• FOSC Work Party in Beaconsfield Canyon, Saturday, July 26, 9 am-Noon:  Wear sturdy shoes and long pants to help clear debris for fire prevention, pull invasive plants, plant and mark natives, and extend trails. Contact Richard Kauffmann at 531-1237 for details.

• Citizenship Fair at Fruitvale Transit Village on Saturday, July 26, 9 am-2 pm: This annual event is produced in conjunction with the Unity Council and will provide access to valuable community resources, including support in filling out citizenship application forms and on-site immigration consultations. The first 150 to register for this event will receive a free passport-quality photo. Free entertainment and games for children in the plaza, 3301 East 12th Street, Suite 101. Details, contact Daniela Quintanilla at 763-0370.

• Beat 22X Neighborhood Coalition for Positive Change (NCPC)  Neighborhood Walk/Clean Up in the Dimond for Saturday, July 26, 10am-Noon:  Meet at the Dimond Park entrance at Fruitvale/Lyman (near tennis courts).  Bring work gloves, kids, neighbors, drinking water and join us for our monthly "Don't Trash Oakland...It's Home" neighborhood walk. Meet new friends, get some exercise and help make 22X NCPC a "litter and graffiti-free community".  For details, contact Meg Bowerman at  531-7139.  (Above) Planting flowers at Dimond Park entrance last year.

• Melrose NCPC Block Party, Saturday, July 26, 11 am-3 pm: at Horace Mann Elementary School, 5222 Ygnacio Avenue.  For details...

• Pet Adoptions in the Glenview, Saturday, July 26, Noon to 4 pm: Wags & Whiskers Pet Boutique, 4211 Park Blvd., is teaming up with the Oakland Animal Shelter to bring monthly pet adoptions to Glenview. Starting this Saturday, July 25, the adoptions will be held on the last Saturday of each month from Noon to 4 pm, featuring dogs and cats that need homes.
   

• Chabot Sunday Family Hikes, Sunday, July 27:  "Redwood to Cosmos" 9 am-11am (8 years & up); "Little Tike Family Hike" 1:30-2:30 pm (5 years & up). Earth and sky unite in an outing that is out of this world, led by the East Bay Regional Park District. Advanced reservations are required. Call 336-7373. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 "Dawn of the Space Age", a new animated film, premieres at Chabot Science Center this weekend.   It documents the race for space from the launch of Sputnik to today's Mars exploration with realistic animations. Our state of the art domed theater makes you feel that you have landed on the moon with Neil Armstrong! Afterwards don't miss some of the actual Russian and US capsules/ equipment that brought astronauts, cosmonauts and dogs into space at the "Beyond Blastoff" exhibit, including the space toilet!

• Annual Dimond Picnic and Day in the Park, Sunday, July 27, 10 am-3 pm: This is one of my favorite community events. Bring friends and family to this annual event, sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Department and the Dimond Improvement Association. Come by for a swim at the pool or one of dozens of arts and sports activities.  Enjoy a community picnic, some generous donations from the merchants feed many but you might want to bring along something to share. Or bring a blanket and just enjoy lying on the grass.  Richard, Sue and I will be staffing an informational booth at the event under the oak trees.  Please stop by to say hello and pick up information about City services and local events.  Or enjoy a free play...

Woman's Will Presents "Good Person of Szechuan" at 1 pm:  Three lazy gods in search of one good person. Can Shen Te, the prostitute, be the one? Or will her neighbors, her lover and her big bad cousin ruin the day? Grab a picnic and a friend, and warm yourself on Bertolt Brecht's side-splitting, song-filled take on all that is wrong with the world play.  For details...

• Council Rescinds Increase for LLAD on the basis of last week's State Supreme Court Decision, which overturned an open space initiative in the South Bay and set new, more stringent standards for establishing Prop 218 assessment districts.  The judge seems to indicate that each home's benefits must be calculated individually, eg. how close is it to open space, etc. It will probably not be clear what new standards will be allowed for Prop 218 districts for some time.  The Oakland Council rescinded the June vote that had authorized an increase in the Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District (LLAD).  It would have raised about $12 million, the current gap in what the city spends on these services.  Given the anticipated budget shortfalls, cuts in park, tree, medians, and lighting are probably unavoidable.
   
