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OAKLAND NEWS                                                          MARCH 2016
IN THIS ISSUE:
Information & Democracy  
 
A 1906 edition of The Oakland Tribune, founded in 1874.
Dear Neighbors,

In April the world of Oakland journalism shrinks again just as the City is expanding on many fronts.  The 142 year old  Oakland Tribune goes weekly, the daily evolves into a clone of its suburban network with a merged East Bay paper.  The Chronicle with its limited East Bay coverage will lose Chip Johnson. T he digital press also faces challenges, Oakland Local,  is seeking a new publisher as Susan Mernit moves on after 6 years.

Jefferson said "information is the currency of democracy." At a time when major changes are happening in the City, shrinking information makes transparency in government and citizen involvement more difficult at a critical time.    As Oakland takes on the challenges of growth, inequality and housing to preserve the "Soul of the City," we need more common information and a way to explore our diverse perspectives.  Oaklanders will have to work harder than ever to learn about each other and what we can do together for the City we love:
  • I encourage Oaklanders to read the  East Bay Express online--now our only real hometown paper.  Their investigative journalism, food and cultural reviews have always been must reads, but their coverage of City Hall and major city issues has been the best over the last year.  Their daily digital posts in the "Seven Days A Week" are on top of city happenings.
  • Check out the other digital news sites. The Oakland Post originally targeted at the African American community is available online and is improving coverage on issues like housing and coal that should interest the whole community.  UC School of Journalism blog Oakland North is written by graduate students and can be sporadic but often covers perspectives ignored by others.
  • Share this Oakland News with your family and neighbors.  Over the last year we have continued to evolve.  As a monthly we have tried to digest complex city issues in each edition and still have one of the most interesting lists of things to do in the City that are free or low cost.  We distribute to over 15-20K readers. This month we have tried to summarize dozens of events/actions in the critical fight against coal exports.  We know this article is long, but this is a critical issue please try to at least skim it and forward it on to others.
  • Consider following some Oakland Facebook pages.  I use my Facebook page to post updates between issues of Oakland News and send announcements & coverage about emerging community events.  More groups are using their Facebook pages in place of websites.  For example, Oakland Pride covers LGBT news and organizes for their annual event.  Oakland History lets members share their Oakland memorabilia and family photos, an amazing site.
Happy Spring,  enjoy our beautiful gardens, trails, lakes, bay and hills!  Enjoy the holidays of the season -- Purim, Easter and Cambodian New Year.
Jean Quan,
Editor, Oakland News

>>   Posted this photo of Big Sur by Jerry Melnick on my Facebook last week and it went viral! Proud of our City and State for preserving the coast, open space and wilderness parks !
HousingHousing Coalitions Rally, City Hall, April 5 

Conflicting Housing Policies,  Renters Call for Emergency Moratorium on Evictions

Next week we will to do a special edition on the many housing proposals now facing the city after years of delays.  There are too many to cover here but these are some of the issues on the table:
  • The Council will hear a proposal to declare a State of Emergency for Housing Crisis on April 5th. Renter groups propose a temporary stay of rent increases (exempting landlords who have not raised rents in 12 months) and non-cause evictions while stronger tenant protections are developed.  This is happening in nearby Alameda where a moratorium has been in place since November 2015.
CoalVote Coal Vote Delayed Again
 
Dozens of faith leaders speak out at Feb 17th Council meeting.

City Opposition Grows While Council Delays Decision on 
Controversial  Coal Report to April

Since last fall a City Council vote to stop coal exports continues to be repeatedly pushed back. Anti-coal advocates believe the Council has enough information to vote, but the administration proposes  to hire a consultant to help the city determine whether coal shipments will have negative health and safety impacts on residents and port workers before a vote. 

Anti-coal advocates argue that the $250K, 4-6 month contract is a waste of funds and the consultants chosen have close ties with the rail & fossil fuels industry. The same consultant group -- Environmental Science Associates (ESA) -- recently issued a controversial environmental report for the City of Benicia that downplays environmental issues and dangers of train explosions resulting from increased crude tankers arriving by rail  Their Benicia report was unanimously rejected by the Planning Commission calling it "flawed" and listing 14 deficiencies.  Furthermore, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, found 6 deficiencies. Valero Oil has appealed the rejection and it heads to a Benicia City Council vote on April 4th.

A large contingent of East Bay religious leaders turned out on February 17th to oppose coal exports but found that t he vote on the contract was delayed. Many hoped that the City would kill the contract but several City Hall sources say  a smaller contract with a more limited scope is still expected to return with the same consultant in April.  Why continue with this consultant? How many more delays? It remains to be seen.

