#LoveLife

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Budget Townhall

Join our District 2 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].

Learn more about the Mayor's One Oakland Budget here.

Read my District 2 Budget Priorities here. 

Read more in the Oaklandside. 

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 appreciate  hearing from traffic safety advocates who visited our Council Office to push for infrastructure improvements to make our streets safer and others sharing concerns about issues from Cultural Affairs to Democracy Dollars. 

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Around D2 & Oakland

AAPI Heritage Month Honoree: Reverend Deborah Lee
For this year's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I am honored to recognize Reverend Deborah Lee for her amazing work at the intersection of faith and social justice for 25+ years in popular education, community organizing & advocacy connecting issues of race, gender, economic justice, anti-militarism, LGBTQ inclusion, and immigrant rights.

Reverend Lee has consistently sought to strengthen the voice and role of faith communities in today’s social movements. As the Executive Director of the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, she has built up the Immigrant Justice program of the organization, engaging dozens of congregations in Northern California to become Sanctuary congregations and to respond to the wave of migrant youth and families being impacted by the detention and deportation crisis. Her work has been recognized as innovative and impactful with awards from the United Nations Association of the East Bay, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, and the national United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministry.

She is the daughter of immigrants and part of the Chinese diaspora that has taken her family through Southeast Asia, Mexico, and now the United States. Since the 1990’s, Rev. Lee and I have organized and advocated together on immigrant and refugee rights, and more recently, collaborated to stop unjust ICE detentions and deportations, and seek pardons for community members from Gov. Gavin Newsom. Throughout the pandemic, and as anti-Asian hate incidents have risen, Rev. Lee has been a powerful leader in creating cross-racial healing spaces and promoting Asian, Black, and Brown solidarity. I hope that everyone can join me in celebrating Rev. Lee's work and achievements in honor or AAPI Heritage Month, and in celebrating the City's other honorees!

Celebrating Our Arab American Community: Arab American Heritage Month
A huge shoutout to John Lauti and Sabria Hassan of OUSD's Arab, Asian, and Pacific Islander Student Achievement initiative for their Arab American Heritage Month celebration, and all the work they do year-round to make sure that Arab, Asian, and Pacific Islanders are supported, seen, and represented in our schools! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication, and for the space that you’re creating for our young people in Oakland!

Older Americans Day
I am proud to have kicked off our Older Americans Month celebration as the opening speaker, and thankful to the organizers and Mayor’s Commission on Aging who brought out groups like the West Oakland Line Dancers to perform and celebrate our seniors! As Council President, and as an Oaklander, I appreciate the diverse community of elders here, who wear many hats, and help keep our communities strong. And with that comes specific challenges, like housing and food insecurity, isolation, and health concerns. I want to make sure that we uplift our seniors as an important part of maintaining a thriving Oakland community, and am committed to supporting seniors and elders across the board here in Oakland.

March for Meals on Wheels
My staff and I had a great time serving our elderly residents and community members with the Meals on Wheels crew this past Wednesday, May 10th. Shout out to Ambassador David Stroud who has been an amazing and dedicated volunteer for several years. So many of our elders deal with food insecurity and isolation, and being able to volunteer and serve some of our most in need seniors gave me a chance to hear some of their stories, and better understand the ways that we can support them. I encourage everyone to consider volunteering with Meals on Wheels, which you can learn more about here. 

Lincoln Summer Nights Kick Off
Last Thursday, May 11th, my staff Amaya Lin and I had a blast at the kick off to this year's Lincoln Summer Nights in Chinatown. There was entertainment, art, games, food, resources, and more. Join us on the 2nd Thursday of each month and bring the whole family to help us build a stronger community. 

Aztec Run/Walk
Last Sunday, May 7th, I joined the Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation’s Aztec Run/Walk, which follows one of Oakland’s most historic routes, once-around Lake Merritt and marked its 17th year. The Aztec Run has been produced year after year by the Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation as a way to encourage community health, exercise, and engagement, and residents throughout Oakland and the greater Bay Area return yearly to celebrate that cause. A HUGE ‘Thank You’ to the Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation for flawlessly executing this event yet again, and for helping build a stronger Oakland community.

Oakland Small Business Week
It was inspiring to be able to visit and meet so many of our D2 and Oakland businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the week, and to share space with them last Friday, May 5th at Everett & Jones over food, music, and great conversation! A huge shoutout to Everett & Jones for hosting and providing delicious fare, and for the Business Week team that brought all of us together. Thank you for all you do keeping Oakland businesses running!

