City Government

OP-ED: Fred Blackwell, “(Finally), A City Administrator Committed to Oakland”

Published

12 years ago

March 6, 2014

Deanna Santana, our former city manager, did the right thing and promptly resigned after calls to end her new job tour on the city’s dime. The mayor moved quickly, appointed Oakland native Fred Blackwell as acting city manager and will submit his name for the permanent position.

What a concept, an Oakland city administrator committed to the city of Oakland. And stop all the handwringing and crocodile tears about our quickly departed city administrator.

Despite her so-called reputation, she turned out to be nothing more than a paper tiger: talking tough on minor issues, but rope a doping critical ones like crime and jobs.

No mention of basic big issues like police reform, comprehensive crime reduction, government reform. No comprehensive and detailed analysis, no solutions, just fluff and detention hall reform.

< p>Oakland must stop accepting people who claim they did a good job, but have no substantive results. As my granddaddy used to say, “I hear you talking, but I don’t see you doing.”

It is time Oakland’s well-paid leadership is committed to solutions. Not just pick minor issues and proclaim victory.

Enough of these are paper tigers.

Speaking of paper tigers, our auditor enters the mayor’s race on the same platform. Despite her claims of tough audits, the majority have been minor league knit picking. Have you seen a performance audit of the largest budget money grabbers: police services and economic development?

Here’s a suggestion: audit the departments/programs that cost us hundreds of million of dollars. Show efficient delivery of public safety.

Show Oakland whether we got a good honest return, honestly built, and measure benefits. Hold off bragging rights of great rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Oakland deserves decisive leadership in the Mayor’s chair.

Speaking of decisive leadership, kudos to our former mayor and present governor on his reelection announcement. Gov. Brown made the tough innovative decisions in Oakland, and now he is doing it in Sacramento. His second term should be an even larger game changer.

The City Council made a poor decision to deny cameras and microphones to combat crime. Despite fears, this technology will make Oakland safer and fill the gaps not covered by police and hampered by fear of criminal retaliation.

Used by businesses and other cities, it is a false claim that they are ineffective and invade privacy. Newsflash: the Supreme Court ruled over 50 years ago you do not have an expectation of privacy for behavior that is in plain public view.

This is the exact technology use Oakland should be rushing forward, not screaming backward to the 18th century.

Absolutely, Oakland would be safer with video cameras and gunshot microphones throughout the city. Expand it to video cameras in every police and fire vehicle and officer.

Remember, no Rodney King without a video camera present. Limited to the port will make cargo safer while Oakland residents die. What a head scratching decision. I urge the city Council to reconsider their vote.

Councilwoman Libby Schaaf kicked out her mayor campaign to an overflow, enthusiastic crowd on Grand Avenue. She took on typical run and hide issues such as police reform and crime, offering solutions like reducing police costs by using civilians.

However, she had the courage to call for this crime fighting technology. Let’s find out other mayoral candidates position.

Clinton Killian

Clinton Killian is an attorney at Oakland downtown Oakland law firm Fried & Williams LLP and former public official. He can be reached at ckillian@postnewsgroup.com.

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

Published

3 days ago

March 1, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14^th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
Passcode: 502955
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
And
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
Passcode: 091848
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.