For a short spell late this afternoon, the Hayward landmark building that was dubbed “The Toaster” by a famous architecture critic smoldered as firefighters worked to douse a blaze in the 12th floor penthouse.

While the investigation just started, a neighbor said he thinks the blaze might be related to graffiti that appeared overnight.

And what graffiti! Take a gander at this masterpiece:

It looks like an illiterate giant was using finger paint to play a game of Hangman. Anyone have a clue as to what SKORE HTF IMG means?

In other news, I will be off next week so you might see a longer gap than usual between HayWord posts. Play nice, everybody!

Hey, who wants to see a van crash through a storefront window in a failed attempt to steal an ATM machine? I mean, who DOESN’T want to see such a thing, really?

It’s not the biggest crime news to strike Hayward, but KTVU has an entertaining video clip of how it went down. It’s worth a watch.

And if you happen to recognize the backwards-baseball-hatted accomplice, police would like to hear from you at 510-293-7000.

A permit that would have allowed live music and a cover charge at the Funky Monkey bar in downtown Hayward was denied by the Planning Commission at its Thursday meeting, on the grounds that the venue is already taxing to police services and doesn’t seem to be interested in doing anything to change that.

 The applicant stated that the cover charge would help keep troublemakers out of the bar. Police didn’t think it would make a difference. An attorney for the applicant said police are out to get the Funky Monkey, and target it on weekend nights and that’s why so many incidents are recorded there.

That didn’t sit well with planners.

“You mention police sitting out in front as if that’s a negative thing,” said Rodney Loche. “I applaud the police for doing what they have to do.  It is unfortunate we have to use police in that way, but they are doing what they feel they need to do to make the city safer…  To suggest it is a negative or personal attack is unfortunate.”

Included in the staff report recommending denial is police information about service calls to the Funky Monkey. There were 80 last year. Three case studies included are kind of a “best of” list. Er, make that “worst of”:

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UPDATE: Here’s the latest on SROs. It appears the idea to go with something other than an HPD presence on campus is no longer on the table.

Some information that didn’t make it to the story:

This was a murky situation. There was no information available from the district about the incident that prompted the discussions of revisions to the SRO contract, which in turn was the basis for looking at alternatives to using HPD officers. At the December school board meeting, the item was pulled from the consent calendar for discussion and the agenda had no indication that there were revisions in the works. Legally, there’s no problem there. The board wasn’t set to vote on any changes to the contract or make any kind of decision. It was pulled for discussion and direction.

At that meeting, available for viewing below, staff was directed to look at alternatives to using HPD officers.  From Reynoso’s comments, it appeared to be a budget issue. Gonzales talked about student rights in regard to search and seizure and interrogation,  and the need for the district to have a say in selecting SROs — something that HPD has since said has always been the case.

Heredia and Frumkin — the board members on the committee that has been meeting with police — both spoke about the contract negotiations, but neither specified what the alterations are or why they are being sought.

Heredia declined to comment about the matter on Wednesday and deferred it to administration.

“The only comment I have is that the district wants a resolution that is favorable to both parties,” she said. “We as a district care about the safety of children.”

The new interim superintendent — on the job since Monday — did not want to comment Wednesday on the April 2009 matter because it happened long before she took the reins.

The April 2009 matter was brought before the public by Police Chief Ron Ace, who responded to the district to explain why the revisions are unacceptable in the letter available below. He reiterated his comments at this week’s City Council meeting.

For decades, Hayward police officers have served as School Resource Officers on high school and jr. high campuses, something that “has been highly successful in improving safety of students,” according to City Manager Greg Jones.

However, at a HUSD meeting last month, trustees asked administrators to review the current arrangement and come back with a “Option B,” possibly utilizing more security hired by, and who would answer to, the school district.

That idea didn’t sit well with some parents, who don’t want HUSD to be in charge of overseeing the safety of their kids. They have said that the cost of the SROs is well worth it, to have an HPD presence on campuses.

Trustees raised other issues, including the selection of SROs. Board member Sarah Gonzales said they should have some say in selecting school officers, looking for ones “with more of a propensity for working with youth” and also wanted clearer language to ensure the Educational Code is followed regarding search and seizure and rules pertaining to the interrogation of youth.

You can watch the recorded meeting here. The issue begins at the 44 minute mark.

The City Manager recently backed statements by Police Chief Ron Ace, who sent HUSD a letter in November. At tonight’s Council meeting, Ace will be giving an update on what’s going on with the agreement. HUSD is supposed to go over alternatives at its Jan. 13 board meeting.

Read on for the full text of Ace’s letter to the district. We’ll have an update on the update after tonight’s meeting.

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A police department progress report given to the Hayward City Council on Tuesday included the latest crime statistics, comparing January through September of 2009 with the same nine months of 2008.

The good news is that most serious crimes are down. Rape, by 57 percent; arson, 25 percent; robbery, 17 percent; major assault, 13 percent; burglary and grand theft, 2 percent.

Unfortunately, the big-ticket crime of murder was up 17 percent, with seven occurring this year as opposed to six during that time frame last year.

