There will be a special JLDA meeting held 6pm Monday October 6th, 229 Harrison St, Oakland. All are welcome to attend.

At the meeting there will be a presentations by Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) . ACTIA will be informing us about the proposed improvements for I-880 between Broadway and Jackson which will have a major impact on freeway access to this area and to the community during construction. These improvements are part of a larger project which will widen and earthquake retrofit I-880 through the downtown area.

Labels: announcements

We have two new restaurants now open in the district.

The first is "O My Dawg" an unassuming restaurant at 463 2nd Street near the corner of 2nd and Broadway. They are serving a tasty variety of authentic wieners and frites (German hot dogs and fries) with sauces like parsley wasabi and curry ketchup. Currently they are open daily 11:30am to 7pm and are already getting rave reviews on Yelp. If you visit O My Dawg please let them know you heard about them from the JLDA newsletter.

More upscale is the newly refurbished Miss Pearls Jam House (formerly Jacks Bistro) at Jack London Square in the bottom of the Waterfront Hotel. Just head for palm trees atop the grassy knoll and you can't miss it. According to their website they feature "gourmet New World island-inspired cuisine using the freshest ingredients and complementing the restaurant’s diverse wine and cocktail lists". Check their website for the rest of the info.

Finally, The Lucky Panda Chinese restaurant on Broadway is now closed and the space is up for rent.

Labels: announcements, frontpage

The San Francisco Estuary Project will sponsor a FREE medicine take-back event with Teleosis Institute to celebrate National Estuaries Day. The one-day program will be held on Sunday, September 28, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Jack London Square at the foot of Broadway in front of 450 Water Street.

Bring unwanted medication for safe disposal. Bring medicines in original containers with personal information marked out. No needles, sharps, inhalers, or controlled prescriptions, please. Do your part to keep our water clean and prevent environmental impacts from drugs dumped into the toilet or trash. And, learn how to save water and money during our drought.

For more information, contact Danny Pham at (510) 622-2452 or visit www.sfestuary.org.

Labels: announcements, frontpage

KQED Education Network in partnership with the English Center & Easy Voter Guide Project

Friday September 19th 5:30pm to 7pm at The English Center, 66 Franklin Street St 300, Oakland, CA 94607

Why should we vote? Why don't we? Why is voting not enough but only part of the larget picture?

Panelists include:

Doleris Huerata, American civil rights activist
Lisa Frederiksen, Easy Voter Guide Project
Kovida U, Burmese monk/leader; English Center student

Labels: announcements

JLDA Board member Gary Knecht reports that Scott Miller, Zoning Manager, has stated Kimball Allen's proposal to open a new nightclub and restaurant at 671 4th Street has been withdrawn from the August 6 Planning Commission agenda. Gary confirmed this information with case planner, David Valeska, who stated that Allen's application has been withdrawn altogether and the project is dead. Community opposition (over 50 signatures on a petition plus lots of letters) and lack of community support (no one wrote in favor of the application) seem to have made the applicant change his mind.

Meanwhile Mr Allen is the property owner and would like to find a more acceptable use for his 15,000 square foot building. If you have any ideas or suggestions at all, let us know so we can pass them along.

Labels: announcements, frontpage

Dear Oakland Resident,

We are in the midst of troubled times in Oakland. I have been receiving many calls and emails about the issues surrounding the City Administrator and the Mayor’s response. As a scientist by training, I am intent on getting all the facts before rushing to judgment as I determine the best course for the city and continue my work to empower our residents to be active, productive and proud of their city. As I become aware of the need for deeper investigation, I will approach the appropriate level of government to provide it.

I want to assure my constituents and all the residents of Oakland, that I will work diligently to expose and eliminate any corruption and just plain sloppy practices that diminish our city and devalue the hard work of the many city employees who are principled and reliable. Whenever there is a crisis, there is a dance of opportunism of which we should all be wary. I encourage you as Oakland residents to listen and evaluate carefully all that you hear and see going on whether in the press or in the realm of politics. Leadership is not the same as opportunistic power grabbing. The kind of leadership Oakland needs is leadership that will inspire honest and ethical behavior, and empower Oakland’s residents and workers to be all that they can be.

