Alameda Daily News

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Copyright 2009 Don Roberts, all rights reserved

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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Sheila A. Leonard Opposes SunCal's Plans for Alameda Point

Editor and Alameda City Council,

I am writing to each of you because I cannot attend the Wednesday, January 7 City Council meeting regarding SunCal’s plans for Alameda Point, but wish to express my concern regarding SunCal’s proposal. 

I support establishing a Public Land Trust for Alameda Point instead of SunCal's plans for 4,500 homes, $700 million in additional debt, and increased traffic for Alameda. 

Why?  

o   Alameda risks losing existing businesses and jobs at Alameda Point, such as http://www.TheForgeworks.com/ . 

o   A Public Land Trust would work to preserve the eight soccer fields at Alameda Point, while SunCal plans to tear them up and replace only half of them, with a mere promise of a sports complex. 

o   Another 4,000 to 6,000 homes would stretch our public safety services at a time that the City is threatening to cut back on police and fire services, and implement rotating fire station "brownouts." 

o   Our City cannot afford $700 million in redevelopment bond subsidies to SunCal. 

o   Partnerships such as a VA hospital/clinic at Alameda Point that work with our community colleges and public schools to produce much-needed nursing school graduates or the existing film studio facilities at Alameda Point that work with our local schools to teach our children film and art are preferable to SunCal. 

Thank you for considering these issues this Wednesday. 

Sheila A. Leonard

Mark Raymond Chandler Supports VA’s Proposals for Alameda Point

Editor,

Our aging veterans and maimed and suffering military men and women returning from the Middle East scramble to find suitable health care close to home. Some travel to health facilities as far away as Travis Air Force Base. And the Veterans Administration stands at the end of the line to receive discretionary funding to support our wounded warriors.

Struggling to keep pace with our aging veterans and wrestling with exotic diseases and severe physical injuries our soldiers are bringing back from the Middle East, the VA is systematically seeking to upgrade existing medical facilities across the country in an attempt to provide adequate medical services to thousands of ailing veterans in Alameda County. Enter the vacant, contested land at Alameda Point. Under the able leadership of VA Directors Claude Hutchinson, Larry Janes, and Don Rinker, the Veterans Administration is proposing to build an up to date campus that includes a technically updated two story outpatient clinic, a potential for a long term care facility for our aging veterans, possible partnership with Alameda Hospital that will benefit both Alamedans and our veterans. In addition, they envision a 53 acre Columbaria that will serve over 322,000 veterans. Their vision includes partnering with the Peralta Community College's School of Allied Health for Nursing training, building a heliport for emergency medical needs as well as serve the community in event of regional disasters. The Air Force, Army and Native American veterans and their families will also benefit from these visionaries.

You sent us off to war to defend the principles and values that were meant to free us from the bonds of hatred and undisciplined demagoguery that pervades an unstable world. We did our job and served our country with honor and pride. This community can make a dramatic contribution to the well being of our servicemen and women by making a commitment to put Alameda back on the map again. For the sacrifices and contributions our veterans made on behalf of our nation, our veterans ask only to heal their wounds and help them put their lives back together again.

Mark Raymond Chandler

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

4:43 p.m.: David Howard Responds to City's Press Releases
Don,
 
The City of Alameda's denials notwithstanding, SunCal has indicated that there are $679 Million in projected infrastructure upgrade costs for Alameda Point. With cost overruns and rounding, call it $700 million. In March of 2007, in response to a City of Alameda request, they indicated that they would seek "tax increment financing" - redevelopment bonds - to pay for "infrastructure."  If that doesn't amount to SunCal asking for $700 million in subsidies, I don't know what does. You can be sure that the request for a handout from local taxpayers is forthcoming. 
 
Supporting SunCal's proposal means supporting a $700 million "bailout" of a private developer.
 
 
Further, here is a link to back our claims about the City of Alameda verging on bankruptcy. The potential cost of the Dr. Attari lawsuit and two AP&T lawsuits comes to over $30 million, or roughly 40% of our general fund budget. Tonight, the City of Alameda will discuss rotating fire station closures because they have no money to support a full complement of firefighters.
 
 
Now, you tell me - who's bankrupt?
 
David Howard
Spokesperson, Save Our City! Alameda

2:07 p.m.: City of Alameda Press Release States SunCal Companies, Not Alameda Redevelopment Agency, Paying to Develop Alameda Point

Following is a press from the City of Alameda which was received by Alameda Daily News at 1:45 p.m. this afternoon:

Earlier this week, a local anti-development organization, "Save Our City Alameda," released a television commercial that makes several misleading claims about the City of Alameda and its finances. The commercial states that SunCal Companies, the City’s master developer for the former naval air station at Alameda Point, wants a $700 million "bail-out" to build houses at Alameda Point. In fact, SunCal has requested no such subsidy, nor has the City or the Alameda Community Improvement Commission (Alameda’s redevelopment agency) offered any.

