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But it would not be the tallest building in California. Building may take city to new heights 63-story high-rise would be state's tallest structure; planner says it would anchor downtown By Cecily Burt, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE OAKLAND — Aside from a few iconic towers in San Francisco, California's skyline does not have much in the way of very tall buildings. That could change -- and so would Oakland's image as open for business -- if a developer holds fast to his dream of building a 63-story office skyscraper at the corner of 19th and Broadway. It would be the tallest building in California. The proposal by developer Peter Wang of Encinal Terminals got a warm reception Wednesday from Oakland's Planning Commission, which has seen a glut of residential plans but very little in the way of new office development in recent years. The last office construction in downtown Oakland — the 20-story Shorenstein building at 555 City Center — was completed four years ago and

At an event with former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonsalez, Oakland City Attorney and California Assembly Candidate John Russo pointed to the poor coverage of the City of Oakland by the local media. "It used to be you'd have three to six people covering the City Council each time (they met)," he said. "Now, you've got maybe one or two people" In my view, it points to the reaction of the Oakland Tribune to the rising cost of running a newspaper versus reduced demand for the publications in an Internet age. The business and sports sections are done by one staff group for several different papers, but the newsroom staff which looks at local political issues per city is small and getting even smaller.

I totally remember Andrew Martinez, who would walk around Sproul Plaza in the buff. It was a weird experience to stand there talking to someone, then he walks by, so you immediately turn your head to avoid seeing him. For all of this, I didn't think anything was really mentally wrong with him until one day in -- I think 1993 -- he was a top some building on Telegraph Avenue throwing rocks at the Berkeley police. 'Naked Guy' ex-student dies in jail Berkeley nudist was in custody on assault, battery charges Saturday, May 20, 2006; Posted: 3:39 p.m. EDT (19:39 GMT) SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- The former college student known as the "Naked Guy," who gained notoriety in the early 1990s for attending class in the buff, has died in jail, authorities said. Andrew Martinez, 33, whose stripped-down strolls at the University of California, Berkeley, got him expelled and prompted the city to adopt a strict anti-nudity ordinance, was found unconscious Thursday in a Santa Cl

City to pay millions to slain cop's family FROM STAFF REPORTS - OAKLAND TRIBUNE OAKLAND — The city of Oakland is expected to pay $3.5 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of an undercover Oakland police officer shot to death by two fellow officers who mistook him for a criminal, officials said Friday. The settlement, which must be approved by U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney, would putan end to a case that was another blow to a department already reeling from the Riders police misconduct scandal. The approval of the Oakland City Council is not required. A spokeswoman for Oakland City Attorney John Russo said the city's insurance carrier will cover the cost of the settlement, not taxpayer funds. On Jan. 11, 2001, undercover Officer William Wilkins, 29, was arresting a car theft suspect at gunpoint near 90th Avenue and B Street in East Oakland after spending most of the evening working for the Alameda County Drug Task Force. At about 11:15 p.m., Officer

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Reynolds May 19, 2006 510-594-0224 JOHN RUSSO & MATT GONZALEZ AT THE MOVIES – IN PERSON! Oakland City Attorney and Assembly Candidate John Russo and Former President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Matt Gonzalez Host a Community Forum and Special Screening of the Movie Classic “Network” Oakland, CA – Local political luminaries, Oakland City Attorney and Assembly Candidate John Russo (www.johnrusso.com) and former San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Green Party Mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez will host a special forum on the “Uneasy Alliance Between the White House and Fox News,” a community discussion on spin-doctors and the mass media – followed by a movie screening of Sidney Lumet’s 1976 classic “Network” – at the Parkway Speakeasy Theater in Oakland on Sunday, May 21st at 5:00 p.m. Considered one of the A

In his press conference of two days ago, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stated that Oakland was one of several cities without a new stadium. To read this, click on the title of this post. It sends another signal: that in future dealings, the NFL and the Oakland Raiders will be aligned as one, whereas they were at war in the past.

