Temescal News & Views

ThE VOIcE Of nOrTh OaklanDs TEMEscal nEIghBOrhOOD January/february 2012

Plans underway to restore claremont DMV creekside area

Published bimonthly by Temescal Neighbors Together (TNT)
Our MIssIOn

TNT seeks to enhance the quality of life in our diverse community through revitalization of our homes, business, schools, and public services by providing an ongoing forum for community education, interaction, and empowerment.
EDITOrIal POlIcy

TN&V publishes submissions from community members. We do not fact-check, although we correct inaccuracies when we find them. We strive to achieve an unbiased tone and may edit articles accordingly, but ultimately TN&V reflects the point of view of the authors and not that of the editors. Please email submissions to: temescalnewsandviews@gmail.com. Editor: Dana Hull Layout: Lasell Whipple Copy Editor: Phoebe Weiss Distribution: Tomi Kobara Advisors: Viki Maxwell, Jeff Norman Printing: Piedmont Copy

any Temescal residents were startled when 14 trees and several native plant shrubs were cut down in the Department of Motor Vehicles parking lots at Claremont, Cavour and Miles Avenues this summer. The area, home to the Temescal Farmers Market on Sundays, is enormously popular, and the tree felling and bush pruning drew a flurry of concerned phone calls and e-mails from DMV neighbors, Farmers Market patrons and FROG Park users who expressed their concerns to Councilmember Jane Brunner, Assembly Member Nancy Skinner, and the DMV. Now plans are underway to restore the area. Councilmember Jane Brunner convened a community meeting on November 30th at the Rockridge Library to discuss preferences for the restoration of the creekside area at the Claremont DMV. More than 35 people attended the meeting, and 114 people responded to the online survey. Councilmember Brunner; Elinor

Buchen, staff aide to Councilmember Brunner; Mark Chekal-Bain, District Director of Assembly Member Nancy Skinner; and John Hanson, Facilities Director of the DMV, attended the meeting, along with other city and DMV staff. Councilmember Brunner and Elinor Buchen led a discussion on the restoration of the area, using drawings provided by FROG of the area as it was before the tree removal. After much discussion, the following consensus priorities emerged: 1. Replanting of trees and shrubberies with native plants appropriate to the current uses. 2. Boulders and/or tree stump amenities (which may be used for seating), buried or on concrete pads to avoid migration. 3. An additional pathway to connect the Frog Park pathway to the Farmers Market, as a more formal entry, to protect the new plantings and increase safety during the market hours. The preferred tree species for planting, of
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TN&V Now Available at Local Businesses and Institutions

Temescal News & Views is no longer being delivered door-to-door. But dont despair! Online versions of Temescal News & Views are available on local websites such as the Temescal Telegraph BID and active community listservs such as the Temescal Neighborhood yahoo group. (http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/TemescalNeigbhorhood/). If youd like to get an e-version, email your contact info to temescalnewsandviews@gmail.com. Please write subscribe in the subject line; your information will not be shared, published or sold. Hard copies of the newsletter will still be available! Pick up your copy at the following businesses and institutions, strategically located throughout the neighborhood: Asmara Restaurant, 5020 Telegraph Faith Presbyterian Church, 49th & Webster Alems Coffee, 5353 Claremont Jumpn Java, 6606 Shattuck Mamas Royal Caf, 4012 Broadway Manifesto Bicycles, 421 40th St. Mariposa Bakeshop & Cafe, 5427 Telegraph Mixing Bowl, 4920 Telegraph PetVet PetFood, 4814 Broadway Remedy Coffee, 4316 Telegraph Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Temescal Branch Library, 5205 Telegraph Temescal Pool, 371 45th St. The newsletter comes out six times a year. The deadline for the March/April issue is Friday, Feb. 10. Were always in need of writers! Send story ideas and calendar items to temescalnewsandviews@gmail.com. Thanks so much for your support! Newsletter Committee members Dana Hull, Jeff Norman, Tomi Kobara and Viki Maxwell

Thank You!
This issue of Temescal News & Views has been generously funded by
The Temescal/Telegraph Business Improvement District (BID)

