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Moving Oakland Forward Together |
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If you have problems viewing the newsletter photos or text, go to http://www.jeanquan.org/newsletters/News203.htm If you receive my newsletter by a neighborhood listserv, Yahoo may block some text with its ads. You can also subscribe directly at www.jeanquan.org to avoid this. THE POST ELECTION WORLD....I admit to feeling optimism this morning when I saw the photo of the next Speaker of the House Pelosi talking with the President. For me it means real dialogue at the national level for the first time in years. Since local Democrats are generally safe, my family researched the web and sent donations to congressional candidates in close races across the country...even phone banking for them through True Majority! All but one won. As a woman I thought about this benchmark in history and the many "first's" for women in my lifetime and how many are yet to be achieved. I smiled at Pelosi's remarks that she felt Susan B. Anthony in the room with her. Then as an Oaklander and chair of the Finance Committee, I immediately thought that maybe this year we won't have to cut back Head Start again...maybe there will be funding for affordable housing. In March I did a forum on the cost of the Iraq War to Oakland, my slide presentation is on my website. The National Priorities website says that as of today we have spent $341 Billion on the war; Oakland's share could have built over 3000 homes or tripled the number of teachers for our schools! I am, of course, disappointed by the close loss of Measure N. We predict that by the time the absentee ballots are counted we will be about 2% short of the two-thirds required. Clearly, the need for updated libraries won't go away and the wonderful citywide network for libraries that grew out of the campaign is determined to continue to work for the implementation of Library Master Plan. Our volunteers are out picking up and recycling our signs, if we haven't picked yours up by this weekend...send me an email. I have spoken with many of you who worked on the campaign and I want to thank everyone who supported it. Fall rains continue this weekend...clear your gutters and storm drains and drive safely.
 New construction and other human impacts affect the patchwork of watershed systems and storm drains that have developed over Oakland's 153 years. Keep an eye on runoff and storm drains around your home. The city is provides up to 20 sandbags and 50 feet of plastic sheeting per household or business, with proof of residency. Pick up from Public Works Agency service centers, Monday - Friday 8 am - 9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 8 am- 4:30 pm at 7101 Edgewater Drive or 5921 Shepherd Canyon Road. Up to 5 bags can be picked up from local these District 4 fire stations, Monday - Friday 8am- 9 pm; Saturday-Sunday, 8 am to 4:30 pm:
Report
flooding problems
to the Public Works Call Center at (510) 615-5566 24 hours. Volunteer to Maintain-A-Drain: Heavy rains wash a large amount of garbage, litter, and pollution into storm drains (inlets). Clogged storm drains cause flooding. Public Works will provide you with rain gear and a tools if you volunteer to help them keep an inlet on your street clear.
 Montclair Elementary PTA Focuses on Safety at Tuesday, November 14, 7 pm Meeting: To discuss recent incidents in and around Montclair School and Park the PTA has invited representatives from the Police Department and Park Rangers to discuss how we can work together to improve safety. Unfortunately, Tuesday night is also Council Committee night. Sue Piper, however. who covers Montclair for our office, will be on hand. Next Friday a new class of police officers graduates, November 17,10 am, at the Scottish Rite Temple, first floor ballroom. We can expect new Beat or Neighborhood Problem Solving Officers to be assigned in December. Police Department Open House, Wednesday, December 13, 6-8 pm, at the Eastmont Police Station 2651 73rd Avenue, 777-8500. This is an opportunity for those who have been involved in neighborhood alert groups and crime prevention councils to meet the command staff in their area, problem solving and crime reduction team officers.
Program
Your Cellphone with our Direct Oakland
Police Emergency Number 777-3211:
When using a cell phone 911 routes you through a regional Highway Patrol
center that then transfers you to Oakland. Nick Vigilante, who serves on
the Community Policing Advisory Board, sent me this account describing
how you can save precious minutes in an emergency: Oakland CrimeWatch Website. The Oakland Police Department maintains a map on its website that shows recent crime activity. You will be able to request crime data by proximity to an address or known location, such as your home or school. You can produce maps and reports from this data base. Please keep in mind that the site is not instantaneous, it may lag up to a month. But it provides a perspective on what is happening in a given area. Seniors: Prevent Scams, Fraud and Identity Theft. Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, in collaboration with Elder Financial Protection Network and Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF), hosts two presentations in November to help seniors protect themselves and their loved ones from becoming victims of fraud: Please RSVP to Melissa Male or call her at (510) 559-1406. Please provide your name, phone number, number of attendees and the presentation you will be attending.
