Scenes From Oakland

Mystery Jean

2010-11-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

It will be interesting to see what Jean Quan does as Oakland's new mayor. Although she served two terms as a city council member, in many respects how she will handle Oakland's woeful budget and challenging public safety issues is a bit of a mystery.

During the mayoral campaign, Quan, like most of the candidates, offered mostly vague, feel-good answers on how she'll deal with these critical problems.

And Quan is coming to the office with a bit of baggage; not only was she sitting on city council when Oakland's budget went into free fall, she also was the focus of police ire during pension negotiations.

Quan's never (to my knowledge) publicly spoke about her role in managing the city's budget (as part of city council) when it fell into a $50 million deficit. Did she see it coming? Did she try and prevent it?

She's also never detailed how she will work with the police as mayor, given the bad feelings they have for her. During the summer negotiations to try and have OPD officers contribute to their pension, the police officers union directed much of its anger at Quan.

One thing I'm looking forward to during her term is seeing better communications come from mayor's office. No one can dispute that Dellums was just god-awful at reaching out to residents and the media.

In any case, Quan got a lot to handle. And the whole city is watching.

Forget the Beer

2010-10-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I decided to put my bad Dimond District Oktoberfest from last year behind me and give the festival another try.

As many are aware, last year the festival ran out of beer not even half way into the event. This was after folks slapped down $20 to get a sampling of some of the best local beer around. We pretty much were standing around with empty mugs and no one from the festival was talking refunds. They're lucky folks didn't riot.

I'm not saying Oktoberfest is just beer. Located at the intersection of Fruitvale Avenue and Macarthur Boulevard, the annual festival features a variety of booths from local vendors. The festival is a way to honor and remember the area's strong German history and connect with new neighbors.

And of course, you get to drink beer while walking down the street. Pretty cool. Except last year, the well ran dry. I was not pleased, but I decided to lay my money down again because I did enjoy the community aspect of the festival.

What made me upset this year was the fact that the mugs we got (paying the same as last year) are smaller than the ones from last year. I mean, you can't even fit a regular beer in the Dimond District mugs.

What gives? I'm not a beer fanatic or anything, but if I'm paying the same price as last year when I didn't even get all I was promised, I expect the festival organizers to at the very least try and make up for last year's mistake.

I don't think it's cool and although I plan not to attend next year's event (for real!), I hope the organizers begin thinking of ways to make the beer part of Oktoberfest better.

Journalism @The School of the Arts

2010-10-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

It's been such a joy co-teaching a multi-week journalism workshop at the Oakland School of the Arts, located inside the revamped Art Deco-style Fox Theater on Telegraph Avenue.

As part of our grassroots, food justice education program, Oakland Local is providing social networking communications and journalism to both youth and local non profits, and it's a rewarding experience.

At the OSA, it 's fantastic to see kids practicing their instruments in the middle of the narrow hallways of the school. And the energy, always high at a high school, is at top level. The students can really tap into their creativity and the teachers seem to have leeway to go beyond test scores.

Our journalism students are working on some really cool stuff that I'll blog about a bit later. But for now, know that these young Oakland writers have a bright future.

An Interview with the Oakland Police Chief

2010-09-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts is not an easy man to get a hold of these days.

Even before the layoffs, the police department’s pension issue and the Johannes Mehserle verdict, there is limited time for the chief to reflect on his work so far in Oakland. And while Batts reaffirmed his commitment to being the Oakland police chief, it’s clear many of priorities have changed in light of the recent layoffs of 80 cops.

In a recent phone conversation, Batts discussed how he keeps up his morale, the OPD Strategic Framework and his plans to recalibrate the police department, in light of the recent downsizing of his force.

Batts called the police layoffs demoralizing, but also said he was determined to move forward.

“My reality is now I have to prioritize our goals and free up officers to do work in the streets. One area we’re looking at it developing hot spot policing,” he said. “Hot spot policing is looking at areas of the city that need our help the most. And so we’re focusing some of our limited resources on those areas.”

Batts said it’s been a challenge to keep up with the demands for service in the city, but he’s proud of the work the department has been doing to lower the call to service response times.

“This has been a blow to the department, we have less resources to work with,” Batts said. “Losing 80 officers has had a dramatic effect on the department … there’s no two ways about it. But, nevertheless, our job is to do the best we can to make Oakland a safe and secure city and if we can keep a laser focus on our goals, we’ll come out in good shape.”

Batts also said he’s looking forward to an upcoming summit with federal agencies to help in reducing violent crime in the city.

"I'm looking forward to working with our federal partners to help deal with a number of issues we're dealing with," he said of the summit, which was held Aug. 24.

Batts also is not backing down from publicly stating that the department needs more police officers.

“In order for us to get on top of this demand and make a measurable difference we have to grow as a department,” he said. “The empirical date shows that we need to grow as a police department. When you look at the 2006 average for large cities in the state the average is 659 incidents. Anaheim is the lowest and Oakland is at 1,592 incidents. Sacramento, the closest comparable city to us is at 866. This shows you that we have a measured amount of demand. We have a dramatic workload. If you look at San Francisco that has a little under a million residents you’ll see 705 incidents. And they have 2,500 officers in San Francisco.”

But with Oakland standing a good chance of losing even more police officers in the next several months, as opposed to hiring or staving off layoffs, Batts has put in place a number of stopgap measures.

“We’ve taken officers who’ve been on desk duty and having them take low-grade reports,” Batts said. “We’ve also looked at shifting our response to some incidents so we can free up our officers to focus on important items like gangs, guns and drugs.”

In addition, Oakland Police have decided to eliminate specialized units including problem solving officers, walking officers, the OPD probation and corrections team and the department’s targeted enforcement task force.

Even with the current challenges, Batts said the Strategic Framework is very much in play.

“I knew it was a stretch goal for the city and department even when we were at 803 officers,” he said. “I wanted to know if the city had the fortitude and desire to go forward with those goals. I’ve been out in the community … . I’ve been to about 80 to 90 meetings and I asked if this is something that the community wants and everyone has said that they want to see us put forward a genuine effort.”

But instead of Batts talking about Oakland being one of the safest cities in California in the next few years, he’s scaled down his plan.

Oakland Takes The Spotlight

2010-09-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I'm heading out to support the two-day, second annual, Oakland Underground Film Festival. The festival, which runs from Sept. 23 through Sept. 25, will showcase a variety of films, including Thurnder Soul, a tale of inner city high school funk from the 70s, to American Grindhouse, which features a deep look into the ecclectic movie houses that sprang up in cities across the United States for a short time.

I'm also excited to be attending the festival because it's another example of the fantastic social events that regularly goes on in Oakland. More importantly, the festival is also a celebration of art.

I'm actually friends with the founder of the festival, Kahlil, who put in a lot of effort into bringing this festival to Oakland. Kahlil very much believes in Oakland and I know he put his heart and soul into making this a wonderful event.

The festival will be at the Grand Lake Theater and Linden Street Brewery. Make sure you come out and support this young film festival. It's a great thing for our city.

Politicians Getting Jacked

2010-09-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

You know we should be a bit concerned when our politicians are getting jacked in their house, on the way to the grocery store, and driving their car.

First, the most recent incident is Councilwoman Jean Quan who's running for mayor. She was just outside of Safeway getting ready to buy some milk, when a purse snatcher clumsily took her purse.

A couple of weeks ago, Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente's Fruitvale district home got burglarized. It was the second time in a year.

And who can forget a couple of years ago when State Senator Don Perata was carjacked at gunpoint from his state car in North Oakland.

What's going on? Can we blame the reduced police force? Is this a part of the Great Recession?

One things for sure, Quan and De La Fuente better be super nice to the cops. The two politicians incurred the wrath of the police's union for their stance on layoffs and the pension system.

For the rest of us, let's all keep safe.

Pixar Exhibit@Oakland Museum Makes Me Smile

2010-07-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

The hometown debut of Pixar’s 25 year reospective at the Oakland Museum of California is a welcome lift for the city and me.

Lately, it seems as if this summer has been one of bad news and grim choices for my city. The budget, the cops, the verdict, the real estate market, closing schools. It seems the sad issues are unending and relentless in Oakland.

We’re survivors and residers of scrappy living--we’ll get through whatever is thrown our way, whether it be less money for public safety, the struggle for jobs, or trying to get decent education for all of Oakland's children.

But, my heart did lift with this new exhibit making its opening today at the Oakland Museum of Calfiornia.

First of all, the Pixar retrospective is just out of sight fantastic, I’ve grown to respect Pixar’s innovative outlook that’s grounded in traditional animation, film, and storytelling. The storyboards, the sculptures, and sketches are a great art collection that does one of the most important things valued at Pixar: storytelling.

This presentation, the first major exhibit put on by the Oakland Museum of Art since it reopened in May after major renovations, is another confirmation that we’re creating great art, having wonderful discussions, and tackling really groundbreaking issues here in Oakland.

We have a number of amazing institutions, organizations, and companies that touches both the Bay Area and the nation. Let’s keep this in mind, whenever we read (or write) about bad or challenging issues.

The Oakland Museum of California, Studio One, Pixar, and, East Bay East Asian Youth Center, are just some of the examples. And that makes me smile.

A Summer Weekend 2010

2010-07-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

I love my Lake Merritt neighborhood in the summer. Fog in the mornings, bright days, and foggy cool nights.

Lake Merritt looked fabulous as it hosted a crew racing event this weekend:

Oh and can you believe Creepy Meg Whitman's claws reach into the Lakeshore neighborhood?

Anarchist Out (Unwanted in Oakland)

2010-07-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

Come sentencing day (Aug. 6) for ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle, I don't want to see any black bandanna masked anarchist tearing up the streets of Oakland to protest the killing of Oscar Grant. Those idiots were primarily responsible for the destruction that took place yesterday and it was most unwelcomed.

Covering the verdict reaction for Oakland Local, I saw many young white boys in black skinny jeans with their faces covered trying to get local folks to tear up the downtown. We've seen these outsiders before. They like to cruise into Oakland whenever there's a possibility that things might get extra tense. They are the type of people who feel comfortable destroying the hard work of others to make their vague point. I won't go into how easy it is to cause destruction rather than work constructively on complex issues. I also won't get deep about how many of these so-called anarchist wouldn't even begin to know the everyday struggle many poor people of color face in our city.

Don't get me twisted; Oakland is hella mad and frustrated about the verdict. The deliberation by the LA jury was a joke and the involuntary manslaughter verdict was weak. And on top of that, community relations with Oakland Police is shaky in many corners. Nevertheless, this is our city and we can hold our own. Oakland's rich social justice history speaks for itself. There's a reason the Black Panthers rose from our soil. We don't need or welcome others to be our voice. We'll decide when it time to tear things up.

Most of Oakland is interested in building something positive from this horrible experience. I hope others will join me in actively discouraging these knuckleheads from acting out in our city.

Oakland is ours. Take your bullshit somewhere else.

*Thanks Maureen Benson
**Photo credit: Associated Press

Amped For A Riot

2010-06-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Oakland is tense these days. Any day now we will get a verdict in the murder trial of former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle, accused of fatally shooting passenger Oscar Grant on New Year's Day 2009.

All over the city, there's talk of a riot if Mehserle is not found guilty of murder or manslaughter. Flyers and graffiti are posted everywhere demanding justice for Grant. Bloggers and columnist are already speculating about how deep the civil unrest will become. Rodney King's name is tossed about and the police are getting ready to crack heads if a riot goes down.

It's a perfect forecast for a riot. We've got this horrible recession, hot summer days, a clearly unjust killing by police, and continued frustration of young folks seeing things not getting better.

Talk of a riot has me feeling very upset. I'm upset at the system, I'm mad at the out-of-towners who are egging things on, and I'm angry that we don't seem to have the leadership needed to cool things down and come up with a productive way for people to express their frustration.

When the verdict is read, I'll be right there on 14th and Broadway with everyone else. I'm hoping that if this cop walks, Oakland won't implode.

Get Mad About Dellums

2010-06-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Let's have some real talk about our city mayor Ron Dellums. He's been just awful as "CEO" of Oakland.

He's a no show at critical meetings, he's barely part time, his wife is co-mayor undercover, he's stood by as the city's budget tanked, he takes fancy trips and bill the city, the list goes on. Yet despite this, and even as we face deep financial problems that may include police layoffs, few of our so-called city leaders are willing to call him on the carpet.

Oakland is an activist town, but there are few doing much about Dellums. There are no protest marches, no Facebook pages, no tweets going out about his sucky performance.