EBHO Affordable Housing Kickoff
On May 4th, I celebrated East Bay Housing Organization's Affordable Housing Month with Honoree Raise the Roof Coalition, of which Kristi Laughlin and Kelley Zhao of the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy are members. The coalition, which is based in Contra Costa County, has successfully organized and passed renter protections and tenants rights legislation in several cities in the county, and are working to expand. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urban University's 2023 Sidewalk Talk Panel: Our Point of View: Listening to Black Single Mothers
It was a delight to be able to celebrate and hear from Black Mothers about their tireless work to address poverty, the 27th anniversary of the Welfare Reform Act, and raising their families. Thank you to all of the speakers who shared their stories, and inspired listeners to continue taking action in the fight against poverty. I would also like to thank the Urban University for this moving program, and for all of the work they do organizing for a more equitable Oakland. Learn more about Urban University here and visit their shop on Grand Ave.

Day Without Childcare Rally
On Monday, May 8th, Early Childhood Educators and Childcare Providers across the nation organized rallies and actions in more than 25 states, calling for 1) an equitable child acre system, built on racial and gender justice, 2) Thriving wages for child care providers, and 3) Affordable child care for all families. As a mother and as Council President, I was proud to stand with and speak out for early childhood educators & childcare providers, who are the unseen backbone of our economy. 

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Tuesday 5/16: Council Meeting Preview

Highlights for this coming Tuesday, May 16, 4pm Council Meeting: 

• Item 6.5: Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with SAHA for A Portion of the 12th Street Remainder Parcel
  From: Economic And Workforce Development Department
  Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) seeks to partner with the City to create a 100% affordable housing project on the 12th Street Remainder Parcel in District 2. I'm proud to be working in collaboration with SAHA and a coalition of neighbors and OUSD community members to support this project that advances our goal of public land for public good. 

• Item 6.9: Brooklyn Basin Marina Expansion Project
  From: Planning and Building Department
  The expansion of the Brooklyn Basin Project in District 2 had a public hearing at the last Council meeting. This expansion comes with a set of community benefits including $9 million to preserve and acquire affordable housing in the nearby neighborhoods of Chinatown, Eastlake, and San Antonio in partnership with the Oakland Community Land Trust. I thank the community coalition for their persistence over the two decades this project has evolved, and am proud to support them. So far, there are 341 affordable units among the 823 apartments. Read more here. 

• Item 6.20: Sherry Hirota Way Street Renaming
  From: Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas
  Sherry Hirota was the founding Chief Executive Officer at Asian Health Services, founded in 1976 in Oakland Chinatown. Over the past 47 years, Ms. Hirota led the clinic to become the high-quality community health center it is today, with 12 sites, employing 450 community members, and serving 50,000 patients in 12 languages. Join us in commemorating her legacy by renaming Alice Street between 9th and 10th Streets in her honor. 

• Item 6.21: Celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month
  From: President Pro Tem Kalb and Mayor Thao
  In celebration of Jewish Heritage Month, District 2 is honoring Talya Husbands-Hankin for her work advocating and organizing with Love And Justice In The Streets to advance more equity and uplift the voices, organizing and policy efforts of our unhoused neighbors toward a world where Housing is a Human Right. Love And Justice In The Streets is an all volunteer-run organization, committed to increasing the capacity of unhoused Oakland residents by providing direct material assistance to individuals and curbside communities. Talya has been an invaluable partner with our D2 Office in supporting our unhoused neighbors.

• Item S6.38: Adding Chapter 10.74 To The OMC Imposing Fines And Penalties (Sideshow Ordinance)
  From: Councilmember Gallo
  Last week, the Public Safety Committee sent the Sideshow Ordinance to the full Council for approval. The ordinance creates penalties for sideshow organizers. Dangerous sideshows are a concern for District 2 and the entire City, and we have been working to  curb them with targeted police deterrence and enforcement and street infrastructure measures. In addition, CM Fife and AASEG are working on a legal alternative to sideshows at the Coliseum. Report illegal sideshows to [email protected] with as much specific information as possible, including location, day, time, how many cars, license plates, number of spectators, any firearm activity, and social media posts. 

• Item S11: A Resolution Confirming Mayor Thao’s Appointment of Jestin D. Johnson As City Administrator
  From: Office of the Mayor
  Mayor Thao seeks Council confirmation of her appointment of Jestin Johnson as City Administrator. Mr. Johnson has over 15 years of local government experience including in Atlanta and Tucson. 

 

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!

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Community Calendar️

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. Learn more and support here. 

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 Celebratory Event on May 21st
As EBMUD celebrates a century of service, they will 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.

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Job Opportunities: Apply & Share!

Find City of Oakland Jobs here!