• Kids First 2 Qualifies for the November Ballot, Council Turns Down Compromise:  Many people--youth and seniors--came to the special Council meeting to share their reasons for supporting or not supporting the compromise measure that I worked out with the Central Labor Council, the League of Women Voters, and the proponents of the Kids First 2.  The Kids First 2 signatures have just been verified by the Registrar of Voters and it has just qualified for the Fall ballot. Generally, I do not support set asides.  Elected officials find it hard to balance city concerns and budgets when increasingly large percentages of budgets are restricted; two thirds of Oakland's budget is restricted and 62% of the unrestricted budget goes to fire and police.

 But, youth programs rank highest in Oakland voter's priorities in recent polls.  Yes, even higher than police -- about 68-73% of voters.  The new Kids First 2 initiative only has to receive 50% plus one vote. With the large youth vote expected this fall, it will be hard to defeat.  Kids First 2 will more than double its share to $25 million by 2010; $15 million will have to come from other city funds.  The compromise would have reduced the amount by about $11 million, phased in the increase over 7 years  instead of 2, required 25% of the funds be granted to programs that are collaborations with city agencies, and would have included a sunset clause.

• Mayor Announces that Budget Figures Were Not Correct:  Sometimes you hate to be right.  Over the last few months I have been questioning the optimistic estimates of tax revenues and expenses in the budget that the Mayor and City Manager used in the midterm budget. Specifically, it appeared that the property and real estate taxes were overestimated; expenditures for fuel and police overtime were underestimated. I warned that when the year end figures came in, we would be making additional cuts in the fall.  

Since Edgerly's exit  interim City Manager Dan Lindheim has been reviewing city revenues over the last few weeks; this week the Mayor announced that figures were not correct.  He also announced that former City Manager Robert Bobb and his staff will come in for a three month period to conduct an objective assessment of city finances and recommend revisions to budget; develop measures to control spending and hiring; audit the current executive and management structure of the city and recommend changes appropriate for the strong mayor form of government; and develop a strong and effective communications strategy, internally and externally. They will also coordinate the recruitment for a new City Administrator.

• How far off we are will not be known until we close out the books; final reports usually are available in late September.  The fiscal year ended June 30th, but tax revenues and other payments are often not received until weeks and months later.  With the numbers that my staff has been tracking and the LLAD action, I am estimating a shortfall of $30-40 million.  This does not include new state cuts, see #3.  Nor does it include the passage of the Kids First 2 Measure above.  I expect to be working with the Mayor's Office and my colleagues through the summer to balance the budget.

• Prop 42 Transportation funds dedicate gas taxes to improving transportation.  It is our major source of funding for street repairs.  Since its passage in 2002 much of these funds have been diverted to balance the state budget.  Oakland has almost $4 million at stake.
• Property taxes:  Currently, Oakland receives about 26 cents of each property tax dollar.  Over the years the state has reduced the local share of property taxes.
• Redevelopment funds:  Redevelopment areas are allowed to use increased taxes from improvements to pay off long terms economic investments such as affordable housing and other infrastructure.  Recently, the state has been diverting those funds.  Cuts reduce our funds for economic investment, affordable housing, and bond payments.

You can help by contacting the Governor and our legislators.  The League of Cities hopes to have its website on this issue up by Monday:  www.cutupthecard.com

• California Budget Project - http://www.cbp.org/
• Links from Assemblymembers Swanson & Hancock
• California League of Cities

• Earlier this month we ran an item about the Alameda County Assessors' Office updating property values. That process has now been completed and property owners should have received their individual assessment notices for this year. If you feel that you need to file an appeal for the new assessed value of your properties, you may do so by filling out the application.  There is also and informational booklet provided on the same link.
   
• New Citizen's Academy:  Want to know more about City government and talk to top officials?  The next academy is August 23 through November 22nd, 9am-Noon, contact Paula White  at  238-4523 for an application.
  
   

• Expanded nepotism policy to return to committee in fall:  Council President De la Fuente's proposed revisions to the city's nepotism policy came to the Finance & Management Committee this week. They would expand rules to people cohabitating and otherwise romantically involved, forbidding them from participating in or attempting to influence hiring  The proposal would require prospective employees to report relationships to the Human Relations Department. The Committee asked De la Fuente to consider some changes and it will return in the fall.
   