The new folks that have declared themselves candidates for mayor have been quiet as a mouse about his horrible performance. Most of the grass roots political groups and non profits in Oakland have also been pretty hush hush. The loudest voice about Dellums has come from a writer working for a San Francisco publication.

I'm not quite sure what's at work here. Is it because Dellums is from the old-school civil rights political class? Is it because he was a congressman? Why are we putting up with him?

Dellums is not untouchable. He's a bad mayor and folks should be mad as hell about it. I know I am.

Thanks KTVU Reporter Randy Shandobil for calling out our Emperor.

SFGate: Politics Blog : Oakland's Mayor Dellums to KTVU's Shandobil: "Who the (blank) are you to dec

Prescott-Joseph Center Working Harder Than Ever For West Oakland

2010-06-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

Dr. Washington Burns is not resting on his laurels after 15 years as the executive director of the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement. There's too much work to do.

"I'm excited about the fact that the West Oakland community is really coming together and is ready to work on a lot of new things," he said from his office on Peralta Street. "We've got a lot of things we want to do."

The Prescott-Joseph Center has been one of the major anchors in West Oakland. Formed in 1995, the center evolved out of the conceptual scheme for the adaptive re-use of the former Saint Joseph's Convent (St. Patrick Convent) as a center for community services, education and culture. The center offers a range of services from a food pantry for the community to education and job training programs.

"We've outlasted a lot of nonprofits that have come and gone," he said. "We've proven in 15 years that we are very committed to serving the community."

From its inception, the center's mission was to help uplift and support West Oakland. But, gaining local support took a lot of hard work, Burns said.

"There was a lot of mistrust down here in West Oakland," he said. "The community didn't trust outsiders. Organizations and money were coming into the community, but there was not a lot to show for it."

Burns knew one of his early tasks was bring more arts to the community.

"We started out with the idea that we wanted to bring in art and culture," he said. "I grew up in Mississippi and I had been deprived of that, so I wanted to develop a program that was a strong arts resource."

Today, the center not only has an artist in residency program it also has a program called, "Theater in the Yard." Twice a year, the center presents a theater production by a person of color and an "urban adaptation" of one of the works of Shakespeare, called "Shakespeare in the Yard."

Keeping with the arts and culture focus, the center recently took a bow at a swinging gala fundraiser at Yoshi’s in Jack London Square that included Grammy-award winning jazz artist, Patrice Rushen and Ndugu Chancler.

One important factor behind Prescott's success is the partnerships it has built throughout the community.

"A lot of what we've been able to do has been because of our collaboration with other agencies," Burns said.

Oakland artist Tomye Neal-Madison, who has worked with the center since 2004, said West Oakland has much to be proud of.
"This is a wonderful space for art, a beautiful space for artistic expression," Neal-Madison said. "And I think it's fantastic that it's located right in the heart of West Oakland."

The Road Gets Tough for New Oakland Police Chief

2010-05-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to once again work with Spot.us on a Oakland news story. This time as part of an investigative team with Oakland Local.

We're working on a Public Safety Watch story that is without a doubt one of the most important stories I've worked on since I wrote about schools getting phased out in Oakland.

The focus of the news piece is a deep look at the daunting challenges facing Oakland’s new police chief Anthony Batts and his quest to make his five-year strategic plan a success.

It's a challenging, complex assignment with many unique people behind the story. But, at the front and center of this piece is Chief Batts.

If the newly appointed Oakland police chief is shook up from labor unrest, possible layoffs of hundreds of officers, and constant protests connected to his gang injunction proposal, he isn't showing it.

Known for his engaging manner, Batts, who previously oversaw the Long Beach Police Department, was cool as a cucumber at a recent (Thurs.) press conference held at the OPD headquarters on 7th Street. The new chief was all smiles as he greeted reporters and he sounded confident and at ease despite the lurking trouble.

After announcing a 16 percent drop in Oakland crime, he checked off a list of challenges facing the department, including major city budget problems.

Not more than a mile away, activists and local citizens were protesting one of the signature pieces in his five-year strategic plan at the Alameda Courthouse. Inside the courthouse, a judge was weighing the merits of the injunction.*

Gang Injunction push back isn't the only trouble hurdle Batts faces.

City council is scrambling to address a whopping $42 million budget deficit. Any cost savings measures employed will likely affect the police department. On Thursday, Batts said any city budget cuts would mean the department would potentially layoff up to 350 officers.

As a result, Measure Y money is potentially on the cutting block. The city would automatically lose $20 million in annual Measure Y funding if it lays off police officers.

All of these troubling issues create a huge challenge to the Batts plan. And it's why I'm excited to dig into this important Oakland story.

Already Batts has invested a lot of manpower and resources into his plan. If the plan, or most of the plan, delivers on its promises, Batts will be hero number one in Oakland. If, however, the plan stalls out, or just falls apart, Batts is looking at serious credibility issues. Stay tuned.

For more information on this story, visit here.

*Alameda County Superior Court, Judge Robert Freedom said later that day that he planned to approve the injunction.

Welcome to the New Walgreens! Same as the Old

2010-05-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

For those downtown dwellers and workers that have not had a chance to see what the new Broadway Walgreens is all about, I did a bit of scoping yesterday.

The new space takes up where the old Gap store left off on 14th and Broadway. You'd think Walgreens would have taken it's move from, literally, across the street to make some design changes and product upgrades.

Yeah, well, they skipped that. I don't know why they moved, but the new space is almost like the old space, except it has brighter lights.

Not only is the set up the same, the aisles still feel too small and store shelves are still a mess. When I was there, the lines to the two cashiers were long, and forget about finding any help if you have a problem.

I think this whole shift from one side of Broadway to another is not a good sign for this intersection. What's going to happen to the old site? From all appearances it looks like that spot will be vacant for the foreseeable future.

Bringing Back the Overcast

2010-05-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

A big hurt is about to hit the Ivy Hill/Park Boulevard side of Lake Merritt. A recent report shows the iconic spot, Merritt Bakery, is tittering on the edge of bankruptcy.

It seems the bakery/restaurant is up to its neck in debt and may close even with this recent $150,000 city redevelopment loan. The cause for its woes are a myriad of possibilities; the economy, an outdated business plan, changing times, and prices that are too high. The owners point the finger at the smaller number of parking spaces, thanks to next-door Lucky's. Whatever the reason, things look bleak. Many people are saying publicly that even with the city money, Merritt Bakery is cooked and that is a very bad thing for my neighborhood.

Folks here are still shook over the Parkway disaster. After a long season of gloom, a bit of sunshine came in with the recent Oakland Museum re-opening, but now it looks like Merritt Bakery is bringing back the overcast.

It's sad to see this happen, especially when we're not seeing new businesses coming in. That's actually true of the larger Lake Merritt/Grand Lake district which is struggling to attract people to Lakeshore Avenue and the area around the theater. Other districts like Temescal and the Uptown are having better luck.

Hopefully, Merritt Bakery will whip up a better business plan that includes a heavy dose of marketing and cheaper prices. If not, brace yourself neighbors.

A Good Corner Store In Oakland?

2010-05-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

There are things I absolutely adore about my city. There are things I put up with (Dellums, AC Transit, bad roads) and then there are things that just make me Andy Rooney frustrated. Like corner stores. Our corner stores are weak. Besides being without character, many have sad exteriors that often need a paint job, a store sign redesign, and sometimes sweeping in the front.

Inside many of our corner stores, there is a limited supply of basic offerings, an almost non-existence of healthy food items, a sometimes charge to use a credit card. At most places, the guys are nice enough, so I'm rooting for them to take care of their premises and bring in better products. But, for some reason, there's little effort to upgrade many corner stores. It almost doesn't matter the neighborhood, but the poor obviously get it worse.

I hate to tip my hat to San Francisco on this one, but the truth needs to be told. Most districts in San Francisco have better corner stores. Even if the neighborhood is rough, there's a couple of bannas being sold.

And this isn't a superficial issue. For urban resident, the corner store plays a large role in a neighborhood. And don't forget, many Oakland neighborhoods don't have a main supermarket. So the corner store is where many do most of their food shopping.

I know I'm not the only Oaklander that's thought about our corner store situation.

I would love to find a favorite corner store around Oakland. One that maybe sells fruit, a healthier drink selection, and a few newspapers. A place that puts an extra touch in their business, like selling coffee gets bonus points.

Any nominees?

Oakland Traveling Treats

2010-05-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Only Oakland

This is definitely an 'only in Oakland' moment:
I'm riding the No. 18 to the Club One gym when right on 12th, near Broadway, sat an amazing vision.

A cupcake mobile truck (think ice cream truck) was selling cupcakes to an eager crowd. The cupcake truck was decorated white with colorful small circles. It looked inviting. And you know the line was like 10 deep.

So, of course, I jumped off the bus (it was sort of my stop), with my point and click camera at the ready. I just had to get proof of this.

As many of my pals know, I'm so down with the cupcake. Hell, my cat is named Cupcake. My last news story for Oakland Local was about an upcoming cupcake bake-off at Rock, Paper Scissors Collective. This thing is deep.

I could wax on about my love of cupcakes. But, that's not the point of this post. The point, dear reader, is that there is a mobile truck that drives around Oakland selling a wonderful variety of cupcakes. Too cool.

So why didn't I sample? Well, for one, I was on my way to the gym and it would have been very wrong to eat that much badness before an intense run. Also, I didn't have time to stand in line. But, recognize I will get to the bottom of the cupcake mystery. The people must have the truth.

Museum Opening Begins with a Bang

2010-05-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Oakland Museum of California began its 31 hours block party with prayer and an aerial dance on the sidewall of its Oak Street home.

After a two year $62 million capital improvements campaign that kept its doors shut for nine months, the museum was ready to celebrate and a large, diverse crowd was ready from the start.

On this very warm sunny morning, things began when Artists Linda Yamane, a Native American Ohlone tribe member, offered a prayer for the space. Then Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums spoke, before Congresswoman Barbara Lee offered the museum congratulations.

But it was the dance against the wall that got the crowd going.

Project Bandaloop did a graceful aerial wall dance on the side of the museum’s Oak Street entrance to sounds from OMCA’s California Library of Natural Sounds. There were lots of iPhones taking pictures.

Soon, the museum doors were opened and people streamed into the Art and History galleries and the outdoor courtyard area to get a personal look at the newly designed building, the unique history installations and fresh art exhibits.

Families, young adults and the elderly were all in agreement that the newly transformed museum was a good thing for Oakland.

“Oh, my lord, this is just wonderful. This is just wonderful for Oakland. I’m really enjoying this event, said West Oaklander Sandra Wilson, who has lived in the city since 1973.

Outside, the museum’s expansive courtyard was filled with folks who munched on tasty treats from various food vendors. Children played on the grass around newly installed outdoor art pieces.

“We were going to go wine tasting, but we decided to come here instead,” said Inger Cople of Richmond. “And I’m glad. This is great.”

Many said museums play an important role in any city.

“Museums are important,” said Monica Jackson. “They can really help define a city.”

Expectations ran high for the museum. In 2002, Oaklanders voted overwhelming for Measure G, a bond measure that gave the museum $26.2 million.

Visitors said the museum’s new transformation was a success that will potentially be a big boon for Oakland.

“Revising the museum is a big plus for the city,” said Temescal resident Tracy Harris. “Anything that can attract people to this part of town is good.”

Taylor Higashi, who regularly rides his bike past the museum agrees.

“Hopefully, this is another positive step for Oakland,” Higashi said.

Lake Merritt resident David Burian said this was the best thing to happen to Oakland since the Parkway Speakeasy Theater closed.

“It’s exciting to see fresh energy here,” he said.

Museum staff seemed overjoyed by the positive response from the visitors.

Harriet Hanauer, a docent at the museum for 10 years said she enjoyed seeing visitors interact with a replica chair used by Huey Newton which appeared in the famous black and white portrait of Newton sitting in the chair clutching a spear and a shotgun in each hand. A framed print of that photo hangs next to the replica chair.

Visitors can sit in the replica chair in the museum, and when people do sit in the chair, hesitant at first, their faces light up.

“It’s a very empowering chair,” she said.

Oakland Museum Executive Director Lori Fogarty said the opening was an amazing experience.

“We’re seeing a whole range of people,” she said. “It looks like Oakland.”

Rene de Guzman, Senior Curator of Art at the Oakland Museum of California, said he plans to be at the museum the whole 31 hours of its opening.

“I’m going to take naps,” de Guzman explained of his plan to stay overnight. “I’ve brought a pair of pajamas.”

This story originally appeared in Oakland Local.

Power to the Workers

2010-05-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Happy May Day! Power to the Workers.