In addition, since the land plan that SunCal has proposed is not consistent with the City of Alameda’s charter, the plan cannot be accepted unless Alameda’s voters approve a change to the City’s charter or the land plan is approved by initiative. SunCal is considering placing such a matter on the November 2009 ballot.

Furthermore, the City Council adopted a policy several years ago requiring that all former Navy base redevelopment be fiscally neutral. In other words, the City’s General Fund, which pays for public safety and other services, cannot subsidize base redevelopment in any way. The Exclusive Negotiating Agreement between SunCal Companies and Alameda obligates the two parties to negotiate in hopes of reaching a purchase and sale agreement by July 2010. No deal has been reached yet; the negotiations are ongoing. Should the Alameda Community Improvement Commission decide, as part of the purchase and sale agreement, to invest tax increment funding in the Alameda Point project, staff estimates that the maximum amount that could be invested is $184 million over the life of the project.

The Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority will discuss SunCal’s land plan at its meeting on January 7. This meeting will provide an opportunity for the public and the members of the Authority to discuss the land plan. No action will be taken.

1:50 p.m.: City of Alameda Press Release States Alameda is Not Filing for Bankruptcy

Following is a press from the City of Alameda which was received by Alameda Daily News at 1:45 p.m. this afternoon:

Earlier this week, a local anti-development organization, "Save Our City Alameda," released a television commercial that makes several misleading claims about the City of Alameda and its finances. The most troublesome claim is that the City of Alameda is on the verge of bankruptcy. This is simply not true.

Like the vast majority of cities and counties in California, the City of Alameda is facing financial difficulties as a result of the severe downturn in the economy. However, the City has prudently reduced its spending to accommodate the decrease in revenues, and it placed a successful measure on the November 2008 ballot to raise the property transfer tax to help pay for general City services. Kevin Kennedy, the elected City Treasurer said, "It is irresponsible and counter-productive to make a claim that the City is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. We are facing the same economic issues that other cities in the state are facing and addressing those issues through current budget-balancing actions and long-term planning."

Interim Finance Director Ann Marie Gallant agreed, noting, "Together, the reductions in spending already made, the anticipated budget cuts for next year, and the increase in the property transfer tax are designed to help the City weather the current economic cycle. Claims that the City is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy are untrue and reckless."

In discussing the commercial, Mayor Beverly Johnson noted, "In these uncertain economic times, when people throughout the area are concerned about keeping their jobs and their homes, it is astonishing that a small group of people would choose to air a commercial that makes false and easily disproved claims about their own city just to try to block an important redevelopment project. This is a time to work together, not to foster dissension."

Marion Miller Asks, "Has our City Council gone over the Edge?"

Editor,
 
With regard to the proposed $700 million in redevelopment bond subsidies to SunCal to build 4500 homes on a base that is so toxic that the City trucks drinking water to their own offices. Has our City Council gone over the edge? Are they completely out of touch with reality, or are they so naive that they can’t comprehend how ridiculous this is? There are so many reasons for not allowing this. Some of them are:
 
 1. As stated above, there are toxins in the ground. According to an article in the Alameda Journal, the Navy has no plans to remove the toxins at the exact site where the proposed homes would be built.
 2. There is a housing slump. There are already too many homes on the market, and  a lot of homeowners are either in foreclosure or carrying  reverse equity mortgages..
 3. We are in a drought. We citizens are not conserving water so the City can give it to someone new. We are conserving it so that existing EBMUD customers will have enough water.
 4. We have too much traffic. According to friends, it takes upwards of 45 minutes to go from Bay Farm Island to the 23rd Avenue on-ramps of 880.
 5. The City claims to want to be a “green” city. More emissions from more cars will not help us to reach that goal. Our goal should be less cars.
 6. Since our school board can’t seem to administer their budget to handle the children going to school now, how are they going to pay for more students? They can’t always rely on parcel taxes to fix their inadequacies.
 7. The City cannot take care of the streets, sidewalks and other city services now for the current citizen. How do they plan to take care of new ones or are we going to suffer so that they can provide better service to the new ones?
 8. The City is proposing “brown-outs” for the Fire Department. How then could they provide coverage for new homes if they wont’ be able to cover the existing homes.
 9. Homes don’t bring revenue. Businesses do. Alameda Point would make a great business park and, as suggested, would be perfect for a veteran’s hospital. What a great way to give back to our service people. 

