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Piedmont Exedra - Piedmont news now

Piedmont Exedra (https://piedmontexedra.com/)

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City
July 21, 2026

City Council appoints Leslie Mendez as Piedmont’s next Planning & Building director

Mendez most recently served as planning manager for the City of Albany.
  • PUSD Superintendent Jennifer Hawn is leaving

    Her last day is August 12; School Board to share more about next steps in coming weeks.

  • City Council adopts ordinance to increase transfer tax; approves November ballot measure

    The one-time tax occurs only when a home is sold, and would go into effect starting July 1, 2027 if approved by voters.

  • State laws may make Oakland’s Rockridge Trader Joe’s housing project hard to stop

    The proposed senior housing complex would have two towers, the taller tower consisting of 31 stories and well over 300 feet in height.

  • The Blotter | Lockbox, tools taken during burglary

    Suspect or suspects had removed front door handle as well.

Health + Science + Environment

  • California can’t replant its forests fast enough to keep up with wildfires
  • NWS issues beach hazards statement for strong rip currents, breaking waves up to 10 feet
  • They’re on our flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California?
  • Bay Area health officials urge vaccinations as measles cases continue to surge nationwide

LIFESTYLE

  • Best Bets: Opera, ‘Chicken, Chitlins and Caviar,’ symphonic ‘James Bond Forever’ and more
  • Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music fest reveals first lineup, Steve Earle tribute concert
  • New Philharmonia Baroque director Peter Whelan opens season with Handel’s ‘Tolomeo’
  • Movies: SF Jewish film fest continues, ‘Maltese Falcon’ at The Paramount
  • Don’t forget the breath mints: Garlic Festival returns to Gilroy this weekend with food, fun
  • Looking for summer activities? SF LIVE arts platform now includes museums, galleries
  • Bay City Books: Author events coming up July 18-30
  • Review: Chaplin’s ‘Modern Times’ reimagined in ‘The Tramp’ at CCAC

AROUND TOWN

  • Competition pool hours change starting July 27

    High school water polo and Piedmont swim teams begin fall practices soon.

  • League of Women Voters Piedmont seeks input from voters

    What's on your mind?

  • Who’s that Good Dog?

    Whether riding in the car, lounging in the sun, or climbing trees, Lucy enjoys some all-American pastimes.

  • ISO summer camp openings? Coding, cooking, and more still available

    The Rec Department's camps extend through the first week of August.

  • 29,000 meals for donation are headed to Alameda County

    The effort is part of an interfaith community effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

  • Ask a Dog Trainer | How to trim your dog’s nails without all the drama

    Patience and treats go a long way.

  • Photos | Town awash in red, white, and blue to celebrate July Fourth holiday

    Community spirit was on full display in Piedmont's 59th Independence Day parade and picnic on Saturday.

  • Buck Moon and more | The Exedra’s Monthly Almanac for July 2026

    A compendium of useful information for local residents.

  • Obituary | Allen Matthews, 1962 – 2026

    Friends and family remember Matthews as a passionate journalist, Daily Cal loyalist, history buff, and proud dad.

CITY NEWS

  • City Council adopts ordinance to increase transfer tax; approves November ballot measure

    The one-time tax occurs only when a home is sold, and would go into effect starting July 1, 2027 if approved by voters.

  • City Council appoints Leslie Mendez as Piedmont’s next Planning & Building director

    Mendez most recently served as planning manager for the City of Albany.

  • Departing Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales reflects on his tenure

    City Council issues a proclamation in his honor on Tuesday night.

  • Section of Bonita Avenue is now officially a one-way street

    New diagonal parking spaces add more parking to the downtown area.

  • Local candidate nomination period for November election opens July 13

    Interested in running for City Council or School Board?

  • The Blotter | Tool cart stolen on Magnolia

    Suspect vehicle recovered

  • Time to prepare your yard for fire season

    With or without goats, homeowners need to prune trees, remove dead vegetation, and clear flammable materials.

  • See where to find a Cop on the Block in July

    Get to know your local police officers.

SCHOOLS

  • PUSD notice | Free and reduced-price meals for school year 2026-2027

    Children are eligible if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines.

  • A new law holds colleges accountable if their grads don’t earn more than $36,000 a year

    About 300 California programs may fail the test, including many cosmetology and some arts programs.

  • A new review of the SAT at University of California is coming by June 2027

    The UC Board of Regents removed the SAT from the admissions process in 2020.

  • Piedmont bond carries five through University of Oregon graduation

    The new grads met in middle school and have stayed fast friends through the years.

  • New PHS suggestion box elevates student voices

    PHS junior Raffaello Banin leads a team of students to review suggestions and turn them into action.

  • PUSD says district is “at capacity” and not accepting interdistrict transfers for now

    Class size negotiations a factor in the hold.

SPORTS

  • Competition pool hours change starting July 27

    High school water polo and Piedmont swim teams begin fall practices soon.

