Bay Area

Alameda County Supervisors Consider Changes in Procedures for Recalling Elected Officials

Alameda County is the only county in California whose charter “deviates from” and “is at odds with” the state’s recall laws, wrote the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, according to a KQED interview.

Published

7 months ago

November 10, 2023

Oakland Post

Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley. (File photo) Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. (File photo.)

By Post News Group

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors is considering placing a measure on the ballot next year that would overhaul the procedures for how the county conducts recall elections.

The impact of the passage of this measure on the current well-funded attempt to unseat Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is uncertain at present.

The final decision on whether to place the measure on the ballot, which the board recently approved unanimously at a first reading, was postponed at last week’s meeting to the Nov. 14 board meeting.

According to County Counsel Donna Ziegler, the county’s current rules are outdated and include unconstitutional provisions, lack necessary procedures, and follow unfeasible election law.

“In order to provide the public and the Registrar of Voters with clear and achievable standards for conducting a recall, it is recommended that your board adopt an ordinance to amend the charter,” Ziegler wrote in a report to the board.

Ziegler’s report said the changes are necessary to align county laws with the state’s and eliminate “decades old procedures (that are) a detriment to ensuring lawful, competent, and timely recalls.”

If passed, the measure would appear on the March 2024 ballot for voters to decide.

The measures would replace current procedures for conducting recall elections with the wording: “California state law applicable to the recall of county officers shall govern the recall of County of Alameda elected and appointed officers.”

Supervisor Nate Miley told KQED he did not think that the change would impact the recall campaign against Price.

“It’s just a matter of impracticality in the charter, the way the charter outlines it,” Miley said. “It would be almost an impracticality to put it on a March 5 election. There may be a special election, maybe, but I’m not even sure that will be the case if we’re aligning with a state law.”

The change in recall procedures could potentially increase the number of signatures needed to put a recall on the ballot, which could raise the cost of signature gathering by as much as $200,000.

At present, county rules require a recall campaign to submit about 73,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. Under state guidelines, about 93,000 signatures would be needed.

State law would also provide election officials more time to count signatures and arrange an election, could potentially postpone a special recall election to coincide with a regularly scheduled election, such as the next presidential election.

Such a change could shift the voting electorate in a more liberal direction, which would mean more supporters of DA Price’s reform criminal justice agenda might be likely to vote.

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Oakland Post: Week of June 12-18, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 12-18, 2024

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2024

Oakland Post

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Art

Mayor Breed, Actor Morris Chestnut Attend S.F.’s Indie Night Film Festival

On June 1, the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Indie Night Film Festival arrived at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco. San Francisco native Dave Brown, Founder and CEO of the Indie Night Film Festival, has a vision for the film industry that is squarely focused on promoting the many talented producers, actors, and designers contributing to this billion-dollar industry. The festival has been running for 12 years and it’s only up from here, he says.

Published

2 days ago

June 13, 2024

Oakland Post

(Left to Right) Dave Brown, CEO, Indie Night Festival, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and actor Morris Chestnut. Photo by Y’Anad Burrell

By Y’Anad Burrell

On June 1, the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Indie Night Film Festival arrived at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco.

San Francisco native Dave Brown, Founder and CEO of the Indie Night Film Festival, has a vision for the film industry that is squarely focused on promoting the many talented producers, actors, and designers contributing to this billion-dollar industry. The festival has been running for 12 years and it’s only up from here, he says.

A weekly celebration of cinematic artistry designed to elevate emerging talent while providing a platform for networking and collaboration, entrepreneur Dave Brown created Indie Night to bridge gaps within the filmmaking community by fostering connections between like-minded individuals worldwide. The Indie Film Festival currently has over 450 film submissions worldwide, and its cinematic vault only continues to grow.

The festival showcased over 10 short films and trailers, and featured Faces of the “City: Fighting for the Soul of America,” produced by veteran actor Tisha Campbell. This film is about the vibrancy and legacy of San Francisco. The festival also previewed “When It Reigns,” a trailer by Oakland’s burgeoning filmmaker Jamaica René.

Indie films have not just challenged traditional cinematic norms; they’ve shattered them. These films offer unique storytelling perspectives and push creative boundaries in truly inspiring ways. With their smaller budgets and independent spirit, they often tackle unconventional subjects and portray diverse characters, providing a refreshing alternative to mainstream cinema. As a result, indie films have resonated with audiences seeking an escape from formulaic blockbusters and are increasingly celebrated for their authenticity and originality.

Organizers say the mission of Indie Night is to elevate the craft of independent artists and creators. It also provides a venue for them to showcase their work, network, and exchange information with new and established creatives. It creates a community that values and supports independent art.

For more about the Indie Night Film Festival, visit www.indienightfilmfestival.com.

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Bay Area

Sen. Wiener, Mayor Breed Announce Bill to Shut Down Fencing of Stolen Goods

On June 3, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed joined State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to announce a bill aiming to combat fencing, the sale of stolen goods. Authored by Wiener and sponsored by Breed, Senate Bill (SB) 925 would allow San Francisco to create permitting requirements to regulate the sale of items commonly obtained through retail theft and impose criminal penalties for those who engage in this practice.

Published

2 days ago

June 13, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Oakland Post Staff

On June 3, San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed joined State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) to announce a bill aiming to combat fencing, the sale of stolen goods.

Authored by Wiener and sponsored by Breed, Senate Bill (SB) 925 would allow San Francisco to create permitting requirements to regulate the sale of items commonly obtained through retail theft and impose criminal penalties for those who engage in this practice.

“The sale of stolen items in San Francisco has created unsafe street conditions and health and safety hazards that have negatively impacted residents, businesses, City workers, and legitimate street vendors,” states a statement released by the mayor’s office.

San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Chief Bill Scott praised the effort.

“I want to thank Mayor Breed and Senator Wiener for identifying new ways to combat the illegal fencing of stolen goods. This will help our hard-working officers continue to make progress in cracking down on retail theft,” said Scott.

Under the legislation, San Francisco can require vendors to obtain a permit to be able to sell items deemed as frequently stolen by asking for documentation that the merchandise was obtained legitimately, such as showing proof of purchase.

The legislation also establishes that those in violation would receive an infraction for the first two offenses and an infraction or a misdemeanor and up to six months in county jail for the third offense.

Under this bill, people can still:

Sell goods with a permit
Sell prepared food with a permit
Sell goods on the list of frequently stolen items with a permit and proof of purchase.

“In San Francisco we are working hard to make our streets safer and more welcoming for all. SB 925 would greatly help us get a handle on the sale of stolen goods, all while taking a narrow approach that specifically targets bad actors,” said Breed.

Wiener says the cultural richness of San Francisco and the livelihoods of legitimate street vendors are threatened when bad actors are allowed to openly sell stolen goods on the city’s streets.

“With this bill we’re taking a balanced approach that respects the critical role street vending plays in our community while holding fencing operations accountable for the disruption they cause. It’s critical that everyone feel safe on our streets, including street vendors and neighborhood residents,” said Wiener.