Tag Archives: Kevin Kearney

The scorecard on Trish Spencer

Here’s your Alameda mayoral campaign quiz for the day: During the last two years, which candidate has voted in favor of the following “progressive,” pro‑bicycle, and pro‑development proposals brought before City Council: Renaming Jackson Park to Chochenyo Park; Authorizing planning … Continue reading

Posted in Alameda Point, Budget, City Hall, Development, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The new new thing in pensions

Ever since we can remember (in our case, that’s 2012), the City has been struggling to find ways to ensure that it will be able to pay its retired employees the pensions it promised them. The problem is simple:  As … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, Pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Spend away!

Three weeks ago, the Merry-Go-Round reported on City Finance Director Elena Adair’s forecast that, if all of the additional spending proposed for the next two fiscal years were to take place, the “available balance” in the General Fund would drop … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

United they stand

Some time very soon – we predict – a flyer will arrive on Alamedans’ doorsteps or in their mailboxes endorsing candidates for Council, Auditor, Treasurer, and School Board. It will be printed on glossy paper.  It will be well-designed and … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Let the campaign begin!

The campaign season is now officially open in Alameda, and the Merry-Go-Round is ready to rumble.

Posted in City Hall, Firefighters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Putting our money where their mouths are

Back in June, gloating over a projected $30.8 million balance in the General Fund as of the end of this fiscal year, Council instructed staff to come up with a list of recommendations about how to “allocate” – i.e., spend … Continue reading

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Whom do you trust?

All right, dear readers, the Merry-Go-Round has a question for you: Suppose you wanted an authoritative evaluation of the impact on the City’s financial condition of a proposed deal between the City and its public safety unions that establishes a … Continue reading

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Mr. Kennedy Goes to Council

Every time City Treasurer Kevin Kennedy makes his annual appearance before City Council to discuss the City’s financial condition, one can’t help but think of “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”  Senator Jefferson Smith spends hours trying to get the legislators … Continue reading

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The bully’s pulpit

Mayor Marie Gilmore is wont to bemoan the failure of the public to attend meetings at which issues regarding City finances are discussed. As it happens, the Mayor herself was absent last Thursday from the special City Council meeting called … Continue reading

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