These pseudo-lefties are wandering around Oakland looking for someplace to “occupy” and, in the process, zeroing-in on targets that have nothing to do with the country’s economic inequalities.  In fact, they have settled on making municipal government—its buildings, its mayor, and law enforcement—their symbol of the 1% they want to attack.  One protester claimed that police instigated Saturday’s violence because they wouldn’t let the “occupiers” take over the closed Kaiser convention center.  Another protester used the movement as a vehicle to recall Mayor Quan.

It’s ironic that a mayor who came into office through community outreach and instant runoff voting—a fundamental change in the status quo that big money deplores—is being given so much grief.

Mayor Quan needs to position herself as a leader and supporter of the aspirations of the Occupy Wall Street Movement if she wants to gain widespread support.  In a series of press conferences and through policy initiatives, she should use her office to rally other leaders in the East Bay, including Alameda, who are outspoken on economic justice issues.  It’s time to marginalize the impostors who are actually helping to maintain the 1%’s disproportionate power and influence.

Many Alamedans stood in solidarity with the national movement.  We rallied and marched peacefully in October and November, 2011, and encouraged people to move their money to community banks and credit unions.  Berkeley just voted to move its money to a community bank.  Organized groups around the country are trying to influence lawmakers to make the system fairer, such as declaring that corporations are not people, charging a fee for stock trading, reinstituting better financial regulations, and making the rich pay higher taxes.

All those who care about this movement for economic justice need to criticize and marginalize the group in Oakland who claims to be part of the 99% movement.

Mayor Quan has a grand opportunity to get “on message.”  It’s time for her to occupy the occupy message.  Whether she does so remains to be seen, but if she does, the 99% will be forever grateful, regardless of where we live.

Originally published in Alameda Sun.

The city council postponed taking any action on how to proceed with Point development, however.  Staff had recommended the city itself, rather than a master developer, control the entitlement process that deals with the pre-construction process and requirements of obtaining the permitting, getting the land-use approved, utility easements approved, etc.

Acknowledging the city’s continued reliance on the existing reuse plan, City Manager Russo stated that proceeding without a master developer would allow the city to maximize both democratic control and land value.  Councilmember Johnson agreed, saying that developers come to the table with “not what’s necessarily right for our community, but what maximizes their profits.”

Mayor Gilmore wants clarification on the cost and role of an anticipated “development advisor” and assurance there would be no duplication of staff resources and skill sets.  She also made clear that she wants a master infrastructure plan in place as we begin to sell off parts of the base so that “everything fits together.” Councilmember Bonta asked staff to bring back an example of this model if it has been used elsewhere.

The council continued the hearing to March 27.  Its regular Alameda Point meeting for March 7 has been cancelled.

At a special joint meeting of the city council and the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority (ARRA) on Feb. 7, staff will present concrete ideas on moving forward at Alameda Point.  It includes a zoning ordinance and general plan amendment aimed at clearly establishing the guidelines for future development.  According to the staff report, “Such clarity will reduce entitlement risk and delay in any future development efforts.  Clear policies will help Alameda avoid ‘starting from scratch’ with, or ceding too much control over the direction of future development to, a new private partner.”

The proposed zoning ordinance and general plan amendment being presented to the city council will also make it easier to obtain various types of funding, which will also be discussed at the meeting.

The presentation is called “Proposed Disposition and Development Strategy for Alameda Point.”  It advocates dividing the mixed-use area into three parts:  Southern Area, Adaptive Reuse Area, and Northern Area.  Each area has a different focus and would be developed concurrently.

Three areas

Looking north at the Southern Area from Enterprise Park

The Southern Area is bordered by the Seaplane Lagoon on the west, the East Gate entrance on the north, Main Street on the east, and Inner Harbor on the south.  It includes the 46-acre parcel that was offered to the Berkeley Lab and will emphasize commercial development.   Staff is recommending they proceed with infrastructure engineering, strategies for dealing with earthquakes and sea level rise, marketing materials, and community buy-in on the commercial focus of this area.