To those who brag about Oakland's property values rising under Jerry Brown, here's proof that the rise has nothing to do with him and everything to do with the Bay Area market -- crime in Oakland. What Jerry should be able to reduce, he's not done and even cut the police budget. Oakland crime rate not helping Brown in attorney general bid Opponent jumps on spike in homicides By Kim Curtis ASSOCIATED PRESS March 6, 2006 OAKLAND – More than 20 homicides in just over two months: This is not what Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown needs as he campaigns for the state's top law enforcement job. The dramatic spike comes just three months before the primary election, and Brown's challenger for the Democratic nomination for attorney general is already accusing the former governor and presidential candidate of being “asleep at the switch.” Oakland police say the number of killings so far this year is nearly triple last year's rate. “He will be held responsible for that,” said El

Someone just sent a comment to one of my posts -- that I published -- in which he attributes Oakland's property value boom to Jerry Brown. Gimme a break! Property values in Oakland started increasing just two year's before Jerry was elected and that was Bay Area wide; not just in Oakland -- memories are short. All of us in Elihu's administration said that Jerry was lucky: he was taking over as Mayor at a time when the Bay Area economy was booming and all of the office and housing projects Elihu helped to get off the ground were being constructed. From the new skycraper on 11th street and just behind the APL Building, to Old Oakland Housing Phase II, to The Rotunda, and all of the government buildings downtown. All of that -- the modern Oakland skyline -- was Elihu's stamp; not Jerry Brown's. Heck even Jerry himself said this. I was there when he did at the ceremony for the new Rotunda building. That structure was redeveloped by Phil Tagami and California Com

Cops: Killing, holdup may be tied Police want to question man in crimes at liquor store, restaurant By Harry Harris, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE OAKLAND — A liquor store holdup may be related to the robbery-slaying of a Grand Avenue restaurant manager four days later, homicide detectives said Tuesday. Killed in the April 24 robbery at Bangkok Palace, 3300 Grand Ave., was 29-year-old Sonethavy Phomsouvanhdara. "There is potential that (the liquor store) case is related to the robbery-murder," especially since the suspects in both cases are similar in appearance, homicide Sgt. Lou Cruz said Tuesday He declined to say more, except that the liquor store robber is "certainly someone I would like to talk to." Cruz released surveillance pictures taken of the gunman during the April 20 robbery at Grand Express Liquors, 363 Grand Ave., about a mile from Bangkok Palace. Cruz said the man entered the store through the front door about 9:50 p.m. and demanded money from the r

You know what kills me is the handful of bloggers that seem to "speak" for people in Rockridge and who attack Ron Dellums for not being specific. Many of them -- ah, all of them -- don't even understand Oakland's history, nor have seen it change over 32 years as I have. Moreover, all of them are not black and none of them have been true insiders. They write without a knoweldge of history and an understanding of Oakland's culture. They're blind. Blind to the way Oakland's changed. Blind to the inner-workings of Oakland government. Blind to the unusual crime wave plaguing Lake Merritt and the reasons behind it. Blind to how Oakland works. And yet they blog. Because they do so without knoweldge of their subject, I'll call them "Bloogers" -- a Blooger is a person who writes just for the matter of expressing an opinion, but not sharing new knowelge. Thus, it's no surprise to me that they can't "see" the basic and c

From the Yahoo! Message Board Walk for our communities, our lives We are the Community Coalition Against Crime. We are unsatisfied with the response that city leaders have given to this issue. For instance, the walking officer on Grand Ave ends his/her shift at 8pm – while most crime happens after dark. We believe the City can do more to combat the ongoing violent crime wave in Oakland. We refuse to simply lock our doors at 7pm and live in fear. We will not be quiet until we know our voices have been heard. 7 pm Wednesday, May 17, 2006 Splashpad Park We want to achieve the following: 1) increased awareness about crime 2) building community 3) organizing real, permanent solutions For more information contact us at ccac_Oakland@hotmail.com

This is from the NCPC 15X Yahoo! Group: Lakeshore NCPC Meeting (15X) Wednesday May 17, 2006 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm This event repeats on the third Wednesday of every month. The next reminder for this event will be sent in 3 days, 4 minutes. Event Location: Leaning Tower of Pizza Street: 498 Wesley Ave. City, State, Zip: Oakland, CA 94606 Phone: 510/444-6824

I will not post the name of this person, but that doesn't matter. What does is the complaint. The Oakland Police Department should take action on this. "Out of curiosity, has anyone actually met or observed a police officer who was in the new police substation at the Albertson's in our neighborhood? I have visited four times (morning and afternoon) over the last two weeks in order to introduce myself, but it has been empty. FYI: When I talk to folks in the neighborhood about the empty/ unattended police substation which was seemingly constructed to molify concerned and frightened neighbors and not actually be used, we agree that the criminals who see it know that (thus far) it's a farce and are NOT the least bit intimidated. If there have been a decrease in panhandlers in that parking lot, I'd like to see some written evidence of that, and if there have been potential criminals apprehended by officers who work that station, please give us evidence of such.

