Moving Oakland Forward Together

As I am writing this, City staff is determining what legal actions we can take to get Waste Management to pick up our garbage. I said at Council on Tuesday that I believe they are in default of their contract with the City, please read more below about what you can do.

It's been a long week for us starting with the Peet's Dimond opening on Sunday, which they tell us was the second largest in their history! Council is wrapping up its legislative year; this week we increased funding for affordable ownership housing projects and passed our plastic bag ban, pigeon, retrofit and other ordinances.

I spent July 4th visiting neighborhood events and then riding with the police on the night shift with OPD to personally observe how both our community and the police observed the holiday. However, the fireworks danger tends to linger so please stay vigilant especially if you have children at home.

Oakmore kids enjoy jumping and paint activities
at July 4th picnic.

Over the summer our office will be attending dozens of community picnics, block parties, and other events...not counting National Night Out when we expect to match last year's record of over 60 parties. If you would like help closing down your street, want us to bring literature, or just want us to attend your neighborhood event, please contact Jennifer Argueta in our office 238-7273.

Council President Pro Tem

1. City Plans Legal Action on Waste Management Lock Out

On Monday afternoon, Waste Management (WM)sent the city notice that their contract with the Teamsters had expired and they were locking out their employees; they planned to have "management" pick up our garbage. By Tuesday it was clear the garbage was not being picked up and the City sent WMAC a formal Notice of Violation. Later this week they revised, their service expectations without city approval, saying they would only pick up the brown cans (mine is still standing on the curb), not the grey recycling. Further legal actions by the City will likely be taken on Monday. Federal mediators will meet with both sides on Monday but no one is predicting quick resolution. What should you do?

Keep your garbage on the curb, all 3 cans. WM is giving out contradictory information. They have hired 200 replacement workers, but are clearly not well organized. A few lucky people had their brown and fewer yet had their grey cans picked up, but most of my district's Tuesday pick-ups are still on the street. Some people were told to put their cans back, only to be missed when a random truck came by. Note: Those of us who live north of Lincoln Avenue have uninterrupted recycling (gray bin) services from California Waste Solutions, they are not affected by the lock out.

If Waste Management fails to provide collection by the end of your regular service day, report the service failure to WMAC Customer Service at 510-613-8710.

ALSO, report the failure to pick up to the City at our Recycling Hotline 510-238-SAVE (7283) or recycling@oaklandnet.com We will use this information for documentation in our legal actions, including possible rebates of your garbage fees. The hotline has increased staff to handle calls.

If you cannot wait and must haul your own garbage to the Davis Street Station, 2615 Davis St, take your WM garbage bill and they are suppose to waive the fees. One constituent was charged and we made arrangements to have the fee rebated.

Please call the the PWA Call Center at 615-5566 if you notice any illegal dumping on the streets.

If you see a particularly bad build-up of garbage, please contact the recycling@oaklandnet.com and copy us. We are especially concerned about apartment buildings and restaurant/commercial areas and any other situation where health and safety will be affected. Luckily, most restaurants and stores use other companies.

Find updates on our Oakland Recycles webpage.

OTHER GARBAGE TIPS:

Try to keep garbage cans closed to keep food waste away from insects and animals. I am using several layers of newspaper to tightly roll our food scraps each night into bundles before I put them in the green bin. So far few odors, no flies.

Consider downsizing your brown garbage can: If you're like me, I can squeeze by one more week with my brown can because so much now goes into recycling or my green/compost can. After the Lock Out consider downsizing to a "mini" can and save money.

It might be time to consider composting in the garden. About one third of our garbage is food scraps and food soiled paper, many Bay Friendly Gardeners compost their food in their gardeners. StopWaste.org will provide discounted Smith & Hawken compost bins or Wriggly Ranch Worm Bins (for apartments) at a discount. I got one very smug email from a friends who has a compost-worm box in her yard and says she could hold out for weeks!

2. Kingsley Wightman: Chabot Founder, Revered Teacher

Yesterday, the long serving former director of Chabot Observatory and former District 4 resident, Kingsley Wightman, passed away. In my twelve years as an Oakland School Board member, I met many great teachers whose sacrifices and dedication touched literally thousands of lives. Kingsley may have been the most inspiring. >> Jean and Kingsley at the new Chabot opening in 2002.

