Local Events

MOBN Announces 90-Day Plan And General Assembly

We’re pleased to publish a guest post from Bruce Nye, our concerned neighbor who initiated Make Oakland Better Now!   This grassroots, city-wide effort seeks to “shine a light on mayoral and city council candidates’ positions” in the coming year.  Take it away, Bruce…

Make Oakland Better Now! Announces Its 90-Day Plan And February 21, 2010 General Assembly

by Bruce Nye

Last August, more than 100 Oaklanders met at St. Theresa’s Church to form Make Oakland Better Now!, a grassroots issues and advocacy organization devoted to improving public safety, public works, transparency and accountability in the City of Oakland.

Make Oakland Better Now! was formed by Oakland residents, many of whom hadn’t been activists for a long time and many of whom admitted they hadn’t paid as much attention to Oakland politics as they should have.  But they believed Oakland was a wonderful city that urgently needed to change.  And they were determined to build an organization that would be a force in these three critical areas in the 2010 mayor’s race and beyond.  More specifically, Make Oakland Better Now! is determined to shine a light on mayoral and city council candidates’ positions in these three areas and to monitor improvement after the election.

At our kick-off meeting and in the months afterward, Make Oakland Better Now! assembled a leadership group determined to move this city forward.  This group has been asking questions, listening, reading and developing a sense of Oakland’s recent political history.  They’ve met with this city’s opinion leaders, city officials and knowledgeable people outside of government, trying to cast as wide a net as they can.  The process isn’t over yet, and will, we anticipate, be an ongoing one.  But we are finally ready to move.

The most important thing for you to know right now is this:  our next general assembly will be on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars now, and do everything you can to hold the date.  This will be the meeting when our membership adopts positions and sets priorities in the three areas most important to Oakland:  public safety; government transparency/accountability; and public works.  We are working on selecting a centrally located, easily accessible venue, and will be announcing the “where” information very soon.

The leaders of the three committees are in the process of finishing a list of proposed MOBNow! positions and priorities in their areas of interest. That process will be finished by December 28th.  In January, each committee will hold a study group meeting and a committee meeting; we’ll also be announcing the dates, times and places for those meetings before year’s end.  At the study group meetings, we’ll have experts prepared to answer the committee’s questions.  At the committee meeting, we’ll make the final decision on the positions and priorities to recommend to the general assembly.

The next ninety days are going to be important, busy and exciting.  We need as many folks as possible to pitch in and help.  If you’d like to be more involved in any of the three areas (public safety, government transparency/accountability or public works), or in support (events, outreach, publicity, etc.), then e-mail: Oaklanders@makeoaklandbetternow.org.  And there’s always more information available at www.makeoaklandbetternow.org.  Please join us – Oakland needs you.

This guest post from Bruce Nye, one of the founders of Make Oakland Better Now! has been cross-posted at A Better Oakland, our city’s government and politics blog of record.

December 4th Update:  Positions are now getting posted at MOBN! and Oakland Local, and your comments are most welcome there.  (To commune with Montclarions, you may join our social network anytime.)

Jazz Giving Oaklanders Hope

We weren’t sure what to expect at the “Celtic to Coltrane” performance yesterday, and left the Malonga Casquelourd Center filled with pride about the local jazz scene.  It was such an upper!

The hostess and organizer, Destiny, decided to celebrate her birthday in grand style.  During the concert, she invited a parade of musicians to the stage and encouraged them all.  Meanwhile, the audience bowed at the Church of Coltrane’s altar.

Oakland's Church Of Coltrane

The Players ranged from talented unknowns to old hands.  Destiny kicked things off with her harp and soulful singing, and was later joined by her Strings of a Nubian Groove.  Nona Brown, who’s backed Patti LaBelle, played piano and sang with Destiny.  D’Wayne Wiggins also played a little guitar – one day Alicia Keyes, the next in our ‘hood.

The Kids were the real stars yesterday, performing as part of Oaktown Jazz.  Under the tutelage of trumpeter Khalil Shaheed, we heard a 10-year-old crooning, a couple 12-year-olds on flute and piano, two saxophonists, a bass player and an amazing drummer.  The future brought big grins to everyone there.

The Church of Coltrane wrapped up the concert, with a little preaching and benediction by Pastor Wanika Stevens.  He gave thanks to John Will-I-Am Coltrane and the spirit of jazz, while we all chanted A Love Supreme together.  Just a typical, spiritual Sunday afternoon in Oakland!

What To Ask Chief Batts, Hills Edition

As Oakland Police Chief Tony Batts continues his inaugural Tour de Oakland, he plans to make a pit-stop in the hills.  He’s scheduled a Montera Middle School (555 Ascot Drive, map) appearance this Thursday, with refreshments at 6:30pm and the meeting at 7:00pm.

At this introductory event, you’ll have an opportunity to hear him live – and should have time to bring up your safety concerns too.  Although you might ask about the “same old stuff,” remember that Montclair and Oakland Hills matters are new for Batts.  Questions about burglaries and thefts bear repeating!

