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District 6 Matters: Beautiful Times Ahead
Celebrating Black History Month, Expanding ESO Ventures & More
From the Office of Councilmember Loren Taylor
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As we close out Black History Month, I am excited to bring you another edition of our newsletter. It was such a pleasure to participate in all of the festivities hosted throughout the month, including celebratory events from the Black Cultural Zone, East Oakland Youth Development Center, West Oakland Cultural Action Network, and the Oakland NAACP. Black History Month has allowed us to celebrate accomplishments of the past, as we build out solutions for the future that address issues continuing to plague the Black community, including voter rights, economic development, and education.
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With respect to voting rights, I would like to thank everyone who wrote emails, called in, and especially the commissioners who volunteered many late nights for Oakland's redistricting process. On Wednesday, the Commission adopted Map F5 as the final boundaries for Oakland's new City Council and School Board Districts, which will remain in place for the next ten years. Some of the major impacts on District 6, include the following:
- The return of the Oakland Coliseum to District 6
- The inclusion of the portion of Toler Heights that is West of 98th Avenue
I recognize coming to the decision to include the Coliseum in either District 6 or 7 was very difficult. It is my hope that those leading the development of this major economic engine, will continue to incorporate the feedback of residents across the City, particularly those who will be most impacted.
In terms of economic benefits, I am happy to uplift that Oakland is one step closer to realizing significant benefits from the Howard Terminal Development, which will include an Oakland A's Ballpark. As a third generation Oaklander, I look forward to watching my children and grandchildren share in the same experience of going to an A's game that I had as a child. I also look forward to engaging with residents, organizations and other key stakeholders to ensure we optimize affordable housing, job accessibility, green space, and other positive impacts for community members throughout Oakland.
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ESO Ventures also continues to be a special part of our economic efforts in East Oakland. Building upon our success in securing $8M in capital from the State of California, they are looking for a Growth Manager to help ensure that ESO has a measurable impact on the economic well being of East Oakland, while supporting a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem for generations to come. More information on the position as well as how to apply for their next small business incubator cohort is available in Section 4A below.
Lastly, as it relates to the education of our children, I would like to extend my appreciation for our panelists and everyone who attended our Saving Our Schools Town Hall. As we work to avoid school closures, while optimizing the quality of education of our students, it is critical that we continue to have comprehensive and honest conversations. Rewatch the full discussion on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/2ozAVUqCVv8.
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Inside this newsletter you'll find the following information:
- COVID-19 Updates
- Preview of Tuesday's Council Meeting (Mar. 1)
- Upcoming Events
- Community Updates & Resources
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Yours in Service of Oakland,
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Loren M. Taylor, Councilmember
Oakland - District 6
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A. Enjoying the Lifted Mask Mandate?
On Wednesday, February 16, Alameda County lifted the mask mandate for most indoor settings. REMINDER, unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks indoors. Regardless of vaccination status everyone must continue to wear masks while in:
- Public Transportation
- Health Care Settings
- Correctional Facilities
- Homeless Shelters
- Long-Term Care Facilities
- K-12 Schools
- Childcare Settings
For more information read Alameda County Public Health Department's full press release. Still not vaccinated? You can also visit Alameda County's website, for a full list of where you receive all three vaccines.
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2. Preview of Tuesday's Council Meeting
(March 1, 2022 at 1:30pm)
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Item 6: Disparity Study Contract
Last year, I had the pleasure for advocating for the release of the 2017 Disparity Study from Mason Tillman Associates. This critical document served as the foundation for my Local Business Empowerment Through Contracting legislation. I look forward to the next iteration of this important research.
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A. Come meet & greet Oakland's New Inspector General, Michelle Phillips
Join us this evening, February 25 from 5:30–8:00pm for a special meet and greet with Oakland Police Commission's first Inspector General, Michelle Phillips. The event will be held at Geofferey's Inner Circle, 410 14th Street.
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B. Join us for Faith & Action East Bay's Ceasefire Walk
Tonight at 6:00pm, Faith & Action East Bay is also hosting another Ceasefire Walk! Join this group of dedicated volunteers at At Thy Word, 8915 International to help promote peace in the streets.
(510) 382-1687.
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C. Volunteer for the High Street Coalition's Garden Day & Clean Up
Tomorrow, February 26 from 8:30am – 1:00pm, the High Street Coalition will be hosting a community garden day and clean-up. Join us at the 580E off ramp on High Street & Redding (across the street from Walgreens), to meet neighbors, pick-up garbage, plant and more. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. Donations and tools are greatly appreciated.
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D. Celebrating Oscar Grant Day
Meet us at Oscar Grant Plaza, 1 Frank Ogawa, for a community resource fair in honor of his legacy. Tomorrow, February 26 from 12:00pm–4:00pm, the Oscar Grant Foundation will distribute helpful tools, food and more. The family friendly event will also feature a performance by Project 4 Band.
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E. Recruiters from the nation's top HBCUs are coming to Oakland
It is not too late to register for Oakland's Black College Expo! Tomorrow, February 26 from 9am–5pm recruiters from many HBCUs will be at the Oakland Marriott, located 1001 Broadway, where they will be accepting students on the spot, waiving college fees, hosting seminars and more. The event will also feature surprise celebrity guest appearances and performances.
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F. Recruiters from the nation's top HBCUs are coming to Oakland
On Saturday, February 26 the Golden State Warriors are also hosting their Black History Month Celebration at the Chase Center. From 12:00pm – 4:00pm, the Warriors along with Kaiser Permanente will feature black artists, chefs, and more. Community members can RSVP at www.thrivecity.com.
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G. The Black Joy Parade is Back
Don't forget to end your busy weekend with the Black Joy Parade this Sunday, February 27. The celebration will feature some of your favorite black vendors, artists, organizations and more. As we come to the end of Black History Month, I can't think of a better way to celebrate.
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4. Community Updates & Resources
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A. Become a part of the ESO Family
As noted above, ESO Venture is currently looking for a Growth Manager to help them lead the charge in strengthening East Oakland's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their responsibilities will include:
- Relationship Building
- Recruitment & Marketing
- Events
- Strategy
Click here to learn more and apply for the Growth Manager position.
Additionally, ESO is also recruiting for its next cohort of entrepreneurs. If you are small business owner in East Oakland looking for key business development resources, relationships and capital, I strongly encourage you to apply. Applications are available here: www.eso-ventures.com/apply
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B. Celebrating the Impact of AssistHub's Founder Patrice Berry
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Who do I call for...
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General social service issues: 211
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The City’s 311 phone line and OAK311 website continues to be a resource to request routine maintenance and report urgent infrastructure issues
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Question or Concerns? Contact The District 6 Team:
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