Ferry follow-up

Two weeks ago, Alameda residents met with representatives from the office of Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata to discuss the consolidation of Bay Area ferry services.
Michael Krueger, member of the Transportation Commission, asked why the consolidation exempted Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, the largest ferry operator in the region. Kruegger [...]

SunCal hosts first meeting on Alameda Point

Consultants said that while there are a number of constraints when it comes to redeveloping Alameda Point, especially because of contaminants in the area, it is all manageable and will be completed in time.
“Please don’t take it all as a negative,” said Pat Kehliher, vice president of operations at SunCal Companies, during a public meeting [...]

Parents dispute lottery proposal for kindergarten enrollment

The Alameda Unified School District is proposing to change its kindergarten enrollment policy to a two-week period round up and lottery from a first come, first served rule.
Dave Dierkin, district student affairs and compliance officer, presented the plan on Oct. 23 to the school board, who will then vote on the policy at its next [...]

Oakland man receives 31 years in prison

Robert Antonio Romero of Oakland was sentenced to 31 years and eight months to state prison for using a firearm during a carjacking.
Family members and friends shook their heads as Alameda County Superior Court Judge Joan Cartwright handed down the maximum sentence of 20 years for using a firearm in a carjacking.
Romero, 29, also [...]

Residents question ferry takeover

At a special Transportation Commission meeting Wednesday night, Alameda residents said they were blindsided by the passage of SB 976, a bill recently signed into law this week that transfers the city’s ferry services to a new regional authority.
“My philosophy, being a country girl, has always been if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” [...]

Burglar takes $6,000 worth of belongings from an Alameda home

Police are investigating a burglary that occurred over last weekend on San Antonio Avenue
According to a police report, belongings valued at $6,000 were taken from the home sometime between Oct. 5 and Oct. 8 while the resident was out of town. The report, however, did not specify what items were taken.
The police report said the [...]

Thief steals $10,000 worth of copper

Six rolls of copper wire were reported stolen from the Chipman Moving and Storage warehouse at 1551 Buena Vista Ave. on Oct. 4.
The police currently no leads and the case is considered suspended, said Lt. Art Fuentes, public information officer with the Alameda Police Department.
There is a larger epidemic of metal [...]

Planning Board approves format for Measure A forum

After months of debate, the Alameda Planning Board voted Oct. 8 on the format for a public workshop to discuss the impacts of Measure A, a 1973 law that has limited growth and development in the city. But even though there is now an agenda for the forum, a specific date has yet to be [...]

Enrollment Policy meetings

The Alameda Unified School District will hold enrollment policy meetings starting next week Oct. 8 through Oct. 17. All meetings will go from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will be held according to schools. The schedule goes as follows:
Monday, Oct. 8, Bayfarm and Earhart, meeting at Earhart
Wednesday, Oct. 10, Haight and Washington, meeting at [...]

School board mull task force proposal

Superintendent Ardella Dailey proposed creating a task force that will address Alameda Unified School District’s equity and capacity issues on Sept. 25.
The group, to be named the Pathway to Excellence & Equity Task Force, will develop recommendations on how to deal with the district’s enrollment imbalance in schools and how close the achievement gap between [...]