It's May Day, an international celebration of workers. It's also the day that Mayor Sheng Thao released her proposed two year budget. I commend Mayor Thao for her creative and thoughtful plan to achieve a balanced budget while avoiding layoffs, maintaining critical services, and making record investments in affordable housing. Read more below.
This month, I’m honored to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, both as a proud Filipina American, and as a community leader that serves our historic communities of Chinatown and Little Saigon. Oakland’s AAPI community is diverse and storied, and is concentrated in District 2 and spreads throughout all of Oakland. Our rich cultures are a part of the vivid tapestry of what makes Oakland, and this month, we celebrate that and much more beginning with our Council meeting this Tuesday at 4pm. Join us for a special musical performance and honoring AAPI Oakland leaders across our districts.
I also want to honor that May is Older Americans Month, and how critical it is to continue to engage and learn from the elders in our community. Our elders are the cultural storehouses of our communities; they hold history that both grounds us, and gives us inspiration to create a better future. For so many of our communities in Oakland, from whatever background, honoring our elders is an essential part of our cultures, and this month, I encourage us all to honor those elders in our community who have held space for us, taught us, and given us the care and drive to push forward. Join our event this Wednesday, 10am - 2pm at City Hall (see information below).
Finally, I recognize that many of our neighbors have been harmed and fearful these past weeks. The level of violence impacting our babies & families is not acceptable. My team and I are working with the Mayor, our city departments, social services, community organizations, and neighbors to address the gun violence and harmful activities. We've been heartened to build a stronger community as we've met with you this past week in Eastlake, San Antonio, and other neighborhoods. Please continue to connect with us, your Neighborhood Councils, and other resources listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
#LoveLife
Budget Preview
Today, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao published her proposed two-year budget, closing a historic $360 million deficit. Together with my Council President's budget team — Councilmembers Carroll Fife, Kevin Jenkins, and Rebecca Kaplan — we commend Mayor Thao for her creative and thoughtful plan to achieve a balanced budget while avoiding layoffs, maintaining critical services, and making record investments in affordable housing. Read our press release here.
The Mayor and I have made a commitment to work together as One Oakland — to focus on delivering effective and equitable services, and to lay the foundation for tackling historic racial inequities and systemic problems in order to chart a path forward towards an equitable and thriving future for all Oaklanders.
Budget highlights include:
- largest investment in affordable housing in Oakland’s history — $200 million over two years, thanks to Measure U, which I co-authored and voters approved
- $108.5 million in state, local and federal funds to provide new shelter and housing options to support our unsheltered neighbors
- continued development of a holistic community safety system by expanding alternative crisis response through the Fire Department’s MACRO program, maintaining critical violence prevention programs, civilianizing Internal Affairs investigations so those officers can instead solve crimes, and substantial investment in traffic/pedestrian/bike safety.
- reorganization of City Departments for more efficiency and to reduce cost — Homelessness services will be merged into the Housing & Community Development Department; Economic & Workforce Development will be merged into the Department of Planning, Building and Economic Development; and Intergenerational family support programs will be combined into a new Department of Children, Youth and Families
Get involved:
- The City Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, May 3rd at 4pm, where Mayor Thao will present her proposed budget. See the agenda for public comment instructions.
- Councilmembers will host Community Budget Forums between May 17th and June 5th.
- On June 14th at 4pm, City Council will hold a special meeting to hear the Council President’s Budget Amendments and any additional amendments from Councilmembers.
- The City Council must approve a balanced budget by June 30.
Join our District 2 Budget Town Hall on Saturday, May 20th, 10am at Lincoln Rec Center, RSVP here.
Learn more about the Mayor's One Oakland Budget here.
Thanks to the many people already engaging in our budget process. Your voices and perspectives are critical to understanding the needs and solutions in our city. I especially appreciated hearing from traffic safety advocates who visited our Council Office recently to push for infrastructure improvements to make our streets safer.
Around D2 & Oakland️
One Clean Oakland & Earth Day Weekend
The One Clean Oakland and Earth Day events across Oakland were an amazing success. I deeply appreciate all of the volunteers, City Staff, residents, and community leaders who came out to support our communities through leading beautification, gardening, and cleanup efforts in some of our most in need parks and public spaces. Activating public space for all to enjoy is a necessity, and I appreciate the community organizations and leaders that partnered with the City to lead these efforts across Oakland, and especially in District 2. A special shoutout to organizations and volunteers including: TRYBE, APEN, Asian Health Services, Oakland Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, Oakland Urban Farming Project, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, OCA-East Bay, Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Toishan Benevolent Association, Ken Katz, Mary Jo Sutton, Jasmine Stitt, and all of the other amazing leaders!