Breakfast at the Museum

2010-04-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

It was all smiles over mini pastry treats and hot Peet’s Coffee at the Oakland Museum on the Sneak Peek Breakfast Day.

And why not grin? The Museum just killed it with an amazing $62.2 million capital improvements campaign. The transformation of the Art and History galleries is fantastic and has been getting raves in the media from coast to coast even before the Museum hosted the media day, which included journalists getting a tour of the building to ooh and aah over the new tech upgrades and cool modern art.

Before we set out for our tour, Museum officials spoke about how the reinvention of the museum happened for both the physical space of the museum and also the operation mission of the organization. Executive Directory Lori Fogarty and others were strong on Oakland pride.

I was at the breakfast day event representing Oakland Local and it was my second time getting a sneak peak of the museum. This time, I had a chance to relax as I studied the collections in the History Gallery, and the challenging works in the Art Gallery.

As we toured the building, I felt a bit of sadness because I realized this newly renovated Museum would no longer be a cool secret that just a few us Oaklanders knew about.

Since moving to the Lake Merritt area almost six years ago, I’d always used the museum as a place to get charged creatively and relax from various stresses.

Now, there’s no way the museum is not going to see a major uptick in visitors from both Oakland, the rest of the Bay Area, and other parts of California. It’s too good not to have big audiences at new exhibits and events. The terrace garden area will definitely have a nice crowd on most days. No more secret garden for me.

Did I mention the free 31 Hours party being thrown by the Museum on its May 1 opening day? The celebration will run from Saturday 11 a.m. to Sunday 6 p.m. There’s going to be Oakland firefighters making pancakes on Sunday.

Anyway, I know there’s a lot going on this weekend in the Bay Area, for sure. But, if you get the chance, stop by and toast one for the museum. OMCA is an Oakland jewel, so let’s enjoy it.

Craigslist Warning

2010-04-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Got a Facebook message from a close friend about a serious crime issue on Craigslist. Check it out:

Series of Craig’s List Robberies: The Oakland Police Department wants to make the public aware of several robberies that have taken place during the month of April. The victims are being lured by ads featuring vehicles and other items for sale in Oakland. The victims arrive at the designated meeting place and are robbed at gun point. The suspects have been described as African-American males between 25-30 years old. We are asking for the public to practice caution when attempting to buy items off Craig’s List:

1) Do not agree to meet in a secluded or residential area. Highly populated and well-traveled areas
are better.
2) Do not travel to any location with a large amount of cash.
3) If someone or something looks suspicious leave.
4) If you are robbed, give the subjects the property they are asking for; your life is worth much
more.

This investigation is of high importance and is on-going. Anyone with information concerning these
incidents is urged to contact the Oakland Police Criminal Investigation Section at (510) 238-3349.

Phat Matt's Lays Down the Sauce

2010-04-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

Good barbeque joints are hard to find here in Oakland, I dunno why.

Most of our barbeque restaraunts are overpriced with a limited menu selection, poor seating and service. The food tends to be mediocre, with so-so meat that lacks a nice destinctive flavor.

This wasn't always the case. With a health influx of Southerns during the World War II era, there were a number of famous Oakland spot from the past that had good food, good atmosphere, and reasonable prices.

Now, I'm sure there are some folks who can point to some obscure spot in deep West Oakland that has everything I'm looking for in a BBQ joint. But, I don't know those places. I just know that I've been disappointed in the selection I have found, and I'm not alone.

Luckily things seem to be changing. And now, Phat Matt's has arrived.

Located on Telegraph Avenue, ironically enough, where the old Everett & Jones used to be, Phat Matt's is taking Oakland barbeque to the next level.

Let's talk about the food first.

Dry rub seasoning does wonders for meat, giving it a rich texture and flavor that can make or break your meal. The Memphis Style Pork Rib at Phat Matt were tender wonders, with a fantastic, tangy taste. The baked beans are fresh and the cornbread hits the right spot in the gut.

Now service is a big deal to me, and I hate a place where service is an afterthought. Phat Matt's service was top notch. They were very attentive, but not smothering. If we asked for something, they were quick to respond. It was nice and the folks seemed to like their jobs. Very cool.

The prices were reasonable and I didn't feel like I was getting ripped off on the sides offerings.

So if your ready for next-level barbeque in Oaktown, give Phat Matt's a taste.

Oakland Police Stepping Up Public Relations Efforts

2010-04-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

Just a few months ago, Oakland Police had a spotty record with issuing press releases, developing strong relationships with the media, and responding to routine public records equests. They still have a long way to go, but it looks like the new chief Anthony Batts is at least trying to turn a new page by offering up an e-newsletter Oakland Police Insider.

It's got a range of PR stories from firearms training, to a feature about officers shaving their heads for cancer research. There's also a note about an upcoming midnight basketball game.

I tried posting the entire newsletter, but the formatting was way off, so if you're interested, here's the link: OPD Newsletter

BART Interim Police Chief halts taser use by officers (temporarily)

2010-04-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Looks like the BART interim police chief is creating a dust up.

The latest is the temporary suspension of Taser use by police officers.

In a late night press release, the chief cited two recent federal court cases and a brand new BART Taser policy as the major reasons for his decision.

In the release, the chief denied a recent Taser incident played a role into his decision.

"Contrary to some media reports, the Chief made the decision to retrain officers on the revised policy well prior to a incident a few weeks ago involving a police officer who fired a Taser at a suspect....That said, the incident did somewhat accelerate the implementation of my decision to retrain officers under the newly revised Taser policy, however, I had already made the decision to suspend the use of Tasers prior to knowing about the incident."

"The new BART Taser policy will also include language that will now limit officers to position their tasers in just one location on their belt or leg - that's the "weak arm, weak side draw" position."

Read the press release here: http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2010/news20100415a.aspx

Oakland Nightclubs May See Longer Hours

2010-04-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

DJ Chad @Easy Lounge, by Gwen Harlow, http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwen/193275092/

Oakland is one step closer to extending the nighttime hours for a handful of clubs.

On Tuesday, Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted to send new Cabaret Law provisions to the full council. Those new provisions include a two-year pilot program to extend the service hours of 10 clubs from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m.

While the pilot program does not allow alcohol to be served past the current hour of 2 a.m., clubs can keep their doors open to dancing and serving food. The initial application fee for the extension hours will be $1,000.

One Oakland DJ said at the meeting that the extended hours would be beneficial to an already blossoming city nightlight.

“This will be a great way to uplift Oakland culture,” said Richard Wright, also known as DJ Fflood.

Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts announced in a memo that he has no objections to the proposed cabaret law changes.

On Wednesday, Cynthia P. Perkins, a legislative analyst with the OPD Chief’s office, said Batts doesn’t expect the extended hours to lead to additional costs for the police.

Oakland officials believe that the extended hours permits will allow a gradual reduction of people leaving bars and clubs, which may cut down incidents of unruly behavior that sometimes occurs when clubs shut down at 2 a.m.

One nightclub owner Geoffrey Pete, owner of the now-defunct Geoffrey's Inner Circle nightclub said he objects to the city council issuing the permits and believes Oakland should form an entertainment commission.

“(Extended hour permits) can be politicized and create too much power for the city,” he said. “The permits should come from an entertainment commission,” he said.

In addition to the extended hours pilot program, the Public Safety Committee also added an exemption clause for small establishments, or those with an occupancy load of less than 50 from having to obtaining a regular cabaret permit. This will help restaurants and coffee shops that sometimes have live music, city staff told council members.

The committee also streamlined and lowered the registration fee for the newly defined “small cabarets”. City officials believe that with the new special registration will generate between $30,000 and $60,000 in the first year. Officials also hope that the proposed amendment to the cabaret ordinance will help aid in economic development and bring other businesses into compliance.

The new changes also mean regular cabaret renewal fee will be raised from $300 to $750 and raise an additional $25,000 for the city, according to an Oakland city staff report.

Oakland City Councilwoman Nancy Nadel, who worked with Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan in crafting the cabaret law changes, said the new measures makes things smoother.

“Hopefully, it will be beneficial for every business, large and small, and it will make the process a lot less complicated,” she said.

Councilwoman Pat Kernighan said the new provisions bring clarity to the city’s cabaret laws.

“The old law lumped together every establishment that played music and it also required every club to pay the same fee, regardless of size,” Kernighan said. “The new proposals make important distinctions between small spaces that sometimes have live music, like a coffeehouse, and large dance clubs that stay open late.”

This story originally ran in Oakland Local

When The Cool Takes A Walk

2010-04-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

My friend, a former Oakland resident, came to visit the other day. It was good to see her. She’s a close journalism school buddy. At one point, we lived right down the street from each other. Like me, and a good portion of the city, she’s is a transplant from somewhere else.

One of the coolest things about my friend is that she’s always had love for Oakland. Back before she left, my friend and her husband had season tickets to the As, games, they went to local street fairs, and took in musical performances at the Paramount. Oakland has so many layers.

But now my friend and her family are living in another town. The family has a cozy space in upstate New York. My friend took a walk for the usual reasons: cheaper living, lots of land, and more job opportunities.

Lately, there’s been this mini-exodus of friends leaving Oakland and the Bay Area. And there also seems to be too many others that are talking about moving out of Oakland. People don’t want to move. They don’t all of a sudden dislike the Bay Area. It’s money and jobs.

These former and current Oaklanders have directly impacted the city through their work on and off the clock. Civic pride is quite high in people who are leaving or planning to leave. And most of these folks are transplants who made a conscious decision to move to Oakland to support its growth.

But the cost to live here now is too great. I understand that, I get it. I’m just sad to see some of our cool peeps leave Oakland.

A Public Schools Renaissance

2010-04-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is a new time for Oakland. From the hills to the flatlands there are new art galleries and restaurants, our large public events are gaining national attention, and new grassroots organizations are forming.

All of this is good news as we slug through this recession, but none will mean anything if the schools aren’t drawn into Oakland’s renewal. The positive blossom that currently hangs over the city will quickly evaporate if our public schools are not collectively embraced again. This means parents, singles, hipsters, posers, pet owners, in short, everyone occupying city space.

Oakland schools are all of us, so let's act like it. Oaklanders can adopt a school, hold fundraising events for local schools, attend public school board meetings (even if you don't have kids), or donate items like books and computer equipment.

The district is in a tight spot. Although there have been gains in achievement goals and test scores, Oakland schools still struggle mightily in key areas. Just a quick sample:

•    The Oakland Unified School District has an $85 million general fund budget deficit.
•    Oakland public schools have lost about one-third of their enrollment as an estimated 18,500 students have transferred to private, parochial and charter schools in the last 10 years*
•    Newly formed small schools continue to open and close at an alarming rate.

These negatives seem entrenched. Meanwhile, public school kids keep dropping, and top OUSD leadership keeps transitioning in and out of the system.

The newest leadership change is in the form of Tony Smith, a former number two school executive from across the bay. New Oakland Superintendent Smith announced big plans to address the deepest district negatives.

Maybe, Smith will have some early, limited success like Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts. But city residents also needs to step it up. So, go ahead, read to a kindergarten class, teach a one-day, simple web design to junior high schoolers, or go to a high school baseball game. Just be active with the schools.

This is the future of Oakland.

Oakland Standing Up

2010-04-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

This is the proud Oakland spirit that exists everywhere in our city. This spirit is what it's going to take to keep our team here.

Fans love the A's - if they stay in Oakland

Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Oakland Athletics fan Bobby Tselentis showed up for Opening Night at the Coliseum eight hours before the first pitch Monday to cheer for his beloved A's and then, later that night, lead a protest against the team's owners. More

Here is where the Gertrude Stein quote ends

2010-04-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

A public sculture on the Berkeley/Oakland border that stands up to the famous Stein misquote.

“There is no there, there.”

I’m gonna kill that quote. I’m gonna set that quote on fire.

I’m gonna strangle that quote. I’m gonna hurt that quote because it is a misquote. Wrong subject. Wrong meaning.

That quote don’t deserve to live. It’s been used far too long as a shorthand for damaged goods, a mess of things.

The author never intended to use it the way everyone says. She was talking about her childhood home. But that author is very famous. Very. And all her words were thought of as clever and perfect.

And so, years and decades after Gertrude Stein described what it was like to see her Oakland childhood house no longer around, she uttered those words. “There is no there, there.”

Somehow, those words from Stein were misconstrued. The quote became a way to sum up Oakland.

Now authors, writers, artists, a hell of a lot of folks, take Stein’s words about her old home to be about Oakland. And yet it was not. But now it is. Or almost everyone thinks it is.

