Blog
Housing

Unincorporated Alameda County Families Demand Equal Tenant Protections

My Eden Voice and a county-wide coalition implores the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to finish and pass a tenant protection package in the Eden area to protect Eden families. There are over 60,000 renters in the Eden area of Alameda County without long-term tenant protections.  During the pandemic, unincorporated …

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Governance

Supervisors to hear proposal for incorporation fiscal analysis

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors Unincorporated Services Committee meets on Wednesday, April 27 at 6:00 pm to hear from the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) about a proposed fiscal analysis of the feasibility of incorporating Castro Valley and the other Alameda County unincorporated communities.

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Community
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A New Solution for Alameda County’s Housing Affordability Challenges: Accessory Dwelling Units

New laws and free homeowner resources have made it easier than ever to build a second unit, also known as a granny flat, in-law suite, and accessory dwelling unit (ADU). These units create the flexibility to provide a home for friends, family, a local teacher or others struggling to live …

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Economic Development

Wayfinding for Active Transportation

Have you ever wondered where the freeway was? Or where is the retail district? Alameda County is developing the Eden Area Signage Plan to outline wayfinding and gateway signage for areas of urban unincorporated Alameda County, including: Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview and San Lorenzo. The Economic and Civic Development …

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Community

The Right to a Smoke-Free Environment

In Castro Valley, 27% of homes are considered multi-unit housing and are part of the 15,367 multi-unit housing homes in Unincorporated Alameda County that are at risk of being exposed to secondhand smoke. Castro Valley is part of Unincorporated Alameda County, where a resident’s best bet for living in a …

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Featured Story
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Walking in Castro Valley: “She hit me and didn’t stop”

For the last few years, I have been a committed pedestrian, taking time to walk, exercise my husky Juneau and avoiding driving for nearby errands.

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This is a map of the location of Castro Valley Lumber
Community
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Chick-fil-A next to Burger Island? Where’s the beef?

When you consider how this location is a gateway to this community, how poorly conceived this intersection is, and the increasing traffic along 580, it is fair to question the wisdom of placing a new drive-thru restaurant here.

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Headline Story
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How do you picture me in your mind?

My name is Rosabel. My husband and I have lived here nine years with our two vivacious, intellectually curious, and fun-loving children. When my children were preschoolers, you might have seen them riding their balance bikes at Parsons Park or Greenridge Park. When I was a volunteer music instructor for …

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2020 Propositions

Castro Valley Matters Positions on California Propositions – 2020

Reminder: October 19th is the deadline to register to vote in Alameda County. For more information, see the link at https://www.acvote.org/index. You can track your ballot using the using the “voter profile” link at https://www.acgov.org/rovmvp_app/mvp.do. Castro Valley Matters urges your Yes vote on the following Propositions: Proposition Name CVM Endorses …

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Community

With Our Neighbors

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

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Community

Ongoing Dialogue on Systemic Racism

On June 8, 2020, we published a blog post entitled “Black Lives Matter: How a Hidden Facebook Comment Sparked a Transformative Dialogue”. In the days that followed, CVM received messages from one reader who felt strongly that we should take that post down because she felt that the subject had …

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Community
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It’s time for Boy Scouts of America to say that Black Lives Matter

The BSA’s silence on Black Lives Matter is a deal breaker for me.

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Community
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Black Lives Matter: How a hidden Facebook comment sparked a transformative dialogue

“This week I have come to realize that to say ‘All Lives Matter’ is to minimize struggles that I cannot possibly understand. Just as no one can know what struggles you’ve faced and how it feels to be you, the same goes for them.”

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Community

#FeedEden Honor Roll of Donors

Castro Valley Matters would like to thank the 136 individuals and organizations who donated a total of $15, 285 to Feed Eden, our collaborative effort with the Castro Valley/Eden Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Castro Valley, and Castro Valley Vibe to feed our frontline healthcare workers at Eden Medical Center and support local restaurants and food entrepreneurs.