I remember taking my children to the drafty old Chabot; a lively white haired man, who my kids thought of as a "wizard," would delight in making their hair stand on end or shooting a rocket in the gatherings before the planetarium show. The evenings always ended with the telescopes. He introduced us to Saturn; the night we first saw the rings, we were hooked on Chabot and came back again and again.

Kingsley was born in 1916 -- the same year that our 20-inch telescope, Rachel, was opened to the public. He served as Chabot's director from 1947-1991. As a teacher for the Oakland Schools he taught astronomy and science for decades. He led the fight to save the center in the eighties when it was discovered that the Hayward Fault ran under the telescopes and the School District considered closing Chabot. He got the Rotary Club to build a planetarium next to the observatories and then from 1977 to 1991 he served as its director without pay when he retired from the District. Today's Chabot Science Center is largely due to his spirit and vision, but his real monument are the generations of kids with whom he shared his contagious joy in exploring our universe's mysteries. Over 17 years as a Chabot Center Director, I've met his "kids" including a Laurel student who founded the biotech corporation Chiron, the Bret Harte-Skyline kid who went onto make a movie about "Apollo 13" (Tom Hanks), and dozens of UC professors. The Wightman family still lives in District 4 and is working with staff to plan an appropriate memorial.

3. Riding with the Police on the 4th of July

<<Illegal, professional rockets along 74th Avenue.

Every few months I do a police ride along in my district, for the third July 4th I've had the opportunity to see how Oakland celebrates our national birthday. In past years I have gone out with regular patrol officers, special details assigned to fireworks, and command officers resonsible for overall coordination. This year I rode with a sargeant responsible for a team of problem solving officers who usually focus on drug dealing hot spots and spent most of the night in East Oakland, where based on my past experience both the general crime and fireworks were less than past holidays (less drinking, domestic violence calls, fights, burglaries, and no side shows). In most of my district the results also seemed mixed, in some areas fireworks violations were better and some were worse than year.
   Over nine hours many of our stops there were small family gatherings with mostly the so-called "safe and sane" sparklers which many said they thought were legal. The officers issued warnings and sometimes took the fireworks. On other streets I watched the police play cat and mouse with groups of neighbors who clearly knew the professional rockets were illegal and there seemed to be a streetwide attempt to warn the violators and help them hide the big boxes left over as evidence. Hard to know if they really knew how dangerous these rockets are, equal to half a stick of dynamite in many cases, just a few feet away from their kids or whether they considered that left over embers might set their roofs on fire later in the night. We ran into kids shooting bottle rockets into their neighbors very dry hillside yard filled with weeds. We talked to them and their parents seriously of how they were endangering both neighbors' and their own home. The official fire department report is not in, but I am told we had two building fires and two grass fires related to fireworks. Several injuries ranging from minor to hospitalization.
   In past years 50-100 officers were required for crowd and traffic control at Jack London Square, this year the extra officers were assigned to the neighborhoods. They responded to over 400 fireworks calls, issuing 114 citations. They collected 2500-3000 pounds of fireworks, apparently filling our evidence storage to capacity. They also issued several hundred other citations and made 22 felony and and 32 misdemeanor arrests that night. The most unusual action of the night came when a party in West Oakland had to be closed down because of the jet engine they were using to throw flames into the air. Apparently, they had a permit for the engine, but the crowd it attracted was too big to control.
   In short, the police can improve fireworks violation enforcement when neighborhood alert groups work with them, it often comes down to neighborhood attitudes and decisions. As the summer continues and some fireworks continue to be available, it is worth it to discuss these safety issues with your neighbors. Parents cannot assume that our kids, especially teens, have thought out all the consequences. The Fireworks Hotline 238-2373 continues to operate throughout the summer.

4. Updates from Past Issues: Local School Control, Prairie Restoration, Hwy 13, Mayor's Task Force Reports

Swanson's Local Control Bill Goes to Senate July 11: On Monday State Superintendent O'Connell will announce that the first step to local control returning some "governance" roles back to the school board. This happens just as Assemblyman Sandre Swanson's AB45 calling for the state to return local control to OUSD by January 2008 goes before the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, July 11, 9:30 am at the Capitol Building. AB45 would have required this step and is still essential if we are going to establish a clear process for the return to local control. I plan to attend the hearing in Sacramento and encourage other parents to join us. Contact Douglas McLean in Sandre Swanson's office at 286-6170. Letters of support are still wanted.

