Creating this brand was “a way to deeply connect with two things I’m passionate about: skateboarding and supporting Carmelo on his celiac journey,” Kamler said.

Carmelo became interested in skateboarding after watching his dad and brother skate outside their house. At the time, he rode a scooter and experimented with riding without holding the handlebars. “Then one day, I stepped on my dad’s skateboard and it was awesome!” he said.

The idea for the brand came later, when Carmelo decided the word “devious” would make a good name for a skate company. He told his dad and together they decided they could build a brand to raise money for people with celiac disease.

Carmelo wants other people to understand the seriousness of celiac. “I really don’t like it when kids say that it’s just an allergy,” he said. “It’s actually an autoimmune disease that can really hurt me.”

Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide, but only about 30% are properly diagnosed. Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. Ingesting even small amounts of gluten, like crumbs from a cutting board or toaster, can trigger small intestine damage.

Last summer, Carmelo attended Celiac Camp, where kids can eat without having to ask about gluten contamination. He still keeps in touch with some of the children he met there. Opportunities like that, to just play with other kids, can be rare when breadcrumbs lurk everywhere, and the family’s brand helps raise awareness to build this kind of community support.

Carmelo serves as Devious’s art director while Kamler manages the business. Initially, Carmelo drew all the designs. His father then digitized and prepared them for printing on skateboard decks and clothing. Kamler has since contributed designs, including merchandise for older skaters.

Carmelo’s favorite design is the Devious Splatterbeetle, which combines a beetle he drew with a splattered version of the brand’s logo.

The family has lived in Alameda since 2013. Carmelo learned to skate at the Alameda skatepark. Local connections in the Bay Area—including Mission HQ, a gym Josh belonged to, and the Old Dudes skate crew he joins at the Alameda skatepark—have helped Devious grow. Carmelo credits George, who runs KSB Skateboards and was his first skate teacher in Alameda, with helping introduce Devious to other skaters. “Now a bunch of his students ride Devious boards and there are Devious stickers everywhere!” Carmelo said.

Still, Carmelo would like to see more children his age skating locally. He currently skates three times a week with a Berkeley group for kids. The Alameda skatepark remains meaningful for Carmelo, though he expresses his wish that the City would clean it up a bit.

Some customers purchase Devious gear and donate it back to the family, who pass it along to skate nonprofits and kids at the skatepark. People interested in donating can arrange to have their purchases sent to the family, Kamler said. “We’ll then send them a pic of who or where their donation went to.”

Kamler hopes to find local businesses interested in promoting Devious or carrying its merchandise. With that goal, the family plans to participate in a December toy drive with San Francisco Fire Department Engine 29; Carmelo will skate in a demonstration and Kamler will assemble Devious boards for children.

Kamler imagines someday creating a permanent community place, a brick-and-mortar space offering skating gear, coffee, and gluten-free treats. Above all, the family hopes to raise a little more money to support programs and research for people living with celiac.

Learn more at the Devious website and on Instagram @devious_skateboards.

Vivian Delchamps Wolf (English PhD, UCLA, 2022) is a professor of English at Dominican University of California and a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. She is also a disability justice advocate, ballroom dancer, cat lover, and board game enthusiast. Contact her via vivian@alamedapost.com. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Vivan-Delchamps-Wolf.

The post Alameda Father-Son Duo Skate for a Cause appeared first on Alameda Post.

My good friend K recently had Mohs Surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is a procedure that is performed under local anesthesia to remove untreated skin cancer. The surgeon removes a thin layer of tissue and then examines it, under a microscope, repeating the process until no cancer cells remain. The Mayo Clinic explains, “The goal of Mohs surgery is to remove all of the skin cancer without hurting the healthy skin around it. Mohs surgery allows the surgeon to be sure that all the cancer is gone. This makes it more likely that the cancer is cured. It reduces the need for other treatments or more surgery.” As with most patients who have the surgery, K went home the same day and a few weeks later she is back to her happy and busy self.

The American Cancer Society has a guide for “How to do a Skin Self-Exam” and although it does not offer guidelines for early detection, it does say that “…many doctors and other experts recommend checking your skin regularly, often once a month, to help you notice any new or changing spots.” It is as simple as that. You do not need to know what you are looking at or try to diagnose what you are seeing, to tell your doctor about it. You just need to look for something that is new or different, that you do not feel is normal for your skin.

