I love this wonderful image of Speaker Pelosi at the opening of Congress. I hope it foretells good things for America's children as we look at our national priorities.

• Inauguration Week Activities: On the home front, following the Inauguration, Monday, January 8th, 11 am-1 pm, at the Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, the Dellums Committee is sponsoring a week of events.

I plan to attend events as I can fit into my schedule, especially "Oakland Celebrates the Dream" honoring Martin Luther King Jr. on Wednesday in front of City Hall during lunch; Oakland kids and schools at the Chabot Science Center on Thursday morning; and the Hands Around the Lake on Saturday morning. There is something for everyone.
No matter who we voted for in June...everyone wants Mayor Dellums to be successful...please come out and meet him.

• Regular Office Hours Resume This Week with Wednesday hours at our Laurel District Office, 4173 MacArthur Blvd from 4 to 6. Richard Cowan hosts office hours on Thursdays from 4 to 6 pm at the Dimond Police Substation at Safeway, 3550 Fruitvale Avenue. He'll also be staffing the Laurel Office this Saturday, January 6, 10 am- Noon. Sue Piper and I will be at the Alain Pinel Office at 6211 La Salle Avenue on Sunday, January 7, 10 am and Noon. We encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to meet with the District 4 staff in the field. Bring us your issues or concerns, or just stop by to say hello.

• Staff Change, Welcome Ann: We welcome Ann Combs (above) who will be staffing the Maxwell Park, Allendale, Laurel, Bret Harte areas and the Public Safety Committee for our office. Ann grew up in the Maxwell Park neighborhood, attended UC Davis, and is anxious to return home from Sacramento where she has been working in the health care field. Ann speaks fluent Spanish. Contact her at 238-4742 or acombs@oaklandnet.com

Three new state laws went into effect on January 1.

• Senate Bill 1806, Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Sunol: makes it illegal to leave pets in vehicles under dangerous conditions.
• Senate Bill 1578, Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach: Criminalizes the tethering of a dog to a stationary object for more than three hours
• Assembly Bill 450, Assemblyman Leland Yee, D- San Francisco: Requires state to have a plan for evacuating animals in response to an emergency.

• All dogs must be "micro chipped" in case they are lost. This city regulation was actually passed last year, but dog owners were given a one-year opportunity to comply. Any vet will insert the microchip for a minimal fee. Sue Piper says her dog, Benji, didn't seem to mind, at all.

 

Do you know a District 4 neighbor who has demonstrated outstanding community spirit and service? Past nominees have included unsung heroes such as Don Hamilton who makes a daily habit of picking up the trash on his block in the Allendale; John Frando for his leadership in beautifying Laurel Elementary School; Karen Paulsell for her voluntary GIS mapping of native plant species for the Joaquin Miller Park Working Group and June Ko- Dial, for her years of leadership with the Montclair, Montera and Skyline parent-teacher associations. Go to our website to see previous winners, and then send your nomination to Jennifer Argueta in our office. Please provide the name, address and contact information for both yourself and the nominee, along with a brief paragraph describing why you believe this person or group deserves recognition.

The awards will be presented at our District Office on February 24th as part of the Lunar New Year celebration in the Laurel. All nominees receive Oakland A's or Warriors tickets. The top awardees are allowed to designate up to $1000 in District 4 Council Capital funds to any public project. (Above) Local Hero Jeanne Nixon of the Melrose High Hopes group used her award to buy furniture for the Horace Mann School Library.

With global warming and obesity becoming a national epidemic, improving walking and biking paths is more important than ever. On Saturday, January 27, 9 am-Noon, at the Zion Lutheran Church, we will present proposals for improving the walkway for pedestrians and bikers on upper Park Blvd between the Leimert Bridge and Mountain Blvd.

Our office has worked with volunteers to improve trails throughout the district. One of my goals is connect trails in the Sausal Creek watershed so that residents can walk from the headwaters at Chabot Space & Science Center to the Fruitvale Bridge where the creek enters the channel to the Bay. Earlier this summer, we completed a trail in Shepherd Canyon Park from Escher Road to the soccer field. We are also working with Public Works engineers to design a trail from Joaquin Miller School down Mountain Blvd to Scout Road.

