out and relocates just outside the city limits. A community in California unites, takes on the giant, and wins!" The movie received numerous positive reviews, including "Two Thumbs Up" from Ebert and Roeper.

Wal-Mart will be opening a second San Leandro store later this year at 15555 Hesperian Blvd, the location of a former Target store.

Admission is free and the movie will be shown at Zocalo Coffeehouse.

Zocalo Coffeehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue in San Leandro.

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.

Brian Copeland's Show Knows the Way to San Jose

Brian Copeland will perform his one-man show, Not a Genuine Black Man, at the San Jose Stage Company from August 3 to 25, 2007.

Ticket prices range from $25 to $40 and can be purchased from TicketWeb.

The San Jose Stage Company is located at 490 South First Street in San Jose.

Copeland also penned an op-ed piece that appeared in the July 27, 2007, edition of the Los Angeles Times, about Barack Obama's ethnic credentials.

The book derived from the show is on the incoming freshman reading list at CSU East Bay and is part of the reading list for numerous schools.

Copeland has been a San Leandro resident since he moved to San Leandro with his family in 1972.

Forty Years of Mixed Marriages

June 12, 2007, marked the fortieth anniversary of the Loving vs. Virginia decision, which made it illegal for states to prohibit interracial marriages.

To celebrate the anniversary of this landmark Civil Rights case, Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, iPride, and the San Leandro Community Action Network are co-sponsoring a screening of My People are ... Youth Pride in Mixed Heritage at the San Leandro Library.

The movie will be shown on August 4, 2007, from 1 to 2:30pm in the auditorium of the San Leandro Library and will be followed by a panel discussion. The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.

Meeting on I-580 Soundwall July 24, 2007

The Congestion Management Agency will present information about the San Leandro I-580 Soundwalls project at a public meeting on July 24, 2007.

The $5.5 million project will consist of nine sections of 12-foot-tall walls totaling more than 8,000 feet on both sides of Interstate 580 from 141st Avenue to Marlowe Avenue as shown in the graphic below from a November 2006 presentation to the City Council.

The meeting will be held at the Dave Karp room of the San Leandro Library from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Click here for Daily Review coverage.

Grocery Outlet and Red Mountain Hold Neighborhood Picnic for Community Support July 7, 2007

In a message sent to a local mailing list on Juy 5, 2007, and post card invitations sent to local residents, Red Mountain entitlement director Eric Nelson announced a neighborhood picnic at the former Albertson's site at 1550 E. 14th Street (at the intersection with Juana Avenue).

The announcement stated that a "BBQ Will benefit the San Leandro Boy Scouts of America and San Leandro Boys & Girls Club" and will feature prizes, giveaways, and an "appearance by drag racer Chuck Moore and his blown alcohol-fueled Corvette."

Although the email message didn't mention Grocery Outlet or Red Mountain Retail Group, the post card's return address was Red Mountain and the event was listed as being sponsored by Grocery Outlet.

The event is scheduled just two days before a public hearing of Grocery Outlet's appeal before the San Leandro City Council scheduled for 8pm on July 9, 2007. In addition to the free prizes and giveaways, attendees can expect to have plenty of propaganda supporting Grocery Outlet's attempt to open a store at the former Albertson's site.

The event is scheduled for 10am to 3pm.

The Daily Review's blog has more on the postcards sent to some local residents.

Town Hall Meeting #2 on Fate of Marina to be Held July 19, 2007

The second Town Hall meeting on the fate of the boat harbor at the Marina will be held on July 19, 2007, starting at 7 pm at the Marina Community Center.

At the previous Town Hall held on May 24, 2007, about 150 people were divided into six groups to discuss how to address the annual $2 million harbor deficit, necessary improvements, the future of the Marina Shoreline Area, and new land uses, water-related uses, and open space/recreation uses that should be considered.

The City has been unable to come up with the funds needed for ongoing dredging at the Marina and larger boats are now having problems getting to and from the San Francisco Bay from the Marina. The City invites those interested to "Come and learn about the challenges facing the San Leandro harbor and the options being evaluated for its future. Share your ideas, concerns and questions."

Details of previous Marina Committee meetings and presentations from those meetings are available at the web site for the Marina Committee.

The Marina Community Center is located at 15301 Wicks Boulevard.

For more information, call (510) 577-3358.

SLCAN to Show Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible on July 5, 2007

The San Leandro Community Action Network, of which yours truly (Margarita) is a member, is showing Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible, a movie that shows how white activists are coming into consciousness and working intentionally with other white people, as well as people of color, to build a more equitable society. White people have a distinct role in teaching, supporting and encouraging other white people to abandon individual, institutional, and cultural racism.

Discussion with the filmmaker Dr. Shakti Butler will follow after the film.

All are invited to come see it!

Thursday, July 5, 2007
7 PM
Zocalo Coffeehouse
645 Bancroft Ave.

Housing Community Forum at 7pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2007

On Tuesday, June 19, 2007, the Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR) will hold a community forum on housing at 7pm at St. Leander Church Hall. In an op-ed in the Daily Review, Dennis Davis, a deacon at St. Leander Parish for 25 years, writes that the purpose of the forum is to "ensure that the plan [Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy] includes a range of housing for San Leandro's families." Davis notes that the average family of four cannot afford $550,000 for a median-priced home in San Leandro.

According to its former website, "COR is a faith-based, grassroots community organization made up of fourteen congregations in Hayward, San Lorenzo, San Leandro, Union City, and Fremont." COR seeks "to improve neighborhoods, schools, access to health care, and access to affordable housing."

St. Leander Church Hall is located at 575 W. Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Affordable Senior Housing Project Seeks Parking Exception

According to a notice from the City of San Leandro, Eden Housing is applying for a parking exception and site plan review for an affordable senior housing project at 2121 Estabrook Street at the June 21, 2007, meeting of the Board of Zoning Adjustmentshttp://www.ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/.

Although city regulations require a project of this size to have 34 parking spaces, only 28 parking spaces are planned.

Eden Housing had originally considered an 83-unit project, but after a community meeting where parking and traffic were the main issues raised, Eden Housing conducted a traffic and parking study and decided on a 51-unit project.

The traffic study concluded that the project would add 12 vehicle trips per day to Estabrook Street, which has an average of 2,150 vehicle trips per day and 60 vehicle trips per day to E. 14th Street, which has an average of 13,300 vehicle trips per day.

This is a rendering of the proposed project:

The lot was previously occupied by Sir Richards Car Store Outlet. Previous coverage can be found here.

Project Address: 2103-2179 East 14th Street
(at Estabrook Streeet; Council District 1 see map on back)

Meeting Date/Time: Thursday, June 21, 2007
7:00 P.M.

Meeting Place: City Council Chamber,
835 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA

Project Description: PLN2007-00020
The applicant is requesting a Parking Exception and Site Plan Review for a proposed residential development for a 51-unit affordable senior housing project at 2121 East 14th Street, at the corner of Estabrook and East 14th Streets. The project is comprised of 50 one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom manager's unit, and common areas such as a community room, offices, library and a landscaped open courtyard. Parking is provided in 28 surface parking stalls. The site is zoned SA-2, South Area 2 Zoning District. The project requires a Parking Exception, as 28 spaces are provided where 34 are required for the Senior Housing project; and a Site Plan Review for the design of the site and structures. Assessor's Parcel Numbers 77-556-53, -54, and a portion of 77-556-57-3; 2103-2179 East 14th Street; Eden Housing, Inc. (applicant) and 1027 A Street, LLC (property owner).

In considering whether to approve the site plan review and parking exception, the Board of Zoning Adjustments must find (in part), that the project will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare of persons residing, or working in, or adjacent to the neighborhood of such use; will not be detrimental to properties or improvements in the vicinity; and will not create adverse impacts on traffic or create demands exceeding the capacity of public services and facilities, which cannot be mitigated.

Environmental Review: This project to construct a 51-unit affordable senior housing apartment on a site that is less than five acres is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Article 19, Categorical Exemption, Section 15332.

City Contact/Information: Sally Barros, Planner II
(510) 577-3458
sbarros@ci.san-leandro.ca.us

Public Hearing on Bus Rapid Transit June 12 at San Leandro Library

On Tuesday, June 12, 2007, a public hearing will be held at the San Leandro Library on bus rapid transit (BRT), which attempts to combine the best features of rail with the flexibility and cost advantages of roadway-based transit. The hearing will begin at 5:30pm with an open house, when the public can review exhibits of the different alternatives for the BRT and talk with AC Transit and project staff. The presentation and testimony for the hearing will begin at 7:00pm and will take place in the San Leandro Library Lecture Hall.

