July 2022 edition • Issue No. 14
Produced by the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC)
|
|
Hello and happy summer, Maxwell Park neighbors!
Summer is the perfect time to get outdoors, enjoy all Oakland has to offer ("Music in the Park" at Redwood Heights Park, Oakland Roots Soccer, Oakland A's, Children's Fairyland, Friday Nights at OMCA) and, especially, connect with your neighbors. Two great ways to bring neighbors together are...
National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2. Organize a block party on your street! Last summer's parties in Maxwell Park included food, music, a disco dance party, costumes, kid's games, and more. Register here by July 22 to receive giveaways for the kids, and a special gift for the host.
Volunteer. Come on out for two or more hours a month to help our neighborhood shine. Join the volunteers who spruce up and maintain the vegetation in Maxwell Park or the Pierson St. traffic circle. Hook up with the High Street Coalition on its street clean-up days, including this Saturday, July 9. Or adopt your own street or an entrance street to our neighborhood. Email us for more information.
In this issue we share:
|
|
|
NNO disco dance party at the intersection of Kingsland, Virginia, and Best Avenues in 2021. (Photo by Kerry Gudjohnsen)
|
|
Join the next Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council community meeting:
Wednesday, July 13, 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom
*Agenda includes: Council Elections* Please join to cast your ballot.
Plus Guest Speaker: Martha Cardenas Delgadillo, City of Oakland Neighborhood Law Corps (NLC)
NLC is an award-winning unit in the City Attorney's Office that works with partners in the community to improve quality of life in Oakland. Through lawsuits and other civil actions, the NLC fights for social, environmental and economic justice with a focus on abusive landlords, substandard housing, human trafficking, violence and public nuisances including illegal dumping.
Register with the button below or at www.maxwellparknc.org.
|
|
|
Cast Your Council Board Vote
The Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council will hold its Board election at the MPNC meeting on July 13 at 7pm on Zoom. Please join the meeting and cast your ballot. Voting will be by electronic means. The Board consists of the following officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Membership Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Treasurer, and three At-Large Members. The description of these offices are contained in the bylaws on the MPNC website. Board members serve for two years, with one half of the Board up for election each year.
The following Board positions are up for election this year. The current members listed below are all running again.
- Vice Chair: Robert McGillis
- Membership Secretary: Jan Hetherington
- At-Large Member #2: Bill Urban
- At-Large Member #3: Anthony Mack
|
|
Park Garden’s Looking Good
On Saturday, June 18, volunteers weeded, dug new berms, and put in edgers around the garden at Maxwell Park. They also added paving stones on the new path through the garden. Thank you, volunteers!
|
|
|
Photos by Nancy Karigaca and Barbara Hartford
|
|
Let the Poppies Rise Again
On Saturday, June 25, a group of six volunteers cut back most of the poppies on the Pierson Street traffic circle. The hope is the poppies will sprout for a second round as they did last year. Plus, the group weeded Bermuda grass and pruned, filling eight tall green waste bags in a few hours. The volunteers appreciated all the drivers who stopped to thank them!
|
|
|
Photos by Nancy Karigaca and Barbara Hartford
|
|
Mills Merger Update
from Renee Jadushlever, Vice President for Strategic Communications and Operations, Mills College
After extensive discussions and planning, Mills College merged with Northeastern University on June 30, 2022. This is the next evolution in Mills’ 170-year history and we look forward to exciting opportunities for our students, faculty and staff, alumnae, our neighbors, and the Oakland community.
The goal of the merger is to provide new opportunities for current and future students. Building on the strengths of both institutions, Mills College will continue to offer a transformative education in the heart of Oakland, within the global network of Northeastern University. For the Fall semester, we expect about 800 students on campus; 300-400 will be continuing Mills students finishing up their degrees; 500 will be Northeastern students on our Oakland campus for either a semester or the full academic year.
The legacy of Mills College will be continued through programmatic and research efforts of a newly formed Mills Institute on campus, with a focus on women’s empowerment, social, racial, and gender justice.
