Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope everyone had a relaxing and joyful holidays and New Year. Here is an update on various civic events and news:
1) MLK Day Celebration & Coffee with the Mayor
Please come to San Leandro’s celebrations honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, Jan. 20th, at the Marina Community Center, located at 15301 Wicks Boulevard. The program starts at 11 a.m. and includes entertainment from the Sistahs of the Drum and the Bishop O’Dowd High School’s Black Student Union, as well as student speeches as part of an oratorical contest. The event is free and open to everyone. Light refreshments and crafts for kids also will be provided.
Following the program, which should conclude about 12:30 p.m., please join me for coffee and conversation. I will be on hand and available to meet with community members who wish to ask questions, voice concerns, or provide feedback on civic affairs and City programs and services.
2) A City on the Move
That's the local economy of San Leandro today. Take a look at what's happening in our city now and planned for 2014 at http://sanleandronext.com/?p=1760 To see what we accomplished in 2013 visit http://sanleandronext.com/?p=1753
3) 3D Printing Manufacturers Sets Up Headquarters in San Leandro
Speaking of the economy, Type A Machines - http://www.typeamachines.com/ - a 3D printer manufacturing startup has moved to San Leandro from the TechShop in San Francisco, bringing 15 jobs to our city. The fast growing company expects to add 50 or more full time jobs in San Leandro in 2014, with the "next wave of hires being local to San Leandro" according to Type A Machines Chief Executive Espen Sivertsen.
San Leandro is quickly gaining 3D printing companies. What's the big deal about 3D printing? This article from the LA Times offers some answers: http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-ces-2014-why-3d-printing-matters-20140109,0,2759022.story#axzz2pyN1ADMz.
We welcome other advanced manufacturing firms to leverage San Leandro’s excellent air, shipping and ground transportation links, reasonably priced commercial real estate, and fast fiber optic network to become industry leaders.
4) Save the Date - Cherry Festival Returns
On Saturday, May 31, 2014, the Cherry Festival returns to Downtown San Leandro (near historical Casa Peralta located at 384 West Estudillo Avenue). The first Cherry Festival was held in 1909; this year will mark the 105th Anniversary.
5) San Leandro Boulevard Project Update
Here is a a brief update on the San Leandro Boulevard renovation project near the BART station - the work by the contractor was delayed due to various utilities not starting and completing their work in timely manner. This delayed the project by two months. City staff anticipate that the project will now be finished by the end of February.
The City is also repaving a large portion of San Leandro Boulevard. Repaving depends upon the weather and temperature. If we don't see any rain, it will start and finish in the Spring. If we do get rains, the repaving won't start until most likely April and be done by early May.
6) A Center for High Quality Health Care
We have two hospitals in our city - San Leandro and Kindred Hospitals - and will soon have a third. The new Kaiser San Leando Hospital is in the final stages of construction. It will now open in June 2014, not September as originally scheduled.
The six-story, state-of the art, 425,000-square-foot hospital contains 264 acute care beds – all private rooms – 10 operating rooms, 24-hour emergency services with 40 treatment rooms and a newborn intensive care nursery. The medical office building next to the hospital will open in April. It will house 116 offices for primary care and specialty physicians, an outpatient procedure suite with six rooms, a pharmacy, a laboratory and radiology services.
Earlier this month, I attended along with other local officials, a briefing by the new director of San Leandro Hospital on its status after two months under the control of the Alameda Health System. I am optimistic that the hospital will remain open and services will expand under AHS.
7) New Director of SLED
Congratulations to former San Lenadro Unified School District Trustee Morgan Mack Rose for her selection by the SLED-San Leandro Education Foundation as its Executive Director. The city looks forward to strengthening and expanding its partnerships with our schools and education foundations in 2014. We all benefit when our students succeed.
8) What's The City Council Up To?
Can't come to a council meeting but want to know what we are doing? You can watch our meetings live online or on cable (Comcast channel 15 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99).
In addition to the live broadcast of our meetings - which occur on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 7:00 p.m. (unless it is federal holiday) - we replay our meetings during week on these cable channels:
Wednesday - 2:00 p.m.
Thursday - 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Saturday - 9:00 a.m.
Sunday - 5:00 p.m.
Monday - 10:00 a.m.
9) Connect Online
Have a question about a City program, want to report a neighborhood problem, or need service from the City? San Leandro Assist gives you easy online access to City departments for asking questions or raising concerns.https://www.sanleandro.org/crm/Default.asp
Want to connect with me online? I post regular updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MayorCassidy I also tweet at @MayorCassidy Of course you call always reach me by email at scassidy@sanleandro.org
All the best,
Mayor Stephen Cassidy