Sincerely, Nancy Nadel

Labels: announcements

Waterfront Action has just launched a new Waterfront Access Map that shows areas of public access to our waterfront in Oakland and Alameda. It shows waterfront parks, the path of the Bay Trail, where Measure DD bond money is being spent, and new and proposed waterfront development. The map is available online and in printed form - you can pick up at copy at California Canoe and Kayak in Jack London Square.

Labels: announcements, frontpage

Around 30 community members and other interested parties turned out Monday night for the candidate forum arranged by JLDA for the District 3 City council election in June. Although time was limited the audience was able to ask the candidates several questions and hear their statements and positions on various issues. All agreed this was a useful event and if there is a need for a run-off election in November JLDA would like to provide the candidates another chance to come address Jack London District voters.

Thank you to Steve Lowe and Bernice Straub for making the arrangements, our President Ben Delaney for moderating, and to Portobello for providing us with an excellent venue for the forum.

Labels: announcements, frontpage

In April 2008 the City of Oakland sent out a letter to over 1,500 Jack London District residents and business owners describing the new mixed-use parking permit plan, scope, eligibility criteria, cost and procedure for getting the permit along with an application form. These materials are available from the links below:

• Click here for a copy of the letter
  
• Click here for the map showing the streets it affects.
• Click here for the application form

If you did not receive the letter, lost it or are new to the area and need a parking permit please review the documents above, then print and fill out the application form indicating it is for an Area M permit. Mail the completed form, other supporting documentation as required, and a check for $150 payable to the City of Oakland to:

City of Oakland Parking Division, Administration
250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza #6300
Oakland, CA 94612

Note that permits are issued for a specific car and must be affixed to the car, there are no transferable permits. For instructions on how to affix the permit once you receive it click here.

If you purchase an annual Area M permit ($150) you may also purchase temporary visitor permits as follows: each 1-day permit costs $1.00 per vehicle and each 14-day permit costs $5.00 per vehicle. No more than five 1-day and five 14-day visitor permits may be purchased at any one time. If you include payment, you may order visitor permits on the application form sent out by the City (see link above).

Please note, JLDA does not issue, administer, or benefit financially from the Area M mixed use parking permit plan - if you have any questions you should direct them to the City of Oakland, specifically Marcela Pardo-Espinoza who can be reached at (510) 986-2690.

Labels: announcements, frontpage, parking

For employees of non-profit organizations to be eligible for parking permits, the non-profit must have a business license. Perhaps you already know this, but it is news to me that all non-profits are supposed to register with the City. Apparently there is no penalty if you don't, so the non-profits I have been associated with haven't bothered. To get a business license, the non-profit must submit an application along with a "one time fee" of $30. After that, an annual tax return must be completed and submitted to the City, but no additional taxes are required. The New Business Application form can be found at: http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/fwawebsite/revenue/pdf/Newbusapp.pdf or you can go to 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 1st floor and do your paperwork there.

Labels: announcements, parking

Let us know what crime and safety issues are more important to you!

The JLDCPC is conducting a short online survey design to gauge what crime and safety issues are most important for us to focus on in the coming months. We will be sharing these results with Oakland Police Department representatives. You can complete the survey online at http://jldcpc.org/survey or email bill@jldcpc.org to get a PDF or paper copy of the survey.

Labels: announcements, crime, frontpage

A big thank you to everyone who showed up, cleaned, organized and supported our ninth annual neighborhood Trash Bash*. Around fifty people volunteered and picked, shoveled, and bashed their way through piles of trash from our streets filling the entire back of a City public works truck. Cigarette butts, broken bottles, weeds, litter, even parking tickets were among those items removed during the process. Afterwards Steve Sacks fired up the grill and helped us to burgers, and Polish sausages donated by his company Prime Smoked Mats. Chips, snacks and sides to go with them were donated by Word Ground Cafe and Sierra Deli.

