volume 13 number 4 may 2001 life after lawn signs

8
Serving the neighborhoods from Fruitvale Avenue to Seminary Avenue and from Foothill Boulevard to Warren Freeway Volume 13 Number 4 May 2001 A Community Newspaper • P.O. Box 19046, Oakland, CA 94619 • (510) 287-2655 Vera Callender, Bess Ellinger & Marla Cass, Rebecca Cervetti, Delores Doss, Miriam Hurley, Whit Magor, Chuck Trumble Life After Lawn Signs You, too, can become a friend of the Metro. See page 2. Your support helps keep the Metro alive! Become one of the Thousand Friends. Author’s note: I first learned about Rebecca Kaplan courtesy of lawn signs—at friends’ and strangers’ houses, at my son’s daycare, in just about any Oakland neighborhood. The signs urged me to vote for Rebecca Kaplan for the at-large Oakland City Council seat. For a brief period last fall, I probably thought as much about this Green Party candidate and her race against incumbent Henry Chang as I did about Gore and Bush. When the election was over, Mr. Chang hung onto his seat, but not without a serious challenge from Ms. Kaplan, who garnered 44 percent of the vote. Now that the lawn signs have been pulled up and a few months have passed, where is Rebecca Kaplan? The Metro-area resident (who lives in the Laurel/Fruitvale area) is prov- ing there is life after campaigns. Following is an edited interview. hiloh Christian Fellow- ship plans to break ground for a child- education building this fall. The new 8,500-square-foot building will adjoin their existing School Street build- ing near 35th Avenue. This will be an extension of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Ministry already being run by the Fellowship. The facil- ity has been designed by Alex and Ewa Bañuelos Architects to serve about 500 children. According to Melinda Ramos, Director of the Ministry, these would be children attending up through sixth-grade classes. There are facilities in the existing building to care for infants and preschoolers. According to the archi- tects’ drawings, this will be a two-story building. The lower floor is currently s we approach the end of the school year, three important issues are on my mind. First, students come to the end of the grading period the week after spring break, which spells relief for students passing with A’s, B’s, or just making it by earning C’s. It also serves as an alarm for those failing with a D and/or an F. Not only must students strive for excellence in their academic and their attendance marks but also in the matter of passing socially—”fitting in,” as it’s known, or “being differ- ent.” There’s a fine line between unique and freak. One thing you’ll notice here at Bret Harte is the different racial groups, each group special in its own way, except one. There is not one united multiracial group in Bret Harte. Students tend to associate with their own race. continued on page 2 continued on page 4 continued on page 4 Dimond Rec Center, one of many Metro Area Recreation Centers offering summer activities. See story on page 8. D A L S E L L M A N Metro: What made you a com- munity activist and a candidate for public office? Kaplan: My activism started in college. I got on the board of the Association for Women Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At the time, women were about 20 percent of the campus. It was a challenge, even to the point where some of the buildings didn’t even have women’s bathrooms. That experience taught me a lot about political activism and about working at the grassroots level to see that everyone’s needs are met. My interest in being a public advocate preceded my interest in running for public office. Metro: You are a lawyer by profession? Kaplan: Yes. I decided to go to law school because I saw legal training as a tool that I could use to foster this goal of mine, which was to work for social improvement. I started work- ing as a lawyer in Oakland. Through that job, I learned about local politics and local laws and how they affect peoples’ daily lives. One of the challenges that we’ve had in Oakland historically as well as recently is the way city contracts are awarded and decisions are made and the way that that is connected to campaign financing. Metro: Can you give an example? Kaplan: One of the more blatant examples that has come back to haunt us is that of the subcontractor that was awarded the job to do the com- puterization of the city’s new payroll system. People have Change Through Unity I would like to acknowl- edge the students who do take the time to mingle with others than their own race. The question is, when will all the students come together so- cially? When will they travel to the depths of a person’s soul and learn about what really Shiloh Children’s Ministry designed to hold a large assembly room and a confer- ence room as well as a visitor center. The upper floor would hold six classrooms and four offices. The structure is proposed to be in the rear of the exist- ing building, which was originally a public school. At present, some of the Noah’s Ark facilities are housed in two portable buildings on the construction site, a corner of the parking lot. The addi- tion is to abut an L-shaped area of the existing building, becoming an addition acces- sible through present hall- ways and doors. Some class- rooms, offices, and meeting rooms will receive natural daylight only indirectly, by way of light wells. The total cost estimate for this structure is $1,600,000, all funded by the Shiloh con- gregation, Bank of the West, B Y ANGELINA P EREZ,S TUDENT B ODY P RESIDENT OF B RET H ARTE Angelina Perez, Bret Harte Student Council President. matters? Mr. Robinson once told me, “Don’t ever judge or pick on anyone because you’re blind. We’re all blind. We don’t know their untold stories, their secrets, the scars on their life and on their soul. These are the scars that are unnoticed.” B Y A LBERT G OODWYN B Y E LLEN G RIFFIN A S Rebecca Kaplan shopping at Farmer Joe’s Market in the Laurel. D A L S E L L M A N J O D Y B E R K E

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Serving the neighborhoods from Fruitvale Avenue to Seminary Avenue and from Foothill Boulevard to Warren FreewayVolume 13 Number 4 May 2001

A Community Newspaper • P.O. Box 19046, Oakland, CA 94619 • (510) 287-2655

Vera Callender, Bess Ellinger & Marla Cass, Rebecca Cervetti, Delores Doss,Miriam Hurley, Whit Magor, Chuck Trumble

Life After Lawn Signs

You, too, can become a friend of the Metro. See page 2.

Your support helps keep the Metro alive! Become one of the Thousand Friends.

Author’s note: I first learned aboutRebecca Kaplan courtesy of lawnsigns—at friends’ and strangers’houses, at my son’s daycare, in justabout any Oakland neighborhood.The signs urged me to vote forRebecca Kaplan for the at-largeOakland City Council seat. Fora brief period last fall, I probablythought as much about this GreenParty candidate and her raceagainst incumbent Henry Changas I did about Gore and Bush.When the election was over,Mr. Chang hung onto his seat, butnot without a serious challengefrom Ms. Kaplan, who garnered44 percent of the vote. Now thatthe lawn signs have been pulledup and a few months have passed,where is Rebecca Kaplan? TheMetro-area resident (who lives inthe Laurel/Fruitvale area) is prov-ing there is life after campaigns.Following is an edited interview.

hiloh Christian Fellow-ship plans to breakground for a child-

education building this fall.The new 8,500-square-footbuilding will adjoin theirexisting School Street build-ing near 35th Avenue.

This will be an extensionof the Noah’s Ark Children’sMinistry already being runby the Fellowship. The facil-ity has been designed by Alexand Ewa Bañuelos Architectsto serve about 500 children.According to Melinda Ramos,Director of the Ministry, thesewould be children attendingup through sixth-gradeclasses. There are facilities inthe existing building to carefor infants and preschoolers.

