June 30, 2022
Dear Friend,

Today is a big day for Oakland's waterfront ballpark project at Howard Terminal, as the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is voting on the project's land use designation. A yes vote moves us ever closer to getting this project across the finish line, while a no vote would effectively kill it. To supporters of this once-in-a-generation project, which will create 18 acres of public parks along our waterfront, affordable housing, great union jobs, and world-class privately financed ballpark for the A's: make your voice heard! The BCDC meeting starts at 9am and will run most of the day. #RootedInOakland

Welcome to the Mayor’s Weekly Briefing, your weekly Oakland news roundup. You can read, subscribe, and catch up on past newsletters at our newsletter homepage on the City of Oakland website.

In solidarity,
—Libby
MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF
New Funds to Fight Homelessness
Last Friday, CA Housing Secretary Castro Ramírez joined us in Oakland to announce a new $2 million grant to help end family homelessness in our city. I'm hella proud that Oakland won a Family Challenge Grant, and particularly during this time we must continue to fight for women and families.

Also last week, Keep Oakland Housed, which began in the Mayor's Office and was the first homelessness prevention model of its kind in the Bay Area, won HUD's 2022 Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. Since its launch in 2018, our innovative Keep Oakland Housed has served more than 17,000 Oaklanders and distributed more than $32 million in financial assistance to prevent homelessness before it occurs. Listen to the latest episode of the SF Chronicle's “Fixing Our City” podcast for a great story on homelessness prevention. Thank you to the San Francisco Foundation for their partnership in keeping Oakland housed!
Tons of Fun, Community Building at Town Nights
Image via Twitter
We had a wonderful time last Friday with Town Nights at Elmhurst and Verdese Carter Parks! Thank you to the Oakland Department of Violence Prevention for sponsoring these great events, and for introducing this community-based approach to reclaiming public spaces and increasing public safety. Help bring the community together against violence by attending the next Town Nights on July 1. Check out the Town Nights Summer calendar for more info!
Oakland Named 'Queer Food Capital'
Restaurants nourish our souls as well as our bodies. Restaurants in Oakland have long served as culture keepers and ambassadors, expressing the joyful diversity of our population. This Pride Month, Oakland has been recognized by Bon Appetit Magazine as "America’s New Queer Food Capital!" Our queer chefs, mixologists, bakers, and roasters create unforgettable food and drink experiences and this guide by Bon Apetit is a way to celebrate queer brilliance all year long.
Job Fair Today at DeFremery Park!
Image via Civicorps
Come out to DeFremery Park today, June 30 from noon-3pm for a Summer Job Fair hosted by the Oakland Private Industry Council and Lao Family Community Development. Job opportunities await!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Video via KPIX CBS Bay Area
A recent KPIX feature on Oakland's MACRO pilot, and its incredible staff who are building relationships in our community.
BONUS VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Video via President Obrador
From East Oakland to the Palacio Nacional. Oakland-born Golden State Warrior Juan Toscano Anderson recently visited Mexico City to meet President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and show off the championship trophy!
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES
  • August 2 is National Night Out, America’s block party night and a great chance for neighbors and neighborhoods to reconnect. Hosts can register early to receive give-away items for the kids and a special gift for the host. Make sure to register your block by Friday, July 22

  • Start your little one earlier! Eligibility for TK enrollment is now expanded for the 2022-23 School Year - visit http://chooseousd.org to enroll today if your child qualifies!


  • Calling all festival organizers! The City of Oakland is now offering grants to support festivals and festival culture in our community, helping to highlight the cultural expressions, stories, histories, and heritage of our many communities and neighborhoods. Applications are being accepted through July 7.

  • The City of Oakland’s Summer Food Service Program is resuming with the addition of new partner sites and locations.  All kids 18 and under, and adults with disabilities enrolled in a school program can receive meals. Here's the full roster of Summer Food Service Program sites as of May 31. Free food distribution sites can also be found by using the CA Meals for Kids app.

  • BART is taking submissions for a short story contest, with story finalists to be featured on BART's website and in BART platforms. Find more details and submit your story here, and read the Chronicle's coverage of the contest here.

  • The City’s Economic & Workforce Development Department has launched a permanent business support program in Oakland’s neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Business Assistance program has added a sixth location and opened appointment dates for Oakland entrepreneurs and business owners to get advice and support. Appointments can be booked online at this link or by calling (510) 238-7398.

  • REMINDER: Even though the federal moratorium has ended, Oakland's eviction moratorium remains in place. Find rental resources here.

OPPORTUNITIES

  • The City of Oakland has a variety of job opportunities available. Find a list of posting here.

  • #OaklandUndivided is excited to announce its first paid internship opportunity. If you’re an Oakland public high school student interested in helping bridge the digital divide and can commit to a 3-month internship starting on July 25th, we encourage you to learn more and apply here. 

  • The City of Oakland is accepting applications to fill vacancies on the Mayor's Commission on Persons with Disabilities (MCPD). The MCPD represents and addresses the concerns of the disability community, acting as the City’s designated advisory body for ADA compliance. Applicants should live or work within the City of Oakland and demonstrate relevant professional and/or personal expertise to advise the Mayor and the City Council on matters affecting the rights of persons with disabilities in Oakland. If this sounds like you, find more information here!

  • The Oakland Police Commission is accepting applications until June 30th, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.


  • This summer, several Bay Area community colleges are offering free or low-cost summer learning opportunities for high school and middle school students. Find more info here.

  • The Girl's Equity Movement is accepting applications to their 2022-2023 Refined GEMs Program cohort in the US. Girls Equity Movement aims to catalyze change by equipping young women with the networking, training, and leadership skills they need to change the world. 9th-12th grade high school girls are encouraged to apply here!

  • Reading Partners San Francisco Bay Area is recruiting 42 AmeriCorps members to serve for 11 months during the 2022-23 school year in various positions to support students, schools, and communities. The term starts August 23rd - apply now to start your work in education and hear back with a final decision within 7 business days.

  • The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration is looking to fill its field offices across the state with full-time entry-level hires. View the job posting directly here.

  • Interested in serving your city and contributing to a holistic, comprehensive, vision of public safety? Consider a career with Oakland Police Department at opdjobs.com
 
  • Are you committed to fair housing and rent regulation in Oakland? The Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board (aka the Rent Board) enforces the Rent Adjustment Ordinance and fosters fair housing for a diverse population of renters, hears rent adjustment appeals, and develops regulations for the Rent Adjustment Program. This is a great opportunity to learn more about rent regulation in Oakland as well as serve the community! You can learn more and fill out an online application here.

  • The City of Oakland is looking for qualified applicants to fill positions in our Planning & Building Department. Work with our experienced staff in the Strategic Planning or Zoning Divisions or our Digital Unit. Learn more and apply here.

  • Oakland residents have access to 5,000 free online courses in multiple languages to help advance your career of prepare to return to work. Learn more here.


  • Oakland Unified School District is hiring for a variety of roles! Find out more at the OUSD Jobs Portal.

  • AC Transit is hiring bus operators. Jobs start at $22.11/hour after paid training. Learn more about further opportunities here.