Community

San Leandro Library Director Appointed

Brian Simons brings visionary mindset, innovation, and proven leadership

Published

3 years ago

August 6, 2021

Christy Price

Brian Simmons

SAN LEANDRO, CA – Brian Simons has been appointed to serve as Library Director, effective August 26, 2021. Simons was selected by City Manager Fran Robustelli following a national recruitment for the position.

In 2001, Simons began his library career and was subsequently promoted to various roles including the head of Young Adult Services/Reference Librarian and Library Director. For three years, Simons was the executive director for the Brown County Library in Green Bay, Wis. In this role, he supervised 115 employees, established a new fundraising effort for a countywide library of nine facilities and a bookmobile, and oversaw a $7,400,000 annual budget.

“Mr. Simons will bring a wealth of experience leading library systems with similar size, diversity, and scope of the San Leandro Library system,” said City Manager Fran Robustelli. “In particular, Brian has experience in developing community strategic planning processes, advancement of services to increase access to the entire community, creating efficiencies through Lean and Six Sigma projects, rebranding the library as a center for community advancement, successfully developing and mentoring staff, as well as experience in marketing and communication for a wide range of services.”

In response to his appointment, Simons said, “San Leandro provides a rare opportunity to be a part of an already well supported set of library facilities with smart, hardworking library staff members, and at the same time, the community is future focused, looking to elevate not just the library, but the community itself to something greater.

“I look forward to connecting with the community so we can learn how best to facilitate individual and collective growth, understanding, innovation, and realized opportunities so the library can really become the heart and soul of the San Leandro community. These are exciting and important times for San Leandro, and I’m honored to be a part of this community as the next library director.”

Christy Price

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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

9 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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

4 days 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.

Oakland Post

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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

4 days 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.