January - fEBruary 2012

The Front Porch: sepeedah Zabala Interviews lee Edwards

Have you ever been to a Temescal Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) meeting? If so, you will easily recognize Lee Edwards. Lee, 63, was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Palo Alto. He attended the University of California Santa Barbara and ultimately settled in the East Bay. He has lived in his home on 50th Street since 1989. For several years, Lee has beenorganizing our neighborhoods NCPC meetings, usually held at the Faith Presbyterian Church at 49th and Webster. He has close connections with the Oakland Police Department and has been the Go-To Guy for many Temescal residents with crime and public safety issues. Whether its been pulling out the public phone booths at 40th and Telegraph or shutting down Mullins Liquor Store on 40th and Broadway, Lee doesnt mess around when it comes tomaking Temescal safer for everyone! Temescals Police Beat is 12X, and the boundaries are 40th to 51st Streets and Broadway to Highway 24. Lee keeps careful track of crime statistics from the OPD website and has been pleased to see that Temescal, in general, has one of the lower crime rates in north Oakland. In recent months, attendance at the NCPC meeting has been sparse, and the OPD has recommended that Temescal merge with a neighboring beat. Curious and ambitious, Lee conducted a community survey to find out what local residents really want the NCPC to focus on. Lee took their responses to heart and plans to organize upcoming meetings around specific neighborhood topics besides crime. The January 18th meeting will focus on community gardens in vacant lots. In November, Lee organized a forum featuring principals from the five schools within Temescal: Oakland Tech, Bay Area Technology Charter School, Emerson Elementary, Park Day and International High School. The forum drew over 30 people, who learned that 3,000 students attend school in the neighborhood every day. Lees passion for creating a safe neighborhood for Oaklands youth is at the root of all of his incredible activism.
sZ: What do you like about living in Temescal and why? lE: I was working in San Francisco when I moved here and liked the convenient commute. 50th Street is discontinuous so you get a real sense of neighborhood. We have block parties and look out for each other, paying attention to whats going on. Even something like a strange pickup truck parked in a driveway can catch the attention of neighbors here. Temescal

Its not just one person, but many people getting involved and caring enough to do something that builds a thriving neighborhood community.
has an incredibly intelligent population, highly educated with an amazing mix of immigrants. It is not uncommon to hear three different languages outside an open door. sZ: Why do you think the neighborhood is the way it is? lE: Temescal has a great foundation. When I first moved here, there were a lot of old time families who had lived in the neighborhood for fifty years or more. There was a real sense of this is our street and a shared history with deep roots. There was an understanding that this was a center of immigrants, particularly Catholics, and new neighbors picked it up. sZ: What would you change about the neighborhood if you could? Why?

District (BID) has done a great job improving Telegraph Avenue, and it would be great if we could improve upon areas on Broadway and continue the work thats been started on 40th Street. Rick Mead worked on the median project on 40th Street and businesses eventually moved in, including Pacific Ring Sports, the popular kickboxing studio, and Homeroom, the mac and cheese restaurant. Thats good to see. sZ: What got you so involved with crime issues and the NCPC? lE: We are in tough economic times and thankless as it may be, we, the citizens of Oakland, need to supplement the services we are no longer getting from the City. Sometimes only three people come to the NCPC meeting and the Oakland Police Department has recommended we merge with Rockridge. Maybe thats what well have to do eventually. On the other hand, we could begin to use social media more effectively. sZ: You learned from the community survey that people want a better sense of community. How do we build that? lE: People need to do stuff. Its not just one person, but many people getting involved and caring enough to do something that builds a thriving neighborhood community. Our January meeting is going to focus on community gardens. There are four vacant lots in Temescal: two on 51st, one on Lawton and one on Telegraph, next to Hoopers Chocolates. Im trying to get in touch with the landlords to see if we could possibly turn them into community gardens. u

lE: The Temescal Business Improvement

Editors note: The next NCPC meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 pm at Faith Presbyterian Church, 49th and Webster. The Oakland Police Officer assigned as Temescals PSO, or Problem Solving Officer, is Maureen Vergara. She can be reached at mvergara@ oaklandnet.com. To contact the OPD from a cell phone, call 777-3211.