Building 5 interior

In the Adaptive Reuse Area, which includes the aircraft hangars, barracks, and City Hall West, the city proposes to maintain the existing leasing program while actively marketing key buildings.  The largest of those buildings is Building 5 with almost one million square feet.  It’s also known by its former name, the NARF (Naval Air Rework Facility) Building.  It is right across the street from the Rock Wall Winery.  In 2010, the U.S. EPA drafted some ideas on possible uses for  the building.

Old housing in Northern Area

It is the Northern Area that will receive the most intense effort in the beginning, even while the city is concurrently working on the other two areas.  This is primarily because it is the cleanest and offers the best opportunity for beginning a new chapter at Alameda Point, mainly with a new residential neighborhood.  If approved by the city council, planning will begin on everything from demolition and grading plans to a streetscape plan and subdivision maps.  They want to take it all the way to a completed environmental impact report (EIR), after which the city can then offer the land for sale.

Proposed Disposition and Development Strategy

In the staff’s proposed disposition and development strategy, they offer four options on how to proceed and the pros and cons of each.  Their evaluations cover variations on how the land becomes entitled.  Entitled refers to the pre-construction process and requirements of obtaining the permitting, getting the land-use approved, utility easements approved, etc.

City staff’s preferred option is that the city itself, and not a master developer, entitle the land because it will result in enhanced land value to the city and more control over development and the final outcome.  They are asking for authority to hire a “development advisor” to perform the entitlement work.

**

In addition to Tuesday’s meeting, the staff will also make a presentation at the February 13 planning board meeting and a March 7 city council meeting.

Meeting time and place for all meetings: 7 PM, City Council Chambers, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.

Tuesday, February 7 – City Council meeting

Monday, February 13 – Planning Board meeting

Wednesday, March 7 – City Council meeting

Broadcast on Comcast channel 15 and AT&T channel 99, and on the city’s webcast center.

Once when this happened, my husband complained and I switched the channel only to hear Judge Judy say, “Get over it.”  Now we can indeed get over it because the buzzing is expected to be gone soon.  The city is in the process of overhauling all its video equipment.

The city is paying for the new equipment with a fee collected from our cable providers, Comcast and AT&T.  Because cable franchises no longer have to maintain and support local access television studios, cities are entitled to collect an annual fee of up to one percent of a cable company’s gross revenues to support public, education and government (PEG) cable channels.  This year in Alameda the fee has generated about $175,000 for new equipment.  The monies may only be spent to replace or upgrade existing equipment used for programming and broadcasting on the PEG channels.  Until now, the city’s old equipment has not been compatible with our cable companies’ new digital equipment.

Sean Jones, who has been filming city hall meetings since 2004, is excited about the change.  “We used to have only one output.”  The upgrade allows for full audio, camera and graphic controls.  Using three new high definition wall cameras, he and coworker Alex Andrews will be able “to hear and monitor the room volume, television and web, and adjust each independently” through a computerized system.

High definition subscribers will find themselves watching city hall meetings in high def.  Besides better sound and picture, a new look in between meetings will include slide shows rather than the scrolls of upcoming agendas and press releases currently being shown.  All upgrades should be completed in February.

City Clerk Lara Weisiger said Sean’s work, which began as a result of a high school TV Media course referral, “has saved the city lots of money.  Because of his talent, the city did not have to hire an outside contractor for the position.”  Weisiger says the city would be happy to offer future internships to students.

The equipment upgrade comes as the city increases its number of broadcasts to meet the requirements of the Sunshine Ordinance, which goes into effect February 1.  In addition to regularly aired city council, planning board, public utilities board, economic development commission, and transportation commission meetings, Alamedans will soon be able to see meetings of the historical advisory board, recreation and parks, and open government commission (the newly formed commission that will enforce the Sunshine Ordinance).  Meetings are aired on Comcast channel 15 and AT&T channel 99.

With the additional fees generated in upcoming years, the city could install a remote feed in the main library or other venues.

