Q: What did you do as a sub-contracting consultant for SunCal?


A: I assisted Singer and the SunCal folks in reaching out to the greater Alameda community as they sought an extension to their exclusive negotiating agreement. As one of the few Alameda-based consultants helping the company, I worked hard to help the company understand the importance of trying to mend post-Measure B fences and of the importance of integrating into the greater Alameda community. I also worked hard to convince them of the importance of stepping up their philanthropic efforts to Alameda institutions. I am proud to have convinced SunCal officials to provide $20,000 to the Yes on Measure E school parcel tax measure. I was also the architect of other larger philanthropic giving plans to Alameda charities which were unfortunately put on hold July 20 when the City Council voted reject SunCal’s request to have their ENA extended. It was also on July 20 when my work with Singer Associates was concluded.

Q: Did you have any qualms about your work with them?


A: None. First, I am in the communications consulting business. It’s what I do. I believe everyone deserves a fair hearing in the Court of Public Opinion. That said, I will tell you that I believe that SunCal acted inappropriately at times with the Alameda community. The low-rent signature gatherers was the first bad first sign. Heck, even I got into an argument with one outside of Trader Joe’s. And, for the record, when I got my mail-in ballot for the Feb. 2 election I voted no on Measure B.

But I also think the SunCal team understands the gravity of the mistakes they made and have owned up to them. I think the Peter Calthorpe plan is a masterful and example of modern, urban land use planning that I hope will be saved and revived for Alameda Point at some point in the future. Finally, I have been covering state, county and local government and development for a long, long time now and I’ve never seen a city take on and successfully “self-develop” a project the size of Alameda Point.

I think that it is irresponsible for our interim city manager, her subordinates and even one of our mayoral candidates to promote municipal self-development when they know it’s nothing but an artful, political “feel good” answer that they know will never work. The bottom line is that if we want to see the base developed, it’s going to require the involvement of an experienced master developer and the money from Wall Street to get it done.