New High Buy-In Make Emery School Board Elections Exclusive

$832 Stops Democracy in Emeryville

But a Fix is On the Way

Opinion/News Analysis

The Alameda County Registrar of Voters this year has quietly raised the fee to print a 'candidate's statement' in the official Voter's Guide to $832, making the cost for non-incumbents to run a credible campaign for Emery School Board now beyond the reach for all but the independently wealthy.  The punishing new bar set by the County openly discourages all and outright stops many would-be participants from seeking the non paying, no benefits and high workload job of a school board member at Emery.

This high fee is doing a major disservice to the idea of democracy in public education, having the effect of entrenching power by exacerbating and increasing the incumbents advantage while pushing down newcomers who offer a change.  In a School District like Emery where for years, an anti-teacher, anti-parent culture has taken over the School Board, this new high bar for entry to challengers has already proved to be nullifying to democracy: We know of at least one new candidate considering a School Board run this November who was scared off by the high fee.

New ideas at Emery School
District can't see the light
of day without a bunch of 
these behind 'em.

The $832 fee reflects the printing cost of including a candidate's statement along with the candidate's name in the Voter's Guide, or so Alameda County tells us.  They're doing an end run around accusations of anti-democratic high fee exclusivity by continuing to allow a candidate to have his/her name appear in the Guide and on the ballot for a nominal fee.  It's the candidate's statement, the critical chance to inform voters what the candidates stand for, that costs $832.  Rather than go to war against the prodigious plenipotentiary power of the County Registrar of Voters, we see a fix for this intolerable problem here in Emeryville.

The Emery Fix: District Picks Up The Tab

Emery Unified School District is going to have to start paying the County for non incumbent Emery School Board candidate's statements. Incumbents are helped as everybody knows by the fact they're incumbents and voters know that fact because it appears in the Voter's Guide (for no extra money) and on the election ballot.  Non-incumbents will need financial aid from Emery.  

Since it's unreasonable and too expensive for the School District to pick up the tab of every non-incumbent candidate, we propose the aid be doled out on a first come first served or a lottery basis, enough to fill out a full slate of challengers on the ballot.

  Allowing the millions of dollars this school district spends on questionable 'community engagment' given in the form of lucrative contracts to chummy corporate consultants for all sorts of less democratic citizen empowerment than this, we trust they will not cry poverty with this idea.

"After spending millions on 

'community engagement' forwarding 

the Center of 'Community' Life, 

they're going to have to spend 

a little on democracy."

We find it hard to overstate the importance of lowering this fee and allowing new voices on the School Board.  As we stated, this new fee has already curtailed democracy here at Emery.  This year it has stopped the people's right  to have a choice in the direction of their School District: as a result of too few candidates running, the best case scenario for those wishing change will be a 2-3 School Board minority (the 3 representing the existing established power).  We can only elect two challengers this year and that's not enough to bring about new direction.  This November, we can only hope to bring incremental change, change at the margins for our School District.  The $832 fee has limited our choice.

School Board members here at Emery tend to not fill out their terms.  They resign early, giving the power elite on the Board a chance to appoint their favored new replacement (even if sometimes an independent, less-than-compliant pick gets in by accident).  This is no good.  The citizens need to be able to effectively weigh in here. Every election cycle, the people of Emeryville should always have the capacity to vote for a change in their government be it at the School District or at City Hall.  At Emery Unified School District this November, there's going to be no chance for change, regardless of what the people want.  This is unacceptable.  $832 shouldn't stop democracy.  It's time for the School District to pony up, even if the idea of change is threatening to them.  We're going to have to spend a little from now on to ensure democracy doesn't go missing.  Ironically, they may learn to love it; real democracy will give legitimacy to this District and that's something that's also been missing.

