Alameda

Alameda's Progressives have a history here in Alameda. In the 50's, "progress" meant surrounding The Island City w/ landfill, ranch homes, and a giant shopping plaza. These days, density is all the rage and Alameda progressives are blogging overtime for ways to "improve" Alameda and its inhabitants. After all, that 50's mentality has got to go!

Many old guard Alamedans fret w/ the threat of unrelenting, true-believing world improvers right here in A-town. Hell, it's True Believers that are the most dangerous (more-so than the bought-and-paid for shakers)... because it's conviction that drives them! Che and Mao and Bush all know they were right, and look at how they improved things for so many!

But back to Alameda's True Believers for Density, or shall we call them the Tool Believers (for Big Development?) There is no need to worry about them much anymore... at least for now. Sorry to be The Bearer, all of you well-meaning Tool Believers and your dreamy improvements for us all, but you have a major obstacle in front of you. And I offer you a solution where you can even make a BETTER difference and help more people than you ever imagined!!  read more »  

Simon just tested for his yellow belt... and you can see him earn it.   read more »  

Gotta hand it to AC Transit and Alameda's Traffic Commission... they are determined and persistent!! They really really really really really want to put this bus stop where nobody else wants it... the neighbors don't want it.... the school parents don't want it.... the crossing guards don't want it....   read more »  

It's been a big week in Alameda, and I'd say mostly good. I mean... besides the increasing airport traffic... this place is downright LIVABLE! And increasingly so. Maybe not top 20 material but note that San Francisco got kicked out of Monocle's Most Livable Cities list. Munich is #1, followed by Copenhagen and Zurich. The only U.S. city that made it, and this will boggle you:   read more »  

By Skip James

Im so glad, Im so glad. Im glad, Im glad, Im glad.
Im so glad, Im so glad. Im glad, Im glad, Im glad.

I dont know what to do, I dont know what to do, I dont know what to do.
Im tired of weeping, Im tired of moaning, Im tired of crying for you.

Chorus  read more »  

Alameda's a fine place, but I just wish it was more of a music town. Jim Morrison went to high school here, we have a gem of a music shop on Webster, and there are a couple places to hear live music on a random night, but *music* isn't part of this town's fabric.

Judging by the nasty tones emanating from current civic discourse, some folks could simply benefit with more music in their lives. They just don't know it yet! Now it's my turn to be an idiotic world improver, and so I dub this project: Sonic Discourse.  read more »  

There is a battle going on in my town. There are those who want density and others mostly against it. I think everyone who's been paying attention would agree that things around here, at the very least, have been "dramatic".  read more »  

Lum Crossing

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered a plot to install new AC Transit bus stops IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT to our elementary school crosswalk. We use this crosswalk every day along w/ scores of other Alameda parents. Anyone with eyeballs and a shred of common sense would recognize this a a VERY BAD PLACE to put new bus stops.  read more »  

Our island city of Alameda is comprised mostly of beautiful, old Victorian and Craftsman homes. Unfortunately, they burn quickly (and get replaced by ugly misfits.) On a recent sunday afternoon, we witnessed this nearby and up close.   read more »