City Government

City Approves Move for Army Base Truck Yard

Published

11 years ago

July 5, 2013

Oakland Post

Bill Aboudi

By Ken A. Epstein

The Oakland City Council this week approved a 30-month contract that will allow a truck yard at the Oakland Army Base to move to a temporary site nearby so pollution producing big rigs can be kept off the streets of West Oakland.The truck parking business, Oakland Maritime Support Services (OMSS) owned by Bill Aboudi, is one of the companies that must move so the city’s Oakland Army Base development can begin in September.
Before OMSS can begin moving, however, the Port of Oakland Commission must give approval at its meeting next week
The City Council approved the move despite pressure from the Teamsters Union, which has been pushing for years to shut down the businesses operated by Aboudi, as part of a drive to unionize Port of Oakland truckers.
Union leaders attacked Aboudi for losing a nearly $1million lawsuit for not paying his workers for wages and rest breaks but offered the city no alternative to OMSS, which parks trucks and offers scales, a mini-mart, truck repairs and other services so drivers have less reason to take their big rigs out onto city streets.
Speaking at Tuesday’s council meeting, Teamsters said they had the backing of the Building Trades Council of Alameda County and the Alameda Labor Council.
“Do we have to turn the clocks back again, (where we are) asking about trucks being parked all over West Oakland – because of what the Teamsters are saying about Bill?” Asked Margaret Gordon, co-founder of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, speaking to City Council members.
“I would appreciate the Teamsters coming up with an alternative plan, but I haven’t heard anything,” she said. “Let’s be real. We need an OMSS in Oakland.”
Though the Superior Court ruling was against another of Aboudi’s firms, AB Trucking, not OMSS, several councilmembers raised concerns about whether he had the ability to pay the fines.
Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney said the city is not required to take immediate action regarding the court decision. Aboudi eventually will have to pay if he loses his federal court appeal, and if he cannot, the city will have to decide what do at that time.
““The court provided a remedy for the findings. And it will be for (Aboudi’s trucking company) to make good on what the court’s ruling was.”
“It is fair play,” said McElhaney. “When we mess up, we have an opportunity for restitution…. The court could have said, that it rose to a level that (the company) should no longer be in existence… That’s not what the court said.”

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.