New Tenant Protections & Responsible July 15th End to COVID Eviction Moratorium
I’m proud to have worked with so many Oaklanders in leading the City Council to pass legislation adding new tenant protections, as well as responsibly ending our COVID eviction moratorium on July 15th. At our last Council meeting, we took a critical step toward avoiding the very real eviction cliff we’ve been witnessing in cities across the nation, and ensuring that the most vulnerable, housing insecure tenants have more critical protections to remain in their homes.
I know that this has been an especially difficult topic, amidst a homelessness crisis worse than we’ve ever experienced, and in the wake of a global pandemic that has completely changed the way we live our lives. I've appreciated our community's diverse opinions and that through hard conversations, we have affirmed the value of housing as a human right. There is much work ahead, and I am grateful for my Council Colleagues including co-sponsor CM Dan Kalb, our City Staff, and all of our community members who worked hard to move this legislation forward. It will have its second and final reading at this Tuesday. Read more in the Oaklandside.
Support Our Teachers & Students
Oakland teachers are standing up for students who deserve safe, stable, racially just community schools with the resources they need to succeed. The Oakland Educators Association announced that it will strike on Thursday if they do not reach a deal with OUSD. More here on ABC7. I stand with our teachers and students and hope that the union and OUSD come to an agreement that centers students’ needs and wellbeing.
MLK Oratorical Festival Winners - 4.23.23
We are so proud of our District 2 students who performed at the MLK Oratorical Fest this past weekend! Congratulations to Crocker Highlands Elementary students Shoshana Goldman for her performance of “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou, and Wolf Powell, for his performance of the speech “Leave Your Legacy,” by Team Fearless; to Franklin Elementary's Cairo Mahgoub for "Maladjusted" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and to Roosevelt Middle School's Jefferson Kwan for "We Shall Overcome" by Lyndon B. Johnson. These students came in first place in their divisions, and we couldn’t be happier for them and their families! Shout outs to the many other students who performed speeches and poems for your outstanding work!
Oakland A’s Updates
On April 20th, after learning of the A's Las Vegas land deal in the midst of our active negotiations, I shared the following statement.
"Oakland has worked incredibly hard to come to an agreement with the A’s. Our City Council created a framework to support a win-win deal to keep the A’s in Oakland while ensuring community benefits, affordable housing, good jobs, a thriving Port, and fiscal responsibility for Oakland taxpayers.
Every time the A’s put a new problem before us, we worked to overcome it, including securing more than $375 million for offsite infrastructure, creating an infrastructure financing district, and certifying an Environmental Impact Review. We were in active negotiations with the A’s when they decided to go to the press announcing a land deal in Las Vegas.
Those are not the actions of a good partner or an organization committed to Oakland.
It is not fair to the fans and our residents to string us along in this manner. It’s time for Oakland to move on to other opportunities to develop this site, which we are well-positioned to do, so that we can create good jobs for our residents, expand opportunities, and make the Oakland waterfront accessible for all — without jeopardizing vital City services."
Last week, Mayor Thao said the door is still open if the A's have a change of heart.
Tuesday 5/2: Council Meeting Preview
Highlights for this coming Tuesday, May 2nd, 4pm Council Meeting:
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Item 3.1: Celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
From: Council President Bas + Councilmember Ramachandran
A Ceremonial item to commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, honoring AAPI Oakland leaders in each Council District and with a special performance. -
Item 6.10: COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium Phase-Out and Amendments to the Just Cause Ordinance
From: Council President Bas + Council President Pro Tempore Kalb
Second and final reading of the Eviction Moratorium Phase-Out and Amendments to the Just Cause Ordinance. Read more in the Oaklandside. -
Item 6.14: Celebrating East Bay Municipality District’s (EBMUD) 100th Anniversary
From: Council President Bas + Council President Pro Tempore Kalb
A resolution in honor of EBMUD's 100 years of service to the East Bay. -
Item 6.15: Celebration of May as Affordable Housing Month
From: Council President Bas
A resolution to celebrate May as Affordable Housing Month, celebrating the service and leadership of our affordable housing providers toward a more vibrant, equitable, and just Oakland. -
Item 8.1: Brooklyn Basin Expansion Project
From: Planning & Building Department
A public hearing on the Brooklyn Basin Marina Expansion Project, after which, Council will take action on the 5 recommendations. The proposed expansion in District 2 adds 600 new housing units with community benefits for affordable housing, local jobs and job training. Read more in the Oaklandside.
We are meeting in person at City Hall with an option to join via Zoom. Please note that mask requirements are in place inside City Hall and other public facilities. We are taking public comment on each agenda item, so make sure to fill out your speaker card to participate in public comment for those items you care about — see the agenda for instructions. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!