That quote is not the city I know. The city I know has a deep history and a national presence in the arts and politics of this country. I’m not buying it and I don’t believe it.

So, I’m gonna kill that quote. Stomp Stein’s words to the ground. Because it is not true. And I have loads of civic pride that tells me to stand up, take aim and kill that quote. There, I’ve said it.

Jennifer Inez Ward is the founding member of KillQuote. This post was originally published in Oakland Local.

The Warriors Belong In Oakland

2010-03-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

Every since owners of the Warriors announced that they wanted to sell the team, folks around the Bay Area have been losing their minds trying to envision various scenarios for the team's future.

Many Oaklanders (including myself), have cheered the possible sale. We're hoping that new owners will bring better structure to the organization and that in turn will lead to a record above .500.

But, across the Bay, some folks are rubbing up their mittens. They want the Warriors back in San Francisco.

Bloggers and columnist around and inside San Francisco are now dreaming up reasons for moving the team. SF columnists that never write about sports, are now talking smack about how Oakland is set to lose both the As and the Warriors. Of course, the A's are not on lock to move and the Warriors have not even been sold yet. Plus, none of the potential buyers for the Warriors have even made noise about moving the team.

And never mind the fact that, even with the downturn, Oakland is well known for having some of the best fans in the league. Oakland has woven the team into its cultural fabric.

So let me let me tell ya'll folks creating noise about a new San Francisco Warriors team: Oakland, and the East Bay, are not letting the Warriors go without a fight. If you (SF) want a team so bad, get one of your millioniares to put one together. The Warriors belong in Oakland.

Civic Pride

2010-03-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'm so very proud of Oakland. The Oakland Running Festival was a great success that really showed our city in a great light. Runners said people were giving them mad love as they made their way across the city. Lawn chairs were set up in front of homes and West Oakland residents were said to encourage runners from house windows. Way to go Oakland.

Oakland Inflates the Census

2010-03-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Oakland is hardcore serious about the 2010 Census

Neo Journalism in Oakland

2010-03-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

Is Oakland ready for it's close up? These days it seems there's no shortage of news websites or blogs devoted to covering all things Oakland. In the last couple of years we've seen Oakland North come aboard, the launch of Oakland Local, The OakBook, and cool sites like A Better Oakland.

Old scribes like the New York Times are falling all over themselves trying to cover Oakland and the Bay Area, and even the yet-to-be launched The Bay Citizen promises to devote key resources to the city.

Last night, I stopped by the official launch party of OaklandSeen, a radio and news blog project put together by prominent Oakland citizen, Aimee Allison.

Not too long ago, Oakland was a dead zone for journalism. The Tribune had moved out of its iconic headquarters and the Chronicle only dropped in when there was a shooting or social unrest.

But with the demise of traditional print journalism, comes new opportunities for media outlets willing to chuck the old way and come up with a new plan.

What many of the new Oakland news organizations have in common is a grassroots feel and a promise to cover more than just crime and city hall. Also, reflecting the diversity of the city, almost all of these new organizations are run, in part, by women or journalists of color.

The days of just seeing news about murder, school board meetings, and ribbon cutting events in Oakland seem to be, thankfully, over.

I'll leave aside the issue of providing living wages for writers, photographers, and radio folks for another time.

Instead, for now, I'll celebrate this golden age in Oakland journalism.

Props For Parkway Theater Mural

2010-03-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

A bunch of folks have been asking me for more information about the new Parkway Theater mural. The artist, Desi, is with the Community Rejuvenation Project.

Here's his essay about the mural:
communityrejuvenation.blogspot.com/2010/03/personal-rejuvenation-and-celebration.html

Great work Desi. Thanks oaktownart for the information.

The Kids On The Bus

2010-03-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

I’m packed like a sardine on the No. 18. It’s morning, and the No. 18 bus is always jammed up in the morning. Doesn’t matter which direction you’re going. The bus is a workhorse carrying teenagers to Oakland High School or to the various schools located downtown.

Because it’s morning, the teens haven’t hit full throttle so conversations with each other and over cell phones are mostly at acceptable levels.

But, each stop brings more teens, and we’re packed so tight you can barely turn your head or move your arms. Warm breath from varies folks is hitting my neck in different areas. I try not to inhale the smell of potato chips, soggy pastries, or chocolate nutty candy bars.

The whole experience feels traumatic too me. It’s too intense with too many folks on top of each.

I try to imagine doing this bus ride everyday to school. How is it even possible to get your mind focused on education when 20 to 30 minutes of your morning is this overcrowded experience?

Although the youth seem, on the surface, quite calm about the situation, to me it’s just one more pimp slap on Oakland’s youngsters.

And now with the major AC Transit overhaul, which includes significant changes to buses that carry large student loads, I don’t expect the experience will get any better.

The AC Transit bus ride is just one more challenge for kids to overcome in a public school experience that’s filled with challenges.

Oakland youth have had to endure and adapt to so many things outside of their control, it’s not surprising our dropout rate is still at an unacceptable level. The morning city bus ride definitely doesn’t help.

New Parkway Art

2010-03-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

Check out the cool new mural on the front of the Parkway Theater.

East Oakland paying the price for cop killings one year on

2010-03-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

East Oakland continues to deal with fallout from cop killings

Today, as we mark the anniversary of four police officers gunned down in Oakland, let us also show support for the community where that tragedy took place.

East Oakland is where Lovelle Mixon killed those police officers, and that long-suffering district continues to pay the price for those deaths.

Many East Oakland residents openly supported police during and after the tragedy. But, almost immediately following the shootings, fingers pointed at the community as if it was responsible for the rampage.

Afterward, no one from the city really went to bat for East Oakland or went public to diffuse tension between police and citizens. Instead, for months, East Oakland was swarmed Oakland police patrol vehicles coasting up and down streets and parked quietly on corners, ratcheting up tension even higher.
Even to this day, some voices in the media blame East Oakland and label it a place that nurtures criminals and where cops are one car stop from death.

It is true some folks, not necessarily East Oakland residents, celebrated the killer Mixon, and justified his homicidal rampage as a payback for police brutality in the city.

Those voices came from a small crowd. The majority of the community and city never felt Mixon, a career criminal, was a hero. But you’d never know that from the intense media coverage the pro-Mixon folks received.

The furor against East Oakland came at a time when the area was still reeling from the Oscar Grant murder in January 2009 at the Fruitvale BART station. It was one more burden to bear for an area that carries the highest concentration of city murders, unemployment and other serious stresses.

Oakland Police Department Chief Anthony Batts had made improving community relations one of his goals. Starting in East Oakland today would be a great step.

This post originally appeared in Oakland Local

AC Transit's Sad Decline

2010-03-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

Once again AC Transit is cutting its services. The cuts aren't as deep as many feared and many are putting a positive spin on a what could have been a very bad outcome.

But I'm not smiling about this latest round of cuts. AC Transit lost my sympathy vote a long time ago.

Yes, there is a serious lack of funds available for the system, and yes there’s a lack of serious public support. I’m well aware that most Oaklanders don’t catch the bus and see those AC Transit buses as an annoyance on the road as they try to rush to and fro in their cars.

But, even given those challenges, we have a public transportation system that can’t even get the basics right.

For many bus routes, on-time service is a joke. The 51? Most of the work horse buses in East Oakland? Toss out your schedule, and don’t look up any times on the computer.

Also, most of the buses are flat out uncomfortable to ride. The newer the bus, the worse the design and comfort level. Where’s the bus air condition systems? We may not be SoCal, but there are definite hot days. And those days can be torturous for the elderly and disabled.

The environment on many buses make riding a dreaded event. Many buses are dirty and full of graffiti. Same for bus stops in the flatlands. Fights are greeted with a shrug by AC Transit higher ups. Unbalanced folks that ride the bus and act a fool are rarely kicked off. I hear a rumor that there’s AC Transit security, but I’ve never seen them.

The system continues to raise the fares, but the routes keep getting cut and the quality of the service keeps declining.

When I first moved here, I felt that AC Transit had some problems, but it was nothing compared to the cities back East I’d lived in. I mean Philadelphia’s SEPTA system? Beyond wretched.

But steadily, AC Transit has become just as bad as anything I’ve seen east of the Mississippi. I expect these cuts will hasten that decline.

Caption: Happier times on AC Transit

Beats, Rhymes, and the Parkway

2010-03-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

The Parkway Theater is a big Oakland tease.

At night, its large green rooftop sign gives the Lake Merritt neighborhood a soft, inviting glow.

During the day, you’d have to squint to see that the front gate for the popular second-run movie spot is dusty shut.

The marquee that once proudly boasted an eclectic movie lineup is now frozen with the depressing message “Thank you”, and, “We Love You Oakland”.

Just walking around the neighborhood, hanging out at the ‘Parkway Lounge’ or doing laundry at ‘Woody’s’, it feels like those rusting gates will soon creek open and movie patrons will be welcomed once again.

However, nearly a year after Catherine and Kyle Fisher abruptly shut down the Parkway in a messy fashion, the theater is nowhere close to being reopened.

Although a string of suitors have submitted proposals to the theater’s owners, the Chengs, the sticking point continues to be refurbishing costs.

But despite the stalemate, the struggle to reopen the Parkway continues and that struggle has taken a positive twist by helping to connect up different neighborhood and city grassroots organizations.

Exhibit A is the partnership that formed between organizers with ‘I Like the Parkway’ and a local filmmaker documenting the ‘Beats, Rhymes and Life’ rap therapy program at Oakland High School.

Friday night ‘I Like the Parkway’ and the ‘Beats, Rhymes and Life’ organization will come together to try to raise funds to support the film by Kerri Gawryn about the unique program. Tomas Alvarez, a social worker and founder of BRL, pioneered a Rap Therapy Program, which utilized the process of creating rap music to promote behavioral health among at-risk teens who were resistant to more traditional forms of therapy.

Hoping to raise $5,000, the Parkway folks said the East Bay Community Foundation has offered a $10,000 matching grant toward the completion of Gawryn's film.

By now, many neighborhood activists, local politicians and businesses expected the Parkway to be reopened as a movie theater or community center, or some combination thereof.

After all, the Parkway was an anchor on the East Side of the Lake Merritt and it gave steady business to ‘Woody’s, the ‘Parkway Lounge’, and other surrounding businesses.

Community support for the theater, which also served alcohol and pizza, was very strong. When the theater closed, Facebook pages formed and petitions were signed. One community group that emerged was ‘I Like the Parkway’. They held meetings, kept up an active listserv, and were a lot more organized than others.

But, according to Oakland Councilwoman Pat Kernighan, dreams of a new Parkway soon hit a reality brick wall.

“It’s been frustrating,” said Kernighan who continues to work with the Parkway owners. “They keep saying they really want to get someone in there, but every time, the talks have broken down, usually around the issue of how to pay for capital improvements. The theater is really old and in need of a lot of upgrades.”

Kernighan said interested suitors usually don’t have a lot of money and the improvements would cost anywhere between $200,000 to “a couple of millions.”

“I’ve not given up,” Kernighan said. “But I really didn’t expect it to take this long.”

She said reopening the Parkway continues to be a major priority for her office and that businesses around the theater have suffered with the theater’s closing.

“Reopening the Parkway is a very big deal,” she said

BRL founder Alvarez, said the collaboration with ‘I Like the Parkway’ is a natural fit.

“The program is at Oakland High School, which is right down the street from the theater,” he said. “And this is a way to support a local artist.”

Alvarez said the film is a documentation of a positive program for Oakland youth. It also showcases Oakland’s rich history in social justice.

“Hip Hop can be a powerful tool in engaging our youth and Oakland, along with the rest of the Bay Area, has always been at the forefront in using unique ways to nurture and support our young folks.

Peter Prato of ‘I Like the Parkway’ agrees the partnership is a good fit. “It’s so relevant. It’s the arts and education.”

Prato said his group is proud of its collaborations with other organizations in Oakland.

“Although it’s frustrating for me personally to see the Parkway still closed, it’s also been an exciting time because we’ve been able to develop and foster relationships with others to better improve Oakland.”

“I Like the Parkway’ will formally mark the one year closing of the theater with a gathering on March 20 at the Parkway Lounge.

For the Love – a hip hop soiree
Friday, March 12, 7 p.m., After party at 9.30 p.m.
The New Parish, 579 18^th Street (at San Pablo)
Speakers include Pat Kernighan (District 2 Councilmember), Alicia Romero (Principal of Oakland High). Performances by A-Plus from Oakland-based Hip-Hop collective Hieroglyphics, Bicasso of Living Legends, DJs Platurn of Oakland Faders, and Pam the Funkstress from The Coup.
Tickets:$50 at Brown Paper Tickets ($25 for artists and teachers). All proceeds will go towards the completion of the film.

