Archive for the ‘Editorials’
Comment: Be true to your school
I was sitting through another school board meeting a month ago, just minding my own business, when I got some disturbing news. Apparently, the elementary school my child attends is bad.
From her perch on the dais, School Board Trustee Trish Hererra Spencer all but accused the school of draining away the district’s cash and with [...]
In their own words: John Knox White on the Oakland Airport Connector
Just over a week ago, the Federal Transit Administration alerted BART to the fact that their Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project, the pet project of Alameda’s BART representative, Carol Ward Allen, was out of compliance with mandatory civil rights regulations. Their unusually strongly-worded letter, addressed to both BART and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the agency [...]
Comment: What’s the Point?
I had hoped to have an editorial for you this week that would tell you whether to vote for or against Measure B. But the truth is, I’ll be sitting this one out. Because it has become crystal clear to me that the city has decided that they’re going to do whatever they want on [...]
Measure B: Yes or no?
Alameda voters are in the midst of making a big decision about the future of Alameda Point, and by extension, our entire Island. (No pressure.) Measure B, which is before absentee ballot holders now and which will hit the polls on February 2, would exempt Alameda Point from development-limiting Measure A, put a land plan [...]
Comment: It’s a wondeful life
This past holiday season, I gave myself a gift: Some time to read about the world outside our little Island. For two weeks, I gorged on magazines that had been laying around the house for months, and on newspapers off- and online. I read about the ongoing machinations around health care reform, the underwear bomber [...]
In their own words: Jordan Battani on the hospital board vacancy
On November 2, in my role as President of the City of Alameda Health Care District, I asked the other members of the District Board to consider a proposal to extend the deadline for applications to fill the recent vacancy on the five-person board. Hoping that providing additional time will result in more applicants, we [...]
In their own words: The ‘Club conundrum
In September, the Boys & Girls Club of Alameda asked the City Council to consider using $2 million of Alameda’s regional park bond money to help the club build a new facility on the city’s West End. An epic battle followed, pitting club and open space advocates against each other.
The fun continues Tuesday night, when [...]
Point proponents fire back
City leaders’ concerns about SunCal’s Alameda Point development initiative have grabbed the headlines over the past few weeks, as have mounting concerns about the potential impacts of the ballot measure. But proponents of the measure and SunCal’s development plan say they have concerns, too: That the city has other ideas for how the Point should [...]
A comment about comments
The last couple of days I’ve been involved in a lengthy exchange regarding my comment policy. And what I took away from it is that I need to be clearer with people about what my policies are regarding comments, and why.
Let me start by saying that as a longtime newspaper reporter, I struggle with the [...]
Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker on the recall
As a longtime Alameda resident, parent of two daughters who both attended Alameda public schools and an elected official representing the city of Alameda, I strongly oppose the attempt to recall the majority of the Alameda school board.
Alameda should be a strong, vibrant, respectful, and supportive community for our children. It is this principle – [...]
In their own words: Spending the Measure WW park bond
Two weeks ago, City Councilwoman Lena Tam asked her fellow council members to consider giving $2 million of Alameda’s $3.4 million share of a recently passed regional park bond to the Alameda Boys and Girls Club for construction of a new, 25,000-square-foot facility in the West End.
The club has struggled in the current economy to [...]
