Council President Pro Tem
 

• Join or start a CORE group on your block--first step is to get to know each other and share contact information. Learn more at the City's website for Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE).
• If you are already CORE trained, consider taking additional trainings through CORE or the American Red Cross.
• Invest in an automatic gas shut off or gas interrupt valve. (Sue Piper's tripped on Friday, PG & E came out on Saturday.) Fires from broken gas lines are a high risk following a major earthquake. Know where your gas meter is located and how to shut if off manually if you don't have an automatic shut off valve.
• Bolt bookcases, other tall, heavy items to the wall--injuries following a major earthquake are primarily due to falling and flying objects. A great resource is 72hours.com.
• Consider retrofitting your older home. Our Retrofit Program was just approved by the City Council.  It institutes a $250 flat retrofit permit fee and a New Homeowner Voluntary Seismic Strengthening Reimbursement Incentive Program for New Homeowners, who need to apply for the program within 60 days of finalizing the purchase and have one year in which to complete the retrofit. They may receive up to $5,000 back from their transfer taxes. Call the City' Planning Department at 238-3444 for details or contact Sue Piper in our office.
• Even if you have retrofitted your home, you might want to consider a professional inspection.  Some studies suggest that as many as two thirds of retrofitted homes do not meet today's standards. Some earthquake insurance companies offer discounts to homes that have been retrofitted.
   
• Earthquake Fault and Liquefaction Maps and other information

• The Federal Mediator, Waste Management and Teamsters will reconvene negotiations on Sunday.  Mayor Dellums has been present at some of their recent meetings.
• Waste Management promises some trucks will be out this weekend to catch up on missed pick-ups.
• The City Council approved aggressive legal actions against WM, which include: seeking monetary damages, claims against the $36 M performance bond, parallel actions against WM's parent company, withholding payments, and refusing to enforce liens for non-payment of services not performed during this period.
• In addition, we asked the Mayor and City Administrator to approach other firms to perform interim and back-up services as well as to begin to explore taking over part or all of the WM contract if we are forced to terminate the contract for non-performance.

Should You Pay Your Bill?

Waste Management has placed ads in the newspapers promising not to charge for missed pick-ups. Most residents have just received bills for the next 3 months of service.  Customers should prorate their bills according to services received.  The City intends to suspend liens for non-payment during this period unless WM can prove that specific customers have not paid for services they have received.  The City Attorney's Office will be developing a process for payment disputes.



How can you help and what should you do?

1. Keep your unemptied garbage on the curb, all 3 cans.  WM service remains sporadic.  Most of the operators answering the phones are from around the country; their replacement workers are clearly not well organized and are missing streets, blocks and homes everywhere. They are coming on the wrong days. Some people have had no service, others have had one (brown), two or all three cans picked up. There is no clear pattern.  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.  Also, NorCal also picks up commercial food waste (stores & restaurants) and is not affected by the lock out.
2. 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.  Long waits "on hold" are also a violation of the contract.
3. 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.
4. AND, call Alameda County Environmental Health Department at 567-6700 where there is a health hazard. The County needs calls from residents so that they can declare lack of trash pick up an official health hazard.
5. When you see a particularly bad build-up of garbage, please also 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. 
6. 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.
7. Please call the the PWA Call Center at 615-5566 if you notice any illegal dumping on the streets.
8. Find updates on our Oakland Recycles webpage.
    

