April 14, 2022
Dear Friend,

Tomorrow, April 15, is an important day for many in the Oakland community. Some will be attending Good Friday services, while others will gather for the beginning of Passover, which occur on the same day this year. Some community members may be gathering with their friends and neighbors for an iftar - a nighttime Ramadan feast. No matter what your faith may be, we are proud that this day represents the diversity of culture and religion in Oakland.

And a reminder - Monday is tax day! Even if you don't normally file taxes, you may be eligible for money back from the federal government from the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

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

In community,
Libby
MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF
A Historic Nomination and Fighting Gun Violence
Image via Twitter
On Friday, I was honored to be in the presence of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as she made history as the first Black woman to ascend to the Supreme Court. Oakland celebrates Justice Jackson's trailblazing work and looks forward to her serving on the highest court in the land.

And on Monday, I stood with President Biden and VP Harris at the White House to support new regulations on ghost guns, which are taking a devastating toll on our cities and our families. I also joined fellow big city mayors and our amazing local violence-prevention leaders David Muhammad and Pastor Ben McBride as President Biden announced major investments in community-led violence prevention efforts, like the nationally recognized Oakland Ceasefire. To reduce the trauma caused by gun violence in this country we can do both: fund initiatives that stop illegal weapons from reaching our streets and invest in communities to prevent violence.

I also had the chance to meet with with Department of Transportation officials to prepare a grant for $113 million for safety and mobility improvements in Oakland. More on that to come!

The Courage to Change: Poverty Pilots in Oakland
Poverty is not personal failure, it's policy failure. But the big levers of policy are at the state and especially the federal level. Last week, I published a blog post on the programs that we have begun here in Oakland in the last seven years aimed at reducing poverty, experimenting with different approaches to find out what's most impactful and most scalable. Here's a few:

Education: The Oakland Promise and Universal Pre-school, cradle-to-college-to-career supports, have now been funded for a generation thanks to the generosity of private donors and Oakland’s voters.

Housing: We piloted the Bay Area’s first-ever homelessness prevention program (one-time financial assistance, support services, legal representation) called Keep Oakland Housed that, during its first three-years, helped 5,671 families stay housed. While Keep Oakland Housed has been successful, it does not do enough to address the ongoing impacts of systemic racism on perpetuating poverty. That's why we launched the Oakland Shallow Subsidy Pilot, a pilot that has documented the impacts of modest but long-term rent subsidies of up to $700.

Mobility: We distributed 500 prepaid debit cards to low-income residents of East Oakland that can be used for public transit, bike share, or scooter share. We call this Universal Basic Mobility – allowing our residents to travel in clean and green ways without barriers based on their income.

Guaranteed Income: Oakland secured philanthropic funding to design and implement Oakland Resilient Families, our 18-month pilot offers $500 monthly payments to 600 families with no strings attached. The program was open to all who qualified, but by being intentional about our outreach, 95% of the participants in the pilot are people of color – the people who are most impacted by the policies that produce poverty in our nation.

These programs – addressing housing, transportation, and basic needs – may serve as a roadmap to ending poverty in California and across the nation. By measuring the results of these pilots, we can gather the information we need for policymakers in Sacramento and Washington to use public funds to make the biggest impact on poverty. That’s how our policy choices change, and how we can use policy to end poverty in California.

Take the City Challenge: Oakland Needs YOU!
The City of Oakland is calling on the public to submit proposals for how to address our city's biggest challenges like homelessness, violent crime, and abandoned vehicles and dumping. If you have ever had an idea about how to address one of these issues, but didn't know how to start, this is your time to shine. Until May 6, you can submit proposals for selection by City officials. The authors of winning proposals will have the chance to work with the City government to implement your solution. Visit this link to learn more about this exciting competition and to send in your idea to make your city a better place.

Earth Day 2022—Cleaning and Greening the Town
Next Saturday, April 23, 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 event sites at Chinatown, Rainbow Community Garden, Jingletown, Ira Jinkins Recreation Center, Brockhurst Community Cleanup, Courtland Creek Park, and FROG Park & Temescal Greenbelt.
 
Oaklanders in every neighborhood are motivated and organized to clean and green our town, and we are so excited to be coming back out in person together. A return to in-person Earth Day cleanup support is just the latest step in our work to make Oakland cleaner and safer for everybody: in just the last few months we’ve improved renter access to free bulky trash pickup service, and piloted a new-and-improved illegal dumping surveillance camera program. There is lots more to come and this year’s Earth Day is the next big step – come be a part of it!

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
Last Friday's Ceasefire walk out of First Mt. Sinai Church. Find a schedule of weekly Ceasefire walks here, and walk for love, forgiveness, mercy, and peace in our community.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Image via BANDALOOP
Tomorrow and Saturday, Oakland-based vertical performance group BANDALOOP will be back in town at the Bruener Building at Broadway and Grand. This performance, which marks the 30th anniversary of the group, "explores art of weaving and ecological implications of fast-fashion, transforming the building’s façade into a giant loom where stories and dances interlace."

Grand Ave. will be closed down for spectators, and the group recommends you bring blankets and beach chairs to sit on. Check it out Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 5pm and 8pm.

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES
  • 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!

  • If you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, go get that money! Most families will receive $3,000 per child ages 6-17 and $3,600 per child under 6 as a result of the increased 2021 Child Tax Credit. Please visit ChildTaxCredit.gov to see if you're eligible and claim what you are entitled to.

  • 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. Find out more in this Sacramento Bee article, or 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 | victoria@sosmow.org OR Cynthia Arrington, Volunteer Program Coordinator (510) 582-1263 ext. 115 | cynthia@sosmow.org

  • 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.