This news is the kind of buzz I like coming from city hall.

Originally published in Alameda Sun

On December 19, the fighter aircraft, on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, was placed back in its original spot—a fitting celebration to conclude the 2011 Centennial of Naval Aviation.

Built in April 1957, the plane was first delivered to the Stingers Squadron (VA-113) onboard the USS Shangri-La.  It took one WestPac cruise in 1958 before becoming a “training bird” for new pilots.  It arrived at the Alameda Naval Air Station in 1966 and flew 2,627 hours training pilots in Alameda.  In 1969, it was hoisted on the pylon for display at the base’s main gate.

Attaching to pylon, photo by Frank Silva

In the following years other squadrons adopted the plane, repainting it each time to match their squadron’s colors.  But no one realized the anchor bolts holding the plane in place were deteriorating until February 2008, when a major windstorm lifted the plane up, knocking it off its pylon.

A few Alameda residents, who are former Navy personnel, decided to repair the pylon and restore the plane to its original airworthy state (minus the engines and hydraulic lines).  “There is a whole community outside the military and commercial aircraft field that focuses only on restoration,” says Tim Conner, a specialist in such work and an aviation aficionado.

Restoration crew, photo by Frank Silva

They raised funds, contacted technical sources, and spent over 4,200 volunteer hours to make the plane meet or exceed the original manufacturer’s specs.  When the crane accident happened, it was a heart-wrenching experience for all concerned, as it caused more damage than the plane’s fall during the 2008 windstorm.

Hoisting jet back onto pylon, photo by Frank Silva

The crane company has since “made good on its promise tenfold” to fix the damage, said Conner.  The plane was restored to “better than new” by many of the same folks who’d worked on it after the 2008 fall.  United Aeronautical from North Hollywood provided parts; American Bus Repair (ABR), an Alameda Point company that paints buses and airplanes, again added the finishing touches.  Photos of the work were taken every step of the way, and a binder commemorating the Skyhawk’s story will be sent to the Alameda Naval Air Museum.

Dick Rutter, the restoration’s leader and local Alameda Point historian, said the volunteers all feel a connection to the aircraft.  “Today much of the military is pushed out to the margins where civilians see it from a distance.  Military personnel used to be our neighbors, our friends.  Working on the plane brings back memories of times in the Navy and the people who died.”

Restored and returned, photo by Frank Silva

The ceremony celebrating the plane’s restoration was cancelled after the crane accident in June, but it should be rescheduled soon.  Alaero, a Las Vegas company that donated a crucial $1,000 hinge, said their donation came with one caveat—if there is a ceremony, they want to be invited.  It’s time to send them an invitation.

Originally published in Alameda Sun

I’ve written about all things local, including emergency preparedness (CERT training, BayEx 2011), open space opportunities (Beltline Park, a campground at Enterprise Park, Golden Gate University’s proposal for Flight Park), Alameda Point (cleanup, the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Going Forward workshops, mudslinging and muckraking, the proposed Veterans’ Clinic), economic challenges (Alameda Hospital, city budget, the misuse of disability placards), mental health (schizophrenia), media (net neutrality, public information officer for the city council), education (charting coursework for jobs), democracy (ranked-choice voting, elections), points of interest (naval air museum, Bay Ship, the Alameda Theater), and the city’s tree policy.  My piece on the Sea Scout Regatta at Alameda Point is still a big hit on my blog.

I’ve learned a lot in the process.  I now keep a record of my research because it can disappear overnight.  For instance, Harbor Bay Landing removed their online rent prices after I pointed out they were charging higher shopping center rents than anywhere else on the island.  Communicating complex issues in a few words has taught me to stay focused.  And, most importantly, I’ve learned that having an informed opinion requires hours of work.

While some issues draw lots of attention or are well advertised, by exploring around the island myself, I’ve discovered that many other things are going on as well.  Feedback has shown me that people really appreciate being recognized for their work and efforts, that popular stories aren’t necessarily the controversial ones, and that visuals such as the photos and videos on my blog capture what words cannot.