School District Demurs on Mesfun Explanation

Thursday comes and goes:

Still No Answer on School Principal

The Emery Unified School District announced today they will not offer citizens and parents an explanation as to the status of newly hired Anna Yates Elementary School Principal Russum Mesfun as had been promised earlier in the week.  Principal Mesfun continues to be absent at the school and the Superintendent of Emery Schools, John Rubio, himself responsible for hiring Mr Mesfun, will serve as both Superintendent of the District and Principal of Anna Yates indefinitely.
On the first day of the new school year, Monday, Mr Rubio announced the District would offer something by way of an explanation for the missing principal on Thursday but today Mr Rubio begged off, telling the Tattler "I have to check with legal" and that "I'm not done with internal processes [that would enable an answer]."   Superintendent Rubio now refuses to give a timeline for citizens and parents as to explaining what's happened with Mr Mesfun.

Superintendent Rubio hired the controversial Mr Mesfun and has offered that he himself would be responsible for any negative eventuality as a result.

Look to the Tattler to stay on this story as we will make sure the people get an answer to this.

Dinner & Movie in the Park Series Starting Up

From the City of Emeryville:

Breaking News: New Elementary School Principal 'No Show' on First Day of School

Missing School Principal

Today, the first day of the new year for the Emery Unified School District is marked by a dramatic no show from the newly hired but controversial Anna Yates Elementary School Principal, Russom Mesfun, an event likely initiated by District Superintendent John Rubio the Tattler has learned.  Mr Rubio, who was responsible for the hiring of Mr Mesfun, announced more information would be made public on Thursday regarding the missing school principal.
Asked directly, Superintendant Rubio was cagey but he hinted that if intractable problems arose between a new Principal and staff at the school, he would support the staff.  He indicated he would be filling in personally for the absent Principal, at least temporarily.  The District has also recently hired a new Assistant Principal for Anna Yates, Barry LaBasse.  The assistant principal is a newly created position for the school.
Superintendent Rubio said the District would reveal all that could legally be revealed regarding the sudden shake up at Anna Yates, starting Thursday.

The hiring of Principal Mesfun caused a stir within the pages of the Tattler recently.  Several teachers from another school district that claimed prior negative interaction with Mr Mesfun made alarming comments regarding Emery hiring him.  Those stories and comments can be accessed HERE and HERE.

The Tattler will closely follow this breaking story and report as events unfold.

RULE Endorses Candidates for Change on School Board

Patz, Merriam, Affeldt: In

Dwin: Out

The resident activist group Residents United for a Livable Emeryville (RULE), has endorsed two new comers, Christian Patz and Donn Merriam for Emery School District Board of Trustees as they seek election in the November general election.  The group also gives an endorsement nod to incumbent John Affeldt while leaving aside the other incumbent Miguel Dwin.
  Three seats are up for election and the endorsement vote by RULE shows a desire to effect change for Emery. The rejection of long time incumbent Miguel Dwin combined with the approval of Mr Patz and Mr Merriam represents the maximum dissatisfaction with the School Board possible given that three choices are available to voters in a field of four candidates.
Board member Christian Patz was temporarily appointed by a vote of the Board in the spring to replace outgoing member Josh Simon. November 4th will be Mr Patz' and Mr Merriam's first time facing Emeryville voters.

Emeryville Chief of Police Press Conference in Support of Gun Bill

From the San Jose Mercury News:

East Bay leaders support gun violence restraining order bill

Bay City News Service

EMERYVILLE - East Bay elected officials and law enforcement leaders today rallied in support of a bill that would allow for the temporary removal of firearms from people who are at risk for committing acts of violence.

The legislation, authored by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and two other state legislators was introduced after an incident in Santa Barbara earlier this year in which a troubled young man went on a shooting spree, killing six and wounding 13, after his parents tried but were unable to get help for him.

Speaking at a news conference in front of the Emeryville Police Department, Skinner said Assembly Bill 1014 establishes a process for obtaining a gun violence restraining order that would temporarily limit a person's access to firearms when there are warning signs or indications that the person is at risk for violence.

Skinner said, "When someone is in crisis, the people closest to them are often the first to spot the warning signs, but almost nothing can now be done to get guns out of the hands of someone in crisis. Parents, like the mother who tried to intervene in Santa Barbara, deserve an effective tool to help prevent these tragedies."