Community Calendar️
D2 Town Halls + Community Events
District 2 Oaklanders!
Join our Budget Town Hall. Oakland is facing a historic budget deficit, and your voice matters in helping us prioritize services. Learn about the Mayor’s proposed budget & Capital Improvements Plan. Share your feedback on City Council and D2 priorities. Meet with your neighbors and discuss important issues like:
- Housing security and homeless solutions
- Community safety, prevention, and healing
- Good jobs and vibrant economy
- Clean, healthy, sustainable neighborhoods
Food, Interpretation & Childcare provided with RSVP by May 8th. For more information, contact Amaya Lin, [email protected].
Also save the dates for our neighborhood community meetings:
- San Antonio — Saturday, May 13, 10am (stay tuned for location and details)
- Grand Lake — Wednesday, May 17, 6:30pm (stay tuned for location and details)
4/30/23 - 5/6/23: Oakland Small Business Week
Are you ready for Oakland Small Business Week 2023?! From April 30th to May 6th, join the City of Oakland as we celebrate Oakland small businesses with in person and virtual events, workshops, and resource fairs for small business owners and entrepreneurs — for free!!
From financial strategies to digital promotion, developing a successful loan pitch, to negotiating a commercial lease, Oakland Small Business Week promises amazing opportunities to learn, network, and take your business to the next level. Find more information and a list of events here.
Who can participate?
- All Oakland residents, including home owners and renters.
- Who cannot come: businesses, for-hire haulers, contractors, painters, organizations, apartments & condominium managers, clubs, and non-profits.
For more information, check out the website here, or see the flyer below for more info.
EBHO Affordable Housing Month Kickoff Celebration - May 4th, 2023
5:30 - 7:30 PM, BLOC15, 252 2nd St, Oakland, CA
Get ready to party with EBHO! Tickets are now on sale for their 2023 Affordable Housing Month kickoff celebration.
This is their annual kickoff celebration, which is their biggest event of the year. It’s a night of food, drinks, dancing, networking with others interested in creating a better East Bay, and honoring several of our affordable housing heroes. Join them in celebrating this year's Housing Hero Honorees Mike Rawson, Cathy Eberhardt, and the Raise the Roof Coalition. You can get your tickets and learn more here.
2023 Sidewalk Talk Panel: Our Point of View: Listening to Black Single Mothers
May 7th, 1 - 3pm at the Brother & Sisters Flower Shop, 3265 Grand Ave, Oakland
In light of their recent anniversary and the decades long #welfarereform, the esteemed panelists chosen this year, represent more than two decades of Urban University’s work to alleviate poverty on behalf of marginalized communities in particular, single mothers. Get tickets and learn more here.
Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation’s Aztec Run - May 7th, 9am at Lake Merritt
Join me and the Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation for another year of the Aztec Run! The course is wheelchair accessible, and participation is encouraged. More information here.
5/10: Impact 510: The Town Tourism Day (Visit Oakland)
Impact 510 Day is a celebratory and informative afternoon that focuses on the economic impact of tourism in Oakland. In addition, a GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY will be presented on stage by Southwest Airlines for two (2) round-trip international tickets and an IMPACT 510 basket full of goodies from Visit Oakland partners! Get your tickets and more information here.
Lincoln Summer Nights, starting May 11th, 2023
Every second Saturday, come enjoy Lincoln Summer Nights at Lincoln Square Park! An amazing community space, this year’s performances for the upcoming May 11th night will be from AYPAL youth with a Soft Opening of their May Arts Festival. There will be spoken word artists, Khmer coconut dance, moon love dance, and more!
5/20: Malcolm X Jazz Festival
Each year, Eastside Arts Alliance celebrates the evolving traditions and continuing political struggles of BIPOC communities through the Malcolm X Jazz Festival. Jazz is celebrated as African American classical music, made universal, and this country's greatest cultural contribution to the world - another opportunity to unite our communities through a celebration of Jazz in all its forms - Latin Jazz, straight ahead, jazz and hip hop! Join Eastside for another AMAZING MAlcolm X Jazz Festival on May 20th at San Antonio Park! As always, the event is free to attend, and you can see amazing performances, find your favorite vendors, and experience the community with amazing music and food.
Freedom Vendors Market - 5.20.23, 9am - 6pm on El Embarcadero @ Lake Merritt
In an effort to support our diverse and deeply appreciated vendor community, the District 2 Office is working with a strategist to support local vendors in creating a safer, more inclusive, and accessible community marketplace. Their inaugural event, the Freedom Vendor's Market, will launch on May 20th on El Embarcadero at Lake Merritt. We hope to see you there!