There are different types of skin cancer. The most common forms are basic cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each presents itself differently, so if you know the landscape of your skin and you notice a change from last month, consult with your doctor. Do not wait.

Malignant melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, often begins with an irregular shaped brown or black mole. Public education surrounding this type of skin cancer is readily available. Here are the signs of malignant melanoma, broken down into ABCDE:

• Asymmetry – One half does not match the other.
• Border – The edges are irregular, ragged, or blurred.
• Color – The color is not uniform and may even present shades of red or blue.
• Diameter – Though they can be smaller, the size of a pencil eraser.
• Evolving – They change in size, shape, color, or even texture (raised, crusty, bleeding).

Another commonly used suggestion when watching for warning signs of skin cancer is to look for the “ugly duckling,” a spot or mole that looks different from the others or presents differently, such as itching or bleeding.

For my friends of color, be vigilant about your skin. Anyone can get skin cancer. Because it is easier to spot on a fair complexion, skin cancer may get diagnosed later in patients of color.

The next time you hop out of the shower, do not be in a rush to cover up. Make it a point to take a good look in the mirror and examine your birthday suit. When you are done, don’t forget to look yourself in the eyes and say, “You look good.”

Contributing writer Denise Lum is a Health and Fitness Coach raising her family in Alameda. Contact her via CoachDenise@alamedapost.com or FitnessByDsign.com. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Denise-Lum.

The post Pay Attention to the Skin You’re In appeared first on Alameda Post.

This week, I visited so many yards and was overjoyed to see the major contributors to the season have come back in full force. So many to try to cover in such a short time. I am trying to feature the new displays leading up to the 31st, but don’t worry, I will cover your favorite returning scenes as well.

For this week’s report, I visited Charlotte’s yard at 1615 Chapin Street. This is always a major installation with something new to see every year. It must take weeks for her to put this together, and I am grateful for her efforts.

Next up was the inflatable display in the 1500 block of Buena Vista Avenue. I found this one on my way to 1800 Nason Street, which always has an amazing multimedia scene. I will be featuring it in the special Halloween report on the 31st.

Canines were prominently featured this year, so I decided to group them all together and threw in an inflatable cat just for fun.

Back again this year is the pirate display at Willow Street and San Jose Avenue.

There were many smaller recognitions of the holidays, and I have put a few of those together in a short reel.

I wanted to point out one particular house, because it brings up memories of one of the COVID Halloweens. These neighbors set up a pipe along the handrail, delivered candy to trick-or-treaters, and still managed to maintain social distancing.

One of the really poignant yard presentations on San Antonio Avenue will not be up this year due to the creator’s hip replacement. I want to wish them well and look forward to next year’s efforts.

This week, I will finish up my costume and get ready for the photo shoot.

So excited right now,

Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda

Mouf and his human companion can be reached via jeffcambraalameda@gmail.com. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos and videos by Jeff Cambra.

The post Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda for October 25, 2026 appeared first on Alameda Post.

On Friday, October 23, The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) issued a warning. Canada geese collected on October 8 and 12 by Alameda County Vector Control at Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. The public is advised that infected birds may be found throughout the East Bay and to take precautions to avoid exposure.

Avian influenza primarily affects wild birds, with cases typically increasing during the fall and winter months. Although the risk to the public is low, human infections can occur through close or prolonged exposure to infected birds or contaminated environments. EBRPD is monitoring the situation and encouraging visitors to take precautions to reduce potential exposure.

Visitors to Crown Beach and other local parks are advised to follow these safety guidelines:

• Do not touch wild birds. If you discover a deceased bird, stay at least 50 feet away.
• Keep children and dogs away from birds, bird carcasses, and bird droppings.
• Report sick or dead birds. Contact Alameda County Vector Control at (510) 567-6800. Provide the exact location and, if possible, a photo or map location to help staff respond.
• Stay informed. Consult public health resources for additional information and guidance.

The East Bay Regional Park District is committed to protecting the health and safety of park visitors, employees, and surrounding communities. EBRPD is coordinating with Alameda County Public Health, Alameda County Vector Control, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the City of Alameda to share accurate information and help residents take appropriate precautions. The Park District will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.

The post Bird Flu Detected at Alameda’s Crown Memorial State Beach appeared first on Alameda Post.

This girl loves getting outside and exploring the world around her. She’s enthusiastic, curious, and always ready to go, go, go. With all that excitement, she’s still learning her leash manners and making progress along the way. She’ll benefit from a little patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement as she continues to build her skills.