This Park Blvd trail has beautiful views of Dimond Canyon that few people who speed by in cars realize is there. Landscape Designer Gillian Garro of Larman Garro has developed a conceptual plan for a multi-use pathway up Park Blvd. We hope this project will encourage more people to walk to the village, make the walkway safer and more inviting for students, strollers, and seniors. We will use the plan to seek funding, grants, and plan community work days. Please contact Sue Piper at 238-7042 or by email to let us know if you are interested in attending.

• New Map and Updated Website for Joaquin Miller Park: JM Park is one of the largest, most beautiful parks in the East Bay. Its 500 plus acres features amazing trails through redwood forests, the Chabot Space Center, Wood Minster Amphitheater & Cascades, children's playgrounds, and dozens of other features. For the past two years, our Joaquin Miller Park Working Group has been hammering out details for a new brochure and map, along with a more comprehensive website for Joaquin Miller Park. We're happy to announce that as of this weekend, the new map is on the website and the map/brochure is available at the ranger station. We'll have them at our Sunday office hours this weekend in Montclair and at our other district offices. The new map may also be downloaded. The full printed brochure features the history of the park, trail use and restrictions, topographical and botanical information, and much more.

Many thanks to the Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation for sponsoring the printing of the brochure, to Karen Paulsell of Friends of Sausal Creek for creating the revised map, and to Sue Piper on our staff for drafting the brochure and website copy.

• Joaquin Miller Dog Play Area Official Opening & Party Planned for February 14th: If you have ideas for this event or would like to bring snacks for our guests (both dogs and humans), let us know. Also, a project of the Joaquin Miller Task Force, we thank especially Emily Rosenberg, Dale Risden and Sue Piper for their work on this Dog Park. Dog lovers are enjoying the new off-leash dog play area located in parking lots 4 and 5 near Woodminster Amphitheater. One is for smaller dogs, the other for larger pets. So far we're been getting good reviews, we are interested in hearing your comments.

This off-leash dog play area is a pilot project to show that the space can be successfully shared for the dog park and for use as a parking lot and requires special cooperation and volunteer efforts by dog park users.

Volunteers are needed to help maintain the dog play area. Contact Dale Risden

• Future activities of the Working Group: The group meets quarterly; the first meeting of 2007 will be Monday, January 8 at 8:30 am at the Joaquin Miller Community Center. Projects for the coming year include creating a fundraising effort for the park, developing a phase II plan for landscaping the Abbey (Joaquin Miller's home), installing new trail signage and Park welcome signs, a "Day in the Park" in May, and fund raising activities. All meetings are open to the public. The minutes of the Working Group meetings may be found on my website.

• Household Hazardous Waste Center's New Schedule: Service to Oakland will be expanded this year. Every first, third, and fifth week of the month, Thursdays-Saturday, 9am-1pm, residents may drop off household waste including paint, batteries, herbicides, motor oil, florescent bulbs, etc at the 2100 East 7th Street Center. Free.

• Tree Recycling Continues Through January 12: Waste Management continues to pick up clean, green holiday trees from single family residences (up to 4 units) with your regularly scheduled Yard Trimmings pick up through January 12. No snow flocking, tinsel, ornaments, nails or tree stands. Flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in your brown garbage cart for disposal. Trees must be no more than 5 feet tall-- if taller, cut in half. After January 12, recycle your clean, green tree in the yard trimmings cart at any time, but the lid must close. For more information, call Waste Management at 613- 8710. If your tree is not picked up this week, you can also call 238-SAVE or contact recycling@oaklandnet.com
 

For full Hazardous Waste Center Schedule...

• Ban on Polystyrene Containers for Take Out Food: We are getting many inquiries about the Green Ware legislation I sponsored that requires restaurants, food trucks and other retail food providers to eliminate the use of polystyrene plates, cups, bowls, and utensils that took affect January 1st. In addition, biodegradable, compostable alternatives must be used as they become affordable. Our spot check shows that most restaurants are complying, some say they are using old supplies.

If your local restaurant or store is still using polystyrene, you can help us by distributing the leaflet below and reporting violations to 238-SAVE or recycle@oaklandnet.com For details about the new ordinance, go to the City's new Green Ware website.

• When the city receives a complaint, the owners will be given a warning.
• After the warning, a $100 fine will be issued.
• The second violation after a warning will warrant a fine up to $200.
• For the third and any additional violations, a fine of up to $500 will be issued

 

For Informational Leaflet on Oakland's Green Ware Ordinance....