Serpentine Prairie Restoration at Redwood Park: A long time ago we reported that the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRP) was planning to fence in a portion of the area behind the Richard C. Trudeau Center along Skyline Blvd. to restore the native vegetation on this area of Serpentine Prairie. Brian Wiese, the Park Planner who is coordinating this project for EBRP reports that the plan is being reviewed by California Fish & Game and US Fish & Wildlife prior to granting permits and should be finished with their review by this fall so that they can start restoration actions this coming winter and spring. They will be fencing the restoration area,

taking out non-native trees, eliminating unwanted trails and restoring native plants. They have been working with the California Native Plant Society, dog owners and park neighbors who frequent this popular section of the park. For additional information, contact Brian Wiese at 635-0138, ext 2623.

Warren Freeway Median Landscaping: Cristina Ferraz of CalTrans reports that landscaping the medians along Highway 13 is scheduled to begin September/October so that they can take advantage of the winter rains.

Mayor Dellums' Task Force Reports: Earlier this year, Mayor Ron Dellums recruited more than 800 volunteers to participate on 41 community task forces to help develop a strategic plan for the city. You can now download reports from the Mayor's Task Forces at Mayor Ron Dellum's website.

5. Citywide HIV Screening Campaign Launched

One in four people with HIV do not know they have it -- a major reason why 40,000 new people in the US are infected each year. African Americans are bearing the brunt of new infections. Blacks represent 13 percent of the U.S. population, but African American women accounted for 67 percent of new U.S. AIDS diagnoses in 2004, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women in the United States ages 25 to 44. Although 17 percent of the U.S. teen population is black, African Americans accounted for 70 percent of HIV infections among that age group in 2004. Rates are growing among other minorities and in urban areas.

Mayor Dellums with the support of the Council and the city's health care groups has launched the "Get Screened Oakland Campaign (video)" to get every sexually active Oaklander to get tested. Because of the large numbers of HIV positive people who do not know they have it, HIV is not limited to those who use drugs or involved in prostitution. Today an HIV test only requires a swab of your cheek (no blood draw), results are ready in 20 minutes. Costs about $10, free testing is available. Where to get tested? 1-888-8-END HIV or http://www.getscreenedoakland.org/

6. Plastic Bag Ordinance Takes Effect January 2008, FAQ's

This week the City Council passed our ordinance encouraging reusable bags and banning plastic carry out bags from large retail stores similar to the law passed by San Francisco. I will affect between 200-300 of our largest stores. Stores have 6 months to whittle down their plastic bag supply; the new ordinance takes effect January 7, 2008.

<< Ordinance sponsors Nadel and Quan join Public Works Director Godinez in distributing new City cloth shopping bags.

Each year 12 million barrels of oil go to produce over a trillion single use plastic bags. Californians use over 19 billion bags and throw 600 away every second, resulting in over 147,000 tons of litter. Thousands of marine animals die from ingesting bags or entanglement.

Reusable Bags Are the Real Answer: Frequently Asked Questions

Aren't there problems with paper bags? Yes, that's why we encourage the use of reusable bags. While paper bags also have environmental issues, banning all bags was not an alternative. Paper bags can be recycled at curbside and can be put into green cans for composting, plastic cannot. Paper grocery bags contain at least 40% of recycled material and are more likely to be reused/recycled. Paper is degradable and compostable, plastics are not.

Why not charge a fee for plastic bags to offset the environmental cost? In countries like Ireland this has been very successful. They charge a 15 cent "plastax, " within less than six months they cut plastic bag use by 90% and raised millions for environmental projects. We were interested in this approach and San Francisco was about to experiment with a 5 cent fee last year when the plastics industry did an end run with the State Legislature. In exchange for providing in store plastic bag recycling bins, local governments are prohibited from levying such fees for 6 years.

