Week in Review: Man Convicted of Killing High School Football Star; Nonprofit in Debt to School District

FREMONT 

State of City Speech Focuses On Business

More than 350 business, civic and political leaders heard Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison deliver a state of the city address that focused on economic development. "We as a city no longer want to be the Bay Area's best-kept secret," Harrison said at a luncheon Thursday organized by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. Harrison got the biggest applause when he refererred to plans by Seagate, a manufacturer of computer disk drives, to put a research and development center on the site of the bankrupt solar company whose campus is visible from Interstate 880. "The Solyndra chapter of Fremont's history is officially closed," Harrison said. His 24-minute speech covered a lot of ground, from the city's improving budget picture to the less encouraging state of the city's paved arteries.

Two Arrested in Robbery of Man Who Solicited Prostitute

Joanna Rehart and Deandre Brown, both 30-year-old Oakland residents, were arrested in connection to the armed robbery of a man police say was trying to solicit a prostitute. The robbery occurred at around 12:45 a.m. Monday near the Stevenson Boulevard and Besco Drive intersection after the victim met up with a woman who posted an online escort ad, police said. As the victim was talking to the woman on the street, a man pushed him to the ground, pointed a .45 caliber handgun and robbed him of $100. Though the victim vehemently denied calling the escort, phone records indicated that he placed repeated calls to her prior to the robbery. The pair were arrested the next day on suspicion of robbery.

Here's a story that's caused a bit of a stir: Alameda County Administrator Susan Muranishi reportedly makes $423,664 a year. "Is anyone still buying the idea that government workers are 'public servants'," Sacramento-based group CalWatch asked rhetorically. The Chronicle reported that Muranishi, who is 63, will retire at more than $400,000 a year -- an assertion picked up by Alameda County Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Caro. Caro told ABC7News that the life expectancy of healthy woman of Muranishi's age could be 22 years, meaning that "Alameda County taxpayers are going to be paying her well over nine million dollars in her retirement."

What do you think? Has Muranishi earned her keep or have the Supervisors -- and taxpayers -- been overpaying?

UNION CITY

Opposition to AMS Name Change Gains Momentum; Protest to be Held Tonight

Opposition groups held a series of rallies earlier this week in protest of a proposal to rename Alvarado Middle School. Many of those participating in the protests are descendants of Alvarado’s original families who claim the Alvarado name is sacred to the community and “should under no circumstance be changed,” organizers said. “[We] recognize what the Filipino community is doing and respect that, but feel the history of the area should not be taken away in such a manner," said Joseph Garcia, 17, a member of “(Old) Alvarado United,” the neighborhood group organizing the protests.

As the (Old) Alvarado United movement gains momentum, resident Lance Nishihira is independently circulating an online petition to reverse the decision to change the school’s name. “It’s not a slam dunk” for the proponents of the name change, said Nishihira, one of the leading voices of the opposition.

Metallica Singer Visits iFly

Celebrity spottings don’t come often in Union City. But earlier this month, you might have caught James Hetfield, the frontman of legendary rock band Metallica, at Union Landing when he took flight at iFly. In a photo uploaded to the indoor skydiving center’s Facebook page on March 13, the company wrote: “No big deal, just James Hetfield the lead singer of Metallica flying at our tunnel.” 

Niles Pie Opens in Union City

After two years, Niles Pie Company finally has a new home. The local bakery opened a kitchen and retail space in Union City on Friday, thanks in part to a successful Kickstarter fundraising campaign.The bakery offers local, seasonal and fresh pies and pastries featuring local and organize produce.

NEWARK

19-Year-Old Convicted of Killing High School Football Star Osana Futi

An Alameda County Superior Court judge convicted a 19-year-old Fremont man with the murder of Osana Futi Thursday afternoon — a day after what would have been the slain Newark Memorial football star’s 19th birthday. Abraham Hade was found guilty of second-degree murder with a knife in Futi, according to Deputy District Attorney Elgin Lowe. He faces a mandatory sentence of 16 years to life in prison.

“We wish we could have Osana with us but we know that we can’t. This guilty verdict is the best we can ask for,” said Stacy Kelly, a close family friend of Futi and president of Newark Memorial's athletics booster club. “You can’t take somebody’s life and think that it’s okay."

The League of Volunteers, a non-profit that has leased space from the Newark Unified School District, owes the district $67,000 in unpaid rent. The situation has come to a head as Newark Unified prepares to sell the former Ruschin Elementary School where LOV has its offices. LOV has a an influential board of directors and even though the situation is grim, school district business manager Eileen Neilsen told the Mercury News that the goal will be to make an arrangement that keeps the non-profit from having to shut down. School Board Member Charlie Mensinger later told Patch that the sale of the property and the district's stance toward LOV were unrelated, and that the district has discussed selling the property for three years.

LOV Executive Director Shirley Sisk defended the 34-year-old non-profit in a letter published on Patch. She argued that the organization had lived up to its name by enabling "1,084 volunteers (to) provide 25,570 hours of service" to the community last year. Sisk said LOV intends to repay the district.

Crime Log: Two Arrests at Psychic Center (No One Saw That Coming?)

This week's police log includes reports of two separate arrests at a local psychic center, along with a super-sneaky gas thief and a knife-wielder at Starbucks, among others.

What was your favorite story this week? Do you have future story ideas? Tell us in the comments.

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