The Lunar New Year season opens with the Chinatown Bazaar this weekend. I'll be at the noon kick-off and my supporters and I will have a booth along this multi block street fair. If you haven't visited this neighborhood in while, this might be a good opportunity to enjoy Chinatown, one of the nation's most vibrant. In the booths and stores you find everything you need to celebrate a traditional New Year of the Tiger:  special foods, decorations, several stages of entertainment, and lion dancing.  Don't forget to have dim-sum at Peony, Tin's, or Legendary Palace or try one of the regional Chinese restaurants.  Take home a roast duck from a delicatessen for dinner or buy the freshest fish in town (live from the tanks).

 

Flowers and plants are part of decoration for Lunar New Year, you will find a wide range at the bazaar.

   While you're there check out the Oakland Chinese Cultural Center, Asian Library and Lincoln Square Recreation Center for low cost lessons and activities year round.  If you bring kids the Junk Boat play structure at nearby Lincoln Square is a good break.
 

This was an especially packed week and we thank you for the many invitations to community events. The Woodshop at Montera Middle School was jam-packed Thursday night as students, former students (left), parents and teachers celebrated the refurbishing of Oakland's last remaining school woodshop. The highlight of the evening was to hear from alumni about the impact the woodshop and former teachers had on their lives--and then to hear from today's students how excited they are to come to class each day and create something on their own. Many alums--and their parents--brought back hand made treasures to share.Check out the clip from KGO-TV News.  >>7th grader Callum McGrath shares his excitement about learning woodcraft in Montera's Woodshop.

     February is a wonderful  month to celebrate Oakland's Rich Cultural heritage and events:

• Black History Month   (click here for a list of local events)
• Lunar New Year 
• Valentine's Day
• and our Local Heroes Celebration--deadline for nominations Monday, February 8. (see item #4)

• FREE Bulky Item Drop Off, Saturday, February 6, 9 am-Noon at two locations: Help us reduce illegal dumping and clean out your garage and closets.  This is a good opportunity for renters in large apartments not covered by the annual free bulky pick-up available to home owners and apartment buildings of 4 units or less.  The event is open only to Oakland residents (proof of Oakland residency is required) , and is limited to collection of appliances, mattresses, electronic waste, and car tires. Questions? Call the Recycling Hotline - 238-SAVE- or email recycling@oaklandnet.com.

• E-Waste Recycling at Bret Harte Middle School, Saturday, February 6, 10 am-4 pm (3700 Coolidge Avenue, just above MacArthur Blvd.: Support Bret Harte students' trip to Washington, Dc by bringing: Televisions, VCR & DVD Players, Stereos & Car Stereos, Computers & Laptops, Hard Drives, Keyboards, Mice, Docking Stations, Monitors, Printers, Fax Machines, Scanners, Telephones & Cell Phones, Answering Machines & Modems, Radios & Alarm Clocks, Typewriters, Walkmans & Discmans, Integrated Circuits, Capacitors, Resistors, Printed Circuit Boards, Wire, all Metals, Networking Equipment, and Lab Equipment. Please do NOT bring: Appliances (Refrigerators, Toasters, Microwaves, and Coffee Machines), Electronic Toys, Drills, Saws, Electric Power Tools, Batteries, any Hazardous Material or Liquid, Glue, Paint Buckets, any Liquid in metal containers, or any Containers previously containing hazardous materials.

• Weed 'n Clean in Montclair Pocket Park (Moraga/Thornhill), Saturday, February 6, 9 am-Noon: Bring your garden gloves and water for a good 3 hours of housekeeping. Rain is forecasted for the week so lets hope it stops before Saturday...nice loose soil makes for easy weed pulling. Coffee and bagels will be provided. Details, contact Jill Broadhurst.

• Gardening with FOSC at William Wood Park on McKillop, Saturday, February 6, 9 am-Noon: Volunteers are planting beauty, removing weeks like Scotch-broom, mulching and enjoying the park. They'll garden if misting, but will cancel if raining. Details, contact Lisa Lemus.

• Planting in the Rain in Maxwell Park, Saturday & Sunday, February 6 & 7, 11 am: Friends of Maxwell Park just purchased 66 plants with their Local Heroes Award from our office. They plan to work a few hours over the weekend to get the plants in the ground ASAP so that they will be strong enough to go mostly without water over the summer. For details, contact Nancy Karigaca.

• Shepherd Canyon Park Clean up, Saturday, February 6, 9 am-Noon: Shepherd Canyon Eco Pullers and Planters meets the first Saturday of the month, usually at Escher Meadow. Details, contact Adrienne Bryant.

• Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar, Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7, 10 am - 5 pm, 9th & Franklin Streets and Pacific Renaissance Plaza: Continuous Live Entertainment: Little Prince & Princess Contest by Oakland Chinatown Lions Club Lion Dance, Shaolin Martial Arts, Asian Cultural Dances & Music. Vendors selling Flowers, Gifts, Food, Clothing,Toys and valuable Community Information. Free.