Ducking the Media Oakland Style

2010-03-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

The ever-clueless gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is still stumbling and fumbling for a proper answer as to why she ducked her own press conference in Oakland on a visit to the Union Pacific rail yard.

When it comes to dodging the media, Whitman is in good company in Oakland. Just ask our media shy Mayor Dellums who's made quite a sport of it. It's a well known fact that Dellums is one of the most closed off politicians in the Bay Area. He's notorious for not holding regular press conferences, returning phone calls from the press, or even answering basic questions around issues that affect the public. Like, you know, taxes.

But here's the thing. Just like with the Whitman incident, the local press says nothing about this matter, outside of a few columnists bellyaching every blue moon. But this is a big deal. It's not just about the press, it's about the people's right to public information and access to the public officials they've elected. Any real politician worth his or her salt should be able to stand toe to toe with any reporter, blogger, columnist or tv personality, and explain their position on public issues. And Dellums isn't the only local politician that's unresponsive to the people, but he's the biggest example.

So I'm offering a challenge to my media brothers and sisters. For the politicians like Dellums and Whitman, who don't want to "deal" with the media, let's boycott their BS non-press conferences, ribbon cuttings, and special events.

I'm dead serious.

I'm calling out all the writers, the radio workers, and the television stations. Don't go to these limited events that's only designed to control us and give us slanted stories that make the media shy politicians look good. You know, the fluff pieces.

I'm not talking about regular public events. I'm talking about the non news events that's meant to disguise the fact that certain politicians don't engage the public, doesn't answer hard questions, and doesn't return legitimate media phone calls.

Let AP cover that crap. We've got nothing to lose. The public isn't exactly clamoring for those fluff stories and their opinion of us is pretty low anyway. A boycott is the only power we have over the matter, really. And it's not like things are going to get better. People like Dellums are betting that no matter how bad the media gets stomped on, it will still be too greedy and too scared to cover a fluff event.

Let's prove them wrong.

Signs of Life

2010-03-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last night, I had a chance to dine at one of my favorite downtown spots, ’Pho 84’ on 17th Street. The food was fantastic, and I noticed that for a Monday night, it had a nice size crowd. When we left a little past 7:30 p.m., the place was almost half full, and I saw at least two take out orders filled. Since the recession hit, many downtown Oakland restaurants have struggled with attracting weeknight crowds. Some nights, it’s not unusual to be one of only a handful of patrons at a nice downtown spot.

Will downtown restaurants see better business going forward? It might be too early to tell. But I’m hopeful. Oakland has some really amazing downtown nightspots and it’d be great to see them survive this downturn.

A Day of Action Is Only The Beginning

2010-03-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Day of Action,

Right about now, the public is getting educated about the grievences and major financial problems in our public education systems across California. Right now, workers are shouting in the streets, students are walking out of classes and instructors are waving signs demanding the public pay attention and that the politicians listen.

You see, today is the "March 4th Day of Action in Defense of Public Education". Today is a long time coming. From large institutions to the humble community colleges, there's a crisis brewing in public education. And today, students, workers, public education non profits and organizations, and others are calling for fundamental changes. They are call attention to inadequacies and inequities.

After enduring years of budget cuts, higher fees and balloning salaries for inificient fat cat burecrats students, instructors, and others are shaking the lapels of the public and today. This is because students feel like they're getting punked. Higher fees, larger classroom, and a small job market waiting after graduation will do that. Meanwhile executive salaries and incintives are growing. And classes are getting cut.

In all of this, public attention has been scattered and disjointed. But that's going to change because we are likely to see more collective actions by students and various education groups. There will be more civil unrest as well. If only because that's what can capture the cameras and blogs.

Happy Day of Action

The Wait

2010-03-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

Seems like Oakland is collectively holding its breath on several important issues and events. This spring, good or bad, we're going to see some major changes. But for now, it's just a waiting game.

We’re waiting on the MLB decision on whether the Athletics will stay in Oakland, or make a cowardly run to San Jose or some other suburban hood. Any day now a decision is supposed to come down. Lew Wolff has been hating on Oakland from the day he bought the team. I still have hope.

We’re also waiting to see if Mayor Ron Dellums will decide to run for re-election. Never mind the fact that most Oaklanders think his mayoral stint is god-awful and that he has few successes to claim on his watch. Politics is never about logic. It’s about getting and obtaining power. In this case, even though it will probably do more harm to Oakland and his long-term reputation, Dellums is beginning to act like he wants to keep “Mayor” in front of his name.

Will new Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts live up to his early promise? At this point he can point to reduction in certain crimes, but it’s still an uphill road in many areas.

Speaking of cops, we’re waiting to see if reforms with BART police officer training and operations really help the beleaguered organization.

Last Saturday night, after having dinner in S.F., I was stuck at the Lake Merritt BART station after a police “incident” involving lots of cops and one “gentleman” demanding to know “what this situation is really about”. The cops were jumpy, the trains at the station were held up for up for more than 15 minutes because of the incident, and passengers were given no information or apologies. Oh, and the BART booth guy at the station was highly irritated at my subsequent questions. So it looks like the more things change, the more they stay the same at BART.

I can’t wait for next month to bring the new and improved Oakland Museum. Word on the street is the Art section of the museum will be fantastic.

Will there be a new Parkway Theater soon? There’s a meeting later on this month of a group called Save the Parkway Speakeasy Theatre In Oakland. I'll write more about the March 20 event. But, a lot of us in the Lake Merritt area are getting antsy waiting for a new theater group to come in and save this precious space. Another event that may help the Parkway is this fundraiser.

Taking A Sick Day

2010-03-01T20:23:00.001-08:00

See you with our views and news tomorrow.

Suprise! The Rich In Oakland Get A Better Shake

2010-02-25T18:21:00.000-08:00

Is there anyone out there surprised about this? That a bueuracrat would actually put it in writing is the only thing that raises my eyebrow.

Oakland parking ticket policy called 'not fair'

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...

Oakland parking officers were ordered to avoid enforcing neighborhood parking violations in two of the city's wealthier neighborhoods but told to continue enforcing the same violations in the rest of the city, according to a city memo obtained by The Chronicle.

Oakland parking ticket policy called 'not fair'

San Francisco Is Not A Role Model

2010-02-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

Notes On Uptown

I was hella skeptical about the Uptown District when city officials started tossing the idea around in the early 2000s. Uptown? Get real, you must mean West Oakland. The name reeked of artificial urban planning. It didn't help that a lot of brown and black folks were disappearing from the neighborhood, and hipsters scared of their own shadows were the first new Uptown group to land on Telegraph Avenue.

But, I have to say, in the last year or so I've been impressed with how the Uptown has come alive organically, seperate from City Hall schemes.

Last weekend, the Erykah Badu show was a perfect demonstration of how far that area has come. The sidewalks were fantastically crowded with different types of people laughing, enjoying themselves and dipping into the variety of new venues that have sprung up over the last few years. It felt safe and the area looked clean. I felt proud of Oakland.

However, my major concern about the Uptown and most of the current redevelopment going on in Oakland remains the same. Planners and developers continue to push in the direction of creating businesses and housing only for the upper class and the rich.

They want the highs, they'll put up with some of the lows, and the middle class be damned. They have dreams of an East Bay San Francisco.

Look at all the new restaraunts and housing that has come along. It's been great having all of these cool restaurants open in Oakland. I'm loving all of the great places to eat in Temescal. And I'm happy to see some of the empty lots and broken buildings being replaced by housing.

But, in Oakland, those nice restaurants for most folks are just an occassional treat and the new housing an unattainable dream.

Meanwhile the decent cheap eats are becoming few and far between and just try to find a bargain in the Oakland housing market. The big squeeze on the middle class is happening at an alarming rate.

Nobody's planning for the middle and it's a major shame. If Oakland isn't careful it's going to be a city with a lot of rich folks, a lot of poor folks, and no middle class. Exhibit A is San Francisco which has turned it's back on blacks, turned its back on families (unless you've got tons of money), and anyone who makes working class wages.

That's not a city I want to live in and I hope that the rest of Oakland feels the way I do.

The New Frontier

2010-02-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

Erykah Badu is my generation's Nina Simone.

Innovative, emotional, mysterious, and with an endless musical range that's always grounded in the blues and Southern soul. That was Nina. Now we have Erykah.

Yesterday's spectacular performance at the newly refurbished Fox Theater on Telegraph Avenue, the bullseye of the Uptown District, tells the story why.

Rocking a crazy black top hat, wearing silver glittering painted-on pants, and standing in front of one of the tightest soul bands, she gave us a tour of her world. In doing so, she shook the house with her incredible voice and demanded respect from all. At one point, Badu did a stage dive into the audience and body surfed her way across the room.

Badu was relaxed and playful at her sold out show. Something that's become more obvious as she has created more groundbreaking work (I mark her change beginning with Momma's Gun). Her last album, New Amerykah Part One: (4th World War) was easily the best of 2008.

Badu deep hip hop roots were also on display last night. The beats for all of songs were crazy deep. She also wasn't afraid to pay homage to the hip hop pioneers before her. Her Lodi Dodi cover was fantastic.

She picked healthy selections from her treasure trove of albums giving new interpretation to excellent cuts like, Hip Hop, Love of My Life, On & On. She also gave us a nice sample of her upcoming album, "New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh".

Excuse me while I use my high school slang and say that this sh** is going to be so dope. Badu even got Andree 3000 on her new album. The album is scheduled to come out March 30, a delay from the original Feb. 23 date.

Did I mention Dave Chappelle dropped by and gave her an introduction? Folks almost lost their minds.

I could go on and on about Badu. So, I'll end this by suggesting that if you're into hip hop, soul, and just good music, make it a priority to pick up her next work.

And for a sneak piece check this Erykah Badu website.

The Lessons of Chauncey

2010-02-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

It’s been almost three years since Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey was assassinated in broad daylight on 14th Street, a few blocks from his office at the Oakland Post. As the murder case against members of the Your Black Muslim Bakery make its way through the court system, I thought I should post this essay I wrote a while back on how Chauncey’s death has impacted my life.

As newspapers disappear, creeping a slow sad death, I’m riding the tide back to the journalism scene as a newly born freelance investigative reporter. I never expected to be here. Especially after quitting with great flourish years before. But this new freelance space has been a great reward for me, despite the fact that there’s little in my bank account to show for it. You see, the lessons of Chauncey Bailey, the Oakland reporter assassinated just over a year ago, are heavy on my mind. His death affected me greatly, even though I knew him just a little.

In 2007, Chauncey Bailey, the editor of the Oakland Post was (allegedly) assassinated by a member of an Oakland organization called, Your Black Muslim Bakery. Chauncey was killed because of his investigation into the inner workings, particularly the financial situation, of the group.

Since his assassination, the trial of the alleged killer has moved to and fro, sputtering then twisting into a series of bombastic statements and horrible revelations before a final confession. Confusion, collusions, and corruption slimes this case, bringing intense light to the fissures that cut a deep run through my adopted city.

Oakland is a city that can test your heart, yet I’ve loved this California city since before I stepped foot on its streets. I’ve loved Oakland despite the drama and chaos that can come with it. I fall in love all over again with Oakland as I jog around its jewel center, Lake Merritt, and visit the secret treasures that are the Oakland Museum, the monthly Art Murmur, and Marcus Books. I love this city because even as it sits in a San Francisco shadow, it still shines a golden light.

Chauncey was so Oakland. He wasn’t just an editor for the Oakland Post, a small African American weekly. He was a touchstone in the black community. He always had a few hustles going, including at one point, a long running cable access show, Soul Beat. After losing his job at the Oakland Tribune, Chauncey bounced back quickly by working first as a travel columnist for the Post then eventually, editor.

He was maddening funny, and incredibly astute. A tall man with glasses and a quick manner of speaking, he was the go-to media man for many African Americans. Chauncey came from the Black Power generation—sporting sharp clothes that fit with a snap, dress shoes that rocked a black shine. He had it together. Even with the new dreads he’d been growing for a spell. Some criticized his closeness to sources, but understand there are few black print news writers who worked at a prominent level in the Bay Area. And for many black politicians and community members, Chauncey was a logical first media stop.

Although Chauncey and I worked for the same Bay Area newspaper chain, I didn’t really get to know him until after I quit journalism. I had turned my back on journalism, my chosen profession since third grade, because I was burnt out from the low pay, deadline grind, and the horrible group think that had crept into even the most high-ended news organization.

