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CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2023
YEAR 35
NO. 40 CITY OF CASTRO VALLEY
INSIDE YOUR
What Would Government Look Like?
FORUM
Fall Fundraiser Meals on Wheels fall fundraiser rolls out this weekend
By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
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PHOTOS BY MIKE McGUIRE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: Trees were cut at Ruby Meadow, where construction is beginning for the Ruby Street Apartments, on September 26, 2023.
Fall Vaccines Vaccines seniors should consider getting this season
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Ruby Meadow Conversion to Affordable Housing Begins By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Hall of Fame Sports Hall of Fame honors volleyball, wrestling teams
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INDEX Calendar ................ 4 Classified Ads ......... 8 Crosswords ............. 9 Homes ..................... 6 Obituaries ............. 11 Opinions ............... 11 Our Town ................. 3 Seniors .................... 5 Sports .................. 12 Weather .................. 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
Bulldozers roared, and trees fell at Ruby Meadow by Crescent Avenue and Ruby Street in Castro Valley last Tuesday, Sept. 28, marking the start of Eden Housing’s affordable housing development there.
Demonstrators from the Save Ruby Meadows group held up signs urging the trees and animals to be saved (some deer scattered during the event). Alan Fishman and Anita Wah read the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, for the trees and animals about to perish. see RUBY on page 11
If Castro Valley becomes a city, what will its government look like? That was the question about 25 people pondered during an open discussion at the library last Sunday. The CastroValleyCity.com group sponsored the event, which included a review of a draft going before the Alameda Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) next month. LAFCO has three proposals on the table that would make cities out of the local unincorporated areas, including one that would convert Castro Valley into an official city. The state oversight agency is expected to review the draft with recent addendums and provide a pathway for any or all the cityhood plans to move forward. “Everybody is looking for more detailed information as we go forward, but this was a chance to share ideas on how a local governance plan might be drawn together,” said Yon Hardisty, a resident who moderated the event. “It was great to have the community to validate what things we may want as a city.” So, who might be in charge of Castro Valley as a city? Steve Hollister, a former city manager of San see GOVERNMENT on page 10
Homeless Crisis Emergency Plan Gains Support 2026 Community Plan to end Alameda County Health homelessness. Care Services Agency (HCSA) “In the last few years, we Office of Homeless Care and have invested over $200 milCoordination (OHCC) was Alameda County’s emerlion and adopted the five-year named as the lead agency gency declaration to combat responsible for managing the the homeless crisis is gaining Home Together Plan, but the number of people experiencing funds and is expected to report support among advocacy homelessness continues to rise back to the Board of Supervigroups who hope the funds every year. That is why I asked sors within 60 days. will quickly go to the people my colleagues to join me in “We look forward to a who need it most. declaring this state of emergen- robust conversation to be The Board of Supervisors cy--to ensure every available held with a sense of urgency on September 19 approved resource and tool is available to expand services and bring a local state of emergency, unlocking the state and federal and being used,” District 4 Su- needed shelter and housing funding they hope will speed pervisor and Board President programs to scale,” OHCC Director Kerry Abbot said. up the county’s Home Together Nate Miley told the Forum. By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
While the plan is expected to be a catalyst for getting the county to pull together with cities and unincorporated committees to coordinate a response, homeless advocate Melissa Moore says she’s hoping the bureaucratic red tape won’t slow down the important work that service providers are trying to accomplish right now. “In my opinion, the highest priorities are the lack of interim housing like tiny homes or sanctioned encampments and see PLAN on back page
Melissa Moore, homeless advocate