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Meetings & Issues |
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District Office Drop-In
Hours
Questions or concerns about City government? Council
member Quan and staff hold office hours throughout
the district weekly, including weekends.
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Community Drop-In Hours, see
box left. For maps &
directions.
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Join Us On
Earth Day, 33 Sites In District 4!
25 Ways to
Keep Oakland Green
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Jean Elected District Democratic Delegate
to Presidential Convention
Jean had the highest
vote totals at
the 9th Congressional District Clinton Caucus.
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Blog on the Journey to Denver in the works
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Meet 2008 Local Heroes !
Over 120 neighbors came
together to honor the wonderful people who are this year's
District 4 Local Hero nominees on February 12th. These are the people
who define what a Good Neighbor is. Each receives
free tickets to A's or Warrior's games. The
top 5 winners were able to designate $500-$1000
towards a school, park or city public project. Lion
Dancers, Chinese music, MLK Oratorical performances
and Chinese snacks!
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Meet All Our
2008
Local Hero Nominees
2004
2005
2006
2007 |
Domestic Violence
Awareness
Family violence
and child prostitution affect many in our city but
receive too little focus. Our office works with other agencies to develop new
resources for this hidden problem.
October is Domestic
Violence Awareness Month |
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Community Resources for Domestic Violence, Legal and
Counseling Services, Special Programs for Teens,
Seniors and Gay & Lesbian Couples
Resolution |
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Governor Vetoes AB 45,
But
Local Control of Schools Moves Forward
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Despite broad support in the Assembly
and Senate Assemblyman Sandre Swanson's bill
AB 45,
establishing a process for return local control
of the Oakland Public was vetoed.
However, thanks to public pressure powers are being
restored according to many of its guidelines. In
April 2008 the Board of Education regained partial
control.
< Jean, parents,
teachers & students testify in Sacramento
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Wildfire
Prevention District Progress
In a high
turnout for a special
election, the Wildfire
Prevention District passed 3:1 in January 2004. We
worked with a coalition of Hills neighborhood reps &
Council members to provide this secure source of
funding for vegetation control and wildfire
prevention.
For information on the Wildfire Prevention
Program.
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Presentation on Wildfire Prevention District includes maps,
safety tips & fire history
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Annual Fundraiser Helps Organize
Good
Food,
Music,
Planetarium Shows,
Telescopes...and
Great Neighbors
Thanks to nearly 300 residents
who attended our annual fundraiser for our District 4 Organizing Fund
funds projects not paid for by the city: District
Offices in the Laurel & Dimond; weekly email
newsletters & website; translations, surveys;
beautification projects such as Earth Day, litter
clean-ups, and school playgrounds; hosting community
planning meetings, Emergency Preparedness or Home
Alert groups.
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December
14, 6:30-9:30pm,
Chabot
Science Center
Donate Year Round
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Earthquakes: Are You Ready?
15,000 homes
could
be lost in a major Hayward Fault Earthquake,
has your
home been
retrofitted yet? This article for the
anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake is full of useful
information. More 1906 Centennial information
next down.
►US
Geological Report on Bay Area Earthquake Faults
predicts powerful quake
within 30 years.
►For
maps on quakes, flooding & natural disasters
►Free
classes for
individuals, groups, businesses: Citizens of
Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE)
►New
On-Line Training
►20
Ways to Prepare for Emergencies
►Red
Cross Emergency Supply List
►Create a 3-7 Day
Disaster Kit
►Create
a Family Emergency Plan |
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Retrofit Your
Home:
In July 2007 we introduced
new legislation that reduces retrofit permit fees to a flat
cost of $250.
To learn more.
New
homeowners who file an application within 60 days of sale may
get up to $5,000 to retrofit their homes. |
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Learning From the 1906
Quake & Kobe
After the
1906 Earthquake SF Chinatown was destroyed by fire
(right).
My great grandfather and two of his sons joined
200,000 others who took the ferry across to Oakland.
My family's story is a small part of the Oakland
Museum's Exhibit,
Aftershock!—Voices from the 1906 Earthquake and Fire
showed how the earthquake affected common
people.
►Other
Centennial Events Calendar & Exhibits.