<< Yamanaka Floats paraded through the streets of our sister city, Fukuoka, Japan.
• School Garden Grants: Many of you know, my office provides matching grants to parent, student or community groups up to $5,000 for school improvement projects. Some of our school projects require significant additional funding. The California Department of Education is offering grants of $2,500 and up to $5,000 for garden equipment, supplies and professional development/teacher training. Grants can be spent over three years, until June 2009. At this time, the Department of Education anticipates that applications will be available mid to late January 2007 at their website and will be processed on a first-come, first- served basis until late March 2007. The District must apply on behalf of all school sites. So if you are interested, you will need to let OUSD know, contact Maryanne Burke at the Grants Office at 879-8826.

• Enrolling students in OUSD schools for next fall: This is especially important if you plan to enroll your student back into the Oakland Unified School District from private or parochial schools. The district's Open Enrollment period runs from January 8 through January 29, during which time parents of entering Kindergartners, and those entering the district for the first time must enroll their students. For current 5th, 8th and pre-kindergarten students who are already attending OUSD schools, applications are personalized and will be handed out at the school. Applications for students in other grades who wish to enroll at a different OUSD school, and for students returning to the district will be available on line, at school sites and at the Student Assignment Office (879-8111) at 1098 Second Avenue, Portable 18.

Families will continue to have first priority to attend their neighborhood schools. Students who want to attend a non-neighborhood school where a sibling is already enrolled will have second priority. After that, students who live in a neighborhood where all options are "program improvement" schools will be given priority. After these priorities, a lottery will be held for remaining spots.

• 2007 School Options Fair! Learn about Oakland public school choices Thursday, January 11, 9 am-8 pm, all grade levels, at the Oakland City Center Marriott, 1001 Broadway.

• Student Exchanges with our Sister City, Fukouka, Japan. The Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association will select six Oakland 5th graders to spend two weeks next summer in Fukuoka. This is an all expenses paid trip to an international Children's Convention tentatively scheduled for July 13-25, 2007. Also, the Annual Oakland Fukuoka High School Student Exchange Program is accepting applications for a 10-12 day program for 15 students. The estimated cost may be up to $2,000 (includes airfare, room & board with families, organized activities while in Fukuoka, and travel insurance.) Students will be responsible for any personal expenses (purchases, gifts, snacks, etc.). Must be entering high school in the fall of 2007, currently enrolled in high school or have just graduated in the summer of 2007. Deadline for applicants to either program is January 12th. Applications may be downloaded from the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City website

• Oakland Celebrates the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A host of events throughout the month celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. An opening ceremony Wednesday, January 10, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Frank Ogawa Plaza (if it rains, the event will be relocated to the Elihu M. Harris State Building at 1515 Clay Street) features a keynote address by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, live entertainment and a resource fair with information on volunteer opportunities. For a full list of Oakland events

• MLK Day of Service: Many honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a day of service. This site lists 10 opportunities as of today.

• Romeo & Juliet, a Fire Ballet at the Crucible: This is a benefit for the group that worked with us to design our beautiful tree grates and trash cans. This theatrical spectacle fuses ballet, classical music, aerial performance, the fine arts and the industrial arts into a modernized rendition of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Preview tickets at $30 for performances on January 10 and 11. Regular performance tickets run $50 for performances January 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19. The Grand Gala Finale on Saturday, January 20 runs $120 with advance purchase only. All performances are from 8:30 to 10 pm at The Crucible, 1260 7th Street in Oakland. For details call 444-0919 or go to their website.

• Tribute to Space Travel at Chabot, Saturday, January 13: See a genuine Russian space suit up close, explore hands-on science demonstrations and enjoy a special screening of To be an Astronaut in Chabot Space & Science Center's giant MegaDome Theater. Apollo 9 Astronaut Russell Schweickart will be on hand between 3 and 6 pm for autographs, along with 9 other astronauts and cosmonauts who have traveled on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions. With general admission, the autographs will cost $50 per astronaut. For more information on this event, contact Space Explorers.

• Oakmore Safety Meeting with City Staff: Our office has organized a meeting on behalf of the Oakmore Homeowners Association with policy and park ranger staff for Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30 pm at Wells & Bennett Real Estate, 1451 Leimert Blvd. The meeting is a follow-up to the OHA's annual meeting to discuss safety issues. Rene Sykes, the Neighborhood Services Coordinator for Oakmore, and representatives from the Police Department, as well as a ranger representing nearby Dimond Park, will be on hand to answer questions.