If grocery stores are providing recycling bins for plastic bags, won't that solve the problem? San Francisco piloted recycling for over a year, less than one percent of the bags were recycled. Those bags that are "recycled" now can't always be sorted into marketable streams and won't unless the whole plastics industry agrees to produce more standardized products, not just grocery stores. "Right now if your try to melt down some of the standard bags, some will evaporate, some will burn, some will melt...it's a mess so the market is very narrow," said one expert from a local recycling facility. That's why some so-called recycled bags get sent to Asia and other Third World counties and end up being burned or in land fill.

Where can we get the nice City of Oakland cloth bags we saw on the news? I am going to try to get some to sell at the Farmers Market and at booths this summer. I understand they cost about $10. I currently have a few that we will be raffling off at events and on-line. Meanwhile, cloth bags are widely available at a variety of stores, on-line -- many as little as 99 cents!

7. More Green Oakland News: Styrofoam Update & CNG

Polystyrene Update: People often ask us what is happening with the polystrene or "styrofoam" ban? After almost six months we believe about 70-75% of restaurants are in compliance. Here are are most frequently asked questions:

Why do I still see restaurants still using polystyreen foam containers? The ban works like our smoking ordinance. Our staff responds to complaints, they don't necessarily go out to inspect unless there is a complaint. We need citizens to report violations. This month's garbage bill included the number to call to report violations, the Recycling Hotline 238-SAVE(7283) or recycling@oaklandnet.com. We wanted to make sure that owners understand the law. We have mailed and handed out multilingual brochures. Each reported restaurant is visited by our staff and given a verbal warning. This month restaurants that have been visited who are still out of compliance will get a formal written warning, followed by a $100 fine.
What other cities are banning polystyrene/styrofoam? This month the San Francisco ban starts, other East Bay cities have also passed the ban or are in the process including Berkeley, Emeryville, Alameda, and Hayward.
Are we seeing an environmental improvement? Dr. Bailey of the Lake Merritt Institute says the styrofoam is significantly down in the Lake and he is looking forward to the plastic bag ban. Just eyeballing the estuary clean-up along the Regional Park MLK Shoreline Park, the bags seem to have less but the trash floats along the bay from other cities so it is hard to tell.

City Opens 3rd Compressed Natural Gas Station in West Oakland: Join the City of Oakland, Port of Oakland, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, California Energy Commission and Clean Energy Fuels at the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the City's latest Compressed Natural Gas Station (CNG) on Thursday, July 26 at 10 at 205 Brush Street. CNG is part of the city's attempt to find alternative fuel sources. CNG is cheaper (about $2/gallon), domestically abundant, cleaner with near-zero emissions, and will bridge to hydrogen fuel. Our City fleet has the highest percentage of alternative fuel vehicles in northern California, about 17%. Many alternative fuel vehicles will be on display, along with a new Ford and a new Honda.

8. New Red Light Camera Enforcement

The Public Safety Committee approved installation of red light camera systems to help increase traffic safety by catching those who run red lights. Studies show the cameras greatly reduce the number of red light violations. Each year across the U.S. crashes associated with the running of red lights claim the lives of more than 800 people and injure an additional 200,000. Intersections are being chosen by the number of reported accidents; however, we believe that accidents are under reported in some parts of our district. We would like your help in putting together a list of intersections where red light cameras are needed. So far locations along Foothill and Thornhill at Moraga have been suggested. Please send your suggestions to Jennifer Crawford in our office.

9. Bike Patrol, Memorial Ride, New Bikeway, New Racks

For several years, Oakland's Park Rangers have sponsored a bicycle patrol in Joaquin Miller Park. This summer they are reactivating and expanding the volunteer program to more large parks in the City. Our office and the Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay will sponsor the effort and contribute colorful t-shirts and first aid kits for the 25 volunteers that the Rangers hope to recruit. Using their own bicycles and carrying a radio so they can communicate quickly with the Rangers, volunteers on bicycle patrol serve as "ambassadors" to hikers and other users of our trails and pathways in large parks. They remind users of park rules and try to mitigate potential conflicts. If you are interested in participating, please contact Sgt. Arturo Bautista at 482-7888.