In 2005 I had the
opportunity of visiting the Earthquake Institute in
Kobe, Japan. Their devastating 1995 earthquake
mirrors what we might expect in the East Bay.
►Learning
from the 1995 Kobe Quake
(Power Point) |
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Free Sundays in the
Redwoods Concerts Attract 5,000
Over two years our Sunday
concerts have grown from one benefit performance for
Katrina attended by a few hundred to a diverse series
of 4 concerts attended by about 5,000. This
season's finale featuring Oqkland's own Goapele filled
Woodminster Amphitheater to the extent that we will
look at expanding grassy areas to increase seating
over the winter. Help us continue to provide diverse
and high quality, free concerts to the citizens of our
city by spreading the word.
2007
Line-up |
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Historic and Big Tree
Registry
I
authored
legislation establishing an Oakland Big Tree
Registry in July. When the diseased Champagne Oak in
Dimond Park (right) was removed last year, it was
clear that the City had limited knowledge of our
heritage trees and no plan for their preservation.
We hope this will be a first step. We will be
establishing a website for the registry. You can
help us by nominating potential trees;
send us
information on: species, height, circumference at
4.5 ft from ground, crown spread, location, owner's
name & address, photograph. |
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Creeks-To-Bay Day in District 4
400 VOLUNTEERS
WORKED
AT DISTRICT 4 CREEK TO BAY PROJECTS.
District 4 is home to the headwaters of Lions,
Peralta, Sausal, Temescal Creeks and their
tributaries. We were
proud to host 9 of the 15 projects this year.
Oakland
Creek Ordinance
Creeks 101
Photos
from September 2005 Creek to Bay Day |
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Saturday,
September 15,
9am - Noon
District 4 Sites |
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Contact Your Beat Officers &
Community Policing Staff
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When Neighbors Know Each Other,
Neighborhoods Are Safer!
August 7th
Join One of 75
District 4 Neighborhood Parties!
Over 79 District 4 Locations
Locate Your Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
PHOTOS
from 2006 |
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Free Oakland Trees &
Sidewalks
Some of our neighborhoods
need more trees. If you have an empty tree
well or strip in front of your homes or would be
willing to have the sidewalk cut, the City can work
with you to plant a City Tree. Submit an
application. Organized streets and
neighborhoods receive priority.
Public Works estimates
city trees cause $100 million of current
sidewalk damage and has a process to remove and
replant trees which damage sidewalks or are
dangerous.
Questions or Problems regarding Existing City Trees?
City Staff Recommended Trees for less sidewalk damage
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APPLICATION FOR FREE CITY TREE
New Tree Ordinance
Tips for Caring for Your Trees |
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Don't Feed Pigeons in Dimond-Laurel Commercial Areas
Our research indicated that banning pigeon feeding
in commercial zones was the easiest and most humane
method to reduce pigeon impact on stores and
customers. The
Council passed
our ordinance as a pilot project for the Dimond
and Laurel Districts. The ordinance
will not affect feeding pigeons on private property
or parks.
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$25 Fine Effective 9/1/07
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Joaquin Miller Dog Park
After two years of work
with the Joaquin Miller Park Dog Owners group and
our Joaquin Mill Park task force, with
funding from my office and Council Member Henry
Chang, we opened the city's second dog park in
February 2007. This one year pilot project in
parking lots 4 & 5 at Joaquin Miller Park has been
successful so far. To volunteer contact Jump Dog or
Joaquin
Miller Park Dog Owners Group. We continue to
work on improvements, to comment or make suggestions
contact Sue
Piper. |
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Cal Trans Update
After months of
discussions about Hwy 13 medians with Cal Trans.
representatives of Senator Perata, Assemblywoman
Chan and neighborhood organizations, we have a
compromise plan. Cal Trans built double
medians leaving soil open between as before instead
of paving everything! Our state reps obtained
funds for planting vegetation and we have convened
meetings to finalize a landscaping plan. |
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Construction on the
Highway 13 Median is now underway. The
irrigation system is now being installed.
