Alameda’s candidates for mayor met once more to articulate their strategies for developing City infrastructure, promoting civic collaboration, and protecting the island from the impacts of climate change at a September 5 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Alameda (LWVA) at the main branch of the Alameda Free Library.
Tracy Jensen, Malia Vella, and Tony Daysog responded to prepared questions from the LWVA, as well as questions from community members. Much of the forum focused on the candidates’ plans for Measure L, a proposed $300 million bond aimed at bridging a dramatic gap in funding the City’s infrastructure projects. Jensen and Vella have repeatedly voiced their support of the bond measure, which will appear on the ballot in November, while Daysog opposes the measure as it is written.
Alameda’s biggest challenges
All of the candidates stated that they consider climate change to be one of the greatest challenges that Alamedans presently face.
Daysog said sea level rise is the City’s biggest concern. He said his opposition towards Measure L stems from his climate concerns, as the measure does not commit funding toward specific climate resiliency projects.
Jensen seconded the importance of preparing the city for the changing climate. But she countered Daysog, saying that the Measure L will provide the funding the city will ultimately need in order to respond to climate changes “that are already upon us.” She said that future discussions around key legislation, like the bond measure, will require extra transparency and outreach, noting that improving the City’s transparency is another major issue.
Vella agreed that climate-resilient infrastructure, such as strong sea walls protecting buildings, is “critical.” But she added that voters share their concerns about being priced out of the area as often as they talk about climate.
“What I hear every time is, ‘yes, we need to address sea level rise,’ but also that the cost of living and affordability is weighing on so many of us,” Vella said.
Spending Measure L funds
The candidates’ opinions on Measure L featured heavily throughout the forum. They agreed on the need for further investment into City infrastructure, but they differed on what that should look like.
“We need these resources,” Jensen said. She added that the projects the bond would support, such as bringing fire stations up to code, maintaining City roads, and restoring the animal shelter, “aren’t funded by your tax dollars.”
Vella also expressed strong support for the bond measure, and plans to prioritize climate resiliency and roadway projects. “We do have an $800 million infrastructure need, and that need is going to continue to grow,” she said. “If we put it off, the number is going to increase exponentially.”
Vella highlighted that the measure would establish a citizen oversight committee if it passes, and said she would work closely with that committee in funding other projects to ensure the City’s other infrastructure needs are met collaboratively.
Daysog again pushed back on the details of the measure, for what he sees as a lack of transparency in how the bond funds will be used. Measure L requires that the funds generated by the bond are spent only on city infrastructure, and it lists examples of improvements that the bond funds may be used for. However, that list is not necessarily a commitment to fund any specific project.
Daysog said City Council has a “duty” to tell Alamedans exactly what would be funded, and itemize the costs for specific projects before collecting funds for them, “so you can see it, touch it, and see the progress.”
Upgrading infrastructure to support housing
In 2022, the State of California mandated that Alameda must construct over 5,000 new units of housing before 2031, following a regional housing assessment.
To support the City in meeting the mandate, Daysog hopes to bring housing efforts at Alameda Point “to life” by targeting that area for City infrastructure investments. He said adding housing would mean improving traffic management throughout the island and working with the City of Oakland.
“The infrastructure question is also a traffic transportation question,” Daysog said.
Jensen said she believes the City was not on track to meet the state mandate, with “less than 500 units built in the first four years” of the timeframe. “Not because we’re at fault, and not because the City can do anything more,” Jensen said, but “because of the economic environment and because developers don’t have the resources to come and build.”
She did praise the “intentional” construction that has been completed so far, underscoring how developers have supported these efforts through improvements to roadways, and the creation of Svendsen Park at the Alameda Marina.
Vella was more optimistic about the City’s ability to meet the requirement on time. “We still have a few more years left” to work with housing developers and finish construction, she said. But a key part of supporting that work, she said, will be to add another crossing between Oakland and Alameda.
Economic development at Alameda Point
Jensen pointed to the RESHAP project as an example of how the economic development of Alameda Point has been coordinated with improving the surrounding region. As new tech and manufacturing businesses come to Alameda, she said, more people move to the island for work. She said the efforts to grow economically must include improving transportation infrastructure for cyclists and ferry commuters.
“This is bringing people into our community,” Jensen said. The “influence and impact over the rest of Alameda is huge.”
Vella praised the City’s strides in attracting more businesses and strengthening its economy since she joined City Council in 2017. “As these companies grow and their revenue grows, that’s going to come back and help the City of Alameda,” she said. “We hope that they continue to grow here.”
Daysog highlighted the control the City has to build, or turn away, partnerships with companies that want to move into the area. “We own much of the properties at Alameda Point. We are in the driver’s seat,” he said, adding that he voted against the construction of a data center in 2019. Instead, he said, he will “embrace” alternative energy, as well as businesses that “contribute to the fun and well-being of residents, i.e. spirituality” and “socially-activating businesses” that encourage residents to gather together.
Bay Farm Island shopping center
An audience member asked candidates what they would do to address ongoing safety concerns with stores and restaurants in the Harbor Bay Landing shopping center on Bay Farm Island.
Jensen said she’s been working actively to ensure the businesses can get back into compliance with City code. “Harbor Bay Landing has provided unique restaurants, unique shops and retail, and most of that has been closed,” she said. She noted that it is up to the property owner to complete safety renovations on the buildings before businesses can reopen, and until then the economic development board has been actively seeking other “investors who might want to take over that site.”
Daysog suggested the City designate the area as “blight” to place more financial pressure on the landlord and seek outside negotiations with other developers, all while protecting the area’s zoning as a shopping center. “City Council now has an aggressive role to play and we have not played those cards yet,” Daysog said.
Vella agreed that the City could do more to resolve the violations and reopen the center, but she cautioned that City leadership must take a thoughtful approach to avoid creating a food desert in the area. “We want to make sure that we can keep the Safeway or keep a grocery store there,” she said.
The complete forum is available to watch on YouTube via the Alameda League of Women Voters.
Staff writer Desmond Bracken is a UC Local News Fellow placed with the Alameda Post through the summer of 2028. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Desmond-Bracken.