According to the archi-tects’ drawings, this will bea two-story building. Thelower floor is currently

s we approach the endof the school year, threeimportant issues are on

my mind.First, students come to the

end of the grading period theweek after spring break, whichspells relief for students passingwith A’s, B’s, or just making itby earning C’s. It also serves asan alarm for those failing witha D and/or an F.

Not only must studentsstrive for excellence in theiracademic and their attendancemarks but also in the matterof passing socially—”fitting in,”as it’s known, or “being differ-ent.” There’s a fine line betweenunique and freak. One thingyou’ll notice here at Bret Harteis the different racial groups,each group special in its ownway, except one. There is notone united multiracial groupin Bret Harte. Students tend toassociate with their own race.

cont inued on page 2

cont inued on page 4cont inued on page 4

Dimond Rec Center, oneof many Metro Area Recreation

Centers offering summer activities.See story on page 8.

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Metro: What made you a com-munity activist and a candidatefor public office?

Kaplan: My activism startedin college. I got on the boardof the Association for WomenStudents at the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology. At thetime, women were about 20percent of the campus. It wasa challenge, even to the pointwhere some of the buildingsdidn’t even have women’sbathrooms. That experiencetaught me a lot about politicalactivism and about workingat the grassroots level to seethat everyone’s needs are met.My interest in being a publicadvocate preceded my interestin running for public office.

Metro: You are a lawyer byprofession?

Kaplan: Yes. I decided to go tolaw school because I saw legal

training as a tool that I coulduse to foster this goal of mine,which was to work for socialimprovement. I started work-ing as a lawyer in Oakland.Through that job, I learnedabout local politics and locallaws and how they affectpeoples’ daily lives. One ofthe challenges that we’ve hadin Oakland historically aswell as recently is the waycity contracts are awardedand decisions are made andthe way that that is connectedto campaign financing.

Metro: Can you give anexample?

Kaplan: One of the moreblatant examples that hascome back to haunt us is thatof the subcontractor that wasawarded the job to do the com-puterization of the city’s newpayroll system. People have

Change Through Unity

I would like to acknowl-edge the students who dotake the time to mingle withothers than their own race. Thequestion is, when will all thestudents come together so-cially? When will they travel tothe depths of a person’s souland learn about what really

Shiloh Children’s Ministrydesigned to hold a largeassembly room and a confer-ence room as well as a visitorcenter. The upper floorwould hold six classroomsand four offices.

The structure is proposedto be in the rear of the exist-ing building, which wasoriginally a public school. Atpresent, some of the Noah’sArk facilities are housed intwo portable buildings onthe construction site, a cornerof the parking lot. The addi-tion is to abut an L-shapedarea of the existing building,becoming an addition acces-sible through present hall-ways and doors. Some class-rooms, offices, and meetingrooms will receive naturaldaylight only indirectly, byway of light wells.

The total cost estimate forthis structure is $1,600,000,all funded by the Shiloh con-gregation, Bank of the West,

BY ANGELINA PEREZ, STUDENT

BODY PRESIDENT OF BRET HARTE

Angelina Perez, Bret Harte Student Council President.

matters? Mr. Robinson oncetold me, “Don’t ever judge orpick on anyone because you’reblind. We’re all blind. We don’tknow their untold stories, theirsecrets, the scars on their lifeand on their soul. These arethe scars that are unnoticed.”

B Y A L B E R T G O O D W Y N

B Y E L L E N G R I F F I N

AS

Rebecca Kaplan shopping at Farmer Joe’s Market in the Laurel.

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2May 2001

HOT NUMBERSCITY OF OAKLAND AGENCIES

ABAT—the Alcoholic 238-7103Beverage Action Team

Graffiti hotline 238-4703

Abandoned cars 615-5713

O.P.D. Non-emergency 238-3333

Animal control 535-5602

Beat Health (drugs) 615-5808

Drug Hotline 238-DRUG

Noise Hotline: 238-6777(Oakland CEDA,property complaint line)

C.O.R.E. 238-6351(Citizens of OaklandRespond to Emergencies)

Truancy Hotline 479-2199

Oaklanders Assistance 444-CITYCenter knows the answerto all problems with cityand other governmentalservices in Oakland.

PRIVATE AGENCIES

Safe Streets Now 836-4622(drugs)

A Safe Place 536-7233(domestic violence)

Conciliation 763-2117Services of Oakland(neighborhood disputes)

Sentinel Fair Housing 836-2687(free landlord-tenantcounseling anddiscrimination investigation)

Managing EditorToni LockeAssociate EditorRobert PunoCopy EditorsAnne Fox, Roussel SargentFinances/BookkeepingReuben GoldbergAdvertising ManagerSuzanne TiptonArt DirectorAndreas JonesWord ProcessingDavid RaichPhotographyJody Berke, Dal SellmanDistributionDal SellmanMailingDiane TrostCalendarJennifer TiltonFriends and Money HoneysMary Seastrand�

Board of DirectorsMichael BroadDouglas FergusonReuben GoldbergBettie GrandisonLori HopeAbdul Elamin LuqmanPatricia St. Onge

A special thanks to allresidents, associations, andmerchants for their support.Also, a special thanks to allvolunteer writers, artists,photographers, and distributors.

Imagesetting by CameraGraphics,Lafayette, California, (925) 283-2473.Printing by Wesco Graphics, Inc.,Tracy, California, (209) 832-1000Opinions expressed in the MacArthurMetro are those of the contributorsand do not necessarily reflect theviews held by the publication.©2001 by the MacArthur Metro,P.O. Box 19046, Oakland, CA 94619(510) 287-2655.

We welcome yournews and ads;

deadline the 15th.

Publication in thefirst week of each

month exceptJanuary and July.

ISSN 1091-1111

How to Reachthe Metro

WRITE US A LETTER. Sendyour comments to Lettersto the Editor, MacArthurMetro, P.O. Box 19046,Oakland, CA 94619.

GIVE US A CALL. Our voice-mail number is: 287-2655.

Letters may be edited forlength or clarity. Please in-clude name, address andphone number. We do notprint anonymous letters.

Volunteer to Serveon the Metro’s Board

reetings, from onemember of the Boardof Directors for the

MacArthur Metro! My nameis Patricia St. Onge. I’m Execu-tive Director of the Coopera-tive Summer Session at theGraduate Theological Union,and I work as a consultantto nonprofits, foundations,and public agencies withCommunity DevelopmentInstitute and Seven Genera-tions Consulting.

I’m a great believer in theidea of thinking globally andacting locally. Much of mywork is challenging and hasimplications for the broadercommunity, but I also wantto be engaged at the most lo-cal level. One of the ways I’vechosen to do that is by servingon the Board of Directors ofthe MacArthur Metro. Theboard is in a transition. Somelong-time members have indi-cated that they are ready to

move on. They’ve providedan important service to ourneighborhood for a long time.

Now it’s someone else’sturn. Might it be yours?