• Even though our plastic bag ban doesn't become effective until January, bring a reusable bag when shopping.
• Try to keep garbage cans closed to keep food waste away from insects and animals.  I use 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, a few flies. Put off some summer garden trimming or store recyclables like bundled newspapers if your gray bin is full.
• Consider downsizing your brown garbage can:  If you're like me, I can squeeze more into my brown can because so much now goes into recycling or my green/compost can.  I am looking more carefully at buying products with the least amount of plastic and other packaging to reduce trash.  I am even considering taking pots and containers for my take out's because most of my current brown can garbage is plastic food packaging.  The Nomad Cafe charges for take-out packaging and they say about one quarter of their customers now bring their own cups, etc.  After the Lock Out consider downsizing to a "mini" can and save money.
• Consider composting in the garden.  About one third of our waste stream is food scraps and food soiled paper, many Bay Friendly Gardeners compost their food in their gardens. StopWaste.org  provides discounted Smith & Hawken compost bins or Wriggly Ranch Worm Bins (for apartments) at a discount.  I'm restarting a pile of garden waste (leaves) for a new compost pile instead of putting it in my green can, this leaves room for more food waste.  This week we are also going to start sorting simple vegetable trimmings (brown lettuce leaves, potato skins, etc) for compost in our garden.
• Chip branches into mulch, if you live in the Wildfire Prevention District: Stack up branches in a pile no more than 4ft x 4ft, then call 238-7388 to schedule a pick up.  We'll bring you back bags of mulch to help conserve water in your garden.
• Household Hazardous Waste: Unfortunately, too many people illegally put hazardous materials into their brown can.  This is a good opportunity to use the County Hazardous materials drop-off site in Oakland, 2100 East 7th Street. Drop off paints, thinners, motor oil, batteries, light bulbs, pesticides, cleaners, home generated "sharps" in safe containers this Saturday, July 21, 9am-1pm. Next dates are August 2-4, Thursday-Saturday, 9am-1pm.

• Metropolitan Horsemen's Association/California Dressage Society Dressage Show, Saturday, July 21--come to Joaquin Miller Park's Sequoia Arena at 9 am for an all day free dressage show. For details, call Metropolitan Horsemen's Association at 531-5449.

• Monthly Outdoor Movie Series Begins Saturday, July 21: The highly successful Old Oakland Outdoor cinema series returns for a fourth season beginning Saturday, July 21 with the screening of  Ray. The 2007 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.

• Dimond Park Picnic, Sunday, July 22nd:  Bring your swim suit, picnic blankets, and the whole family for a fun day in the park.  10 am: 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.  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!

• Other Park & Rec Open Houses in District 4: In honor of National Recreation and Parks Month, the Oakland Parks & Recreation are holding open houses throughout the month at local recreation centers to acquaint neighbors about their programs:
   
  • Monday, July 23, Allendale Recreation Center 3-6 pm
  • Monday, July 30, Brookdale Recreation Center, 12-3 pm
  • Tuesday, July 31, Montclair Recreation Center, 4-6 pm
    
     

• Oakland Municipal Band Concert, Sunday, July 22--a free concert featuring an array of jazz, contemporary, big band, international, classical, marches and show tunes at 1 and 3pm at the Lakeside Park Bandstand.  Additional free concert on Sunday, August 5. An additional concert will be held on August 12 if adequate funds are received. Send your 2007 tax deductible contribution to, Friends of Oakland Municipal Band (FOMB), 1724 Indian Way, Oakland, CA 94611.

• Butters Creek Purchase:  This week the Council approved a second lot purchase in the Butters Creek as part of a partnership with the Butters Land Trust to preserve this relative wild and unspoiled section of creek. The watershed purchase was funded by Measure DD Bonds passed to preserve and restore Lake Merritt, Estuary and Creek areas in Oakland.  Our office was able to arrange an advance loan/ payment so that the Trust could purchase an additional lot bringing the total area under protection from development to about half of the target.

•  Fairyland Theater:  This week we broke ground on a new theater for Children's Fairyland. The new Aesop's Theater will seat about 200 people and will give a wide variety of young performers the opportunity to work in a professional setting.
   

