We Fight Blight in South Berkeley-North Oakland

Time to Roll Up the Tents...

2011-03-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

It's time to roll up the tents and move on to other endeavors. After much thought and deliberation, We Fight Blight has decided to shut down its blog... For the past several years we have dedicated a significant amount of time to fighting blight in North Oakland and South Berkeley and empowering residents with the tools and information to address blight on their street, block or in their

Is South Berkeley the New Temescal?

2011-02-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

Historic Lorin District Many of you may remember a day when Temescal was not the bustling, lively, regional destination that it has become. There was a time when Temescal was populated with fast food restaurants, liquor stores, mini-marts, check cashing outlets, pawn shops, seedy bars, vacant store fronts and even a porn theater. Street crime and hustling was commonplace. Back then the

Donuts in the North Oakland Donut Hole

2011-02-13T20:20:00.000-08:00

We have often reported on the baja 94609/94608/94703 zip codes as up and coming areas with good bones, great housing stock, easy access to transportation and proximity to a lot of great restaurants. Now the area we refer to as the donut hole has gotten a lot better. The donut farm opened up about six months ago at 6037 San Pablo Avenue in a small storefront in the Golden Gate Neighborhood. The

North Oakland Under Attack by Taggers

2011-01-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

North Oakland appears to be under attack by taggers. Telegraph Avenue, Shattuck Avenue, and Martin Luther King Jr. Way have recently seen a significant spike in graffiti. Graffiti is a way for gang bangers and others to mark their territory--not unlike a dog pissing on a tree. If your property is tagged, please make an effort to remove the graffiti as soon as possible. Graffiti attracts graffiti.

North Oakland and South Berkeley Continue to Be Hot Real Estate Markets

2011-01-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

North Oakland and South Berkeley have a distinct advantage when it comes to location. From a transit perspective, they benefit from two BART stations, an abundance of AC Transit service along Shattuck, Telegraph and San Pablo and multiple access points to freeways leading to essentially every major destination point in the Bay Area. Culturally and intellectually, the area benefits from the

Oakland Public Works Cannot Get it Right

2011-01-17T11:24:00.000-08:00

In February 2009, We Fight Blight noted a large amount of debris, furniture and household items on the sidewalk along the cul-de-sac at 656-665 53rd Street. This was immediately reported to Oakland Public Works with a request to remove the illegally placed or disposed debris, furniture and household items. Upon returning to the location on March 7, 2009, we noted that most of the "stuff" was

Oakland Public Works Routinely Violates Migratory Bird Treaty Act and CEQA

2011-01-09T14:48:00.000-08:00

Each year the City of Oakland, Public Works Department, removes, by their own account, several hundreds of mature trees throughout the City of Oakland. Approximately 25% of all trees removed by the City are located in the area north and east of 580 in the Oakland hills. The remainder of trees are within the flatlands. Oakland trees are removed either by the City within the City right-of-way or

North Oakland Gang Injunction=Racial Profiling?

2010-12-22T23:16:00.000-08:00

Some suggest gang injunctions are simply a method to institutionalize and reinforce racial profiling by the Oakland Police. Some suggest the proliferation of gangs contribute to blight and disinvestment in Oakland. Some suggest the Oakland Police are too willing to kill young black men. Some suggest Oakland residents are too willing to ignore that most murders in Oakland are committed by people

New Street Trees on 65th Street

2010-12-11T18:26:00.000-08:00

Jane Brunner and Tree Planting Crew A North Oakland neighbor reported that several new street trees were planted on 65th Street, which has been the center of controversy over the illegal removal of City-owned street trees by the Public Works Department. Interns with the Sierra Club provided the manpower in digging the holes and planting ornamental pears and Chinese pistache. Both ornamental

Brooke Levin and Tree Services Program Illegally Removing City Trees

2010-11-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

It appears that Brooke Levin, the Deputy Public Works Director, has been at it again. This time she directed her staff in the Tree Services Program to cut down a disputed tree on 65th Street in North Oakland in late October 2010 without following the requirements of the Oakland Code of Ordinances, Chapter 12.32 Street Trees and Shrubs, Chapter 12.36 Protected Trees, and Chapter 12.40 Hazardous

Oakland Tree Services Program and No Parking Signs--Can They Get It Right?