According to the AC Transit web site, the BRT Project will "improve public transportation service in a key transportation corridor that extends from Downtown Berkeley and the University of California at Berkeley at the northern end, through Downtown Oakland, to San Leandro at the southern end, primarily using Telegraph Avenue, International Boulevard and East 14th Street."

According to a fact sheet, other communities operating or planning BRT include Boston, Chicago, Eugene, Oregon, San Diego, and Vancouver, Canada. Completion is expected in 2011.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (DEIS/R) on the project is available online or at the Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro libraries. Comments on the DEIS/R are due no later than 5:00 PM July 3, 2007 and may be submitted online or in writing to:

East Bay Bus Rapid Transit Project
AC Transit
1600 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94612

Daily Review and San Francisco Chronicle coverage.

Transit-Oriented Development Strategy Draft Environmental Impact Report Available

According to a notice from the City of San Leandro, the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Downtown San Leandro Transit-Oriented Development Strategy is available for review at the Main Library and directly from the city's website.

The report is a sizable download at 32 MB and 566 pages (338 pages without the appendices). Comments are due by July 19, 2007, and a Planning Commission hearing on the draft EIR is tentatively scheduled for July 12, 2007.

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 (ACTlA) 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 [sic] 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 3,431 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 Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the project listed above has been prepared by the City of San Leandro, Community Development Department. Please find attached a CD-ROM of the DEIR. The report may also 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 draft EIR, the Public Draft TOD Strategy and other material related to the Downtown TOO Strategy is available for public review on the city website, at the City's Community Development Department at 835 14th Street or at the Main library. Copies of the DElR 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) is June 5 to July 19, 2007. Comments related to the DEIR should be directed to Kathleen Livermore, Interim Planning Manager, 835 E. 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94577 (fax (510) 577-6007). All written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on July 19, 2007. Oral and written testimony may also be given at the Planning Commission meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for July 12 2007 at 7:00 p.m, in the City Council Chambers.

PUBLIC HEARING: A Planning Commission public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy is tentatively scheduled for July 12, 2007. The hearing 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 Draft EIR [sic] 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: June 5, 2007

San Leandro Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Meet & Greet

Saturday, June 16
San Leandro LGBT Meet & Greet

7–8:30 pm at Zocalo Coffeehouse
645 Bancroft Ave.

SLCAN is hosting an informal gathering to build community and celebrate pride. San Leandro lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents and their straight allies will get a chance to meet and get to know each other. All ages welcome.

Please RSVP to rrodriguez@slcan.org.

You can also download the flyer at http://slcan.org/slpride.indd.pdf

Coffee and location generously donated by Zocalo Coffeehouse.

History Walk Marks Historic San Leandro Sites

At a dedication at Casa Peralta on June 2, 2007, Library-Historical Commissioner Frederick A. Reicker, Mayor Tony Santos, and City Manager John Jermanis dedicated the recently completed History Walk (West Estudillo Pedestrian Improvement Project and San Leandro History Walk). The History Walk includes a designated path and street improvements from the San Leandro BART Station to downtown San Leandro via West Estudillo Avenue. The History Walk also includes signs at 12 historic sites around the downtown area and four other signs that discuss the Ohlone people, Spanish ranchos, agriculture, industry, transportation, and Cherry Festivals.

Mayor Tony Santos completes his remarks at the dedication.

Guests at the dedication included Councilmembers Diana Souza, Joyce Starosciak, Michael Gregory and Jim Prola, former Mayor Shelia Young, former City Councilmember Bill Jardin, State Senator Ellen Corbett, San Leandro Chamber CEO Diana Gentry, City Commissioners Charlie Gilcrest, Dale Reed, Donna Reed, Shirley McManus, AC Transit Directors Elsa Ortiz and Rocky Fernandez, Jo Cazenave from Representative Pete Stark's office, and San Leandro School Board Trustees Linda Perry, Stephen Cassidy and Mike Katz-Lacabe.

Guests were entertained by the St. Felicitas School Children's Choir performing San Leandro is Where the Heart is (San Leandro's Centennial Song) and Consider Yourself from the musical Oliver.

2007 San Leandro Cherry Festival Schedule and Map (June 9, 2007)

The Cherry Festival is scheduled for 10am to 5pm on Saturday, June 9, 2007. Admission is free. The listing for the San Leandro Municipal Band at 9:30am may be a typo since other stage activities begin at 10:30am.

Click on the above image for a larger map.

Activities at the Cherry Festival:

Cherry Pie Bake-Off
The Cherry Pie Bake-off will bring together contestants and their sweet cherry treats in two different categories: Traditional and Non-traditional. All cherry enthusiasts, from beginning bakers to the most experienced, are invited to submit an entry. No need to preregister. Cherry pies and their recipes must be submitted to the Cherry Store between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Winners will be announced on the Main Stage at 2 p.m.

Free Valet Bike Parking
Free valet bike parking will be available through the Cherry City Cyclists on the St. Leanders play yard on the corner of Davis and Carpentier streets. Reduce traffic and help the environment by cycling or walking to the festival.

Casa Peralta and History Museum
The Casa Peralta, History Museum and Art Gallery will be open for tours during the Cherry Festival. Children’s old fashioned activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. on the Casa grounds.

Kids Zone
Games and rides include the Dune Buggy, Tea Cup, Jumping Star, a Rock Climbing Wall and Bounce Houses. Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos too!

Arts & Crafts
25 arts and crafts vendors will be on-hand, with products ranging from handcrafted jewelry to custom-drawn caricatures.

Community Resources
25 community resource vendors will offer information on important community-related topics.

ARTeam
This year's Cherry Festival offers something new – the Artist’s Village, hosted by the recently formed Art Village Resource Team sponsored by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce. The Artist’s Village will present the work of fourteen local artists through beautiful displays and live demonstrations of glassworking, ceramics and other art media.

Cherry Lane
Cherry Lane will showcase of City of San Leandro government services. Kids can hop on board a real police motorcycle or meet the Chief of Police. Fire prevention tips will be offered by the Alameda County Fire Department, and the Public Works department will be conducting a thermometer exchange, where attendees can exchange their mercury thermometers for new digital models.

Cherry Store
The Cherry Store will feature specialty cherry items such as: Cherry Jam, Cherry Salsa, Cherry BBQ Sauce, Sweet Cherry Balsamic Vinegar, Cherry Gumballs, Cherry Sour Patches, Wild Cherry Tea, Cherry Biscotti, 2007 Cherry Festival T-shirts and 2007 Cherry Festival mugs. [FREE canvas tote bag with any Cherry Store purchase.]

Farmer’s Market
Cherries and a wide variety of local, fresh fruit will be available for purchase.

Food
Festival favorites from BBQ ribs and corn dogs to funnel cake and kettle corn. The Englander Restaurant will provide Cherry Beer and Sausage and Robeks Juice will also be offered as just a few of the favorites.

Cherry Festival Returns on June 9, 2007

On Saturday, June 9, 2007, San Leandro's Cherry Festival returns after a three-year hiatus caused by budget cuts. In order to save money, the Cherry Festival has been reduced to one-day and will take place downtown instead of at the Marina.

The Cherry Festival will feature "live music on two stages, a cherry pie bake-off, games and rides and specialty foods from throughout the region. Vendors will offer fine art, jewelry and all types of cherry products." Cherry City Cyclists will offer free valet bicycle parking and Cherry-themed canvas tote bags will be given out with any purchase from the festival's Cherry Store.

The first Cherry Festival was held on June 4 and 5, 1909, by the Board of Trade to promote San Leandro and its abundant cherries. That first Cherry Festival featured a parade, floats, 21-gun salute, races on Cherry Way (Estudillo Avenue), handing out bags filled with cherries, concerts, and a grand ball. From 1910 to 1912, Cherry Festival crowds grew from 45,000 to 75,000 people. In 1910, an estimated 15 tons of cherries were sold and ten tons were given away. Cherry Festivals were held from 1922 to 1931 and again in 1972 for San Leandro's centennial. It was started again in 1986.

The Cherry Festival will be held from 10am to 6pm on West Estudillo Avenue where Casa Peralta and the San Leandro Museum and Art Gallery are located. Admission is free. For more information, call (510) 577-3462.

Film Screening of "All About Darfur"

SLCAN cordially invites you once again to its documentary film series:

Thursday, June 7
7–8:30 pm
at Zocalo Coffeehouse
645 Bancroft Avenue

“All About Darfur”
a film by Taghreed Elsanhouri

In this film, ordinary Sudanese talk about how the deeply rooted prejudices suddenly burst into wild fires of ethnic violence. Avoiding gory footage, the film offers Sudanese men and women the opportunity to present their own suggestions on the war in their country.

The film won the chairperson's Prize at the 2005 Zanzibar International Film Festival and was selected for the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2005 Amsterdam Documentary Film Festival.