Ms. Mousse has shown that she can calmly walk past other dogs while on leash. When it comes to meeting them up close, however, she prefers a little space. She would be happiest as the only dog in the household, where she can enjoy being the star of the show and can build a special bond with her people.

At her young age, Ms. Mousse has plenty of adventures ahead of her and so much love to share. She’s looking for someone who appreciates an energetic, enthusiastic dog and is ready for all the fun that comes with having her around. From daily walks to exploring new places, life with Ms. Mousse is sure to keep you moving and give you plenty of reasons to smile. She’s beautiful, full of life, and ready to find her person.

Could you be the one she’s been waiting for? You can meet Ms. Mousse at FAAS, 1590 Fortmann Way, Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shelter is closed daily from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for naptime.

The post Ms. Mousse Is All In appeared first on Alameda Post.

“We’re grateful for the bees and their season of work, and the sweetness is ready to share,” Bay Beehives founder Melissa McAndrew stated in an email to the Post.

The day will kick off with a potluck to represent the “abundance of harvest season,” the REAP Center states on its official event posting for the festival. Attendees are encouraged, though not required, to “bring a favorite dish, snack, something from your garden, or another treat to share.”

The rest of the day will feature a cornucopia of hands-on educational opportunities, such as a live demonstration showing how honey is collected from raw honeycomb, a “Beekeeping 101” session for the bee-curious, and a vermiculture workshop about building and maintaining a worm composting system for the home garden. For first-time visitors, the festival will offer an opportunity to explore the property and learn about the work of the REAP Center, including its 500-square-foot pollinator garden.

“Wander around our living laboratory, see what’s growing, visit the chickens and sheep, and learn more about the projects, people, and practices that make up REAP,” encourages the festival’s event description..

Each person who attends the festival will have a chance to take home a free sample of honey from the REAP Center bees’ bounty this year—while supplies last.

The Honey Harvest Festival will take place between 1 and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. Tickets are currently available online for a sliding-scale donation to the center. Attendees must fill out a waiver in order to participate.

Staff reporter Desmond Bracken is a UC Local News Fellow placed with the Alameda Post through the summer of 2028. Reach him at desmond@alamedapost.com. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Desmond-Bracken.

The post REAP Center Shares the Buzz for Honey Harvest Festival appeared first on Alameda Post.

Active-duty military and veterans receive free admission all day.

Morning program and color guard

The main program will start at 11 a.m., featuring a color guard provided by the Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.

Master of Ceremonies Robert Butchart (US Air Force Ret.) began his service with the Air Force in 1982. He served in both Air Force Special Operations and in the U.S. Joint Service Special Operations Command. His last military assignment was in Central America in 2002, with Navy Special Warfare. He also served as a Chaplain’s Assistant. He is currently assigned to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), where he started their Maritime Program.

Keynote Speaker Michael Baker (U.S. Navy Ret.), is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and general, vascular, trauma surgeon. He is widely known as a speaker in the Bay Area for Commonwealth Club/World Affairs and as a teacher for Osher LifeLong Learning on history, political science, and military affairs at Cal State East Bay and UC Berkeley. He still teaches combat casualty care at U.S. military bases and has completed five tours in Ukraine teaching Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Special presentation

Jeremy Holm (U.S. Army Ret.), who serves as 11th Airborne Division Historian, will present “Rescue at Los Baños: One of World War II’s Greatest Rescue Missions” at 1 p.m.

On February 23, 1945, the 11th Airborne Division launched a daring operation behind Japanese lines on Luzon to liberate more than 2,100 Allied civilian internees imprisoned at the Los Baños camp. Hear the full story from Holm.

Flyover

The USS Hornet Memorial Squadron will cap the day with a flyover to honor veterans (exact time to be determined).

The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum is located at 707 West Hornet Avenue.

The post Veterans Day Commemoration at the USS Hornet   appeared first on Alameda Post.

Rise Up received applications from more than 2,300 eligible residents when it launched in 2023, and selected 150 recipients through a randomized lottery. Between December 2023 and November 2025, those participants received $1,000 in cash funds every month, disbursed through a reloadable debit card. They could spend the money however they wished, no strings attached. To qualify, applicants had to be Alameda residents and report a household income under $51,800.