As I look back at the topics I covered during the past year, I see there were strides and stalls in the city.  Alameda Point took the prize for positive leaps.  Through the Going Forward process, the city took stock of current attitudes and sought feedback on new proposals.  We secured being short-listed for the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s second campus and got the Navy to finally agree to a no-cost conveyance agreement for the former Navy Base.  The Flight Park concept was released, and many naturalists are excited.  Elsewhere, the easiest and most gratifying change was seeing our shopping mall at the south end of town return to its original South Shore Center name.

As for stalls, I’ve yet to see any city council referral or formal discussion on changing our voting from the current plurality system (the most regressive) to ranked-choice voting (the most progressive).  My suggestion for tackling our city’s budget woes by starting at the top fell flat.  And the Alameda Theater did not show independent (Indie) films during the year, as I was led to believe it would.

At the end of last year I encouraged everyone to make his or her New Years’ resolution local.  I’m hoping many of you did.  If not, consider it again this year.  You never know what discoveries you’ll find in your own backyard unless you go out and curiously wander.  Isle Say it’s worked out well for me.

Originally published in Alameda Sun

Another resident standing next to me was not so fortunate, as his dog died from smoke inhalation.  He said, “I had the dog for only 10 days.”  An elderly man had given it to him “because he could no longer take care of the dog and wanted it to go to a good home.”

No human injuries or fatalities were reported at Saturday’s fire at the Shorepoint Apartments on Westline Drive across from Crown Beach.

Watching Incident Commander Tunney in action was impressive.  I wish I had had a video camera to capture him sizing up the situation and managing the emergency as it unfolded.  He and the firefighters at the scene would make any Alamedan proud of their service.  One woman shed a tear and said, “These guys are us.  This is our tax dollars coming back full circle to protect us.”

Fire Departments from Oakland, Fremont, Moraga, Piedmont, Alameda County, and El Cerrito were called in to assist.

Bay Ship and Yacht Company near the Alameda/Oakland ferry terminal performs annual maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to two of National Geographic’s five cruise ships.  The NG Sea Lion recently finished its annual repairs and inspections here.  Its sister ship, the NG Sea Bird, is here now.  To meet this year’s schedule, crews worked overtime during the six weeks the Sea Bird was in dry dock.  It was put back into the water on December 13 and will set sail for La Paz, Mexico and the Sea of Cortez on December 20, after Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping inspections and tests are completed.

The NG Sea Bird is a fairly utilitarian expedition vessel, designed to get passengers out into the wilderness, with naturalists on board to foster learning.  Due to its small size, the Sea Bird can reach places inaccessible to larger ships.  There are 31 private cabins that all face outside with windows and direct deck access.  The Sea Bird’s expedition equipment, which is available for use by passengers, includes an underwater video camera, a video microscope, bow camera, hydrophone, kayaks, snorkeling gear, splash-cam, Zodiac landing craft, and wetsuits.  Throughout the year the Sea Bird sails to places such as Alaska, Mexico, and the Galápagos Islands.

National Geographic sends their west coast ships to Bay Ship because the company “has a history of delivering quality work on time,” according to Project Manager Jim Becker.  In the Bay Area, large ships usually get repaired at BAE Systems in San Francisco, but Bay Ship in Alameda specializes in servicing smaller vessels.

The Bay Ship shipyard allows for work on 12 vessels at once.  Becker, who has worked at Bay Ship for 16 years, says “It’s a great place to work.”  Besides being outdoors, “it’s the safest place I have ever worked.”  Workers at Bay Ship have daily safety meetings and specialized ones once a week.  They repair all kinds of vessels and propellers, performing work that entails sandblasting, painting, joinery, and fabrication.  Since arriving in Alameda, the Sea Bird alone has had 11,000 pounds of metal cropped out and replaced.

Unlike the old days when waste material was simply dumped into the water, companies like Bay Ship must now follow strict state and federal regulations.  For example, drainage goes into a processing tank and is then taken to a plant where it is cleaned before it enters the sewer system.

