City Government

Councilmember Lynette McElhaney Will Face Administrative Hearing in Ethics Violation Case

Published

7 years ago

August 4, 2017

The Oakland Public Ethics Commission decided to hire an independent hearing officer to determine whether Councilmember Lynette McElhaney used her elected position to “interfere” with the construction of a building next to home. The commission voted unanimously to support the staff recommendation to hold the hearing, based on their investigation that found there was “probable cause” that the councilmember committed ethics violations.

Commissioners also voted to urge staff and the councilmember to continue to hold discussions to try to reach a settlement of the case.

Once the hearing is completed, possibly within two months, the hearing officer will report back to the commission, which could impose penalties, including a fine of up to $15,000.

In an interview with the Post, McElhaney said she thought it was positive that commissioners emphasized they wanted to pursue a settlement.

“This has been a witch hunt,” she said, emphasizing that she was not just fighting for herself but also for her neighbors, as she was elected to do, to oppose the construction of the large “ugly” building that is “like a motel.”

The major issue, said McElhaney, is that the city’s Planning Department approved a project that should never have been approved and often ignores the voices of people who live in flatland neighborhoods.

“We end up being bound by bad decisions,” she said. “There is so little accountability for these administrative decisions.”

According to ethics commission staff, McElhaney may have committed three ethics violations.

First, she received a gift from an architect worth $800 when McElhaney solicited the architect to speak for free at the Planning Commission in December 2014 in opposition to the development project. The architect at the time was doing business with the City Council.
The limit for a gift is $50 in calendar year.

Second, she voted the next month, in January 2015, to increase funding for the architect, allegedly violating the provision that prohibits a council member from participating in a council decision that benefits someone who has given a gift to the council member.

Finally, she failed to report the gift as required.

McElhaney said she had consulted with the City Attorney in an attempt to avoid conflicts of interest and that she did not realize at the time that what the architect did could be considered a gift.

The commission is also looking into whether to investigate and issue a report on the findings of the Alameda County Grand Jury, which alleges conflicts of interest that are outside the scope of the upcoming administrative hearing.

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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

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City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

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City Government

Aaron Osorio Rises Up Ranks to Become Richmond’s Fire Chief

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10. “I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.” Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Richmond Fire Department Chief Aaron Osorio. Courtesy photo

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10.

“I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.”

Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Osorio is a San Francisco native who rose up the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief.

He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighters, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief. He said he truly loves working in this community.

While it isn’t common for a fire department to hire a chief that came up through its ranks, Osorio was credited by the city for serving Richmond well during uncommon times.

The city lauded him for developing internal policies and vaccination clinics during the initial COVID response, for supporting activation of the emergency operations center in response to a potential mudslide disaster in Seacliff last year, helping to draft mutual aid agreements and working to increase fire response capabilities for industrial incidents.

He’s also led departmental hiring and recruitment since 2018.

Osorio said it is an honor to be hired as chief and has big plans for the department moving forward. He said he wants to continue hiring and promoting for vacant positions, and also completing a strategic plan guiding the direction of the organization.

He also aims to replace and renovate a number of fire department facilities placed on the Capital Improvement Plan and create new ways to recruit that will enhance the diversity of the department.

Osorio said his experience within, and love for, the city of Richmond puts him in a good position to lead the department. He says he knows what is needed and also the challenges that are unique to the city.

“I look forward to utilizing that institutional knowledge to move the fire department forward in a positive direction and enhance the services we provide to the community,” the chief said.

Osorio holds a bachelor of science degree in Fire Administration and is also a California State Fire Marshal-certified chief officer, company officer, and state instructor.

He also holds numerous certifications in fire, rescue, hazardous material, and incident command.

The chief has been married to his wife, Maria, for 26 years and they have two sons, Roman and Mateo.