The City celebrated the release of One Island, One Heart, a short documentary about the pilot program, at a screening event at Almanac Brewery on October 13. The screening began with a panel featuring several of the program’s biggest advocates, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, and Maven Collaborative Co-founder Jhumpa Bhattacharya. During the panel, they discussed how guaranteed income pilots are able to directly challenge common stereotypes and assumptions that get in the way of possible solutions to systemic poverty.

Bhattacharya told the crowd that providing direct, unconditional support to low-income individuals offers them a sense of dignity in a society that often associates poverty with race, gender, or perceived moral failure.

“What we are saying is, we trust you with money,” Bhattacharya said. “We all know it’s the single mom who makes minimum wage who knows exactly where every penny of her paycheck has been spent. She knows how to budget it.” The problem, she said, is when those people don’t have enough money to budget towards their most basic needs.

In communications with the Post, Rise Up participants shared that the program payments helped them afford rent, student debt payments, emergency medical care, and even the financial freedom to escape domestic abuse.

When participant Heather Reed found out that her application had been successful, her first thought was of her son Colin. He had just come home from the hospital after a life-threatening medical emergency. Reed, a single mother, had exhausted the money raised by a GoFundMe for his recovery. She also had recently gone through treatment for breast cancer, and was still navigating the impact of the pandemic on her work as a travel writer.

“I literally could not believe it,” Reed said, remembering when she first learned about the program. “I was like, ‘there’s no way Alameda’s floating this, but I’m so happy they are. And holy shit, we qualify.’”

Participant Tyronne Atterberry was facing a major surgery when he found out he had been accepted into Rise Up. He was experiencing health issues from exposure to exhaust while working as a trucker, and had recently moved back to Alameda, the city where he was born. He said the payments allowed him to focus on his recovery.

It “definitely helped out with transportation and food-wise, because I wasn’t able to visit the food bank as much,” Atterberry said. “If Rise Up didn’t kick in …I don’t know where I’d be now.”

After experiencing financial abuse from a partner, “I was left with an otherwise shattered life, a stolen livelihood, and a story of trauma that I was too exhausted to fully share,” participant Jennifer Pfaff wrote in a statement she shared with the Post. “What saved me wasn’t a court verdict. It was a groundbreaking, government-funded pilot program.”

City staff first presented the idea for the Rise Up Alameda pilot during a City Council meeting in May 2022, with the support of Mayor Ashcraft. Their proposal noted the success of similar programs in Stockton, Oakland, and San Francisco, and it received several supportive comments from the public. Council members narrowly approved the proposal in a 3-2 vote.

Rise Up received a budget of $4.6 million from the Alameda’s American Rescue Plan funds, an economic stimulus payment issued to US cities in 2021 for economic stabilization in the aftermath of COVID-19. According to City Council records, 60% of the allocation went to direct payments, while the rest went to research and administration. The City partnered with Operation Dignity to help implement the program, and with Abt Global to study the program’s impact over the two-year term.

Ashcraft told the Post she was inspired to bring a guaranteed income pilot to Alameda after learning about the work of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), a network that has helped to organize similar programs in over a hundred U.S. cities. MGI’s founder, Tubbs, spearheaded the nation’s first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot during his term as the mayor of Stockton. He told the Post that “tropes and falsehoods” around poverty pose a major hurdle in enacting those pilots.

“Much of the pushback I received when I did the first pilot wasn’t about data, because no data really existed,” Tubbs said. Instead, he said, concerns centered on how “people were undeserving of opportunity, and deserving of poverty. …It was very clear to me that part of our role would also have to be to change the story.”

To accomplish that in Alameda, Rise Up brought together a volunteer committee made up of community leaders who could inform the direction of the program and speak to the needs of Alamedans facing economic hardship. As part of the advisory committee’s work, they participated in a series of narrative workshops organized by Bhattacharya’s organization The Maven Collaborative, an Oakland-based nonprofit working to advance racial and economic justice by changing the way communities understand poverty.

Cultural attitudes around poverty are “very localized,” Bhattacharya told the Post. “Different areas and different communities have very different understandings of why poverty exists.”

During Maven’s workshop series, the advisory committee identified some of the most common harmful stereotypes around poverty in Alameda—for example, that poverty mostly affects Black and immigrant households in the West End, or that Oakland “imports” crime and poverty to the island. “The reality is, who’s showing up to the food pantries, who’s showing up to get housing assistance, are people who have lived for generations in Alameda,” Bhattacharya said.