Meanwhile opposition continues to grow.  At this week's Council over  20 local doctors, physician assistants and nurses weighed in on health issues.  They represented  over 200 health professionals and t he Alameda Contra Costa California Medical Association, California Medical Association Foundation, Physicians for Social Responsibility, many Kaiser physicians and the California Nurses Association.

Rev. Benny Taylor of Morning Star Church, also a longshoreman, explains why the Longshoreman's Union opposes coal because of worker health & safety.
The Interfaith Coalition led by Rev. Ken Chambers of West Oakland Missionary Baptist Church also met this week with dozens of religious leaders including representatives from Contra Costa County.  Discussion of expanding and linking organizing to all the communities affected by the rail routes including Sacramento, Davis, Bakersfield, Benicia, Martinez, Pittsburg and Richmond was planned. Information on how coal would provide less jobs than other exports and the pathways to Port jobs  were also discussed.



CoalPollCouncil Resolution to Ban Coal Needed,
Oakland Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose Coal Exports

Meanwhile, work on a resolution banning Oakland coal by Councilman Kalb is underway. The Sierra Club and No Oakland Coal Coalition have provided safety data and potential language.  It is not clear when it will be ready for a vote, but it is expected before summer recess.

A poll conducted last month for the Sierra Club found that half of Oakland voters were aware of the coal proposal, of those voters 70% oppose the plan.  When given more information the number reaches 76% in opposition.  Furthermore, 48% of the voters are more likely to vote for a City Council candidate who opposes the project.

   

UtahCoalVoteDesperate Utah Shell Game to Launder Illegal $ for Coal

Smog obscures mountain views near Salt Lake City.
The Democratic Minority Senate leader of the Utah legislature calls last week's bill "a shell game." It doesn't change questionable and probably illegal use of state funds for a highly speculative private venture owned by a coal company in another state. Local opposition against the project and coal is growing -- from Mormon owned newspapers   questioning taxpayer accountability to the sports and tourist industry calling for funds to be invested in a transition from coal to clean energy and new jobs that would close coal mines/plants, reduce smog haze and protect national parks from mining.

Last fall Utah and environmental groups filed suit against the illegal use of $53 million in Community Investment funds for the Oakland Port coal project. These funds come from federal mineral lease revenues given to  Utah to pay for local services and government infrastructure like schools, fire stations, sewers, and fire protection in the communities affected by mining.  Cheating these communities of the funds to subsidize a private coal company outside of the state doesn't meet these standards.

This month Utah legislators, all who have received funds (thanks to EBX expos e) from the Bowie Coal company, rushed through a bill that would lend the developer $53M from state sales taxes for transportation that would be backfilled by the original Community Investment funds. Despite the laundering, this scheme raises the same issues and will face legal challenges.   This Op-Ed by Tom Sanzillo of the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis lays this out.
  • Giving CommunityI Investment Funds to a Transportation Fund doesn't meet the goal of the funds--helping local communities mitigate coal mining impacts.
  • The Utah State constitution prohibits state agencies from lending its credit or subscribe to stock or bonds in aid of any . . . private individual or corporate enterprise or undertaking. 
coalmarketCoal is a Bad Investment: Market Collapse Raises More Red Flags, Risks Millions from Public Funds

Over the last year the coal industry has declined dramatically.  The world is moving away from coal and towards new climate change goals, the trend is hopefully irreversible. A risky coal terminal undermines the financial viability of this Port project and puts the hundreds of millions of City, State and federal dollars in the Port expansion at risk. 
  • Coal prices are steadily decreasing (see chart above).
  • U.S. coal exports posted third annual straight loss -- a 23% decline -- last year as natural gas and renewables emerge as alternative power sources. There has been a 29% further drop so far in 2016.  "Slower growth in world coal demand, lower international coal prices, and higher coal output in other coal-exporting countries contributed to the decline in U.S. coal exports."                                          March 7, 2016, U.S. Energy Information Administration
  • Export markets are shrinking for long term: China will close more than 1,000 coal mines with a total production capacity of 60-million tons this year, as part of its plans to tackle a supply glut.  Chinese leaders say they don't need more coal imports and may cut more imports as they try to meet environmental goals. Bloomberg News
  • Exports are so bad that American coal producer Cloud Peak Energy Inc. has agreed to pay quarterly fees to a Canadian port owner to avoid sending more exports due to low prices and demand.  Bloomberg News
  • The nation's largest banks -- JP Morgan, Chase, Bank of America,  Citigroup and Morgan Stanley -- have announced that they are backing away from financing coal new plants and facilities.  
     
