September 2022
*Abridged newsletter with some passed events removed
Dear family, friends and constituents,
I don’t have to tell you that we are living in extremely challenging times. Crises undergird almost every area of our lives from the environment, housing, education, employment, safety and more. People are scared, angry and want answers to problems that have grown exponentially over the last few years. What we are experiencing are old systems that have never served the majority, dying right in front of our eyes. Some people call it late-stage capitalism or the end of an empire. No matter how we refer to what’s happening, it’s important to remember that it is the cumulative effect of policies and programs that have benefited the wealthy few over the many, with only a few trickle down benefits for those who’ve carried the water of a powerful elite.
During this critical election cycle you will see attempts to convince you otherwise. That somehow, these issues began 1-2 years ago. Pshaw! When this happens, remain critical; ask questions - lots of them. What is the evidence to support these claims? What solutions are being offered? Do the proposed solutions double down on what created our current challenges? What will be done differently to elicit new outcomes? How? When? Be wary of those who take you right back to the system we are working diligently to overhaul. Their tactics are varied and our resolve must be unwavering. I constantly quote the esteemed Nina Turner who reminds us that “Only everything we love is on the line.”
In short, August had many events that I’ve been reflecting on and organizing around. I will share my thoughts, actions and plans with you in more depth soon, but for now I want to share a few timely events with you below, including tonight's Live at 6:30pm.
In service and solidarity,
Councilmember Carroll Fife
Items In This Newsletter
The Department of Violence Prevention Receives A Grant For $6 million
Honoring Bill Russell
80 Street Improvements Throughout Oakland Have Begun
OakDOT Hiring For Crossing Guards
Algae Blooms in Lake Merritt
Thursday LIVE Tonight - Reviewing Oakland Municipal Ballot Measures in November’s Election
Save the Malonga Arts Center Today and This Weekend
Updates
1. The Department of Violence Prevention Receives A Grant For $6 million
The City of Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention has received a grant through the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) program in order to curb gun violence.
The grant money will be used for a number initiatives, some of them including:
Programs tailored to work with families whose loved ones have been impacted by gun violence, including people at higher risk of being shot or of shooting someone.
Street outreach to try to prevent retaliatory cycles of violence, and cognitive and behavioral therapy to help people transform their lives.
Crime prevention through environmental design projects, such as adding street lights and changing the physical designs of spaces where violence is more likely to occur.
According to Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention, California cities that received grants in the 2018 cycle experienced three times fewer gun violence deaths than cities that did not. This grant will last for the next three years.
2. McClymonds High School Honors Bill Russell
On July 31st, we lost one of the greatest icons in sports history. Bill Russell was masterful on the court and he blazed trails for future generations by displaying high levels of skill under challenging circumstances. Throughout his career, he worked consistently to break down racial barriers both on the court and off. He used his platform to fight for social justice in an era when Black people could, and were, being lynched for standing up or for just being.
LA Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was quoted as saying that Russell’s “extraordinary contribution to the sport is one thing, and then his extraordinary contribution as an activist is something else… Any issue, Bill was on the right side of it." I believe that Bill Russell’s life in West Oakland helped shape the person he became. I am inspired by his intentional use of his voice and platform; his example illuminates a path for those who seek to do the same.
You can read more about Bill Russell in this article The Spirit of Bill Russell Kicks Off McClymonds’ New Season, which also covers an event honoring him at McClymonds. Images below from that event as well as from the August First Friday where we had projections in tribute to his extraordinary life. My office has introduced a resolution to honor his legacy through a street renaming.
3. 80 Street Improvements Throughout Oakland Have Begun
OakDOT has secured a contractor to begin construction on over 80 speed bumps throughout the City! Construction began on Monday, August 15th and will be complete by November 2022.
A list of speed bump locations is available at the bottom of this webpage. Now these locations are underway, OakDOT is identifying the install of new locations for next year as they simultaneously work to increase their staffing and capacity in response to the growing demand for safety improvements.
We are grateful that this much anticipated work is beginning in support of slower speeds and safer streets across Oakland.
4. OakDOT Hiring For Crossing Guards
5. Algae Blooms in Lake Merritt
Below is information that the City of Oakland Public Works (OPW) has shared in regards to the dead fish and wildlife that has been observed at Lake Merritt:
The City of Oakland Public Works (OPW) is aware of large numbers of fish and other wildlife observed dead across the Lake Merritt shoreline beginning Sunday, Aug. 28, consistent with reports of fish die-off observed throughout the Bay Area. OPW and the Water Board first detected low levels of contaminants associated with harmful algae blooms in May 2022, and OPW promptly posted warning signage to alert and advise lake visitors. These caution signs alert the public that harmful algae may be present in the water and to stay away -- and keep children and pets away -- from the algae, scum, and water.
What causes harmful algal blooms at the Lake? Generally, increased inputs of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus (from fertilizers and human or animal wastes), low water flows, stagnant water, increased intensity and duration of sunlight, and sustained high temperatures create the ideal conditions for these blooms. Current research suggests that the rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns caused by climate change are a catalyst for their growth.
How can you help? We can all play a part in keeping the Lake safer for everyone. For example, property owners can avoid over-irrigation of landscapes (such as overwatering lawns) to prevent excess nutrients from entering waterways. And we all need to continue working to keep Lake Merritt clean – littering, especially food and food containers, may contribute nutrients to the Lake that feed these harmful algal blooms.
It is also important to note that algae is a normal and regularly occurring organism in Lake Merritt. Most summers the City employs an algae skimmer to harvest the larger concentrations of algae from the lake. State of California information about harmful algae blooms, including the signage OPW has posted, is available online at the State's My Water Quality web page. This site also includes a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Incident Reports Map where community members can learn about all nearby bloom reports.
Events Coming Up
6. Thursday LIVE - Sept 8th Reviewing The November 2022 Ballot Measures
This Thursday, I will be going live to share information about a number of municipal ballot measures that you can expect to see on the November 8th, 2022 election. If you have any questions, please join and ask!
To watch the livestream, just go to my Facebook, Twitter or YouTube page on Thursday September 8th at 6:30pm.
7. Save the Malonga Arts Center Today and This Weekend
Local performing arts groups have coalesced to preserve the multicultural legacy housed at 1428 Alice Street, a 95-year-old historic venue. Today marked the launch of the Malonga Arts Collective and Omulu Capoeira Group’s Community, Culture, & Unity Event September 9, 10, 11 (Friday to Sunday)* - FREE ADMISSION ALL DAYS. This Community, Culture, & Unity Event will honor Mestre Preguiça, in memory of Mestre Carlos Aceituno (1961 - 2006)
I am proud to support efforts that will fortify activities of the Malonga Arts Collective and continue the world-class arts and programming that has been the heart of the Blacks Arts District in Downtown Oakland. MAC performing arts organizations are:
African Queens Dance Company
Bantaba Dance Ensemble
Dance-A-Vision
Diamano Coura West African Dance Company
Dimensions Dance Theater
Fua Dia Congo
LIKHA Pilipino Folk Ensemble
Omulu Capoeira Group
Rara Tou Limen
SambaFunk
