Monthly Archives: June 2013

The one per cent solution

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

“This leakage of sales tax from Alameda residents to surrounding communities is a major cause of the City’s financial crisis.” So saith City Manager John Russo in a “letter to the editor” distributed to the local papers and blogs (alas, … Continue reading →

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Press releases from City Hall

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

During her search of City Hall for “one-time funds” needed to “balance” the City budget, Assistant City Manager Liz Warmerdam happened upon a bunch of staff-written press releases that failed to get posted on the City’s new Website.  The Merry-Go-Round … Continue reading →

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A “Plan” for Alameda Point

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

Want to know how many housing units should be planned for Alameda Point? You can ask City staff and you’ll get one answer:  the 1,425 units contemplated by the Community Reuse Plan (at least for now). You can ask housing … Continue reading →

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A layperson’s guide to budgetspeak

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

For anyone planning to attend Tuesday’s Council meeting at which City Manager John Russo will accept congratulations on the FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-15 budget, here’s a short lexicon that might prevent confusion:

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Whatever happened to fire station no. 3?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

You recall, don’t you, how, by approving Measure C, Alameda voters endorsed spending $4.5 million to build a new emergency operations center and a new state-of-the-art fire station no. 3? Oh, that’s right.  Measure C failed. Then you must recall … Continue reading →

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Beware the plume

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

The Planning Board was treated last week to a presentation by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (“SOM”), the internationally known architectural firm hired to prepare a “specific plan” for the “Town Center” proposed for Alameda Point.  Describing the 125-acre Town … Continue reading →

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