Let’s get real—since our current City Administrator rolled into town, dodging accountability has become Piedmont’s favorite pastime. Public Works Director Gonzales swears the Linda Dog Park came up nine times, but let’s be honest: those were just drive-by updates, not actual discussions. And at the April 2nd meeting? Crickets about the plan to shut it…
Last Monday evening, Public Works Director Gonzales claimed that the Linda Dog Park had been discussed at the Park Commission 9 times in the past two years and that is true. However, that had not been as a stand-alone agenda item with staff recommendations but simply as part of the routine Update on Park Projects…
A decision to abruptly close a beloved dog park—used heavily by Oakland residents- has laid bare a culture of hypocrisy and backroom governance. The move, shrouded in secrecy and pushed through with contempt for public input, epitomizes the widening chasm between Piedmont’s self-congratulatory progressive image and its reality of elitism and exclusion. The park, a…
Ah, Piedmont’s community pool project—a masterpiece of mismanagement and a shining example of how not to run a public works project. Thanks to our beloved City Council, what was supposed to be a refreshing oasis has turned into a money pit with a side of delays. Who knew building a pool could be so hard?…
The situation in Piedmont is becoming untenable, with the city administrator engaging in constant confrontation rather than fostering dialogue with residents. This approach is compounded by a City Council that seems to either enable or encourage such behavior. As property values decline, crime rises, and school enrollment and ratings fall, residents deserve leadership that prioritizes…
The recent lawsuit against the City of Piedmont over the Linda Beach pickleball courts underscores a troubling pattern of municipal negligence and disregard for residents’ well-being. By approving the conversion of tennis courts into permanent pickleball courts without conducting a proper California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, the City Council has not only flouted legal…
Under California Government Code Section 65580-65589.8, each city and county in California must include a “Housing Element” within their General Plan. This is a requirement for each city and county to plan for and the construction of enough housing to meet the needs of their region. The key word here is: PLAN. If my research…
During the December 2, 2024 Piedmont City Council meeting, the City Council approved an ADDITIONAL $2.8 million in funding towards the completion of the community pool. The question is – – when does the open checkbook slam shut? I do not care if the CC members appear to be frustrated and upset with having to…
Piedmont residents are witnessing an alarming decline in leadership, with both the City Council and City Administrator playing active roles in the city’s financial and civic deterioration. The relentless push for pickleball in Linda Park, championed by Mayor Cavenaugh and endorsed by the City Council and administration, epitomizes this mismanagement. The project, pursued “at all…