More |
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Budget
Increases $ for Public Safety, Teen Centers and
Parks
As chair of the Finance Committee
completion of the two year 2007-2009 budget has been
one of our most intense, time consuming projects. After
2 retreats, 6 budget meetings, 6 district hearings
and one televised call-in hearing, the Council
adopted a balanced $2.2 billion two-year budget. It
includes Mayor Dellums' requests and $17.8 million
in additional Council programs funded primarily by one-time
sources (repayment of a loan to the Oakland
Marriott, vacancy savings, and unexpected state
reimbursements.) Major new investments were made in
Police Support Programs, new park projects, expanded
Teen Centers, and an Earthquake Retrofit Incentive
Program.
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Summary
Budget Documents
2007-2009
Budget Facts |
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Brookdale Park Survey & Plan
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On
February 3, 2007 we held a community planning
workshop to consider priorities for improvements at
the Park. A summary will be posted soon
Help us by returning
this
survey
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Ascot-Mountain Blvd Trail
Working with
the Montera Neighborhood Association, Joaquin Miller
& Montera Middle School PTA's, and the School
District, we are trying to improve the dangerous
situation on this busy section of Ascot and Mountain
(narrow space for pedestrians and no sidewalk). Through community
work days, grants, and donations we hope to develop
a public path that is above the street, safe and
passable for
wheelchairs/strollers/walkers.
For more
information. Leaflet |
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Joaquin Miller Park Planning
In January 2005 we held
two community input and planning workshops (106 & 75
participants) to provide input on the future of this
460 acre park. Over 180 surveys were submitted.
Based on this input and over a year of discussion
and volunteer work, the Task Force of staff and
representative users is developing resources,
projects, and policies for the park. New trail
markers, new maps, planting vegetation, free
concerts, and an experiment with a dog park are just
some of the projects in the works.
Overview of
J.Miller Park,
JM
Task Force Members
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Planning Survey
Results
Workshop#1
Issues
Matrix of Planning
Priorities
Task Force Minutes
Playground Survey
Survey W/ Photos
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New Traffic Rounds for Melrose
Speeding and side shows in the Melrose area have led
to a series of barriers on Ygnacio. All are
different, none of them are attractive. Working with
the Traffic Division and neighbors and with funding
from my office, we have come up with designs
for landscaped traffic barriers featuring
native plants and boulders. We will also add an
additional barrier near Horace Mann School.
Neighbors at each intersection have agreed to help
water the plants.
The project is part of a larger citywide bid and we
hope to begin construction this fall.
For more
information.
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Park Blvd Pedestrian-Bike Trail
We will present
proposals for improving the trail for pedestrians
and bikers on upper Park Blvd between the Leimert
Bridge and Mountain Blvd. This trail has beautiful
views of Dimond Canyon that few people who speed by
in
cars realize is there. Landscape Designer Gillian
Garro (Larman & Garro) has developed a conceptual
plan for a
multi-use pathway. We hope this project will
encourage more people to walk to the village, make
the walkway safer and more inviting for students,
strollers, and seniors. We will use the plan to seek
funding, grants, and plan work days. More info:
Sue Piper
at 238-7042 |
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Saturday,
January 27th,
Meeting Summary
Proposed Work Plan
Leaflet & Survey
Proposed Designs:
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part 3,
Part 4
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Shepherd Canyon
Planning
We
established a task force of City and neighborhood
representatives to develop a Master Plan for the
Shepherd Canyon area. It is a model for
similar planning in other parks. We
thank the Shepherd Canyon Homeowners Association
for co-hosting community workshops to identify needs
and priorities.
You can still help our Task Force.
View the presentation & return the survey.
Compare your priorities with those at the workshops.
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Workshop Notes &
Summary
Return the Survey
Identified Priorities
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Plastic Bag Ban
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, Effective
Jan 2008. |
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Thousands of marine animals die from ingesting bags or
entanglement. |
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Polystyrene Foam Containers Banned for Prepared Take
Out Foods
Styrofoam litter at
Lake Merritt
Green Ware Ordinance Information
Leaflet
Report
Violations 238-SAVE |
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Anyone veteran of neighborhood or watershed clean-ups knows that
polystyrene foam food containers (“Styrofoam") made up a large part of the litter.
It is not biodegradable, nor recyclable. It is a danger to wildlife
and styrene, a major component is a possible carcinogen.
