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From the Oakland Library website Summer’s here and the Oakland Public Library invites the entire community to join us for a series of open houses to thank them for their support of Measure Q in 2004 and to discuss future improvements to their neighborhood branches and the Main Library. With more materials on the shelves than ever before, a new online catalog system on the way, and libraries open 6 to 7 days a week, the Oakland Public Library is turning its attention to what facility improvements might be needed to continue to meet the community’s needs for current and future library services. As part of its Master Facilities Planning process, library staff and members of Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, the firm helping to prepare the plan, are returning to every neighborhood branch and the Main Library to present recommendations and receive a third round of input from residents. These open houses will take place the first two weekends in June with refreshments and free act

Second man charged in rape case 18-year-old took part in Oakland kidnapping, robbery but not sexual assault, police say , FROM STAFF REPORTS Inside Bay Area- OAKLAND TRIBUNE OAKLAND — A second suspect was charged Friday for his role in the kidnapping, robbery and rape earlier this month of a 35-year-old woman abducted on her way to visit friends in Adams Point, police said. Although the suspect, Clyde Aikens, 18, took part in the kidnapping and robbery, he was not present when his accomplice sexually assaulted the woman, Sgt. Dom Arotzarena said. Aikens, who was arrested May 24 in San Francisco, was charged Friday by the district attorney's office with kidnapping to commit robbery and car-jacking. The other suspect, 17-year-old Clifton Haynes, was arrested May 5, and is being prosecuted as an adult. He already has been charged with forcible rape, three other sex crimes and the kidnapping to commit robbery and carjacking counts. The two suspects are accused in the May 4 attack on

There's an interesting view in some circles that the Dellums campaign staff is so drunk with the idea of victory that they don't work hard enough for their candidate. So, I'm putting that information out there as a warning: work or lose. There's a big rally coming up on the 27th, but that's not enough. You need to walk Oakland. The Ron Dellums website is a great start. Nice job because one can contribute online. Plus, I can get on your email list -- which I did do. Ok, go out and beat the opposition!

Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown has gained about the same amount of money as his challenger Rocky Delgadillo for this year. But he has an ending cash level that's almost twice that of his LA counterpart. Jerry Brown's summary: CURRENT STATUS ACTIVE LAST REPORT DATE THIS SESSION 05/25/2006 REPORTING PERIOD 03/18/2006 - 05/20/2006 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THIS PERIOD $662,273.60 EXPENDITURES FROM THIS PERIOD $507,038.78 ENDING CASH $4,401,739.03 Rocky Delgadillo's summary: CURRENT STATUS ACTIVE LAST REPORT DATE THIS SESSION 03/22/2006 REPORTING PERIOD 01/01/2006 - 03/17/2006 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THIS PERIOD $612,413.29 EXPENDITURES FROM THIS PERIOD $380,291.60 ENDING CASH $2,603,003.25 I'll get into the details soon, but the money count reveals a campaign that's closer financially than the polling would lead one to believe. Jerry's not blowing Rocky out of the water, even though he is ahead.

Who's Ronnie Caplane? Well, her name recognition's certainly not high, but she's got a lot of money from what I'll call the RGC - Rich Grass Roots. First, Ms. Caplane is a widowed mother of two grown children who resides in Piedmont. She's a trained lawyer and has been involved in public service as a member of the Piedmont School Board and a Commissioner on the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. As a result, a significant number of her major contributions come from Piedmont residents like the $3,300 from Otis Spunkmier Cookies Founder and CEO Ken Rawlings, who's' retired. Nice to see Ken's not totally out of public service; his last taste of working with Oakland was his idea for a large kids-oriented ballfield near the Oakland Coliseum. The city really gave him the runaround and it may be that experience which caused him to back Ronnie and not John Russo or Sandre Swanson, even though neither of them was responsible for the outcome of t