Stories you shouldn’t miss for April 13, 2018:
1. Alameda City Manager Jill Keimach admitted to KCBS this morning that she illegally recorded a private meeting last year with Councilmembers Malia Vella and Jim Oddie. It is illegal in California to record private conversations without the consent of all people involved. Keimach’s unlawful actions were the main reason why the city council and the mayor voted unanimously last month to place Keimach on administrative leave. The council is scheduled to vote Monday night on whether to fire Keimach. Keimach contends that the illegal recordings prove that Oddie and Vella unlawfully interfered in her job duties, although sources say they do not.
2. A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that it’s illegal for President Trump and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to financially punish sanctuary cities like Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and Richmond — or to reward cities that cooperate with federal deportation efforts, the LA Times$ reports. U.S. District Judge Manuel Real issued a nationwide ban on Trump and Session’s plan to withhold U.S. Department of Justice grants to cities with sanctuary laws.
3. Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley has tabled his controversial proposal to hand control of the Ashland REACH Youth Center to the sheriff’s office, reports Steven Tavares of the East Bay Citizen. The popular youth center will remain in the control of the Alameda County Healthcare Services Agency.
4. A proposal to split California into three states may qualify for the November ballot, reports John Woolfolk of the Mercury News$. The measure is being funded by Silicon Valley billionaire Tim Draper.
5. The National Park Service has jettisoned its controversial plan to hike fees at national parks by $40 and instead will only raise them by $5, reports Kurtis Alexander of the San Francisco Chronicle.
6. Carl Ferrer, CEO of BackPage.com, has pleaded guilty to state and federal criminal charges including conspiracy and money laundering and has agreed to testify against the owners of the online site, Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin, who used to own the East Bay Express. Last week, the FBI shut down BackPage.com, alleging that it engages in sex trafficking, and arrested Lacey and Larkin.
7. And ICYMI: Oakland Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington, Montclair-Laurel, announced that she will not seek reelection this fall.
$ = news stories that may require payment to read.