• Peace Conference for Youth Violence Prevention, Tuesday, February 9, Claremont Hotel: Mayor Ron Dellums hosts a conference welcoming Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts to discuss existing programs for youth that incorporate the faith community. Selected local clergy or congregations who have made a significant contribution to community will be honored and they will share their innovative approaches to youth violence prevention. To submit nominations for members of the faith community who have made a significant difference in the community, please visit: www.oaklandnet.com, www.mayorrondellums.org or email: MayorsPeaceConference@oaklandnet.com. 

 <<Students sell cookies and baked goods on College Avenue last weekend.

The out pouring of creative events continues as in the Bay Area discussions are moving from emergency charity towards lasting ties to help Haiti move beyond the incredible poverty.  Even before the earthquake, 80 percent of Haitians had no regular access to clean water.  Congresswoman Lee and others urge support to groups like Haiti Action for continued support of democratic change.
 

• Our original list of aid groups can be found here.

• Another Donation Source is MedShare: a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the environment and healthcare through the efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to underserved healthcare facilities in developing countries. Their shipments of medical supplies and equipment have brought healing and the promise of better lives to 80 countries and countless patients.  MedShare is a top ranked charity by Charity Navigator, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with a second distribution center in San Leandro.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Concerts by Kalbass Kreyol & Friends, Monday, February 15 at Yoshi's in Oakland: 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square. Call 238-9200 for details.
 

 

• 10 facts from the IRS About Donating to Haiti:

1. A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return, which you will be filing this year.
2. The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. 
3. To be eligible for a deduction on the 2009 tax return, donations must be made after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.
4. In order to be deductible, contributions must be made to qualified charities and can not be designated for the benefit of specific individuals or families.
5. The new law applies only to cash contributions. 
6. Cash contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card may be claimed on your federal tax return.
7. You must itemize your deductions in order to claim these donations on your tax return. 
8. You have the option of deducting these contributions on either your 2009 or 2010 tax return, but not both. 
9. Contributions made to foreign organizations generally are not deductible. You can find out more about organizations helping Haitian earthquake victims from agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development
10. Federal law requires that you keep a record of any deductible donations you make. For donations by text message, a telephone bill will meet the record-keeping requirement if it shows the name of the organization receiving your donation, the date of the contribution, and the amount given. For cash contributions made by other means, be sure to keep a bank record, such as a cancelled check or a receipt from the charity. Receipts should show the name of the charity, the date and amount of the contribution.
     

For more information see IRS Publication 526
 

Charitable Contributions and Publication 3833 Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations.
 

To determine if an organization is a qualified charity visit IRS.gov, keyword "Search for Charities". Note that some organizations, such as churches or governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed on IRS.gov. 

>>This T-shirt was just one of the items that I helped raffle off last weekend at the fundraiser held at Oliveto's to aid Haiti.
 

• Mayor Dellums Announces "Putting Oaklanders to Work Stratagies at Annual Business Luncheon This Week: During the annual business luncheon presented by the six Chambers of Commerce of Oakland and the Clorox Company, Mayor Dellums unveiled the City of Oakland's "Putting Oaklanders to Work" strategies, which will generate more than 5,000 jobs over the net three years. He issued a call to action to the business community to take full advantage of available resources to hire Oakland residents.As part of the federal stimulus efforts, the City has been work with other public agencies, including the Oakland Unified School District, Oakland Housing Authority, Port of Oakland, BART, private employers, labor groups and job triaining groups like Cypress Mendela, Oakland PIC, Laney College and others, who have committed to facilitating employment opportunities for Oakland residents. These efforts have resulted in approximatley $190 million in federal stimulus funds and created opportunties fir significant job generation.The City is partnering with Alameda County, the Oakland PIC and other partners to create a streamlined process for employers to hire workers, including access to other employer incentives. More information can be found at www.oaklandstimulus.com

• Campaign Limits Will Go to the Public Ethics Commission:  This week the Rules Committee declined to discuss City Attorney Russo's proposal to double City campaign limits.  Even though the item was not noticed, it was proposed in a report that was suppose to update the city ordinance on elections for conform with Ranked Order Voting.  Members of the League of Women Voters opposed the proposal as did I.  Council members Brunner and Quan recommended that the issue be considered by the Public Ethics Commission; Council Member Delafuente as did City Attorney Russo recommended that the Council take up the issue immediately.

Oakland Parks & Rec Conducts Focus Groups to Plan the Future of Our Parks:  The next focus group will look at Lake Merritt, February 18, 7-8:30 pm, at the Garden Center.  To find our when your favorite park will be discussed, check out this schedule.

• Mayor Dellum's State of the City Address, Monday, February 22, 6 pm, City Hall Council Chambers: The meeting is open to the public and can also be seen on KTOP-Cable 10 or with live stream video on your computer. For details, contact the office of the Mayor at 444-2489.
   