Alameda Food Bank Director Teale Harden took part in that narrative work as a committee member. She told the Post that she had personally noticed these attitudes come up in conversations around her work at the Food Bank, regarding “who we’re serving and why they’re in need of free food.” Sometimes those ideas are stated outright, other times they’re “just below the surface of things that we hear, or get questions about.”

Harden said the Rise Up program did a good job of gathering data that other organizations could draw from in the future, and she hopes the findings will present “an opportunity to have some really interesting conversations … about our assumptions about our neighbors.”

City Council heard the final staff report on the program on October 6. Base Reuse and Economic Development Manager Jackie Keliiaa presented Council members with data showing that the payments directly corresponded with significant improvements in participants’ mental health. They were more likely to save money, and less likely to take on debt. Participants also reported being less reliant on public assistance like EBT.

The program group reported an average yearly income of about $32,000. Those surveyed did not report less engagement with work, but they did tend to seek out more flexible working arrangements, like part-time or remote opportunities.

Keliiaa told the Post she thought the program was a big success. “My hopes are that it will inspire other cities across the region and across the state that will embrace the benefits and the positive outcomes from a program like this,” she said.

There are no plans in Alameda for another City-funded guaranteed income program like Rise Up at this time. But during the October 13 celebration, Tubbs, Bhattacharya, and Ashcraft said they did not necessarily want to see more guaranteed income pilot programs.

“What can a pilot solve? Can it actually solve poverty?” Bhattacharya asked. “Well, no. Obviously not. We’re talking about centuries of policies and generational wealth (gaps …) Any minimum wage, in any county in the United States, will not allow you to afford your basic necessities.”

Instead, they called for holistic policy changes aimed at addressing poverty, food insecurity and homelessness throughout the state.

“Let’s just do it. Turn to the subject matter experts,” Ashcraft said. In California, one of the largest economies in the world, “there’s no reason that anybody is sleeping under a freeway overpass, in the creek bed, in places where humans should not be.”

Staff reporter Desmond Bracken is a UC Local News Fellow placed with the Alameda Post through the summer of 2028. Reach him at desmond@alamedapost.com. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Desmond-Bracken.

The post Guaranteed Income Pilot Changed Lives, Could It Change Alameda’s Attitudes Towards Poverty? appeared first on Alameda Post.

On October 20, City Council approved safety improvements at Pacific Avenue and Wilma Chan Way and advanced a seven-year lease to bring Poseidon Aerospace into Building 11 at Alameda Point.

Councilmembers also reviewed the Alameda Museum’s Indigenous repatriation efforts and expanded historical programming, and moved to raise City officials’ contract approval limits.

Pacific Avenue/Wilma Chan Way safety improvements

Council unanimously approved a new traffic signal, bicycle crossing improvements, and a median diverter at Pacific Avenue and Wilma Chan Way that will prohibit all left turns at the intersection and prevent drivers from crossing Wilma Chan Way on Pacific Avenue.

The design will limit vehicle access on Pacific Avenue to right turns in and out, while allowing pedestrians, bicyclists, and emergency vehicles to cross. Staff said the changes will reduce collision risks and keep traffic volumes low on Pacific, a designated neighborhood greenway.

Senior Transportation Coordinator Susie Hofstadter said Wilma Chan Way’s four lanes, limited sightlines, and speeding issues make the intersection difficult to cross. Observed prevailing speeds were about 30 mph despite a 25 mph limit, and the intersection has a history of broadside collisions.

“The primary reason for including the median diverter in the recommendation is safety,” Hofstadter said.

The signal will generally remain green for Wilma Chan Way traffic until someone needs to cross. Pedestrians will activate it with a button, while bicycles will be detected automatically. Signal timing will accommodate different crossing needs.

Staff hopes to be ready for construction in summer 2027, but the schedule will depend on coordination with other nearby work, including the Oakland Alameda Access Project.

Speeding, neighborhood traffic concerns

Feedback gathered through a community workshop, online survey, and conversations with neighbors and businesses was generally supportive. However, concerns included whether drivers might divert onto nearby streets to avoid a red light and whether turn restrictions could increase traffic at Buena Vista Avenue.

Hofstadter said staff would monitor potential cut-through traffic on Pacific Avenue and left-turn volumes at Buena Vista Avenue, and adjust restrictions or signal timing as needed. Staff also plans to coordinate nearby signals to help manage traffic speeds, while noting that broader speeding problems on Wilma Chan Way would require a separate project.