There will be a speaker after the film. There will also be a discussion and provide action items for those wanting to take individual, community, or political action.

Silvestro Akara Bakhiet from the New Sudan Generation (NSG) organization will be our guest speaker. Silvestro, a native of Southern Sudan, founded the NSG in San Francisco in 2000. The organization’s mission is to assist people in war-ravaged Southern Sudan as they work to recover from decades of war. As part of their efforts, they help refugees and displaced persons to rebuild their communities.

San Leandro Marina on YouTube

The fate of the boat harbor at the San Leandro Marina will be discussed at a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, May 24, 2007, from 7 to 9pm in the Dave Karp room at the San Leandro Library.

Here's a video of images from the San Leandro Marina:

Aquatic Center Hours

The new San Leandro Family Aquatic Center features a water play area with three small childrens slides, plenty of spraying and falling water, and a 119-foot circular water slide. The childrens area is shallow enough that a two year-old can navigate all of it, including the small slides. Children can take as much time as they want to get accustomed to the water as there is a very easy gradient from the "shore."

Since the hours of operations aren't on the City's web site yet, here are the current hours:

As of April 21, 2007, the Center is open on Saturday from 1pm until 6:30pm and Sunday from 12pm to 5:30pm. Admission is $4 per person.

Summer hours will begin on June 16, 2007, when the center will also be open Monday through Friday from 1pm to 4:45 pm.

The Aquatic Center and park are located at 14900 Zelma St. in San Leandro. The nearest public transportation is AC Transit's 84 line, which gets within three blocks of the Aquatic Center.

Senior Housing Project Seeks City Parking Exception

On April 18, 2007, Eden Housing held the second of two community meetings at McKinley Elementary School. Eden Housing has proposed a senior housing development for 2121 E. 14th Street, an empty lot at the southwest corner of Estabrook Street and E. 14th Street where Sir Richards Car Store Outlet was previously located.

Andrea Cohen, the Project Developer, and Marian Gushiken, the Associate Director of Development represented Eden Housing and Paul McElwee and Rich Caldwell represented HKIT Architects, the architects of the proposed development. Hank Deadrich, a local realtor and member of the Eden Housing Board of Directors was present at the meeting. The City of San Leandro was represented by four people. There were about five members of the public. City Councilmembers Michael Gregory and Surlene Grant joined the meeting after it started.

Eden Housing is a developer of affordable housing and has three other projects in San Leandro. The project at Estabrook Street will consist of affordable housing for seniors. Funding is expected to come from a HUD Section 202 Grant, funds from the City of San Leandro, and low income tax credits. The City of San Leandro is listed as one of the contributors to Eden Housing on its web site at http://www.edenhousing.org/edenhousing.asp?page=69&thisparent=98.

The proposed development consists of 50 one-bedroom apartments and a two-bedroom manager unit. The apartments will be three stories tall with parking provided on the south side of the property and the entrance on East 14th Street.

This is a rendering of the proposed project:

Parking and traffic were the main issues raised during a previous community meeting. As a result, Eden Housing conducted a traffic and parking study and decided on a 51-unit project rather than an alternative 83-unit project.

The traffic study concluded that the project would add 12 vehicle trips per day to Estabrook Street, which has an average of 2,150 vehicle trips per day and 60 vehicle trips per day to E. 14th Street, which has an average of 13,300 vehicle trips per day.

The parking study was conducted at a similar senior housing complex in San Leandro during the morning, afternoon, and evening on a weekday and Saturday. The study recommended that the facility provide a total of 20 parking spaces and the proposed project would provide 28 spaces. However, the City of San Leandro requires 34 parking spaces for this project and the project will need a Parking Exception in order to proceed with the current proposal. This is one of the issues that will be discussed at the May 3, 2007, meeting of the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA), which will take place at 7pm at the City Council Chambers at 835 E. 14th Street.

The remainder of the proposed schedule for the project includes an application to HUD in May 2007, Zoning Board hearing in June 2007, City Council hearing in July 2007, start of construction in Fall 2008, and completion of construction in late fall 2009.

According to a notice from the City of San Leandro for the BZA meeting, "Work session on a proposed residential development for a 51-unit affordable senior housing project at 2121 East 14th Street, at the corner of Estabrook and East 14th Streets. The project is comprised of 50 one-bedroom units, one two-bedroom manager's unit, and common areas such as a community room, offices, library and a landscaped open courtyard. Parking is provided in 28 surface parking stalls. The site is zoned SA-2, South Area 2 Zoning District. The applicant would be seeking a Parking Exception, as 28 spaces are provided where 34 are required for this Senior Housing Project; and a Site Plan Review for the design of the site and structures. Assessor's Parcel Numbers 77-556-53, -54, and a portion of 77-556-57-3; 2103-2179 East 14th Street; Eden Housing, Inc. (applicant) and (property owner)."

In a March 13, 2007, staff report to City Manager John Jermanis, Community Development Director Hansom Hon wrote: "Eden entered into a purchase agreement with the seller in late October 2006. Currently, Eden has submitted preliminary plans to the City’s Planning Division for review involving two potential development options for the site: 1) three-story building with 51 one-bedroom units, and 2) four-story building with 83 one- bedroom units. Eden anticipates requesting acquisition and development funding assistance approval from the City Council prior to closing escrow in late July 2007.

During the February Business and Housing Development Committee meeting, the Committee supported allocating $30,000 in predevelopment assistance from the City Redevelopment Agency Housing Set-Aside funds to help cover over $120,000 in preliminary costs such as architecture, finance/appraisal, land acquisition deposit, and environmental work during the escrow period."

See Daily Review coverage.

Greenway Project at Library on Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The Estudillo Homeowners Association & the Broadmoor Neighborhood Association invite you to learn more about the San Leandro Greenway Project. A meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at 7pm in Room B of the San Leandro Public Library.

The Greenway is a proposed multi-use trail that would run along the BART corridor from East Oakland to the Hayward BART station. It will include safe paths for pedestrians and bicyclists, in addition to well-designated recreational facilities such as parks, exercise equipment, and picnic areas. It is part of a greater project known as the East Bay Greenway and was discussed at the November 24, 2006, meeting of the Downtown Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
Strategy Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC).

The San Leandro Public Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Film Screening on May 3: Motherhood Manifesto

On Thursday May 3, 2007, at 7pm, the San Leandro Community Action Network will show Motherhood Manifesto, the latest in its monthly film series.

SLCAN invites everyone to connect with community, participate in stimulating discussion, and learn more about important social and political issues at SLCAN’s monthly film series.

The film will be shown at Zocalo Coffeehouse, located at 645 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.

"Celebrate Mother’s Day early and see what happens to working mothers and families in America and what we can do to make paid family leave, flexible working hours, part-time parity, universal healthcare, excellent childcare, after-school programs, and realistic living wages a reality for American families." http://www.momsrising.org

TAKE ACTION:

Imagine a beautifully presented long chain of decorated baby onesies stretching all around your state capital as a visual representation of the real people who need the policies being debated inside the imposing buildings. Each onesie signifies one person--mother, father, child, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, or other--who cares deeply about building a family-friendly America, but can't take the time off work, or away from kids, to actually be at the capital. You.

* Bring a new or used baby onesie (or a small kids t-shirt) and we'll decorate them after the screening.

* Can't make the screening? You can buy a ONEsie online, and MomsRising will decorate it for you and add it to the project. https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/momsrising/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2305

One by ONEsie, working together, we can show the nation that we are a creative and powerful force for good family policy, as well as help our politicians to pay attention to issues which have long been ignored. Let's make San Leandro a visible part of the Power of ONEsie action!

Download the film series flyer at http://www.slcan.org/slcan_film3.indd.pdf

The mission of San Leandro Community Action Network is to improve the quality of life in San Leandro by ensuring quality education, smart growth, and an inclusive and equitable community. Visit http://www.slcan.org for more information.

Meeting on Senior Affordable Housing Development at E. 14th and Estabrook Streets

On Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at 7pm, Eden Housing, an affordable housing developer, will hold a community meeting at McKinley Elementary School to discuss its plans to construct affordable apartments for seniors at the southwest corner of E. 14th Street and Estabrook Street.

According to a flyer from Eden Housing, funding for the project will come from a HUD Section 202 Grant, the City of San Leandro, and low income tax credits. Eden Housing has completed two other projects in San Leandro: Fuller Gardens on E. 14th Street, Eden Lodge at 400 Springlake Drive, and Fuller Lodge at 2141 Bancroft Avenue.

The project is planned for the former location of Sir Richard's Car Store Outlet at 2121 E. 14th Street, directly across E. 14th Street from McKinley Elementary.

