Ambitious Development Plan Crumbles Before City's Eyes

Dspite a long opposition to new development on the island, the city had gotten behind a plan by Southern California developer SunCal Companies to redevelop more than 700 acres of an old naval base with thousands of homes and offices.

"Mayor Beverly Johnson recorded a robo-call that went out to every resident on March 25, 2009: 'A plan has been created that deserves our support.'

One week after that call, the city promoted Ann Marie Gallant, its exacting interim finance director, to interim city manager. Within months, SunCal was no longer welcome in Alameda, and last week, the City Council officially voted the company off the island by a 4 to 0 vote.

How the widespread support for SunCal transformed into bitter opposition - and Ms. Gallant's role in that - is at the heart of the surprising implosion of one of the most ambitious development projects ever in the East Bay."