  • Oakland Roots will not return to the Coliseum for 2027 season

    The team will host seven more games at the Coliseum as part of the ongoing 2026 season.

  • Piedmont girls lacrosse coach Carlton Chan to retire

    Chan led the team to an NCS title in 2019.

  • Bay Area Host Committee plans to become permanent sports leadership commission

    The commission aims to help the Bay Area host one major sports event every two or three years.

  • Piedmont rowers take silver and race the top boats as Oakland Strokes wins national title

    The national title came in the Men’s U17 8+.

  • Piedmont Swim Team to celebrate its 50th season at new community pool

    After six years without a home pool, swimmers and coaches look forward to a fresh start in August.

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EXEDRA, ETC.

  • Who’s that Good Dog?
  • Who’s YOUR Good Dog?
  • Piedmont Profile: Rick Smith on civil grand juries
  • Obituary | Beloved Piedmont Grocery team member dies
  • PHS mourns loss of Latanya Lloyd, longtime front office staffer
  • Piedmont Profile | Larry Tramutola, political strategist and organizer

LIFESTYLE | RECIPES

  • The Dish | Easy Homemade Romesco Sauce
  • The Dish | Mediterranean Couscous Salad
  • The Dish | The Un-Enchilada Enchilada — Vegetarian or Chicken
  • The Dish | Pan-Roasted Halibut Puttanesca
  • The Dish | Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Yogurt Sauce
  • The Dish | Bacon Croissant Brunch Casserole
  • The Drink | Lemon Drop Wedge Shots

REAL ESTATE

  • 1101 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland
  • 4120 Happy Valley Road, Lafayette
  • 1452 Club View Drive, El Cerrito
  • A New Perspective: It’s a Wonderful Life | Real Estate Insights
  • July 12, 2026 | Home sales report for Piedmont

OPINION

  • Letter to the Editor | Why the Bonita Avenue parking reconfiguration deserves a second look
  • Voices | Join the Ocean Garbage Prevention Challenge
  • Commentary | Fast fashion fills California’s landfills. Thankfully a recycling fix is in sight

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CALIFORNIA

  • Newsom appointed a close ally to this state board. Environmental groups say he has a conflict of interest

    Rhys Williams has worked as a lobbyist for a firm that represents clients that handle toxic materials.

  • California sues Trump over emergency funding rules that pressure states on elections

    The Trump administration wants to link emergency preparedness grants for states to its preferences on immigration enforcement and the administration of elections.

  • Four myths about insurance in California

    There’s a lot of misinformation floating around out there about insurance.

  • Cal State gives $340K job to ex-president who stepped down after discrimination lawsuit

    The outgoing president of Cal State San Bernardino, Tomás Morales, stepped down after he was sued for discrimination and harassment.

  • Newsom’s populist act: Oppose state billionaire tax, embrace federal one

    Newsom’s populist appeals come as he prepares to leave office and looks toward an expected 2028 presidential campaign.

  • Are California voters signaling tax fatigue toward school bonds and parcel taxes?

    The defeat of Palo Alto Unified’s four-year parcel tax — the district’s first parcel tax defeat in 22 years — was the biggest surprise of the June 2 election.

  • Nvidia CEO donates $75M to Vanderbilt University’s new San Francisco arts college

    The new school will be part of the 4.5-acre site in Potrero Hill that the university is acquiring from the California College of Arts.

  • Newsom appoints podcaster Scott Galloway to University of California Board of Regents

    Galloway, who is a Democrat, has written about isolation and loneliness among young men.

  • Trump’s new immigration strategy revealed in purchase of 2 ICE detention centers in California

    The Trump administration is trying to lock down immigration detention capacity in California despite opposition from the state’s Democratic leaders.

  • California reading scores are up, thanks to literacy investments. Can the state do more?

    In 2023 California allocated $500 million in grants for schools to hire literacy coaches and take other steps to boost reading skills.

  • BART station parking lot to return to Berkeley’s historic Black neighborhood

    Plans would transform the area to a mixed-use space with five buildings that would include more than 600 apartments.

  • Critics call for ‘full transparency’ after Oakland’s 3rd fatal police shooting

    Community organizations and advocates demanded release of the full timeline, body-worn camera footage, dispatch audio and other details related to the death.

  • BART records highest ridership month since pandemic-induced low

    Even with the positive trend, the transit agency will continue to face a budget deficit unless new sources of revenue are found.

  • A new law holds colleges accountable if their grads don’t earn more than $36,000 a year

    About 300 California programs may fail the test, including many cosmetology and some arts programs.

  • State laws may make Oakland’s Rockridge Trader Joe’s housing project hard to stop

    The proposed senior housing complex would have two towers, the taller tower consisting of 31 stories and well over 300 feet in height.

  • CalPERS just had one of its best years in a decade. Why it matters to taxpayers

    The current pension fund value represents a milestone in CalPERS’ recovery from its losses during the Great Recession.

About Piedmont Exedra

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