#MACmtg: Live-blogging the Castro Valley MAC interviews
“The public is invited to observe” interviews that are being held on August 6, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Castro Valley Library for the vacancy on the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). Castro Valley Matters will be live-blogging the event here and broadcasting the audio of the …
Finding Better Governance for Castro Valley and the Eden Area
Back in 2012, I thought all I wanted was an elected Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), Castro Valley’s version of a city council, for 63,000 people whose community remains unincorporated. State law says that MACs can be elected. Why couldn’t mine be elected? My naive question, first to Supervisor Nate Miley, then to …
An Update on AB 3 and the Plight of Isla Vista
What if unincorporated communities could get more local control without having to incorporate? Assembly Bill 3 (AB 3), working its way through the California Assembly, would give Isla Vista, an unincorporated community next to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus, an enhanced version of a community service district (CSD), …
Alameda County Supervisors set to approve Miley’s two choices for MAC
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors (BOS) is set to approve Supervisor Nate Miley’s choices to fill two of three seats on the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). Items 67 and 68 on Tuesday’s Regular BOS agenda include Miley’s recommendation to the Supervisors that trial attorney Janet Everson and Graceland Equestrian Center owner …
Miley to name two new MAC members, third spot undecided
Castro Valley Matters has learned that Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley will name Graceland Equestrian Center owner Chuck Moore and trial attorney Janet Everson to the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC). Miley has not decided which candidate will fill a third seat; however, the runner-ups for that seat are …
Please ask the MAC applicants these questions Supervisor Miley
Since Castro Valley Matters started, we’ve researched and written a lot about Municipal Advisory Councils (and their equivalents) and the Castro Valley MAC. Here’s a sample of some of our stories: How the MAC has evolved since its inception Why the MAC has seven members Tracking down the MAC’s bylaws …
How the Brown Act protects you from “Your Secret Government”
If you’ve ever attended a meeting of any local agency, you may have heard of the Brown Act, but do you know what it is, and what it is for? It has nothing to do with Jerry Brown or UPS, but it has everything to do with keeping meetings …
The Written History of the Castro Valley MAC
At Castro Valley Matters, we often discuss the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) and what they have or have not done in the past. This requires research, which can be a bit of a pain. As a community service, we have compiled all known Castro Valley MAC Land Use …
As redevelopment dissolution wraps up, Daughtrey’s back on MAC agenda
The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meets on Monday, April 20, 2015 to hear an update from David Greensfelder on his plans for the long-vacant Daughtrey’s building. The former Alameda County Redevelopment Agency purchased the building for $2.7 million in 2011. In June 2014, Alameda County entered into a Disposition and …
Cityhood Lost: California keeps Castro Valley unincorporated, new cities struggling
Back in 2012, as I passionately argued for an incorporated Castro Valley before a packed audience at the “Great Castro Valley Debate,” I had to concede that despite my dream for Castro Valley home rule, achieving municipal independence for our community was unlikely…all because of something called the “Vehicle License Fee …