November 2021 edition • Issue No. 10
Produced by the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC)
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Hello Maxwell Park neighbors!
The recent rain has been refreshing! Seeing neighbors out and about on Halloween was uplifting. The party on Camden Street was back, and it was a big hit. Thank you to Barbara Hartford, our talented photographer, for capturing the fun; see photos below.
Don't forget to "fall back" one hour this Sunday as Daylight savings time comes to an end. As we approach the winter months, stay safe and healthy and let's be kind to our neighbors.
In this issue we share:
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Join the next Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council community meeting:
Wednesday, November 10, 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Guest speaker: Maureen Benson, former Police Commissioner and Chair of the Oakland Police Department (OPD) Budget/Staffing Working Group of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force
Topic: OPD Resources and Non-Criminal/Non-Violent Activities
Ms. Benson will join the meeting and discuss the research done by her Group on OPD resources being spent on non-criminal and non-violent activities, and how we can reimagine and reallocate those resources into more socially just and equitable support systems that get to the root of what is needed in our community.
Register by clicking the button below or at www.maxwellparknc.org
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Halloween photos by: Barbara Hartford
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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.
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Vigil for Dirk Tillotson
Tragically, our Maxwell Park neighbor Dirk Tillotson was the victim of a fatal shooting in his home on October 1. Tillotson was a prominent education activist who was passionate about Black students’ success, and started and supported schools in Oakland and beyond. To honor his memory, a community vigil was held on October 7 at the Brookdale Recreation Center. Attendees included neighbors, friends, police officers, members of the NAACP, Councilmember Loren Taylor, and Mayor Libby Schaff, who presented a City proclamation acknowledging Tillotson's contributions to children’s educational justice.
José A. Dorado, Chair of the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council, shared the following words at the vigil:
Hola. Buenas Tardes. Thank you all for being here.
My name is José Antonio Dorado. I am honored to be here as the Chair of the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council. First, our heartfelt and sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Dirk Tillotson.
Secondly, thank you to the NAACP, members of our Council and all who helped put this event on to honor the memory of this remarkable man.
In Oakland, as in any city, there is nothing more precious than our children. In Oakland, as in any city, there is nothing more honorable than fighting for their well-being. In Oakland, it is especially honorable to fight for their education.
For those of us who did not know Dirk Tillotson, we are learning that he was an especially honorable man in the fight for equity in Education here and around the world.
For those of us who did not know him, we are learning that he brought that fight here to our City. He was a fierce warrior in the struggle for a quality education for students of color.
For those of us who did not know him, we are learning that we missed an opportunity to know one of the true giants among us. We regret that we did not have a chance to have a beer with him, talk to him, learn from him. We can think of no better way to honor his legacy than to carry the banner of his cause, because it is our cause.
For those of us who are just now learning about his life and work, we send this message to his wife and son, his family and friends and all who know and love him: we walk with you in your sadness, we mourn your loss for it is ours as well, and in Spanish we say "te acompañamos en este momento de dolor (we accompany you in your time of grief). Que descanse en paz (may he rest in peace)." Thank you.
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Buy Nothing Near You
Buy nothing. Share abundance. Build community. That is the principle behind the local Buy Nothing group that includes the Maxwell Park community. Check out the group on Facebook, where you can submit a request to join. Inspired by the Buy Nothing Project, a movement led entirely by volunteers creating a worldwide network of local gift economy communities, this group is truly local and defined by geographical boundaries.
As a gifting group, everything is free, and no offers of money or trades are allowed. You may offer or request just about anything, as long as it’s free and the law and Facebook allow it. The rules and ways of doing things in this group might seem a bit different from other "free stuff" groups, and that's because this group isn’t just about free stuff on the curb––the real goal is to connect neighbors and build community.
Examples of what is "gifted" include clothes toddlers have outgrown, unopened food items you don't want to go to waste, and furniture that no longer fits your home. Members often share party supplies, plants, and puzzles. The best "gift" this newsletter editor received was a dachshund shaped tape dispenser. Priceless!
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A New Sandwich in Town
The Saint. The Bay. The Bird. These are a few of the offerings at The Saint Sandwich Shop and Eatery on Macarthur Blvd in the Dimond. Vegan and salad options are available too. This newsletter's editor recently enjoyed meeting SJ Boney, the shop's founder and Maxwell Park resident, and sampling the daily sandwich special, house-made sides, and a scrumptious banana cream pie with Oreo cookie crust. As a local business owner, Boney said "the most important thing to me is to create high quality, delicious food for the neighborhood, and to have a comfortable inclusive space for everyone to enjoy."
Check out the recent issue of the Nosh for more on the shop's name and a review.
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The Saint founder, SJ Boney, outside the shop on Macarthur Blvd. (photo by: Annemarie Henning)
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ECO Tip: You and Climate Change
Halting Climate Change is a world wide problem that can seem so difficult to solve for an individual family. Yet each of us can help in small and big ways, such as these recommended by our neighborhood eco-advocate:
- My cousin turns down the thermostat and sits on an electric pad while watching TV. You will be nice and warm and reduce your natural gas usage.