Memorial Bike Ride on Skyline Drive Sunday, July 29: A memorial bicycle ride will be held on Sunday, July 29th, along Skyline Blvd. in the Oakland Hill in memory of Ed Weiss. Ed was an avid bicyclist in the Oakland and Berkeley Hills for many years. He was struck--head-on--by a motorcycle while lawfully bicycling on Skyline on Saturday, July 29th, 2006, the 8200 block near the 5-way intersection of Skyline Blvd, Shepherd Canyon, Pinehurst and Manzanita roads. Contact Sue Piper for more information.

Phase II of Market Street Bikeway Completed: This new 0.8 mile bikeway runs on Market Street between 3rd and 18th Streets and is part of a three-phase project that will create a Market Street bikeway from the West Oakland Bay Trail on 3rd street just south of Berkeley (scheduled for Spring 2008) to Upper Market from MacArthur Boulevard to 57th Street.

More Bike Racks? Oakland has received another grant to install additional bicycle racks during the coming year. Contact Jason Patton, Oakland Bicycle/Pedestrian Program Manager at 238-7049 for details.

10. Dimond: Picnic, CarShare, Welcome Peets, Artists Wanted

Dimond Park Picnic, Sunday, July 22nd: Bring your swim suit, picnic blankets, and the whole family for a fun day in the park. 10am: Historical Tour by local author Dennis Evanosky; 11:30 am: Abdo Alawdi of Two Star Market, staffs the large charcoal barbecue and will provide cold soft drinks. Two Star Market, Farmer Joe's Market and the Dimond Improvement Association will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, fruits, veggies and other picnic goodies.1 pm: Watch Woman's Will perform Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in Free swim and many activities for kids at Dimond Recreation Center from 11 am-3 pm as part of National Parks Month. We'll be there with our booth!

City CarShare Needs 200 Members to Come to the Dimond: Are you a one car family, senior or avid bicyclist who needs a car occasionally? Want to cuts costs and get rid of a second car used only a few times a month? My office and the Dimond Improvement Association hosted City CarShare this week to discuss possibility of expanding into the Dimond commercial district (right). They are a non-profit organization that provides members with around-the-clock access to a fleet of cars throughout the Bay Area, primarily for short trips, featuring a choice of compacts, pickup trucks, hybrids and Minis. Members sign up for a fee (now waived under a special trial period) and get an electronic key in the mail. Reservations are made online. Driving rates are $4/hour and 44 cents per mile. City CarShare is looking for 200 probable users in the Dimond area or along the MacArthur corridor or for the Fruitvale BART area. Right now the closest CarShare is behind the Grand Lake Theater. If you are interested in being one of the 200, email Richard Cowan in our office or contact the Dimond Improvement Association. We plan to have information at the Dimond Picnic and Laurel Music Festival.

Welcome Peets: By the time I stopped by on Sunday morning at 8:30 am for their opening day, all the tables were taken. Peet's manager Scott SooHoo (center), a Crocker Highland's resident, was still worried that it was a bit slow, but after all it was a Sunday. By the time Richard Cowan called me at our Farmers Market booth at 10:30 am, the line was out the door and our email from them this week said the opening was the second most successful in their history! Thanks to everyone for making them feel welcome. If you live in Oakmore, along Lincoln or above, it's a very convenient stop just before the TWO 580 entrances and there is free parking in the back right on your way to the on ramp! Help us keep the Dimond economic revitalization on a roll.

Artists Wanted for Mural and Streetscape Projects for the Dimond: Peets is donating its facade grant for a mural replacement and our office is looking for artists to work on streetscape designs that could encompass the 580 freeway underpass, sidewalk art and other custom designs similar to the Laurel Streetscape elements. In earlier community meetings there was desire to include natural elements from Sausal Creek and Dimond Canyon and recognition of the area's history. We will be holding a meeting for artists and interested community members in the fall. Please contact Richard Cowan at 238-7041 of my office if you would like to participate.

11. Auto Break-ins; Ice Cream for National Night Out

Police Announce Arrest in Merchant Area Crimes: At a special safety meeting of the Montclair Village Association with OPD, the police reported that they have a suspect in custody who they believe is responsible for robberies in West and North Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda. Twenty one year old Marvin M. Johnson was arrested June 29^th outside his residence in West Oakland. Information provided by OPD during the meeting indicates that the suspect has confessed to more than 20 robberies. Detectives are presently conducting further investigations to determine if he is linked to recent Montclair robberies.