• Meanwhile, I introduced new policies for the Finance Committee to consider to clarify the Council policies on salaries for city employees and officials.    This has been the product of about six months of fact finding and legal discussions in response to the Auditor's report on payroll practices.  It attempts to improve transparency on salaries and related benefits, define the scope of the City Manager's authority to set salaries, and resolve the oversight and authority of the City Auditor and City Attorney over their own salaries.   Some of the most controversial issues will be over what items the City Manager may grant employees above contract and normal civil service promotions; and whether the City Auditor and City Attorney can receive sick and vacation pay not earned by other elected officials, authorize their own pay and related benefits, and whether they can continue to give themselves up to an additional 3 weeks pay as a bonus. Based on the discussion, I will bring a final version to the first Committee meeting in September.

• Feather River Camp Continues to Delight Families:  Last weekend I visited the City's family camp to survey the facilities.  The rustic camp on the banks of the Feather River northwest of Lake Tahoe near Quincey was founded in 1924 and is run by Camps in Common, a non-profit that saved the camp from closure six years ago. The group has made considerable improvements with limited funding from the city.  My office will work with them to plan for long term and seek grants.

When our kids were young, we often went camping.  For Mom camping is often work not a vacation.  I wish I had known about Feather River Camp; for a reasonable amount the camp's great cooks feed the family and Mom can send the kids off to a wide choice of activities while she gets a massage from the Camp's resident masseuse.

 

Each week has a special theme -- music, astronomy, arts, etc.  Last week it was folk dancing.  The camp can accommodate groups; over two hundred Chinatown residents came this weekend.  Parks & Rec takes individual youth. There is still room for family reservations.

• Police Warn about Link between Recent Robberies and Craigslist:  Area 1 Captain Anthony Toribio sent out this warning to listservs earlier this week, "We've had three recent armed robberies with the following commonalities: The victim attempts to buy a laptop or other computer equipment from someone on Craigslist. The victim shows up to a location (so far it has been in 12X/12Y residential areas) with cash in hand. The suspect approaches, wearing a bandana and carrying a hand gun, and robs the victim. Our investigators are actively working on these cases and will hopefully identify the person(s) responsible. Meanwhile, community members need to use caution when making these types of transactions. I suggest that they be made in public or in a well-traveled place. In any case, people should report any suspicious behavior to OPD at 777-3333."

• Highway Patrol Arrest Young People Who Rolled Boulders Onto Hwy 13:  Last week the police and CHP cooperated in efforts to catch two youth who were rolling boulders onto the highway at night.  There had been other reports of this activity over the last month with damaged cars.  We are lucky that no one was seriously injured.  If you saw activity near the Carson exit, or have information on others who may have been involved  please contact our office.

• A reminder about disposing ashes and burnt coals after barbecuing: Waste Management of Alameda County warns us that coals or ashes fresh from the barbeque should never be disposed directly into your collection container or in your greenwaste container. Not only can they contaminate the items in your containers, but they can also cause fires in the container or in the trucks. Coals should be cooled for several days, and then placed in a metal container with a tight lid for proper disposal in your waste container. Never place coals --even if you think they're cool--in plastic, paper or wood containers.

• State Seeks Input on Scoping for the Revised Notice of Preparation for the Light Brown Apple Moth Environmental Impact Report-- click here. Due to time limits mandated by State law, your written response must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than August 23. Send responses to Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division, 1220 N. Street, Room A-316, Sacramento, CA 95814.
   

• No Segways in Joaquin Miller Park: This week we received an unusual alert about a local entrepreneur who is leading trail riding excursions for owners of Segway Personal Transport Vehicles in Joaquin Miller Park. If you see them, please call the Park Rangers at 482-7888 or stop by the Ranger Station to report them. They are not permitted on the trails in the park. 

• Safeguard Your Windows:  While burglaries are down 12% from last year, summer time usually shows an increase because of open windows.  Recently we had several reports of burglars entering through open windows and back doors including one where the burglars came and left without disturbing the sleeping residents!
  • If you must crack open your windows get simple hardware guards that do not allow windows to open more than 4-5 inches.  Some sophisticated alarm systems will detect movement through an open window.
  • Don't forget upstairs windows; don't leave ladders or garbage cans or other objects that let someone easily climb onto a second floor deck or window. 
  • Consider getting a stronger "screen" door that can't be easily cut or pushed in. Many of us leave back doors open with only flimsy "screen" doors.
   

