Alameda County Holiday Food Drive-December 1-31:

• Good Maxwell Park Neighbors: I try to monitor about 18 neighborhood listserv's; every once and a while there is a good local effort that I like to share with a wider audience.  Julie Duff's neighbors faced a double tragedy this August, they lost their son and another relative and then their home burned down, all in the same week.  This morning she and other neighbors helped move Lucha and Carlos back into their  restored home at 3281 Madera Ave. Julie is also collecting contributions funds to buy gift certificates to help them get back on their feet. Contact her at 533-7233 or 3351 Madera.

• Volunteers Needed To Serve at Free Christmas Brunch, Tuesday, December 25, 11 am-1:30 pm: The Home of Chicken and Waffles at Jack London Square has joined with Operation Hope Now and Bay Area Churches of Oakland to sponsor a free Christmas Brunch for those in need. If you are available to help volunteer, please call 836-4446.
  
  

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• One Warm Coat Drive is a simple national campaign. One of the local drop off centers is Alain Pinel Realtors, 6166 La Salle Avenue, 2nd Floor, in Montclair where we hold our First Sunday Office Hours during the winter. They are collecting good clean coats for those in need. Last year they collected 860 coats. Have your kids outgrown their jackets?  Are there coats gathering dust that you no longer wear? There are many families that could use your coats.  This month watching several men and women searching for coats to fit themselves or their children at Project Connect (see #7), I wished that I had thinned out our crowded hall closet.

• The 2008 Dimond History Wall Calendar is now available. The calendar features photos of 19th and early 20th century Dimond, over 150 community events and important dates, and contact numbers for local and city services. Calendars are available in the greeting card section of Farmer Joe's, Paws and Claws, La Farine, Laurel Books, and the Dimond Library for only $12.

• More Community Giving Ideas:  At year end many of us look through our many mail solicitations and consider community gifts.  Don't forget some of these Oakland treasures.
• Friends of Sausal Creek: Help these volunteer guardians protect our watersheds, native plants and wild life.
• Friends of the Oakland Public Library helps fill gaps in the budget.  This year they raised $38,000 to help complete the new East Oakland joint City-School library scheduled to open this year.
• Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation: Many park maintenance funds have been frozen since 1993.  Friends has given over 300 grants to park projects throughout the city.
• Oakland Zoo: The Zoo Foundation is in the middle of a critical capital campaign to meet current standards for "humane" facilities and expanded educational exhibits.  You can sponsor an animal or fund an international research project to preserve the world's wildlife.
• Chabot Space & Science Center: This upcoming year will be Chabot's 125th anniversary.  The Center will launch its capital campaign to complete educational facilities and create an endowment. Underwrite an Oakland classroom trip to visit the center.

• Oakland California Museum: The museum has expanded its monthly free Community Day and school programs.  Consider a donation to a particular program or exhibit.  They take car donations, too. >> Multicultural storytelling at this month's free Family Day.
  

• Children's Fairyland : This is still a magical place for our youngest citizens, expanding children's theater and puppet shows makes it a treat for all ages.  Help underwrite their free admission programs.

• Your Favorite Neighborhood Treasure:  We are working on literally dozens of capital projects, large and small.  Want to dedicate a park bench?  Restore a school garden?  Rebuild a trail to make it safe and accessible for all ages?  Replant a median strip?  Our office provides technical assistance and matching neighborhood and school grants. Contact Sue Piper at 238-7042.
  

Mills College-MacArthur Corridor Project received Council approval this week to apply for a grant to begin studies for a combined bicycle and pedestrian path to run from the entrance of Mills College to High Street at MacArthur.  This path, a combined project of my office, the Maxwell Park NCPC, Mills College and the City Community and Economic Development Department, will allow for easy access between the school and the shopping district and improved landscaping.

   This project is another outgrowth of the Envisioning MacArthur Conference I organized several years ago.  Along with the Dimond Senior Council, attempt to pass a Library Bond for a Laurel Library, the Dimond Streetscape Project, and the design of the mixed retail housing project at 35th and MacArthur (nearing completion at right),  represents how the ideas of community planning sessions can ultimately bear fruit. If the grant is awarded, look forward to a series of community input meetings, along with a detailed analysis of what will work to upgrade this currently rather desolate stretch of roadway in terms of safety, beauty and pedestrian friendliness.

