CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
YEAR 36 INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
NO. 38
County Mobile Home Residents Push Against Potential Closures By Mike McGuire CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Chanticleers Chanticleers is back and ready to present Dracula... with a twist
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Helping Hands Nearly a thousand volunteer for Inaugural ‘Serve Day’ last week
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Day of the Dead Hayward Area Historical Society announces the return of beloved exhibit
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INDEX Classified Ads ........ 8 Crosswords ............ 9 Events .................... 4 Homes ..................... 6 Merchants ............ 10 Obituaries ............. 11 Our Town ................. 3 Sheriff’s Report ..... 3 Sports .................. 12 Weather ................ 2 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
STATE CONVENTION
Legion Awards Juniors
Mobile home residents in Castro Valley and elsewhere in By Michael Singer Alameda County are continuCASTRO VALLEY FORUM ing to push forward against potential closings of mobile home Each year, Castro Valley’s parks, but a draft ordinance to American Legion Post 649 do that left the Castro Valley sponsors local high school junMunicipal Advisory Council iors attending the Sacramento (MAC) a bit puzzled at its Boys & Girls State convention. September 23 meeting. This year, the Post awarded That puzzlement was helped sponsorships to seven Castro by a long-awaited draft of Valley-area students, who will a mobile home conversion be celebrated tomorrow night. ordinance from the county This year’s recipients were Planning Department only a Scott Baldwin, Ebenezer few days before the meeting. Mahteme, and Jalen Vong“They had to read it first narith, who represent Castro and digest it before even Valley High School, and Jerry starting to ask questions about Ann Dania, Jacob Cook, Tyler it, just like we did,” said Tara Skjong, and Gavin Fanucchi, Clancy, an Avalon Mobile who represented Redwood FILE PHOTO BY MIKE MCGUIRE Christian High School. Home Park resident on Castro Avalon Mobile Home Park is one of the mobile home parks in unincorporated Valley Boulevard. “We’re Recipients have all expenses hoping to get it considered by Alameda County that would be affected by a proposed new county ordinance. paid for the June event except the [Alameda County] Board for transportation to and from The mobile home residents would add to the approvals a Residents at Avalon had in- Sacramento. of Supervisors by the end of want the county to pass the park owner must get to close itially protested large pending the year.” To qualify for the program, a park entirely and give some rent increases on their own. Avalon’s owners spoke out at mobile home conversion applicants were required to be Still, they soon teamed up with in their junior year at the end the meeting against limitations ordinance and create a mobile relocation assistance to the residents. The overlay would mobile home residents at other of the school year, with at least on closing a park and turning home “overlay” for unincorporated areas included in the consider mobile home parks a parks throughout the county it to some other use, saying it one more semester of classes Housing Element the county housing asset that would have to press for further protecinfringed on property rights. yet to go. Post 649 1st Vice to be replaced with a number of tions. The rent increases were Commander Rick Kalish told However, they said they had no is preparing to submit to the units of similar affordability if rescinded. intention of closing the park or state. the Forum that Legion The conversion ordinance they were to be closed or sold. see CLOSURES on page 11 getting out of the business. see LEGION on page 11
Swalwell, Police Unions Endorse DA Recall By Michael Singer CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
A U.S. Congressman and several police unions have joined the list of people supporting a recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. The issue could be decided in the November 5 general election. Last week, police unions in Alameda County all agreed
to support a move to remove District Attorney Pamela Price from her position. They believe she hasn’t done enough to protect crime victims and ensure justice is served. Iain Fry, who leads the San Leandro police union, said it’s Price’s obligation and sworn oath to stand up for victims. “DA Price needs to seek justice on their behalf and to make it clear to those who
continue to victimize our citizens that they will be held accountable for their actions,” Fry said. Neither DA Price nor her office responded to requests for comment. This is the first time a district attorney has faced a recall election in Alameda County. On April 30, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors accepted the county’s April 15
certification of signatures submitted by the recall campaign against Price. Of the 123,374 signatures submitted by recall supporters, 74,757 met the validation requirements. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters needed to collect enough signatures equal to 10 percent (73,195) of the number of registered voters in the county. A group called Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE) is
leading the recall effort, which is picking up steam as people criticize Price’s changes to the criminal justice system. Price has responded by calling the police unions’ actions “desperate.” She argues that her goal is to fix issues related to racial unfairness in the system and that this recall is trying to bring back a time when the police had too much power. see RECALL on page 10