Emeryville police Chief Ken James said, "AB 1014 fills an important gap in the law that prevents law enforcement from acting to prevent violence before it happens. This need has been obvious to law enforcement for years but the time to act is now. The tragedy in Santa Barbara makes that obvious."

Skinner said the legislation is modeled on California's domestic violence restraining order laws and would create a mechanism to intervene and potentially prohibit the purchase of firearms and/or remove firearms already in possession. Law enforcement or family members would have the right to ask a judge to grant an order prohibiting the purchase or possession of firearms, she said.

The bill also provides guidance to courts for evaluating whether to issue a gun violence restraining order based upon a person's prior acts of violence or threats to commit acts of violence toward themselves or others, as well as other risk factors for future violence, Skinner said.

Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, said, "This bill would allow family members to petition the courts to temporarily prevent loved ones from owning guns and would allow law enforcement to search their homes" to make sure they don't have firearms in their possession.

Skinner said AB 1014 was approved by the state Senate's Appropriations Committee last Thursday and will now go to the Senate floor.

She said she hopes the bill will be approved by the Senate and the Assembly by the end of the month and then go to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature by the end of September.

Four Candidates File for Three November School Board Seats

Four candidates have filed for three Emery School District Board of Trustee seats for the November 4th general election.  The four are John Affeldt (incumbent), Miguel Dwin (incumbent), Donn Merrriam and Christian Patz (incumbent).

John Affeldt submitted as his candidate's statement the following:

I am Vice-President of the Emery Unified School District Board.  My son is beginning his fourth year at Anna Yates where I was vice-chair of the School Site Council before joining the Board in 2012.  After graduating with honors from Stanford undergrad and Harvard Law School, I became an attorney at Public Advocates.  For 23 years there, I have worked to improve educational opportunities for low-income students and students of color in California.  I have twice been recognized by statewide publications as an Attorney of the Year (2005 & 2010) for this work.  As a lead counsel on one landmark case, I helped negotiate a 2004 settlement with the State guaranteeing California's students sufficient instructional materials, decent facilities and qualified teachers, particularly for English learners, securing over $1 billion to support these requirements.  I am currently lead counsel on another case, challenging the State for grossly underfunding California schools.  On the Board, I have worked to improve public accountability, parent and student engagement, and communication with teacher leadership.  We are building a new full service community school to integrate education, health, and community services that stands to serve as a national model.  I ask your support in continuing this important work.

Donn Merriam submitted as his candidate's statement the following:

If given the opportunity, it would be an honor to represent you as a member of the EUSD Governing Board.  My goal is to make sure the best decisions are made about administrative positions, teacher relations, parental involvement, facilities developments and their associated financial obligations.  EUSD is in the process of construction the new Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL) which provides our educational system a fresh start; an exciting new beginning.  As a member of the Board I will commit the time and effort needed to nurture this unique opportunity, to insure its success.  I am enthusiastic about contributing to the community by lending my expertise to the creation of this new learning environment.  I'm on the HOA board of my condominium complex, which is currently dealing with an extensive construction oversight and provide direct owner representation.  Additionally, as an Architect with 20+ years of experience specializing in public K-12 educational design, my involvement will contribute to the successful completion of the new ECCL and foster a more positive educational environment.  Please visit "Merriam2014eusd.com' for additional information.

Miguel Dwin and Christian Patz did not submit candidate's statements.

Note: These candidate's statements are not due to be released to the public until late September when the Alameda County Voter's Guide is mailed to voters.  As a consequence,  Mr Merriam's website may not be ready for viewing immediately.