The Proposed AMG Senior Project for High and MacArthur presented new designs to the Planning Commission's Design Committee last week.  The new designs break the project into two buildings and more clearly shows how the 50 foot CalTrans buffer zone between it and the freeway fits in.  The Planning Department will conduct a community meeting on the design elements only.  We will announce the meeting when it is set.

Dimond Streetscape Design Phase:  After receiving and completing a planning grant to improve the Upper Fruitvale and Dimond Streetscape (pedestrian & traffic safety improvements), we are now in the design phase.  If the designs are approved we will see major capital improvements similar to those in the Laurel District. In addition we will incorporate the mural replacement funded by Peets and additional improvemtns funded by my office.  In January we hope to hold a meeting of artists interested in proposing the artistic aspects of projects.  If you are interested, please contact Richard Cowan of my office, 238-7041.

• As written all campers including those that are not oversized would be prohibited.  This includes small trucks with camper shells and regular sized vans outfitted for camping.  Speakers at the committee and several constituents said they used these vehicles as their regular transportation. >>This truck parked in the Dimond this week would have been banned.
  

• As written RV's would be illegal on streets for any period of time.  Owners of RV's complained they would not be able to load up their vehicles for trips or host visiting relatives.  Members of the Committee felt some limited period of time would be reasonable.
• As written RV's could not park anywhere on the street in the city including commercial areas.  The Committee was concerned that enforcement and reasonable accommodation of vehicles passing through the city or even tailgating at the Coliseum would be affected.
• I received one call about horse trailers parked on a large home lot, but the person did not leave their name.
  

• At Long Last--Warren Freeway Median Planting Soon Underway: Finally, after many years of waiting, CalTrans will begin landscaping the median down the center of the Warren Freeway. Our office worked with CalTrans and representatives from several local neighborhood associations to develop a landscaping plan for the stretch just north of Park Blvd running towards Redwood Road. CalTrans removed vegetation from the center as part of an upgrade that would allow them to mechanically clean the road surface and improve worker safety. Local residents protested the vegetation removal and together we worked out a solution by having CalTrans create a two-sided median that could be landscaped. We saw trucks surveying the area this week, look for work to begin in the next few weeks.

• MTC Survey on the Future of Transportation in the Bay Area:  Here's your chance to tell the Metropolitan Transportation Commission about your priorities for transportation and land use in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Complete a brief online survey and tell MTC what actions you think should be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve traffic congestion in the region. Deadline: January 9, 2008.

• Winter Campaign for Cats.  Do you need help with feral neighborhood cats? Volunteers from East Bay SPCA and Fix our Ferals will spay-neuter and vaccinate the cats and return them safely to you. They need to know how many cats need to be "fixed", and if you or someone in the neighborhood feeds the cats. Please call the Winter Campaign for cats  at 563-4635 with your contact information.

• Project Connect Outreach serves nearly homeless with One Stop Services:  Thanks to staff from dozens of government & non-profit agencies and volunteers (including several District 4 residents) nearly 300 homeless people received medical screening, foot care, access to housing and employment services, clean socks and coats, and a meal this week.  For more information about City Homeless Services. 

• Citizens' Police Review Board Seeks Volunteers: The Citizens' Police Review Board is actively seeking a limited number of volunteers to join and advise the Board starting in February 2008. The Citizens' Police Review Board investigates and reviews complaints regarding conduct of Oakland police officers. I have attached the application  for joining the Board and a copy of the CPRB 2006 Annual Report.

• Wildfire Prevention Assessment District Seeks a District 4 Representative: If you live within the Wildfire Prevention Assessment District within District 4, please email a letter with your qualifications and interest to Sue Piper in our office. The Advisory Board meets the 4th Thursday of the month at the Trudeau Training Center on Skyline Blvd.

• Shop Oakland's website let's you explore our shopping districts and  let's you search for specific products.  www.shopoakland.com

• Whole Foods to Support Clausen House on January 23, 2008:  in honor of Whole Foods Market's 40th anniversary, the Oakland Whole Foods Store will donate 5% of its proceeds for the entire day to Clausen House, which provides support to men and women with disabilities.

• Give the Gift of Safety and Peace of Mind: The American Red Cross has a number of gifts starting at under $20 that will help your loved ones enhance their emergency preparedness. Last year I gave every member of my family a rechargeable flashlight from the   Red Cross. Special 10% discount if you enter "December" on the code.
  