105 Additional Officers and 75 Police Techs Over Three Years: Both the Mayor and I have criticized a proposed measure that would have required the City to add 300 new officers without new revenues. It would have increased police costs to about half of the City General Fund, making public safety or police and fire about three quarters of the entire City budget.  If both this proposal and the new Kids First initiative to double funding pass in November, the rest of the City would have to run on less than 20 percent of the budget. Does this sound like Vallejo?

Before January, we will reach police staffing that matches our fully budgeted 803 positions including the additional 63 Measure Y officers. To maintain these positions and to reach the number estimated by Chief Tucker as the desired level of staffing the proposal would increase police staffing by 35 officers and 25 police technicians each year for three years for a total of 105 police and 75 police technicians. This would bring our police force to 908 sworn officers and about 130 police technicians.  (Above) Traffic stop on a recent ride along with OPD.  This car was stopped and later towed for sideshow activities.  We waited about 20 minutes for a police tech to complete towing the car, without a Police Service Technician we might have been held up for an hour or more.  This is one example of how police tech support can support police work. 

• The cost to a single family house would be phased in at an average of about $88 more per year for a total increase of $266 at the end of three years.
• The increased use of civilian police technicians would improve investigations and give faster service to citizens at lower cost than more police alone.
• Police technicians are especially effective in collecting and analyzing data on crime trends to help us focus police resources and can do much of the tracking and follow-up needed to monitor parolees and sex offenders.
• This would free up police for more crime response & investigations, less paper work.
• It would bring the police-to-citizen ratio up to one of the higher ratios in California.
• It would require the City to increase the police as new housing and the population both increase.
• It is a reasonable schedule for training and recruitment at currently budgeted levels, given the highly competitive market for police and expected retirement levels.

Will the citizens of Oakland support new taxes for police?  I don't know, but we have given them a choice. This is a relatively balanced cost-effective proposal for those who want more police. Polls show more than a majority of Oaklanders want more police, it is now in the hands of the voters to decide yes or no.

These are a few of the frequently asked questions we have gotten in the last weeks.

1. Why can't the City/Council cut other programs to finance more police?  Police and fire staff already make up over 62 percent of our general fund.  Funding 105 more police officers and 75 police technicians would cost $40-60 million including equipment, support, and probable overtime. It would require dramatic cuts in all other city programs that we do not believe most citizens would support.
2. Why can't you just cut the waste/corruption?  Following from above, while I believe we can be more efficient and we may find some inappropriate and unapproved expenditures, the worst case scenario numbers we are looking at are probably not near a million at this point. There is not $40-60 million in waste or misspending. $1 million would fund about 4 officers. We are looking at many of our systems from energy efficiency to different staffing, but I suspect most of the savings from these projects will be needed to attempt to maintain service levels. The City just cut $15 million from the budget, with the new budget estimates  we will probably be cutting $30-40 million more in the fall.
3. Why can't you wait until the economy improves?  The next elections are about two years from now. If a measure is approved then, there is a one year lapse before revenues are collected; it takes a year to recruit, test, attend the academy, and then complete field training. That would mean no increase in police for about 3-4 years. We believe the majority, who want more police, do not want to wait that long.

• 30 New Graduates Brings Police Force to Highest Number Since 2004:  The City is on track to exceed its budgeted level of police officers by January. This week the latest police academy graduated 30 new officers bringing the total to 778; two concurrent academy classes and one lateral academy (transferring officers undertaking 6 week orientation) of 15 officers are now underway.

• <<  District 4 Problem Solving Officers make drug bust during Wednesday's Laurel Focus.

• Measure Y Collection Validated a Second Time by the Courts: For the second time, a Superior Court judge has issued a ruling upholding the City's collection of the Measure Y parcel tax. On July 18, Judge Frank Roesch ruled that the city can collect the tax approved by voters in the Violence Prevention and Public Safety Act of 2004 - as long as the City Council appropriates the money in accordance with the provisions of the ballot measure. The ruling agrees with an impartial analysis provided by the City Attorney's Office that was included in the ballot information given to every voter before the November 2004 election. The analysis said that the city could collect the tax so long as the money was an addition to the existing police budget. Friday's ruling settles one of the questions raised by a lawsuit challenging the implementation of Measure Y.
   