For the third year, my office joined together with police, district attorneys, and non-profits combating domestic violence and the sexual exploitation of minors in Oakland to assess our efforts to fight these problems and determine critical needs. KTOP (Cable 10) will replay the forum, packed with information and featuring moving testimony by some our our teen activists, on Saturday, November 11, 12:30 pm.
To summarize the reports,
we found: 1) Dramatic increase in the number of domestic violence
cases reported. We believe it reflects both better training of Oakland
Police on these issues and increased support of the victims, as well
as the general increase in crime across the nation. 2) Teen
prostitution continues to be a problem and disturbingly the victims
are increasingly younger, 12 to 15 years old. 3) Important new
services such as the One Stop Family Justice Center and counseling
services for sexually exploited minors start this year but more
resources are needed.
If you or someone you know needs help. The Alameda County Family Justice Center's Alameda County Family Justice Center is the place to start for help. Alameda County Overnight Emergency Response Team, 510.757.5123 provides emergency assistance to women and children in immediate danger, M-F 5 pm to 9 am, 24 hours weekends and holidays. A Safe Place Alternative (SPA) Needs Furniture and Office Equipment SPA will be a drop in site for sexually exploited minors providing services and counseling; it will also provides a central location where professionals and community members can access information and resources for Sexually Exploited Minors. I and Council Member Pat Kernighan have pledged a grant of $10,000 to furnish SPA but computers, printers, and other equipment are still needed. If you can help out, please contact Nola Brantley The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)...
 For the third year neighborhood volunteers all over the city continue to plant plant 50,000 daffodil bulbs throughout the city. Most of the daffodils planted in the past years seem to have naturalized, so that should be more than 150,000 blooms this spring! Daffodil Planting in Maxwell Park this Saturday, November 11 . Join your neighbors at 10 am at Maxwell Park to plant 400 daffodil bulbs, donated by Home Depot, to Oakland's Keep Oakland Beautiful program. There will be coffee and donut holes to all "green" thumbs. Contact Pat Patterson, 499-3392 if you have questions, or contact Lynette Neidhardt, 535-1044 at zettadesign@earthlink.net Glenview Elementary School Garden Work Day, Sunday, November 12, 9 am to 1 pm. Join parents and students in planting a scented garden for the visually impaired students, as well as a long sunny border of native and drought tolerant plants. Bring marked tools and gloves. If you are interested in donating to the project or would like more information, please contact Carla Moore, 530-5065. While you're there check out the solar panel on the playground. Electricity generated by the panel can be monitored at this site. Planting at Joaquin Miller Community Center, Saturday, December 9, 9 am-1 pm . Boy Scouts, neighbors and members of the Hillside and Bonita Garden Clubs plant shrubs and small plants, as well as pull broom and other invasives. For details, contact Bobbie Feyerabend at bobbie@fmlanddesign.com
 35th & MacArthur: A construction fence is up and site preparation has begun the live-work 3 story market rate townhouses and cafe approved for this corner. Calaveras: (Left) On the opposite end of the Laurel District, behind John Swett/Tilden School, demolition and grading has begun for over twenty subsidized townhouses. Our office worked with the non-profit developer to make these ownership opportunities rather than rental as they originally planned. The new owners can make up to 120% of the median income of the area.