• Are Speed Bumps the Answer? Speed bumps require a petition signed by the owners of property on the street. Before a petition is issued traffic Engineers rely on state traffic engineering criteria to determine if speed bumps are warranted in a particular situation. Some of the criteria involved include:

  • Approval from the Fire Department
  • No conflicts with AC Transit lines
  • Less than a 7% slope
  • Street is more than 300 feet long
  • Proposed speed bump is 18 feet from a driveway & 150 feet from the corner
  • If more than one on a street, more than 250 feet apart

• 783 Arrests in Oakland this week- 70 in Melrose area alone! At this week's Melrose NCPC meeting, Lt. Sharon Williams reported that in the last week police have made 70 arrests in Beat 27X  and 783 throughout the City. "The arrests range from gambling to vandalism to prostitution to auto theft to possession and sales of narcotics to loitering for the purpose of selling narcotics to robbery to assaults with deadly weapons. Please be sure to give the credit to both the many citizens who provide valuable information via the 911, non emergency, and drug hotlines and those who communicate to officers via email and at other venues. As far as the police are concerned, the credit needs to go to the officers working the streets, from the beat officer to the Problem Solving, Crime Reduction, Police and Correction team members and the Sergeants who supervise and teach them."  Last week at the Maxwell Park NCPC she also raised:
   
  • She and other officers will not publicly talk about cases actively under investigation on list servs or at other meetings.  It does not mean that they are not working on the case and she resented the implications of recent emails that the police were not responsive.
     
  • She, other officers, and neighborhood services coordinators do not have time to respond to open questions on list serv's; they are not at computers but out in the field most of the day.  She always comes to NCPC meetings and will answer questions there.
  
   
• Volunteers Needed to Assist with Police Oral Examinations: The Oakland Police Department needs citizens to serve on the Oral Examination Boards for new police cadets.  The Boards usually occur once a month at City Hall and can be one, two, or three days, usually from 8 am-5 pm. There is a short introductory training session; breakfast and lunch are provided.  This is a great way to help OPD,  learn about the Officer hiring process, and meet officers and command staff. Contact Cee Belue, Police Personnel, at 238-3339 or cbelue@oaklandnet.com
   

• Montclair Now has Two NCPCs: For years the Montclair Safety & Improvement Council (MSIC) was the only formal Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) for greater Montlcair. But in reality, it is the NCPC for Beat 13z, which covers the area bounded by Joaquin Miller Road on the south, north of Park Blvd. and the Piedmont border on the west, Moraga and Thornhill on the north  and the Contra Costa border to the east. Residents living north of Thornhill belong to the North Hills NCPC (Beat 13y). MSIC meets second Thursday's; the next meeting Thursday, August 9 (tentatively at Zion Lutheran Church on Park Blvd.) will focus on safety and Measure Y. Captain Jeff Israel, Ann Marks & Kevin Grant of the City's Human Services Department and I will discuss Measure Y. North Hills NCPC meets Wednesday, August 1, 7 pm, Highlands Country Club (110 Hiller Drive). Captain Jeff Israel, Lt. Jim Meeks and Felcia Verdun of Neighborhood Services will answer questions. For a complete list of NCPCs in District 4.

• 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.

• Register for National Night Out Now. Research shows that when neighbors know each other and look out for each other crime goes down. So far about 50 plus groups have signed up.  We will join 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 city staff 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 
   

You can also stop by our Laurel office (4173 MacArthur Blvd, 2nd floor) on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm or Saturdays from 10 am to Noon.
 

• Special Meeting to Prepare for Recruiting of New Principals at Joaquin Miller and Montera Schools: After many years of devoted leadership, Joaquin Miller Elementary's principal Linda Lu and Montera Middle School's principal Cheryl Rodby have retired from the OUSD. The District is now about to launch a hiring process to find new principals for these two Montclair schools. Part of that process includes meeting with the local community and staff  to discuss the schedule, and to seek input as to the characteristics and qualities desired in these schools' next leaders. The meeting will be held at Joaquin Miller School's cafeteria on Monday, July 23: staff 5-6; community 7-8 pm. For details, contact Joel Baum, Manager of Leadership Development at OUSD, at 879-4620.
• Free Moonlight Movies in the Park--The 1st Annual Moonlight Movies in the Park-Free-to-the-Public Outdoor Film Festival in partnership with the Parks & Recreation Department, runs from July 24 - August 18, Tuesdays to Fridays at dusk. Tuesdays at Verdese Carter Community Park, 9600 Sunnyside Street; Wednesdays at deFermery Recreation Center 1651 Adeline Street, Thursdays at Mosswood Park, 3612 Webster Street, and Fridays at Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Alison Avenue (Redwood Road & Highway 13). Call 978-8816 for details.
   