I
authored legislation to ban foam polystyrene food containers
and to require biodegradable or compostable containers as they
become affordable. |
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Fourth Anniversary of the War in Iraq
 The cost of the war and
military spending has a massive impact on our nation
at $100,000 per minute. Meanwhile, federal
cuts for police, security, housing, education, and
health care hit our city hard – over $512 million.
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Cost of
the War Panel Video
March & Rally,
March 24th
Rally Program
Our Resolution on the
4th Anniversary of the War
The Cost of the Iraq
War for the City of Oakland |
Library Bond Falls
Short by 2%
The last Library
Bond was passed in Oakland right after World War II.
Then after Proposition 13 passed the city closed a
third of its branches. Today libraries are
community centers, too often the only safe place for
students after school, and the most consistent
source of the internet for up to 40 percent of our
citizens. Some branches have no public
restrooms and many have ancient electrical systems
that are unsafe for the new computers and technology
we need to install. In many like Dimond, it is
hard to find a seat after school. Measure N would
have doubled the space. The Laurel lost its
library after Prop 13, Measure N would have rebuilt
a new branch. Neighborhood leaders will study the
election results for a new effort. |
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My Library Story
Library Master Plan
Volunteer, Donate, Put Up A Sign Today! |
Storm Damage Emergency
Numbers
►Public
Works Call Desk- 615-5566(downed trees, storm
drain/sewer back-ups, flooding, non-operating
traffic signals
►PG&E
Info on Electrical Outages (800) 743-5002
►Report
a hazardous situation involving power lines-
call 911 or (800) 743-5000 or go to
PG&E's website
►Police
Non-emergency Line- 777-3333
►Cellphone
Police Emergency Line – 777-3211
►Direct
Fire Emergency 444-1616
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Need Sand
Bags/Plastic Sheeting?
Volunteer to
Maintain A Drain? |
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Senior
Housing Replaces Hillcrest Motel After 25 Year
Struggle
In Fall 2006 Lincoln
Courts opened on the site of the former Hillcrest
Motel, the city's 4th worst crime spot the year I
took office. About 100 seniors now live in this
beautiful building.
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For Domus Housing call (415) 558-9500.
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Envisioning MacArthur
"Planning Community
Growth
for the Next 30 Years"
Live Work Townhouses Planned for 35th Ave &
MacArthur |
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In November 2005 we
organized a planning workshop attended by over 200
residents, city and regional experts,
developers and property/ retail owners to discuss the future
of the Dimond, Bret Harte, Laurel and Maxwell Park
corridor along Mac Arthur Boulevard:
Workshop Resources & Summaries |
Friends of Sausal Creek Needs Help
For more than a decade, the
Friends of
Sausal Creek pioneered grassroots organizing to preserve and
restore Oakland creeks.
They faced a $20,000 deficit last year and could not
pay their Volunteer and Nursery Coordinator a reduced weekly
hands-on restoration work to once a month! Thanks to your help
they are back on a weekly schedule.
Our creeks need their constant care, while the crisis is over they
need more stable funding. Won't you become an annual
contributor? |
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FOSC's Website
Earth Day 2005
Creek to Bay Day |
2005-2007 Budget & Office Goals
We started
planning for the second half of my term by summing
up my first two years in office in this
midterm report. We are mailed this to District 4
residents but this internet version is more
interactive & informative.
It lists
our Council Office Goals for 2005-2007. Over 300 District 4
neighbors gave us
input on our District
Goals and City Wide Budget Priorities by filling
our
District Four
Survey .
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Online 2005- 2007
D4
BUDGET SURVEY
OUR MIDTERM REPORT |
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Oakland Stops Koi Casino !
Well connected moves by
a Florida developer put a California tribe in
position to open a casino near the Oakland Airport
despite Oakland's opposition. I
introduced a resolution to oppose the casino in
January 2005. After 6 month's of opposition, the
owner of the land near the airport & Arrowhead Marsh
announced the Koi option to develop expired and was
not extended. The best background on the Koi Nation
and their proposal has been in a series by Ron
Russell in the SF Weekly:
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City Council
Opposes Casino
Council Resolution
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Measure Y Passes: Oakland's Violence Prevention &
Community Safety Vote
After months of hearings, community meetings, and
negotiations, I was honored to introduce the City
Council initiative for Violence Prevention &
Community Safety Measure.
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