This, again, is from the NCPC 14 X Yahoo! Group. Hello Everyone, Below is a summary of Monday's 14X NCPC meeting, for folks who were unable to attend. Those who were present at the Veterans Memorial on Monday know what a huge crowd we had, with over 100 people gathered! The meeting was longer than usual, so forgive the lengthy summary; a lot of ground was covered. And thanks to everyone who attended; we're really moving forward with forming a cohesive Adams Point network. 1) Introductions: Our new Neighborhood Services coordinator [NSC], Hoang Bahn, introduced herself and invited first-time attendees to do the same. New faces included both long-time residents and recent arrivals to Adams Point asking "What can we do to make our neighborhood safer?" Hot-topic issues included robbery, break-ins, loitering, car theft, Golden Bear/ Round Table Pizza noise and traffic safety, Casual Carpool problems, and the Whistle Stop program. NCPC Board Chair Conor Hickey emphasized th

I had to share this post from Nancy Rieser, who's lived in Adams Point for as long as I can remember. This I found in the Yahoo! Group on crime problems in the area. In regards to the Harley Davidsons. I have two feelings when I can't talk on the phone inside my house when a Harley roars up the street outside my window (I live one door up from Grand Avenue: 1. Extreme annoyance 2. Pity Yup. I feel sorry for the guys that need to overcompensate by lookin' macho and calling attention to himself by making intrusive, loud and abnoxious noises. Back in the 60s and 70s, there was a phrase women used to snort when a Hells Angel wannbe roared past, making all normal discourse impossible: "The louder the fool, the shorter the tool..." Maybe a couple of banners could be made with that simple quote printed on them...and hang one from the 580 freeway across from the Kwik Way area and string the second one across Grand Ave near the the Golden Bear. Just a thought.

If you're wondering what place the issue of the possible move of the Oakland A's out of Oakland has in the mind of Oakland Council President and Mayoral Candidate Ignacio De La Fuente, it's bottom-of-the-barrel: "For a politician, De La Fuente, president of the Oakland City Council, is remarkably punctual. Driving like a lunatic from one meeting to the next probably has a lot to do with that. Right now he's returning to City Hall after an hour-long jaw session at the Coliseum with A's owner Lew Wolff, who has been threatening to move the club to Fremont. The 57-year-old politician admits he hasn't spent a lot of time recently thinking about the A's. "I'm busy right now," he says. It's in the just released East Bay Express. Now let's think about this for a moment. Ignacio is not that stupid where he would make a statement like that if he thought it would not hurt him. Well, let me take that back. He can make such a miscalculati

If you've not visited Uptown, it's right next to Sears on Telegraph and on the same side of the street. It's just ok in my book, but a nice place. I think it's missing overstuffed chairs, but it's cool. Here's a review I liked over at "Yelp": "the uptown is probably a little to upscale for me, given that it's the only bar where i've ever been cut off. (it was my fault i got cut off anyway. i wouldn't have given me any more booze, especially after i asked to "trade" those half-drunk jack & cokes for "newer, better" drinks.) however, what's not to like about this place, especially when compared to the bars in downtown oakland that i do frequent (stork, ruby... anyone?). it's clean, shiny, got an excellent space for shows dripping with very ambient lights on strings and a giant patio out back for smoking and loud talking. the bartenders and door people are all sweet as pie. and to boot, it's walking

I've known Roland Smith for over 10 years and going back to my days with The Montclarion. I first met him at the annual Christmas party of a mutual friend. As to the matter of how Roland treats his staff, this has been old news. But I didn't realize it had escalated to this level. Roland needs the staffers, if only to take a look at how the City's spending its money. Embattled auditor sues Oakland Mayor, council named in filing that asks a judge to restore staff By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE OAKLAND — City Auditor Roland Smith has sued the mayor, city administrator and City Council, claiming they improperly stripped his office of the staff needed to effectively execute its duties. Filed Monday in Alameda County Superior Court, the lawsuit asks a judge to order the city to immediately hire three permanent deputy city auditors and to increase the number of positions in the office to nine beginning July 1. "Principles of independence and accoun