• Montclair/Dimond Tot Lots Slated for New Rubber Resilient Surfacing: Installation of new rubber resilient surfacing will at the Montclair Western Town and Dimond Fire Engine Tot Lots are slated to begin in late summer early fall.  The Montclair Western Town will also be relocated for safety reasons. Watch for details here.
• PAL Trout Fishing for Kids- July 31-August 10- The Police Activities league will be conducting their second  session of trout fishing at McCrea Park.
• Zoomobile Visits Montclair Library Saturday, July 28: Come meet unusual animals when they roll into 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.  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 31, 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.

• Thinking Ahead--Donate to Your Neighborhood School through Safeway 10% Program--Safeway is once again doing it's 10% Back to Schools campaign for Safeway Club Card and eScrip shoppers. Schools usually receive a 1-2% rebate, but during this special promotion, Safeway shoppers can rebate 10% to their favorite school by shopping at Safeway between July 18 and September 4. If you are not enrolled in the Safeway e-scrip program, click here. Supporters of Redwood Heights Elementary who are not enrolled are encouraged to bring in their receipts to the school office in the fall. The receipt's redemption code helps the school claim the value of the purchases.
  
   

• What to Do with Extra Fruit? If you're like Sue Piper in our office, and your fruit trees are producing more fruit than you can use, contact PUEBLO (People United for a Better Oakland) at 452-2010 to arrange for a pick up so that they can deliver fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs to those in our community who do not have access to summer's bounty.

• Art & Historical Exhibits at the Public Library: Our Library is more than just a place to check out books and periodicals; it's a center for exploring what makes Oakland the gem that it is. Two exhibits of interest run this summer:
  • Demolition or "Civic Pride through Civic Improvement," 50 Years of Urban Renewal in Oakland-1957-2007 --Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Clinton Park Project, the nation's first federally-funded urban redevelopment project that took place in the East Bay's oldest neighborhood in 1957. Oakland History Room, through August 31.
  
  
   
  • Artistic Creations of Penelope F. Collins: Home Accessories, Ming Trees & Jeweled Designs on display in the main room at the Lakeview Branch during the month of August.

• Radical Wheels II at McAfee Coliseum, Saturday, July 28 10 am-9 pm--Join the City of Oakland's Office of Parks & Recreation for "Radical Wheels II" a family-friendly event featuring two go-kart tracts (one for children 5-12) and one for children 12 and older), half-pipe skateboard ramps, a remote control car area, family fun zone with jumper and dunk tank, custom car display and much more.  Tickets are only $7 each; children under 5 are free.  For tickets and more information, call 238-PARK and ask for Activity # 94339.101

• 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, 11am-7 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.
   

• 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. If you have questions, or would like to provide assistance, please contact Rick Schiller, Ed's brother.

• 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.

• Total Lunar Eclipse--"Once in a Red Moon", Monday, August 27-Tuesday, August 28: Early bird special through August 15 $10 for adults ($7 youth /senior/ student) after August 15 (13 for adults ($10 youth/senior/student). Purchase advance tickets by calling 336-7373. Other Chabot Space and Science Center activities.

• 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.

• Melrose NCPC's Annual Block Party-August 25.
   

• Maxwell Park's Annual Day in the Park, September 15-- from Noon to 5 pm. Lots of food, fun, entertainment and children and youth activities.

• Allendale Park NCPC Picnic, September 19.
   

• 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

• Sunday, September 30,  World Music

• Sunday, October 7,  Gospel

• Sunday, October 14,  Jazz/Neo-Soul