The event is called, “The Election of 2012… Obama [...]]]> Next Saturday, the Alameda Public Affairs Forum will host Robert Scheer, Editor of “Truth Dig”, on-line magazine, and author of THE GREAT AMERICAN STICKUP (How Reagan Republicans and Clinton Democrats Enriched Wall Street While Mugging Main Street) to speak about this year’s presidential election.

The event is called, “The Election of 2012… Obama and the Great American Political Crack-up, The Future of American – and the World.”

Mr. Scheer is to speak on everything from the war in Afghanistan to the economic crisis to the potential for a war with Iran.

The forum will be held at the Alameda Free Library at Oak Street and Lincoln Avenue, Saturday evening, February 11th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Described as “community conversations” in an announcement from City Hall, here are the [...]]]> In the wake of a decision by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to choose a site in Richmond – not Alameda Point – for its second campus, the City of Alameda announced today a new series of “Next Steps” community meetings.

Described as “community conversations” in an announcement from City Hall, here are the dates for three upcoming public meetings on Alameda Point:

Tuesday, February 7th, 7:00 PM
City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers
2263 Santa Clara Avenue

Monday, February 13th, 7:00 PM
Planning Board Meeting
City Council Chambers
2263 Santa Clara Avenue

Wednesday, March 7th, 7:00PM
City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers
2263 Santa Clara Avenue

Alameda police say that at 4:43 a.m. this morning, an officer stopped a car [...]]]> Alameda police say that a man killed on Doolittle Drive in Oakland this morning was one of a group of four that refused assistance to get a taxi after their car was impounded in Alameda earlier in the morning.

Alameda police say that at 4:43 a.m. this morning, an officer stopped a car for speeding on the 2900 block of Otis Drive in Alameda. The car was towed away for a 30-day impound per Alameda police policy and the California Vehicle Code because the driver was found to have a suspended license. There were four occupants in the car.

Police say that officers twice offered to call a taxi to the scene to transport the occupants at their own expense.

Subsequently, just after 6:00 a.m., police say they received a report of a person hit by a vehicle on Doolittle Drive in the City of Oakland, and that one person was killed at the scene. Alameda police say that the Oakland Police Department investigated the collision and informally notified Alameda officials that the deceased was from the same group of people stopped and released in Alameda earlier in the morning.

According to police, the suspects held a gun to the head of one of two juvenile victims on the 1400 block of Oak Street, on September 6th, [...]]]> Last week, Alameda Police announced that they have arrested and charged two 19 year-old Oakland residents in connection with an armed robbery in September last year.

According to police, the suspects held a gun to the head of one of two juvenile victims on the 1400 block of Oak Street, on September 6th, 2011 and stole cell phones from both. The robbers were not identified until this month, after a search warrant was served on January 10th in a neighboring city.

Alameda police, reviewing reports on the five people arrested for narcotics and weapons violations as a result of that search, recognized the suspects from the September robbery.

Police say that both suspects are already in custody and they have been charged with armed robbery.

Robbery Suspects (Alameda Police)

The topic? Labor negotiations. AEA, CSEA, Certificated and Classified management, psychologists, behavioral specialists, occupational therapists and “confidential.”

Also – a [...]]]> The Alameda Unified School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 30th, in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the District’s head office at 2200 Central Avenue.

The topic? Labor negotiations. AEA, CSEA, Certificated and Classified management, psychologists, behavioral specialists, occupational therapists and “confidential.”

Also – a conference with legal counsel regarding pending litigation.

Chief of Police Mike Noonan played 9-1-1 call recordings with the report of [...]]]> Late yesterday, the Alameda Police Department provided Action Alameda News access to records, including 9-1-1 call recordings, to explain the course of events on the evening of December 1st, 2011, when La Penca Azul restaurant on Park Street was robbed.

Chief of Police Mike Noonan played 9-1-1 call recordings with the report of the robbery and surveillance video taken from the restaurant security cameras, which had no audio.