  In an earlier case, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Winnifred Smith also ruled that the City Attorney analysis given to voters was correct. For more information, please see the attached ruling or go to www.oaklandcityattorney.org
   
• New Radar Traffic Effort:  We are still seeking to compile the final numbers for  Skyline Blvd. but we are ready to move onto Foothill Blvd for our next traffic effort. Martin Stoufer has graciously agreed to be our coordinator for this phase of the project and he will be the one to organize our teams and pick the best dates for this project. Contact Michael Johnson if you want to volunteer.
   
• The Measure Y website and e-newsletter contain a wealth of practical information and an area list of services and programs, www.MeasureY.org.
   
• Sign up Now for National Night Out, August 5: Sign up for National Night Out and your group will be visited by a representative from the Police, Fire and/or Public Works Department, as well as our office. We all usually bring freebies (last year it was free compact fluorescent light bulbs and whistles). But most importantly, you begin to build community, which is the first step in organizing your block for both crime prevention, emergency preparedness and fun.
  

Here's a perfect way to get to know your neighbors--invite them to a pot luck, ice cream social or coffee and desserts as part of the 25th Annual National Night Out event. Last year, District 4 had 79 different National Night Out parties! This year we have 66 groups signed up. However, there are 22 groups from last year that have not yet signed up! NOTE: you need to sign up with the City AND our Office NOW if you want to receive NNO goodies!

• Daily Crime Reports Posted On-line:  One of the 200 plus daily emails I read each day are the cumulative statistics of crime reports. The police are now posting them online.  Basically they track what we call "Part 1 Crimes," which are tracked nationally by the Department of Justice. For Oakland these crimes reached a high in the early nineties and declined until a trend up in the last two years. In recent months these crime stats have been relatively flat except for murders.  In the last two years rising murders mostly involve young men killed in gang and drug crimes or women victims of domestic violence.  Encouragingly since the reorganization of the police 6 months ago, quality of life crimes have declined.  Statistics from this Friday's report: car thefts (-4), home burglaries (-13) and robberies (-1).   

• Program Your Cell Phone for the Oakland Fire Department and Medical Dispatch:  In addition to 777-3211, which will connect you directly to the Police Dispatchers from your cell phone when you are in Oakland (9-1-1 on your cell connects you to the Highway Patrol),  you may also want to program into your cell phone Oakland Fire Department and Medical Dispatch at 444-1616.
   
• New Phone Numbers for the Reorganization:   Lists of phone numbers for Area and Problem Solving Officers/Beats.
   
• For a list of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils in District 4.
• To organize a Neighborhood Watch Group on your street call 238-3091.
• How to file a Police Report: Police use crime reports to plan patrols and follow crime trends. Commanders determine their priorities based on the number and severity of crimes reported. You don't have to rely on the police to actually make the report; for non-urgent crimes such as auto break-ins or after the fact home break-ins you can download a citizen's crime report  from the City's website. 
• Make anonymous calls for drug activity to 238-DRUG.

• Exchange Halogen Touchier Floor Lamps For Brand New Floor Lamps: Halogen gets really hot, can and has caused fires, and is a big drain on energy. Rising Sun Energy Center, in cooperation with PG & E, regularly attends the Berkeley Farmer's Market and will take your new lamp to your car for you and pick up and carry away your old one(s). For more information, call 978-8613.

 

New CORE Newsletter; Summer Schedule of Disaster Preparation Classes:   Trying to save money, the Citizens Organized to Respond to Emergencies (CORE) Newsletter is now available on-line here.  Take a look for updates, a full schedule of classes including new classes on issues like "Managing Strees During Emergencies."
 

<<Retrofitting Works!Two identical Santa Cruz Victorian style homes were built 110 years ago. In1989, the architect/owner retrofitted one of them. Before retrofitting the other one, the 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake hit. The retrofitted one cost $5,000 to repair. The other one cost $260,000 to repair. The whole building had to be jacked up, repaired and slid back on a new foundation.