  • Stock prices for the world's/America's largest coal producer Peabody plummeted by 50% on Friday and the company is expected to file for bankruptcy. The second largest company Arch Coal filed for bankruptcy in January.
  • Bowie Resources, the coal company behind the Oakland proposal, "is in financial distress, having failed to close plans to buy out private equity investors and having failed recently to secure backing for its proposed purchase of three mines in Colorado and New Mexico from Peabody Energy.  Bowie has also failed recently to meet its latest targets for coal shipping through the Port of Stockton."  For a brief summary of the high financial risks, read this analysis from IEEFA.
   

BowieCoalIs Bowie Coal Hiding Behind Local "Front" ?
Financing Questionable as Investors Flee & Targets Missed

This new article on our No Coal in Oakland coalition website, pulls together the information that shows that the proposed new coal terminal operator is probably a front for Bowie Coal who will control the board. While the public is focussed on the Utah state money, where is the other $200M coming from?

"Terminal Logistics Solutions (TLS), the newly created terminal operator hoping to ship millions of tons of coal annually through a new export facility in Oakland, may, in fact, be a subsidiary of Bowie Resource Partners LLC, the coal company whose Utah mines the terminal would serve, according to  documents provided by Emery County , Utah, in response to a Sierra Club public records act request."

They also reveal that the additional $200 million that is supposed to finance the deal is to come from the sale of unrated bonds to pension funds. TLS missed last summer's deadline to produce the financial commitments and recent divestments by pension funds and banks raise the question of whether that is viable.  Any pension fund that purchases unrated coal bonds now will likely be sued by its members for financial malpractice. 




HancockBillsSupport Sen. Hancock's Bills to Restrict Coal Transport 

Senator Loni Hancock has introduced 4 bills to restrict transportation of coal in California. She warns they cannot replace a clear vote/action by the City of Oakland and cannot be retroactive. "I urge the City Council to use its authority and prohibit coal." During the recent state Democratic Convention, the Sierra Club and No Oakland Coal volunteers thoroughly reached out to delegates to grow statewide support for the bills, distributing thousands of leaflets and speaking at break outs.
  • Senate Bill 1277: Declares that the transportation of coal through West Oakland presents a clear and present danger to the health and safety to Oakland residents and workers handling the coal. This bill also prohibits the shipment of coal through an Oakland facility that has been paid, in part for, with state funds.
  • SB 1278: Requires an environmental impact review from any public agency that has authority in approving any portion of a project relating to the shipment of coal through Oakland.

 

4-6 Mile Coal Trains Would Travel a Proposed Coal Corridor

EVERY  DAY

              

 

These two addition bills also cover other state ports currently/potentially exporting coal:
  • SB 1279: Prohibits the use of public funds to build or operate any port that exports coal from California. It also applies to any port near disadvantaged communities.
  • SB 1280: This requires port facilities that ship bulk commodities and receive state funds to prohibit coal shipments or fully mitigate the green-house gas emissions associated with the combustion of the coal.


CoalHelpHOW YOU CAN HELP:  
We need to keep the pressure on City leaders & support Sen. Hancock's state bills.
  • Educate our community and friends about why Oakland must say no to coal and how it would endanger our health, economy and the world climate.  and other links below.  Post announcements on your social media and neighborhood listservs. Contact the Coalition for speakers at meetings.
  • Sign Up for the April Council Meeting.  Over 800 people, a city record, signed up to speak at September Council meeting discussing coal.  It made a real difference.  Even if you do not want to speak, by signing up you can 1) Cede your time to the No Coal Coalition, 2) Register your support or opposition.

MORE RESOURCES ON COAL & CLIMATE CHANGE


 "West Oakland deserves better than dirty coal," by Van Jones, CNN political commentator, former presidential adviser and Oakland activist 







Winter Free, Low Cost Spring Community Events

Send us your Community Events one month in advance.  More Spring events will appear in our April Newsletter.
womenshistoryWomen's History Month Events


Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement 
Continues thru July 16, 2016

The African American Museum and Library combines history and textile designs that will honor women whose actions were instrumental in the success of the Civil Rights Movement. Exhibition feature "Swing Coat" designs of Ms. Patricia Montgomery, master quilter.  

African American 
Women Quilt Exhibits
Continues Through April 30
The New York Times did a great article on the exhibits of the African American Quilt Guild, "Quilts With A Sense of Place, Stitched in Oakland." Some of the quilts in the article are on display at Joyce Gordon's Gallery, 406 14th Street. Listen to KQED Forum's show for the stories behind the quilts.