However, updating those stats to Dec. 2, the city would be even with last year. October 2008 had a liquor store stabbing death near Tennyson Road and a fatal shooting at the Hayward BART station.

Last week’s horrific slaying in the upper B Street neighborhood brought this year’s count up to eight as well.

That’s a pretty standard number. 2007 had 10 homicides, while 2006 was low with four. The three preceding years had nine each.

The other crime that was up was auto theft, with a 5 percent increase.

Overall, Police Chief Ron Ace said the figures are positive.

“It’s a good sign, obviously, especially during this time of economic recession,” he said. “We are doing a good job of keeping a lid on things.”

Here’s part two of the HPD progress report.

In another recently issued report, Congressional Quarterly ranked Hayward as 126 out of 393 cities with populations of 75,000 or more in terms of crime rate. The lower the number, the more crime  — Oakland came it at No. 3, Richmond at 14. San Leandro fared worse than Hayward at 113, while Fremont did considerably better at 304.

Willie Lee Anderson, pastor of the New Bethel Community Church, said that while Thomas Cunningham didn’t attend services there and he did not know him personally, there’s a need to get the community together after Tuesday night’s shooting.

“Our sense of security has been lost,” Anderson said. “We’re coming together to show support for this family and support as a community. We cannot stand back any longer.”

The vigil will begin at 6 p.m. at the shopping center near the bottom of Kelly Hill, at B and Vermont streets.

With one commissioner recusing herself from the vote, there was a deadlock among planners over what to do with an application for a restaurant and nightclub in downtown Hayward.

Club Me would set up shop at 926 B St., next to Newman Park. It would serve as a restaurant for lunch and dinner most days, and a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights.

Some planners expressed concerns that police are already stretched thin and urged the applicant to pursue the restaurant without the club, citing a history of problems with downtown nightclubs. But others expressed confidence in the applicant, and said they should be given a chance to help revitalize downtown. Commissioners Mary Lavelle, Marvin Peixoto and Christopher Thnay voted against the club; Rodney Loche, Julie McKillop and Al Mendall for it. Elisa Marquez recused herself from the vote.

The item is slated to go before the City Council at its Dec. 15 meeting.

Police Lt. Reid Lindblom was at the meeting, and acknowledged that resources are thin, particularly after a 2 a.m. shift change. But he said the outcome of a bar or nightclub is ultimately dependent on its management.

“There are several bars downtown that have a very minimal impact on police resources,” he said. “That’s a credit to how the bar is run. But there’s another that’s off the chart.”

That bar, the Funky Monkey, is going before the Planning Commission at its next meeting, seeking a conditional use permit, per the city’s planning project list:

Funky Monkey – Request to operate a night club. A cover charge would be charged on Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights and special events. Special events include DJs, live music, fundraisers, etc.., daily am/pm.

San Leandro PD says these two guys are in custody for the armed hold up of the Quik Stop at 1001 MacArthur Boulevard on Sept. 16.

The suspects are also believed to be responsible for a robbery on Aug. 31 at the 7-Eleven store at 333 E. 14^th Street. 

Investigators identified Oakland residents Kenyatta Fudge, 22, and Ronald Carson, 29, as the suspected robbers. Fudge was arrested without incident after posting bail in Santa Clara County on an unrelated forgery warrant, and is in custody at the SLPD jail, police said. Carson is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on a parole violation, and charges are pending against him for the robberies.

Police ask anyone with additional information to contact the San Leandro Police Department at 510-577-2740, or the anonymous tip line at 510-577-3278.

Anyone care to weigh in on the prospect of a restaurant and nightclub in downtown Hayward? The idea is going before the Planning Commission tomorrow night, and they will make a recommendation one way or another for the City Council, who will have the final word.

Officials and the owner of the building say it’s a very exciting prospect and a good fit for the area, bringing in additional nightlife as well as providing a family restaurant during the day and most nights. There are also plans to host community-oriented events on Sundays, such as poetry readings and talent shows. 

Club managers are reportedly planning on spending upwards of $1 million to polish up the venue, which sits next to Newman Park. The building owner envisions opening up the brick wall that faces the park, with windows overlooking the greenery.

However, A CommPre director fears the worst, that clientele of a hip-hop/R&B club would scare people away from the area on Friday and Saturday nights. She said it would be like having Kumbala in the middle of downtown, and that Newman Park would suffer the ignobleness of drunken club patrons who would use it as a restroom or worse.

The Review will attend tomorrow night’s meeting to see if the proposal spurs debate, but we’d love to hear what HayWord readers think.

 Ann Romick, who used to contribute feature stories to the Daily Review, checked in with a Halloween tale of bad deeds, good deeds, a little boy and his giant pumpkin:

THE BIG PUMPKIN HEIST

By Ann Romick

“It was a dark and stormy night………” Isn’t that the way mysterious Halloween stories begin?  Well, actually, the storm has come and gone and the heist took place during the daylight hours — about 10 a.m. in the morning of October 27, but it’s a special Halloween story which needs to be shared.

We, who become a little jaded by the bad things touching our lives, could do with a reminder that while there are thoughtless people in the world, there are also those who are good and kind, and willing to take a moment to heal the broken heart of a little boy. (Story continues after jump.)

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