While Oakland and the Bay Area are at the forefront of this movement nationally, we are not yet fully using the recycling infrastructure literally at our disposal. The average American recycles 30% and throws away over 1,130 pounds of waste per year. For every person in the US, about 1,060 pounds of CO2 equivalent comes from the garbage we throw out every year. Each person who increases our recycling by 5%, will remove 53 pounds of CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere. For a link to the various waste reduction activities you might consider go to http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page4.aspx
 Part of getting to "zero waste" is preventing wasteful products from reaching us "upstream." Banning polystyrene in take out food ware effective January 1, 2007, (commonly known by Dow chemical's Styrofoam name) will reduce landfill by 15-25% in volume. Oakland Green Food Ware Fair, Thursday, November 16, 3-5 pm, at the Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street. In preparation for the ban of styrofoam/polystyrene take out food ware on January 1, 2007, we are sponsoring a fair to explain the new ordinance to restaurants, food vendors, and retailers. Distributors of compostable and biodegradable products will display their products. City staff will explain how restaurants and other commercial ventures can reduce their garbage bills by recycling food waste. Did you take advantage of your Bulky Pick-Up This Year? Call Waste Management of Alameda County (WMAC) at 613-8710 to schedule your pickup appointment before the end of the year. For more information. To learn more about Oakland's Recycling Program and Zero Waste efforts....
 (Left) Young artist displays his mini Day of the Dead Altar last Sunday. Salsa Dance Night, Saturday, November 11 Join friends and neighbors when St. Lawrence O'Toole and St. Cyril Parishes welcome young and old, dancers or just toe tappers. Doors open at 7:30 pm and Salsa Lessons run from 8 until 9 pm Dancing starts at 9 and goes until Midnight. Admission is only $10 per person at the door, $5 per child 14 years or younger. Music provided by DJ Good Show. All proceeds benefit St. Lawrence O'Toole-St. Cyril Capital Improvement Fund. Dance located at the St. Lawrence O'Toole-St. Cyril Gym at 3725 High Street. League of Women Voters of Oakland sponsor TheatreFIRST performance of "Criminal Genius" this coming Sunday, November 12. Meet at 2:30 pm for some refreshments. The play starts at 3 pm.The play has gotten great reviews by the East Bay Express and Berkeley Daily Planet. It promises to be a fun afternoon! Tickets at $25 Reservations must be received by November 9. Send your check, made payable to LWVO, to: Bea Rudney, 2639 Carisbrook Dr., Oakland CA 94611, or call Bea at 531-8287 Oakland's 3rd Project Homeless Connect Fair, Monday, November 13, 9:30 am-3:30 pm at 18th Street and San Pablo Avenue. The City of Oakland, in partnership with the City of Berkeley is hosting the event, which is also sponsored by Alameda County Social Services Agency, Health Care Services Agency, and Councilmember Nancy Nadel. Services at the event include outreach, harm reduction supplies such as hygiene kits, warm coats, socks, gloves, rain ponchos, shelter vouchers, and referrals to housing. Services will include: medical care; flu shots, eye care, psycho-social screening and mental health crisis intervention, drug and alcohol programs, sign-ups for county benefits, such as general assistance, Medi- Cal and food stamps, legal services, hot meals, haircuts and massage and more. The Oakland/Berkeley Winter Shelter will open at the Oakland Army Base on this day in conjunction with Project Homeless Connect. Vouchers and transportation will be provided to participants from the fair to the shelter. The 100- bed shelter will remain open through April 2007. Legends of the Night Sky: Orion at Chabot Space & Science Center, runs from November 24 through December 25 . Here's a great weekend evening activity to share with the entire family. This animated 20-minute presentation spectacularly splashes across Chabot's 70-foot domed planetarium - the only fully digital domed projection system in Northern California. The spellbinding tale of Orion, once a mere mortal, is filled with the juiciest elements of Greek tragedy: love, betrayal, banishment and a heroic quest - all culminating in the epic battle with Scorpius that sealed Orion's eternal fate. Follow the show with a visit to the Planetarium. For details go to www.chabotspace.org . Veteran's Day at GGP. A Great Good Place for Books at 6120 La Salle Avenue in Montclair welcomes Doug Zachary and his fellow writers from their new anthology, Veterans of War, Reflecting on War and Peace, on Sunday, November 12 at 7 pm. Friends of Sausal Creek Environmental Speaker Series. Mark your calendars for two informative events:
For details, contact 501-3672 or FOSC Executive Director Sara Marcellino Join in on the International Tellabration Sunday, November 19 .Tellabration! is an annual event of the National Storytelling Network. During the weekend of November 20, people all over the globe gather to tell and listen to stories in the oral tradition. On Sunday, November 19,Arts First Oakland and the First Congregational Church sponsor Oakland's Tellabration at 3 pm. This event is co- sponsored by Stagebridge, Contra Costa Talespinners (Orinda), Delta Wordweavers (Antioch), Mixed Bag (Berkeley), Story Tells (Oakland), Storytelling at the Meetinghouse (San Francisco), and SAAC (Storytelling Association of Alta California). Ample free parking behind the church. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Purchase tickets at www.stagebridge.org or call 444-4755
 Glenview Scholastic Book Fair offers a good selection of children's books at good prices, and is a fundraiser for the PTA and school library. In a special program One for Books, Scholastic will match every dollar and donate books to schools in need around the country. Last year they donated several million dollars worth of books to (mostly) Hurricane Katrina schools. The hours are as follows: Tuesday, 11/28, 8:30 am -9 pm; Wednesday, 11/29, 8:30 am to 6 pm; Thursday, 11/30, 8:30 am - 8 pm; Friday, 12/1, 8:30 am - 9 pm Fruitvale School's 5th Annual School-wide War Against Improper Toys (WAIT) Drive, Tuesday, December 12 . The Oakland Police Department, the Oakland Police Activities league, Oakland Firefighters Random Acts of Kindness, and several elected officials, civic and religious leaders will join in this toy drive to address violence introduced to children through their toys and video games. students and community members are encouraged to trade their toy guns and violent games and toys for non-violent toys and books. For details, call 879- 1170. Teen Rap & Poetry Contest,The Dimond Branch Library is sponsoring a contest for teenagers ages 12 to 19 and will sponsor free workshops to prepare submissions. Teens may submit up to three raps or poems by Friday, November 17. Gift certificates will be awarded to the top three poems or reaps, and all submissions have a chance to be published in a Teen Chapbook. Cottage in the Woods Preschool's Annual Arts and Crafts Faire Extraordinaire! Get a head start on your shopping in this country cottage setting, all decked out for the holidays! Gifts and fun activities for the children while you shop. Ceramics, Glass, Knitted scarves and Hats, Jewelry, Photography and more! Saturday, November 18 from 10-5. 3917 Lyman Road. 531-3121.
 Tuesday, November 14, 7 - 9 pm at Joaquin Miller Community Center, 3594 Sanborn Drive: Join the Butters Land Trust to discuss the future of Butters Canyon, including what should it look like? What should be the focus of future volunteer efforts, and what should the priorities be for the canyon-- to encourage greater biodiversity; to control invasive plants or ? RSVP to David Barron at dwb@csdklaw.com by November 10th. Our office worked closely with neighbors to obtain Measure DD funds to purchase this creekside land in coordination with the Butters Land Trust to protect this relatively undeveloped canyon rich with wildlife. << Neighbors and Conservation Corps volunteers on Creek to Bay Day in September.
 <<
Eagle Scout Candidate Stephen Bennett and his Boy Scout Troop 202 along
with Arthur Hsieh, Chief Paramedic of San Francisco at last weekend's
Oakland CORE Disaster Safety (First Aid) Training i>
Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE) Classes:
A series of free classes to help families and neighborhoods organize for
disaster preparedness. Upcoming CORE I classes on Home & Family
Preparedness are available for
Wednesday, November 18, 6:30 - 9 pm, or
Tuesday, December 5, 3- 5:30 pm.
All classes are held at the Office of Emergency Services, 1605 Martin
Luther King, Jr. Way. Advanced registration required.