• Are You Eligible for a EITC Rebate? In 2005, low-income famlies withint the City of Oakland received over $4.4 million back into their hands as a result of the City of Oakland's 2006 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign, called Earn it! Keep It! Save It!. This year, the City kick's off its 2008 EITC Campaign and celebrates National EITC Day on Thursday, January 31 at 10 am on the steps of City Hall. As part of the campaign, the City of Oakland Community Action Partnership (OCAP) partners with the Alameda County Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign to support 12 FREE community based volunteer Income Tax Assistance Sites throughout the City staffed by 155 volunteer tax preparers.

• Ygnacio Traffic Circles:  The first phase of the work on the Ygnacio traffic circles is done and we are getting questions about when the rest of the work will be done so we can get out and finish the planting.  Traffic tells us that next contractor will start work on the moving the boulders and larger plants into the circle soon.  City staff will be doing restriping work soon after. In the interim we ask Public Works to put up reflector signs on the circles so motorists won't hit them at night.
  

• The Oakland Police Department will be conducting  DUI/Drivers License checkpoints over the holidays in an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes, DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. Traffic volume and weather permitting, vehicles may be checked
  and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested.  The
  public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving Logo above).
  
  
• Mediation and Facilitation Training Opportunity: East Bay Community Mediation provides and teaches mediation and facilitation to cultivate constructive dialogue and solutions in our diverse community. If you are involved in a leadership position with your NCPC, neighborhood association, CORE or other local group, you may want to consider taking one of their courses. Facilitation Fundamentals is a 3-day workshop on January 25-27, 2008 that provides knowledge, skills and practice of the elements of successful group discussion and decision-making. Cost $250--held at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street in Alameda. For details, call 548-2377 or contact them via email.

• Police Reorganization Plan: The Police Department released new details of next month's reorganization this week at Council. Council members in Central Oakland including myself and colleagues DeLaFuente and Kernighan question the division of officers.  Our area will receive 29% as compared to 36% in North & West Oakland.  The current division is based on calls for service (the number of 911 calls) and the higher rate of violent crime.  We question using 911 calls because of the higher percentage of immigrants in the central area who historically do not call the police.  We expect to continue to discuss this with Chief Tucker and look carefully at the results at the six month review.
  

• Self-Defense Class for Women: The City's Parks & Recreation Department and Police Department are teaching a class on self-defense for women, Saturdays from January 19 to February 9 from 1-4 pm at the Franklin Recreation Center, 1010 E 15th Street. Course Fee is $40. Register online as Activity #7068.301. The Self-Defense Course is designed to empower women to feel confident by teaching them specific skills and techniques to defend themselves in potentially dangerous situations. Facilitated by OPD Defensive Tactics Instructors, the course covers such topics as self protection, handgun safety and sexual assault awareness. Participants must attend all four of the three-hour sessions to successfully complete the course.

• The City has launched a new Measure Y website and e-newsletter that contain a wealth of practical information and an area by area list of services and programs.  The new website is www.MeasureY.org; you can sign up for the newsletter there.

• For a complete list of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils 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. You can also make anonymous calls for drug activity to 238-DRUG.

11. Keeping Oakland Green in 2008

• Recycle Your Christmas Tree: Waste Management will pick up your holiday green waste between December 31, 2007 and January 11, 2008 on your regularly scheduled Yard Trimmings day. (Note, collection schedule is delayed by one day during the first week of January due to the New Year's holiday).
  
  
  • Recycle clean green trees only. No snow flocking, tinsel, ornaments, nails or tree stands. Flocked trees are non-recycable and must be placed in your garbage cart for disposal.
  • Place tree curbside by 6 am on collection day and no earlier than one day before.
  • Trees must be no more than 5 feet tall. Cut taller trees in half.
  • After January 12, you can recycle your clean, green tree in the yard trimmings cart at any time. Lid must close.

Oakland Residents are eligible to take one (per household) clean, green holiday tree for recycling at no charge to Davis Street Transfer Station at 2615 Davis Street in San Leandro.  For details, call Waste Management at 613-8710.    

• Ban on Plastic Bags at Grocery Stores Starts January 1, 2008:  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. Council Member Nadel and I authored this ordinance to ban plastic bags and encourage reusable shopping bags: Ordinance to Ban Petroleum Based, Non-Biodegradable Carry Out Bags at Large Retail Stores.  >>This canvas bag to the right is for sale on Oakland Unwrapped.
  