A Pacific Avenue resident supported the improvements but asked why the proposed traffic lights appeared to be positioned beyond the crosswalks rather than before them. City Engineer Scott Wikstrom clarified that overhead signals will be positioned on the far side so stopped drivers can see them. Additional signal poles and pedestrian crossing equipment would be installed on the near side.

“This will be a full, full-blown traffic signal,” he said.

Public speaker Zac Bowling urged approval, linking the improvements to the street’s namesake, Wilma Chan, who was killed by a driver while crossing an Alameda street.

“The people that walk and bike on this road deserve a safe way to cross,” Bowling said.

Councilmembers praised the project’s safety benefits. Councilmember Tracy Jensen described the anxiety of watching for turning vehicles while crossing the intersection.

“It’s nerve-wracking,” Jensen said. “I’m really grateful for this.”

Poseidon Aerospace lease at Alameda Point

Council considered a seven-year lease for Poseidon Aerospace to occupy Building 11 at Alameda Point, unanimously approving the introduction of the lease ordinance and adopting two related resolutions. The agreement includes two five-year renewal options for the former Navy hangar at 1190 West Tower Avenue, which has stood vacant for about six years.

Poseidon develops uncrewed cargo aircraft, including seaplanes, for transporting goods to remote communities and underserved routes. The company reported having 45 employees and projects growing to 150 by the end of 2027, with 95% of its workforce expected to be based at Alameda Point.

Base Reuse Manager Alesia Strauch said the lease would generate nearly $13 million in rent during its initial seven-year term and potentially another $29 million if both renewal options are exercised.

Poseidon plans to invest $2.5 million to $3 million in improvements, including restrooms, kitchens, electrical systems, heating and cooling, and warehouse flooring. The agreement provides a rent credit equivalent to roughly one year’s base rent, spread over the first two years.

Poseidon also reported providing employee transit passes, encouraging workers to relocate to Alameda, and discussing a potential internship program with the College of Alameda. Strauch called the return of aerospace manufacturing to a former Navy aircraft hangar “almost poetic.”

Council also approved $828,905 from the Alameda Point fund balance for brokerage commissions and declared the property exempt surplus land for leasing purposes. The lease ordinance requires a second reading before taking effect.

Financial protections, building costs

Although councilmembers welcomed the prospect of new jobs and investment at Alameda Point, they questioned the City’s financial exposure, the building’s aging roof and Poseidon’s existing occupancy under a temporary license agreement.

Councilmember Jensen questioned the upfront brokerage fees. Strauch responded that the City negotiated a security deposit exceeding those fees to help cover potential City losses if Poseidon leaves early. Jensen also questioned the transparency of allowing occupancy before public lease approval.

“It certainly is efficient,” Jensen said, “but it’s not as transparent as it could be.”

Staff said temporary licenses help the City compete with private landlords while completing its longer lease approval process. The City can terminate the license if the lease does not proceed.

Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft expressed particular concern about an estimated $10.6 million roof replacement for the larger building complex. Staff said the roof has exceeded its useful life but is not actively leaking. Poseidon may undertake interim patching.

The longer-term goal is to sell the complex largely as-is, leaving a future owner to decide how to handle roof replacement. Until then, the City remains responsible for roof repairs under the proposed lease.

“It’s great to learn about all the revenue this lease will bring in,” Ashcraft said. “But I think we also have to be deducting costs of a roof that could fail at any time.”

Despite those concerns, councilmembers supported the company’s expansion and investment.

Councilmember Greg Boller called the company “a good fit for Alameda,” citing its manufacturing work, planned investment, and connection to Alameda Point’s aviation history.

Alameda Museum Indigenous repatriation, historical exhibits

Council received a report on the Alameda Museum’s preservation work, programs, and efforts to return Indigenous cultural materials to tribal representatives. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the museum is expanding public access to its collections and broadening the stories told about Alameda’s history.

Museum Executive Director Kent Anderson said the museum is working with the Confederated Villages of Lisjan to arrange the transfer of the materials, with tribal representatives directing their future care.

“While the materials are in the museum, we are stewards of those materials,” Anderson said. “They don’t belong to us.”

Museum board President Valerie Turpen said formal legal repatriation is scheduled for 2026-27.

The museum and tribal representatives also plan to collaborate on an exhibit highlighting Ohlone history, culture and contemporary community life, with Indigenous representatives playing a central role in developing its content.

Last year, the museum welcomed more than 4,000 visitors. Its collection includes 21,554 artifacts, with more than 18,000 publicly searchable in its digital database. More than 60 volunteers support the museum and the Myers House.