Neighborhood Emergency Communications Workshop, Saturday, November 18,
9am 12 noon:
Registration required. Increasingly Neighborhood groups are purchasing
hand held walkie-talkies and other equipment to communicate during a
disaster. This Forum will exchange information and is an opportunity to
establish uniform protocols to strengthen two-way radio emergency
communications within neighborhoods. Learn about developing network
relays and building a neighborhood network. Help restore the Gateway Emergency Preparedness Center. Many of you know that Firestorm survivors Sue Piper of my office and her husband, Gordon, led the efforts to build the Gateway Emergency Preparedness Exhibit Center--overlooking Highway 24. Recently, someone vandalized the site. The City cleaned up the graffiti and repaired the railing, but educational panels needs to be replaced, at a cost of approximately $2000 If you can help, please send your donation to the North Hills Landscape Committee, noting it is for the Gateway repair, 9 North Hill Court, Oakland, CA 94618. For details, contact Gordon Piper
BART is testing a new "smart card" technology to make it easier for Bay Area residents to ride BART. The new card, called "EZ Rider," contains an electronic chip that stores monetary value for rides on BART. It automatically replenishes value from a customer's credit card when the EZ Rider card balance runs low. If you are one of the 250 test riders, or have additional comments or ideas, please contact Kerry Hamill in the BART Local Government and Community Relations Department at 464-6153 or Steve Beroldo in the Marketing and Research Department at 464-6158.
The Oakland School District's Adult Ed Program sponsors a series of 4-hour workshops entitled Urban SPARK- Introduction to Entrepreneurship, a fast-pasted program that delivers information on developing a business around the passions of your life, a 10-step process for creating a business plan; a 10-step process for forming a legal business in California; the 9 internal systems that will stabilize and organize your new business; the two most important marketing strategies you need to know, and other practical information. Class dates: Wednesday, November 15, 6 pm-9 pm at Clinton Park, 655 International Blvd; Thursday, November 16, 9 am to Noon at the Oakland PIC, 1212 Broadway Career Center (1st Floor); Saturday, December 16 9 - Noon at the Oakland Housing Authority, 935 Union Street, and Saturday, January 6 m, 9 am to Noon at the Oakland Housing Authority, 935 Union Street.
Enrollment forms are available online for download at
www.urbanvoice.org and click
on Entrepreneurship or call call 655-1304
or 879-4020. Training. Cost: $15
As part of a plan to
improve conditions at the city's animal shelter, increase revenue, and
provide services such as micro-chipping
pets (now required for licensing), a veterinarian
has joined the staff. Dr. John (Hap) Rutherford, DVM, will be its
first full-time veterinarian. A 1980 graduate of the UC Davis School
of Veterinary Medicine, he brings experience in emergency medicine,
humane society consultation and general large/farm animal practice.
His specialty is in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and fiber optic
endoscopy.
Fruitvale School Seeks Food Donations
for Thanksgiving Food Box Giveaway
. Fruitvale
Elementary School in Oakland will be providing Thanksgiving Food Boxes,
on Friday, November 16 and 17th during the day to community members,
many of whom have relocated from New Orleans to Oakland. Donations of
food, turkeys and Gift Cards are needed and are being accepted from
now through November 16th. If
you have received a Thanksgiving Food Box from the school before or are
in need of one this year, please call the school to reserve a box.
Please contact Mrs. Cherie Ivey, Principal @ 879-1170.
The Melrose Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council provides baskets for needy families at Horace Mann School each year. If you can donate a turkey or other food, contact Carmen Perez in our office.
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir's 21st Annual Christmas
Concert ,
Saturday, December 2, 7:30 pm at the Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway.
Advance tickets--$10-$35, $5 discount to seniors over 62. At the
door--$5 over advance price. Tickets available
at Paramount Theatre Box Office (465-6400-- password OIGC) or at
Ticketmaster (625-TISX) or
www.ticketmaster.com. This event is supported by the Oakland City
Council and funded by the City of Oakland's Cultural Funding Program.
Oakland East Bay Symphony's 2nd Sing Along Messiah Saturday, December 9 at the Paramount Theatre. Mariachi palyers, klezmer artists, cabaret performers and gospel singers join Michael Morgan and the orchestra for Handel's Messiah as you've never heard it before. Whether you sing or not, you'll enjoy this unique spin on a holiday favorite. For tickets go to http://www.oebs.org/page/dec.htm Oakland Interfaith YOUTH Gospel Choir Concert. Their 10th Annual Christmas Concert will be held at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland on Saturday, December 16 at 6 pm. For details, go to www.oigc.org.
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Email: jquan@oaklandnet.com Phone: 510 238-7004 |
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