Week in Review: City Hall to Fly Rainbow Flag; San Leandro Business Owner Arrested on Child Molestation Charges

Here’s a brief look at the three most-read stories on San Leandro Patch this week:

The city council voted to fly the rainbow flag over San Leandro City Hall next week to support same sex couples who will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate two laws barring them from getting married. "Flying the flag is a statement by the City Council saying we support marriage equality for same sex couples," Mayor Stephen Cassidy said of the unanimous decision, according to reports. Cassidy added that the council wanted to signal that San Leandro was tolerant and inclusive. The symbolic gesture, which has sparked controversy among residents, is timed to coincide with two cases that will come up for oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Village Marketplace Plan Continues to Spark Discussion

Already heavily discussed among readers, last week's announcement of further delays with the planned Village Marketplace has sparked two more op-eds from community members. On Wednesday, former general plan advisor Fred Reicker said the delay could be a blessing in disguise as it would allow time to take a fresh look at the property and its potential. The next morning, Councilwoman Pauline Cutter added her voice into the mix, explaining that the city would have few options of the project failed.

Police Arrest San Leandro Businessman On Molestation Charges

A longtime youth baseball coach and San Leandro business owner is now behind bars on child molestation charges. Joel Kaufman, 52, was taken into custody Thursday morning after a warrant for his arrest was issued and six charges were filed against him in Contra Costa County Superior Court. Kaufman owns the Triple Play USA batting cage business on Adams Avenue in San Leandro, and worked as a part-time baseball coach at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland from 1999 to 2005. Kaufman, an Orinda resident, was charged Wednesday with two counts of performing lewd acts on a child under 14 and one count each of performing lewd acts on a child between 14 and 15 and penetration of a drugged or intoxicated person.