Turpen highlighted exhibits on women’s history and naval history, along with neighborhood walks, arts workshops, and concerts in the Myers House garden. Future priorities include continued digitization, gallery improvements, and the return of an in-person lecture series.

The museum aims to highlight residents and groups “frequently overlooked in traditional narratives,” Turpen said.

Higher contract approval limits

Council voted 4–1 to introduce an ordinance that would double the contract approval authority of the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk from $75,000 to $150,000 and to adopt corresponding purchasing policy changes. The ordinance would also increase the City Manager’s and City Attorney’s claims settlement authority to $150,000.

Senior Financial Analyst Carlos Figueroa said the existing limit has remained unchanged for 36 years. Increasing the limit would streamline about 20 contracts each year. Competitive bidding requirements and financial controls would remain in place, and contracts exceeding $150,000 would still require council approval.

Councilmember Tony Daysog opposed the measure, favoring a $100,000 limit. City Manager Gerry Beaudin offered to report back after the first year on contracts approved between $75,000 and $150,000.

Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers City Council and book reviews for the Alameda Post. Contact her via karin@alamedapost.com. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.

The post Council Approves Safer Crossing at Pacific / Wilma Chan, Advances Aerospace Lease appeared first on Alameda Post.

We received several letters to the Editor this week. Click a link below to jump to that letter.

• Objections to recent road updates
• Vote for public transit this election
• Donate old shoes and plant a tree
• Students deserve school board members who put their safety first
• Objections to Measure M

Objections to recent road updates

To the Editor:

Alameda has a new Queen in town, the overwhelming and conflicting rules and regulations, however well-intentioned, dictating how Alameda should manage its public spaces, roads, sidewalks, and bike paths. As a result, the form and function of Alameda’s public areas are changing rapidly for the worse. There have been some improvements. So far, I think the new roundabout on Tilden Way will improve traffic, but many changes made have not been good.

I would suggest that the streets of Alameda are more dangerous to drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, including the disabled, because of actions taken in the name of safety and following the rules and regulations to the letter. It is a whole lot more confusing out there. With narrowed street lanes, barricades, and unexpected obstructions such as special raised curbs, drivers are often distracted and surprised. Our beloved Alameda County supervisor, Wilma Chan, was struck by a car while crossing Shore Line Drive at Grand Street with her dog in 2021 after changes had been made to the configuration of Shore Line Drive.

The yellow and sometimes gray intersection warning bumps might be helpful to the visually impaired but are certainly a tripping hazard at the least—and try wheeling a chair across them; it is not easy. Western Europe has replaced many of these warning bumps with warning slits with rough surfaces which do not interfere with wheelchairs and are less likely to trip someone up. It is just not about safety either, this stuff is ugly.

Park Street is the poster child for my argument. There had been a grand plan for the beautification of Park Street, with sidewalk reconstruction and tree planting, but look at it now with its very narrow two-lane street and “jut-outs” for street dining. So much for grand plans! Who is excited about having a meal outside on Park Street? With all the beautiful surroundings in Alameda like the bay and estuary with the boats and hills in the background, would these locations not be better for outside dining? And did anyone think about how FedEx and UPS were going to deliver and pick up to and from these businesses on Park Street? And with all the grand plans, large trucks now find it impossible to make a right turn from Park Street onto Blanding, which happens to be a designated truck route.

I blame myself in part, because I was not paying attention to what was going on behind the scenes. But now, I realize the need to become more involved with our City government and management. More citizens helping the City of Alameda manage our beautiful town are indicated. And it would not hurt to know who the candidates are running for office and vote!

Stephen De Luchi,
Alameda

Vote for public transit this election

To the Editor:

This election season we have the chance to take two votes to keep our bus and train systems running, and make them better governed. Those are votes in support of the Regional Transit Measure (RTM) and Adriana Valencia for AC Transit Board of Directors Ward 3 (which includes Alameda).

The Bay Area’s transit systems, like BART and San Francisco Muni, have done important work to improve their services, which is why they have been steadily gaining ridership since 2021. RTM will enable continued improvement and preserve a critical public service. Failure would mean fewer buses in Alameda and a harder time getting to senior services, libraries, BART, and so many other important destinations.