TEMEscal nEws & VIEws

save lawton avenue: residents concerned about Proposed Development

emescal residents who live near Emerson Elementary School are banding together against a developers proposed plan to build two large three-story houses at 4812 Lawton Avenue, in the middle of a block of century-old 900 square feet bungalows. The proposed buildings one at 1,757 square feet and the other 1,780 square feet - would be twice the height and nearly double the lot coverage of adjacent houses, setting a dangerous precedent for the entire neighborhood. Neighbors welcome the new construction on the empty lot, but argue that developer Tom Anthonys plans for the narrow 34-foot lot are completely out of scale with the surrounding single-story bungalows and their lovely open gardens. Nine out of ten neighboring homes on Lawton, and more than three-quarters of the houses surrounding Emerson Elementary School, are bungalows. Neighbors are concerned that the two proposed three-story buildings would take sunlight and privacy away from adjacent properties, particularly from 4814 Lawton, where they would cast deep shadows across the living areas and garden of nearly the entire property. Through this new construction, the

developer effectively takes away value from the neighboring properties and transfers it to himself. There are clearly other ways of developing this property to achieve the same or higher density without taking light, privacy, and ultimately property value away from neighbors. Temescal locals may remember the late Jeanette Sherwin, a neighborhood

The developer effectively takes away value from the neighboring properties and transfers it to himself.
activist whose tireless work twenty years ago helped to protect this very same lot from another out-of-scale proposal. At that time, the Citys Planning Commission unanimously rejected plans for a two-story building, declaring the proposal massively out of scale with the rest of the neighborhood, which is predominately one-story bungalows. The Commission eventually gave approval for

a one-story building stipulating that it must not include a habitable attic or otherwise be taller than a one story building. Partly thanks to Jeanettes work, the zoning has since been strengthened to prevent exactly this type of large development on such a small lot. The City will demand some design changes to reduce bulk, but officials have made it clear that their strict observance of zoning very much depends on public interest. Indeed, we know from Jeanettes work that it takes a lot of community engagement to show the City that people care, and your neighbors on Lawton Avenue need your help. Please write to Oakland City Councilmember Jane Brunner and City Zoning Manager Scott Miller. Tell them that any new buildings at 4812 Lawton should be single-story, as was previously decided by the City Planning Commission. For up-to-date information, write to info@SaveLawton.org or visit http://www. savelawton.org/. You can read more about the proposed application at http://www2. oaklandnet.com/oakca/groups/ceda/ documents/agenda/oak032011.pdf. u
David Bruckmann

a ride for a reason: May 12, 2012

ow in its fourth year, Ride for a Reason is a bike ride from Oakland to the State Capitol to draw attention to the budget crisis for public schools in California, and to raise essential funds for school enrichment programs in Oakland. California now funds its schools at 25% below the national average, and has the largest average class sizes in the nation (California Budget Project, 2011; www. cbp.org). We can and must do better. We need your help to register 200 riders and raise $60,000. The funds will be split evenly between Emerson Elementary, Claremont Middle, Oakland

Technical High, and Oakland International High. Join us on May 12th for fully supported 45-, 60-, and 100-mile rides to the State Capitol; transportation home is available. The 45-mile ride is ideal for families and children. All riders are encouraged to raise $250 or more in donations to help us achieve our fundraising goal. To register, volunteer, or donate, go to: www.rideforareason.dojiggy.com. For more information, please contact Mike Napolitano at mikenapolitano5@gmail. com. Thanks for your support! u Mike Napolitano
End of the 2010 ride. Photo: Sarah Mages

January - fEBruary 2012

TEMEscal cOMMunITy calEnDar

restore creekside
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GoT AN iTEM FoR ThE CALENdAR?

E-mail: temescalnewsandviews@gmail.com Every sunday, 9 am 1 pm. Temescal Farmers Market, 5300 Claremont Ave., DMV parking lot. Bring your own bags. The farmers market also accepts WIC. coupons. Every Tuesday, 7:30 am 8:30 am.

wednesday Jan. 11, 7:00 pm. Friends of

the Tool Lending Library meet at the Kingfish pub, 5227 ClaremontAve.

out this newsletterbut we still need to pay the printer! If you value this community publication, please consider making a donation. Any amount will help. Make your check payable to TNT, and send it with this form to: TNT, c/o 477 Rich St., Oakland, CA 94609. Thank You!