Later in the summer, you will see a change in the signage on the front gate and other improvements across campus. We hope to expand opportunities for continued engagement with our neighbors and look forward to keeping you updated.
You can find more information about the merger here.
|
|
LAMMPS Moves Ahead
Phase 2 of the Laurel Access to Mills, Maxwell Park and Seminary (LAMMPS) project is underway. LAMMPS Phase 2 builds off of LAMMPS Phase 1 and is focused on improving safety on Macarthur Boulevard between 55th Avenue and Seminary Avenue, with a focus on the MacArthur/Camden roadways from Richards Road to Seminary in this final phase. Last month, the MPNC submitted this letter of support conveying Maxwell Park support for the summer 2022 One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) funding application. Learn more about the current work and sign up to receive updates, at oaklandca.gov/projects/lammps2.
|
|
Donut Savant 🍩
Cinnamon sugar cront, coconut cream cake donut, and "the bernie" (raised dough with vanilla pastry cream filling and salted maple frosting)...some of the tasty offerings at Donut Savant, located in the former Kings Coffee Shop at 3000 38th Avenue at Penniman in Allendale. On a recent Sunday, this newsletter's editor strolled over and enjoyed a raised Boston creme with homemade vanilla pastry cream. Just as scrumptious as the mini cake donuts being handed out years ago during an art stroll in Jingletown when Donut Savant was just getting going. Check them out at donutsavant.com, Instagram, and in SF Eater.
|
|
|
Donut Savant on 38th at Penniman in Allendale. (Photos by Annemarie Henning)
|
|
High Street Coalition Happenings
The High Street Coalition (HSC) continues its great beautification work along the High Street corridor. The group meets twice a month for trash clean-up; new volunteers are always welcome. In May, CalTrans approved the planting plan for the 580 off-ramp garden and plants are now in the ground. Plus, great news: HSC was recently awarded a Keep Oakland Beautiful grant for $800! The money will further the growth of the garden.
Next steps for the 580 off-ramp garden include: replacing the plants that died last month in the heatwave; regular watering; and more planting in the fall when rain and cooler weather arrive. HSC is seeking volunteers for watering and to solicit plant donations (from a Caltrans-approved list). Please email if you can help.
Volunteers are needed for upcoming clean-up days (July 9 and July 23, 8:30-10:30 a.m., meet at the Walgreens on High Street) and garden day (August 13). Find more information about volunteering at www.highstcoalition.org and follow HSC on Instagram. If you're unable to volunteer, please consider a donation at Gofundme for funds to purchase plants and supplies.
|
|
|
HSC volunteers at the 580 off-ramp garden and at High and Redding streets. (Photos by High Street Coalition)
|
|
ECO Tip: Induction Cooking
from our neighborhood environmentalist
During a hot summer, why heat your kitchen when you can just heat the pot or pan? Induction ranges and cooktops use clean electricity. Gas stoves pollute our living spaces and add to our growing climate disaster. If you don’t yet have an induction cooktop, then you can still use gas alternatives such as an electric kettle, microwave, programmable rice cooker, toaster oven, and crockpot. Using electricity is the Green way to live.
East Bay Community Energy offers the Induction Cooktop Lending Program, a way for East Bay residents to borrow and “test drive” induction cooking in their home—for free! To try the program in your home:
https://ebce.org/induction-cooking-apply/
|
|
|
What's blooming around the neighborhood. Orange blossoms! (Photos by Barbara Hartford)
|
|
Join the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team (MPERT) contact list:
email MPERT.info@gmail.com or call/text: 510-917-9994
|
|
|
Forming Incident Command Centers
One of the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team's (MPERT) priorities is to set up one to two Incident Command Centers (ICC) – places to gather to get or offer help until first responders arrive – within each sector of Maxwell Park (see map here). This short video demonstrates how an ICC can be used by neighbors until help arrives: https://youtu.be/KwV3e1XfIF0
ICCs are central locations that allow neighbors to receive and share information about the emergency, especially neighbors with emergency radios. An ICC volunteer gathers and records information about people and structures that need attention, and reports to first responders when they arrive to help with prioritization. ICCs include community emergency supplies (CES), which are supplies for common use by sector residents in an emergency. (CES are in addition to emergency supplies that each household should store for their own use.)
