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 …
“Dedicated public servant,” Paul Keener has died
Paul Keener, a Senior Transportation Planner at the Alameda County Public Works Agency, passed away this past Saturday. He will be remembered for his role in working with many community activists in Castro Valley and the unincorporated areas of Alameda County to create a more walkable and bikeable community. “Paul Keener …
Church plans “Tiny Homes” for homeless in parking lot
First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (First Pres) wants to build and install six mobile housing units, or “tiny homes,” in its parking lot to help homeless individuals transition from homeless to housed. At last week’s Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting, Lead Pastor Jake Medcalf and Community Development Director Chizu Buckalew told …
Democracy brings light #ElectTheCVMAC
If you arrived at this blog from #ElecttheCVMAC postcard handed to you at today’s light parade, welcome! You are invited to join your fellow citizens and Castro Valley Matters in supporting free and open elections for our local officials: the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). We ask that our …
California, (un)Incorporated: Our communities need democracy, path to incorporation
I am a resident of Castro Valley, an urbanized, unincorporated community of about 63,000 in Alameda County in the east San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve been working with fellow Californians statewide in unincorporated communities that would like the option of becoming cities, including Salida, Arden Arcade, Mountain House, East Los …
How do the three Daughtrey’s proposals compare?
This chart provides an overview of the proposals from the three finalists who are competing to redevelop the Daughtrey’s Building. Finalists for the Alameda County-owned Daughtrey’s building redevelopment project have proposed housing, a marketplace anchored by a natural foods grocery store, restaurants, coffee shops, a wine bar, and a tap …
MAC expected to select preferred Daughtrey’s developer Monday night
The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) is expected to select a developer on Monday night for the long-stalled Daughtrey’s Building redevelopment. At its June 1 meeting, public speakers spoke overwhelming in support of a mixed-used development proposed by Castro Valley resident Shawn Alikian. The MAC deadlocked when two motions, one that …
Timeline of Castro Valley’s Daughtrey’s Building
The Daughtrey’s department store opened at 3295 Castro Valley Boulevard on November 3, 1965. The Daughtrey’s family sold their department store in 1991. The store closed at some point in the 1990s and was used intermittently for various businesses, including a billiards hall and a Halloween store. The former Alameda County …
Alameda County survey falsely claims unincorporated residents can’t elect MACs, understates community support for governance reform
A survey sent to unincorporated Alameda County residents to determine interest for an Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) misrepresents the California law that allows counties to create MACs as either elected or appointed councils. The survey also understates community support for governance reform efforts that were conveyed in resolutions …
Supervisor Miley responds to racist incidents in Castro Valley
Racism in our Castro Valley community showed itself recently with graffiti targeting African-American students scrawled on the high school campus. The N-Word graffiti is among multiple racist incidents that have been reported in our community including the bullying of an African-American elementary school student and the flying a Nazi swastika …