Dr. Cynthia M. LeBlanc

Cynthia LeBlanc, EdD, Deputy Superintendent, Hayward Unified School District, Richmond, CA

“I decided that being a good neighbor, a concerned neighbor, and a former resident of the neighborhood, that I wanted to hear those concerns,†said Cynthia LeBlanc, chief academic officer of the West Contra Costa Unified School District, who once lived at the Oregon Street property in the mid-1980s. “I think we share a common interest.We all want to make sure that we have stable, respectable persons in our neighborhood.My commitment is to do whatever I need to do to make that happen.That has always been my commitment.â€

In the immediate aftermath of the death and arrests two weeks ago, neighbors had called the two-house complex between Shattuck Avenue and Fulton Street a “problem property†that had been the subject of “several complaints†to LeBlanc about “problem tenants†for several years predating the tenancy of the arrested students.They accused LeBlanc of being nonresponsive, and said they were working on getting her to sell the property.

All of the neighbors have asked not to be identified.

LeBlanc called the charges untrue.

“I donâ€t know on what basis they made that statement [about my being non-responsive],†she said “but I guess one of the things Iâ€m trying to demonstrateâ€"as Iâ€ve always tried to demonstrateâ€"is that once Iâ€m called, I do respond.
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LeBlanc said that she has gone back through her records and the records of the realty company, and said she has found “very few complaints.I never have had an eviction there until this time, in my recollection.Iâ€ve always had occupants of that property that are respectable.All of the occupants have always been thoroughly screened.â€

LeBlanc said that immediately upon hearing of the death and arrests, she evicted the four student tenants living in the two houses on the property.

A neighbor who has been invited to the LeBlanc meeting says at least for now, she is satisfied with the progress that is being made in clearing up the problems at the property. “She sent someone down to clean up the property,†the neighbor said.In addition, a ramshackle shed behind the back cottage has been torn down.

“I think that Cynthia is really trying,†she said, adding that “things have calmed down a little bit†in terms of the neighbors†concerns.

As for the incident that vaulted the Oregon Street property into the news, LeBlanc said that she was “totally surprised and upset†by the incident, and “very concerned.

The two gray stucco houses are owned by Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc, Chief Academic Officer of the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
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Neighbors, who asked not to be identified, said that the two houses on the property have had “problem tenants†for several years predating the tenancy of the arrested students, and the situation has prompted neighbors to make what they call “several complaints†to owner LeBlanc. “The only time weâ€ve had anyone good in there is when there were two graduate students who we recommended,†one neighbor said. “And they moved out because they had problems with the tenants in the back house.†The neighbors said that LeBlanc has been unresponsive to their concerns, and said they are now working with “city authorities†to try to get her to release the property.

LeBlanc did not return telephone calls in regards to this article.

Report out of closed session Superintendent Gloria Johnston asked Chief Academic Officer Cynthia LeBlanc to report out on a closed session item.

The two gray stucco houses are owned by Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc, Chief Academic Officer of the West Contra Costa Unified School District...

Neighbors, who asked not to be identified, said that the two houses on the property have had "problem tenants" for several years predating the tenancy of the arrested students, and the situation has prompted neighbors to make what they call "several complaints" to owner LeBlanc...The neighbors said that LeBlanc has been unresponsive to their concerns, and said they are now working with "city authorities" to try to get her to release the property.

LeBlanc did not return telephone calls in regards to this article.I hope Cynthia is a better Chief Academic Officer than she is a landlord.

Dr. Cynthia LeBlanc, Class of 1966 graduate of Presentation High School, Berkeley, and a graduate of Saint Columba Elementary School, Oakland.She recently retired from her career as a public educator, serving most recently as the interim Superintendent for the West Contra Costa Unified School District in Richmond, California.

Members included: Diana Autin, executive director of Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey; Linda Chavez-Thompson, executive vice president of the A.F.L. - CIO; David Dodson, president of MDC, Inc.; Peter Edelman, professor at Georgetown University Law School; Don Fraser, former mayor of Minneapolis; Cynthia M. LeBlanc, deputy superintendent of Hayward Unified School District; Xuan Nguyen-Sutter, executive director of the Refugee Women's Network, Inc.; Donna Russell Red Wing, "outgiving" project director at the Gill Foundation; and Makani Themba-Nixon, consultant.

Members included: Diana Autin, executive director of Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey; Linda Chavez-Thompson, executive vice president of the A.F.L. - CIO; David Dodson, president of MDC, Inc.; Peter Edelman, professor at Georgetown University Law School; Don Fraser, former mayor of Minneapolis; Cynthia M. LeBlanc, deputy superintendent of Hayward Unified School District; Xuan Nguyen-Sutter, executive director of the Refugee Women's Network, Inc.; Donna Russell Red Wing, "outgiving" project director at the Gill Foundation; and Makani Themba-Nixon, consultant.