From the Staff Report produced by Community Development Director Hansom Hon to City Manager John Jermanis dated March 13, 2007:

Proposed Affordable Senior Rental Housing Development at 2121 East 14th Street (at Estabrook Street): Eden Housing, Inc., an experienced nonprofit developer based in Hayward, is in the process of acquiring the former used car lot on 2121 East 14th Street for new construction of affordable senior rental housing. Eden entered into a purchase agreement with the seller in late October 2006. Currently, Eden has submitted preliminary plans to the City’s Planning Division for review involving two potential development options for the site: 1) three-story building with 51 one-bedroom units, and 2) four-story building with 83 one-bedroom units. Eden anticipates requesting acquisition and development funding assistance approval from the City Council prior to closing escrow in late July 2007.

During the February Business and Housing Development Committee meeting, the Committee supported allocating $30,000 in predevelopment assistance from the City Redevelopment Agency Housing Set-Aside funds to help cover over $120,000 in preliminary costs such as architecture, finance/appraisal, land acquisition deposit, and environmental work during the escrow period. On March 7 at 7 pm, Eden will conduct a community meeting at McKinley Elementary School’s multi-purpose room to receive feedback from neighborhood residents regarding the two development options in order to determine which is most feasible.

In 2004, Resources for Community Development (RCD) put forward a plan to develop the same site, together with the adjacent Salvation Army lot, into 94 units of low-income rental housing. Community residents raised a number of objections to the proposed development and RCD eventually dropped its plans for the project.

McKinley Elementary is located at 2150 E. 14th Street at the intersection with Estabrook Street. The meeting will be held in the multipurpose room, which is located straight ahead as you enter through the doors at the main entrance.

For more information about the project, contact Andrea Cohen, the Project Developer for Eden Housing, at (510) 582-1460.

Watch "The Ground Truth" in San Leandro

The San Leandro Community Action Network and Zocalo Coffeehouse will be showing the movie "The Ground Truth" on Thursday, April 5th at 7 PM at Zocalo (645 Bancroft Ave.)

The film is about the ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq, and shows them as they experience recruitment, training, combat, homecoming and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities.

The showing is free. Not suitable for children.

http://www.slcan.org/film.html

Free Appointments Training Workshop

The East Bay Chapter of the California Elected Women’s Association (CEWAER), Political Action Committee for Excellence (PACE), Commission on the Status of Women – Contra Costa County, Commission on the Status of Women – Alameda County, and California Women’s Leadership Association (CWLA) are hosting a free workshop to inform and guide women through the political appointments process.

Featured speakers will be Timothy Simon, Appointments Secretary from the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; Liz Figueroa, former Senator and appointee to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board; Scott Haggerty, Supervisor, Alameda County, and Candace Andersen, Councilwoman for the Town of Danville. Participants will learn about current local and state board and commission openings and the application process for appointment to these positions. They will also have the opportunity to assess their personal strengths and skills so that they can decide which board or commission best suits them.

The free workshop will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2007 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the San Leandro Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro, CA. To register, visit the CEWAER website. For more information, call 916-551-1920 or email admin@cewaer.org.

Registration Form

SLCAN Announces Film Series Starting with The Suburban Wall

The San Leandro Community Action Network has announced a free film series that offers a chance to "connect with community, participate in stimulating discussion, and learn more about important social and political issues.

The films will be shown on the first Thursday of each month beginning with The Suburban Wall & The Invisible Wall on March 1, 2007, at 7pm. Due to the subject nature of the films and discussion, this is not a child appropriate event.

----------------------------------------
MARCH 1
The Suburban Wall & The Invisible Wall
Two nationally-aired TV documentaries on housing discrimination in San Leandro in the 1960s and 1970s. We extend a special invitation this evening to San Leandro residents who lived here at the time. Following the film we will have a facilitated discussion about San Leandro then and now.

The Ground Truth
April 5
A film about the ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq, as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities.

Motherhood Manifesto
May 3
Celebrate Mother’s Day early and see what happens to working mothers and families in America and what we can do to make paid family leave, fl exible working hours, part-time parity, universal healthcare, excellent childcare, after-school programs and
realistic living wages a reality for American families.

All About Darfur
June 7
Ordinary Sudanese talk about how deeply rooted prejudices suddenly burst into a wild fire of ethnic violence. Avoiding gory footage, the fi lm offers Sudanese men and women the opportunity to present their own analysis and suggestions on the war in their country.

Making Whiteness Visible
July 5
The film features the experience of white women and men who have worked to gain insight into what it means to challenge racism and white supremacy in the United States.

Both My Moms Are Named Judy
August 2
This short film presents diverse children with lesbian and gay parents in candid interviews about how it feels to be teased about their parents, how classroom silence about homosexuality affects them, and what they would like to see change.

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
September 6
This documentary uncovers the retail giant’s assault on families and American values. The film dives into the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath.

To learn more about the film series or SLCAN, visit www.slcan.org.

Coffee generously donated by Zocalo Coffeehouse.

Free Screening of An Inconvenient Truth at the Library Feb. 22, 2007

The Eden Area League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women are putting on a free screening of the Al Gore documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 22, 2007, at the San Leandro Library.

The film will be followed by a town-hall-type discussion, facilitated by Dr. Martha Booz, a biologist, environmental activist and member of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Informational handouts will be provided on what you can do to decrease global warming.

According to the Daily Review, "Other speakers will include Sherm Lewis, chairman of the Hayward Area Planning Committee, on the environmentally positive aspects of the Hayward Hills' Quarry Village development, as well as San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos on what the city is doing to decrease greenhouse gases."

Refreshments will be provided. The showing also is supported by the Sierra Club, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church and the San Lorenzo Lions Club.

The San Leandro Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in San Leandro.

Marrow Donor Registration Drive for Local Boy

A marrow donor registration drive will take place at Creekside Church on Saturday, January 27, 2007, from 8am to 1:30pm.

Harrison Leonardo is a two-year old boy from San Leandro who is fighting Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive. Harrison spent most of 2006 fighting cancer, which went into remission in August. Unfortunately, the cancer has relapsed. Harrison is hospitalized and undergoing another round of chemotherapy while his doctors and family search for a donor.

To donate, you must be between the ages of 18-60, meet the health guidelines, fill out a form, give a cheek cell swab and be willing to donate to any patient in need.

You must be between the ages of 18-60, meet the health guidelines, fill out a form, give a cheek cell swab and be willing to donate to any patient in need.

Asian and ethnically diverse donors urgently needed! Patients are more likely to match donors of the same racial and ethnic heritage. More donors of all races and ethnicities are needed.Patients are more likely to match donors of the same racial and ethnic heritage. More donors of all races and ethnicities are needed.

For more information, please visit www.marrow.org, or call Cynthia Carlson at 510-495-4021 (email: ccarlson@nmdp.org)

Creekside Church is located at 951 MacArthur Blvd. at Dutton Avenue in San Leandro.

San Leandrans Protest Iraq Troop Surge

On Monday, January 15, 2007, more than 150 people gathered at Root Park in San Leandro to rally against the war in Iraq and honor Martin Luther King Jr. The rally featured local politicians and religious leaders, including an inspirational closing by Byron Williams, a pastor at Oakland's Resurrection Community Church and a columnist.

After a brief introduction by Stephen Cassidy and invocation by Reverend Kathy Huff, speeches were made by Mayor Tony Santos, Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, Vice Mayor Surlene Grant, and finally Byron Williams. Amy Cassidy also read a statement by Congressman Pete Stark, who was unable to attend the rally. The complete text of Byron Williams' speech can be found here.

The rally ended with six religious and community leaders ringing a bell to symbolize the American troops killed in Iraq.

The crowd gathered at Root Park for the January 15, 2007, rally against the war in Iraq (photo - T. Holmes)

San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos (photo - T. Holmes)

Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker (photo - T. Holmes)

San Leandro Vice Mayor Surlene Grant (photo - T. Holmes)

Byron Williams (photo - T. Holmes)

Rally to Bring Troops Home at Root Park on Monday

On Monday, January 15, 2007, a rally will be held at Root Park in San Leandro calling for US troops to be pulled out of Iraq. Featured speakers include San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos, San Leandro Vice Mayor Surlene Grant, Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, and Byron Williams, pastor of the Resurrection Community Church in Oakland, CA.

The rally starts at 3pm. Root Park is located on E. 14th Street near the intersection with Hays Street. It is adjacent to San Leandro Creek and just south of City Hall.

Click here for a flyer.

San Leandro Library Open on Sunday Starting Today

The San Leandro Public Library will be open today, January 7, 2006, from 12pm to 4pm for the first time in two years.

Sunday hours were eliminated when the library's budget was reduced about $450,000 when the City was facing a $9.35 million deficit.