Serving on the board re-quires attendance at fourmeetings a year, some e-mailconversations between meet-ings, and an occasional staff/board joint gathering. Thepeople are delightful, andthe board supports the staffin shaping the paper. Otherneighborhoods are visitingwith us to see if they mightcreate a similar paper.

Think about this as agood way to get to know yourneighbors and make an impor-tant contribution to your localcommunity. Please considerserving on the board. If youare interested, you can contactDouglas Ferguson at P.O. Box27453, Oakland, CA 94602.452-5577 (home), 885-7452(work).

Hope to meet you soon ata board meeting!

B Y P A T R I C I A S T . O N G E

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Early Childhood Education Summer Classesat Association of Children’s Services (AOCS)

NEIGHBORHOOD ACCREDITATION CENTER (NAC)Classes begin May 29, 2001

Child DevelopmentAdvanced Infant/Toddler Development

Observation in Early ChildhoodChild Care Health and Safety

CPR & First Aid for Young Children

Enroll Now! For Information Call: (510) 261-1076

probably been reading a lotabout how some city employeesare not getting paid properlydue to computer malfunctions.Well, the company that wasawarded the subcontract to dothat work had given thousandsof dollars in campaign contribu-tions to people on the CityCouncil. Then, when the com-pany failed to do the work,the city chose not to sue themimmediately to force them to fixit quickly. One week before theCouncil met to decide whatto do about the situation, thecompany made additional con-tributions to several people whowould be making the decision.We see things like this goingon, and it makes me realizehow hard it is to ensure that thegovernment is serving the pub-lic interest as long as the fund-ing system for candidates andincumbents is set up so thatpeople are being paid, in es-sence, to sell out the public.

Metro: Is that what promptedyour campaign?

Kaplan: The incident thatreally sparked my interest inrunning for City Council is theIES hazardous medical-wasteincinerator on High Street. Istarted learning more and moreabout this incinerator and howthey are emitting carcinogenicchemicals including lead, mer-cury, and dioxin in quantitiesthat exceed the legal allowableamount. And they’ve commit-ted numerous permit violationsby not having functioningdetection equipment. The neigh-borhood residents have beencomplaining; there has been a

found a $20 bill on thestreet and tried to thinkwho to donate to . . . .

You’re the winner, awonderful newspaper!

Thanks.Chuck Trumble

Lettersto theEditor

Rebecca KaplanC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1

I

lot of concern about this beingin a residential neighborhood,and primarily a low-incomeresidential neighborhood. Theasthma rates have been going upin that area—not only due to thisincinerator but due to the con-centration of toxins. Communitygroups like PUEBLO (PeopleUnited for a Better Oakland) andGreen Action have been pushingon this for years and have beengetting very little action from theOakland City Council. So then Idid a little research and I foundthat the owners of the companyalso gave thousands of dollars incampaign contributions to boththe mayor and councilmembers.

Metro: What was the biggestrevelation to you from the cam-paign?

Kaplan: It’s an incredibly mov-ing and powerful experience. Iwould really encourage peoplewho are either unhappy withcurrent elected officials or whowant to make a contribution toconsider running. There is apopular perception that youcan only run if you have bigmoney or the backing of people

level of dedication and progres-sive values, but also of the factthat when you run a grassrootscampaign with progressive val-ues and a strong volunteer base,you really can reach people andmake a difference. So I think itis important that more peoplerun, and not just run, but beactive! You can work on some-one else’s campaign, back some-body. But the only way ourdemocracy will really work isif people get involved and getactive. I also want people tothink about running for officesthat people don’t often think of,

cont inued on page 5

“I really wantto encouragepeople to run,to see it aspossible.”with big money. That’s partof why we end up with unsatis-factory candidates some of thetime. I really want to encouragepeople to run, to see it as pos-sible. I may not have won, butstarting out, I was someonewho nobody had ever heard of,and I wound up getting a hugepercentage (44 percent) of thevote. And I see that as a signboth that people really want a

like the East Bay MUD (Munici-pal Utilities District) Board, theAC Transit Board—the typesof offices that frequently don’tget a lot of press are also placeswhere people can make a differ-ence.

Metro: With your at-largecampaign, you must havelearned a lot about Oakland.

Kaplan: Oakland is a phenom-enal and wonderful place, andmy belief was reinforced overand over. In community groupsand neighborhood associationsthroughout the city I heard andsaw interest and dedicationfrom people who are doingeverything from organizingneighborhood watch groups,starting farmers’ markets,street-tree programs, there areall these grassroots organiza-tions in Oakland doing reallywonderful things. And ofcourse they’d accomplish a lotmore with more support fromthe government. They do getsome, but not always enough.

May 2001

3

ormer Leona-area miningoperations arouse curios-ity among the many

people who nowadays hikethe roads and fire trails relatedto Leona Park, Merritt Col-lege, and the greenbelt aboveMountain View Avenue. Andwhile the history is still beingresearched, we can be sure ofsome things. We know that inthe late 1800s, Mills Collegewas in place and needed to

get students, faculty, staff, andparents to and from the schoolby horse-drawn carriage and,later, electric trolley, with aturntable and car barn locatedon present-day Highway 13below the south end of KnollAvenue. And we know thatrailroad tracks were laid onor parallel to Leona Street toconnect to the trolley line, andvia the top of Seminary Av-enue by the trolley lines (overthe present Courtland Avenueright-of-way) all the wayto the old steam train linesbelow East 14th Street (nowInternational Boulevard).

This transportation netpermitted the delivery ofore from Leona Mine by aneconomical route to the Rich-mond location of StaufferChemical Company and itspredecessor companies’ op-erations, where sulfur couldbe extracted for the manufac-ture of industrial sulfuric acid.This same rail net was promi-nently mentioned in the news-paper ads of the 1920s, whenRealty Syndicate trumpeted,“Own your own chickenranch in Leona Heights,” andLeona Hotel owners urgedOakland and San Franciscoresidents to “Come for theweekend or the week for aquiet retreat in the pristinepark area of Oakland. It’seasy to reach by streetcar.”

The character and locationof Leona ores made extractionquite difficult. Ore varied

B Y G O R D O N L A V E R T Y

Pedestrian Safety Week:Photo Shoot to Mock

AccidentIf you had happened to lookdown 9th Street betweenBroadway and Washingtonon April 30, you wouldhave seen a photo shoot inprogress. Depending on whenyou arrived, the scene wouldhave changed from a streetpacked with single-driver carsto one with lots of room forpedestrians to stroll throughOld Oakland. And that’sexactly the message for theopening day of PedestrianSafety Week: Traffic Problem/Traffic Solution, walking is aright/ driving is a privilege.The photos will be part of amedia campaign this summer.