• City Website Updated: This week the Police Department's section was updated. After a long wait the City's website has finally gotten a makeover.  A beta version was launched this week.  Let the designer know what you think at feedback@oaklandnet.com

• The Oakland Arts Website is a project that has been on a parallel development and is linked to the City Website.  It is part of an effort to develop a joint and comprehensive marketing campaign for the Oakland multicultural arts scene.

• Central Estuary Plan Alternative Goes to Committee Tuesday:  Sorry, this meeting has been changed repeatedly.  After a year of meetings the Council will be voting on an alternative plan for the future of Oakland Central Sanctuary area.  The plan includes 2,450 new residential units, industrial uses for biotech and food industry (but a loss of almost a million square ft of industrial space, 260,000 square ft of commercial office and retail space (mostly along High), increased mixed work/live residential areas, extension of the Bay Trail and biking trails, estuary park spaces, and a PG&E green jobs training center.Meetings are:
  • February 9, 2 pm  Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee, Hearing Room 1, Oakland City Hall
  • February 16, 7 pm City Council (Pending approval by the CED Committee, Council Chambers, City Hall.

• Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV) Set for November 2, San Leandro and Berkeley to Share Costs: After a long campaign to stop the implementation of IRV passed by 69% of the voters in 2006; Instant Run-off Voting for Oakland municipal elections passed its last hurdle this month. Last week the San Leandro City Council voted to proceed with IRV and Berkeley's City Manager confirmed they, too, would be participating. This means the three cities will share the costs of implementing the new program including software and equipment costs not to exceed $1.3 million; Oakland's share will be about $900K maximum or just a bit more than a June primary. The mayor's race and elections for Council districts 2 (Kernighan), 4 (Quan), and 6 (Brooks) will be held on November 2nd without a June primary.  Voters will be asked to rank their 3 top choices in the fall when nearly twice the number of Oaklanders vote.

• Council Sets Second Budget Workshop for February 16; Needs About $9 M More to Balance Budget for This Year:  In Oakland with lower tax revenues in a continuing recession, budget overruns including police overtime, disputes with Coliseum teams over parking and ticket taxes, and needed funding for a police academy, the Administration projects budget shortfalls ranging from $18  million for FY 2009-2010 and  $25 million for FY 2010-2011.

Last month we made less controversial adjustments including:  1) Transferring unused funds balances from past bonds or projects, 2) Requiring all departments that are over budget to reduce expenses and stay within budget or come back to the Council with a request to increase expense (Police, IT, and the Mayor's Offices); 3) To return with a report on non-controversial, realistic surplus property sales.   One such property under consideration includes the old fire house in the Dimond that is now used for storage.


On February 16, 5 pm, the Council will  consider more proposals to get the budget in balance before the end of the year. (Note this is a new date to give staff more time to develop proposals.)
 

• Some program cuts will most likely be considered.  Although the Mayor suggest no cuts until the end of the fiscal year, I and others worry that will just increase our debt.
• Freezing all hiring
   
• A settlement with the Coliseum teams and the County would provide the additional revenues from the unpaid parking taxes, $1 million.
   
• New billboard contracts, $1-2 million
• New more efficient collection and billing systems, $2 million.
• Eliminating the renting of facilities for city programs, $.5 million
• President Jane Brunner suggested a new tax for police. I am recommending a citywide poll on priorities that can be used for reorganizing city services or if there is support, considering ballot measures.
• I am recommending a blue ribbon committee of community and city staff to make recommendations on the City's long term structural budget deficits.

• Feather River Camp Reservations for 2010 Now Open:  In these economic times a vacation at the City owned Feather River Camp might be right for you.  Fundraising and reservations kicked off the season last weekend with an ice cream social.  Donations to send low income kids and families to kids are always needed.
   
• Sign the Petition to Major League Baseball for A New Oakland Site:  A waterfront ballpark would augment the billions of dollars in direct investment into the Jack London Square area, and the planned new neighborhood near Oak and 9th streets with 3,000 residences, parks, retail space and a new marina. This Tribune article includes maps of the locations.

A MLB committee is expected to make a recommendation Monday. The A's owner favors San Jose in the Giants franchise area. The Mayor and Council agree that a new Oakland stadium would have to be funded from combined private and non-general fund sources unlike the Raider deal which costs the City and County $24 million each year.  Redevelopment funds (which come from bonds based on future taxes from structural improvements) and possible federal infrastructure funds could be tapped.   To sign a petition to Major League Baseball, go to Let's Go Oakland!
 

 

• Dimond Welcomes Flavor Brigade: Dimond's newest business owners host delicious deserts including old time favorites like ice cream and frozen bananas, and Italian Water Ice straight from Philadelphia. Italian Water Ice is a non-fat, non-dairy alternative to ice cream, made with fruit and water. Thirty different flavors! Stop by at 3540 Fruitvale Avenue.

