District 6 Matters: News & Updates
From the Office of Councilmember Loren Taylor
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I have to be honest. I am tired of this pandemic. I am tired of sheltering in place and am tired of being socially distant from the people I love and care about. I'm sure that many of you feel the same way and are considering disregarding all of the public health advice and reclaiming your lives back. I UNDERSTAND.
... But I also acknowledge that this health crisis is real, cases are spiking, hospitalizations are increasing, and we still don't have a vaccine/cure for COVID-19. If we let down our guard, doing so will translate to real lives that are lost. Yes, we need to get back to some sense of normalcy, but we can't become complacent. We can't disregard the important public health advice that had helped us flatten the curve in Oakland so far. Please continue to
wear your masks in public
,
maintain social distance
from those who are not in your social bubble,
limit the size of gatherings
outside of your household and "social bubble", and
continue washing hands regularly
and using hand sanitizer to keep healthy and safe. Also, please remember that you can get tested for free throughout Oakland at a wide variety of locations. See section 4 of this newsletter for more detail on free testing locations.
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As we settle into this new reality of social distancing (which will be with us for the foreseeable future) we must refocus on the critical work we had been doing before the Coronavirus. For me that means advancing the priorities of District 6 and Oakland as a whole. For me this includes, directing much needed resources toward addressing disparities faced by district 6 residents, advancing solutions to our homelessness crisis, and making East Oakland more clean and beautiful.
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- Beautifying East Oakland: And with respect to beautifying East Oakland, we are continuing to hold "socially distant" cleanups throughout the district. If you are able, please join us on the morning of July 4th to clean the area around 73rd and Bancroft.
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And, of course, we are also continuing to ensure that the basic needs of East Oakland residents are being met through our food & supply distributions. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday diner meals are distributed for free from the 73rd & Foothill Lot, and Tuesdays/ Thursdays lunch meals are distributed from Rainbow Recreation Center, David Glover Technology Center, and Homies Empowerment Freedom Store.
It is not too late to come pick up some food or volunteer this afternoon/ evening!
- Drive thru dinner distribution: Friday, July 3rd 4pm-6pm
- Location: 6955 Foothill Blvd
- Fresh hot meals for our East Oakland Community provided by local restaurants and chefs.
- Bring the family and pick up some food OR Come Volunteer, It's gonna be fun!
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Inside this newsletter you'll find the following information:
- Alameda County COVID-19 Update
- City of Oakland Flex Street Initiative
- City Council Constituent Management Application
- Public Services Updates
- Community Resources
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Also, Please share this email with any neighbors who may not have received this update!
Yours in Service of Oakland,
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Loren M. Taylor, Councilmember
Oakland - District 6
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1. Alameda County COVID-19 Update
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A.Alameda County COVID-19 Updates
During the last two weeks of June we were moving closer toward reopening many of our businesses in Oakland and Alameda County, but the County's Public health department has paused its reopening plans in light of data that shows increased infections and hospitalizations. In their statement, they state:
"A safe reopening of businesses in our county is critical for both public health and economic recovery. To guide reopening, Alameda County health officials rely on the following data indicators to measure our progress against the pandemic: 1) rates of new cases and hospitalizations, 2) hospital inpatient bed capacity and surge capacity, 3) testing capacity, 4) disease containment capacity, and 5) supply of personal protective equipment for health care providers. While indicators 2, 3, 4, and 5 have moved in the positive direction or remained stable over the past several weeks, we are seeing unfavorable trends for cases and hospitalizations."
Read more here.
Oakland has recorded 2549 COVID-19 cases through July 1, 2020. To view the full Alameda County COVID-19 Dashboard click here.
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Have A COVID-Safe Fourth of July
Given rising case numbers and hospitalizations, the State is not relaxing rules on gatherings at this time, and is tightening restrictions in those counties that have shows an alarming increase in coronavirus cases. State health officials shared their guidance on how to have a safe and responsible 4th of July by recommending that we:
- Limit outdoor picnics and BBQs to household members and social bubbles.
- Keep picnics and BBQs at home or close to home.
- Always follow guidance, wear face coverings, and stay six feet away from people outside your household.
- Firework safety & Protocol
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Help Prevent COVID-19
We ask for your help in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face covering, physical distancing, frequent hand washing, and getting tested if you have symptoms or work outside of your home.
Each of us plays a critical role in stopping this disease and protecting the hardest hit populations - Latinx and African American community members
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2.City of Oakland Flex Streets Initiative
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A.Local Business Support with Flex Streets
The City of Oakland is exploring how to provide opportunities for economic revitalization and community engagement through creative and flexible uses of sidewalks, parking lanes and streets.