This year’s PedestrianSafety Week (April 30 to May4), sponsored by the OaklandPedestrian Safety Project, willalso feature several pedestrianstings, including one at 40thand Foothill, and a mockaccident at McClymondsHigh School. After last year’smock “Death of a PromQueen” at Fremont High, FireDepartment Captain PhillipBell pledged to bring the at-tention-grabbing event to all

Oakland high schools. Skylineand Oakland Tech events wereheld in February and March

Celebrate Cinco de Mayoat the Melrose Branch

LibraryThe Melrose Branch’s Cinco deMayo celebration will featurewell-known local Poet/Novel-ist Lucha Corpi reading herpoetry in Spanish and English.Teens are especially welcomeat the event, Wednesday,May 2, at 6:30 p.m. The Branchis delighted to be buyingchildren’s books in Englishand Spanish with a generousdonation from the MelroseParent Nursery. They arealso pleased that CommunityProbation of Alameda Countyis using the meeting room totutor teens on probation.

Brookdale Rec:Think Summer

With softball in full swing andspring break behind, parentsare asking about summer pro-grams at Brookdale Rec Cen-ter. We can count on T-ball forkids in grades one throughthree, and summer camp forthe 5- to 12-year-olds. Signupswill begin about May 21, soplan ahead and call 535-5632for additional information.

B Y A D E L L E F O L E Y

High Street Neighborhood NewsCoffee, Community,

and COREOn a sunny Saturday morn-ing, 32 neighbors gathered atthe Maxwell Ave. home of JoeDavis and Jan Hetherington.Although we live close by,you could tell that many ofus were meeting for the firsttime. As I walked through theroom, I heard, “That’s right,the one with the dog in thewindow,” “Oh, yours is thehouse with the great land-scaping,” and “Are you thedrummer?” Our hosts hadmaterial on Citizens of Oak-land Respond to Emergencies(CORE) and told us aboutthree levels of training, ad-dressing the individual home,the neighborhood, and thecity. The idea was to getto know each other and toplan for emergencies such asearthquakes. Before we left,we had traded information onwhere to have breakfast, sipcoffee, shop, and learn zydecodancing with neighbors whohad moved into their homesfrom 1957 to 2000. That after-noon, on my way to do er-rands, I smiled and waved toa new friend up the hill. —————————————Adelle Foley can be reached bye-mail at [email protected].

Building Habitatin a Creek

Like anything else in thephysical world, a stream hasits own architecture. It has astructure which is determined,in part, by how quickly thestream flows, how much wa-ter it has, what the water con-tains, and how many bendsand turns the creek makes.

These conditions, in turn,influence a stream’s biota. Thestream’s structure provideshabitat. For example, mayfliesand stoneflies live under therocks that the stream carriesdown from the upper water-shed and deposits in itsmiddle reaches, and troutlive in deep pools and spawnin the gravel that collects atthe downstream end of thosecool waters.

Humans have alteredthe structure of Sausal Creekin many places, and thosechanges affect the animalsthat live in the stream. A slick,unbroken slab of concreteprovides little purchase for aburrowing critter that relieson soft mud for its food andshelter. And a trash rack up-stream holds back the stonesand organic debris that mighthave been deposited else-where downstream.

This summer, we’re goingto change a portion of thecreek’s structure again. Butthis time around, we’ll attemptto work with nature by remov-ing some of the human-madestructures and adding curves

to the stream. We expect thatthese changes in the creek’sstructure will provide betterconditions for the insectsand trout that live in SausalCreek.

To find out more aboutthe upcoming channel resto-ration or to get involved inany of the Friends’ projects,please join us at a meeting ora workday. The next meetingwill be Wednesday, May 16,from 7 to 9 p.m., at DimondLibrary. Workdays are everySaturday from 9 a.m. to noonin Dimond Park. For moreinformation, call Anne Hayesat 231-9566.

Friends of Sausal Creek

Leona Heights Neighborhood Newsfrom very soft, requiringheavy underground shoring,to very hard, demandingblasting. In any case, woodenshoring required a woodsource, a sawmill, and carpen-ters. And blasting involvedsafe transport, handling, andstorage of black powder orstick dynamite. In the mines,fire was a constant threat.Oxidation of the sulfurcompounds inside the minesset numerous fires in theshoring—some fires burnedfor months before being con-trolled. Burned timber shoringsometimes failed, causing tun-nel stoppages. New shoringhad to be installed and stop-pages cleared, involving costlyprocedures. These high main-tenance costs plus competitiveore sources contributed toultimate mine closure.

Next month we’ll look atwhat impact the mines haveon present-day developmentof the Leona area.

axwell Park NCPCcontinues to strive forimproved quality of

life in our neighborhood. Ourcrime stats for the month ofMarch are as follows: 4 stolencars, 1 robbery, 2 commercialburglaries, 1 residential bur-glary, and 2 petty thefts. Theseare pretty low numbers com-pared to many other neighbor-hoods in our city, but it is stilltoo many. People don’t wantto wake up and find their carstolen or come home and findthey’ve been robbed. The bestdeterrent to crime is knowingyour neighbors, knowing yourpolice officers, and zero toler-ance for criminal activity.

We work with our officersto deal with hot spots, our pri-mary concerns. We know eachother by name, and that helpswith accountability and fosterspersonal care and concern. TheOPD has offered a problem-solving training seminar forMaxwell Park residents. Wewill meet with the Police De-partment and form new strate-gies to combat crime. If youare a resident of Maxwell Park

B Y A N N E H A Y E S

Maxwell Park NCPC News

B Y L U C I A L A R O C C A

M(call if you’re not sure), youare welcome to attend. Thetraining will be Saturday, May12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at MillsGrove Christian Church, 5410Fleming Ave. Please contactAraina Richards at 615-5804to confirm your attendance.

A primary concern wehave as neighbors is the lackof animal control in Oakland.Animal Control is headed bythe Police Department and isso poorly staffed as to be vir-tually nonfunctional. You’llbe hearing more on this issuein the future.

We don’t just preventcrime in Maxwell Park, wealso have a great time! Wehave numerous block partiesand potlucks throughout theyear. Our streets are linedwith homes that have greatcharacter and charm. Manyrestorations and interestingremodels are underway.Drive by or visit sometime,but don’t speed or play loudmusic; we like our serenity.

Our next NCPC meetingis Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m.,at Mills Grove ChristianChurch, 5410 Fleming Ave.See you there!

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B Y R O B E R T P U N O

Please help us keep our communityinformed and aware. If you knowof something or someone deservingof an onion or orchid in yourneighborhood, send an e-mailto [email protected], or call531-6279 and leave a message.

Orchids to TimChapman for his tirelessdevotion to employing Internettechnology to help neighbor-hoods and communities orga-nize and distribute information.Tim is responsible for creationof the Dimond Improve-ment Association Web site(www.dimondnews.org) andthe MacArthur Metro Web site(www.macarthurmetro.org).Tim’s volunteer efforts nowreach citywide; he is currentlyassisting the Oakland Commu-nity Action Network withits plans to create a neighbor-hood-based policy agenda forOakland.