RULE Meeting

Residents United For A Livable Emeryville

Come and meet your progressive neighbors and make your city responsive to YOU!
Next regular meeting:  Saturday, August 23
10:00 - 12:00
Doyle St. CoHousing, 5514 Doyle St., 1st floor common room

Agenda*:

-Oakland Minimum Wage issue:  Jennifer Lin of EBASE and possibly Shum Preston of       SEIU1021

-School Board Endorsements

-City Council Election campaign planning
-Sherwin Williams site...RULE's plan
-Reports of city committees

*subject to additions and changes

Bring breakfast snacks...............................Coffee and tea provided

For more information contact Judy Timmel, 510-601-6521 

Council Hopeful Bukowski Cries Foul Over Candidate's Statement Debacle

Former Emeryville Councilman Ken Bukowski released a letter yesterday claiming the city clerk's office botched his submission of a voluntary 'candidate's statement' for publication in the Alameda County voter's guide for this November's election as he seeks election to the Council.  City Clerk Karen Hemphill says Mr Bukowski failed to meet a five o'clock deadline.  This will be the former Councilman's second attempt to regain the seat he lost in 2011 amid a plethora of scandals.

City Clerk Fails to Accept Ballot Statement
     by Ken Bukowski

Wednesday Aug 14th at 5pm was the filing deadline [for filing the candidate's ballot statement].  I waited till the last minute to see if there would be other candidates before deciding to file.  At 4:15pm I stopped working on my ballot statement.  When I went to print the statement, my printer would not print.  I spent 15 minutes trying to get it to work.  Unable to do so, I copied the file to a flash drive.
I arrived at City Hall at 4:40pm seeking to go right into the City Clerks Office.  The receptionist stopped me and told me to wait for the City Clerk.  Ten minutes went by.  At 4:50pm I went into the office anyway.
I saw the Deputy City Clerk and we went into the office to process my papers.  When we got to the ballot statement, I asked if he could print it out a copy from my flash drive.  He responded, he would have to talk to Karen Hemphill (City Clerk) about it.  When he left the room to ask her, I was sure she would say no.  I decided to write a quick statement with no ability to use my prepared statement.  When she came into the room, I was just finishing the hand written statement.
She immediately said she would not accept the hand written statement because I was writing after 5pm. She also said I was required to submit an electronic copy of my statement before I arrived at the office.  I was not allowed to print my statement and she refused to accept my hand written statement.  I think she acted unreasonably.  She could have printed my statement and charged me for the copy.  She did not want to be helpful.
According to the City Manager, Karen Hemphill is the Election Official.  She did not want to be involved.  I talked to my attorney and he said it would costly to pursue, and would have to be done immediately.  It's just not worth it.  As a result I have no ballot statement.

Mr Bukowski submitted the following as his Candidate's Statement that was intended to appear in the County voter's guide:

Ken Bukowski

I served on the city council for 24 years from 1987-2011.  During my tenure Emeryville was transformed from an industrial wasteland, into a vibrant community.  We have a lot to be proud of.  With the loss of redevelopment money, the city is undergoing tremendous change.  The last three years of my life has also seen a dramatic change.  My dedication to the community remains as strong as it ever was.  I collect retirement money, and I work part time for a group of smaller Emeryville Property owners who discovered the importance of not paying attention to City Hall.  I came to their rescue in Dec 2011, to help them defeat an unfairly created assessment district.  Trying to do what's right is not always easy.  In an effort to make the community and the region more aware of the meetings I became a videographer.  I work full time full time posting and recording videos of Emeryville and regional public meetings for the public benefit.  The meetings are on youtube.  The result of this work has improved my awareness of the issues, both locally and regionally.  I feel more qualified to serve than ever before.  My work has also created the opportunity for the Emery Go Round to receive a portion of our sales tax money, to help insure continued service.  With the new Emeryville Center of Community Life we have a unique opportunity to bring the city together for common benefit.  I am a strong advocate I am a positive thinking and hard working individual who will always care about our community.  Please allow my experience to work for you on the city council.

Four Candidates File for November Council Race

Four candidates have filed paperwork with the City Clerk for two open Emeryville City Council seats for the November 4th election. The four are: John Bauters, Ken Bukowski, Scott Donahue & Dianne Martinez.  Mr Donahue and Ms Martinez are running together as a slate.

