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Vallejo appoints Harry Black as interim city manager amid mixed public reaction
Summary
The council voted unanimously to appoint Harry Black as interim city manager with an annual salary of $340,432 plus allowances; public comment included support from community groups and business leaders and critical remarks from residents raising concerns about prior city management and policing issues.
The Vallejo City Council unanimously appointed Harry Black as interim city manager and approved an employment agreement that sets the annual salary at $340,432 plus a $500 monthly auto allowance, a $3,000 monthly housing allowance, deferred compensation up to $32,500 annually and a three‑month severance provision.
Human resources director Stephanie Cifuentes summarized Black’s experience, saying he brings “three decades of executive leadership” with roles as city manager and chief financial officer in multiple cities and a track record of fiscal plans and capital program delivery. Cifuentes said the council selected Black based on “experience, qualifications, reputation, and the needs of Vallejo.”
Community comment at the meeting was sharply split. The Vallejo NAACP and the Community Democratic Club publicly supported the appointment and lauded Black’s record in fiscal stabilization and performance management. Several callers and in‑person commenters with ties to community organizations urged the council to set clear expectations around transparency, public safety and measurable results.
Other commenters voiced strong opposition. One speaker accused the city’s selection process of favoring political insiders and criticized prior local decisions; another urged Black to “prove me wrong” given concerns about past handling of police oversight. Councilmembers acknowledged both praise and criticism during their remarks and noted that Black has pledged to “over‑communicate” and prioritize organizational alignment.
The council’s vote to approve the resolution and employment agreement passed unanimously. Black addressed the council in person and said his immediate priorities will include stabilizing the organization, filling key vacancies, supporting public safety and tackling the structural budget deficit.
What’s next: Black will assume interim duties; the council indicated a national search and a longer‑term hiring process should follow in coordination with the incoming council after the next election cycle.