The 9-1-1 recordings reveal a frantic restaurant employee calling the police saying, “we just got robbed,” then hanging up. When police dispatchers called back, an employee answered, but after talking for a moment, put the dispatcher on hold. Chief Noonan said its common for crime victims to behave this way immediately after the event.

Action Alameda News pressed on specific questions about the robbery as provided by sources:

Takeover Robbery: Sources told Action Alameda News that patrons were robbed as well. Alameda police say they have no reports of patrons being robbed. The video does show the robber pointing a handgun at the bartender and at one patron sitting at a “high-top” table, but it doesn’t appear that any patrons were robbed. One patron at the bar was using his smartphone and apparently unaware that a robbery was underway for most of the duration. Alameda Police characterize a takeover robbery as one where a robber takes control of the establishment, preventing anyone from leaving, and systematically robbing the patrons as well.

Patrol Car Nearby: Time-stamped video shown to Action Alameda News indicate that the time-in/time-out lapse for the robber was 30 to 35 seconds. Alameda Police call history logs indicate that police were on the scene within 40 seconds of the 9-1-1 call reporting the robbery. The patrol car reported to Action Alameda News to be nearby may have been there for other reasons, and not yet aware of the robbery, or on scene in response to the robbery, but officers were waiting for more information – did he have a gun? what kind of gun? is he still inside? – before entering the restaurant. The police communications center dispatches police while still gathering information from the reporting victim.

Inside Job: Chief Noonan said that the method of the robbery, and the size of the loss from the register, does not suggest an inside job. “I would expect a much greater loss,” for an inside job, he told Action Alameda News. The robber wore a mask during the robbery.

Cover-up: The Chief again denied any conspiracy on the part of his department or direction from City Hall to minimize publication of news of the event.

Chief Noonan said that it is still an open investigation and that his department is still interviewing witnesses, that they have six witnesses, and they have identified a person of interest. He also asked that that anyone with more information about this crime contact Alameda police.

Police say the suspect was between 5 ft 4 inches [...]]]> Alameda police are asking the public’s assistance in identifying a male suspect caught on video on January 14, 2012, at around 7:30 p.m., as he took a case of wine from the side door of the Chef’s Wok Restaurant at 1821 Webster St.

Police say the suspect was between 5 ft 4 inches and 6 ft tall, about 150 to 200 pounds and wore a dark jacket, dark pants and carried a backpack. He used the backpack to carry away the case of wine on his bike. If you have information, contact Alameda police regarding report number 12-503.

Chef's Wok Petty Theft Suspect (Alameda Police)

The move is controversial. Last month, when the suggestion of such a sale became public, the group Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA) [...]]]> After its special meeting on Monday, Alameda’s Public Utilities Board with convene a regular meeting, wherein it will consider a short-term sale of some of the utility’s renewable energy.

The move is controversial. Last month, when the suggestion of such a sale became public, the group Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA) expressed opposition, and wrote to the board, “The worst possible uses of any windfall [from a sale] would be ‘rate softening.’ Customers must face the true costs of their power, or they will not make correct choices between using power, conserving or installing efficiency improvements.”

In a prepared statement announcing the upcoming decision, Alameda Municipal Power stated that, “potential revenues obtained through the proposed short-term sale will be used to invest in efforts to reduce Alameda’s greenhouse gas emissions including energy efficiency, additional renewable power investments and other cost effective greenhouse gas reducing initiatives that will benefit all customers in the long term.”

The regular Public Utilities Board meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 30th, and will be held at the utility’s service center at 2000 Grand Street; the meeting is open to the public.

The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. and will be held at the utility’s service center at 2000 Grand Street; the meeting is open to the public.

Materials [...]]]> The City of Alameda Public Utilities Board will hold a special meeting on Monday to participate in an annual strategy workshop with Alameda Municipal Power (AMP).

The meeting starts at 4:00 p.m. and will be held at the utility’s service center at 2000 Grand Street; the meeting is open to the public.

Materials on AMP’s website provide a broad agenda that covers managing change, workforce development and advanced technology planning.