Support local restaurants and retailers:
- Provide quick response to businesses who want to use public rights of way to accommodate COVID-19 physical distance guidelines
Support Oakland residents:
- Increase outdoor activity for Oakland residents and visitors while maintaining physical distancing
- Provide much needed public open space to encourage physical and mental health and to prevent overcrowding within green space
- Foster renewed community spirit, connection and engagement within Oakland neighborhoods
Support local performers and artists:
- Provide new spaces for performing arts
- Activate the street, and help get our performing arts sector back to work
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3.City Council Constituent Management Application
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A. Want to Share Concerns/ Issues With City Council? - Now Theres An App For That!
The City of Oakland IT Department with City Council Staff have finished the completion of a constituent application. The application allows you to send your City Council representative your concerns and issues about what is happening in the district.
When you submit a complaint, you'll be given a confirmation number and someone from the representative City Council district will either email or call you based on your request.
Please create an account and try the new application!
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4. Public Services Updates
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A.Parking Enforcement
The City
continues
to enforce all other parking regulations in service of public safety and public health, including but not limited to:
- Parking meters (effective July 6)
- Red curbs, yellow curbs, white curbs, and green curbs
- Blue curbs and spaces
- Fire hydrants
- Sidewalk and crosswalk blocking
- Double-parking and bike lane violations
- Wheelchair ramp obstruction
- Essential construction work and other “No Parking” signage
- Unauthorized use of disabled person parking placards
All other temporary suspension of parking regulations announced in mid-March
remain in effect
. While the Alameda County shelter-in-place order is in effect, the City
will not
be enforcing:
- Residential permit parking
- Street sweeping parking (NOTE: Street sweeping operations are continuing, and the City asks for vehicle owners’ voluntary compliance to allow street sweeper vehicles to access the curb.)
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B.BRT NO PARKING
Effective August 1
, AC Transit will begin using cameras mounted on BRT buses to cite vehicles illegally parked in the BRT’s BUS ONLY lanes.
The fine for parking in the BUS ONLY lane is $110.
Vehicles are also subject to towing, which imposes additional costs. Motorists driving in the BUS ONLY lane are also subject to citation and fine.
Residents, delivery trucks, business owners and their employees/customers routinely- and illegally- park in the BUS ONLY lane. For everyone’s safety, it is imperative that these lanes be kept clear for BRT buses and emergency vehicles.
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C.AC Transit Survey
AC Transit has seen the impact first-hand through our employees and their families who’ve suffered tragic outcomes losing their loved ones to this virus, and our heartfelt sympathy to all who’ve experienced incalculable loss during this time.
In response to the pandemic, AC Transit has implemented social distancing and safety measures for our riders and operators; suspension of fare collection; and making service adjustments to reflect the dramatic change in ridership during shelter-in-place requirements.
As Alameda and Contra Costa counties gradually reopen, many of our riders are returning to the workforce or resuming some part of their previous daily activities.
AC Transit is interested in understanding your “new normal.”
All riders who complete the survey can enter to win an AC Transit 31-day pass (great for when fare collection resumes).
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D.Fire Preparedness Tele-Town Hall
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara would like to invite you to a Statewide Tele Town Hall on Wildfires.
Thursday, July 9th at 5pm
Please RSVP & Email Question: crb@insurance.ca.gov
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A. Additional Coronavirus Testing in East Oakland
If you or a family member are experiencing symptoms or believe that you have been exposed to the coronavirus, please get tested.
East Oakland's three (3) sites are:
1) Drive Thru Testing at Allen Temple Baptist Church
(8501 International Blvd)
2) Walk-up testing at Roots Community Health Center
(9925 International Blvd)
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3) Walk-in or Drive-Up Testing at Osita Health Clinic
(2521 Seminary Ave, Ste 1
)
- FREE Covid 19 testing for the community of Oakland.
- No Appointment Necessary
- Sign up at www.ositahealthclinic.com for faster service
- Come by or call at 510-777-1000
- PCR and antibody tests for more accurate readings
Testing is free!
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B.Support Black Lives Lawn Signs
SURJ has Black Lives Matter lawn and window signs and postcards available for pickup.
These are free but if you want to help cover costs,
donate here
.
Pick them up at one of these locations:
•
Marcus Books
, 3900 Martin Luther King Way, Oakland, Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Sundays 12:00 – 4:00 pm (window signs and postcards only)
•
World Grounds
, 3726 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 7 days a week
•
Spectator Books
, 4163 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, Monday - Friday 12:00 - 5:00 pm (window signs only).
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C.Parks & Recreation Town Camp
The City of Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development (OPRYD) will be hosting Neighborhood Town Camp administered in compliance with current State and County public health orders and will include numerous protocols to maintain social distancing and other relevant measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
All social distancing and proper hygiene and sanitization requirements will be followed and increased outdoor activities have been added to the camp curriculum.
Camp hours are 8:30 am – 5:00 pm and will take place in two 3-week sessions from June 29 to July 17, and July 20 to August 7.
Due to Limited Capacity, we can ONLY provide care for children whose parents or guardians are Oakland residents or City of Oakland employees.
Pre-registration is required and will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.
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D. Support for Oakland Residents
- General social service issues: 211
- 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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