The San Leandro Public Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.

Report on Homelessness in San Leandro

The San Leandro City Council held a special meeting on Monday, October 23, 2006, to receive a presentation about the Homeless Report prepared by the Recreation and Human Services Department, CDD Housing Services Division, Alameda County Housing and Community Development Department, Continuum of Care Council, and Building Futures with Women and Children. All members of the City Council were present except for Mayor Shelia Young.

According to a 2004 & 2005 Homeless Survey by Alameda County Continuum of Care, San Leandro has the third-largest number of homeless behind Oakland and Berkeley, as represented by the users of homeless services. This same survey also estimated the number of home children and youth attending San Leandro schools at 270.

A 2004 survey by Alameda County Behavorial Health Care Services estimated the number of homeless in San Leandro at 624.

City Manager John Jermanis noted that San Leandro provides about $300,000 per year to community groups that provide services to the homeless, including Davis Street Family Resource Center and Building Futures with Women and Children.

The presentation noted that the focus on service provided to the homeless has shifted from providing emergency shelter in the 1980s to providing transitional housing in the 1990s and focuses on providing supporting housing and preventing homelessness.

At the end of the presentation, the city was asked to adopt the Alameda County-wide Homeless and Special Needs Housing Plan, a recomendation which Alice Sarafaian, Chair of the Human Services Commission, said that the Human Services Commission unanimously supported.

Councilman Bill Stephens asked how many people had ever been homeless. Two people, including Stephens, raised their hand. Stephens then said that he had been homeless many years ago in Sacramento, where trucks cames to pick up the homeless each day to pick fruit in the fields. Stephens expressed concern that giving people a home won't solve the homeless problem for people he described as "out-of-control." After a brief interruption, Stephens said that he wanted to be realistic and that there will always be people who are homeless.

Council member Joyce Starosciak reiterated that discharge planning was a big concern for people in programs such as foster care.

Vice Mayor Surlene Grant asked about the next steps and Jermanis said that more information will be brought before the City Council and a resolution will be introduced at a future date.

Speakers making public comments included Tom Breckenridge of the Interfaith Homelessness Network, Rick Crispino, Executive Director of Bonita House, and Cynthia Eaton the Alameda County Office of Education.

Daily Review coverage from when the report was presented at the October 2006 meeting of the San Leandro Recreation and Parks Commission.

Alameda County Firefighters Local 55 Wins 13th Annual Trivia Bee

The Alameda County Firefighters Local 55 team won Project Literacy's 13th Annual Trivia Bee held on Friday, October 20, 2006, at the Marina Community Center in San Leandro.

Second and third place were determined by a series of sudden death questions including which cola company owns Quaker Oats (Pepsi), which actor played the tutor in the movie Akeelah and the Bee (Laurence Fishburne), and what cereal was created in 1892 by W.L. Judson (shredded wheat).

The Friends of the Library 1 team took second place and the Julian Polvorosa for San Leandro City Council team came in third.

Normally, ANG newspaper columnist Ray Orrock reads the first two round of questions, but this year Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert Kurtz did double duty reading the first round of questions in addition to being the official Trivia Bee judge for disputes. Former Jeopardy champion Leslie Frates read the second and third rounds of questions, including a question in which the answer was the movie Groundog Day, which she appeared in for less than four seconds. Kathy Kurtz served as the official time keeper.

In addition to the Trivia Bee, a raffle featured prizes supplied by local businesses and individuals including a Garmin StreetPilot Car Navigation System, a 1GB Apple iPod Nano and $100 Wal-Mart gift certificate. Funds raised by the Trivia Bee help Project Literacy to provide literacy services to 200 adults and 1,500 kids each year.

Pictured below is the winning team, shortly after receiving their medals from members of the San Leandro City Council, including Mayor Shelia Young:

Click here for Daily Review coverage.

Trivia Bee

The 17th Annual Trivia Bee, to benefit Project Literacy
will take place on Friday, October 20, 2006 at the Marina Community Center - 15301 Wicks Blvd. Dinner is at 6 PM, the raffle drawing will take place at 7 PM and the Trivia Bee itself starts at 7:30 PM. You can buy the tickets at the library ($25) or at the door ($30).

The Trivia Bee is a lot of fun and Mike has been participating in it for the last 5 years. He's gotten very close to the top, but he is still vying to finish first. This year, Diana Prola, a new member of the team, will join Mike Katz and Ethan Klos on the path to victory.

Amnesty International Write-a-thon at Zocalo on Saturday October 21

Amnesty International is a group that works to prevent and stop human rights abuses, and works for freedom of conscience and expression and freedom from discrimination.

One of the ways that they do this is simply by writing letters to officials of governments to ask that the governments release prisoners or stop abusing them. On Saturday, October 21, 2006, a local Amnesty International group will hold a write-a-thon at Zocalo Coffeehouse from 10am to 4pm to write letters on behalf of Petros Solomon and 10 others unjustly imprisoned in Eritrea.

Petros Solomon is a former minister in the Eritrean government and a member of the Group of 15 ("G15"), a group of politicians who signed a letter criticizing the President of Eritrea. He and ten other signers were arrested in September 2001 and have been held incommunicado, without charge or trial, ever since. Petros' wife, Aster Yohannes, has also been arrested. Amnesty International considers Petros and the other G15 to be prisoners of conscience, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

To learn more about Petros, the G15, and human rights in Eritrea, and to write letters to advocate for their freedom, stop by Zocalo on Saturday, October 21.

The event is free and writing supplies will be provided. Zocalo Coffehouse is located at 645 Bancroft Avenue (near the intersection with Dutton) in San Leandro.

For more info, email aiusa612@aivol.org

Bancroft Art and Wine Festival Benefits Davis Street

On Sunday, October 8, 2006, Paradiso and Zocalo Coffeehouse became home to wine tasting and an art auction. According to a Daily Review article, more than 200 people joined in the benefit for the Davis Street Family Resource Center that featured paintings, glass work, sculpture, photographs, and a raffle. City officials included Mayor Shelia Young, Vice Mayor Surlene Grant, Council Member-Elect Michael Gregory, and City Council candidate Diana Souza. The event was intended for a wider audience than Davis Street's Opera Night fundraiser, and it was successful in attracting a larger and more diverse crowd.

Fundraiser at Tommy T's on Sept. 27 to Help Rebuild Pee Wee's Pizza

Tommy T's in Pleasanton will hold a fundraiser on Wednesday, September 27, 2006, to help rebuild Pee Wee's Pizza, which was gutted by a fire on September 5, 2006. Comedian Mike Marino is the featured performer that night at 8pm. Tickets are $10.

Pee Wee's Pizza is owned by Eddie Tarin and is located at 2198 E. 14th St. in San Leandro. The Caselli family opened Pee Wee's in 1953, but Tarin inherited the restaurant and has been running it since 1993.

More details available in the Daily Review article.

Former San Leandro Officer Up for US District Court Position

In a press release issued on September 12, 2006, Senator Dianne Feinstein asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve the nomination of former San Leandro Police Officer Lawrence O'Neill to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (Fresno Division). Senator Barbara Boxer also supports his nomination to the judiciary.

O'Neill was a San Leandro Police Officer after he attended Berkeley and before he received his law degree from Hastings College of Law.

CalTrans Awards Contract for Widening 238 and Improving Interstate 880

According to a press release from Royal BAM Group nv, its subsidiary, Flatiron Construction, has been awarded a $91 million contract from the California Department of Transporation to "widen and rehabilitate I-238/I-580 and place rubberized asphalt concrete overlay along I-880." The 238/I-880 interchange will be re-done and bridges will be widened and retrofitted.

CalTrans awarded the contract on August 17, 2006, and the project is scheduled to be completed in June 2009.

Flooding? In San Leandro?

Although it's unlikely, the failure of the dam at Lake Chabot would be devastating for San Leandro. Inundation maps showing time it would take water from the dam to reach areas of San Leandro and the depth of the water are available at San Leandro City Hall, the county's Emergency Operation Center in San Leandro and in the Office of Emergency Services.

In the Daily Review article, San Leandro's Public Information Officer Jane McCrea states, "It's very difficult if not impossible to say what the scenario would be if the dam broke." "We'll use the alerting and warning system and get information out as quickly as we can. I don't think we can say, 'Here's this plan and you're going to follow it for a dam failure.' The city is putting its effort into disasters that are more likely. There are a limited amount of emergency resources."

David Larson, chairman of the geography and environmental studies department at California State University, East Bay, describe McCrea's reasoning as "faulty logic."

Lake Chabot contains an estimated three billion gallons of water and is about a quarter mile from the Hayward Fault. The Upper San Leandro Reservoir contains an additional 13 billion gallons of water.