I had wanted to do investigative, long term work locally, but that seemed to be a no go with shrinking news holes, so I left for a gig as a hack for a state university. The pay was better, but the bullshit was extreme. Yes, I had Cesar Chavez Day off, but the university was a carnival—all funhouse mirrors and cotton candy logic.

My office was located downtown where Chauncey worked. Chauncey and I became bus stop buddies. Most workdays our schedules collided and we ended up waiting for the same No. 13 that stopped at 14th and Franklin, in front of the building that housed the struggling Oakland Post.

He was always at the bus stop before me, usually with the Oakland Tribune or Post in his hand. He always wanted to chat. He wanted to know about my hair. He studied my dreads intensely as we waited for the bus. He also tried to woo me into doing freelance work for the Post, stuffing a business card in my hand at least once a month.

I always said no, making various excuses, but in truth I was scared. I felt my writing chops had dulled and my news instinct soft. When I left journalism, I felt I had let down my younger self, who had worked so hard to win me fellowships, and gain entry into prominent news organizations. I was at a point where I thought, ‘No turning back, kid. Journalism is in the past, PR is the foreseeable future.’

At the time of his death, Chauncey was deep into his investigation of the Bakery, a powerful local grassroots organization.

Everyone knew about Your Black Muslim Bakery and the power they held in Oakland. It was no coincidence they had lucrative contracts at the airport and the Coliseum. They were a different group from the well-known Chicago-based Nation of Islam. The founder, Yusef Bey, built his organization into an Oakland powerhouse that was feared by many. As a result, there were a lot of folks “accommodating” the bakery because they knew the score, especially the elected folks. Once the Black Muslim Bakery had been implicated in the death of Chauncey, man, you never saw so many politicians, police, and high end folks distance themselves so quickly from an organization.

The day Chauncey died, I was on my way to work, riding No. 13, when the bus was rerouted by police. Something had happened on 14th and Alice Street. As the bus came up the side street that cornered 14th I saw a crime scene. It looked like every major crime scene I’d covered as a journalist. The yellow tape, the TV, the cops, the white cloth that draped the body sprawled on the sidewalk. A leg was peaking out. The shoes were shiny clean. Our bus was stone quiet as everyone took in the murder scene. Some folks on the bus shook their heads slowly. Others just kept staring. It wasn’t until I arrived at work that I found out that body under the sheet was Chauncey’s. He had been on his way to work.

I had been shaken to the core by Chauncey’s death and it wasn’t soon after that I quit my gig at the university, totally unfulfilled by the job, but not knowing how to get back into reporting. I drifted. Then recession hit, now what?

A few months after, struggling on unemployment, I found Chauncey’s business card stuck in a book I had long abandoned reading (The Get Away Man). It was bleach white with fancy font. I turned it over to the back. In his hurried, loopy scrawl, Chauncey had written, “I hope you change your mind”.

Over time, I swirled those words around in my thoughts, seeing them as a pointer to a possible future. I thought of how Chauncey took a major risk and surely knew he was courting danger when he began his work on getting at the heart of Your Black Muslim Bakery. He paid for that with his life. I knew that I could help continue his work in Oakland by becoming the investigative journalist I wanted to be. It was time to clamp my fear and go back to what I was born to do.

Now, working freelance has given me the space to dig as deep as I can and write as much as I want about Oakland. Although I’ve only been back as a journalist for a spell, I’ve won a fellowship and begun making the connections that will enable me to do solid investigative work. I’m beyond broke but I couldn’t be more satisfied in my career. The lessons of Chauncey are thriving in Oakland.

Man jumps into Lake Merritt to evade police, emerges naked - Inside Bay Area

2010-02-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite story of the day. This is better than the incident a few years ago where a guy running from the SF police, drove across the Bay Bridge (in the wrong direction) and crashed his car into Lake Merritt.

Man jumps into Lake Merritt to evade police, emerges naked - Inside Bay Area

You Never Can Tell

2010-02-17T13:13:00.000-08:00

I’m extremely upset about this latest racial tiff in our city which was captured on video and is now one of the hottest clips on YouTube.

Brief summary: After a misunderstanding on a city bus involving shoe shining, if you can believe it, an older, bearded white man wearing grampa board shorts and high white socks, kicks the hell out of a young black man rocking a plaid shirt and sunglasses.

Initially, the black guy gets egged on by a few grinning black girls who see a YouTube opportunity in filming a white guy getting whooped on AC Transit.

Except, it doesn’t go down like that and after some brief verbal sparring, the black guy throws a punch (maybe it landed, maybe it didn’t) and all of a sudden, the white guy just clowns all over the black guy like Rocky Marciano.

Then, the white guy stormed off the bus hollering self defense, and the black guy was left humiliated and dripping blood all over the place.

Before the fight, passengers do little intervention, and the bus driver doesn’t say anything and keeps on driving, even though part of the dispute happened in the front of the bus.

Anyway, the racists are now crowing happily on YouTube and news blogs, AC Transit looks incompetent (once again), and you got young black folks looking like they ain’t got any sense.

Come on ya’ll we’re better than this. Oakland is the most diverse city in the United States (excluding NYC), we shouldn’t still fall back on racial stereotypes whenever our anger rises or a disagreement occurs.

It goes without saying that a person’s race, age, and clothes tell you very little about that person’s background, beliefs, or ability.

I think it’s a lesson that young black guy is still absorbing.

The Sad Ocurrence

2010-02-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Work Notes

News writers are in a helluva fix. Despite spanking brand new news websites, micro-local blogging and dedicated journalism programs trying to figure out how to attract and retain readers, the future is bleak for writers. For it is a future which includes diminishing career prospects.

The fundamental nature of the paid writing career is being turned upside down with these emerging business models. That's because none of them effectively address the issue of paying writers a living wage. Almost non existent in most of these new programs is any opportunity for advancement within the company or organization.

The labor is cheap for news sites and organizations. The unions are weak and there are few pennies being thrown to writers.

For most writers the future is freelance. The future is without benefits. The future is pay based on how many people click your story. The future is you get your $50 per story, shoot art for that story, hyperlink like mad, and get happy.

The ongoing changes have been fast and furious for writers. Besides layoffs at newspapers, periodicals and other news organizations, writers have had to grapple with learning new technology all the while finding that there are fewer outlets for their work.

Back in the day, journalism was one of the few stable careers that paid writers. Once the work of the blue collar set, by the late 70s journalism had been embraced as a career choice for college graduates. By the late 90s, it was very rare to find a journalist who had not attended university.

And while the pay was always low, at many places there was a nurturing of talent, some advancement opportunity, and the pride of covering your community and feeling like you were part of something larger. It was a career and a community. If I met a reporter from Miami, or Iowa, or Bakersfield, I felt a kinship with that beat reporter or editor.

That's all over. From my vantage point, you'd be a straight up and down psycho to want to get into news reporting if you're a young pup. Where's the payoff? Yeah you got 250 to read your story (if you're lucky), but you're still ass broke with huge college loans. What happens when you reach your 40s and you want to settle down and buy a house?

There will always be news organizations like the NY Times that can scrape up the cream young journalists and pay them a nice salary. But, the majority of original reporting is done at the local level and I can guarantee you that unless new programs invest and nurture their talent, there will soon be a steep decline in news quality.

Locally, the Bay Area News Project seems like it will pay a living wage and that is very good. But that project is very much the exception. Right now the Baby Boomers are retiring and the Gen Xers are fleeing journalism fast as they can.

The Jazz of Chappelle

2010-02-11T11:12:00.000-08:00

Notes From The Uptown

I'm happy to report that Dave Chappelle is not crazy. He's at the top of his game and is still the best comedian orbiting the earth. No one could touch him before he walked away from his show on Comedy Central and now, with the freedom to play obscure and famous clubs anywhere and say anything he damn pleases, he's pushing the envelope like no other.

Last night, in a two-hour freestyle set at The New Parish off Telegraph and San Pablo Avenue, Chappelle killed it. Chain-smoking a variety of cigarettes (Cloves, Newports, but no blunts) he riffed on everything from from BART to Obama, and he had the hipster audience begging him to stay on the small stage long after he was supposed to begin his second set.

The snaps were vicious and the cracks were on point and very non PC. He had good natured jokes about Oakland, but his best local material was about the Tenderloin in San Francisco ("You don't even know you're going there. It just happens. You can just be walking down the street and then all of sudden it's like, 'Ahh!' it's 1984!'") There were only a few passing references to his enormously popular television show and the fallout from his decision to walk away at the height of his career.

Heckling from the audience was very much encouraged by Chappelle. In fact, Chappelle was all freestyle; no prepared material. He only responded to various shout outs from the audience ("Talk about Tiger Wood."). It was very jazz. Some hecklers tried to one up him , but Chappelle has a razor sharp gift of gab that can slice and dice at will. He also has a nice size ego just in case you try to front ("My balls are so big, shit orbits around them.").

The audience was filled with Post-everything Oaklanders in their twenties and early thirties. There were a lot of young cats sported fancy kicks (obscure Air Force Ones and such), tight (skinny?) blue jeans and fitted t-shirts with obscure funk band logos. A few headwraps, big hoop earrings, and lots of dreads were also on display.

The venue, the New Parish, is really the old Sweet Jimmy's and is located firmly in the Uptown. With a nice balcony, an indoor courtyard, and clean brick walls, the space has a Southern feel to it. The New Parish could be a fantastic new spot for a variety of entertainment, but with five owners, there's already whispers of management problems.

Still, I've got high hopes the spot, and I don't think we've seen the last of Mr. Chappelle in Oakland.

Lost In the Shuffle

2010-01-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King was more than just the "I Have A Dream" speech. What sometimes gets lost in the shuffle is how revolutionary King was. While King did not go as far as say Malcolm X on issues of inequality, it wasn't too long after the "I Have A Dream" speech before he was speaking out forcefully against the blatant class inequality that still runs prevalent in our society.

King saw that underneath the horrible racism that was choking the United States, there was fundamental problems with the structure of our society. Whether you are black, white, or Asian, King could see that there is very little class movement in the United States. In our society if you are born poor you are very likely to die poor. The wealthy will remain wealthy and their children are all but guaranteed to be wealthy. Not because they worked to earn it, but because it was given to them. As far as the middle class, well that's mostly an illusion built on student loan debt, car notes, and mortgages.

Once King began to focus more on class inequality and the Vietnam War, well all hell broke lose. Even his strongest supporters began to waiver. After his death, his stance against the war and social inequality was pushed aside in favor of his earlier work and speeches. But this phase of King's life is something that should not be overlooked.

A New Jewel

2010-01-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, I feel bad for my city. Sometimes, the tragic killings, particularly the ones involving young promising artists, really make me upset. So my adventure today came about during the right time. It also served as a reminder that Oakland is a city of many contrasts. For every gang or drug-related shooting story in the news, there are also stories of everyday heroes and new exciting youth-oriented programs.

I've just come back from the official opening of the Oakland Green Youth Arts & Media Center, and I was completely blown away by everything the organization is working towards.

Using creativity as catalyst for growth, teens and young adults can learn the latest in music production, dance and theater. Students can also learn leadership training, business incubation and urban farming.

Located on 27th and Telegraph Ave., a nice junction for attracting youth from all parts of the city, Green Youth Arts & Media is a spacious site with top-line computers and recording equipment.

The Center has the support of many organizations, including the Black Eyed Peas Foundation, the city of Oakland and the Adobe Foundation. The Center has also created strong partnerships with other arts and youth training programs.

The Oakland Green Youth Arts & Media Center is a new jewel for the city to be proud of. Congrats guys.

Building A Better Body

2010-01-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

All gyms are not created equal and Oakland is lucky to have one of the best---Club One at City Center. I've been a gym rat for more than 10 years (minus the recent year I spent avoiding any exercise) and Club One is by far the best gym I've been a part of. I can speak with authority on this because I've sampled at least a dozen Bay Area gyms courtesy of various "guest passes" and free membership weeks.

Besides the pool, indoor track, and raquetball courts, there's an impressive number of cardio machines that take up two levels. I've never had to wait to use a machine and there are enough free weights available at most times. City Center is even better than the other Club Ones (the one in downtown S.F. is way to small and has a weird staircase) and certainly better than chains like 24 hour fitness (the Lake Merritt 24 Hour Fitness has no air conditioning if you can believe that).

Now the Club One fee is beyond ridiculous, $100 a month if you don't have some company discount. Most company discounts only push the price down to $86 or so, which is still a lot. But, if you take working out seriously and regularly go to the gym more than three times a week, it's worth it. If you're not really into working out, or only do it once a week or just like classes, I'd skip Club One. Otherwise, pony up.