Deployment of Police in our Neighborhoods: Our staff have attended several different meetings in District 4 over the past few weeks where residents requested increased patrols in their areas. Police have recently increased their patrols --especially in the business districts. One of the ways you can help identify priority locations is to be sure to file a police report whenever you are the victim of a crime. The police are data driven--the commanders look at the statistics and 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.

Auto Break-ins are Crimes of Opportunity: Recent police reports from around District 4 show that there has been an increase in the number of car break-ins. Just this week, a 13-year old Caucasian male was arrested for drug possession on a quiet Montclair street. It has been our experience that an increase in car break-ins in residential neighborhoods in the hills is typically linked to drug use by someone who either lives nearby or is a regular visitor to someone who lives in the neighborhood. Please remember to secure your car by:

Not leaving anything of value visible in the car--take your cell phone and purse with you; put lap tops and other values in the trunk before you start your car.
Always lock your car when you get in, and when you get out.
Consider getting a car alarm or use a steering wheel lock.
When at home, try to avoid parking on the street-- use your garage or driveway and install motion detector lights.

Free Ice Cream for the First 20 Groups in District 4 to Register for National Night Out Now. Dreyer's Ice Cream has provided our office 20 buckets of ice cream to help encourage neighborhoods to organize for National Night Out, the nation's night out against crime is Tuesday, August 7, 7-9 pm. Contact Jennifer Argueta in our office at 238-7273 for this first come, first served opportunity. So far we have about 10 more buckets left. Research shows that when neighbors know each other and look out for each other crime goes down. Last year District 4 had over 60 parties. We joined with neighbors to have neighborhood block parties, ice cream socials, potlucks or other outdoor event to build neighborhood spirit and unity - the first defense against crime. My staff and I will visit each party in the district and will bring "door prizes." If you Register your party online, or contact Brenda Ivey with the Oakland Police Department at 238-3091, you will not need a City Permit to block off your street for National Night Out. The deadline to register is 5 pm on Friday, July 27th. Only registered groups will be eligible for a visit! Block Party Guide

Use Your NCPC to Help Set Community Safety Priorities: Our office tries to monitor the many listservs in our District where neighbors register concerns about crime and traffic safety but you cannot consider this the same as contacting police or our office directly. Police beat priorities are set at the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils (NCPCs). We encourage neighborhoods and representatives from Neighborhood Watch Groups to participate in their NCPC's. Schedule

12. Measure Y Violence Prevention: Pathways to Change

Recently some of our neighborhood listserv's have asked questions about Violence Prevention Programs, especially those funded by Measure Y. Some people do not remember that Measure Y funds Fire, Police and Violence Prevention Programs. We are going to run profiles of some the of the Measure Y Prevention programs as they come to their first year evaluations:

PATHWAYS TO CHANGE: Typically two-thirds or more of the youth who become involved with juvenile court become repeat offenders within a year to 18 months. This intense case management program (1:10-12) program has cut the recidivism rate in about half. (2006 Evaluation)

Ricardo (name changed), 17, was referred to Pathways to Change in the Spring of 2006 for a property crime. This was Ricardo's third referral to Alameda County's Probation Department. When Ricardo's Pathways to Change case manager, Jorge Garcia, completed his assessment of Ricardo and his family, he discovered disturbing but not uncommon dynamics. Ricardo's mother is a single parent who works two jobs to support three of her four children. Ricardo and his two younger siblings have no relationship with their father and Ricardo's mother cannot provide the three children with substantial supervision because of her intense work schedule. Ricardo lives in a neighborhood where gang members often congregate in front of his apartment building.