Onions to the JohnSwett Elementary Schoolfor failing to resolve the prob-lem of its alarm going off forhours on end in the middleof the night and on weekends.And onions to the school’ssecurity forces for not respond-ing to the alarms, leavingneighborhood residents andthe Oakland Police Departmentfrustrated and furious.

Orchids to JayPharesCorporation for beautifyingthe Nationwide Insurancebuilding on the corner ofMacArthur and Maybelle.

Onions again to recy-cling poachers who drive upand take recyclables out of theblue and yellow bins intendedfor the Oakland recyclingprogram. Responding to lastApril’s onion, readers con-tacted the Metro to inform usthat such poaching is againstthe law and subject to finesand arrest. Even if the bins areout by the curb on recyclingday, the bottles, cans and news-papers inside those bins arethe sole property of the residentand/or the City of Oakland.Poaching also invites crime intoneighborhoods. Some poachersuse the opportunity to casehouses as possible burglarycandidates.

Orchids to Joe Marshand José Cervantes, workersand gardeners for the City ofOakland, for cooperating withthe Redwood Heights Land-scape Committee to keep therecreation center and surround-ing environs looking so good.

Orchids to the MelroseParent Nursery School for their

4May 2001

BitsandPieces

his month I’ll sharetwo topics, neither longenough for an entire

column, so I’ll combine them.The first is good news for

all of us involved in choralsinging. I’ve been in ourchurch choir for about sixyears now and know that sing-ing boosts my energy. Even ifI go to rehearsal feeling verytired after a long day at work,I leave rehearsal feeling re-vived and find it necessary towind down a bit before I cango to sleep. But I didn’t knowuntil recently that my partici-pation in the choir might alsobe strengthening my immunesystem. According to a studydone at the University of Cali-fornia, Irvine, and publishedin the journal Music Perception,the levels of a protein calledimmunoglobulin A increasedin choir members by 150 per-cent during rehearsals and by240 percent during perfor-mances. Many participants inthe study described their statesof mind while singing as eitherhappy or euphoric, and it wastheir mood that seemed di-rectly related to the boost inthe disease-fighting protein.

Robert Beck, co-author ofthe study and professor ofeducation, says, “The morepassionate you feel while sing-ing, the greater the effect.”The study was done on choralsingers rehearsing and laterperforming Beethoven’s MissaSolemnis. The scientists specu-late that the higher levels ofimmunoglobulin A foundfollowing a performance ascompared to a rehearsal maybe a result of the singers’ mas-tery of the piece and the thrillof performing. The findingsare particularly interestingin that rehearsing and per-forming choral music can bestressful, and other studiesindicate that stress lowersimmune function. So if youwant increased energy anda stronger immune system,consider joining a choir!

Next, I’ll tell you about anherbal supplement that mayhelp migraine sufferers. If youhaven’t tried taking feverfew,you might want to try it. I dis-covered the information whenI was trying to find help for

PauletteAvery,

R.N., M.S.N.

To Your Health

my 13-year-old daughter, whohas been having severe mi-graines for the past couple ofyears. The entry on feverfew ina book called The Good Herb, byJudith Benn Hurley, indicatesthat in a study of 10 migrainepatients done by a British doc-tor in the 1980s, seven of thepatients reported less intensepain and reduced nausea andvomiting after taking feverfew.Now that is a very smallsample, but when the samedoctor did a larger study with250 participants, half receivingfeverfew and the other halfgetting a placebo, 70 percentof those who took the feverfewreported relief from their mi-graines. Dr. Dean Edell and Dr.Andrew Weil also recommendthe herb for migraines, and itseems to be helping my daugh-ter. Dr. Weil says you can growthe plant in your yard andchew the leaves every day.But they don’t taste very good,so you can take the capsulesinstead, available at healthfood stores. Dr. Weil recom-mends one or two caplets orcapsules a day. Check withyour health-care provider be-fore trying it, especially if youtake other medications. Someherbs and prescribed medica-tions don’t mix well. It maytake up to three months tosee positive results.

Other recommendationsfrom Dr. Weil to ease mi-graines:

• Avoid foods that maytrigger the headaches. Com-mon triggers include chocolate,strong-flavored cheeses, redwine, sardines, anchovies,pickled herring, and fermentedfoods like soy sauce and miso.

• Eliminate caffeine fromyour diet, and then use caffeineas a treatment when a head-ache comes on. Drink one ortwo cups of strong coffee atthe first sign of a headache andthen lie down in a dark room.

• Take a course in biofeed-back that teaches you to warmthe temperature of your hands.Doing so at the onset of a mi-graine can help to abort it.

Be well! —————————————Paulette Avery is a registerednurse and a freelance writerspecializing in health issues.

The second issue that con-cerns me is violence. Teasingcan be dangerous. Say astudent’s father has a gunhidden in his dresser drawer.The student could go home andaim the gun at him- or herself orcould take it to school and mur-der the bully and anyone elsein the way. Bret Harte has beenclosely working with Teens OnTarget, Youth Alive, and Youthin Action. President Bill Clintonsaid these programs are amongthe top ten violence-preventionprograms. These programs arededicated to training youngpeople to stop the horror ofviolence in their homes, in theirschools, and in their communi-ties. I believe that the coopera-tive effort of reaching greaterheights is through unity.

Bret Harte will continue tochange and grow, just as BretHarte changes the studentsalong with it. During the timeI have been attending BretHarte, I’ve noticed that there arefewer fights and more commu-nication. Teachers such asMs. Carbonell, Mr. Mates, Mr.Khamis, and Mrs. Major-Taylor(just to name a few) serve as rolemodels and enlighten studentswith a passion for knowledgeand a growing quest for power.

Third on my list is people’srespect for middle-schoolers.We, the students of Bret Harte,make up the future of the world.I think we’re underestimated.Seventh graders are takingalgebra, and eighth gradersare taking geometry. Studentslearn Spanish, French, Japanese,Mandarin, Chinese, Greek,and Latin. All we ask is to beacknowledged because we tookthe first step to be the changewe want to see in this world.

and the Evangelical ChristianUnion. No public funds will beused, says Shiloh Pastor DavidKiteley. The pastor plans toopen the new Children’sMinistry in January 2002.

At the City of OaklandBuilding Permits Department,Shirley Smith says that no per-mits have yet been registeredfor that construction, but nodeadline has passed.

Shiloh Christian Fellowshipalso has a number of othercommunity outreach programs,

UnityC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1

ShilohC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1

T

Bill MillerYour Area Real Estate SpecialistRelocation and Corporate Services Available

[email protected]

NeighborhoodResident since 1980

generous donation to theMelrose Branch Library topurchase children’s booksin English and Spanish.

Orchids to DavidVahlstrom and his TrueValue Laurel Hardware onMacArthur for being such asteady, positive influence inthe Laurel neighborhood. TheHardware is also the mostpopular place where residentsdrop in to pick up the latestcopy of the Metro (right onthe front counter). Thanks forkeeping the Metro well stockedand available!

including an International RedCross center, a 16-week parentalempowerment course, and afree student-tutoring collabora-tive for third and fourth gradersin association with FruitvaleElementary School. TheFellowship also works withthe Alameda County FoodBank to distribute food, andwith Healthy Start.