• Easy Recycling of Batteries: Try to buy gifts with rechargeable batteries.  The State bans throwing out spent single-use batteries in your regular trash. Oakland has made battery recycling easy--just drop off your old batteries in the Battery Recylcer at Oakland libraries and Parks & Recreation Centers. Photo-and coin-cell lithium batteries must be put in a plastic bag before placing in the Battery Recycler. Please do not place rechargeable batteries in the Battery Recycler-- return them to the store where they were purchased. You can also drop off batteries and other Household Hazardous Waste at one of three Alameda County collection facilities. For drop-off site details or for a list of other household hazardous wastes, please call 800-660-6606 or visit Household-Hazwaste.org.

• Easy Ways to Downsize--If you have a few days off during the holidays, and are at a loss of what to do with your new-found free time, consider doing a little housecleaning and weeding out items that you no longer use. If they are in good condition, you can post them for sale on one of the many listservs, such as Craig's List, or E-Bay, or your local neighborhood list serv. Freecycle.com is another resource if you just want someone to take it off your hands, or contact one of the many non-profits that will come by to pick up clothing and other good used items. If what you have has seen much better days, then call to set up a Bulky Waste Pick up-- you are entitled to one free bulky waste pick up a year by calling 613-8710. For information on requirements...

• Report Broken Street Lights:  Help us keep streets safe by reporting street lights that are out.  Contact the Public Works Call Center by phone 615-5566 or email.  Give us the address AND the number on the pole (black & white numbers).

• Keep Porch Lights On, Consider Motion Detector Lights:  The most prevalent crimes in my district are theft from cars and car thefts. If you have a garage, use it for parking. Many of us find it easier to park outside or we use our garages for storage.  Some of us don't have garages, or have more cars than garage space; park as close to your home as possible and install motion detector lights.  Some neighborhoods have organized streets to leave their porch lights on.  Our office still has a few hundred low energy light bulbs, we plan to distribute them to neighborhood alert groups that are interested in organizing "lights on" safety campaigns. Call us if you want to organize your street to keep porch lights on.

The holiday season is a busy time of the year for family and friends. Unfortunately, it is also a busy time for burglars. Please take a minute to review the following tips to ensure your personnel security: At Home and At Work: Make sure all doors and windows at home and at work are properly secured. When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail. Consider taking all items of "high value" in your office back to your residence (money, jewelry, TV, VCR, stereo, computer).  Keep an inventory and photos of "high value", record the serial numbers. It is recommended that you mark or engrave your property with your driver's license for future identification. Make sure that large displays of valuables are not visible through the windows and doors of your home. Leave a radio on so that house looks and sounds occupied. Ask the police for "vacation checks" services for unattended residences during the holiday season.  When you are Out and About: Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you. Shop with a friend, there is safety in numbers. Shop early and use ATM's early to avoid evening darkness, if you must get cash consider doing so at a supermarket.  Pay for purchases with a check, credit or debit card; avoid carrying large amounts of cash. If you must carry a purse, do not wrap the straps around your arms or shoulders. Carry a clutch purse tightly under your arm or wear a fanny pack. Carry your wallet in the front pocket of your pants for safety. Prior to arriving at the shopping center, lock all your valuables in the trunk of your vehicle--so that no one can see you doing so. Watch for people who may be following you. This can occur inside as well as outside. If you suspect someone is following you, report it to security immediately. Program your cell phone with the Police Non-Emergency Phone Number that you can use when you are in Oakland--777-3211. If you call 9-1-1 on your cell phone, you will be routed through the Highway Patrol. Members of the Glenview Walking Group and others sing Christmas Carols at The Cantina this week. >>

• Proposed School Boundary Changes Tabled by School Board: As one of its first acts under its new governance powers, the OUSD Board of Education voted on Wednesday to "table" a proposal to shrink Hillcrest School's boundaries and to reorganize middle schools middle school boundaries. The staff proposal would have impacted Montclair and Chabot Elemetary Schools as well as Bret Harte, Edna Brewer, Claremont, Frick and Montera Middle Schools. School Board Directors Kerry Hamill (District 1) and Gary Yee (District 4) will convene a subcommittee of Board members to meet with ALL schools affected by both proposals, along with staff, to come up with policy recommendations for the board to consider in April. In the interim, the District's current "options" policy remains in place. If you are interested in more information, please contact District 4 School Board Member Gary Yee.

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 Oakland Libraries After School (OLAS) Program Starts in January: This free library service offers enrichment programs for children, including drop-in homework help, four days a week. OLAS is located at the Main Library, Cesar E. Chavez, Eastmont and Golden Gate Branches.