 

 

 

Retrofit Program Picks Up:  As we start the second year of the program that I authored, 205 homeowners have applied for a permit for a retrofit at the flat fee of $250; up from only 7 applications last year. A 2900% increase!  
 

Now there are two ways the City can assist homeowners seismically strengthen their older homes:

1. New Homeowners--may apply for the New Homeowners Seismic Strengthening Incentive Program, but must sign up within the first 60 days of taking ownership. If you meet all the requirements, you can be eligible for up to $5,000 reimbursement . (Please help us spread the word--we occasionally hear from new homeowners who didn't hear about the program until after the 60-day eligibility period; so if someone new moves into your neighborhood, please take a minute to let them know about this program.)

2. Low Income/Fixed Income Homeowners--starting July 1, eligible homeowners may apply for up to $10,000 matching grant to seismically strengthen their older home. Homeowners must meet the City's low income threshold (family of 2 not exceeding $53,000 a year, for example) and live in one of the City's Redevelopment Project Areas.

3. All homeowners who retrofit according to the City's standards are eligible for a flat $250 retrofit permit fee--saving hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

In both cases, interested homeowners should first contact the City of Oakland's Building Department at 238-3891 for information about the City's Seismic Retrofit Program.  Eligible low-income homeowners will then be referred to the City's Residential Lending and Housing Rehabilitation Services Program, which also offers no-interest loans for other home construction improvement projects (including foundation work). >> Students experience a 8.0 earthquake at FEMA Fair last month.

 

Got Fruit? Donate It to Seniors:  If you have excess fruit, vegetables or herbs in your yard and would like to donate what you can't use to those in our community who lack access to fresh produce, you can be one of the first donors to an innovative pilot program of PUEBLO (People United for a Better Life in Oakland) and Cycles of Change, in collaboration with Mayor Dellums' Summer Jobs Program. Instead of letting all of that produce go to waste, let PUEBLO and Cycles of Change collect it and deliver it to Oakland's senior citizens who have need of fresh produce to maintain good health! To arrange for a pick up or gleaning of your excess produce at a convenient time, contact PUEBLO at 452-2010.

• Friends of Sausal Creek's August Schedule: Join friends and neighbors and learn more about the native habitat of Sausal Creek:
  • Friday, August 1, 9:30 am-12:30 pm: Seed Hike. Location TBA. Walk in the watershed to collect seeds, check on plant stands and learn about native ecology. Email Molly Bolt for details.
  • Saturday, August 2, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday. Join us at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery for an afternoon workday. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other nursery tasks. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. RSVP for groups over 6. Email Molly Bolt for more info.
     
  • Saturday, August 9, 1:30-4:30 pm; Propagation Workday. Join us at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery for an afternoon workday. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other nursery tasks. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. RSVP for groups over 6. Email Molly Bolt for more info.
     
  • Friday, August 15, 9:30 am-12:30 pm: Seed Hike: Location TBD. Join us for a walk in the watershed to collection seeds, check on plant stands, and learn about native ecology. Email Molly Bolt.
  • Saturday, August 16, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday. Join us at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery for an afternoon workday. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other nursery tasks. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. RSVP for groups over 6. Email Molly Bolt for more info.
     
  • Sunday, August 17, 9:30 am-Noon: Aquatic Insect Sampling. Call Emma Brown to confirm, 527-2507. S
     
  • Saturday, August 30, 9 am-Noon: Restoration Workday at Beaconsfield Canyon. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants to help clear debris for fire prevention, pull invasive plants, plant and mark natives, and extend trails. Contact Richard Kauffmann at 531-1237 for details.
  • Saturday, August 30, 1:30-4:30 pm Propagation Workday. Join us at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery for an afternoon workday. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other nursery tasks. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. Contact Molly Bolt for more info.

• Updates Sought for New Creek & Watershed Map of Oakland: The Oakland Museum is updating its Creek and Watershed Map of Oakland and Berkeley, and seeks input on changes made to the creek since its last printing (Sausal Watershed). If anyone knows of small changes that they'd like to share, please contact Christopher Richard at the Oakland Museum. 