Also see this Daily Review article for more information.

San Leandro's Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. Lifts Part of New Bay Bridge Into Place

San Leandro's Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. was featured in the August 30, 2006, edition of the Contra Costa Times as it lifts a 1,750-ton piece of steel that will connect the skyway to the new suspension span of the Bay Bridge. In a press release, Weston Settlemier, president of Bigge Crane & Rigging states, "We are unaware of such a heavy load ever being lifted so high anywhere in the United States. However, what makes this job possible is that we have an engineering solution using our own equipment, which is the very latest in computer-controlled lifting technology."

The San Francisco Chronicle covered the same story, but didn't mention Bigge Crane & Rigging's name.

Bigge Crane & Rigging is located at 10700 Bigge Avenue in San Leandro and was founded by Henry J. Bigge, who established Bigge Drayage Company in 1916. According to its web site, "Bigge hauled steel for the building of the Golden Gate Bridge. Bigge transported Liberty ship sections during World War II. Bigge has contributed to the erection of fossil and nuclear power stations and every refinery in Northern California."

"Not a Genuine Black Man" on SF Chronicle's Top 10 List

Brian Copeland's "Not A Genuine Black Man," his story about growing up black in lily white San Leandro, is number 9 in the San Francisco Chronicle's list of the top-10 best non-fiction best sellers in the Bay Area. The book, just likes his one-man show, is both moving and hillarious and Brian deserves its aclaim. If you haven't read it, make sure to get a copy.

There should be a signing at the San Leandro Public Library later this fall.

This
Week Last
Week Weeks
On List NON-FICTION / BAY AREA
1 1 3 FIASCO, Thomas E. Ricks (Penguin; 496 pages; $24.95): A strong indictment of the war in Iraq, from planning to occupation, by the longtime Pentagon reporter at the Washington Post.
2 2 18 THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA, Michael Pollan (Penguin; 464 pages; $26.95): UC Berkeley Professor Michael Pollan examines what he considers America's unhealthy food culture and takes on some surprising targets.
3 3 2 THE FEMALE BRAIN, Louann Brizendine (Morgan Road; 279 pages; $24.95): A Bay Area doctor and UCSF scientist weighs in on the side of biology in the latest round of the scholarly gender wars.
4 6 3 I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK, Nora Ephron (Knopf; 160 pages; $19.95): Fifteen short essays about aging and womanhood by the author of "Heartburn."
5 9 5 CONSERVATIVES WITHOUT CONSCIENCE, John Dean (Viking; 288 pages; $25.95): The Watergate conspirator-cum-political critic takes aim at social conservatism, arguing that it has claimed the mantle of conservatives' past while eschewing libertarian policies.
6 8 70 FREAKONOMICS, Levitt and Dubner (Morrow; 256 pages; $25.95): An economist and a New York Times columnist delve into the often-surprising explanations for current trends and everyday events.
7 5 6 THE LONG TAIL, Chris Anderson (Hyperion; 256 pages; $24.95): A theory of the future of commerce in which companies will thrive by selling "less of more."
8 - 22 MARLEY & ME, John Grogan (Morrow; 304 pages; $21.95): Memoir of the Philadelphia Inquirer's life with his irrepressible Labrador retriever.
9 - 1 NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN, Brian Copeland (Hyperion; 272 pages; $22.95): Based on the longest-running one-man show in San Francisco history, this is Copeland's discussion of life as a black child (and, later, man) living in white suburbs.
10 - 1 THE QUANTUM ZOO, Marcus Chown (J. Henry; 200 pages; $24.95): A layman's guide to complex issues in contemporary science by the former radio astronomer and author of "The Universe Next Door."

Local Senior Pushes for City-Wide WiFi

Local senior George Tucker is pushing for city-wide wifi internet access in San Leandro, which would enable anyone with a wireless computer to access the Internet from anywhere in the city. Tucker is chairman of San Leandro's Senior Commission. More details in the Daily Review article.

Local Artist Carl Angel Visits Libraries in Hawaii

Carl Angel, who lives in San Leandro, has collaborated on two children's books that are written in Tagalog and English. Angel is in Oahu this week, where he will read from his book Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel at local libraries. He also illustrated Lakas and the Manilatown Fish, Xochitl and the Flowers, Willie Wins, Honoring our Ancestors, and Mga Kuwentong Bayan: Folk Stories from the Philippines.

Eat at Horatios on August 29 to Help the Gulf Coast Rebuild

Horatio's will help to support rebuilding in the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina by participating in Share Our Strength's Restaurants for Relief 2 on Tuesday, August 29, 2006. Other local particpants include Knudsen's Ice Creamery in Castro Valley and Kincaid's Fish, Chop and Steak House and Montclair Bistro in Oakland. Horatio's and Kincaid's will donate $1 per guest served and Knudsen's and the Montclair Bistro will donate 25% of sales.

Brian Copeland to Speak at Commonwealth Club

After a successful book-signing at Zocalo Coffeehouse - A World of Books sold all 74 copies of Not a Genuine Black Man - Brian Copeland will speak at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on Tuesday August 29, 2006.

A wine and cheese reception is scheduled for 5:30pm and the program will start at 6pm. Prices are $12 for Commonwealth Club members and $18 for non-members. The Commonwealth Club is located at 595 Market Street in San Francisco.

From the Commonwealth Club web site: "Bay Area diversity has a downside. In 1972 African-American Copeland moved to San Leandro - which was, at the time, 99 percent white - and spent his youth struggling with racism and identity issues. As an adult, he turned his experiences into humor. His recently closed performance was the longest running one-man show in San Francisco history and is now headed off-Broadway. Come hear him talk about trying to be a kid and learning to be a man."

Local Doctor Dan Martin Profiled on KGO

Local doctor and family physician Dan Martin was recently featured on KGO. Although he's retired after serving San Leandro for 51 years, Martin volunteers at the Davis Street Family Resource Center, where he provides free medical care services. During his career, Martin was a pioneer in the use of ritalin and was a strong opponent of cigarette smoking.

Copeland, S.L. racism mentioned in the Chronicle

From yesterday's Leah Garchick column in the San Francisco Chronicle
(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/15/DDGMQKH0R41.DTL):

"The San Leandro Community Action Network is throwing a book party on
Thursday at Zocalo Coffee House for Brian Copeland. Copeland's
one-man show/book/forthcoming TV series, "Not a Genuine Black Man,"
is about his family moving to San Leandro in 1972, when the National
Committee Against Discrimination in Housing called it "a racist
bastion of white supremacy." Copeland says there's lately been a
local controversy over whether an official history of the town should
make reference to these not-so-shining aspects of its past.

Margarita Lacabe, one of the organizers of the book party, says that
although San Leandro is now home to people of many different origins
-- it is said to contain the fourth-biggest number of diverse
communities in any town in California -- "we are still surprised at
how strong the current of racism in this town can be.''

San Leandro Mother and Two Children Killed in Nevada Car Accident

On Friday, August 11, 2006, Amy Hong Ma, 36, and her children, Amanda Lauren Lew, 9, and Alec Bernard Einhaus, 7, were killed when their sport utility vehicle overturned near Winnemucca, Nevada. Ma's husband, Wallace Woo, was injured and was taken to Humboldt General Hospital.

More details from the Daily Review.

Free Shots for Kids at Davis Street on August 30, 2006

From 2 to 6pm on Wednesday, August 30, 2006, the Davis Street Family Resource Center will offer free immunization shots through its RotaCare Free Acute Clinic. Shots will be offered for measles, mumps and rubella, including booster shots, to children of all ages.

The Davis Street Family Resource Center is located at 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro. Call (510) 347-4620 or email info@davisstreet.org for more information.

Reception for Brian Copeland

The San Leandro Community Action Network & Zocalo Coffee House invite you to

A RECEPTION & BOOK SIGNING
in honor of
BRIAN COPELAND
and his new book

Not a Genuine Black Man:
Or, How I Claimed My Piece of Ground in the Lily White Suburbs

The reception will take place on
Thursday, August 17th 7 PM at
Zocalo Coffeehouse, 645 Bancroft Ave. San Leandro

Copies available for purchase at the event.

Based on the longest-running one-man show in San Francisco history - a hilarious, poignant, and disarming memoir of growing up black in an all-white suburb.

In 1972, when Brian Copeland was eight, his family moved from Oakland to San Leandro, California, hoping for a better life. At the time, San Leandro was 99.4 percent white, known nationwide as a racist enclave. This reputation was confirmed almost immediately: Brian got his first look at the inside of a cop car, for being a black kid walking to the park with a baseball bat.