The following was submitted by John Bauters as his Candidate's Statement:

Dear Neighbors and Friends,
As a small but strong city in the heart of the East Bay, Emeryville is strategically positioned to serve as a regional model of smart development, sustainable growth and social diversity.  I have spent ten years in nonprofit development, promoting public policies and practices that advance the livability of local communities.  As our resident population grows, the need to protect what makes Emeryville livable should be at the forefront of local decisions. Families deserve to live where there are green spaces for children and dogs to play; outdoor enthusiasts deserve to enjoy the natural marvels of life in the East Bay without additional traffic congestion and pollution; and people of all economic classes and social identities deserve the opportunity to not just live and work, but thrive in a place we can all call "home."  As  a statewide policy director on issues related to affordable and transit-oriented home development and sustainable growth, I understand the importance of compromise and cooperation as a means of making progress.  If trusted with your vote, I will use those skills to keep Emeryville a livable, desirable place for us all.

The following was submitted by Scott Donahue as his Candidate's Statement:

I have lived in Emeryville for over 30 years, residing with my wife at the Emeryville Artists Cooperative, which I cofounded.  I am a local artist who has earned most of my living making public art, including the sculpture at the PG&E building here in Emeryville.  I have served the City as a member of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee for more than 10 years, ensuring that Emeryville remains a leader in reducing carbon emissions through our commitment to non-motorized transportation.  The elimination of the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency has left a significant funding gap in our city's capital projects budget, which has halted many important affordable housing projects.  The next city council will need to focus on ensuring the economic viability of Emeryville, while also making our city more livable by prioritizing neighborhoods and public safety.  As your councilmember, I will work to preserve our outstanding police and fire services.  I will uphold the community’s demand for safe, viable connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, and I will work to make sure that Emeryville's public transportation needs are met. Key endorsements: Mayor Jac Asher, Councilmember Nora Davis, Councilmember Jennifer West, Councilmember Ruth Atkin

The following was submitted by Dianne Martinez as her Candidate's Statement:

I am a television producer with experience managing projects from San Francisco to Siberia.  I’m able to process large amounts of information and drill down to what is important.  I know how to research complex issues, ask direct questions, and most importantly, listen.  I have two preschool-aged children, whom I look forward to sending to public school in Emeryville. With Jennifer West leaving office, Emeryville is losing the voice of a young parent on our City Council.   I’m running for City Council to stand up for the issues that matter to families. As a mother, schools and safety are prime concerns.  As your Councilmember, I will work to preserve Emeryville’s outstanding police and fire services and uphold the community’s demand for safe and viable connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists.  I will also work to ensure that Emeryville’s public transportation needs are met.  You can count on me to give thoughtful consideration to the issues that face our city.   For more information, visit www.martinez2014.org. Key endorsements: Mayor Jac Asher, Councilmember Ruth Atkin, Councilmember Nora Davis. Councilmember Jennifer West.

Ken Bukowski did not file a Candidate's Statement.

Bay Street Mall Developer Auctions Off the Public Commons

Corporation Sells Public Parking Spots

Illegal Clandestine Rental Agreement Revealed

News Analysis/Opinion
Madison Marquette, the Washington DC based Bay Street Mall development corporation has been caught renting for profit Emeryville's public property City Hall revealed today.  In a memo issued to Madison Marquette and the Police Department, the City ordered the mall developer to cease and desist a bogus rental agreement between Madison and Crepes a la Carte, a vendor selling food stuffs in a parking spot on Bay Street, a City owned thoroughfare.  The memo indicated Crepes a la Carte could however obtain a street vendor permit through the City, not Madison Marquette.  It was not revealed how much rent the vendor has been paying the private development corporation for the invalid use of the public's space, nor for how long.

Audacious
Madison Marquette usurps public property for
its own material gain.

An investigation into the agreement between Madison Marquette and the City of Emeryville made as part of the approval process in 2000, shows a very unusual arrangement.  The public-looking sidewalk is actually owned by Madison Marquette, a request the developer made during the negotiations with the City.  The privatized sidewalks allow Madison to garentee the retail stores along the sidewalk, no protestors or other undesirable types will be allowed.  The City retains ownership of the street including the parking spaces.  However the parking meters are owned by Madison and they collect the money generated.  The City gets the revenue from parking meter violations, bringing into question how the City can fine someone for a claim of violation from a private company using privately owned meters.  Do the meters work properly?  The public is placed in jeopardy without recourse.
Also Crepes a la Carte has not been paying money into the meter (instead they've been paying rent) as part of the illegal arrangement with Madison, unfairly removing a source of possible revenue for the City.