• Maxwell Park NCPC Improves the Corner at Walgreen's on High Street: Volunteers led by Jan Hetherington have been cleaning up and maintaining the area near Walgreens on Redding Street. Last weekend they planted daffodils to create a "entrance" statement. They also installed a bulletin board. They are looking for a creative signmaker who would donate a sign to post above the bulletin board. If you are interested, or know of someone, please contact Jan. (Above)Spreading a mountain of mulch last weekend at the Maxwell Park Council project on Redding.

• Bookmobile Returns to Regular Route on Monday, December 31. This includes the Laurel.  For more information, call 238-6718l.

• Aging Out, Film about Foster Care "Graduates": On any given day, more than half a million American children live in foster care. Each year, about 20,000 of them will "age out" of care, typically at age18. Though most 18-year-olds in intact families can expect emotional and financial support for years to come,  many youth in foster care are homeless and without support when they turn 18. Overnight, they are on their own. Aging Out follows three young people as they exit foster care and face a series of challenges. FREE Screening Thursday, January 18, 2008, 6:30 pm,  Ellen Driscoll Auditorium, Havens School, 325 Highland Avenue, Piedmont. Sponsored by the  Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee, Diversityworks and Piedmont League of Women Voters. For details... This film is particularly timely, as Alameda County is proposing to convert the Fred Finch facilities on Coolidge to residential facilities for Aged Out foster children. We will co-hosting a meeting on the project soon.  

• Oakland Celebrates the Dream Opening Ceremony, Monday, January 18, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, Oakland City Hall Steps*:  Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as Oakland marks Dr. King's 79^th Birthday. The event will feature a keynote address by U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and live entertainment as well as a resource fair with information on volunteer opportunities, community events and celebrations commemorating Dr. King, his life and his vision.The Oakland Celebrates the Dream Opening Ceremony is sponsored by AT&T and the City of Oakland. *In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will be moved to the Elihu M. Harris State Building at 1515 Clay Street.

• BayFriendly Gardening Workshops for District 4 Residents: Our office and the team from StopWaste.org are sponsoring a special Bay-Friendly Gardening Planning & Design Seminar this winter. Make the most of winter rain downtime to plan upgrades for your garden. Join us for one of two free Bay-Friendly Gardening Planning & Design Seminars.

Wednesday, January 23 from 7-9:30 pm -StopWaste.Org office at 1537 Webster  in downtown Oakland.

Wednesday, February 13 from 7-9:30 pm - Dimond Public Library  at 3565 Fruitvale Avenue.

In the course of this interactive seminar, you will learn how to plan a beautiful, sustainable landscape while conserving resources and reducing maintenance. Small meetings with professional designers will help you get started on creating an aesthetically pleasing garden while reducing waste and protecting the watersheds of San Francisco Bay. To participate, please register online at: http://recycle.stopwaste.org/bfgseminar   Or call 510-444-SOIL. Some prep work required.

• Oakland East Bay Symphony Plays Verdi's Requiem, Friday, January 25: The Oakland Symphony Chorus and four extraordinary soloists join the Oakland East Bay Symphony for one of the greatest works ever written for orchestra and chorus -- the Verdi Requiem.For ticket information and reservations, go to the OEBS website.
  

Free Oakland Civic Orchestra Concert, Sunday, January 27: Popular Bay Area guitarist Patrick Francis will join Martha Stoddard, conductor, and the Oakland Civic Orchestra for its Bitter/Sweet: Music for the Soul concert on January 27, 2008 at 4 pm at the Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue. The concert is free. The Oakland Civic Orchestra has been providing free classical music to the community for more than 15 years. For more information, call 238-7275 or visit the Orchestra's website.

• Saturday, January 12 or January 26-- training for pilot Radar Program--10 am - 2 pm at Eastmont Mall Police Substation. Must register first with our office

• Monday, January 14, 2008, 8:30-10:30 am, Joaquin Miller Community Center --Quarterly Joaquin Miller Working Group Meeting, Public is invited.

• Wednesday, January 30, 2008--Community Seminar on Retrofitting Your Home, 1528 Webster Street, 6-8 pm. Please register with Sue Piper at 238-7042.              

• Thursday, January 31, 2008--Contractor Workshop on Retrofitting Homes in Oakland 4-6 pm-- location to be announced.
  

• Saturday, February 16, 2008-- 10-Noon, Local Hero Celebration--Laurel School, 3750 Brown Street.

• Wednesday, February 13, 2008-- 7 - 9 pm, Bay Friendly Gardening Program at the Dimond Library

 
Happy Holidays and Peace to All !