Mountain View Cemetery Women's History Tour
Saturday, March 24, 10 am
Enjoy the Tulips and views. Join docents Michael Colbruno & Jane Leroe as they visit the graves of some of the most fascinating women in California history--San Francisco madam "Diamond Carrie," pioneering architect Julia Morgan, leaders of the Suffrage movement, women who broke down gender & racial barriers

                For More Information
Book Signing with Black Feminist Comics Author Jewels Smith 
Saturday, March 26, 5-7 pm
East Bay author Juliana "Jewels" Smith created  (H)afrocentric: the Comic  
to encourage dialogue on some of the most pressing issues of the day.  Smith calls   (H)afrocentric    a feminist version of    The Boondocks  and sees the comic as liberatory science fiction.

                 oaklandlibrary.org
EASTEROakland Holiday Events: Easter Egg Hunts, Cambodian New Year, Ching Ming 

Khmer/Cambodian New Year at Peralta Hacienda.
The diversity of spring festivals reflects the wealth of cultures in our city.  Love watching new immigrant kids at Easter Egg hunts in East Oakland and hope that more Oaklanders will support community events like the 55th Chinatown Wasang Pancake Breakfast on Easter Sunday or the 6th Annual Cambodian New Year Celebration at Peralta Hacienda. This is an amazing authentic community celebration of one of Oakland's lesser known communities. Great food. 
There are less public Easter Egg Hunts this year, but still many choices.  The favorite Easter Parade sponsored by very generous Lakeshore merchants lets you make your own hat!
 

Dunsmuir, Parks & Rec Hunts
Sat, March 26,10am-3pm
The most exciting Easter celebration for kids is always Dunsmuir House.  Hunts for all ages, animals, arts and crafts, egg dying and more.

Parks & Rec also sponsors neighborhood hunts at Arroyo and Camen Flores Parks.


Easter Parade on Lakeshore
3534 Lakeshore Ave
Sat, March 26,10:30am-12:30 

Make Easter bonnets, snacks, face painting and win a basket starting at 10:30 am through 12:30.  Parade and show off your hats at 11:30 am led by the Easter Bunny. You can pick up your derby hat at Silver Moon Kids, 3233 Lakeshore or Adventure Toys, 3291, for early decorating

Montclair Lion's Egg Hunt
Montclair Park, 6300 Moraga Ave
Sunday, March 27, 9 am sharp
Be on time if you want to be part of the egg hunt!  The local Fire Engine blows the horn exactly at 9 am.  Bring your own basket and collect as many eggs as you can then trade them in for prizes and candy.  The park is divided into age groups.  The nearby Montclair Farmer's Market, 9am-1pm is a good place to pick up other spring treasures.
55th Wasang Pancake Breakfast
Lincoln Park,  11th & Harrison
Sunday, March 27, 8:30-11:30 am
Wasang Service Club members serve breakfast on Easter Sunday.  There are egg hunts for kids and lots of performers. Great way for downtown or Jack London residents to learn more about their neighbors  and for Chinese Americans to touch base with their roots.

Tulips, Photos with the Easter Bunny, Ching Ming
Mountain View Cemetery
5000 Piedmont Avenue
Cambodian/Khmer New Year
Saturday, April 2, 10am-5pm
Peralta Hacienda
2465 34th Ave

The Cambodian diaspora gathers at Peralta each year joined by Thai, Nepalese and Burmese residents to celebrate the Khmer /Buddhist New Year with traditional to hip hop entertainment.  Wonderful traditional foods, crafts and information make it a wonderful outing for a family.  Bring a blanket for a picnic and take a tour of the historic hacienda where Oakland was born.

            www.peraltahacienda.org/
PlantExchangeGreen Oakland:  Plant & Seed Exchange, 
Earth Expo, Urban Paths Walk

Our April edition will cover Earth Day & community gardening projects.  
Please send us volunteer dates for on-going projects.
Oakland Plant Exchange
Saturday, March 26, Noon-4 pm
4500 Lincoln Blvd
This Oakland tradition started in one woman's Lakeshore yard, but now has a permanent home.  The rules are the same, bring plants or gardening asset to exchange take what you need. 

AAMLO Seed Lending Library
659 14th Street
Wonder what to do with those left over seeds after you have more seedlings than you can plant?  The African American Museum & Library has this simple exchange.  Bring your seeds and/or take a few.
EarthExpo
Wednesday, April 6, 10am-2pm 
Ogawa Plaza - 14th & Broadway
Annual environmental fair hosted by the City of Oakland Public Works Department. The fair highlights transportation, environmental health, waste reduction, water, energy, urban design, nature and community themes.  Approximately 100 exhibitors will gather to showcase their contributions for a sustainable environment.

www.oaklandearthexpo.org/
Urban Paths Walk: Hiller 
 Highlands & Claremont Hotel
April 9, 10 am - 12:30 pm
1 Hiller Drive
Walk begins at 10 am at the Firestorm Memorial Garden near the Bentley School. The walk will  explore the hills near the Berkeley border and with views of the classic Claremont Hotel.