The Real Recovery

2010-01-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Although Oakland was hit hard by the recession, I believe our recovery will be strong if a few things take place. First, there needs to be an infusion of stable, full-time jobs. And while service industry jobs are a good start, we also need to see jobs with long term growth potential. We also need to have jobs for the young men and women coming out of high school and community college. They are the future of our city and it's very important to nurture their development.

If Oakland is to thrive after the economy it needs to focus less on attracting hipsters from San Francisco with fancy restaurants (which is nice), but more on keeping young families here and that means hyper-focusing on improving the schools and helping our young men currently caught up in the prison system.

Oakland must also build up its public transportation. AC Transit is horrible, this is no secret. It's costly, the buses are some of the worst is the country (why is there no air conditioning on most buses?), and most bus lines run at slow, erratic times. But why not make AC Transit a model for the country when it comes to effective, efficient public transportation? With good leadership and an engaged public it could be something unique that can attract businesses and people to the city.

My Dellums Dillema

2010-01-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

Like everyone in the city, I've notice that Dellums has finally decided to step it up late in his term. The pitch for keeping the A's in town, playing a leadership role on the port truckers issue, hiring a seemingly decent police chief, those are all great things. As a result there are folks out there actually half way considering voting for Dellums if he runs for re-election.

Not me. The fact that he waited this long to become a real city leader is beyond ridiculous. A lot of crap has happened on Dellums' watch and the fact that he's not owning up to his many mistakes makes me very angry. I'm also not a fan of his wife working unofficially as second-in-command.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy as hell the city finally grew a spine and will not roll over and let the A's leaving town. But I'm thinking about all the crime, mismanaged funds, and bad city decisions that has occurred under his watch. Who's to say if Dellums will truly be a leader or fall asleep again if he wins a re-election?

But even as I type this I don't see a viable alternative in the mayoral field. Mostly, those interested in being Oakland's mayor seem to be the same ambitious yahoos that always run for office, or they're these crooked career politicians who'd like to put another feather in their cap by becoming mayor.

There are so many talented, fantastic folks in Oakland I can't believe none of them are interested in changing things for the better for the city. It's still early in the process and I've got my fingers crossed.

The beautiful, the eccentric, the scary happenings of Lucky's

2010-01-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Lemme tell you about the Lucky's Supermarket off Lake Merritt. It's not a casual shopping experience. It's deeply chaotic, disturbing, exciting, and challenging. Don't expect to dip through on a quick trip for milk and bread. Not at Lucky's.

See, on most nights, Lucky's teems with energy that comes from customers who represent all that is Oakland. On any evening or night it is packed with people. You've got the busted up, liquored up, tattered men and women who float around the parking lot asking for change or food, or a sense of direction. Sometimes they want to dance, or tell you their views about the world. There's the healthy hipster population who glide in on their fancy messenger bikes. They usually shop in clusters and seemed amused at the richy-rich folks who come down from the hills and shop at Lucky's. There are the recession-hit folks who've downgraded from Whole Foods and even Trader Joe's (!) and find themselves sharing the aisles with toddlers running and grabbing. And Oakland High kids who kick it at Lucky's for sport. They're usually laughing loudly, texting while arguing with each other, and just have a blast.

Most of the time I'm down for the struggle. Sometimes, I just want to buy my bananas and run. But almost always I marvel at my new local supermarket. Just a few months ago, I would have turned my nose up at just the thought of shopping at Lucky's. I considered myself a more "conscious" shopper and thought Farmer Joe's and it's elk more my style. But while I still hit those shopping places for certain items, I've decided to embrace the chaos of Lucky's. There's nothing like it.

Back on the Block

2010-01-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

After spending a year or so living in East Oakland, I've moved back to Lake Merritt and I couldn't be more happy. East Oakland has some cool happenings and people but it's a very intense place. More cops on the prowl, more guys on the corner, more music, more cars, more restless youth energy. After the last year scraping of freelance scraping by, I was ready for a different vibe. One that had been familiar for years.

And now, instead of living right off Lakeshore, I live right off Park Blvd. I'm beginning to enjoy this area of Lake Merritt very much. I'm an eight minute walk from the Lake, perfect for my half-marathon training. I love the rolling hills of the neighborhood, cafes' in walking distance. I've got my fingers crossed for the Parkway Theatre, and the Parkway Lounge continues to have the coolest bartenders. Lucky's is off the hook freaky (more on that later), and it took me weeks to stop finding excuses to go to Merritt Bakery.

Park Blvd. is set to explode with new growth. You can feel it in the area and see it with the new shops opening up. All it needs is the theater to come back and one or two sit down restaurants. You'll see.

Mom & Pop Challenge

2009-06-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

One of the things I'm quite proud of is the growing nightlife that is happening around the city and bringing a variety of entertainment and food selections.

For example, there's a smattering of S.F. restaurants opening new spots in Oakland, areas like Temescal are coming hard with tasty spots and even Jack London Square is staying on board, despite recent problems.

But one thing I believe this new phase brings is a challenge to the Mom & Pops that began long before any bubbles and made it work during tough downtimes. I have mad love for many of those spots, Lake Merritt Bakery, R.I.P. Parkway Theatre. But, there are some Mom & Pops that need to be aware of this challenge and respond in a variety of ways in terms of prices and customer service.

This is a critical time, especially when the recession is making everyone watch their dollars. Going out is a big deal these days and lately I've noticed that some Oakland spots clearly haven't gotten that message. In the last few months I've had serious customer service problems at a handful of Oakland restaurants.

Last night, the service was so bad at Everett & Jones at Jack London, Justin and I walked out after 25 minutes. Most of that time was spent waiting for someone to seat us even though we were the only people waiting for a spot in the restaurant, which was about 80 percent full and had a number of staff members casually chatting with each other.

It's not just E&J. And I'm not saying this only happens in certain spots, because I've had eerily similar experiences (though not as bad) all over town.

If Old Oakland spots want to stay in the game they need to step it up.

Give A Hoot

2009-06-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

As environmental issues really blend into mainstream decisions and thoughts, one area I see lacking is a broad, national campaign to deal with the major issue of littering. Littering is a big issue in here in Oakland, where it seems littering is something that is on the rise. We have people not taking ownership and pride in their own neighborhoods, in front of their own apartment buildings. I regularly see young folks pitch wraps, and cans on the sidewalk in front of them without even turning their heads to look for a garbage can.

Littering is one of those quality of life issues that really affect a neighborhood. It makes a junky neighborhood, that much more depressing. Littering on a large scale basis in some neighborhoods give a sign that not only has the government given up on the hood, but the people who live there have also thrown in the towel.

In terms of urban environmental pollution, litter that's strewn about and piling up in many parts of Oakland, is one that folks can definitely see and be quickly affected by it.

Maybe this is an issue that isn't as sexy as global warming or solar panels, but litter is something that should be attacked at the national and local level.

Cleanliness is a learned behavior and anti-littering has to be something that is taught to kids at an early age if any real change can be made in this area.

As a GenXer I was a target of the 'Give A Hoot' campaign and even if it was cheesy, it was pretty successful in at least giving kids pause before throwing that soda can in the gutter.

A few years ago, Oakland had a pretty cool local billboard campaign going, I'm hoping that one gets revamped and expanded to the schools.

Oakland Schools will rise

2009-06-03T21:25:00.000-07:00

Oakland Unified School District has a new superitendent. A gentleman with a solid background. He is another new administrator. One more in a long line where there is a rapid, revolving door of OUSD leadership.

Oakland Unified School District's twirl-a-whirl door continues to spin on; schools whither shut while a new one opens on the carcass of another school. Millions of dollars dissolve away with no footprints on OUSD accounting pages. The school board is quasi in control with the shoe refusing to drop from Jack O'Connell.

Before Oakland makes demands on this new man, our new superintendent, let's ask, how will we will help Oakland schools rise. How will the total Oakland bring about the system we want, the one that the children need. The one that will deliver on the promise of providing a well-rounded, grounded education.

Yeah, there's a new man in the office of the superintendent, and true control will finally be given to the schools board by the state. Sometime, someway California promises. It may make it difference it may not. It's all up to us.

This continues to be hard because things seem so entrenched when you view API scores, when you here angry teachers who were promised but not given help, or strong support as they stand on the frontlines of education.

But this can begin to happen, it already has. There's already a lot of investment in our schools by a lot of wonderful organizations, teachers, OUSD workers and students.

A final push is needed and I believe with or without a new superintendent, Oakland schools will rise.

Art disconnect in Oakland

2009-06-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

I've been a part of the Oakland art scene for several years as a photographer and one thing I've noticed is the large fissures that exist between art cliques. Maybe it's because everyone feels the pressure from San Francisco, but there's truly no connection between the various arts communities.

Black artists don't work with the Asian or Latino artists. The white art community exist as an island on the "Uptown" circuit. The Black baby boomer artists have no connection to any of the hip hop kids, who seem to lack any knowledge of the pioneers that came before them. In addition, many older male artists seem reluctant to really embrace and take seriously the work of female artists. And don't get me started on the class divide between college educated, gallery-connected folks who live in fancy lofts, versus those of us that live from grant to grant.

Now, I don't want folks to get defense or point to the exceptions because that's not the point of this ditty. I'm speaking in generalities and I'm trying to start a discussion on this issue because the lines are so stark and evident to anyone who's paid attention to Oakland arts.

A few months ago, I started working on a project for Studio One to bring together some of these communities. It was to be a celebration and the start of a broad arts community. It quickly fell apart because the divide seemed just to large for me to bridge in a short amount of time. But, I've not given up hope that one day there will be an arts gathering where representatives from all areas of Oakland arts, including the gay and lesbian community, can come together as a collective and represent Oakland hard.

Talking out the side of their necks

2009-05-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was recently at a journalism panel discussion about how to save newspapers in the era of internet news, blogs and disinterest from readers. On deck were four journalism bigwigs who probably had about a hundred years of experience collectively. Yet for me, that panel was the embodiment of everything wrong with newspaper journalism, and it showed that this transition to the new (whatever that is) will be a very long and painful process.

That's because the panel was a group of aging white men looking at the transition to new from the outside. Despite being great journalist, they really weren't the ones making the change in newspapers. They were not the ones putting forth a new model for readers, despite the fact that at least one of the journalist was an actual managing editor at a major newspaper (hint: the Chronicle).

The panel lacked not only diversity, but any real clue as to what it will really take to save the industry. I'd like to have heard from those guys who are putting together new models. Maybe David at Spot.us, or those guys down in San Diego.

We can't turn to the Baby Boomers for answers, because it's clear they haven't any. It's up to the next generations to step it up and take risks with newspapers. But I fear the Boomers will try to clutch on to power and resist this change.

From what I've observed, it's this very resistance that got newspapers in the current trouble. Newspapers knew long ago, even before the internet took off, that they were in trouble with readers, yet they wanted to hold on to the old way of doing things.

And even after it was clear GenXers and those younger were turning away from newspapers, a source they viewed with suspicion and scorn anyway, newspapers were slow to get on the web and later, to use tools like video and audio to capture audiences.

Some newspapers were quicker than others, the Washington Post comes to mind. Others, like the Cleveland Plain Dealer, still haven't gotten their shit together.

Anyhoo, I was pretty bummed out after leaving that discussion. Oh, and the wine they served afterward sucked too.

Happy May Day!

2009-05-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

Oops I almost forgot to raise a fist for May Day. Power to the workers.

Through the front door

2009-05-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

As many are aware, I’m close to finishing my report on the phase out quagmire that’s occurring with Oakland Unified School District small schools.

The district over the last few years have put into high gear a process to deal with failing small schools by initiating a shut down process known as phase out, Phase out gradually winds down a school one grade at a time. Many of the schools being shut down have been open for a limited amount of time.

The initial phase out stories I’m working on will run on KALW 91.7 FM and the Oakland Post in the next couple of weeks.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of cooperation both from the district, school administrators, teachers, parents and students. Almost everyone’s been willing to go on the record, friendly and helpful. One of the many interesting points connected to this story.

In particular, I’m also referring to my quest to obtain numbers.

Besides chatting folks up, I also wanted numbers to back up what people were telling me. I wanted to know how many small schools were in Oakland, how many schools were phased out last year, etc.

I was told by more than one person, “good luck.” One long time teacher shook her head and gave a laugh when she heard I wanted numbers. “Jennifer, there’s only three people working in that building that have any historical knowledge of the district.”

So, I was warned and then it was not surprising when the public information officer Troy Flint, ignored my interview requests and the Office of Portfolio Management gave me the run around even when I put in a certified Open Records Act request letter.

