Week in Review: New Restaurant Opens on Lewelling; ‘Magic Words’ in Bonta Bill Worth $10 Million in Taxes to Local Schools

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

Sprouts & Shutters: Mexican Restaurant Opens On Lewelling

A new Mexican restaurant opened Friday at 2028 Lewelling Boulevard in the shopping center anchored by Food Net. El Portal will serve traditional Mexican fare. It will be open from 9 am to 9:30 pm seven days a week. Typical meals will cost $11 for a full platter including rice, beans, carne and guacamole. Sundays will be special according to owner Raudel Lopez who has long operated a catering business. On Sundays from 9 am to 3 pm, El Portal will serve a $12.99, all-you-can-eat buffet featuring chorizos, nopales, menudo, a variety of carne dishes, eggs and other fare.

Local Couple Scores Free Tickets to Super Bowl After Falling Victim to Scam

A Hayward couple that shelled out $5,900 for Super Bowl tickets in an online scam will be going to the big game after all. Hayward resident Sharon Osgood, a 49er faithful, responded to a Craigslist ad and wired the money to a Baltimore Ravens fan in exchange for what were purported to be four tickets to Sunday’s Super Bowl. Instead, she received a promo flyer for the match with a note that read, “Go Ravens! LOL!,” the Mercury News reports. Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard caught wind of the cruel scam after the story went viral Tuesday and contacted Osgood with a generous offer: four tickets for Osgood, her boyfriend and other relatives — plus breakfast with NFL legend Troy Aikman

'Magic Words' In Bonta Bill Worth $10 Million In Taxes To Local Schools

San Leandro and Alameda schools have a lot riding on a bill from Assemblyman Rob Bonta that seeks to tweak three words in state law: “qualified special taxes.” Depending on how the courts and state legislators interpret those words, San Leandro and Alameda schools will be $10 million richer or poorer. Learn about the complex issue here.