The private parking meters for a public parking space (without rental violations like Crepes a la Carte) itself calls into question the idea that a private corporation should make a profit for use of public space.  We can't see how the people of Emeryville benefit from this relationship.  It's our land, we think any money generated from it should go to us or there shouldn't be any money generated at all like in the rest of Emeryville.  But we are especially dismayed that a private corporation has been charging rent for use of our space.  The City is right to stop the illegal rental agreement today and we think it's time to call back the problematic parking meter arrangement with Madison.

The whole idea that sidewalks be given away to developers should be anathema to any City Hall supposedly working in the people's interests.  Bay Street was the first of three major sidewalk give aways to private developers City Hall has arranged.  Fortunately, the Tattler caught wind of another attempt to privatize the sidewalks at the Public Market development and nipped that in the bud along with another give away attempt at a future hotel on Shellmound Street.
For Madison Marquette however the gift of the Bay Street sidewalks obviously wasn't enough for them.  They wanted more in the form of this quiet illegal rental agreement.  We think we should stop blurring the line between public and private space least the greedsters cheapen and usurp the commons like this.  Old fashioned public sidewalks are a perfectly good idea...they don't need 'improving' by privatizing them.

Large Tree Near Elementary School Splits, Damages Car

A large cyprus tree near Anna Yates Elementary School without warning suddenly cracked and sent a large branch crashing down at 43rd and Salem Street, destroying a neighbor's car last night.  Nobody was injured.  The privately owned front yard tree "made a huge boom" at around 11PM a neighbor said.  Inspection of the failure revealed a hollowed out rotten center on the otherwise healthy looking tree.  The dramatic and violent event draws attention for the occasional need to hire professional tree surgeons for those property owners with large trees near the property line, especially near the sidewalk and even more so near a school.    

Emeryville Art Committee Weeds Out Bad Artists

Accosted by Juvenile Art While 

Waiting for Your Bus

Emeryville's Public Art Committee knows art.  In particular, they know WHO makes art and they especially know who DOESN'T.  They have determined Emeryville residents under the age of 18 are NOT ARTISTS.  Accordingly, the Committee has moved to protect the public from these young poseur artist wanna-be's by forbidding them from applying for Emeryville's Bus Shelter Art Program.  Coming this fall to Emeryville bus stops: artwork about plants and animals. A postcard sent out to Emeryville residents from the City spells out just who's qualified and who's not for the bus stop artwork displays.  Who's at the front of the bus and who's at the back of the bus you might say.

Take a look at some examples (below) of degenerate artwork not worthy of the City of Emeryville's seal of approval.

Let's weed out the inappropriate art...

Age 5: Dreadful 

Age 10: Rehashed 

Age 5: Slipshod 

Age 7: Godawful 

Age 6: Derivative 

Age 9: Unacceptable  

3900 Adeline Crumbles: Profits Stronger Than Brick Walls

Emeryville's Weak General Plan Can't Withstand Developer's Desires

Opinion
Emeryville's old General Plan recognized the town's formerly extensive portfolio of vernacular historic buildings should not be torn down but instead they should be saved and rehabilitated.  That old plan was replaced with our new plan a few years ago.  The new plan cost us four million dollars and allowed for, among other things, much denser development.  But one thing that didn't change was the call to save Emeryville's significant historic buildings.  The new General Plan qualifies how historic buildings are valuable enough to be left intact.  It's very unequivocal on this.  So unassailable is this seemingly abstract concept in our General Plan, the scale is quantified to individual buildings.  Each individual building is specifically listed, deemed historically and/or architecturally significant.
So bestowed was the recently torn down 3900 Adeline Street; after a multi-year Dresden like campaign of building demolition in town, it was one of Emeryville's last buildings determined to be both architecturally and historically significant.