The Fellowship has abrightly painted truck that trav-els every Thursday to schools.The side opens to create a stage.They put on shows, awardprizes and hand out snacks.

Their services are verypopular. The pastor plans toadd a fourth Sunday service aswell as a Wednesday service.

Above: Shiloh Christian Fellowship.Below: Melinda and David Kitely.

ALB

ERT

GO

OD

WYN

DOROTHY OKAMOTO

Optometrist

3714 MacArthur BoulevardOakland 530-2330

Over 20 years in the Laurel District

May 2001

5

ired of bumper-to-bumpertraffic? Or wishing yourbus ran more frequently?

Here’s your chance to weighin on a host of transportationissues.

The Metropolitan Trans-portation Commission(MTC) is providing an online,interactive “workshop” tosolicit views on Bay Areatransportation. By logging onto www.mtc.ca.gov/projects/rtp/survey.htm through May18, the public can learn aboutand express their opinionson transportation issues thatwill feed into the 2001 RegionalTransportation Plan (RTP).The RTP will specify how

Weigh In on Transportation WoesWeb Survey Seeks Input

METROCLASSIFIED ADS

Do you have a VW bug, Golf, Jetta, Rabbit?For brake, clutch service and gen-eral repair, give me a call. Alsomost other German and Japanesevehicles. Frank Tulleners Automo-tive Service, 1421 High St., nearE. 14th (510) 533-3943.

AUTO REPAIR

Interior Painting. Jacob Hart, 530-6247. Lic.#705262.

Video Services. We Can Transformyour slides, snapshots, and filmsinto a charming video—with mu-sic and effects. Or have a profes-sional cameraman videotape yoursocial and business events. CallHarold Lawrence at 530-0628.

African-American manicurist,located in the Laurel District,specializing in manicures, pedi-cures w/paraffin wax treatments,sculptured nails, silk and fiberglasswraps. Over 15 years experienceand service in this area. Call (510)482-3229 for appointment.

Affordable local licensed therapist.Individual, couple, family andchild therapy for the Metro/Oak-land community. Everyone needshelp sometimes. Supportive; prac-tical; sliding scale. Helen Mont-gomery Lockwood MFCC#27283, (510) 874-4722.

Advanced easy natural weight-lossprogram guaranteed. Send onedollar to cover handling to: Diver-sified Enterprises, Box 19800,Oakland, CA 94619.

Kamiya Construction. Additions,remodeling, kitchens, baths,decks, seismic & more! Free con-sultation. License # 546464. (510)532-0193.

Are You Expecting? Pregnancy,birth & post partum doula support.Childbirth prep./parenting classes.Support groups & counseling forindividuals, couples & families.Samsarah Becknell, D.D. (510)496-3491.

Free to Be Me Camp! Two weeks ofinterfaith/multi-cultural arts & crafts,music & games. Field Trips—TildenPark. Yoga & meditation. For youth6–16. We will celebrate nature andeach other. (510) 496-3491.

SERVICES

Classified RatesThe rate for classified ads is $.50per word. Discounted pricesavailable for five- and ten-issuefrequencies. Please type or writeyour copy clearly and mail itwith your check to The MacArthurMetro, P.O. Box 19406, Oak-land, 94619. Deadline is the15th of the month. For classified-ad frequency discounts anddisplay-ad information, pleasecontact Suzanne Tipton at287-2655, fax: 534-3429.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

approximately $81 billion infederal, state and regionaltransportation funds shouldbe spent over the next 25 years.

“The Web workshop isan easy way for people to getinvolved in important trans-portation decisions that affecttheir lives,” said MTC ChairSharon Brown. “Residentswho can’t attend one ofMTC’s community meetingsin May can still express theirviews online.”

The Web workshop asksa series of questions aboutpriorities, ideas, values, andpet peeves regarding gettingaround the Bay Area, trans-portation funding, and im-pacts of transportation onland use, air quality, theeconomy, and related issues.

Survey participants can re-ceive an MTC lapel pin fortaking the time to offer theiropinions.

MTC will tabulate theWeb responses along withresponses received at commu-nity workshops being heldthroughout the region. Thepublic input will help guideMTC planners as they draftthe RTP, due in August 2001.Results of the Web surveywill be published on the MTCWeb site in late May.

For more information onthe RTP, upcoming commu-nity meetings, or the Websurvey, contact the MTCPublic Information Office byphone at 464-7787, by e-mailat [email protected], or logon to www.mtc.ca.gov.

Bernice and Joe Playschool. For over20 years, play-based learning inour home like setting near Mills Col-lege. Earthquake retrofitted on quar-ter-acre wooded lot includes fruitand pine trees, vegetable garden,20-foot sailboat, two story woodenrocket ship, art area, block area.Pre-reading, pre-math enrichment,computer play, field trips, F.I.T gym-nastics, music classes, however, weemphasize socialization, verbaliza-tion. Sibling, pre-payment discounts.Lunch, snacks provided. Ages 2 to 5years. License #010214258. Bro-chure (510) 638-3529.

INSTRUCTION

B Y E L L E N G R I F F I N

T

Petition to the Mayorand City Council—City

of OaklandThe Oakland Coalition ofCongregations, Superinten-dent Chaconas, and variousSchool Board and City Coun-cil members each have beensharing proposals for ensur-ing the safety of Oakland’schildren, and widespreaddiscussions are underway.There is, however, a growingconsensus on these points:

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Safe Schools for a Safe City1. As part of a comprehen-

sive plan for the safety ofour 54,000 children and theirteachers, every school shouldhave a specific law enforce-ment officer permanentlyassigned to work closelywith them.

2. The City of Oaklandmust be a full partner inthis effort and cannot standby while even more schooldistrict money for education(now $10 million) is spent

SUPPORT METROADVERTISERS!

Rebecca KaplanC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 2

on safety and security.3. The City of Oakland

must at the very least budgetits fair share for school safety,two million dollars for schoolsafety and security

This amount would bringthe city up to past levels com-mitted for this purpose andwould still require the schooldistrict to commit significantresources as well.

Readers, please write orphone city officials aboutthese issues

Metro: So what’s next?

Kaplan: For me, it’s not justabout winning; it’s about move-ment building. A lot of peoplevolunteered on my campaignwho had never been active in

politics before. A lot of peoplelearned about the City Council,what they do, how you cam-paign and organize door-to-door work. That is somethingthat I plan to continue buildingupon because that is the level ofpublic involvement we are go-ing to need in the long run todeal with any problem thatarises, whether it’s the statewide

utility crisis, or whether it isOakland’s local housing crisis.All of these issues are goingto require greater levels of ac-countability and public involve-ment. With the utility crisis, ourgovernment sold us out to thefor-profit utilities and is nowcontinuing to do so. It is onlythrough efforts on the part of

cont inued on page 7

6May 2001

Things to Do This Month• Set out rooted cuttings

and make soft-wood cuttingsfrom plants such as geraniumsand azaleas. Prune azaleas andcamellias after they bloom andmake cuttings.

