April 21, 2022
Dear Friend,

The A's are back! On Monday we welcomed our Athletics to their home opener and helped raise the team flag at the Coliseum. Let's cheer on our home team this season as we continue to work together toward a new waterfront ballpark neighborhood that will provide good union jobs, more affordable housing, and 18 acres of public parks along our waterfront.

Welcome to the Mayor’s Weekly Briefing, your weekly Oakland news roundup. Please forward this to a friend. They may subscribe here.

In solidarity,
—Libby
MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF
MACRO Civilian Response Team Soft Launches
The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) made its 'soft launch' into the community last weekend. Mostly made up of Oakland natives, MACRO staff are EMTs and community intervention specialists, some of whom were formerly unhoused or incarcerated. Initially focused in East and West Oakland, MACRO teams will respond to calls for service where a police officer may not be needed: Calls for noise complaints, public intoxication, and wellness checks for instance. They'll de-escalate nonviolent, non-emergency situations, provide medical and emotional support, offer services such as shelter beds and build relationships with community members in need.

Oakland's holistic approach to public safety means we must innovate. MACRO is designed to make sure that we are meeting Oaklanders where they are, with empathy and compassion. And it's already having an impact. On their first day on the job, the San Francisco Chronicle's Sarah Ravani reports, they may have saved the life of an East Oakland man.
Analysis Shows OPD Reforms are Successful
In Oakland, we are leading the way in police reform. A recent CalMatters article shows the evidence and impact of reform efforts within the Oakland Police Department, particularly in its response to community complaints. The numbers show that the Oakland police department holds its officers more accountable at far higher rates than other law enforcement agencies in the state.

The direction that Oakland is taking is the path forward for a modern-day progressive police department.
Mayors Unite to Close the Racial Wealth Gap
The racial wealth gap in the US is wider for Black and Latino families compared to white families than for any other racial identifications. While Congress stalls on this important issue, as mayors, we see the evidence of it everyday. A report from Boston University found that the majority of America’s mayors—just over two-thirds—are concerned about racial wealth gaps in their cities.

Closing the racial wealth gap benefits everyone. We repeat this sentence so often because it is so important to shift away from a zero-sum narrative: poverty is not personal failure, it's policy failure. Oakland's innovative pilot programs are aimed at closing this gap here and paving the way for policies to follow.
Fremont High Alum Sparks Change
Nidya Baez is the assistant principal at Fremont High School, where she's worked for over a decade, and where she'll take over as principal in July. Nidya also grew up in Oakland, and graduated from Fremont High herself.

“I want students to have more than I did so that they can make better choices and ultimately improve our community," Nidya says. "... Schools are the heart of a neighborhood. And the more stable and cohesive we are, the more the neighborhood and the community can improve and do good things.” We're so excited to see Nidya continue her work at Fremont High as principal, and for her to be an example of Oakland natives serving our community. Go Tigers!
Sign Up for Oakland Earth Day This Saturday!!!
On Saturday, Oakland Public Works will be back outside with neighborhood clean-ups of streets, sidewalks, schools, parks, and along creeks and other waterways. Volunteers will pick up litter, remove graffiti, weed and plant, and restore native habitats.

OPW will sponsor seven events:
  • Chinatown
  • Rainbow Community Garden
  • Jingletown
  • Ira Jinkins Recreation Center
  • Brockhurst Community Cleanup
  • Courtland Creek Park
  • Frog Park & Temescal Greenbelt
 
Bring a friend, a neighbor, a family member, or just yourself this Saturday to help clean and green our Town.
The City of Oakland requires proof of vaccination for people 12 years and older to enter indoor public spaces such as restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters, gyms, concert venues, and museums. This is an important step that underscores how vital it is that Oaklanders get vaccinated and boosted. If you'd prefer not to carry around your paper vaccination card, get a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record here.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Image via Oakland Ceasefire
Since 2003, in the garden at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, elders from the Iu Mein community have grown and harvested vegetables. Mustard greens, sugarcane, beanstalks, cilantro, and green onions, are used in traditional dishes and grown back in Laos, can be found there. Gathering together to garden has been a way for these Iu Mein elders to preserve their traditions and find community.

Over the years, the garden has produced a partnership program with local youth in East Oakland, as well as a community cookbook. To learn more about this garden, and Iu Mein history in Oakland, read this beautiful piece from Ricky Rodas of The Oaklandside below.

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES
  • Attention problem-solvers: we need YOU to propose ideas to tackle homelessness, abandoned vehicles and illegal dumping, and violent crime in Oakland for the City Challenge Oakland. Visit the website for a chance to have your idea selected and brought to life.

  • More than a dozen virtual webinars, in-person workshops and a resource fair during Small Business Week (May 1-7) help #Oakland businesses emerge from pandemic and thrive. View the roster of events here.

  • AC Transit has created a new Twitter account to provide real-time service information Monday-Friday from 6am-7pm: @RideACTAlerts. The current account, @RideACT, will continue to post news, events, polls, giveaways, and more!

  • 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.

  • Help shape Oakland's General Plan Update by participating in our upcoming community meetings. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all Oaklanders to create a visionary blueprint together for the future of our City. Find meeting times here.

  • New laws for 2022 make it easier to create more housing in Oakland! Single-family homeowners may now build more homes or split their lots with more homes, and owners of RVs may now occupy these "vehicular residences" with special permits. Learn more.

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

OPPORTUNITIES

  • The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration is looking to fill its field offices across the state with full-time entry-level hires. The department will hold a virtual open house on Friday, April 22. View the job posting directly here.

  • The East Bay Regional Park District is hiring 50 new lifeguards for the 2022 swim season at its 10 East Bay swim facilities. All new lifeguard positions are seasonal, full-time positions from May through September. Apply by April 23!

  • SOS Meals on Wheels is in dire need of support from our community to avoid placing current clients on a waiting list. Volunteer meal delivery drivers commit 2-3 hours (in the 9am-1pm window) one morning weekday each week. To get involved, please contact: Victoria Mariolle, Volunteer Program Manager (510) 582-1263 ext. 147 | [email protected] OR Cynthia Arrington, Volunteer Program Coordinator (510) 582-1263 ext. 115 | [email protected]

  • 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

  • Civicorps, an incredible workforce development organization based in West Oakland, offers paid job training for young adults age 18-26. No experience necessary, and a high school diploma completion program is available for those who need it. Find more info about Civicorps opportunities at this link.
 
  • 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.


  • Was your New Year's resolution to find a new job? 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.


  • The Youth Beat Multimedia Apprentice program, launching in 2022, is currently recruiting BIPOC young adults who are NOT currently on a 4-year college track but who are ready to dive into a career in media. Apprentices will gain access to professional tools, skills, and mentors they need to pursue a fulfilling career in the film and media industry. Apply 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.