Among the many volunteers was a strong contingent from Covenant House who worked hard with us and joined the BBQ afterwards - thanks guys! After the BBQ JLDA President Ben Delaney presented awards in recognition of service to the Jack London District community to Steve Sacks, Joanna Adler and Karl Augenstein.

We would particularly like to thank Winnie Anderson and her husband Paul for organizing the event this year, Gary Knecht for the use of his space at The Egghouse, Steve in his sixth year as BBQ Masterchef, Bernice for the use of her pickup, and all our donors and other volunteers who made the day possible and a great success. Thank you!

Some photos from the event are available at jlda.org/trashbash/trashbash9 and there will also be a write up in the May edition of JLDA Call - out soon!

* Just in case you are wondering what happened to Trash Bash 10 - well there was a little confusion about how many there had been before, yes we've had so many now we are losing count. But rest assured this is the ninth and next year will be the tenth. The good news is we'll be able to use those poster all over again!

Labels: announcements, frontpage, trashbash

A Presentation by Margaret Gordon, Oakland Port Commissioner
Monday, May 5, 6-7:30pm
Buttercup Grill, 229 Broadway at 3rd St.

Come and listen to Margaret Gordon speak about the little-publicized health impacts and environ- mental consequences of diesel trucks idling for hours as they wait in line to load and unload, among other things.

Labels: announcements

This CalTrans project is to earthquake retrofit the bridge over Lake Merritt Channel on Embarcadero. The project is expected to start late 2009 and last at least a year. During that time Embarcadero will be completely blocked to traffic in both directions while the bridge is rebuilt. Truck traffic to the Port of Oakland which uses this bridge as an alternate route to 3rd Street (which is a truck route) will be diverted during construction.

CalTrans expects to hold a community meeting to discuss the project about 6 months before it starts. JLDA will keep the community informed.

Labels: announcements, development

The Jack London District Association is working hard to provide a website that is the number one destination for anyone researching living, working, shopping and visiting the district - as well as learning about its historic and community resources and participating in its improvement. We have a business directory, maps, photos, historic and new development information, and lots of news about life the area.

If you have a local businesses that is looking to attract customers in the area and support a local non-profit community organization then look no further than placing an advertisement on our website which is seen by thousands every year. Last month we had over 3,000 page views and we expect over 35,000 for 2008. The good news is when you become a JLDA business supporter we include advertising on the site for a year. Ad space is shared with all other advertisers but there is no extra charge unless you want to run more than one ad, have time limited ads posted, or want priority placement on the page.

Advertising on our site is a simple two step process - just sign up as a JLDA business supporter by making a tax deductible donation to support us, suggested donations start at just $50 per year for a small business. After you have made your supporter donation just drop us an email at info@jlda.org and let us know you'd like to place an ad on the JLDA website. We will then help you select the appropriate image size and locations for your ad.

Both text and banner ads are available on the JLDA website - currently in the sidebar and footer of every page on the site. For any business patron or business sponsor supporters we will provide a special top of the page banner location just for your ads so you gain maximum exposure. We are of course looking to provide tasteful ads that are informative and useful to local residents, visitors and businesses so all ads are subject to approval - but we will work with you to ensure all business supporters can have a suitable advert placed on our site, so let us know if have any questions at info@jlda.org

Labels: advertise, announcements

JLDA is deeply saddened to report that our Vice-President Steve Jimenez, died in his sleep Sunday, December 30th. Steve joined the JLDA Board of Directors in November 2006 and also lead the Growth & Development Committee.

Steve's good deeds weren't limited to JLDA, he was also on the Board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County and a co-founder and Director of the Oakland Rainbow Chamber of Commerce and Labor. He was a Partner at the law firm Adelson, Testan, Brundo, & Jimenez and has lived in Oakland almost five years. For those that knew Steve, one of his friends has set up an online memorial where you can find photos and stories about his life.

Steve is survived by his mother Marian and his three children - Dylan (16) Clayton (14), and Courtney (13). Our condolences go to Marian, Dylan, Clayton, and Courtney. Steve was a great joy to have at meetings and made an important contribution to our community, we will all miss him.

Labels: announcements, frontpage