3900 Adeline Street last week
"architecturally & historically significant"

The building that graced the corner of Adeline and 39th Street for more than a century helped Emeryville create an authentic sense of place.  And that's no small thing; combined with all the other historic and vernacular buildings torn down being replaced with buildings that don't reference place, the town we're re-imagining here could be anywhere...how about Fresno?
If we value community here in Emeryville, this pogrom of historic building destruction is a funny way to show it.

This save-our-heritage sentiment isn't just our opinion.  It's the people of Emeryville that want to save these old buildings.  Our new General Plan, so clear on the fate of 3900 Adeline (and the others) was actually written by the residents themselves.   So many citizens helped formulate the Plan, it received an award for democratic vetting: more than 25% of our citizens took part in the numerous General Plan scoping meetings, a California record for a town our size.

John Protopappas CEO
 Madison Park Financial
Their ironic slogan:
"Commitment to Community".
We're supposed to lose our soul 
because he needs Corinthian leather 
in his Mercedes.

3900 Adeline Street was a building that the people of Emeryville wanted to save.  But there was an emergency.  There was a force bigger than the people of Emeryville loose in our town.   Madison Park, an out-of-town development corporation desperately needs to increase its profits.  And they looked to Emeryville for their fix.  They didn't see any value in the 3900 Adeline Street building.  All they saw was potential profit.  And that's all that's needed for our City Council majority to give the green light for the wreaking crew.  This developer, John Protopappas, CEO of Madison Park Financial, realized he could make a buch of money if he tore down the building and built another 100% rental residential tower filled with studios and one bedroom apartments on the site.  The Council he figured would be push overs, given their reputation.

Push overs they are and the City of Emeryville will not ever make a dime off this transformation; our coffers will not benefit but Mr Protopappas sure will.  The residents will gain lot's more traffic generated by the drive-in drive-out tower and lose something we're clamoring for; an authentic sense of place, the same thing our General Plan says is essential for a livable town.

It's absurd.  The majority of the people of Emeryville can't seem to get their wishes met.  Those who might have looked to our General Plan for protection have been repudiated.  Our General Plan is a weak and pathetic thing.  It's been shown to really only exist to lend a sense of legitimacy for City Hall as it comports among real cities.  A four million dollar document merely to give the impression that Emeryville is a real town..."General Plan?  yeah, we got one of those..."

The will of the people of Emeryville is only as strong as the capricious whims of three Council members who feel developer's pain as it turns out. Our General Plan isn't as strong as these Council members default position to help out their developer friends who's bank accounts are wanting.
The only thing that will change this terrible exigency is to change the Council majority.  November looms....

"We feel...

Madison Park's...

pain".

Emeryville, we've got your General Plan right here.

3900 Adeline Street this week
Here's what we think of "architecturally and historically significant".

Council Votes 4-1 to Give Turner Construction $21 Million: ECCL Is a Go

Giant Sucking Sound of Public Money Draining Into Turner's Coffers

Tonight the Emeryville City Council voted to give Turner Construction Corporation some $21 million, more than half City Hall's entire General Fund to build a new community center as part of the Emeryville Center of 'Community' Life (ECCL); the end of a nearly ten year process of political partnership between City Hall and the Emery Unified School District.
The money will buy a public project that Mayor Jac Asher, the sole dissenter, says will cram too much on too small of a site that will sell Emeryville's children (and adults) short.

Councilwoman Jennifer West expressed regret that the School District fought so tenaciously to successfully exclude a bike/pedestrian path associated with the project, a path required by the City's General Plan, before she relented and voted to hand over the $21 million.  Ms West in June, expressed difficulty coming to terms with voting to give over the money without getting the path, something two of her colleagues characterized as a threat; blackmail, they called it.

Ms West also took the time tonight to announce that the project is now officially behind schedule; the high school portion of the construction, the first part to be completed will now not be finished until November of next year, a date previously set for July, ready for the new school year.  Ms West noted the School District had not made the construction delays sufficiently public.  Nobody from the Council or the School District attendees explained the reason for the revised date tonight.