Immediately, Jorge got Ricardo involved in community-based activities that gave Ricardo a sense of accomplishment and built his vocational skills. Jorge advocated in court on Ricardo's behalf to have him assessed by The Regional Center to determine if he were eligible and appropriate for their case management services. He also pressed school administrators to assess Ricardo for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). As a result of months of work with Ricardo, his family, The Regional Center, Probation and the Oakland Unified, Ricardo will have full case management services from The Regional Center until 2009 and is enrolled in Oakland Technical High School, where he will receive additional educational assistance based on his IEP. Finally, he receives mental health counseling, based on his specific needs. His story is a success because he is finally receiving the support for issues that he has been facing long before his involvement in the juvenile justice system. Without question, Ricardo would not have received this support without Jorge's advocacy. Measure Y supports Pathways and its collaboration with different system partners to ensure support for young people in Oakland. For more information on Measure Y Violence Prevention Programs....

13. Help Us Attract Retail, Last Chance for Shopper Survey

The City of Oakland is working with a team led by Conley Consulting Group to create a citywide strategy to attract more retail stores and to improve the retail experience in Oakland. An important part of the process is to learn about consumer perceptions and preferences. This online survey measures the shopping patterns of Oakland shoppers and ends this week. You can also participate in public input meetings:

Monday, July 9, 6 - 8 pm, Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd
Wednesday, July 11, 6 - 8 pm, Fruitvale/San Antonio Senior Center, 3301 E. 12th, Street, at Fruitvale Village near the Fruitvale BART station.

14. School &Youth News

PAL Trout Fishing for Kids- July 10-20: The Police Activities league will be conducting their first session of trout fishing at McCrea Park. The second session runs from July 31 to August 10.

Campfire Sing-along at McCrea Park Saturday, July 14th: Enjoy a great summer family tradition at the "Trout Pond Park" on Carson Street near Highway13. Watch here for details about time.

Zoomobile Visits Libraries This Summer: Come meet unusual animals when they roll into your branch library this summer: Dimond Branch, Wednesday, July 18 at 11 am, and Montclair Branch, Saturday, July 28 at 2 pm.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Knight Bust Tour Kicks Off a Month of Magic at the Library: Help celebrate the release of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Wednesday, July 11, 4-7pm -- Scholastic Corporation's Knight Bus, (based on the purple, triple-decker bus described in the Harry Potter books), will be stopping at the Oakland Main Library at 125 14th Street. Young people will have a chance to board the bus and make a video about why they love the Harry Potter books. Kids need to pre-register by calling the Main

Library's Children's Room at 238-3615. Friday, July 20 8pm-Midnight, children and teens are invited to come to the Main Library in costume for an evening of incredible entertainment, including live bands. A free raffle of the new book for the first 100 winners. Saturday, July 21, 8-10am: Dimond Library's Harry Potter Release Party for Early Risers--crafts, games, prizes, refreshments and more. Come dressed as your favorite Harry Potter character-- Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue, 482-7844. Harry Potter Read-Aloud!-Listen to readings from the book for an hour every day starting Monday, July 23 at 4 pm at the following branches: Melrose Branch, 4805 Foothill Blvd. Harry Potter Crafts: Make a magical dragon with the artists from MOCHA, the Museum of Children's Arts:

Saturday, July 21, 2 pm, Montclair Branch, 1687 Mountain Blvd.

Tuesday, July 31, 6 pm, Cesar Chavez Branch, 3301 east 12th Street, Ste. 271

Wednesday, August 8, 2 pm, Asian Branch, 388-9th Street

Complete list of summer activities for children at the Oakland Public Library.

Laurel Books Sponsors Harry Potter Party July 20, 10 pm; Luan Stauss of Laurel Books on MacArthur Blvd.in the Laurel reports that there will be entertainment, games, snacks, prizes and giveaways (for grownups too) "People keep asking if adults will be here. Well, who brings the kids? And so far we've had about half and half kids and adult fans enjoy our parties so yes, everyone can come! And yes, you can dress up or wear your jammies." Saturday Morning, July 21 Laurel Books opens at 9am for those who can't stay up on Friday.

15. More Community News

Meet the Authors at a Great Good Place for Books this month: Elizabeth McKenzie, author of Stop That Girl, will be reading from her new novel, Mac Gregor Tells the World, on Wednesday, July 11th at 7 pm. Berkeley's Mary Mackey will be visiting GGP on Thursday, July 12th at 7 pm. She will reading from her new novel, The Notorious Mrs. Winston. Literary Nights in Montclair welcomes Diana Abu- Jaber on Monday, July 16th at 7 pm. She will be reading from her new novel, Origin. All readings take place at a Great Good Place for Books at 6120 La Salle. Call 339-8210 for details.