Bay Ship has reached out to local graduates of trade schools and the College of Alameda and Laney College who have an interest in becoming welders and machinists.  The company is willing to give entry level laborers specialized training in working on small ships.  Project Manager Becker also pointed out that repair crews climbing around ships don’t need to spend time at the gym – they get a full workout just doing their job.

Originally published in Alameda Sun

A change of strategy is necessary, and attracting corporate, philanthropic, or individual benefactors could help.  The addition of archiving, exhibition, technology, and grant writing skills could transform the museum into a must-see stop for visitors to Alameda Point.

Board Chairman Kin Robles sees the museum’s potential storytelling experience, attractiveness as a student field trip destination, and success as a self-sustaining museum as all integrally linked.  “What we really need is direct linkage to the school system.  We’ve got to build the educational program that meets the state curriculum needs that are currently in place.  Once we can do that, our mission here is really going to, I think, hit full stride.  It’s a critical need right now, and it’s difficult to plug yourself into that system.”

The museum is located next to the Seaplane Lagoon in Building 77, one of four former command centers at the base.  The building and its contents, along with the nostalgic music playing in the background, capture the feel of an era.

The museum showcases artifacts and exhibits, such as model airplanes and famous ships, uniforms, weapons, automobiles, etc.  It displays fascinating framed photos of the City of Alameda’s development, illustrating that the base was once a bustling area.  Newspaper clippings and magazines covering the current events of the day are sure to pique one’s interest.  The museum also continues to accept additional donated memorabilia.

The most remarkable donation to arrive recently is a three-foot long, radio-controlled scale model of the PanAm China Clipper, capable of flying with its own engines.  The China Clipper, classified as a flying boat, departed from Alameda Point on its maiden voyage to Manila in November 1935, inaugurating the first commercial transpacific air service delivering passengers and mail.

The museum wants to one day tell a professional cohesive story of the former base’s history, including the role the Coast Guard and Marines played there.  It has made headway in organizing its collection, but many artifacts are not yet in any particular order.  “You can’t organize it until you know exactly what you have,” says board member Cmdr. Alan Tubbs.

The museum’s board has recently enlisted a librarian and an archivist to catalog items.  But managing the inventory is a huge undertaking and, as of now, the museum has no access to databases and no equipment to scan materials.  They need interns from accredited library or museum science programs, those who can do historical research, and grant writers.  More volunteers, visitors, and new members are welcome.

The museum is currently open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission is $5, but it’s free for children under 12, for active military personnel, and for organized youth groups (by appointment).  All donations are tax deductible.

Originally published in Alameda Sun

These two large cottonwood trees at Krusi Park, a major visual landmark, are slated for removal within the next few weeks to coincide with major renovations funded by Measure WW park district funds.  Included in the plans are the replacement of the outdated recreation building and upgrades to pathways and lighting.

City Parks are excluded from tree posting requirements, as they are subjects of separate studies.

These two trees are where cooper’s hawks nested this year.  A CHINS (Coppers Hawk Intensive Nesting Survey) volunteer has been monitoring this nest.

The reasons given for removal are that their roots are rotting and also damaging a neighbor’s backyard patio.  At the November 14 Recreation and Park Department meeting, city staff agreed to verify these claims by hiring an arborist and making sure a leak in the house isn’t attracting roots to find water there.

The replacement trees are to be coast live oaks.  At the November 14 meeting, one resident expressed concern about their tendency to get root rot in irrigated areas.  The landscape architect described various strategies to address this including planting them on top of mounds to promote drainage.  Another resident recommended a taller stature tree in lieu of oaks, if the cottonwoods actually have to be removed.

There seemed to be general agreement among the commissioners that the city needs to be very careful about how it handles tree removals given what happened on Park Street.

Revisions to our street tree policy, in light of the Park Street tree cutting, will be considered at the November 28 Planning Board meeting.   Every proposal affecting trees should adhere to the values expressed in our tree policy, including our Park Master Plan.