Brian grew up to be a successful comedian and radio talk show host, but racism reemerged as an issue only in reverse when he received an anonymous letter: “As an African American, I am disgusted every time I hear your voice because YOU are not a genuine Black man!” That letter inspired Copeland to revisit his difficult childhood, resulting in a hit oneman show that has been running for nearly two years which has now inspired a book. In this funny, surprising, and ultimately moving memoir, Copeland shows exactly how our surroundings make us who we are."

Reviews
“A beautiful mix of wry humor and heartbreak, indignation and inspiration, a singular story of extreme isolation that speaks to anyone who’s ever felt out of place.”
San Francisco Chronicle"

----
Please forward this invitation to your friends

Thrift Town Featured in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle

The July 30, 2006, San Francisco Chronicle featured San Leandro's Thrift Town in an article listing places to go for cheap dates and fabulous funk.

From the article:

Thrift Town, 16160 E 14th St. San Leandro. "Thrift Town, the first-class secondhand store. Tina's been going to Thrift Town San Leandro for, like, 20 years. The best in the Bay Area. You can always find something there. She got a Nauga for $1.99 recently. They play awesome oldies tunes -- there really is nothing better on a Sunday afternoon than thriftin' to the oldies."

Vigil for Slain SL Police Officer Nels Dan Niemi Tonight

One year after the shooting death of Nels Dan Niemi, a vigil will be held tonight at 8 p.m. in front of the police department at 901 East 14th St. The 45-minute vigil will be an upbeat celebration of Niemi's life, according to Police Chief Joe Kicthen.

The suspect in Niemi's death, Irving Ramirez, has a pretrial hearing scheduled for August 28, 2006, and a jury trial set to begin on October 22.

Escaping the heat in San Leandro

I don't have to tell you that it's been really, really hot in San Leandro. And of course, most of us are not prepared for the heat. Our houses (well, at least my house) are not well insulated, and they don't have A/C. What to do to escape the hotest hours of the day? Go to Zocalo! This most San Leandran of cafes has both air conditioning and working fans - not to mention a plethora of cool drinks. And of course, our presence, as that's where we've been spending much of our time :)

San Leandro Resident Wins at the Alameda County Fair

San Leandro resident Scott Landrey won 1st place for his collection of Nascar driver Tony Stewart memorabilia at the 2006 Alameda County Fair.

Chronicle Covers Albertons' Closures

In an article published in its July, 11, 2006, edition, the San Francisco Chronicle discusses the impact of Albertsons' store closure on various communities, including San Leandro:

In San Leandro, when Albertsons on East 14th Street closed about a year ago, the community's first instinct was to grieve.

"Obviously when a grocery store closes, there's a lot of disappointment," said Hanson Hom, community development director for San Leandro. "A lot of residents like the choice of having two grocery stores."

Soon after the store closed, people started dumping their furniture and selling old cars on the site, Hom said. Police eventually put an end to that.

Now the main concern is what will happen to the property, which is in the hands of the Red Mountain Retail Group in Southern California, a company that specializes in recycling old shopping centers and supermarkets for new use. Eric Nelson, director of entitlement for Red Mountain, said he is working with another grocery chain to fill the space, although he would not name the retailer.

Officials in San Leandro are hoping that whatever ends up in the former Albertsons will fit it with the city's bigger plans to create a mixed-use transit development, with bus stops along East 14th Street. But Hom pointed out that because the store is an awkward size -- 23,000 square feet -- it has been difficult to find a replacement. Many retail chains lean toward the 50,000-square foot range. Smaller chains typically measure around 10,000 square feet.

"There's not a whole lot of retail chains looking for that size of a space," Hom said, adding that sometimes the best option is to simply tear down those types of buildings and start from scratch.

Free Electronic Waste Drop-off July 14 and 15, 2006

On Friday and Saturday July 14 and 15, 2006, you can drop off your electronic waste for free at the Bayfair Mall southern parking lot on E. 14th Street.

Items you can drop off:

• televisions and computer monitors
  
• laptop computers,, parts, and accessories
  
• computer parts, towers, desktops, hard drives, CD ROM drives, loose PC boards, cables, discs
  
• any other electronic waste

Microwaves will not be accepted.

The event is sponsored by Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, the City of San Leandro, and the Bay Fair Mall.

For more information, call Goodwill at (888) 4-GOODWILL.

Drake's Brewing Co. to Hold Fundraiser for Jefferson Elementary

San Leandro's Drake's Brewing Co. will hold a fundaiser for Jefferson Elementary School on Saturday July 8, 2006, from noon to 6pm. Proceeds from the first annual Beer Festival & Washoes (horseshoe) Tournament will go to the Rogers Charitable Fund, which will match the funds raised at the event, doubling the donation for school supplies.

The event will take place at Drake's Brewery located at 1933 Davis St., Suite 177, in San Leandro. Live music and beers from 15 local breweries will be included. Tickets are $35. For more information, call 510-562-0866.

According to its web site, Drake's Brewery was "founded in 1989 as one of the Bay Area's first microbreweries, Drake's Brewing Company is a small, family-owned business dedicated to the art and science of craft brewing." Drake's is one of numerous companies owned by the Rogers Family, which also owns San Francisco Bay Coffee, The Organic Coffee Co., Fairwinds Coffee, Audobon Coffee, Cafe Jerusalem, and East India Tea Co..

Invitation to join SLCAN mailing list

You're invited to join the San Leandro Community Action Network e-
mail announcement list.

This list is intended for anyone interested in the happenings,
concerns, and activities in San Leandro. Announcements will include
significant meetings in and around San Leandro and alerts will be
sent to inform and inspire you to get involved on an issue that
impact our neighborhoods, schools, or otherwise affect our lives.
You can subscribe at: http://www.slcan.org/email.html.

In the near future, we will also be setting up a discussion list, but
until then you can email us with upcoming events or topics that
concern you at elist @ slcan.org.

SLCAN values community involvement. What else can you do to get
involved now? Pass along this e-mail to others you believe may be
interested in receiving our news and announcements.

SLCAN is a newly formed grassroots organization dedicated to
improving the quality of life in San Leandro by ensuring quality
education, smart growth, and an inclusive and equitable community.
For more information about SLCAN, visit our website at http:// www.slcan.org.

SLCAN will not share your personal information or email address with
any other entity; your contact information will be used just for
announcements, discussions and organizational activities of SLCAN.
When our new email listserv is available, you will have the ability
to unsubscribe at any time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
info@slcan.org
http://www.slcan.org

White Washing History in San Leandro

WHITE WASHING HISTORY
By Brian Copeland

�Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.�

�History is written by the victors.�

I think that I�ve heard the aforementioned quotes most of my life in one form or another. I�ve always found them to be somewhat contradictory in that they say that history is important and that it is also subjective depending upon who�s telling the story. In my naivet�, I had always believed that what was important about history was truth, but alas, there was no incident involving a cherry tree and George Washington told many lies, Columbus was a much more complicated (and brutal) man than the noble explorer we were taught about in grade school and Thomas Edison received much credit for inventions that, while developed in his laboratory, he personally had very little to do with.

In spite of these revelations, it is a recent experience that has shaken my personal faith in the accurate dissemination of historical records for posterity.

As you have no doubt heard by now, for the past two years, I have been performing a one man play called NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN, which deals with the organized housing discrimination in San Leandro in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a history that I was never taught in school and one that I only discovered when I began researching a few years back. I found newspaper and magazine articles, transcripts of government hearings as well as a nationally aired documentary (THE SUBURBAN WALL, see it at www.briancopeland.com) on the sorry situation. Today, the formerly 99.99% white enclave is among one of California�s most diverse cities. Unfortunately, that fact hasn�t stopped some in the town from trying to hide the fact that it ever happened.

Recently, the city sanctioned the writing of a book on the official history of San Leandro. A young writer was commissioned and given the task of telling the suburb�s story from inception through the present day. As part of his research for the book, he attended my play and planned to use some of my documents in his book.

When he presented his outline to the powers that be, he included a chapter on San Leandro�s Housing Discrimination as well as his intention to interview me regarding the materials I�d uncovered. He was told in no uncertain terms that this material was not to be included in the book.

The young author made the case that the segregationist policies of the past are part of the city�s history and should be recorded. Just because they are shameful doesn�t mean they are invalid. He likened it to writing the history of America and omitting slavery. The opposition was adamant.

To make their case, they went to San Leandro�s mayor, Sheila Young who has spoken on the issue in an LA Times profile on me recently. �Of course, it has to be included,� she said. �It�s history and it happened.�

Next they went to the Assemblywoman representing the district, Ellen Corbett, who also said, �it�s history so it has to be in there.�

At that point, the young author was paid for his outline and told that there was no longer funding available for the project and that the book was dead.