• Keep Oakland Beautiful Grants: Designed to foster local solutions and community improvement, grants in the amount of $200 - $500 will be distributed from funds raised by Keep Oakland Beautiful. There are two funding cycles: summer and winter. Deadlines are April 30 (Summer) and September 30 (Winter). Grants will be awarded to individuals or groups that demonstrate creativity and/or community renewal. Evidence of sustainability of the project after the grant funding terminates is also a criteria. The use of partnerships to leverage the scope of the project and public visibility are also factors which will affect how the applications are ranked by the organization. For details contact Keep Oakland Beautiful at 434-5126.

• Merritt College Offers Environmental Courses for Fall 2008: Take a single class, transfer, prepare for graduate school or receive a certificate or degree. Courses available on Environmental Jobs, Energy Alternatives, Green Building, Outdoor Education, Sustainable Urban Planning, Native Plants & Restoration, Growing Sustainable Food and Environmental Justice. All ages welcome, low cost and fee waivers available. Fall semester begins mid-August. For details call 434-3840 or go to the website for the Merritt College Environmental Program.

• Plant Exchange Needs Tables for Upcoming Free Exchange in October: The Lakeshore Avenue Plant Exchange offers free plant exchanges twice a year so that Oaklanders can share the abundance from their gardens and tool sheds. They could use additional folding tables to accommodate all the donations for their next exchange, which will be in October. Any size, any shape, old and battered as long as they are sturdy. Card tables, 6 and 8 foot tables, metal tables-- all are welcomed. For details, contact Odette at 866-8582.

Chabot Science Center  Voted Best Museum for Teens

• Library's Summer Reading Program Closes with Fun Finale at the Oakland Museum, Sunday, August 10, 12:30-4:30 pm: It's fun for the whole family. The celebration links two fantastic summer events, the library's Summer Reading Program and the Oakland Museum of California's Family Explorations for a double dose of culture, entertainment, fun and learning. The Museum is located at 1000 Oak Street.  For details, call 238-3615.

• Request for Sponsors of 12 Youth to Attend National Hip Hop Political Convention in Las Vegas, August 1-3: The national Hip Hop Political Convention held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1-3 will focus on the presidential race, the Iraq War and high gas prices across the nation. NHHPC will be addressing these issues and forming national networks and alliances. A group of low-income youth, mostly from West Oakland, who are Scraper bicyclists, who are active in Bikes for Peace,  would like to attend. They are $3000 short of their fundraising goal.  I am planning on sending them a check, I hope some of my neighbors will, too. Donations are being accepted by the Mentoring Center. Please write checks to to the Mentoring Center/onefam/B4L. For details, contact Tony Coleman,onefam/B4L, at 238-8080, ext. 310.  (Above) In addition to colorful decoration of their spokes many of the kids have rigged radios and other equipment powered by car batteries to their bikes.  Needless to say, this trailer pulled by bike has a DVD player and a big sound.

• Measure K, Kids First!, Seeks Youth Members for the Planning and Oversight Committee (POC): The POC is the only city committee in which young people can directly decide where to allocate 2.5% of unrestricted City of Oakland general fund revenues (roughly $12-14 million a year). Students must be between the ages of 14 and 21 years, live in Oakland, and be able to attend 3 hour meetings on the 1st or 2nd Wednesday of the month. We are especially seeking someone from District 4. For more information, call or email Jasmine Dawson at 238-2209. Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to Oakland Fund for Children & Youth, Attention: Jasmine Dawson, 150 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 4216, Oakland, CA 94612.

• Chabot Sunday Family Hikes, Sundays, August 10 and August 24: "Redwood to Cosmos" 9 am-11am (8 years & up); "Little Tike Family Hike" 1:30-2:30 pm (5 years & up). Earth an sky unite in an outing that is out of this world, led by the East Bay Regional Park District. Advanced reservations are required. Call 336-7373. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Live Jazz in Downtown Oakland Every Monday Night: Live Downtown Jam Session every Monday night at Ed Kelly Hall, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin Street. Open to players or listeners. $5. Pre-session improvisation workshop 6-7 pm; Performance begins at 7 pm. For details, check out the website at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music.
   
• Homegrown Blues Series, Every Thursday, 5:30-7 pm, in front of City Hall through August.  Wonderful blues music by the Bay Area Blues Society.   I admit I work late on Thursday to hear the great blues sounds of West Oakland and Mississippi.
   

