Our Opinions

Handling The Deer Roadkill

For the past day, there’s been deer roadkill lying on Thornhill Road.  You can’t miss this deceased doe lying on the north side of the road, before Merriewood.  When alive, the doe probably looked really adorable like these grazers.

Who is responsible for removing the roadkill in Oakland?  Maybe that city worker is waiting for other wildlife to clean out the innards and make the pick-up easier.  (Just kidding.)

Someone placed an orange cone next to the deer, presumably to prevent drivers from running over it again.  Meanwhile, Bambi awaits her final burial.

This roadkill is a perfect example of our nature-city interface.  In most places with wildlife, the removals are rather prompt.  Having lived in the Rockies, I can vouch for this fact.

I’m going to assume that the Labor Day weekend is to blame, and the regularly assigned city worker is off-duty now.  However the remains can get pretty disgusting quickly, especially in the heat of the day.

We’re all used to seeing deer frolicking around Montclair, and they become even more visible at dusk and evening hours.  They seem to bound across roads at the last minute, often requiring you to slam the car brakes.

It’s a wonder that we don’t have constant roadkill around Montclair – but need to deal with them a little more quickly.

Oakland Wins On Restaurant Heists

Check out this robbery map from the San Francisco Chronicle.   You can locate some 22 restaurant heists throughout the Bay Area this year, and read specific details about each one.

Oakland is disproportionately represented, which is a bit humiliating.  There were 15 hold-ups in Oakland, including one at Cybelle’s in Montclair.

Although the newest handful of robberies hit up patrons as well as restaurant tills, there’s really no reason to curtail visits to your favorite dining spots.  Clearing of the throat:  “All we have to fear is fear itself.”

As a percentage of all restaurants, these hits are a rounding error.  I recognize we’re experiencing a new crime that’s particularly depressing, but it’s a little like getting struck by lightning.

Still, you have to wonder why most of these robberies are around here.  I’ll attribute this to copy-catting but want to know your theories!

Donate Work Duds To Job Seekers

Here’s a simple and practical way to help others:  donate your unused work duds to Oaklanders who need them for job interviews.

Just take a look in your closet for old work suits, shirts, skirts and office-appropriate accessories.  Clothes should be in relatively conservative styles, and in ready-to-wear condition.

It’s easy for Montclarions to help.  Wardrobe for Opportunity accepts clothing donations at Bank of the West (map):  Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm; Friday from 9am-6pm; or Saturday from 9am-1pm.

Have a bit more time?

Wardrobe For Opportunity helps low-income people visiting their outlets in Oakland and Concord.  They welcome volunteers to assist these job seekers with personal shopping, as well as behind-the-scenes.

Another Oakland group, CEO Women, doesn’t need your clothing but would like volunteers too.  They help low-income, female immigrants set up their own businesses.

Founder Farhana Huq created CEO Women “to address the unique needs of immigrant and refugee women struggling to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society.”

Both Oakland non-profits are successful operations, and make a difference throught their grassroots efforts.  They welcome hands-on and financial assistance, so pay it forward.

Depressing Robbery On Piedmont Ave.

There’s a depressing, new-style robbery that seems to be sweeping up the hills.  Now the thieves hold up a restaurant or bar and all its patrons too.  After all, why not get as much money as possible to pay the bills?!

The Tribune reported armed bandits hitting the venerable Kerry House last night, located on Piedmont Avenue (map).  This robbery took place at 1:40am, when most businesses are closed – so it’s possible that quiet streets made these bandits more courageous.

Piedmont Avenue is a very popular and one-of-a-kind shopping district.  Oakland’s desperate thieves are starting to follow the money and are no dummies.  If they succeed, there will surely be copycat thefts elsewhere on Piedmont too.

The local police “on the beat” probably should be walking the streets while any restaurants or bars are open, including peak or wee hours.  Maybe that will be enough to avert a crime wave during the heat of summer.

That Undesired Traffic Light

Yesterday, Oakland City Council members green-lighted a Public Works department request to study La Salle / Mountain traffic.  Public Works can now apply for $100k in grants, which helps them assess the installation of a traffic light – one that’s undesired by locals.
Apparently the Public Works momentum won’t be derailed.  They noticed a few accidents and decided a traffic light was a priority to improve public safety.  Back in March, they held a hearing which covered the Montclair intersection.  Although support wasn’t clear, they moved forward through a City Council subcommittee yesterday.
Based on my chats around town, there seem to be many Montclarions opposed to the light and virtually none who think it’s a good idea.  Some villagers even showed up to protest Public Works’ efforts yesterday, including Derek Liecty, Jim Dexter and Claudia Falconer.
City Council members also agreed the traffic light isn’t necessary and yet authorized grant applications anyway.  According to Claudia Falconer, “Of the three Council members present, two stated outright that it seemed wasteful to place a signal in a neighborhood where most people didn’t want it, and the third suggested other intersections that might need it more.”
In the Montclarion (paid access), Michael Gourhan had framed the Montclair problem differently:  “So how do you reduce the number of people relying on Montclair as a stop on the way home?”  He suggested reductions by placing key services on Thornhill or outside downtown.
Meanwhile, there are efforts underway to beautify the Village and make it more walkable.  The Montclair Village Association (MVA) has arranged for a landscape architect to draft and develop changes now.  After getting inputs from citizens, MVA doesn’t recommend any radical changes but does support more amenities in the next year.
Thus, installing a traffic light should not be considered on an independent or isolated track.  Everyone’s intentions are good, but forging ahead doesn’t make good sense.