Tag Archives: Rec/Park

Keeping ’em on the job

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Robert Sullwold

When City Manager Eric Levitt presented his revised Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget last week, the staff report made his priorities clear: “First, the approach to the budget is to limit layoffs. . . .  We anticipate bringing back part-time employees … Continue reading →

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A gag rule for City boards

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

When we reported in last week’s column on the slap-down delivered by former Mayor Marie Gilmore to the Recreation and Parks Commission, we thought we were relating an item of merely historical interest.  After all, Mayor Gilmore had been voted … Continue reading →

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Making the sustainable transparent (or is it vice versa)?

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

Vice Mayor Frank Matarrese didn’t get much praise from his colleagues for his referral Wednesday night about “giving direction” to the City Manager before staff begins preparing the next two-year General Fund budget. Indeed, Mayor Trish Spencer described the proposal … Continue reading →

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OPEB problem? What OPEB problem?

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

Five years ago, City Manager Debra Kurita (with the assistance of Interim Finance Director Ann Marie Gallant) alerted City Council that Alameda had an “OPEB problem”:   It had agreed to provide health benefits to retired public employees (and, in the … Continue reading →

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The bully’s pulpit

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Robert Sullwold

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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