• Dig In: Montera to (re)Landscape the Front of School: Thanks to a matching $5,000 grant from my office, the Montera PTO is set to landscape the front of the school. Montera parent and landscape designer, Susan Harder, has created a plan to transform into a reality during a series of Saturday work days over the next few months. Can you pitch in? Please e-mail PTO Facilities Chair, Jon Carresse at facilities@monterapto.com.

• "Growing the Laurel" Program, The Chapel at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, Tuesday, February 9, 7-8:30 pm:  The Laurel Village Association meeting will showcase 3-dimensional models prepared by Mills College students to provide a "user-friendly" approach to understanding the city's update of its zoning code.The Mills College Public Policy program is conducting community workshops to demonstrate how the updates to building heights, density and uses might impact MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel and to collect community input. All are welcome to attend the meeting at 3725 High Street.

• How to Grow Your Own Dinner at Dimond Rec Center, Saturday, February 13: 7th in the 16-class series "How to Grow Your Own Dinner", will cover the various kinds of compost, how it's made, different ways to manage your own processes, handy homemade sifters, preferences of different plants, and more. Cost is $5, paid to Oakland Parks & Recreation. Everyone is asked to register once for the series, but pay the fee every class attended. Presenter is Kelly Harvey, an Alameda County Master Gardener and resident of the Dimond district. Everyone over 12 years of age is welcome, whether you have land or not.

• LAMMP Project Begins: With funding from MTC and my office, the formal design project for the Laurel Access for Mills and Maxwell Park project (LAMMP) was officially introduced to the Maxwell Park NCPC by Clair Antonetti of its Blight and Beautification Neighborhood Action Team, the consultants, Kimley-Horn and Associates, and Richard Cowan of my office.  LAAMP will study pedestrian and bicycle access from High Street to Seminary Boulevard on MacArthur Boulevard, with an eye toward constructing a fully landscaped path oriented toward pedestrian and bicycle safety over this stretch of congested roadway.  This project has been a long-standing public-private partnership with the Maxwell Park NCPC and Mills College.  The first public meeting of LAMMP will take place in about a month and will be announced in my newsletter.

• February Events at Laurel Book Store: Check out what's happening at Laurel Book Store, 4100 MacArthur Blvd. Call 531-2073 for details.
   
  • Friday, February 12, 7 pm: Local author Page Hodel celebrates her new book Monday Hearts for Madelene.
  • Saturday, February 27, 6 pm: Meet local author Elaine Beale as she discusses her new novel Another Life Altogether.
  • Kid's Story Time, Wednesdays at 3:30 pm: Bring the little ones for a nice afternoon treat.

• Nominate a Local Hero: Each year, we honor outstanding volunteers from our different neighborhoods as Local Heroes. We'll be honoring the 2010 Local Heroes on Saturday, February 20 from 10 until Noon. Please send in your nominations for a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in community services. This year we plan to make awards to at least 3 citywide heroes in addition to those from our neighborhoods. Last year's nominees can be found here.

We ask that you describe the nominee's outstanding volunteer accomplishments. Please include a digital photo and contact information for both the nominee and yourself. Check out previous winners for ideas (Note, previous winners may only be nominated for new projects). Deadline for nominations has been extended to Monday, February 8.  Nominati ons should be sent to Ellen Dillard in our office at edillard@oaklandnet.com  

 

• Coalition Starts Gathering Signatures for Fall 2010 Measure to Prohibit the State from Taking, Borrowing or Redirecting Local Taxpayer Funds dedicated to public safety, emergency response and other vital local government services.  The Oakland City Council endorsed the measure; we voted to join the coalition because it may be the only way to keep the state from constantly taking local property taxes, redevelopment money, gasoline taxes, highway funds and other revenue to balance its budget.  The Measure will specifically stop this year's state grab of more than $41 million in Oakland Redevelopment funds.  For more information.

• Governor releases the first version of the FY 2010-11 State Budget.  Faced with a projected state deficit of $20 billion, the Governor's proposed budget calls for permanently cutting state worker salaries, deep reductions to Medi-Cal and welfare and numerous other cuts while simultaneously seeking to procure supplementary revenues from the federal government. 
  • State funding formulas would  reduce payments to schools by $2.4 billion.
  • 4.8% surcharge on residential and commercial property insurance to pay for fire protection, reviving a past proposal that lawmakers have rejected. The surcharge would raise $238 million this fiscal year and $479 million in the next one.
  • The state's current 6 percent sales tax on a gallon of gasoline would be dropped, and replaced by a 10.8-cent increase in per-gallon excise taxes. In complicated swap and switch, gas would go down a few cents but the state would take the rest cutting out the share that now goes to cities to fix roads, public transit authorities like AC Transit, and to schools.
  • The fastest-growing segment of state spending over the past decade - prisons - would be cut by $1.2 billion, most of it through reducing medical costs to prisoners. That could trigger even more legal battles with federal judges and a court-appointed federal receiver who are overseeing California's prison health system causing even more prisoner releases. Jerry Brown's stump speech for governor puts this in sober perspective, "When I was governor the state spent 17% of the budget on higher education, 3% on prisons...today we spend 7% on our colleges and 11% on prisons."
  • State parks, which Schwarzenegger proposed closing last year, would be financed through additional state revenues from increased oil drilling off the California coast, an idea that was rejected last year by legislators.
  • Funding for Medi-Cal and services to Californians whose ability to care for themselves is limited would be reduced.
  • If the feds don't come through with the extra money - and indications are that they won't - social service and health programs from CalWORKS (the state's welfare-to-work program) to Healthy Families (which provides medical insurance to children of low-income families) would be eliminated or severely slashed.

