It's amazing.

Um, Tony might be running a little late.

That's okay.

All right.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the City of Alameda City Council meeting.

Tonight is February three, twenty twenty-six, and um, the city council is about to go into closed session, but I would like to ask the city clerk to please call the role.

Councilmember Smaller.

Jensen.

Prior.

For present, and hopefully, Councilmember Desag will be here shortly.

All right, thank you.

Madam Clerk, do we have any comment on the closed session?

We do not.

All right, with that, we will close public comment and we are about to adjourn to closed session to consider the following items that I will ask City Clerk Laura Weisinger to please introduce.

The case numbers 22 C V011964.

Three B is conference of real property negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five six point eight.

Property is twenty ninety-nine Grand Street in Alameda, and the city negotiators are interim city manager, base for use and economic development director, base for use manager, community development manager, assistant city attorney, and negotiating parties are the city of Alameda and Grammarina under negotiation as price and terms.

3C is conference with labor negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven point six.

The city negotiators are the interim city manager, human resources director, library director, and assistant city attorney.

All right.

Are we ready in the balcony?

The balcony is always ready.

And as I say, if the balcony is ready, we're all ready.

But good evening, everyone, and welcome to the City Council meeting.

This is the um Alameda City of Alameda City Council meeting.

Today is Tuesday, February three, twenty twenty-six.

The council has just returned from closed session.

And I would um like to ask City Clerk Laura Weisinger to please report any actions taken in closed session.

Staff of Reddit Information and Council Provided Direction by Five Eyes.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

And with that, I will adjourn the special city council meeting in the closed session, and I will call to order the regular city council meeting.

Council members.

Well, I'll tell you.

All right.

Um, so February is National Black History Month.

And Black History Month originated in 1926 when Dr.

Carter G.

Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian and son of former slaves, established Black History Week to ensure that the profound and often overlooked achievements of Black Americans would be enshrined in American culture.

In 1986, Congress passed a law designating February as National Black History Month.

The 2026 theme, A Century of Black History Commemorations, recognizes that collective remembrance is both an act of resistance and a pathway to advancing equality.

In Alameda, we celebrate the transformational leadership of national black leaders like former President Barack Obama and our own local champions, U.S.

Congresswoman Latifa Simon, State Assembly Member Mia Bonta, former Alameda Mayor Marie Gilmore, and former Alameda City Councilmember Al DeWitt.

We are enlightened by the pioneering work of black scientists, including Catherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson, and Dr.

Christine Darden.

These hidden figures broke gender and racial barriers in STEM at NASA, played a critical role in the Apollo Moon landing and were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their scientific brilliance.

In Alameda, we honored legendary athlete and major league baseball hall of famer and Ansonel High graduate Willie Stargil by naming local monuments and a street after him.

Across the Bay, Bill Russell played college basketball for the USF Dons before being drafted by the NBA, where he secured 11 NBA championships and later broke barriers as the first black head coach in NBA history.

Our community is enriched by the artistry and mentorship of Alameda Educator and Illustrator Constance Moore, whose work including Brown, The Many Shades of Love, teaches children to see and enhance the beauty of diversity.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of America's independence, we must acknowledge that our nation's history is incomplete unless it is inclusive and accurate.

By acknowledging the profound and often overlooked achievements of black Americans, we help tell our nation's story more accurately.

In the words of the inspirational poet and author Maya Angelo, one must do the best you can until you know better.

Then when you know better, do better.

Now therefore, I'm Marilyn Ezie Ashcraft, Mayor of the City of Alameda, hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Alameda and encourage all residents to learn more about Black History in America by exploring the rich cultural programming available at the Alameda Free Library, including Thursday, February 12th at 4 p.m.

at the main library.

Here Janae Brown would discuss her newest children's book, This Hair Belongs.

Friday, February 27 at 1 p.m.

at the main library, discover black music history and enjoy a performance from Hannah Mayrie of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project.

On Saturday, February 28th, 1 p.m.

at the Bay Farm Island Library, join a fabric collage workshop led by Illustrator Constance Moore, inspired by her upcoming book, A Language of Stitches, The Radical Quilts of Rosie Lee Tompkins, on Saturday, February 28th, 3 p.m.

at the West End Library.