• Thursday Night Live in Old Oakland, 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 5:30-9 pm, June - October: Thursday Night Live takes place inside and outside the food establishments along 9th and Washington in Old Oakland. Besides the usual drink specials associated with happy hour, there's a stage featuring live music, outdoor concession stands, and beer and beverage "gardens" where people can mix and socialize. Free to the public. July's Schedule:
  •  8/07/08 - Crown City            funk soul
  • 8/21/08 - Saoco Dos Four      Cuban reggaeton
  • 9/04/08 - Fito Reinoso          Latin
  • 9/18/08 - The Sonando Project    Latin Jazz
  • 10/02/08 - Bayonics            funk and reggae
  • 10/16/08 - Julio Bravo        salsa.

• Lakefest '08 Wine Art and Wine Festival., Saturday, August 2 to Sunday, August 3. Showcases 30 wineries along with live music and an arts and crafts fair with over 100 artisans and local vendors. Admission is free, food and wine tasting packages begin at $10. At the crossroads of Lakeshore and Grand Avenues.
   

• Laurel Street Festival, Saturday, August 9, 1-6 pm:  Celebrate Oakland's Diversity in the heart of Oakland-- the Laurel District-- MacArthur Blvd. between 35th Avenue and High Street. Details to come. >>Last year's event

• 6th Annual Montclair Jazz and Wine Festival 2008, Sunday, September 7, 11 am-6 pm. Admission to the Festival is free. Wine Tasting 1-6 pm-wine tasting tickets are $30; $5 off coupon on the website. Couples package $50. Beer is available at the Beer Garden from 11 am-6 pm, $4.

• Sundays in the Redwoods--2008: Bring friends and family for a picnic and FREE music at this annual series of concerts at the Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Concerts begin at 3 pm:
  
  
   Full house at last year's performance by Goapele >>
  
   
• World Music - September 21, 2008: Skyline High School, Rank-N-Screw, OBA JIMI, 2 Four y Los Mios (Cuban Jazz), Julius Melendez

• A Thousand Strings - September 28, 2008: Strings of Soul and the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan conductor    

• The Sounds of Inspiration - October 5, 2008: Castleers from Castlemont High School, Kindom Travelers, Kathy Copeland - KC and Company, James Newton and Jon Jang

• Jazz Neo Soul - October 12, 2008: Oakland School of the Arts, Matrix, Khalil Shaheed

• Dimond Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 4, 11 am- 4 pm on MacArthur Blvd.

• Maxwell Park Day, Saturday, September 13-- a day in Maxwell Park, 4618 Allendale Avenue. Details to come.
   

• 14th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Fall Fest in Montclair, October 4-5: Mountain Blvd. at La Salle, 10 am- 6 pm, Saturday; 10 am-5 pm, Sunday. Sponsored by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals.
   

Dogs on Leash; It's the Law!  We've received several reports of off-leash dogs attacking on-leash dogs in Dimond Canyon. This is a serious problem throughout the City. Responsible dog owners know that the City requires dogs to be on  leash, no longer than 6 feet from the guardian, and under the control of the guardian at all times when not on the guardian's private property. In general, dogs are not allowed in City parks, except for: Joaquin Miller and Leona Parks east of Mountain Boulevard, Dimond Park east of El Centro Avenue, Knowland Park east of Golf Links Road, Glen Daniel/King Estate Park, north of Fontaine Street, and the Montclair Railroad Trail. And when in these parks, they must be on leash, except for the City's three off-leash areas:
 

•     Hardy Park
•     Joaquin Miller Park
•     Mosswood Park

Dogs  can be unpredictable and at least when they are on leash, they can be better controlled. Citations for this offense can get expensive: $50 for the first offense; $100 for a second offense within one year, $500 for a third offense within one year. As set forth at Section 1.28.020B, "any violation beyond the third conviction within a one-year period may be charged by the City Attorney or the District Attorney as a misdemeanor and the penalty for conviction of the same shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than six months or by both."  OMC 6.04.070 & .080

 

Mark your Calendar for These Dog Park Closing Dates:

• Saturday, July 26-- OPR Special Event- Cancelled-- dog park will be open
   

• Friday, August 8-Sunday, August 17-- Seussical the Musical at Woodminster Amphitheater.
• Saturday August 23, OPR Special Event.