Well, the place I have long associated with Berkeley culture and my Cal years is closing. Cody's on Telegraph Avenue. It was just two years ago that Cody's played host to former President Clinton and I came over to pay my respects and hand a letter to one of Clinton's aides about my now late stepfather, who grew up in Hope, Arkansas, the former President's home town. Wow. It's such an institution. It can't be allowed to just fade away. But I guess that's up to Fred Cody, isn't it?

In reading the Yahoo! Message Boards, a constant plug for Yahoo! when I type this, I see a constant pattern of targeting some African American businesses: The Golden Bear and The Seranader, both bars, are mentioned. I've not seen any examples of the kind of crime that has come to plague some downtown Oakland establishments. Rather, some of the people writing on the boards undoubtedly make assumptions about "those people" because they are black, and in the case of the Seranader, have patrons who ride motorcycles. I hope this pattern of racial targeting stops. Having people with different, yet safe habits has historically given texture and vibe to the Lake Merritt culture. There's no reason to try to force some businesses to close under the guise of safety when the real, underlying reason, is skin color. I have several friends -- white -- who regularly go to these establishments and have a great time. There's no reason anyone else who lives in Adams Point can

By Paul T. Rosynsky - STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUNE OAKLAND - City teachers voted for stability Wednesday night, agreeing to a three-year contract that will end free health care but add more than 6 percent to salaries during the next three years. Beating back a last-minute drive by opponents urging teachers to vote against the pact, a definitive majority, 931 to 639, instead said they can live with contract provisions that will have them paying at most $700 per year for health care. ``A lot of time has been taken away from the children already,'' said high school teacher Barbara Castleton. ``If I was teaching to get the last possible dime I could, I wouldn't be teaching.'' Many of the teachers who said they voted in favor of the contract made similar argument as they left the Oakland Scottish Rite Center. Many also said they saw no resolution in sight if the contract had been rejected. ``The alternative is to go back and bargain, which would be too hard, or to go

This is the Lenox Av Abduction Matter Teen charged as an adult in kidnap, rape Second suspect sought in 'vicious' Oakland hills assault of 35-year-old By Harry Harris, STAFF WRITER - OAKLAND TRIBUE OAKLAND — A 17-year-old high school dropout will be prosecuted as an adult in the kidnap-robbery-rape last week of a 35-year-old woman that one investigator called the most brutal assault he has ever seen. A second suspect is being sought. West Oakland resident Clifton Haynes was charged Tuesday with forcible rape, kidnapping to commit robbery, carjacking and three other sex crime counts. Haynes has acknowledged his involvement, authorities said. Authorities could only confirm one prior arrest for Haynes. But Assistant District Attorney Norbert Chu, who filed the charges and made the decision to prosecute Haynes as an adult, said that made no difference. Citing the severity of the crime, Chu said he would have made the same decision had Haynes' record been clean. "This was

Listen to the interview over at Zennie's Zeitgeist.

After a series of crimes in our neighborhood, Adams Point residents are exachanging ideas online. One of the ideas is for a "Whisle Stop" program. According to message board reports, it works like this: "The WhistleStop concept is simple: If you see a crime being committed or you need to call for help, blow your whistle. If you hear a whistle, determine the nature and location of the problem and call 911, then blow your whistle to scare the assailant away and alert the victim and the assailant that the police have been called and help is on the way" It's used in Rockridge, but I don't yet know how well it's worked to this date.