On March 1, 2009, the web link sent in your response (http://webportal.ousd.k12.ca.us/WebItem.aspx?WebItemID=23&TabID=321) did not retrieve the requested items.

With each request filed with the database, the response was “no records found”.

On March 4, 2009, at my request, you followed up with a 2007 presentation report by the School Portfolio Management team that did not have any of the requested items I am seeking.

On March 6, I sent you a response that stated: As I understand it you do not have historic documents, numbers, or financial summaries from 2004 until present on small schools or closing schools?

To date, I have not received a response to my certified letter.

Turns out I should have started with the front door.

State Administrator Vincent Matthews didn’t blink at any of my questions and emailed me the specific numbers I was looking for.

The lesson? Never give up in trying to obtain numbers and always try the front door.

When Doves Cry

2009-03-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

A couple of thoughts on the recent cop killings. I've noticed over the years that the comment section on stories posted on SFGate.com is filled with a lot of racist/homophobe conservatives who seem to take any story about Oakland (movie opening, feature profile, schools, crime) to write very hateful, idiotic comments about Oakland. It's really unbelievable. It's almost as if it's some mandate of theirs to shit on the city online. They seem to have a very special hatred of Oakland. I'm thinking that if they don't like the city so much, why are they reading every lick of information about it, but that's just me. I mean, I'm not a fan of Fremont, but I don't go writing nasty comments about it when there's a story written. Idiots. And now with the cop killings they must be doing a happy jig, but the crimes are inexcusable. Guarantee these fools are using this event to paint a horrible picture of Oakland. I suppose it doesn't really matter that much, except it gets a bit on my nerves.

Also, there's a photo shot in the Trib this morning of Dellums releasing a dove at the tribute for the dead officers in East Oakland. I'm sorry but that shit is cheesy as fuck. Total West Coast B.S. A dove? I hope he's going to do more than this to address the underlying cause of this tragedy. You know, schools, the parole system, gun control, etc. Yeah, who am I kidding.

Wincing at Summer

2009-03-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

This has been one off the hook year in Oakland. From Oscar to the dead cops, the Chauncy trial, the deficit, the invisible mayor that apparently only does half days, man my head is spinning.

That brings me to the upcoming summer. Summers are always a hot mess, this is true. But, given everything that's happened this year so far and the declining economy, I don't think too much will be held back. We're going to see plenty of folks act crazy, and stories will have crazy twists.

I look forward to it with crazy dread. As a writer I don't need to make up fiction. I can flip open my newspaper and scroll my favorite websites to find a story to tell. Still, as a resident of this city, I'm going to also be watching my back.

Parkway Blues

2009-03-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

It's spring and I'm feeling bummed. Trying to muddle through this recession I get hit with the news the other day that the Parkway is closing. The Parkway! My heart is hurting. That is a major Oakland spot. If you know nothing about Oakland and it's evening/night scene, know that the Parkway was where we went to have a beer, chow on some pizza and soak in cool flicks. Great dates were made there, it was a meeting place for all who lived in the Lake Merritt area. Yeah, we had the Grand, but the Parkway was where you could relax on a sofa with a glass of wine. The staff was was way cool. It was great, that's just it.

Anywayz, the thing that really get me is how the owners played us. I mean, they could of given word of their troubles and we would of come through. They could of raised ticket prices and all would understand. Instead, they let us know a few days before the very last showing that the doors would be closing. What gives? First, let us know the real reason you're closing. Then, spell out why you didn't come to the community to help keep the theatre open.

That's what makes this shut down a bit hardd to swallow. We just got dumped.

Save the Date

2009-02-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

I'm super pumped about my upcoming show at Lukas. Please stop by and show a little support. Here's the info.

Oakland in Havana
(Urban Rhythms)

There are stark contrasts and similarities between Oakland and Havana,
two diverse, politically charged cities. Both cities have rich
multi-cultural histories, where music and food play a large role.
Building walls still serve as messaging boards, youth is king and
politics is thick.

What also makes both cities intriguing is they are strong survivors of
both elements and history. And underneath that strength and grit is a
warmth embrace. You can become whomever you wish. It is that open to
change, it is that fluidity that keeps it relevant.

Let's see where the future takes these urban rhythms.

The series will display at least 12 pieces, most 11x14 framed, matted
black and white/color prints.

Reception
February 28th
6 - 9 pm
At:
http://www.lukasoakland.com/

The Underlying Cause

2009-02-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

At every point in the BART shooting case, some Oakland official will issue a statement calling for "calm" and frowning on any unruly public demonstration. But at no point do any of these officials, including the mayor, address the underlying cause of why folks decided to riot. And yes, I recognize there were a stupid number of posers in the crowd who just wanted to stir shit up. Still, when people are pissed to the point of destruction, the city should give pause and begin looking at the frustration and anger that exists in many Oakland neighborhoods. It's not enough to appeal to their civic pride. You've got to look at the conditions folks live in.

Here's a ditty I wrote that looks a bit at the issue.

When The Next Riot Comes
What happens when the next riot comes?
When the next riots comes
will you have a rock gripped in your hand?
Will you be the business owner picking up the glass,
working fast to board up your windows?
Will you be the Lake Merritt dweller
puzzled and embarrassed by the national coverage?
When the next riot spins out
will you be the cop with tear gas canister in hand?
Will you be the anarchist poser,
the Berkeley activist looking for trouble?
When the next riot hits
will you be the hipster blogging the action?
The San Francisco snob shaking your head?
Will you be front and center in the street
when the riot comes,
raising your fist in the air?
Or
Will you be the artist standing on the side
soaking it all in.

First Friday Redux

2009-02-09T11:56:00.001-08:00

Thanks again to all my pals that showed up at Studio One Friday to hear me chat about all things Oakland. It was a lot of fun and I had a blast sharing some of my thoughts about our city. For those of you not able to attend, here's a brief recap of my spoken essay on our mayor Ron Dellums. Note, it's a bit rough.

A Blues for Dellums

Ron Dellums is a very beautiful man.
He's the type of cat that's a lot like that amazing person you dated and chased in college.
That person that made you go, "Wow! I can't believe you chose me. You're so special. So different, so beautiful."
Back in the day, you were always chasing that beautiful person.
You always wanted to believe that that person was perfect for you.
But that person was always slipping away.
Always disappearing. Never returning your phone calls, never showing up.
Sometimes, I have to say, they'd suddenly appear.
Sometimes you were able to grasp on to them, however briefly.
And Dellums, soemtimes will appear on the scene, give you a bit of his fairy dust.
And when he does, it's magical.
Beautiful, soothing words fall from his lips.
"We're in it together," he'll say. "I'm committed."
When that happens, you fall in love with Dellums all over again.
You find yourself still wanting to believe. Still chasing his shadow.
You'll continue to give chase even when he disappears again.
When he's a no-show as the garbage piles up on the streets, and the police department twists itself into a national joke.
When the city continues to struggle to recover from the riots, Dellums is a nothing but a lovely memory.
Yeah, you want him, you chase him.
You chase him because he's the one.
He has to be the one.
And he's just so damn beautiful with is lion mane afro. His crisp, trimmed suits.
But,
You know he ain't going to do right by you.
He ain't going to do right by us.
And, anyway, his heart was never in it.
Still, you want to believe.
And you'll continue to give chase.

New Dawn

2009-01-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

The day after Obama changed the game and I'm feeling more uncertain. Everything in front looks fairly bleak. From the government's capacity for providing basic services, to those of us counting every penny I'm not sure where Obama can take us that will avoid these large collisions.

Everyone I know has been stretched by the economic collapse. From those of us finding no jobs, to those dealing with burglary of their homes, we are in a different position since those golden years of post-college life.

In any case, it's pretty clear Obama's no superman. But maybe by inspiring folks the way he has, we can deal with the stresses a little better.

Murder and Riots

2009-01-14T07:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay....

The last several days have been all about the murder and riots. From backyard parties in the hills, to the corner stores in West Oakland, the city could not stop debating, discussing, or viewing on YouTube, Oscar Grant III's murder and the subsequent civil unreast that roiled the streets. Now, we have this: The BART cop who shot Oscar has been arrested in Nevada (sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/13/BAM615A08A.DTL&tsp=1).

Make no mistake, though, the show will go on. Everyone will still hit the streets, raising their voices and disturbing the "peace". They do this becuase they have to, having seen how deep cops roll in their neighborhood. It's a rare chance to shout loud against the police. Curse them, and vent frustration. Even if there's a baton above your head, it is a release.

This new chapter will be added but the politicians will continue to try to cover their bases, praying their are no Chauncy challenges connected to the officer's out of state arrest.

And Oakland will watch all of this drama warily, waiting for the signal.

Missing A Riot

2009-01-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

I'm still tripping on how in the hell I missed last night's riot in downtown Oakland. This is a bit embarassing to admit for several reasons. Back in the day when I was absorbing everything dealing with the black power movement, I used to berate my relatives for not taking part in the struggle. How could they not fight the Man, I asked them. Damn, ya'll aint even boycott Woolworth? The only reason my Aunt was in a protest march back in Cleveland is because she got off the bus from work and got swept up in the crowd.

In any case, as a resident of the Fruitvale neighborhood and a black woman, I thought it critical that I attend last night's protest at the BART station. It was peaceful, passionate, and inspiring. I saw a lot of concerned citizens taking a stand. I was proud of Oakland and Fruitvale. I left to attend the Warriors game (they got thumped by the Lakers) with my boyfriend who had tickets as a Xmas gift (from me). We drove to the Colliseum, saw the game, and drove side streets back to our spot after the game. I noticed nothing amiss and went to bed thinking about how I was going to blog the protest.

Fast forward to this morning and my mouth nearly dropped when I checked SFgate.com. I feel like the Big One hit Oakland and I was the only one who didn't feel the earthquake.

In any case, it wasn't hard to see that this thing was going to pop. We've got no strong city leaders, inept action from BART and a coward cop that couldn't even man up and face internal affairs. Folks are beyond pissed. Cuz it's not just that someone got casually murdered by a cop, it's the hostility that Oakland police exhibit on a daily basis to folks of color in the flatlands.
A good friend of mine that lives in the Lake Merritt neighborhood was upset that the riot would bring scorn on Oakland from outsiders who would point to it as an example of the chaos in the city. I told her, hey, it's a whole different story in Fruitvale. You've got to live here to understand just how deep the disrespect is from police, from the city and hill residents that want to pretend West Oakland and East Oakland are seperate from their municipality.

Last night Dellums promised that Oakland police would investigate this killing, treating it as a homicide. I'm thinking, shit man, ya'll can't even solve the murders that happen on ya'll watch. I mean, what the fuck?

What I'm Trying to Say

2009-01-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd briefly lay out my reasons for putting out a blog. The blog is a way of me stretching my writing legs, a chance for me to give my opinions and thoughts about everyday issues affecting my space. As a journalists, it's an exciting tool that will allow me to explore different angles and layers that make up the issues and events in Oakland.

Why focus on Oakland? Because there's not enough focus on Oakland. Outside of the crimes, and stereotype stories, there's no one in the game who's painting the picture of the struggles and triumphs of Oakland. That's not to say I'll be this great voice from above that will have an expert opinion on anything and everything Oakland. But, Oakland is a rich, diverse, complex, frustrating town that's always challenged me. It's funny, I've ready a variety of online posts, books, and news articles that more often than not spins Oakland as a crime ridden, corrupt place. And it has lots of black people. Well, I think Oakland is so much more. And we've got something to say, so listen.

Keep Your Eyes On Them Shady Cops

2009-01-05T16:50:00.000-08:00

So now we got BART police officials asking folks to keep the noise down over the point blank shooting of a handcuffed black man at the Fruitvale BART station early New Years morning. The unidentified police officer that shot the seated man in the back may or may not have been reaching for his Taser. At this point we don’t know. We do have images, courtesy of a few folks with sharp camera phones and video cameras.

Police always want patience when they get caught fucking up. They always want to wait until the “investigation” is complete, even when it’s clear someone didn’t have to die or get hurt because of some overzealous police clown.

I’m not one to believe Officer Friendly is playing it straight. Not in Oakland, not when they’re dealing with folks of color deep in the heart of the city. My eyes have seen too much police drama as a journalist and as a member of this community. I’ve watch Oakland cops beat my roommate who was shackled in handcuffs on the corner of 58th and Adeline and then charge him with resisting arrest.

If the city and cops don’t do right by the community and family of that young man they’re going to find out how short patience runs on the streets of Oakland.

Background: SFGate.com