- Consider eating more vegan or vegetarian foods. Tofu, egg, and dairy production release far less carbon dioxide than animal meat production.
- And when appliances break down, please replace with only pure electric alternatives, such as heat pumps, induction stoves, and energy star washers, dryers, and refrigerators.
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Redistricting Input Requested
The Oakland Redistricting Commission is seeking input on draft district maps that will shape the new boundaries for Oakland City Council and School Board elections. All information is located at www.oaklandca.gov/redistricting; highlights below:
- Draft District Maps – The Commission initially released four draft district maps and is now prioritizing Draft Map B and Draft Map D in their discussions. The link provides access to all draft maps the Commission will consider including PDFs, population data summaries, and interactive/online versions of the draft maps.
- Draw Your Own Map – The Commission established a website for the public to draw and submit their own district map proposals. You can watch a training on how to navigate the website from the Commission’s meeting from September 8, 2021.
- Submit input and register for meeting notifications – Use the survey to submit input and register to receive meeting notifications. Currently, the Commission meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 5 pm; however, the Commission is looking to add additional meetings. New meetings will be announced on the website and to those that sign up to receive notifications.
- Share redistricting information – If you are interested in sharing information on the Redistricting Commission, their communications toolkit has the information you need including one-page flyers.
Per the City Charter, the Commission is tasked with approving the new district boundaries by December 31, 2021. The new map will go into effect for the November 2022 elections and will remain active for the next 10 years.
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Volunteers Keep Plants Alive
from Nancy Karigaca, Adopter of the Pierson St. Traffic Circle
Special thanks to the crew of nine volunteers who have been helping drive containers of water down to the Pierson St. traffic circle since early September. Thank you to Cary Latham, Azin Sharaf, Solmaz Bagherpour, Christie and Lisa Courington, Melissa Elliott, Mark McGinnis, Lynn Keller and Mica Racy for keeping the 60+ plants and three trees alive. This effort was needed because we lost the circle's water source in August, and are now waiting for the Oakland Housing Authority to install a spigot on their building nearby. Until then, the rain has given us a reprieve!
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Plants at the Pierson St. traffic circle (photo by: Nancy Karigaca)
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Come on Out for Community Cleanup
Mark your calendars for the November 13 and 27 community cleanups. These cleanups, led by the 25X and 28X (Maxwell Park) Neighborhood Councils and supported by Councilmember Loren Taylor, take place on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, 8:30-10:30 a.m. Meet at the Walgreens on High St. for a check-in and supply pickup. This group is also working on beautification of High Street, including coordination with CalTrans and applying for a grant from the City's Paint the Town for a possible mural. For more information, email or contact the City of Oakland Neighborhood Services Coordinator, Judith Christopher (510-593-5592).
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Volunteers at the September 2021 cleanup
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Music at Mills College
from Renee Jadushlever, Vice President for Strategic Communications and Operations, Mills College
Please join us for this important performance at Mills College:
WHEN Friday, November 12, 2021, 7-9:30 pm
WHERE Music Building Lobby, Music Building Littlefield Concert Hall 202
VENUE Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall & Online Event
Presented by Mills Performing Arts and The House Foundation for the Arts, with the Mills College Music Department as part of Mills Music Now.
TICKETS
In Person: $25 General Admission / Free with valid Mills ID
In-Person Capacity is limited. Masks are required of all guests, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, indoors on the Mills College campus. Learn about the Mills College COVID-19 Recovery Plans.
Live Stream: Free. Link to the Live Stream will be provided on the day of the event.
Indra’s Net, Meredith Monk’s newest interdisciplinary evening-length music theater piece, is an experiential performance work affirming the interconnectedness of life. In the ancient Buddhist/Hindu legend of Indra’s Net, an enlightened king, Indra, stretches a large net across the universe with an infinitely faceted jewel placed at each intersection. Each jewel is wholly unique yet reflects all the others, illuminating the interdependence of all living things. After having gone through a year of a world pandemic, the metaphor of Indra’s Net is particularly relevant today.
Indra’s Net is made possible through the generous support of the Hewlett Foundation 50 Arts Commissions, The National Endowment for the Arts, ArtLab at Harvard University, and Queenslab in Ridgewood, Queens.
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On the Trail of Trolls
Meet "Skinny Pete," the newest addition to the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Trail of Trolls, located at 4546 Virginia Avenue. Would you like to add your own troll creation to the trail? Text 510-588-9103 to join in the fun.
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"Skinny Pete" on Virginia Avenue (photo by: Anthony Scuderi)
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CERT Happenings
Free CERT classes are available from the City of Oakland Fire Department. If you are interested in signing up for CERT or if you would like to receive updates from the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team, please complete this form.
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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!
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Please share this newsletter with a neighbor. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.
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