Marion Miller

Action Alameda Alleges SunCal Has Been "Lying to Alameda Residents"
Following are  highlights of Action Alameda's open letter to the City Council:

"Dear Council members,

 
We know that many of you on Council are thankful to have SunCal prepared to drive the campaign to change [housing density limiting] Measure A, so that none of you have to take on any political risk yourselves by doing so. But how can you continue to justify doing business with SunCal given their questionable practices? . . . Locally, SunCal has been lying to Alameda residents.  In November of last year, SunCal paid a firm to conduct a telephone survey of Alameda residents. When asked, the calling agents told Alameda residents that the City of Alameda was conducting the survey. But when questioned, SunCal admitted to City Council that they in fact were behind the survey.
 
. . . It's clear from their behavior that SunCal is not to be believed. We can't believe them when they say their 4,500 homes won't generate traffic problems, and we can't believe them when they say they will build a sports complex to replace half of the sports fields at Alameda Point they plan to dig up and replace with homes. We need to stop doing business with SunCal and examine other alternatives that preserve the existing uses at Alameda Point, such as a Public Land Trust, similar to the San Francisco Presidio. A special public-private corporation would take title to the land after clean-up by the Navy and manage it with a mandate to preserve existing uses, create jobs, light-industry (and business-to-business sales tax), preserve access to the San Francisco Bay and create open space. The mandate would also include private-public partnerships such as pairing a V.A. hospital and clinic with our local community colleges to produce more desperately needed nursing school graduates, or pairing the existing film studio at Alameda Point with our local public schools to teach our children about film and art. These are just some of the possibilities - there are countless others when we stop SunCal from blinding us to them.
 
Action Alameda"

Monday, January 5, 2009

"Save Our City! Alameda" TV Spots Urge Rejection of SunCal's Proposed Developments at Alameda Point

 

Following is a press release from "Save Our City! Alameda":

 

The city of Alameda is near bankruptcy – rolling “brown-outs” of city fire stations are being planned and the city faces tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits – yet a $700 million “bail-out” in city redevelopment funds may be used to “privatize” Alameda Point, charged a community group here today.

 

The “bail-out” is so bad that “Save Our City! Alameda” (SOCA) has gone to unusual lengths to stop the project, unveiling a hard-hitting television campaign beginning Jan. 3 to inform the general public about the mess.

 

The Alameda City Council will host a meeting about the project at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, Oak Street and Santa Clara Avenue.

 

"The proposal transfers federal public land which belongs to all of us over to SunCal, a private interest, which can then use that land for private profits. And because housing always takes money from the general fund rather than contributes, there will be special taxes levied to keep up City services. The net effect will be a degradation of City services - police, fire, parks, roads - for everybody in Alameda,” said David Howard of SOCA.

 

The television spot – which will air on CNN, Fox News and other cable news channels in the Alameda area – asks Alameda citizens to “Stop the ‘bail-out’” and “Protect public safety” by urging Alameda officials to reject the SunCal proposal.

 

"SunCal wants $700 million in City funded redevelopment bonds to subsidize the required infrastructure upgrades for the project, so they can profit from building housing. Alameda taxpayers will be left footing the bill for this bail-out of SunCal.

 

"We would prefer to see the public land at Alameda Point put into a public land trust that preserves the existing economic activity at Alameda Point and reserves the land for public uses for everyone in Alameda. There is already housing for the homeless and war veterans at Alameda Point, and existing businesses which provide jobs and economic activity. These people are going to get pushed around to make way for SunCal's bulldozers,” Howard explained.

 

"Save Our City! Alameda" is a coalition of Alameda residents and local organizations that care about the future of our city. You can visit us at on our website at http://www.SaveOurCityAlameda.org/

 

Here's the TV spot:

 

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Movie Schedule at Alameda Theaters

Following is the movie schedule at Alameda Theaters, 2317 Central Avenue:

Marley and Me (PG), New Years Eve: 11:00, 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, New Years Day: 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10, Fri – Thur:  11:00, 1:30, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (PG-13), New Years Eve:  12:00, 4:00, 8:00, New Years Day: 4:00, 8:00, Sat – Thur: 12:00, 4:00, 8:00 

Bedtime Stories (PG), New Years Eve:  11:20, 2:00, 4:30, 7:20, New Years Day: 2:00, 4:30, 7:20, 9:40, Fri - Thur: 11:20, 2:00, 4:30, 7:20, 9:40 

