Laserfiche WebLink
Highlights of City Council Policy and Programs <br />The following is a digest of some public policy issues and programs that Surlene Grant had a <br />key role in developing. <br />• Diligently marshalled a two-year effort to get City Council colleagues to adopt an inclusionary <br />housing policy that enhanced the City’s affordable housing policies. The policy required 15 <br />percent of all new homes built in San Leandro be set-aside for affordable housing units. The <br />private developers and Home Builders Association lobbied heavily against this policy. But after <br />two tries in front of the City Council it passed. The requirement applied to all homes, not just <br />those in the now defunct Redevelopment Area. <br />• Successfully spear-headed the passage of the Local Purchasing Ordinance which gave San <br />Leandro business owners a 5% price preference for goods such as vehicles, supplies, etc. <br />• Marshalled legislation for the removal of the word “minority” in city documents as part of a <br />semantic debate regarding inclusion and opportunity: since there is not a majority group in the <br />City, there are not minority groups. <br />• Founded and established the African American Business Council (which became the first <br />Chamber of Commerce Group representing an African American or any ethnic business group in <br />San Leandro later followed by Hispanic Chamber and Asian Chamber groups) and the Business <br />Association of South San Leandro (BASSL). Both remained in existence 20 years later. <br />• She worked with the community and planning staff to establish an advisory committee for <br />District 2. The advisory committee and planning staff developed the award-winning South Area <br />Development Plan. <br />• In an era when Starbucks was an unwelcomed business for many in the community (mom and <br />pop shops versus the Goliath), Ms. Grant’s efforts assured the Starbuck’s at Bay Fair was above <br />par for any other Starbucks in the area. Starbuck representatives still say they will never do <br />another Starbuck’s like it: The Bay Fair store had market umbrella, free trade and educational <br />displays, pavers, special siding and more). <br />• Her efforts led to the first citywide Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative event. The event <br />has been held annually ever since. <br />• She worked to establish career day events and college tour with high school students. <br />• She advocated for the YMCA’s Youth in Government Program to San Leandro (which did not <br />realize during her term but a generation later). <br />• Sponsored community beautification program with tree planting … of what are now very <br />mature trees in the City on Evergreen Street. <br />• Served as ambassador to Sister City Riberao Pretu, Brazil, by visiting on her own time and <br />expense. <br /> <br />Additional Community Service While on the City Council <br />• Chairperson the Stephanie Brown Cadet Foundation (an educational foundation) - current <br />• Member of the state board of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) – current <br />• Nominated and selected to participate with a select group of officials in the California Civic <br />Leadership Institute <br />• Congresswoman Barbara Lee advisory committee <br />• Member of the Black Elected Officials and Faith-based Leaders of the east bay. <br />• Vice Chairperson of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center, a regional educational program <br />center for young people <br />• Board member of San Leandro Senior Housing (ABHOW) <br />• the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BAYCES), now called the National Equity Project.