• Pinch back fuchsias andchrysanthemums for bushygrowth.

• Set out plants from con-tainers into the garden orrepot. Change the soil. Plantsmay be rootbound or the soilmay be sour from water stag-nating in the soil for a longtime because of poor drainage.This may also apply to houseplants. Place the containeron its side and gently pull theplant out. Wash the containerinside and out with Clorox tokill unwanted bacteria. If theplant is rootbound, gentlyloosen the root ball with yourfingers and cut through circu-lar roots (except for bougainvil-lea plants—disturbing the rootball can be fatal). Japanesemaple, citrus, camellias, aza-leas, and roses (to name a few)should be transplanted orroot-pruned every two to threeyears. Root pruning allows aplant to stay in the same con-tainer indefinitely by reducingthe root mass and creatingroom for fresh soil.

Remember never to letplants stand in saucers ofwater, which can cause rootrot. One exception may be thewatering of African violets.

Container planting wasknown in Egypt and in Greeceas early as 500 B.C., wheretransport of large trees incontainers is depicted in wallpaintings commemorating

o two gardens are ex-actly the same. Thepleasure and excite-

ment of growing a one-of-a-kind work of art is anadventure that brings outthe natural gardener in allof us. All we have to do isplant a single seed.

For a safe, chemical-freecrop of annual and perennialflowers and vegetables, dealwith garden pests as follows:Wash aphids off outdoorplants with a strong sprayof water from your hose. Andit is fun to purchase ladybugsto dine on aphids. You canalso use an organic spray of“Rose Defense” product byGreen Light. “Sluggo” is apopular, safe eradicator forthe snails and slugs that arenow creeping toward yourplants at night. Yellow stickytraps eliminate white fliesand thrips by attracting themwith a sticky surface hangingfrom a branch.

MargeLaverty

Leona HeightsGarden Club Tipof the Month

ancient festivals. Such treesadorned large buildings, andthere must have been a longline of frustrated royal garden-ers facing much the same soilproblems as we face now.

A Poison Oak WarningDo you know what poison oaklooks like? “Green or red leavesthree say don’t touch me,” is anold but very true adage to helpyou avoid the itching, pain, andanguish of this plant’s juices.If you are allergic, you canget poison oak from simplytouching any part of the plant,especially where leaves or rootsexhibit juices. The droplets canbe airborne so that you cancontract poison oak by merelywalking nearby or being inthe smoke of a burning plant.

Be sure to keep childrenand animals away from hill ar-eas where the plant abounds.

Would you believe that inthe California town of Colum-bia there is an annual poisonoak exhibit fair featuring ablock-long display of allcolors and shapes of poisonoak plants—even awardingprizes for the best array ofcolors and for most beautifularrangements?

AnnouncementThe Alameda County Fair iscoming in Pleasanton, June22 to July 8. If you want todisplay home-grown veg-etables, cut flowers, flowerarrangements, hobbies, orthe like, call the exhibitoffice at (925) 426-7611,weekdays 9 to 5, or [email protected]. You might win a ribbon ora monetary prize!

Calendar of Community Events

B Y J E N N I F E R T I L T O N , C O O R D I N A T O R

To have your event listed, please contact Jennifer Tilton no laterthan the 12th of the preceding month at 287-2655.

May 2001

Community MeetingsLaurel Merchants Association: Thursday, May 3, 7:30 p.m., Full HouseCafe, 3719 MacArthur Blvd.

Plant Sale: Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Allendale RecreationCenter, 3711 Suter Street.

Pancake Breakfast fundraiser for Sequoia School: Sunday, May 6,9 a.m. to noon, Sequoia School cafeteria, 3730 Lincoln Ave. Children$3, adults $4.

Laurel Community Action Project: Wednesday, May 9, 7 to 9 p.m.,World Ground Café, 3726 MacArthur Blvd.

Friends of Sausal Creek: Wednesday, May 16, 7 to 9 p.m., DimondLibrary, 3565 Fruitvale.

Friends of Sausal Creek Work Days: Every Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon,Dimond Park.

Redwood Heights Improvement Association: Wednesday, May 16,7:30 p.m., Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Aliso Ave.(Redwood Rd. and Hwy 13).

Spring Fling fundraiser for Skyline Preschool: Saturday, May 19,10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Skyline Community Church, 12540 Skyline Blvd.Call 530-0884 for more information.

Neighborhood Crime Prevention MeetingsBeat 25Y NCPC: Board meets Thursday, May 3, 7:30 p.m., East HillsCommunity Church, 12000 Campus Drive (next to Carl Munck school).Regular meeting Wednesday, May 16, 7 p.m., Same place.

Upper Fruitvale NCPC (beat 21Y): Monday, May 7, 7 p.m., 2221Fruitvale.

Bret Harte/Joaquin Miller NCPC (beat 22Y): Tuesday, May 8, 7 p.m.,Purofirst, 2860 MacArthur Blvd.

Maxwell Park NCPC: Wednesday, May 9, 7 p.m., Mills Grove ChristianChurch, 5410 Fleming Street. Contact Jose Dorado, 535-0577.

Melrose NCPC (beat 27X): Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m., Horace MannElementary School, Congress and Ygnacio.

Laurel/Redwood Heights NCPC (beat 25X) 39th Ave. Group: Thursday,May 17, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Chick’N’Coop Restaurant, 3840 MacArthur.

Cultural EventsCinco de Mayo Celebration: Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 p.m., MelroseBranch Library, 4805 Foothill. A teen-oriented poetry reading withpoet-novelist Lucha Corpi.

Cinco de Mayo Parade and Festival: Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. (parade),noon to 6 p.m. (celebration), International Blvd. in the Fruitvale District.

Cinco de Mayo Celebration with Ballet Folklórico: Sunday, May 6, noonto 3 p.m., Dunsmuir Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court. Tours andperformances $5 adults, $4 juniors and seniors.

Mills College MFA Exhibition and Artist Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2 to4 p.m., Mills College Art Museum, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.

Four Hoop Nations Benefit Celebration: Sunday, May 6, 4 to 7 p.m.,World Ground Café, 3726 MacArthur Blvd. Poetry, music, and perfor-mance. Sliding scale donation.

Altenheim Maifest: Sunday, May 20, 1 to 5 p.m., German singing anddance groups. $15 donation includes German-style dinner. Tour theHome and gardens. Call 531-4861 for information.

Zun Zun presents Música de Amistad: Tuesday, May 29, 7 p.m., DimondLibrary, 3565 Fruitvale.

Book reading: Sunday, June 3, 3 to 5 p.m., Pryor Hall, The Altenheim.John Ghristgau, author of Enemy Alien Internment Report. Donationrequested. Refreshments.