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Name Address City Phone Email

Theresa Nelson, FROG Chair

the 24-inch box size, were Live Oak, Red Oak, Redwood, California Bay, California Maple (no more than one) and Cork Oak (lower preference). Some additional direction from the meeting and survey results included replanting at least as many trees as were removed, adding shrub and grass coverage, providing a mix of sun and shade and taking care to make sure they will not block the creek. Many people wanted to see the car cages removed ( John Hanson from the DMV is looking into this), or at least, to be shielded from view with additional plantings above and beyond the restoration. There was interest in adding a second picnic table near the current one, to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many people asked about additional benches for those who are not able to sit on boulders. Some community members asked why the four trees in the Miles Avenue parking lot had not already been replanted, given that there was consensus on the species some weeks ago. The DMVs arborist had wanted to wait until after the rainy season to plant these trees, but several landscape architects stated that plantings of this type could be done at any time. Several neighbors on Miles Avenue urged that these trees be planted as soon as possible. John Hanson from the DMV will look into moving up the planting of these trees. The DMV has agreed to restore the eroded section of the Frog Park pathway, which was significantly degraded as a result of the August tree removal. They will work with their staff architect and the arborist who worked on the earlier tree removal and rear parking lot replanting to develop a concept that will come back to the community in January. To get email updates, including the date of the next meeting, please sign up on the FROG list at www.frogpark.org. u

friday Jan. 13, 7:30 pm. Poetry Saloon

Rise and Shine Community Yoga Class at Heartwalker Studio, 4920 Telegraph Ave. (upstairs). Suggested donation $10; no one turned away for lack of funds. Classes also held Monday evenings at 5:30 pm.
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3 pm 6 pm. The East Bay Childrens Book Project, which gives free books to professionals working with children in need, is in its new location at the Mosswood Rec Center, 3612 Webster St. Info: 408-READ or www.ebcbp.org. wednesdays, 10:30 am. Preschool story

meets at 472 44th St. Potluck dinner at 6 pm, reading at 7:30 pm. Bring poems by you and others to share, or come just to enjoy. Repeats Feb. 10 and second Friday of each month.

Tuesday Jan. 31, 6:30 pm 8:30 pm. En-

ergy Upgrade California is a one-stop-shop for home improvement projects that will lower your energy use and make your home healthier and more comfortable. Homeowners can get up to $4,000 back in rebates when you make your home more energy efficient. Come to an information night at the Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave. RSVP at http://oakland-piedmontenergyforum. eventbrite.com.

time. Temescal Branch Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave., 597-5049.

wednesday Jan. 18, 7 pm. The Temescal

sundays, 9 am. Keep Temescal Clean & Beautiful meets to pick up trash and clean graffiti. 43rd & Shafter. Rain cancels. Gloves, bags and litter pick-up tools are provided. Call Tim Anderson at 698-2393 or andersontim@gmail.com with questions. saturday Jan. 7, 11am-1 pm. First Satur-

Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meets at Faith Presbyterian Church, 49th and Webster, to discuss neighborhood crime issues, vacant lots and community gardens. For more information, contact Lee Edwards, 507-7929. yers in the Library, free legal information presented by the Alameda County Bar Association. Sessions are popular; sign-up for lottery at 5:45 pm. Temescal Branch Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave., 597-5049.

Tuesday feb. 7, 6:00 pm 8:00 pm. Law-

day Play Dates at Emerson! All ages welcome. Meet neighborhood families and learn about whats going on at Emerson Elementary at the Shafter playground. Repeats Feb. 4 and first Saturday of every month. Contact Kia Simon with questions at kiakima@mac.com.
Tuesday Jan. 10, 5:30 pm. Emerson Elementary monthly PTO meeting. Potluck dinner at 5:30; meeting in the library at 6 pm. Childcare provided and everyone is welcome. 4803 Lawton Ave., 654-7373.

saturday feb. 11, 9:30 am 11:30 am.

Memorial Tabernacle Church would like to invite you to our Annual Sweetheart Breakfast. All donations support the outreach efforts of Memorial Tabernacle Church. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door; $10 for adults. 5801 Racine St. Call 652-4915 for more information.

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