Op-ed

You said it: 2013 budget and the new reality for city budgets

Frank Matarrese
Friday, May 24, 2013 - 12:03am

City budgets are most often a messy space where math collides with what the community and others with a stake in the budget want. As a council member, it took me a while to get a grasp on the budget process and as I was doing so listened to many a report on the impact of the downturn (“depression” is closer to reality) on cities. Read more >> about You said it: 2013 budget and the new reality for city budgets

Letters to the Editor: Thanks for "Shoots and Ladders"

Letters to the ...
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - 12:01am

I’m sending my warmest thank you for the exciting, fun, and very successful event, “Shoots & Ladders,” last Friday evening, the third of May. The Alameda Police Department played a game of basketball against the Alameda Fire Department to help raise money for Alameda Family Services. Sponsors included the College of Alameda, Harbor Bay Group of Companies, Scooter Importers, and TransPacific National Bank. Read more >> about Letters to the Editor: Thanks for "Shoots and Ladders"

Letters to the Editor: Business promotion fee amounts unfair

Letters to the ...
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 - 12:03am

Editor's Note: This e-mail was submitted to the City Council in advance of their May 7 meeting, and a copy was provided to The Alamedan for publication; it has been edited for clarity.

Honorable Members of Alameda City Council,

On May 7, your body and the business community will be discussing the Business Improvement Area (BIA) fee. This short e-mail is intended to bring attention to the unfair and misproportioned fee assessment based on my particular business circumstance in Zone A (1516 Oak Street). Read more >> about Letters to the Editor: Business promotion fee amounts unfair

Letter to the Editor: Alameda Education Foundation thanks March donors

Letters to the ...
Friday, May 3, 2013 - 12:01am

Dear Editor,

Thank you, Alameda! On March 21st, I made the Alameda Education Foundation’s final Adopt A Classroom presentation for the 2012-2013 school year. This school year, we made 131 presentations totaling $65,500. Funds were used to support a fifth grade science camp, to set up a new kindergarten class, to support a Zoomobile Animal Habitat assembly and to purchase instruments to help start a brand new music class, just to mention a few. Teachers tell us, “I think it is great to help out classrooms that are truly in need!” and “After 37 years of teaching middle school in a different district, I did not once experience such an unsolicited and freely given monetary gift.” Read more >> about Letter to the Editor: Alameda Education Foundation thanks March donors

Letter to the Editor: Salute to Education a success

Letters to the ...
Thursday, May 2, 2013 - 12:01am

Dear Editor,

What a night! Three hundred fifty public school supporters, great food and wine, cookin’ jazz from our two high schools, and a gorgeous night. Alameda Education Foundation’s 31st annual Salute to Education may have been one of the best. It would not have been possible without so many volunteers and help from our supportive Alameda community. Read more >> about Letter to the Editor: Salute to Education a success

Letter to the Editor: Rules on backyard slaughter needed

Letters to the ...
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - 12:01am

Please include this letter as community input to the discussion over raising and slaughtering for food animals in residential backyards in Alameda. We need explicit ordinances that provide guidance on backyard slaughter to ensure that animals and owners are protected. Read more >> about Letter to the Editor: Rules on backyard slaughter needed

You said it: Advocating for the future

Marilyn Schumacher
Monday, April 29, 2013 - 12:03am

I love the real estate agent's broker's tour in our town of Alameda. Besides seeing property, it's often a good time to talk about issues in the town.

This time we were talking about our two high schools. There's a lot of work do be done on both of them: $10 million at Alameda High for seismic repairs, and $2.5 million at Encinal High just for the pools. Read more >> about You said it: Advocating for the future

You said it: Much-needed improvements at Alameda’s gateways

Frank Matarrese
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 - 12:03am

Some much-needed attention is being given to Alameda’s gateways. The Park Street plan for North of Lincoln had its first hearing at the City Council last week, generating interest and healthy debate. There’s news too, that Caltrans is considering refurbishing the Tubes at the West End entrance to Alameda. Both are long overdue. Read more >> about You said it: Much-needed improvements at Alameda’s gateways

You said it: An Open Letter to the Alameda Council, Boy Scouts of America

Alamedans Toget...
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 - 12:03am

On behalf of Alamedans Together Against Hate (ATAH), we are writing to urge the Alameda Boy Scouts Council to speak out in favor of ending a discriminatory policy that prohibits openly gay boys from participating or becoming members of the organization, when the Boy Scouts of America takes up this issue at your national meeting in May. ATAH is a workgroup of the City of Alameda’s Social Service Human Relations Board, dedicated to addressing incidents of hate and discrimination in our community that go against the values of inclusion and diversity that are embraced by all Alamedans. Read more >> about You said it: An Open Letter to the Alameda Council, Boy Scouts of America

Letters to the Editor: AEF Adopt-a-Classroom Update

Letters to the ...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 12:01am

Dear Editor,

Each month, the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) presents teachers with $500 grants as part of its Adopt A Classroom program. Teachers use the funds to support unique learning opportunities in their classrooms. As of February, AEF has distributed $62,000 to teachers! I would like to thank February’s generous donors: Read more >> about Letters to the Editor: AEF Adopt-a-Classroom Update

Pages

Subscribe to Op-ed