• Oakland Civic Orchestra's "North by Northeast" Concert, Sunday, January 21: at 3 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Avenue will present Borodin's Prince Igor Overture, Sibelius' Finlandia and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9. Admission is free. This is the 15th Anniversary of the volunteer orchestra. Call 238-7275 or visit their website.

• Wildfire Prevention District Advisory Board meets Thursday, January 25, 7 pm, at the Richard C. Trudeau Training Center, 11500 Skyline Blvd. Learn more about vegetation management and how to better protect your investment in your home and neighborhood at the monthly meetings of the Wildfire Prevention District Advisory Board. District 4 representative to the Advisory Board are Barbara Goldenberg and Bob Faber.

Did You Feel It? The series of 3.7 quakes at over the holidays was a gentle reminder that we can expect a "big one" on the Hayward fault in our lifetimes.

• Emergency Kits Many are asking where they can get information on emergency supplies. We recommend:

• The Red Cross Website
• 72Hours.org

The American Red Cross, Bay Area is undertaking a comprehensive program to train one million Bay Area residents in Disaster Preparedness. They have launched the "Give the Gift of Preparedness" Campaign. You can purchase disaster kits, a First Aid/CPR class, a pet First Aid kit or sponsor emergency preparedness training to your neighborhood, school, business or place of worship. I gave hand cranked flashlights and radios to everyone in our family. Go to the ARCBA shopping website for great gifts and supplies that will protect you and support the campaign. Enter Promotional Code, “GIFT” for a 20% Discount. Expires 2/28/2007

 

• Montclair Neighborhood CORE Leaders Meeting, January 23. If you are considering organizing a CORE (Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies) group on your block and you live in Montclair, consider attending the next Montclair Neighborhood CORE Leaders Meeting on Tuesday, January 23 at 7 pm at the Montclair Community Play Center, 5815 Thornhill Drive. For details, contact Sandy Pohutsky.

• The Redwood Hts Neighborhood Association and Redwood Hts School have organized a CORE II training for Jan. 23 at the RHS School at 6:30-9pm. Core II helps prepare your neighborhood in case of an emergency.

• Citywide CORE Neighborhood Exercise planned for Saturday, April 28, 2007. Mark your calendar if you have a CORE group. And if you have any ideas about how to make the experience more effective, contact Roger Vickery, chair of the Montclair Safety & Improvement Council (MSIC), who is the MSIC representative to the CORE Exercise Planning Team.
 

For more information about Emergency Preparedness Classes

• Dimond Walking Officer: Each new class of police graduates is split between filling Measure Y beat officers and other positions within the department, on January 27th, Officer Mauricio Perez will be assigned to the Dimond Walking officer position. The former Dimond officer has been out on leave for over two years and the district has been sharing a walking officer with the Laurel District. Walking officers generally stay in the commercial areas during retail hours.

• La Farine Bakery and Peets expect to open in the Dimond across from the new Farmer Joes. Peets is planning to move into the former bookstore space at the end of the block and La Farine, an excellent French bakery on College Avenue, will open a new branch in the former Payless Shoe Store. (These gorgeous pastries are from their website; I like their Marzipan Princess Cake, too!) We are working with both as they apply for their permits for operations and construction.

• Strong Bodies Stay Young: Oakland Adult Education Instruction, presents a series of simple and effective exercises from a program designed at Tufts University specifically to aid people at risk for osteoporosis. This is an ongoing, drop in class is free. Wednesdays, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Lincoln Court Senior Apartments, 2400 MacArthur Blvd., in the large activity room. To register, call Beverly at 336-1952.

• Free Health Insurance Counseling for Seniors: The Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy program (HICAP) offers free counseling to seniors about health insurance. HICAP counselor Gerry Eiselman holds office hours at Lincoln Court Center, 2400 MacArthur Blvd, the first Monday of the month between 9 and 11 am. Call 839- 0393 or 1-800-434-0222 for an appointment.

Our office spends much of our time mediating disputes over new homes and additions. This month the Council adopted a new series of changes in zoning and design review which takes some of the processes formerly used only in the fire zone or hills and applies them citywide. This is item 14.5 on the December 5th Council Agenda.

• Requires courtesy notification of neighbors for design review, conditional use permits and variances.
• Applies view, bulk, privacy and solar access impacts to all neighborhoods.

 

Email: jquan@oaklandnet.com

Phone: 510 238-7004

web: http://www.jeanquan.org