CES are stored at the ICC, usually in a residential garage or a plastic shed, and should be accessible by at least two households and be identifiable (labeled with MPERT and contact information). CES includes: table, chairs, generator, water, first aid supplies, personal protective equipment, fire extinguisher, gas meter shutoff wrench, tarp, colored tape or pens (red, yellow, green, black), clip boards with paper, pens, check lists and emergency contacts, flashlights with extra batteries, and walkie talkies with extra batteries. MPERT can help ICCs kickstart stocking of CES.
If you can offer up your residence as an ICC in Maxwell Park or can get involved, please email the MPERT team: MPERT.info@gmail.com.
|
|
Update from Councilmember Taylor
Hey Maxwell Parkers,
So happy to bring you another set of updates from my office! Below you will find information about our accomplishments over the past four years, the MACRO program launch, and my proposed amendments to the mid-cycle budget. If you have not done so already, make sure you also subscribe to our newsletter and check out our latest edition. As always, please reach out to my office at district6@oaklandca.gov with any questions and I look forward to connecting with you all again soon.
Yours in Service,
Councilmember Loren Taylor
Four Years Of Accomplishments In Four-ish Minutes
Four years ago, I was on the campaign trail stating my resolve to stand up for District 6 and underserved Oaklanders. Despite the challenges and obstacles, my commitment to you all has and continues to propel me forward. Over the past four years, we have collectively experienced some incredible accomplishments. Even though there is much further to go, we wanted to take a pause and take inventory of what we have achieved together including:
- Expanding public safety measures
- Advancing housing and homelessness initiatives
- Fostering a more vibrant and inclusive economy
- Improving the health and well-being of residents
Much appreciation to my team, community partners, and every resident who had a hand in delivering this significant impact. Check out our Four Years of Accomplishments in Four-ish Minutes by clicking here.
MACRO Recognized For Its Early Impact
KPIX recently recognized MACRO, Oakland’s new non-emergency response alternative, for the impact it is already having in our city. In less than 3 months of operation, MACRO has contacted 1,615 community members, averaging over 160 contacts a week or 23 contacts a day. Of those contacts, 47% interacted with the program before. They have also referred 51 individuals to local resources, including Oakland’s CARES Navigation Center, West Oakland Health Clinic, ROOTS Clinic, Dignity on Wheels, HEPPAC Mobile Services, Bridge Clinic and more. Check out KPIX’s coverage of their launch by clicking here.
District 6 Requests For The Mid-Cycle Budget
Thank you for your continued partnership in advancing the priorities of our district! For the mid-cycle budget, I crafted a list of requests that reflects the concerns and desires my office heard from you over the past year. They include deeper investments into affordable and high-quality housing, preventative and enforcement safety measures, and equitable economic development. Click here to view my full budget memo.
|
|
What would you like to see?
Any suggestions for the newsletter? Would you like to contribute? We want it to be a helpful resource for building community and keeping you informed of what’s happening in Maxwell Park. Community involvement can build a better quality of life for us all. Please share with us at maxwellparknewsletter@gmail.com.
The MPNC is dedicated to improving the quality of life and safety in Maxwell Park (Police Beat 28X). The MPNC consists of a Board of Directors and a number of Neighborhood Action Teams that address neighborhood concerns such as blight, traffic, and emergency preparedness. As an authorized City of Oakland Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, we work cooperatively with the City Council and Police Department on priority safety issues. New participants are always welcome!
|
|
Please share this newsletter with a neighbor, who can subscribe here. If you have any neighborhood-related concerns or want to get involved as a community volunteer, please reach out to the MPNC.
|
|
|
|
|
