Inside
Page to stage StarStruck takes on ‘Seussical.’
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OPINION
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OBITUARIES
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LEGAL LISTINGS
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CLASSIFIED ADS
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Councilmembers under investigation San Leandro releases HR complaint to public. 8 TRICITYVOICE.COM
VOL 25 NO 3
JANUARY 13-19, 2026
New laws going into effect this month
CoLab in Hayward Resource center
welcomes neurodivergent youth. 10
Rental programs Newark introduces
payment assistance. 14
● From updated equal pay rules, to pet protocol and official Diwali state holiday
— More on page 8
Dave Lepori
Every year, lawmakers in Sacramento introduce a flurry of bills, most of which are eviscerated during the legislative process and end up on the Assembly or Senate trash heap. A select few make it to the governor’s desk. Assuming they dodge the veto stamp, they then become new laws. This year’s Senate Bills (SB) and Assembly Bills (AB)—most take effect on Jan. 1, while some come into force in July—include a prohibition on cat declawing, healthier school lunches and a slew of workplace protections. One of the most striking of these laws takes aim at book censorship. Under AB 1825, also called t h e C a l i f o r n i a Fr e e d o m To Read Act, public libraries and those in schools are prohibited from banning books or other materials because of their content.
Sharon shines
Courtesy of Made Up Theatre
By Todd Guild
The show goes on Improv theatre marks 15 years. 15
Sharon Marshak passes away. More on page 6.
Federal workers protect benefits ● Local chapter struggles with publicity and finding a meeting place By Ava Acharya
A
pril of 2026 marks 50 years since the establishment of the Tri-
City Fremont Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). But, after half a century, the chapter’s leadership fear that they are losing access to the community they serve. Tr i- C it y N A R F E wo r k s to ensure former and current federal employees have access to their full benefits by offering resources to navigate the
red tape creating these barriers, according to the organization’s first vice president, Kathy Kelley. Barriers that Kelley is very familiar with, as she wishes she had utilized this support when she retired from the VA Medical Center in Livermore in 2020. “I didn’t know what paperwork I had to fill out, and the — More on page 10
Season soiree Plethos previews 2026 plays. 20