• Try the California Budget Challenge.  This is the same software we used to develop our Oakland Budget Challenge.
   

• How Do our State Legislators Vote?  The Sacramento Bee has a new web link that lets you check:  http://www.sacbee.com/votingrecord/

• The New Police Website is better organized and has links to historical crime data and how citizens can help solve crimes.

• Crime Stats Continue Decline:  Last year our serious crime stats declined 10%; combined with 14% for 2008 that was about a 25% decline over two years.  Crime was significantly down in every major category, except Domestic Violence (+4%) and Residential Burglaries (+7%). Significant decreases for the year were Shootings (-25%) and Vehicle Thefts (-20%).

The first month of the new year showed a 38% decline compared to the same time next year; but the figures may also reflect the new system of crime reporting that the police are piloting.  We'll see when it fully rolls out this month.

• District Attorney Announces a New H.E.A.T. (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Tip Line 510 208-4959:  District Attorney Nancy O'Malley has worked for many  years to make sure that the sexual exploitation of children is prosecuted.  Working with Assembly member Sandre Swanson legislation new legislation allows us to treat exploited youth as victims and fines have been increased up to $20,000 for the pimps and exploiters.  This week a new tipline for human trafficking was announced: 510 208-4959 or HEATWatch-DA@acgov.org

(Above) An anonymous mother reports that police were able to find and return her daughter 24 hours after she contacted the tip line.

You can also call the Oakland Police Sexual Assault Tip Line: 510 637-0298. All messages received are addressed within 24 hours during normal business days. Or call the Special Victims Unit: 510 238-7910.

Personal Public Safety Reminder: Please be aware of your surroundings and what you carry with you.  A group involved with several robberies in West and North Oakland who were arrested told OPD that they looked around for their victims, who were "using cell phones, iPODs (and other small electronics), carrying bags/purses, and who may not be paying attention to their environment."
 

 

• Neighborhod Council Updates:

• Laurel 25x: Ryan Kabahit RKabahit@oaklandnet.com
• Dimond 22x: Rick Coglio RCoglio@oaklandnet.com
• Bret Harte/Joaquin Miller 22y: Ann Pierce Apierce@oaklandnet.com
• Jefferson 24x: Joseph Fong JFong@oaklandnet.com
• Montclair 13z: Maureen Vergara MVergara@oaklandnet.com
• Maxwell Park 28x: Keith Clement JClement@oaklandnet.com
• Melrose 27x: Greg Loud GLoud@oaklandnet.com
• North Hills 13y: John Haney JHaney@oaklandnet.com
• Allendale 24y: Richard McNeely rmcneely@oaklandnet.com

• Donate Fallen Trees to the Oakland Zoo: If the rain is bringing down trees in your neighborhood, you can donate many species of fallen trees to provide snacks to the animals at the Oakland Zoo.
   
• Rain Forecast Through February 11; Free Sandbags and Plastic Sheeting: Residents can pick up a maximum of 20 sandbags and 50 feet of plastic sheeting (per household/business) at the City's Municipal Service Center and at the Public Works Drainage Maintenance Satellite Office. Proof of Oakland residency is required to obtain the sandbags and sheeting. 
  MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER, 7101 EDGEWATER DR.
    Monday - Friday                                                    8 am - 4 pm
    Saturday and Sunday                                              4:30 pm - 8 pm
    After Hours (in front of entry gate)                          4:30 pm - 8 pm 

   
  MAINTENANCE SATELLITE OFFICE, 5921 SHEPHERD CANYON RD
    Monday - Friday                                                    8:00 am - 4:00 pm
    After Hours (in front of entry gate)                          4:30 pm - 8:00 pm

• This is the perfect time to check on your emergency supplies. We recommend having enough food and water for 72 hours. Power outages, flooding, slides, and closed roads are common during storms. Do you have flashlights, batteries, water, food, medications and other supplies in case your power or telephone lines are down?  Do you live on street where access might be blocked by fallen trees, flooding, or slides?  This is a good site for suggested emergency supplies.
   