Computer Classes: Every Saturday, 10 to 11 a.m., Dimond Library,3565 Fruitvale.

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May 2001

7

Roussel SargentBetsy Callaway

David Locke & Cathe ReadJacob & Linda HartRedwood Heights

Improvement AssociationKnud Danild

Jean Quan & Floyd HuenMichael CooperBeth Walukas

Mary Lee PetersonAndretta FowlerNiccolo DeLuca

Nate MileySusan Harman

Nancy & Chris MeyerRebecca Kaplan

Christopher WarrenStan & Naomi CohenChris & Nancy Fisher

Art & Barbara HildebrandtNaomi KamiyaJoanna Roberts

Graham & Smilja CarterRichard Banker

Peter Pan Nursery SchoolJames Fey

Law Offices of Michael KinaneDavid Vahlstrom

Dorothy OkamotoJanet Broughton

Dave and Shoshana FinacomSusan Jaeger

Pamela Calvert & Helen HaugCarole Ward AllenJohn & Claud Elk

Phil & Kathy CaskeyIgnacio De La Fuente

AnonymousRichard Cowan

& Kathleen CollinsElmarise Owens, Cal Fed Bank

Katharine SamwayLydia Palmin & Tom Daley

Richard WeinsteinCherie Ivey

Ruth Malone & Terry SayreUtterman/Forster Family

Abelina Carmona& Teresa Croce

Lisa Ruhland& Michael Cowan

Bonnie R. HenriquezMacArthur & High

Trailer ParkJeff Kelley & Hung Liu

HamachiKaren Marie Schroeder

Oakland Veterinary HospitalLibby Jacobsohn& Jerry Bowling

Caffe DiemBill and Susan Bagnell

Barbara ReynoldsJoan Dark

Deborah Cooper

The Metro acknowledgescontributions of $50 or moreby listing your name orbusiness as a Money Honeyfor 10 issues. You keep ourpaper alive and well.

MONEYHONEYS

By Toni Locke

More than twenty angryresidents and businesses fromaround the MacArthur/MapleAvenue corner related griev-ances against the MartiniqueBar to the City Council meet-ing on April 10. Orchestratedby Graham Carter and CathyAnn Depp of the NCPCbeat 22Y, a series of speakers,with a minute apiece, laidout the evidence. In a lightermoment, when Amy Altshuldelivered a sample of thetype of language spewed outfrom drunken bar patrons,chairman De La Fuente cau-tioned her against using suchexpressions in the chamber.Councilmembers listenedattentively and voted unani-mously to uphold the decision

of Larry Carroll of the CityManager’s Office to revokethe cabaret permit of GaryHarris, bar manager. A homi-cide there over the previousweekend had added finalproof of the bar’s threat topublic safety.

Councilmember Dick Speesorganized the negotiations be-tween bar and neighbors thatare leading, step by legal step,toward a solution. Daily helpfrom staff member NiccoloDeLuca, Neighborhood Ser-vices Coordinator for NCPCRenee Sykes, and the OaklandPolice Department played arole. In the end, the united en-ergy of the organized commu-nity will close down this blightthat calls itself a business.

massive numbers of people thatwe have a chance to create anenergy solution that actuallyserves California through thingslike conservation and solarenergy and public control ofpower. These crises happen, andit requires a continually activepublic, and that is something Iam building upon through themailing lists developed throughthe campaign. People are stayinginvolved and in touch with eachother.

Metro: And you have an-nounced that you will backWilson Riles, Jr., in a bid tounseat Jerry Brown?

Kaplan: Yes. Wilson Riles, Jr.

Rebecca KaplanC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 5

Bringing partiestogether to reach consensuson remodel plans for theFruitvale Avenue Safewayin the Dimond turned out tobe a productive and amicableprocess. Again, we have ourCouncilmember for District 4to thank. Constructive ideasfrom neighbors and coopera-tive management and architectfrom Safeway in two publicmeetings came up withplans on view in the DimondLibrary. By next fall, anattractive new store will beserving the growing demandin the Dimond without closingdown during the four-wallrenovation. Major parkinglot landscaping and upgradewill enhance the area.

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has both the ideals of social jus-tice to serve all the needs of acommunity and willingness totake action to bring a solutionforward. He was heavily in-volved in the creation of theCommunity Bank of the Bay andthe Community Credit Unionin West Oakland. He’d make agreat mayor because he has theright combination of vision andpracticality. Contrast that to thecurrent administration, whichlooks for opportunities for thewealthy at the expense of every-one else—not even opportunityfor wealthy Oaklanders, butwealthy out-of-towners. A re-cent example of this is the case ofZhone Technologies, a large con-glomerate technology firm thatacquired a parcel from the cityoff of I-880 near the airport. Theypaid the city in stock options,

gambling with the city’s money.Now the city is financially vestedin the interest of the company.With the recent downturn inthe stock market, we’ve lost ourmoney and set a very dangerousprecedent. This is a deal thatJerry Brown pushed through atthe same time that he not so co-incidentally received a $50,000soft-money campaign contribu-tion from Zhone Technology.

Metro: Are you still working asan attorney?

Kaplan: My full-time job rightnow is as the policy advocatefor the Bay Area Transportation-Land Use Coalition (BATLUC)on regional transportationpolicy. My motivation for run-ning for office was to take veryconcrete, tangible steps to im-prove the lives of this area. Soafter the campaign, I looked forjobs where I could continue toplay that kind of role. Withtransportation policy issues,I think there is really an opportu-nity to advocate for tangiblethings that improve people’slives. One example of a greatprogram that both BATLUC andMTC (the Metropolitan Trans-portation Commission) havebeen actively involved in is theHousing Incentives Program.That program is designed to

create incentives, including af-fordable housing, in areas thatare convenient to transit. This isa very tangible, concrete accom-plishment that makes a differencein people’s daily lives. It reducesgridlock, it improves air quality,it improves the supply of afford-able housing in the Bay Area.So by lobbying for these typesof things, I feel I can continue tofurther my goals for social justiceand ecological sustainability.

Metro: Will you run for officeagain?

Kaplan: Yes. I plan to live inOakland for the rest of my lifeand stay active for the rest of mylife. I feel very honored by thelevel of trust and respect that Igot from over 50,000 Oaklandvoters, especially this havingbeen my first experience running.I learned so much—both aboutwhat’s going on in the neighbor-hoods and about the electoralsystem. I’m not quitting.

8May 2001

all each center for com-plete program, ages,days, times, and cost

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Summer Activities at Metro Area Recreation Centersjunior leaders, T-ball, youngAmerica baseball, drill team,color guard, simba.

Dimond, 3860 HanlyRd., 482-7831: CampDimond, jump & tumble,kinder cooking, pee-weesports, tot soccer & T-ball,adventure club, chess.

Discovery, 2521 High St.,535-5657: Drop in for art,wood shop, computer.

Redwood Heights,3883 Aliso Ave., 482-7827:

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