August 18, 2022
Dear Friend,

Thank you to all who attended (or tuned in) to one of our three town halls last week. These events were a platform for great discussion, and full of people passionate about the future of Oakland. We appreciate every Oakland resident who showed up and made your voice heard. It starts with community!

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
A Transformational Investment in Oakland's Future
On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris came home to help us launch The Generation Fund, a $50 million investment that will support every low-income Oakland public-school student and baby born into poverty through the year 2035 by providing:

  • $500 college savings accounts for all Oakland babies at birth from low-income families within 4 years –10,000 Brilliant Babies by 2035.

  • $1,000-a-year scholarships for all low-income Oakland public school students while they’re pursuing their college degree or trade certificate within 4 years -- 20,000 Oakland students served by 2035.

The Generation Fund will serve 30,000 Oakland students for the next generation, and is aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty by increasing college access and completion for Oakland’s most underserved residents.
 
A Free Fall Semester at all Peralta Colleges
If you are a student at Laney College, Merritt College, Berkeley City College, or College of Alameda, your fall semester is free!

This opportunity is open to students who fill out their FAFSA or California Dream Act application, and there are no minimum or maximum units required, nor is there an in-person class requirement. The Fall is Free program also covers textbook costs and student health fees. Students will also receive free bus passes, free lunch on campus, free weekly produce boxes, and Chromebook and Wi-Fi hotspots from the Library. Learn more below!
Oakland Celebrates with Sister City of Fukuoka
On Wednesday, I was honored to join Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima and the Fukuoka City Council to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Oakland's sister city relationship with Fukuoka, Japan. In conjunction with the 60th annivesrary, we unveiled a public art project at the Lakeside Park Japanese garden. The artwork is titled Compassion, Peace, and Community, and its design is meant to inspire Oaklanders to celebrate community relationships in Oakland and between Oakland and our friends across the globe.
The Inflation Reduction Act Signed into Law
On Tuesday, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, a bill which will lower healthcare and drug costs, help close tax loopholes for the wealthy. It is also the largest investment in fighting the climate crisis in our nation's history. Here are a few key details:

Healthcare: Expanded Medicare benefits, free vaccines starting in 2023, a$35 per month insulin cap, and a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs. The Inflation Reduction Act will also save the average ACA enrollee $800 per year and allow Medicare to negotiate to lower prescription drug prices.

Climate investment: Reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, cleaning up pollution, investing $60 billion in environmental justice and climate resilience, as well as lowering energy bills.

Corporate tax: Closing tax loopholes exploited by the wealthy, a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% fee on stock buybacks, enhanced IRS enforcement while protecting families and small businesses making $400k per year or under.
THROWBACK PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Image via BART
In 2005, a few BART stations became the backdrop for the film "The Pursuit of Happyness,” starring Will Smith. Check out this awesome photo of Will with BART employees. As part of their 50 year anniversary, BART will also be 50% off in the month of September! #BART50Year
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES
To post an event, resource, or job in this newsletter email: [email protected]
  • The Sam Taylor Foundation is a Bay Area nonprofit that promotes emotional well-being and prevents suicide for our community’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive today…and tomorrow. Donate here.

  • Sunset Sundays: Soulful & Eclectic Concerts on the Waterfront. This Sunday at Brooklyn Basin from 4-8. Come early and enjoy a sunset cocktail hour (with wine and beer) at Rocky's Market Brooklyn Basin. Get tickets early - they are expected to sell out!

  • WETA/San Francisco Bay Ferry is developing their vision for ferry service on the bay for the next 30(ish) years, an effort called Bay Ferry 2050. Take the quick priorities poll and learn more here.

  • It's not too late to plant a garden! Oakland’s Tool Lending Library has all kinds of tools including circular saws, gardening tools, hammers, and screwdrivers available to be checked out, just like a book! The Tool Lending Library is located at 5205 Telegraph Avenue, and open every day but Sunday.
    
  • Seniors and people living with physical challenges can purchase TaxiScrip books at a discount. Participants arrange their own rides by calling a taxi company in contract with the City of Oakland. For more information, call 510-238-3036 and leave a message, or check online at the City's website.

  • ICAC’s Safe Car Park Program aims to provide safe overnight parking for individuals & families living out of their cars. Washing station, showers & laundry services Wednesdays from 4pm to 8pm & access to care packages, minor auto repair, ticket, and DMV registration support. For general information on ICAC or on the Safe Car Park Program, visit interfaithac.org or call (510) 239-8832

  • Children Rising is looking for volunteer reading and math tutors to help elementary school children in Oakland area schools for the 2022-2023 school year. No experience is necessary; we supply training and teaching materials. Our tutors work one-on-one with students below grade level in reading and math. The time commitment is 2 hours every week during school hours as a part of a supported, onsite tutor team. Learn More or Apply Now.

  • Start your little one's education 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!


  • 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.

  • 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 Office of Mayor Libby Schaaf is currently recruiting interns for Fall 2022. The application period closes at 11:59pm on September 2nd. We are seeking responsible, motivated, and intellectually curious individuals who have an interest in political science, public policy, community engagement or related fields, and who reflect the diversity of Oakland. Find the application and further information at this link. If you know a young person with an interest in serving Oakland, please pass this information along!

  • BART is creating a roster of digital artists for anime/manga style arts projects. This roster will be used to commission artists to create a series of original anime-style mascots, along with related works which may include illustrations, comics (manga), physical merchandise, digital goods, motion-tracked character models (VTubers), short animations, and other media.This call is open until August 24! Find more info and apply here.

  • The County of Alameda recently announced the investment of $4 million to the local Early Care and Education system for existing infrastructure needs and capacity building of the field. One-time grants will be awarded to eligible licensed Family Child Care (FCC) and Center-based programs in Alameda County. Visit the website to learn about grant eligibility, award levels, and apply!


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


  • 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.

  • 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.