Valkyrie (R) DLP Digital, New Years Eve: 11:00, 1:40, 4:40, 7:30, New Years Day: 1:40, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15, Fri - Thur: 11:00, 1:40, 4:40, 7:30, 10:15 

Yes Man (PG-13), New Years Eve: 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:40, New Years Day : 2:10, 4:40, 7:40, 10:30, Fri - Thur: 11:30, 2:10, 4:40, 7:40, 10:30 

Seven Pounds (PG-13), New Years Eve: 11:05, 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, New Years Day: 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, 10:00, Fri - Thur: 11:05, 1:40, 4:20, 7:00, 10:00 

The Tale of Despereaux (G), New Years Eve: 12:10, 2:20, 4:45, New Years Day: 2:20, 4:45, Fri - Thur: 12:10, 2:20, 4:45 

Milk (R), New Years Eve: 11:10, 1:50, 4:35, 7:30, New Years Day: 1:50, 4:35, 7:30, 10:25, Fri - Thur: 11:10, 1:50, 4:35, 7:30, 10:25 

Four Christmases (PG-13), New Years Eve: 7:50, New Years Day – Thur : 7:50, 10:20

Ticket prices are: $10.00 for General Admission and $7.50 for seniors over age 59, children under age 12, and for everyone attending movies starting before 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Alamedan Lee Grosscup Gets a Late Birthday Present from his Alma Mater

Last month, Alamedan Lee Grosscup, who does Cal football on KGO radio 810, said that the only gift he wanted for his 72nd birthday on December 27, was a Cal victory in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on December 27.  The Cal team gave him that gift as they defeated Miami 24-17.  Last night, Grosscup's alma mater, Utah, where he was an All-American quarterback, gave him a late birthday gift when they upset the highly favored Alabama team by a score of 31-17 in the Cotton Bowl.  Grosscup said he was elated with the gift from Cal and the gift from Utah.

Upcoming Don Roberts TV Shows

Each Wednesday, the Don Roberts TV Show is broadcast  at 6:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 28. Comcast also broadcasts the show on AP&T's Channel 31 at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. each Wednesday.

January 7, Pat Bail, Community Activist

January 14, David Howard, Chair, Action Alameda

Roberts Rates Recent Movies

Roberts' ratings of movies initially released in 2008, with the most recent shown in green:

Grade A-: Changeling; I've Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime); Frost/Nixon

Grade B+: Burn After Reading; Batman - Dark Knight; The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian; Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day; Mongol; Sex and the City; Tell No One (Ne le dis a personne), Young @ HeartGrade

B: The Bank Job; City of Ember; Flash of Genius; Forgetting Sarah Marshall; Gran Torino; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; Iron Man; KIt Kittridge: An American Girl; Marley and Me; Milk; Nim's Island; The Other Boleyn Girl; Red Belt; The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Swing Vote; Then She Found Me; Quantum of Solace; WALL-E

Grade C: Baby Mama, Tropic Thunder

Grade D:  Elegy; You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Click here for theatres, show times and reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle

Disclaimer

All links to other sites, including, but not limited to the following Alameda sites, are provided as a service to our readers. We have no control over the content of the links and assume no responsibility for their contents.

ActionAlameda; BarbaraKerr'sCityComments; Best of Alameda; KeepMeasureA;  PedestrianFriendlyAlameda

Roberts' Favorite Alameda Restaurants

American: Pier 29, 1148 Ballena Boulevard, 865-5088
Breakfast: Marti's Place, 1905 1/2 Encinal Avenue 521-4600
California Cuisine: Angela's, 807 Marina Village Parkway, 522-5822
California Cuisine: Pappo, 2320 Central, 337-9100
Chinese: Hong Kong City Seafood Restaurant, 1425 Park Street, 523-4568
Coffee Shop: Ole's Waffle Shop, 1507 Park Street, 522-8108
German: Speisekammer, 2424 Lincoln Avenue, 522-1300
Hamburgers & Malts, Bip's Broiler, 3211 Encinal Avenue, 769-9933
Indian: India Palace, 737 Buena Vista Avenue, 814-8778
Italian Home Delivery: Alameda Pizza  523-7149
Japanese: Yokohama, 1427 Webster Street, 522-2945
Mediterranean Cuisine, Gold Coast, 1901 Park Street, 522-5388
Mexican: La Piñata, 1440 Park Street, 769-9110 
Mexican: Calafia, 1445 Webster Street, 522-2996
New Zealand/Australian Cuisine: New Zealander, 1400 Webster Street, 769-8555
Southern American Cuisine: Jenny's Truckstop & Tearoom, very exclusive

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