City Government
“Anti-Terrorism Contraband” Cargo Inspections Conducted in Alameda
The inspection of potentially hazardous cargos that come through the Port of Oakland have been conducted for months in the City of Alameda, even though the City of Oakland has refused to allow such inspections at the old Horizon Beverage building in West Oakland.
Concerns have been raised by community members that Bobac CFS Corporation is operating a Customs Examination Station (CES) in Alameda by the Naval Base. The examination station is an Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET) site that inspects for illegal cargo, smuggling, weapons of mass destruction, and other contraband, in addition to being a Trade (site), which conducts inspections for trade violations.
Bobac has operated as a customs exam station for over four years, but concerns have increased since the company that had been conducting A-TCET inspections – PCC Logistics – lost its contract with U.S. Customs last year when it had to move due to one of the snafus surrounding the beginning of Oakland’s Army Base Development project.
In addition, Oakland residents are concerned that trucks are transporting potentially hazardous cargos on Oakland streets to the Bobac facility in Alameda.
Seeking to relieve some of the anxiety caused by the inspections, Customs says it takes steps to make sure that no known hazardous materials are shipped through the community.
U.S. Customs inspectors “examine containers for dangerous materials and anomalies prior to leaving the port” and do not “permit movement of any container suspected of containing harmful materials,” said Frank Falcon, Public Affairs Liaison with CBP.
In order to determine whether or not containers coming in to the port hold dangerous material, CBP uses equipment to “non-intrusively” examine cargo before it’s transported to an inspection site in the community.
U.S. Customs has assured Alameda city staff that there would be no hazardous material at the Bobac facility, according to Assistant City Manager Alex Nguyen.
While no hazardous materials may be knowingly transported through Oakland to Alameda, the site in Alameda does conduct A-TCET “anti-terrorism contraband” inspections.
Therefore, questions remain whether potentially hazardous cargo – explosives or radioactive materials – may be unknowingly transported into Alameda, and what are possible dangers to local communities.
These concerns were raised by Oakland residents and city officials when the City of Oakland rejected entrepreneur Tom Henderson’s attempt to conduct A-TCET inspections in West Oakland.
Bobac owner Bob Haydari, who has been working with unloading and reloading cargo for 25 years, says he has not received any dangerous material at his facility while working with U.S. Customs.
In a recent article in the Alameda Sun newspaper, Haydari said, “There is nothing to worry about. I’m 60 years old, I work with my wife, and two kids, I would not do this if I thought this job was dangerous.”
However, some Alameda residents are still unsure the inspections provide sufficient safety guarantees.
“I just want the whole (City) Council to look into it,” said Alameda resident Irma Garcia-Sinclair a November interview with The Alamedan.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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