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Community

Community signs, Safe Routes to School on Monday’s MAC agenda

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council meets tonight at 6:00 and will receive updates from Alameda County staff about “The Eden Area Signage Plan” and the Safe Routes to Schools Program. Safe Routes to School Safe Routes to School encourages walking, biking, carpooling, and public transit use in an effort …

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Community
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#FeedEden

‪With an expected surge in #COVID19 cases at Eden Medical Center in #CastroValley, we want to say thanks to our frontline healthcare workers and send them food from local restaurants. Help Castro Valley Matters, the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of Castro Valley to #FeedEden.

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Governance

Crawford to resign from MAC, be appointed to Alameda County Planning Commission

Supervisor Nate Miley has nominated current Castro Valley Municipal Council (MAC) Chair Marc Crawford to serve on the Alameda County Planning Commission, according to the agenda posted for Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Crawford’s resignation from the MAC is also included on the agenda. The Planning Commission is made up …

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CVUSD

Castro Valley Unified suspends in-person instruction because of COVID-19 threat

Castro Valley Unified School District held an emergency board meeting today and suspended in-person instruction through March 31. This action was prompted by the threat of a potential outbreak of COVID-19 in our community. Following presentation of recommendations by Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, discussion by the Board, and many public comments, …

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Community
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How FirstPres Church has helped neighbors in need of food and shelter

In December 2016, someone come by the FirstPres office on a rainy afternoon asking if we could help them.  With thankfulness, this “Neighbor in Need” received a blanket that we had and went on their way.  But we could not shake the feeling that we had to do better. There were …

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Castro Valley Unified School District logo.
CVUSD
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As number of families lacking permanent housing increases, Castro Valley Unified builds out a support network

It takes a village to support students and families. In line with our goal of meeting the academic and social emotional needs of all our students, Castro Valley Unified School District’s (CVUSD) effort to serve all students and families was expanded last year to better serve the growing number of …

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Art

CV The Sweet Live: Music heals, brings communities together

CV The Sweet Live’s mission is simple: to provide ongoing opportunities for CV residents to experience live music. Whether as part of an audience in the community, as a participant in a drum or singing circle, as a soloist or a player/singer in a duet/trio/quartet or band or as one of the hosts in a CV House Concert network, opportunities for engagement are varied and many.

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Education
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The Many Loves of Donald “Dobie” Gelles

Love him or leave him, Dobie made his mark in Castro Valley through his love of education and our community.

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Governance

MAC to elect new chair, consider amendments to General Plan Zoning

Castro Valley’s Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) is scheduled to elect a new MAC Chair at its Monday night meeting at 6:00 at the Castro Valley Library. Under new Rules and Procedures adopted for the MAC last October, a Chair and Vice Chair cannot serve more than two consecutive years in …

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Alameda County
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A freeway would run through it: Reflecting on the history of the 238 parcels and who decides their future

Over 50 years ago, the State of California “purchased more than 400 parcels of property for construction of a 14-mile 238 Corridor Bypass Freeway to run through the City of Hayward and parts of unincorporated Alameda County.” Many people fought the project since its inception in 1961. Sustained activism and …

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Featured Story
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“We fight darkness with light”

Last Saturday morning my colleague in Poway had a day that began similarly to that of many Rabbis. He welcomed a larger than normal crowd into his Synagogue. It was Shabbat, Passover and a day on which Jews recite the Yizkor (memorial) prayer. He led the services and directed the …

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Headline Story
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After Tiny Homes: Where do people go after?

As people were asking us hard questions about the Tiny Home Project, one kept recurring: “Where do people go after?” The approved Tiny Home Project for the First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (FPCH) campus is broken up into two 18-month cohorts – after that time period, the residents are required …

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BART
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How about a new CV bench in an accessible CV BART?

Maybe we should consider a GoFundMe to design, secure a truly accessible Paratransit blue curb pick up/ drop off area at Castro Valley BART?

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Governance

Reform Castro Valley’s MAC

The leadership of any community is central to the health and vibrancy of that community.

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2020 Propositions

California Propositions – 2020 – Proposition 25

Reminder: October 19th is the deadline to register to vote in Alameda County. For more information, see the link at https://www.acvote.org/index. All eligible voters will be mailed a vote-by-mail ballot beginning October 5th for the November 3rd general election and you can track your ballot using the using the “voter …

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