• Protect Your Investment in Your Home, Consider One of Oakland's Seismic Retrofit Programs: Because Oakland is considered a leader in encouraging residents to seismically retrofit their homes, our office was invited to Washington, DC to talk to California legislators about the Oakland's successful outreach efforts.  Sue Piper filled in for me to discuss opportunities for federal resources to help fund incentive programs for both single family homeowners and for property owners of soft-story multiple family buildings. Taking this proactive measure now, before the next big earthquake, could greatly reduce the anticipated loss of 26,000 homes. Retrofitting saves lives, livelihoods and the character of city (because, as we learned with Hurricane Katrina, if people don't have a place to live, they will move away.)

• Flat seismic retrofit building permit - call 238-3891
   
• Program for low-income homeowners - call 238-3909
   
• Multi-family, soft-story building mandatory screening program (letters requiring property owners to complete the screening to be mailed soon)--238-3891 or contact Sue Piper in our office at 238-7042.

• Organize Your Neighborhood:  Each year the city trains over 2000 citizens to prepare for disasters. More than 19,000 residents have been trained since CORE began. These are recent graduates from one of our Chinese language classes. Now's the time to sign up for  CORE training classes.

• Principal Fishbowl for Parents, Thursday, February 25, 7:30-9 pm, The Bellevue Club at Lake Merritt, 525 Bellevue Avenue: Would you like to know what it takes to run a school in an under-resourced Oakland neighborhood? Listen in as principals discuss their daily experiences with kids, families, and teachers, the challenges of being a school CEO, and the future of education in Oakland. On site parking available.RSVP! Call 510-534-7613 or email natasha@oaklandschoolsfoundation.org. 

• Free Tax Assistance at the Library:  During tax season, trained AARP volunteers offer tax assistance at the following libraries:
  • Main Library Monday 10:00-3:00, Wednesday 12:00-4:00, Friday 12:30-4:00, Saturday 10:00-3:00 / 238-3134
  • Cesar Chavez Wednesday 10:00-3:00, Thursday 10:00-5:00 / 535-5620
  • Dimond Tuesday 12:30-3:30, Thursday 10:30-2:30 / 482-7844
  • Eastmont Friday 12:00-4:00 / 615-5726
  • Temescal Wednesday 10:00-2:00 / 597-5049

• Library Requires All Patrons to Update Records By March 11: All patrons checking out material will be asked for current address and contact information, which may cause a somewhat slower check-out process but ultimately will result in expanded library services. While re-registering their accounts, patrons can opt for receiving phone or email notifications three days prior to due dates for materials they have checked out. Patrons who have placed holds on materials can also opt to receive phone or email notification when those items become available.
   

Oakland Running Festival, March 27 and 28:  Experience all the sights and sounds that Oakland has to offer at the new Oakland Running Festival featuring Oakland's first marathon in 25 years! Runners will begin on Broadway, race along Piedmont and College Avenues, pass by beautiful Lake Temescal and then tackle the hills of Montclair. After a breathtaking view of the Cities by the Bay, runners will journey through the vibrant neighborhoods of Dimond, Fruitvale, Chinatown and historic Jack London Square. Then it's a final lap around sparkling Lake Merritt and a sprint to the finish at City Hall. Saturday: Registration 9-6 pm, Kick off Party 6-8 pm; 6:30 pm Twilight 5K Race. Sunday: 7:15 am Opening Remarks, 7:30 am Marathon starts-- ends by Noon. Kid's race, live music and more.

• Oakland Word offers Free Creative Writing Workshops at Oakland Public Library: To provoke dialogue and encourage creativity among underrepresented youths and adults, the Oakland Public Library is offering free writing workshops during the months of February and March. During the 1st two sessions, a variety of Oakland Word workshops will be available at three Library locations starting February 3 and concluding March 6:
  • Asian Branch, 388 9th Street (238-3400)
    • Intro to Writing Short Fiction (Fridays, 4-5:30 pm)
    • Writing Life Stories (Saturdays, 4-5:30 pm)
    • Teens: Blogging 101 Seminar (one day only, Saturday, March 6, 12:30-3:30 pm)
  • Cesar E. Chavez Branch, 3301 East 12th Street, Ste. 271 (535-5620)
    • Urban Fiction: $Elements of Short Story Writing (Saturdays, 2:15-3:45 pm)
    • Take Charge of Your Work: Career Development (Saturdays, 4-5:30 pm)
  • Main Library, 125 14th Street (238-3134)
    • Life Stories in Poetry and Prose (Thursdays, 6-7:30 pm)
    • Writing and Speaking Word: Poetry and Spoken Word (Saturdays, 3:30-5 pm)
    • Soul Song: Song Writing Seminar (one day only, Sunday, February 28, 2-5 pm)
    • From the Heart: Love Poetry Seminar (one day only: Sunday, February 14, 2-5 pm)

To register in advance, call 238-6572 or email theoaklandword@gmail.com. Information is also available on line at www.oaklandword.org. For information in Spanish, call the Chavez Branch at 535-5620.
 