I first met Bea Wong when I was wrting for The Montclarion in 1994. After that, I would run into her on occasion when I visted my friend John Russo's home, as she lived next door (he's moved since then). She's always warm. A very nice person. Outside of my own Mom, I can't think of anyone more deserving...Oh, my Mom doesn't live in Oakland anymore! At long last, recognition with the Mother of all city awards By Hilary Bothma, CORRESPONDENT - Oakland Tribune Oakland's mother of the year, Beatrice Wong, is a volunteer at the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. She will be honored Saturday at the Morcom Rose Garden for her dedication to community causes. (Sean Connelley/staff) OAKLAND — Beatrice Wong does not expect any reward for the thousands of hours of community service she has donated to city causes. With characteristic humor and self-deprecation, she says, "If I were waiting for recognition, I wouldn't be doing this for 40 years, unless I was

A good friend of mine just sent an email to me because he explained his reasons for supporting De La Fuente, and believed my reasons were based only on race -- uh, that he's black and so am I. Well, I'm not going to shy away from that, but my reasons, as befits my character, are far more complex. Here's my response. Hi, It's not just a matter of race. I've worked closely with Ignacio. Too close. As a result, I have a perspective on him that few possess, even of those I know. Ignacio has wanted to be Mayor since 1997. And during this time, he's not worked to build coalitions of people at all. Indeed, he uses his power to try to get what he wants, and to punish his ememies. Period. That's his way. I've been in rooms where he always explains how he's gonna "do or get something -- or someone. I represented Mayor Harris-- and was at one point even more powerful than Ignacio in committee because I understood the rules and how to build coal

This information was just posted on the 14X Yahoo Group. "A juvenile suspect is in custody and has admitted involvement in this terrible crime. Sgt. Paul Bernard was on patrol yesterday in West Oakland. He spotted avehicle matching the one stolen from the victim. Sgt. Bernard conducted a stop to investigate. This eventually led to the arrest of the suspect who was later interviewed by investigator. I am unable to give specific details but this is a significant arrest. I bring you this news with mix emotions due to the nature of this crime. However, the arrest will hopefully bring some peace of mind to the community. Thank you. Lt. Tracey"

This is from the "15X Yahoo Group." It reports the arrest of two men in the "23rd Avenue Corridor" which is not the Lake Merritt area, and more toward Central Oakland. Still, the Lake is just a walk, car drive, or bus ride away and in as little as five minutes. "On 13 Apr at approximately 8:30 pm, Officers Jones and Perrodin were patrolling the 23rd Ave corridor. They spotted Mr. Lonnel Moore and Albert Antone on E21st hanging out. The officers have extensive knowledge of the area (prior contacts / drug hotline) and decided to contact the two to see what they were up to. This ultimately led to the arrest of Mr. Moore who was in possession of a large quantity of narcotics. Another example of the good work by your CRT. It also highlights the importance of your involvement by calling that drug hotline. Congrats and another small win PSA 3! Lt. Ed Tracey" If you need help. This is the person to contact: Hoang Banh Neighborhood Services Coordinator Oakl

Earlier, I reported on an Oakland Tribune article on the abduction of a woman on Lenox Avenue in Adama Point. Here's more information on that crime, again from Tribune wire reports and reported on the Adams Point Yahoo! Message Board. NEW: Woman robbed, raped in Oakland Hills FROM STAFF REPORTS OAKLAND - A 35-year-old woman was robbed Thursday night in Adams Point by two men who then abducted her at gunpoint, drove her car to the Oakland hills and raped her, police said. Investigators stopped a juvenile driving the woman's car in West Oakland Friday afternoon and interviewed him, police said. According to police, the woman was getting out of her car about 7:45 p.m. Thursday on Lenox Avenue when two men confronted her. Police would not say whether the woman lived in the area or was visiting someone. The men took various items from the woman, who then tried to walk away, police said. But the men pointed guns at her, demanded she get into her car with them and drove off. At one p

Again, this is under the watch of two Oakland City Councilmembers who are running for Mayor: Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel, who's our Adams Point (District Three) representative, but nothing's being done about it. City quietly reins in police force's mounted patrol Peggy Stinnett - Oakland Tribune Article Last Updated: 05/06/2006 05:09:27 AM PDT 'Oh, no, not again!" Those anguished words were exactly the ones in my mind when I read the small sign posted on the Oakland Police Department's mounted patrol stables on the shores of Lake Merritt, discreetly tucked behind Children's Fairyland. I read on: "Our Oakland leaders are once again trying to close our mounted units," the sign said. It was undated, so perhaps there was still time for the city to change its collective mind. But it had done the dastardly deed already. Last week, when I visited the old wooden shack where the stables used to be, they were oddly silent and padlocked. The chain