Ms Asher, the only Council member with children in the School District, explained the contract the City now agrees to, gives the District the money to build the community part of ECCL but the control of the finished spaces will be delegated to the District.  She noted the City will have to rent its own community spaces at ECCL and it will not be available to the public during school hours, "Twenty million for the privilege of renting space part time is not good enough" she said before she voted NO to the deal.

Neither the School District nor the City accounted tonight for a long standing promise of savings in operational and maintenance spending made to Emeryville residents throughout the ten year process of approving the ECCL.  The project was advertised to save these monies due to the consolidation of facilities but a likely large increase was announced in July 2013.  At the time the District promised to tweak the numbers to somehow show the promised savings at the request of the Council members but tonight Ms West balked at that, noting that the City and the District had decided in the intervening time to increase the scope of the project thereby making an apples to apples comparison impossible.

Tonight's vote makes the entire Center of 'Comunity' Life project a done deal (minus the bike/pedestrian path).

Turner Construction Corporation it should be noted was the single largest contributor to Measure J, the 2010 plebiscite that OK'ed the building of ECCL.

Emery Schools Superintendent Defends Choice in New Principal

New Superintendent Stakes Reputation on Mesfun Hiring

Emeryville parents have joined the ranks of concerned Anna Yates Elementary School teachers after it was revealed last week Emery Unified School District had recently hired school principal, Dr Russom Mesfun a school administrator with a history of teacher complaints against him, including a successful lawsuit from his previous job at another school district, however District Supervisor John Rubio told the Tattler he is standing by his choice in Mr Mesfun.   In an interview in his office, Mr Rubbio downplayed the complaints recently even as he acknowledged the apparent severity of the allegations from teachers and parents at four different school districts Mr Mesfun worked for before he came to Emery.  Superintendent Rubio was adamant; Mr Mesfun he said "...will be a great improvement for Anna Yates Elementary School"adding he emerged "by far the strongest candidate after two separate interview processes".

Emery Superintendent
of the Schools John Rubio
Mesfun choice represents 
a bold and risky move.

Superintendent Rubio is himself only recently hired as a replacement for the embattled and deposed former Superintendent Debbra Lindo, widely seen as contributing to the anti-teacher reputation the District has.  He takes a large risk with the hiring of Principal Mesfun, a point he acknowledged, noting if his choice in Mr Mesfun doesn't work out it will be his credibility and reputation damaged.
Mr Rubio also acknowledged the recent bad blood between the District and its teachers, "It was important for me to find someone who would build relations with teachers as well as establish systems for communicating, school safety and parent involvement" he said, adding it was also important to find someone who is "a strong instructional leader with experience."  He expressed confidence teachers at Anna Yates will come to respect and support Principal Mesfun after they get to know him.

With the still emerging story of Mr Mesfun's checkered past threatening to overtake the Superintendent as he prepares the district for the beginning of a new school year later in the month, he questioned the value of Mr Mesfun's employment record as revealed by the internet , "I don't believe everything I read on the internet including information from the Lodi [School District] lawsuit and the interactions I have had with him so far have been very positive."  He noted superintendents from other school districts Mr Mesfun has worked for have also been positive, "Every Superintendent going back has told us he's a strong instructional leader".

Mr Rubio noted that Mr Mesfun's positive impressions at the first Emery interview panel contained a majority of teachers and District staff (as opposed to District administrators) a point that would tend to show even greater support of the Mesfun choice at Emery.  However one of the teachers on the panel told the Tattler that Mr Mesfun's past problems at the other districts was not revealed to the panel by the District, a fact that might have netted a different judgement regarding the hiring of Mr Mesfun.  Superintendent Rubio concurred, stating "We didn't know about his past at that point".

Readers may peruse some of the alegations against Mr Mesfun:

Fillmore Unified School District  HERE & HERE

Lodi Unified School District HERE

Oakland Unified School District HERE & HERE