• Paramount Theatre Movie Classics Present 2010 Winter Movie Classics Series: 8 pm: Escape the winter blues for only $5. Just enjoying the architecture of this gorgeous art-deco theater is a treat. Box office opens at 6 pm. The Paramount Theatre is located at 2025 Broadway:
  • Friday, February 19-The Lady from Shanghai
  • Friday, March 5- Wait Until Dark
  • Friday, March 26-Captain Blood
     

• 2010 Oaklandish Tour de Taco in the Fruitvale, Saturday, February 20, 11 am-5 pm: Hosted by Cyrus Farivar of californiatacotrucks.com and the East Bay Bike Coalition, the Oaklandish Tour De Taco is a gastronomical quest on wheels through the Fruitvale district of Oakland. Bring your friends, your bikes, and an empty stomach to Fruitvale BART, Saturday, February 20 at 11 am. Whether you're a taco truck veteran or a mobile food newb, the Oaklandish Tour De Taco is not to be missed!

 

• Black History Month Events in Oakland:  February is Black History Month, this link lists events in Oakland.

• Free Days at the Aquarium of the Bay for Alameda County Residents, February 22-25, 10 am-6 pm:  In celebration of its recent transition into a nonprofit nature center, Aquarium of the Bay is hosting a series of free days for Alameda County residents.  As the only Aquarium dedicated to the diverse aquatic life of the San Francisco Bay, residents are encouraged to come out and meet their underwater neighbors. Just bring a photo ID with Alameda County address, or a recently utility or phone bill with your Alameda County address, and ID. Call (415) 623-5300 for additional information.
   

• Shaping the Future of OPR: Community Focus Group Meetings: Meet your neighbors, provide suggestions on activities and improvements you would like to see and develop development at your local recreation center. The District 4 event will be at the Dimond Recreation Center on Wednesday, February 24 from 7-8:30 pm. Click her for the full schedule.

• Free Immigration Workshop, Saturday, February 27, 10 am-3 pm, City Hall: Private consultation with immigration attorneys to the first 200 participants. Training on how to avoid fraud. Presented by Neighborhood Law Corps, Centro Legal de la Raza, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Asian Law Caucus, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, International Institute of the East Bay and Law Office of Virginia K. Sung. Languages offered: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese. Free parking in Clay Street Garage. Questions, contact Jesse Newmark at 238-7030.

• Skyline Jazz at Yoshi's, Monday, March 1, 7 pm and 9 pm:  The Skyline Jazz Band will be giving two benefit concerts at Yoshi's to raise money for their annual trip to the Reno Jazz Festival in late April. The concerts usually sell out, so buy your tickets early! General admission is $10. You can buy tickets form a Skyline Jazz Band Student, or at the Yoshi's box office in Jack London Square in line. A $3 fee for general admission or an $11.50 fee for reserved seating will be charged.

Oakland Youth Orchestra Red Carpet Gala & Concert, Saturday, March 6, 5:30-9 pm, Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4700 Lincoln Ave:   invites you to their annual Fundraiser Concert & Auction featuring Michael Morgan and Bryan Nies and the Oakland Youth Orchestra performing Musical Memories from the Silver Screen. Cocktails and Silent Auction 5:30-7 pm; Dinner and Live Auction at 7 pm, followed by the OYO musical performance. Red carpet attire or come as your favorite movie character.Buy Tickets online
 

• Celebrate International Women's Day with the Community Women's Orchestra, Sunday, March 7, 4:30 pm at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church: The 25th Annual International Women's Day Concert features the World Premier of a work by Oakland Composer Mary Watkins (right), works by Copland and Dvorak, and special guests VOICES Lesbian Choral Ensemble. Tickets are $10 at the door, free for children under 12 and 1/2 price for seniors, students and the underemployed. For details ...
   
• Save the Date for Earth Day 2010, Saturday,, April 17, 9 am-Noon: If you would like to organize an event, monitor the Keep Oakland Beautiful Earthday website for details.  The 2010 Earth Expo in City Hall Plaza is set for Wednesday, April 14 from 10-2 pm. We know that Horace Mann School already has plans to add new plants on the Vicksburg side of the campus, weed the Congress Avenue hillside and do general weed 'n clean. This is their 6th year of beautification at the school. For details, contact Jeanne Nixon.

We've learned over the years that when neighbors work together, they build a stronger community. Whether you are a teen looking for work experience, or a new retiree with time on your hands, here are a number of ways you can meet neighbors and make a difference in the city we love. >>Sue Piper of our office recruiting volunteers for Community Projects.

 

• Budget Advisory Committee and the Community Policing Advisory Board:  I need new representatives to these important advisory groups.  My appointee to the Budget group need not be a resident of District 4.  Please contact Ellen Dillard in my office at 238-7273.
   

• Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center (ODALC) seeks inspirational and influential speakers from the digital/business community  as part of educational workshop and computer-training sessions for young adults in Oakland.
   

• Keep Oakland Beautiful (KOB): KOB is looking for enthusiastic leaders to join in its efforts to make Oakland cleaner, greener, more beautiful and litter-free. The Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month at City Hall and they are also active on subcommittees. Board members serve a two year term and may reapply for successive two-year terms. Interested applicants can obtain more info and an application from Cookie Robles-Wong, 434-5126.

Tender Loving Care--with close to a 50% cutback in park maintenance service, the city's parks, medians and streetscapes really need help with spotting broken sprinklers or illegal dumping, trash pick up or more:
 

• Allendale Park NCPC- cleans up streets, tree wells and storm drains on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays 38th Street between Nevil and Suter Streets. Call Steve Reuss at 536-9551.
• Keep Dimond Clean:  Keep Dimond Clean: Join neighborhood volunteers in helping to Keep Dimond Clean. Participating volunteers receive a complimentary card from La Farine Bakery/Dimond for 2 pastries or rolls/2 drinks. To join on-going litter walks on Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat, and for gardening schedule, email krussell@russell-gordon.com or call 842-3200. >>Keep Dimond Clean Volunteers find an ancient artifact at their last clean up.
   
• Maxwell Park--Daily clean up by Friends of Maxwell Park. Contact Nancy Karigaca at 436-6680.
• Maxwell Park NCPC Monthly Clean Up, Third Sunday of the Month, 9 am. 
• Montclair GreenNClean-clean ups at Montclair Pocket Park, Montclair Park and elsewhere in Montclair. Contact Jill Broadhurst.
   
• Montclair RR Trail Clean Up, Third Saturday of the Month, 9 am.
• Moraga Median Workday, Saturday, February 13, Noon:Please bring gloves, garden tools, paint brushes and hammer, nails, screw drivers. Comments / questions / suggestions can be forwarded to Joannie at loketimes@comcast.net or Peggy at esposito.inc@gmail.com.
   
• Peralta Creek Park (Corner of Rettig and Wisconsin): Meet the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 pm.
• Garden with the Friends of  Sausal Creek--Harvest seeds of native plants, help propagate seeds at the native plant nursery, work to remove invasives throughout the Sausal Creek Watershed or attend their bimonthly educational workshops. There's something happening several days a week and on most weekends, in Dimond Canyon, Joaquin Miller Park at the Native Plant Nursery and Beaconsfield Canyon. Check out their monthly calendar of events at the FOSC website
• Shepherd Canyon Eco Pullers & Planters--meets the first Saturday of the month at Escher Meadow in Shepherd Canyon Park. Contact Adrienne Bryant.
   
• Experience Corps Seeks Volunteers 55+: Experience Corps seeks Baby Boomer volunteers to tutor and mentor students at our underserved elementary schools. They currently support students in seven elementary schools throughout North and East Oakland (Civicorps, Cleveland, Emerson, Monarch Academy, Piedmont Ave, Santa Fe, Think College Now) and they could use your time, talent and life experience.  As little as 2 hours a week can make a huge difference and scheduling is flexible.  No prior experience tutoring or working with kids necessary - full training and on-site support is provided, as are paid stipends for volunteers who serve 10+ hours a week!For more information, contact David Moren at  495-4966
   

The middle of March you will be receiving one of the most important documents of the coming decade.  March 17 and 18, 2010 the Census Bureau will be mailing out its every-ten-years survey of all Americans. This year's version claims to be the simplest form ever devised, with 10 easy questions that will count and categorize the residents of the United States. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete, then just mail it back to the Census Bureau. Only if the form is not returned, will the census workers pay you a visit.  More detailed socioeconomic information will be gleaned from a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey which IS done on a monthly basis.
 
Everything is fast, easy and entirely confidential, but it is also very important.  Every year the federal government allocates more than $400 billion based in part on census data, so how much federal money Oakland might receive is tied to the census count. According to the Census Bureau, data is also used to determine locations for schools, hospitals, retail stores and other community facilities, and this data also determines boundaries for state and local and legislative and congressional districts.

Some key cautions:

• Legitimate Census Takers at your door can easily be identified:
  • They wear a Census t-shirt
  • They are carrying a lap top
  • Ask for their 2 forms of identification
     

• The Census Bureau DOES NOT conduct the 2010 Survey by email. You may receive an email requesting that you participate however:
  • The Census Bureau does not request detailed personal information through email.
  • The Census Bureau does not send email requesting PIN codes, passwords social security numbers or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
  • If you receive an email or find a web site that you suspect is falsely representing the Census Bureau:
     
    • Do not reply or click on any links within the email.
    • Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer.
    • Forward the email or web site URL to the Census Bureau at itso.fraud.reporting@census.gov.
    • After you forward the email to us, delete the message.