This is from the Adams Point Yahoo! Message Board: Dear Neighbors, The Westlake Community Coalition (what we’re now calling ourselves) made some headway at the Whole Foods pedestrian/cyclist meeting with Council Member Nancy Nadel, CEDA Director Claudia Cappio and Public Works staff on Monday night. MANY THANKS to Nancy Nadel and her staff person Carletta Starks for calling the meeting, ensuring city staff were in attendance and for having already followed up on some commitments (see below). The City’s Pedestrian Coordinator Jason Patton deserves a BIG THANKS, too for identifying solutions to our concerns, rather than questioning whether they are valid. What did the City commit to? - signs directing people to I-580 via 27th rather than Harrison - right turn only out of Whole Foods - signal at Bay Place and Vernon, ped crossing to be timed for slower moving folks - some kind of traffic calming at Lee/Vernon intersection, funding is secured, commun

From SF.Gate.com 05-05) 13:09 PDT OAKLAND - Oakland police are searching for at least two men who kidnapped a woman in her car in the Adams Point area near Lake Merritt, sexually assaulted her and stole her vehicle. The woman's car is a black, four-door 2001 Volkswagen Jetta, California license plate 4NIC969. Anyone who sees the vehicle should call 911, said Oakland Police Sgt. Blair Alexander. The woman was abducted Thursday at 7:45 p.m. on the 300 block of Lenox Avenue and released later in the night at an undisclosed location after she was assaulted and her property was taken, Alexander said. Police would release no further details about the incident. The Adams Point neighborhood is just west of Interstate 580, not far from the Grand Lake district where residents have complained of a recent upswing in crime, including a rash of car break-ins, holdups and muggings, and two fatal shootings in a six-week period.

Some Oaklanders in the more moneyed areas of our fair city think that improving economic development efforts in East and West Oakland will not help solve our overall crime problem. This video on Oakland Liquor stores is a dramatic rebuttal to that idea. Look and listen to its contents. Many of the people who talk on camera tell the producers of the lack of activity in the areas where liquor stores are. "There's nothing to do but hang out at the liquor store," said one person. The scenes of dilapidated buildings in the background in this video also offer proof of the severe level of economic underdevelopment in the areas where liquor stores are located in Oakland. A varied number of people are also questioned on the November 23rd, 2005 attacks on liquor store owners by alledged members of the Nation of Islam. Many understand the anger of the attackers, but don't support the action. One Oaklander said it best: why aren't there liquor stores in Blackhawk? Why

You can't have it both ways -- unless you're the Oakland City Council. According to the report from this unfortunate and sad video by Stephanie Alexander called "My Friend James," on September 7th 2005, the City of Oakland ordered the removal of homeless residents who had established a tent city near Embarcadero and Fifth Avenue (in the area that's planned for the "Oak-To-Ninth" development), and as the City Council was extending a hand of aid to the homeless from New Orleans in the wake of the loss of homes suffered by Hurricane Katrina. So, when Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel talk of compassion for those less fortunate, ask them about James and the homeless city that was destroyed. Here's the video called "My Friend James."

As far as I've experienced the problems faced in Oakland have always stemmed from the simple fact that many kids of color in East Oakland and West Oakland have nothing to do at all. There's no large community center. No "Laser Tag" or indoor game arcade. No large set of basketball courts. No field of baseball diamonds. Nothing. Meanwhile, business owners like Ken Rawlings who was founder of Otis Spunkmier Cookies, attempted to build sports fields for East Oakland but ran up against the constant nightmare of political ego and bureaucratic entanglement that is Oakland's goverment, which controls much of East Oakland in the form of the 7,200 acre Coliseum Redevelopment Area, the largest in the State of California. This problem has grown over a 30-year period of time and while it's reduced somewhat by Oakland's population dynamics, it' has not gone away. Oakland's kids of color have nothing to do because they live in areas that have been underdev

