Just The News

Oakland Election Not Even Close

That Oakland Special Election was over quickly!  All four measures passed last night, which means that the City of Oakland has a few more million at hand – money the city fathers and mothers already figured would be voted into our coffers.

Of course, the taxing of medical marijuana is making the news because it’s the first time any city will directly tax weed.  Here’s an early TV report on that measure, approved by 80 percent of the voters.  It won’t solve Oakland’s budget gap, but it should ease the pain.

CBS5 - Pot Tax

Remember there were four separate measures included in this Oakland election – so let’s recap what voters overwhelmingly approved and did:

  • Measure C – 77% – Let our hotel visitors chip in and help pay for the zoo, museum and observatory
  • Measure D – 72% – Fixed things from November election, when we spent too much on kids funding
  • Measure F – 80% – Declared reefer madness is officially dead, with our first tax of medical cannabis
  • Measure H – 75% – Ensured better sleep, knowing that corporations pay transfer taxes when sold

Apparently many of you didn’t bother with this special mail-in election.  Less than a third of Oaklanders who voted in the November prexy election turned out.  According to the Chronicle, about 23 percent of registered voters cast ballots versus 80 percent in November.  Were you part of the silent majority?

Hella Hot, Hella Hot!

Oakland’s always perfect, when it comes to weather.  However today we are watching everyone wilt and complain, due to our elevated temps.  In true Oakland fashion, folks are twittering “hella hot, hella hot” quite madly!  It almost sounds like a communal choir out there:

Hella hot in oakland – Hot in Oakland! – is it hella hot in oakland right now – its @##$% hot in oakland double u tee eff lol – is it me or is it hella hot in Oakland today wtf? – DAMN hot summer days in oakland i got caught in a water fight – Why Oakland Hella Hot? Damn! – hoT dAYy iN OaklanD – hot in oakland

Yes, we’re restless and panting along with our dogs today.   At least some clouds are coming into view, so this heat spell should not last forever.

Oakland Weather - July 18, 2009

What’s the weather now?  Our micro weather stations are registering very hot numbers and zero winds to boot.  Usually the hills provide relief from the flatter areas, but today it seems like an inverted situation.

On Indian Way, the temperature is close to 90 degrees right now.  At Skyline and Snake, it’s over 87 degrees.  You get the picture when you step outside.  It’s not much better anywhere else, so just get a little soda, beer, or ice cream… and chill out.

Montclair Library Returns, Needs Help

Montclarions are pretty relieved to have the Montclair Library reopened and thriving again.  We decided to check in with Leon Cho, Montclair branch librarian, and hear how things are going.

“We had a very busy opening day, with about a 25% increase in circulation over what we do on a regular Monday,” said Cho.  “People were really glad to have us back, which was really gratifying.”

Montclair Library

Kids Have Returned

We think parents are celebrating, actually.  Everyone missed the place, which was closed from late March through early July for mold abatement.  That’s a long time to keep your kids away from their library, and traveling to nearby branches was not cutting it.

Librarian Cho reported that children have returned in “full force” to the branch.  Story time has resumed on Thursdays at 10:30am, with stories, songs and fingerplays for pre-schoolers.  For all kids, there’s a Summer Reading program and they are being encouraged to read for fun.

As part of Summer Reading, Drummm (yes, three m’s) will appear this Wednesday, at 10:30am.  These performers plan to make plenty of loud noises at the library, through their group drumming, African percussion demos and rhythm connections.

Budget Cuts Hit Montclair Library

Like all things Oakland, Montclair has been impacted by budget cuts and staff shortages – notably the children’s librarian position.  Unfortunately the second weekly story time, especially for toddlers, has been scrapped for now.  You may take your tiny tikes to the Rockridge branch (map) on Saturdays, at 10:30am.

As part of your civic duty, come support the Montclair Library!  This Saturday, the  Friends of Montclair Library are holding a grand Re-opening Party from 11am-3pm.  The party features a short welcoming ceremony at 11am, light refreshments and a bargain-basement book sale.  All proceeds help our library directly.

Of course, sweat-of-the-brow volunteers are also welcomed at the library.  There are a lot of things that need to get done, so please reach Librarian Cho about openings for adult and youth anytime.

More info:  Montclair Library is located at 1687 Mountain Blvd (map).  It’s opened daily except Sundays.  Hours are Mon from 12:30pm-8:00pm; Tues, Wed, Thurs and Sat from 10:00am-5:30pm; and Fri from 12:00pm-5:30pm.  Branch Manager Leon Cho may be reached by emailing lcho@oaklandlibrary.org or calling (510) 482-7810.

Depressing Search For Skyline’s Principal

Are you familiar with Skyline High?  That school where principals only last around a year?  It’s kind of depressing to report that no one wants the job at this point.

The Tribune’s Katy Murphy recently confirmed the latest selection, Lauren Klaffky, decided against taking the post.  We’ll never know her exact reasons but that’s water under the bridge.  The Skyline search committee will need to soldier on.

Skyline High

We’re wondering how this leadership gap affects the morale of teachers and students.  If history repeats itself, then Skyline students are going to feel some pain.  When the 2006 school year began without a principal, it wasn’t pretty.  “It’s like nobody knows anything, basically,” said one 16-year-old student.

Two other principals followed since then, including the firing of the last one.  That means the Class of 2010 students, by graduation, will have welcomed four different leaders and learned the meaning of fungible:

    fun-gi-ble: (adjective) – being of such nature or kind as to be freely exchangeable or replaceable, in whole or in part, for another of like nature or kind.

The teachers aren’t saying much, but at least one reacted to the search with equanimity:  “There are some big shifts happening at the school next year and maybe it’s better if teachers have to shoulder the responsibility to make sure they come off.  Certainly, waiting for a savior is not a good strategy for improving such a large, complex institution.”

Skyline has over 2,000 students and is the only public secondary school sitting in the Oakland Hills.  Maybe we could rally and figure this one out.  Kind of embarrassing, huh?

No Firecrackers, No Fires

Come the end of July Fourth weekend, we hope there will be no fires.  It’s a bit more futile to expect zero firecrackers around the city streets, but we can hope for the best.  Keep in mind that fireworks are illegal, and Oakland’s Finest are trying hard to make this very clear.

Both cops and firefighters are relying on citizen scoops to make neighborhoods safe over the the next few days.  If you see anyone with the contraband, then call this anonymous fireworks hotline:  (510) 238-2373.

Fireworks Hotline

Right now it’s Christmas in July for the illegal fireworks sellers, and Oakland cops are already hard at work.  Gabriel Bueno Sr. was busted earlier this week, with over a ton of this contraband “believed to be the largest cache of fireworks ever seized in Oakland.”

On July 4th itself, the City of Oakland will activate their Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).  In a recent call for HAM radio operators and supporters, Montclarion Doug Mosher said volunteers provide additional eyes and ears about “illegal fireworks activities and potential or actual wildfire situations.”

While not quite vigilantism, anyone living around Joaquin Miller Park is also encouraged to keep a watchful eye for cars parked at the perimeter after hours.  Please call the cops if you see anything that’s out of line.  Apparently local kids like to hang out and build bonfires all summer long, which is incredibly dumb.

Beyond Joaquin Miller, things have been fairly quiet in the Oakland Hills like last summer – so keep your fingers crossed for a repeat performance.