Open Houses at District 4 Parks in July: In honor of National Recreation and Parks Month, the Oakland Parks & Recreation are holding open houses throughout the month at local recreation centers. Meet the staff and learn about programs in District 4:
Oakland Municipal Band Summer Concerts: Bring family and friends along with a blanket or lawn chairs to the bandstand in Lakeside Park on the shores of Lake Merritt for free concerts at 1 pm on July 15, July 22, July 29 and August 5.

Monthly Outdoor Movie Series Begins Saturday, July 21: The highly successfull Old Oakland Outdoor cinema series returns for a fourth season beginning Saturday, July 21 with the screening of "Ray." The2007 season features four award-winning films, including three Oscar Winners: "Little Miss Sunshine" on August 18; "The Day the Earth Stood Still" on September 15, and "Babe" on October 20. The series transforms Ninth Street between Broadway and Washington into an outdoor cinema with movies beginning at dusk. Limited seating is available; filmgoers are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. For more information, call 238-4734.

Fireworks at World Music and Jazz Festival planned for Middle Harbor Shoreline Park on Saturday, July 28th: When Jack London Square announced that there would not be a fireworks display on July 4th, the Port of Oakland tried to find another venue for the holiday. That wasn't possible on such short notice, but they are adding fireworks to the Portfest World Music and Jazz Festival at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park at 7th Street Saturday, July 28th, 11 am-9 pm. Note: Last week we posted the wrong poster from 2005. This year's free outdoor music festival will feature Pharoah Saunders, Ledisi, Mo'Rockin Project, Anthony Blea y tu Charango, Luna Angel.

Save the Date, Saturday, August 11, 11 am-2pm, Dedication of Brookdale Park as a Park for Peace: As part of the Community Spirit Project and Project Mosaic, Brookdale park will be one of 12 Oakland parks declared drug free and designated for supporting and fostering positive lives and life-giving activities for youth and their families. Volunteers are needed to assist with events that day: peace pole planting, spoken word, music and Ribbons for Peace Project. Contact Michael Foster at 535-5632.

16. Save the Date: Summer Street Fairs & Festivals

Woodminster Summer Theater Season Opens With Westside Story This Weekend July 13-22, 8pm: Enjoy the improvements at Joaquin Miller Park, bring a picnic, and then enjoy classic musicals under the stars this summer. My office capital fund has put in some new picnic tables. Kids Come Free: Children 16 and younger who are accompanying paying adults to any performance are admitted free. These tickets are not reserved in advance. Present your adult ticket at the box office 7 pm-8 pm on the night of the performance and receive a free child's ticket as close to your adult ticket as possible, or purchase your adult ticket on the night of the performance to guarantee they'll be together. Restrictions apply. Click here for details.

<<Performers from Woodminster's West Side Story perform at the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council's July 4th Picnic.

4th Annual Healthy Living Festival at Lake Merritt Garden Center, Friday, July 20: This year's Healthy Living Festival brings together older adults and their supporters throughout Alameda County to experience a vast array of resources and lifestyle choices that define healthy living and successful aging. Planned activities include a 3.2 mile Walk-A-Thon around Lake Merritt; more than 70 educational resource booths; medical and podiatry check-ups; bone density screenings and benefits checks; information and registration for older adult walk clubs; nutrition and cooking demonstrations and a mini-farmers market; entertainment and much more. For details, call 729-0852 or visit the USOC website.

Laurel World Festival, Saturday, August 11: Join us between the arches in the Laurel Business District along MacArthur Blvd, 35th Ave to High St, in the Heart of Oakland for food, music, & booths. Contact the Laurel District Association for booths and other information.

Save the Dates --Sundays in the Redwoods: Here's the perfect way to build community and have a great time. Organize a pot luck with friends and neighbors at one of the upcoming free concerts at the Woodminster Amphitheater:

Sunday, September 23, Oakland East Bay Symphony (right)

Sunday, September 30, World Music

Sunday, October 7, Gospel

Sunday, October 14, Jazz/Neo-Soul