I saw this on the Yahoo Message Board for my neighborhood. That's just plain shocking. We need more than one cop walking the neighborhood at night. Five would be better and between the hours of 7 PM and 1 AM. Where's De La Fuente and Nadel (who's the District 3 Council representative)? A recent poll by CBS Channel Five says she's mostly unknown -- if she jumped into this problem in her district that would change. As to the solution, Adams Pointers need to get out and walk the neighborhood and introduce themselves to each other. We need to form a large, connected ring of people who really know each other. We're targeted by people who don't have jobs, because we do. The economic situation has become that bad. Meanwhile, the City of Oakland needs to get back to helping small businesses in the poorer areas grow, and forget the "big think" development for a while. The only Councilmember who seems to "get it" is District 6's Larry Re

The next regular meeting of the Adams Point group "14 X NCPC" will be held May 8th at 7 PM at the Veterans Building, 200 Grand Av, accross from Lake Merritt and near Kaiser Center. Here's a note about the meetings's objecives: "> Hello Neighbors: > > Please join us next Monday at 7pm for our regular Monthly meeting. > Flyer with details and agenda attached. PLEASE pass on the word, > print and post this flyer on bulletin boards, pass to your friends, > neighbors etc. It is CRITICAL we band together in this unsettling > period of crime > > Past monthly meetings are bringing 60-80 people in one room to > effect change in OUR neighborhood. There is not enough police so it > is simply up to ourselves to band together and be more alert > > Ladi will discuss her Neighborhood Watch experience next Monday. > She had 40 people at her block meeting. This is what we want to > replicate across Adams Point. Awareness and al

This poll produced by CBS TV Channel Five is the latest evidence yet of Ron Dellums massive lead over his challengers Ignacio De La Fuente and Nancy Nadel. De La Fuente has more people who view him unfavorably than favorably in this poll; on Nancy Nadel, a large number of Oaklanders report they know nothing about her. This also flies in the face of the SF Chronicle's flight of fancy in ignoring the hard facts that lead 8,000 Oaklanders to draft Ron Dellums to run for mayor. The SF Chronicle was clearly out of touch and makes me wonder if they really WERE smoking crack. Hmmm.... Here are the poll results; the link to the webpage containing the results is in the title of this post. CBS 5 Poll: Dellums Favored For Oakland Mayor (CBS 5) OAKLAND Results of a Survey USA Poll commissioned by CBS 5 KPIX from 4/22-4/23/06 among 516 Oakland registered voters about the city's mayoral candidates. The poll has a margin of error of roughly 4%. Is your opinion of Ronald Dellums favorable,

This meeeting was held by District Two Councilmember Pat Kernigan and District Three Councilmember Nancy Nadel's name isn't associated with it, yet the problem's in District Three. I guess Nancy's too busy running for mayor. She can balance the two, the people need her. She shouldn't worry about what they may think; just take action. Grand Lake residents demand action Recent slayings send area into rage over crime By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER, OAKLAND TRIBUNE Inside Bay Area OAKLAND — Anger, frustration and fear boiled over Thursday night as Grand Lake residents demanded city leaders get a handle on the violence that has claimed two lives in their community in recent months. At a forum hosted by Councilmember Patricia Kernighan, the standing-room-only crowd agreed that the slaying of Sonethavy Phomsouvanhdara, 29, while he worked at Bangkok Palace on Monday night was the final straw. "We've never seen anything like this," said Ken Katz, who h

If you live in an area bounded by Grand Avenue, Mac Arthur Blvd, Harrison, and Oakland Avenue, you're in "Adams Point." Now I don't know why it's called that, but I do know it consists of about 32,000 people. There's a Yahoo Group I encourage you to join, if only to keep up with the problems and crime matters of the area. To see it, just click on the title of this post.

Well, I leave the city for one glorious working trip to New York for the NFL Draft and then to Atlanta for Mom, only to find the San Francisco Chronicle up to its own common, and not-well-disguised crack-smoking habits (read, "We don't want a black mayor"...Puff..."Pass that bong!") that wandered their way into an endorsement taken seriously only because of the size of the newspaper. The Chronicle, in the form of John Diaz as editorial page editor and Chip Johnson, who I easily best at Madden NFL 2000-whatever, backed the wrong horse for the wrong set of reasons. For Chip, the reason is simple: he doesn't want to lose his meal-ticket source of news and fodder for his columns. He knows this and knows I know this. Chip's not blind to the fact that Ron Dellums was drafted to run for mayor by 8,000 totally pissed off Oaklanders, mostly black. Chip's black, but -- as one who's seen this side of him in action -- seems to delight more in the kind of