Welcome Oakland Police Dept

Everyone’s already learned what Chief Batts achieved in Long Beach, to reduce crime levels.  Recently a Long Beacher also described Batts as a fearless leader, and here’s a snippet:

Having worked for Chief Batts, I can say that if anyone is interested in being an agent of change in the City of Oakland, then you have finally found a true ally.  He will make you take a stand, get involved or get out of the way and he shares power willingly.

The downside is, most people are afraid to admit they are afraid to change, being comfortable with the status quo and in all likelihood will find a less sympathetic ear for doing nothing.

The first 6-12 months with the Chief are NO JOKE.  He will look for those who want to lead from the front, take appropriate risks and do the face to face thing with everyday people as well as the so called ‘leaders.’

[He’s] a guy who acknowledged that you can’t arrest your way out of every situation.   I can say that Chief Batts will not fail Oakland and, with any effort at all, Oakland won’t fail him.

Tony Batts is not a messiah, but at least we can expect changes…and that’s a good thing.  We have heard all kinds of positive rhetoric, but are looking forward to additional responsiveness and support by Oakland Police.

Montclair Halloween’s Award Winners

Montclarions showed up in droves for today’s Halloween Parade, and were decked out in their finest costumes.  After reviewing all the photos we snapped this afternoon, it’s time to reveal our award winners – including people and pooches.  We hope you enjoy them.

The People

First, we noticed the one-of-a-kind paraders.  This little girl caught our eye several times, as she’s dressed as a cute and colorful flower-child here.  Isn’t she sweet?

Halloween 2009 - Mom and Daughter

Next, these medieval jousters looked ready to go forth and protect the castle.  We watched them sticking together the whole time, and they were a matched pair time-traveling from the Middle Ages.

Halloween 2009 - Jouster Kids

The Pooches

This dog-angel was very energetic and having a very good time, waiting for the parade to begin.  We tried to get her to pose, but realized a more natural photo op was best to share with you.

Halloween 2009 - Angelic Dog

Another pooch, complete with prison garb, really made  me laugh!  Prisoner Number K9 was happily strolling around the Village and inspecting things after the parade was over.

Halloween 2009 - Prison Dog

The Mixed Family

You know that families resemble their pooches, and vice-versa.  Here’s a group of bees, including a mother, son and dog.  Among all the parade attendees, this was the only mixed family to dress completely alike – and they looked great together.

Halloween 2009 - Bee Family

So those are my award winners from this afternoon.  There was an Elvis, a peacock, three Dorothy’s, and too many princesses and firemen to keep count.  We also noticed creepier folks like ghosts, witches and other ghoulish types walking in the light of day.

Mostly we saw many excited kids, who were simply thrilled to be parading and trick-or-treating their way through the Village.  We know tomorrow is the real Halloween, so have a great day!

More info:  Click to read about Montclair Halloween’s VIP Paraders.

Montclair Halloween’s VIP Paraders

Montclair Village celebrated Halloween in fine form today.  With great weather to lure crowds, our small-town parade went off without a hitch.  The parade route began near the Lucky’s Market, proceeding down Mountain, LaSalle, Moraga and into Montclair Park.

Our local VIPs kicked off the parade this afternoon, and we were able to capture all of them.  We felt almost like those TV entertainment reporters, capturing the movers and shakers.  Here’s some photographic proof.

Halloween 2009 - Council Rep Quan

District 4 Council Rep Jean Quan – Pictured above, Jean Quan was handing out California poppy seeds to the awaiting parents and kids who had queued up to parade.  (We nabbed a couple packets at an earlier Farmers Market, though never planted our orange beauties.)  A little while later, Quan kicked off the parade itself.

Halloween 2009 - Dog Mayor

Montclair Mayor Little Bear – Next we see Little Bear, the elected leader serving Montclair District, as the lead pooch drove by.  Several other canine leaders appeared in the next car, including the vice mayor, deputy dog and other cabinet officials.  We eventually met up with Little Bear in person, who was busy reviewing local trees.

Halloween 2009 - Horses Parade

Wells Fargo Horses – What’s a Western parade without some equine presence?  We see the lead horse, followed by four handsome steeds (we think) pulling the old-fashioned Wells carriage.  Our neighbor used to run a stable near Redwood Regional Park, and he told us they used to ride their horses during earlier Halloween parades.

Halloween 2009 - Band Marches

Skyline High School Band – It’s Halloween, so our local high school band came dressed as ghosts and other ghoulish characters.  They performed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which is de rigueur this year.  Here you see the band completing their march down Mountain, as our Oakland policeman looks at what’s next.

Halloween 2009 - Fire Truck

Oakland Fire Truck – We love this close-up of a shiny truck driving down the parade route, as we bowed and gave thanks to these first responders.  After the parade, we chatted with the firemen and asked who had performed the Miss America wave so well.  One fessed up but clarified that we got it wrong – he was doing the Queen Elizabeth version.

Not pictured here? The hundreds of parents and kids who followed these VIP paraders.  Everyone sauntered down the Lions Club parade route, stopping frequently for candy offered by many shop-keepers.  Eventually, the paraders made it to Montclair Park safely – and the 2009 edition of Montclair’s Halloween Eve entered the history books.

More info:  Click to read about Montclair Halloween’s Award Winners.