Maybe there�s a more important proverb I forgot. The Golden Rule. �He who has the gold makes the rules.�

Brian Copeland�s memoir, �Not a Genuine Black Man�, will be released nationwide by Hyperion on July 11.

First Review of Brian Copeland's New Book

Publisher's Weekly has the first review of Brian Copeland's new book, "Not a Genuine Black Man: Or How I Learned to Be Black in the Lily-White Suburbs," which is due to be released on July 11, 2006.

The review, though quite brief, ends with the following positive impressions, "Copeland's comedic talent is evident throughout the book, though he concedes that he uses laughter to keep the pain at bay and endured a time when he descended into depression. Honest and engaging, this memoir is a valuable book for anyone trying to straddle racial lines, for anyone who has ever felt out of place."

The first printing run will reportedly number 35,000 copies.

City Council Approves 2006-2007 Budget

In its June 19, 2006, meeting, the City Council approved the 2006-2007 unanimously. Vice-Mayor Surlene Grant presided over the meeting as Mayor Sheila Young was absent. As in the previous four years, the budget had a structural deficit, which was made up for by using reserve funds. According to City Manager John Jermanis, the good news this year was that the structural deficit was just over $500,000. For more details on the budget, see this previous item.

The City Council also unanimously approved a loan of up to $884,000 to Mercy Housing for the renovation of the former Islander Lodge Motel, which is being converted to affordable rental housing.

Santos and Starosciak both expressed a desire to fund the Cherry Festival, Sunday library hours, and hire additional police officers. Nardine asked for a clarification as to how much the Cherry Festival costs and Jermanis responded that it costs $80,000. Vice-Mayor Grant recommended that the Finance Subcommittee hold an evening workshop so that the public can help to decide what should be the funding priorities.

Public comments included complaints from business and property owners about parking issues on MacArthur Bouelvard, complaints about a neighbors' dogs, and, of course, Lou Filipovich.

One of the items on the consent calendar was the auction of 19 vehicles, four pieces of heavy equipment and one boat. Council Member Nardine asked about the details of the auction, which can be found on the Finance department section of the city web site. The auction of heavy equipment will be held June 24, 2006 at 9am with previews on Friday, June 23, 2006. The auction of vehicles will be held August 5, 2006, at 9am. with previews on Friday, August 4, 2006. For more information contact the City of San Leandro Purchasing Office at 510-577-3376 or First Capitol Auction Co. at 707-552-0739.

The item on the conent calendar that generated the most discussion was the eradication of non-native Spartina (cordgrass) along the San Leandro shoreline. Council Members Starosciak and Santos attended a meeting in which the eradication program was discussed in great detail. Starosciak expressed surprise that environmentalists were willing to use an herbicide against the Spartina. Vice-Mayor Grant expressed concern about the aerial spraying effects on the health and safety of nearby residents and the potential for the spray to drift onto vehicles. Starosciak reassured Grant that the herbicide broke down after two weeks and was so safe that no mask or protective equipment was needed when applying it.

The resolution approving the grant agreement between the City of San Leandro and the State Coastal Conservancy for Spartina Treatment and Eradication Activities at the San Leandro Shoreline was approved unanimously. The cost of $50,000 would be almost completely reimbursed from a grant of $49,996.

For more information about Spartina, see the San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project.

The meeting was adjourned in memory of two residents that recently passed away, including Lois M. McDonald, who served on the San Leandro School Board for 21 years.

City Budget and Islander Lodge Motel at City Council Meeting

The main items on the June 5, 2006, City Council meeting agenda were an update on the conversion of the Islander Lodge Motel to affordable housing and the presentation of the 2006-2007 city budget by City Manager John Jermanis.

All members of the City Council were present: Orval Badger, Vice Mayor Surlene Grant, Glenda Nardine, Joyce Starosciak, Bill Stephens, Tony Santos, and Mayor Sheila Young.

The audience for the meeting was nearly doubled by the 12-14 friends and family of Senior Library Assistant Mary Lutvinchuk, who was honored as Employee of the Month.

Public comments consisted of Mike Katz suggesting that the City Council record its meetings digitally so that it can be made available on the city web site and Harold Perez complaining about the lack of adequate response to his complaints about the numerous pit bulls at his neighbor's residence.

After Council Member Nardine asked for clarifications of the consent calendar items, they were approved unanimously. One item included approving $2,000 from the Mayor's Community Fund for Mayor Young to travel to Ponta Delgada, San Leandro's sister city in the Azores.

The Islander Lodge Motel (2398 E. 14th Street) project has changed from the original plan in that the City of San Leandro will maintain ownership of the property and improvements while Mercy Housing will manage the property for the next 55 years. The Islander Lodge Motel will be converted to 62 studio apartments, two one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment for the manager. Rents are expected to range from $406 to $626 per month depending on the apartment and the renter's income. The current plan includes gated parking and a computer. The Board of Zoning Adjustments provided the project with an exemption for parking, as the plan calls for just 62 parking spaces. The City Council voted unanimously to approve a loan of up to $727,000 from the Redevelopment Agency to Mercy Housing to cover the costs of predevelopment activities such as architecture, engineering, geotechnical, and legal services. The loan will have a 0% interest rate and will be paid back in late 2006 or early 2007.

City Manager Jermanis provided a very brief summary of the previous year's budget, noting that the City of San Leandro incurred a $1.3 million deficit instead of the budgeted $3 million deficit because of 1.9% higher property tax revenues, 1.2 % higher sales tax revenues, and higher transfer tax revenues, due almost entirely to the $94.5 million sale of the 63-acre Albertson's distribution center property at 1701 Marina Boulevard to Kaiser. The city also managed to save 1.4% in expenditures (almost $1 million).

For 2006-2007, total revenues to the general fund are estimated at $73.6 million and total expenditures from the general fund are estimated at $74.2 million. Reserve funds will be used to make up the deficit of $570,000. The workforce is being rearranged, but the net result is an increase of four full-time equivalents, with a decrease in full-time employees and an increase in part-time employees.

The current budget depends on the passage of Measure I, the business license fee increase, and if it not passed, the $2 million in expected revenue will have to be found elsewhere. Other new revenue in the budget includes $500,000 from the Oro Loma franchise fee and $500,000 from the red light camera program, although that is offset by $500,000 in costs for the program. The State of California will no longer be taking property tax money under Proposition 1A, so that frees up $1.2 million, while growth in property taxes, sales taxes, the 911 fee, utility user tax, and franchise fees all help the growth in revenues. The budget projects a decline in revenues from the real property tax, based on declining home sales.

Public safety (police and fire) constitute $41.1 million (55%) of the expenditures, followed by general government at $6.5 million (9%), and community development at $6.1 million (8%). Of the $2.4 million increase in expenditures over last year, $1.9 million is due to new contracts and step and benefit rollups.

The city still expects to hand out $324,500 in community assistance to groups like the Boys and Girls Club, Building Futures for Women and Children, Davis Street, Project Literacy, Stepping Stones, and SAVE. The city will also hand out $25,000 in community benefit funds to the Arts Council of San Leandro, California Conservatory Theater, Pacific Chamber Symphony, San Leandro Art Association, San Leandro College Bound, San Leandro High School Musical Theater, San Leandro Players, and Washington Manor Middle School Worldancers.

Items that don't have funding include the senior center, a competition pool at Washington Manor, park renovations, the Cherry Festival, Sunday hours at the library, capital improvement projects, police positions, and equipment and maintenance costs.

The budget will be presented to the public at the City Council meeting at 7pm on June 19, 2006. If you want to voice your opinion about how the city should spend its money, contact your City Council Member and make sure to attend the next City Council meeting.

Trader Sports Loses Court Appeal - Ordered to Close June 2

Trader Sports lost an appeal of the ATF's decision to revoke its licence in a decision by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker on May 25, 2006. The judge said that Trader Sports was unlikely to prevail and failed to adequately dispute ATF claims.

The inital date for closure of the store was June 1, but the judge allowed for one extra day so that the owner, Anthony Cucchiara could appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee, Trader Sports has failed to account for 1,700 firearms, was unable to properly help the ATF trace guns found at crimes scenes 19 times, and guns it sold showed up at crime scenes about once a week for two years.

San Francisco Chronicle article

Reviews of Copeland's "Not a Genuine Black Man" in New York

Associated Press drama critic Michael Kuchwara reviewed Brian Copeland's Not a Genuine Black Man on Wednesday, May 17, 2006. Kuchwara liked Copeland's show and described Copeland as "a genial, accomplished raconteur..." and concludes, "The man refuses to be categorized. And it is that refusal to be stereotyped that makes "Not a Genuine Black Man" such an intriguing and entertaining evening."

In his review, New York Times critic Jason Zinoman writes, "But a funny t