We also have the opportunity to put a reformer, and someone who rides the bus regularly, on the AC Transit board by voting for Adriana Valencia. Her opponent, Joel Young, is part of the problem (and was even found to have committed gender-based harassment in the course of his board duties). As an AC Transit rider, I want someone on the board who truly understands the need to make bus service reliable and convenient.

Over the course of my career, I’ve researched public transportation systems around the world. That experience has shown me how important functioning transportation is to our communities, and how important it is to have actual transit riders making decisions. It’s that experience that makes me confident in voting yes on RTM and for Adriana Valencia.

Steven Higashide,
Alameda

Donate old shoes and plant a tree

To the Editor:

I’m collecting used sneakers for a Rotary Club of Alameda fundraiser for an international project in Sri Lanka for a liver transplant machine. Just drop off your used no longer needed sneakers in the box on my front porch at 2901 Lincoln Ave in Alameda. Kids and adult sizes are welcome.  Only sneakers. Drop off by Friday October 30 please.

Then, please join 100K Trees for Humanity, Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD), and Rotary Club of Alameda for a community tree planting at Main Street Linear Park on November 14, for 9 a.m. to noon, at Main Street Linear Park, in Alameda.

100K Trees for Humanity is sponsoring the planting of 60 trees via a $100,000 grant Amos White obtained to plant trees on the West End of Alameda.

Wear sturdy close-toed shoes, and bring gloves and a filled water bottle. All other equipment will be provided by ARPD.

Let’s beautify Alameda and protect the climate together. See you there!

Joyce Mercado,
Alameda

Students deserve school board members who put their safety first

To the Editor:

How should school board members respond when their responsibilities to other organizations conflict with the interests of the students they represent? This is the question I asked Gary Lym in January after learning that he had signed the Harbor Bay Isle Homeowners Association resolution calling for the permanent removal of bike lanes on Aughinbaugh Way and Mecartney Road, streets used daily by Bay Farm School students.

As an active PTSA member and current Bay Farm PTSA president (I’m writing in my personal capacity), I’ve been working to improve safety for our children getting to and from school. I spent hours putting cones on Aughinbaugh Way to draw attention to the issue. The resolution Mr. Lym signed formed part of the basis for Councilmember Daysog’s referral attempting to stop these safety improvements in the January 20 City Council meeting.

I tried to understand his decision and reached out to Mr. Lym twice by email and received only one “out of office” response. I also spoke on this issue at the February 10 school board meeting. He was absent from that meeting so he did not hear my comments in person, nor did he hear from the many Alameda teachers who attended that meeting to advocate for better salaries and benefits. The Alameda Post later reported that he had not responded to its request for comment in Ken Der’s March 31 article regarding the bike lanes.

Eight months after my initial email, I still haven’t heard from him.

I don’t expect elected officials to agree with every constituent. But I do expect them to engage with difficult questions, explain their positions, and listen to the people they represent. And importantly, when one serves on multiple boards and the stances on those conflict, to make difficult decisions and be able to explain them. I would assume a person with as much experience as Gary Lym has would know how to do this.

Our students deserve school board members who put their safety first and are accountable to the families they serve.

Maria Piper,
Alameda

Objections to Measure M

To the Editor:

The City Council passed a resolution this past July which put Measure M on the November Ballot. The measure, if passed, will allow the Council to make significant changes to City Charter without requiring or allowing for a vote of the residents. Under the current Charter, which is essentially the City’s constitution, if changes are to be made to the Charter, an affirmative majority vote by residents is required.

The members of the Council who voted to put Measure M on the ballot are attempting to acquire the authority to make whatever changes they see fit without having to first obtain approval from the voters. This is tantamount to the U.S. Congress amending the Constitution without first obtaining state and/or voter approval as mandated by the Constitution itself.

It is mind-boggling to think that responsible members of the Council would engage in such action without first seeking the explicit approval of the City Attorney’s office. In fact, as I recall, the City Attorney said something like “…such “clean-up” is commonly done” but he didn’t say that it would be legal to do so.

To my way of thinking, this entire Measure M issue is absurd, especially given that it would reduce the fiscal oversight as currently provided by an elected auditor as is currently required, and it would permit amending sections of the Charter that are not consistent with current policies. What? The City is following policies that are illegal, aka unconstitutional?

Measure M is screaming for a NO vote. And beyond that we probably should take note of which members of the Council voted to put it on the ballot and perhaps eliminate them from consideration for election in November.

Jay Garfinkle,
Alameda

The post Letters to the Editor for October 23, 2026 appeared first on Alameda Post.