EBMUD 100th Anniversary Event on May 21st, 2023
As EBMUD celebrates a century of service, we are proud to host the EBMUD 100th Birthday Party and Community Fair. Through this event at Lake Temescal in Oakland, they hope to bring the community together to celebrate the value of water, connection, and environment. The event is free, and you can register here.
City & District 2 News and Resources
NEWS:
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AC Transit Realign Survey:
Oakland Residents! If you're an AC Transit rider, then you should take their new AC Transit Realign survey, and help them evaluate current riders' experiences! In the wake of the pandemic, and in the face of a budget shortage, AC Transit is looking to its constituents to figure out what to prioritize and how. Share your experiences and let them know what you think is important to keep AC Transit running for Oaklanders like you. Take the survey here.
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Apply for the Oakland Youth Commission
Are you an Oakland youth between the ages of 13 - 21 that wants to make a difference in your community? Then you should apply to the Oakland Youth Commission! Check out theapplication theOakland Youth Commission website for more information.
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Apply for the Oakland Police Commission
Do you want to help oversee the Oakland Police Department? Apply to be on the Police Commission, which ensures OPD policies, practices, and customs conform to national standards of constitutional policing. It takes significant time in meetings, meeting prep, and committee work, but you can help bring fair and just policing to Oakland communities. Commissioners must be over 18 and live in Oakland. They cannot be police officers or City employees. A high school diploma is not required, and formerly incarcerated people are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by May 31. To apply, go to www.oaklandca.gov/policecommission where you can also find more information about the Police Commission. You can watch videos of past meetings, find out about upcoming meetings, and learn about City Code Section 604, which describes the powers and responsibilities of the Police Commission. If you have any questions please call 510-368-5598 between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm any day of the week.
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MLK Freedom Center Civic Engagement Summer Tour
The Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center is hosting their 27th annual, intergenerational Civic Engagement Tour! From June 24th to August 5, travel with an intergenerational cohort of leaders and learn to sharpen your skills, learn more about the democratic process across the nation, and create important connections! We are looking to nominate youth who have an interest in social justice, community organizing, and equity. If you know or are a youth interested in being nominated for this FREE opportunity, please email Eric Adams at [email protected]. For more information about the Tour, contact Isabella Lopez at [email protected], or call (714) 335 3192.
RESOURCES:
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Check out our D2 Neighborhood pages, and see upcoming events!
Chinatown, Downtown, Jack London: oaklandca.gov/topics/chinatown-downtown-jack-london-neighborhood
East Lake: oaklandca.gov/topics/eastlake_neighborhood
Grand Lake: oaklandca.gov/topics/grandlake-neighborhood
San Antonio: oaklandca.gov/topics/san-antonio-neighborhood
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Oakland Animal Services Town Halls: Check out OAS’s Town Hall Series about their services and different topics you may be interested in. Upcoming Dates are: May 10th, June 7th, and July 12th, 2023. Learn more here.
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Home Electrification Resources:in December of 2020, the City started requiring all new buildings to be all electric, which will create safer homes, more jobs, and an overall better Oakland. Learn more about the timeline and resources and benefits to electrifying your home here:www.oaklandca.gov/projects/electrify
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Clean Cars for All and Charge Program: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Clean Cars for All program provides up to $9,500 for income-qualified members of communities disproportionately affected by air pollution to retire older vehicles and replace them with a new or used hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, or fuel cell vehicle, or get a transit card or e-bike. Additionally, up to $2,000 in funding is available for home-charging equipment and installation for purchasing a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle. Applicants must live in a designated, eligible community in the Bay Area and their household income must fall under a specified limit based on their household size. For more information or to apply for Clean Cars for All, visit www.baaqmd.gov/cleancarsforall.
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Does your business have compost and recycling services? Fines to Businesses for lack of compost and recycling service started January 2023: If your business fails to establish compost and recycle collection or get an approved waiver, StopWaste, the Alameda County public agency working on behalf of the City of Oakland to enforce the law, will issue citations for non-compliance. Starting fines range from $50 to $100, depending on the size of a site’s trash service and will increase every 60 days up to $500 if a site continues to not have the required service. Actions to comply with SB 1383 and avoid fines:
- Sign up for compost and recycle service online
- Apply for a minimal generation waiver if your business generates a very small volume (less than 10 or 20 gallons a week) of compostable or recyclable material.
- Protect yourself, protect your community! CA Dept. of Public Health strongly recommends wearing a well-fitted, high-quality mask (N95, KN95, KF94) indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces, along with vaccination, testing, and ventilation. Find a FREE N95 mask near you online or call 1-800-232-0233.
Job Opportunities: Apply & Share!
Find City of Oakland Jobs here!