2010-09-28T22:58:00.000-07:00

As we have reported before, the Oakland Tree Services Program, which is headed by Brooke Levin, Assistant Public Works Director is poorly managed and in a bit of disarray. We are highlighting an experience one of our readers had with Public Works over the attempted removal of trees on 65th Street in North Oakland. When the Tree Services Program comes out to the neighborhoods to either trim, cut

NIc Nak Redux: Just Say NO to Desley Brooks and Rebecca Kaplan

2010-09-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

We thought readers who wanted a break from the mismanagement of the Oakland Tree Services Program, would like to hear a quick update on the Nic Nak. After a long and contentious public process that resulted in the approval of a convenience store, but the denial of alcohol sales at the Nic Nak, the owners of the Nic Nak seem to have lost steam. Their convenience store is open erratically, but

City of Oakland Tree Services Program Mismanaged and in Disarray

2010-09-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

For many communities, street trees are a significant asset that make our neighborhoods more livable, provide character and increase property values. Some of the benefits of street trees include: Creating safer walking environments by providing distinct edges to sidewalks Shading pedestrians and protecting them from the rain, sun and heat Giving interest and scale to pedestrian environments

Oakland City Employee Defends $165,500 Salaries for City Managers

2010-08-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

An Oakland City employee posted in support of Brooke Levin, Assistant Public Works Director, complaining that the We Fight Blight article describing problems with the tree services program was unfair to Ms. Levin. The employee also strongly supported Ms. Levin's $165,500 salary, which keep in mind is only $10,000 less than the Governor of California. The email, which appears to be from a high

City of Oakland: Mismanaged, Incompetent and Unfit to Serve Residents?

2010-07-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

As most of you are aware, the City of Oakland is in a major budget crisis. The City Council has made a number of cuts and recently voted to eliminate 80 police positions. Council members refused to make additional cuts to libraries, parks, senior centers, and children's programs asserting these were core local government services. Council members also refused to impose additional salary

Urban Releaf Providing Free Street Trees in Oakland

2010-07-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Urban Releaf is working to plant 1,200 trees in Oakland. You can contact them at 510-601-9062 or at http://www.urbanreleaf.org/ They have a list of approved street trees for Oakland and FAQs. Street trees are a great way to green up your neighborhood, lower your energy costs by providing shade and fight global warming. Also, they help to improve the quality of life for residents by fighting

Sidewalk Repairs in North Oakland

2010-07-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

As many of you have experienced, the City of Oakland's infrastructure is failing. There is little money to invest in basic core infrastructure such as roads and sidewalks, let alone create streetscapes that are inviting and pleasant. The City is faced with such a massive budget deficit that it will be eliminating 80 police even though Oakland has some of the most dangerous streets in the country.

Death at the Liquor Store

2010-06-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Tragically, another life was snuffed out on the streets of South Berkeley, just across the Oakland border. Two days after the Oakland City Council denied the former Nic Nak Liquors the ability to sell liquor at 6400 Shattuck Avenue, Kenneth Jerome Tims Jr. was gunned down behind the Stanford Market and Liquor Store at 62nd and King streets. The killing happened only a block from where two other

City Council Denies Nic Nak Proposal to Sell Liquor

2010-06-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight, the City Council overturned the Planning Commission's approval and denied the Nic Nak convenience store the ability to sell alcohol. Focusing on the legal requirements for a variance and discounting the Planning Commission's fabrication of "historical relevance" as a basis for granting a major variance, the Council voted 5-3 to uphold the appeal and deny the alcohol sales. Many of the

Nic Nak to Return June 1, 2010 for Fifth Public Meeting

2010-05-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Nic Nak saga returns to the Oakland City Council on June 1, 2010 for its fifth public meeting. For what should have been an open and shut land use decision denying alcohol sales at 6400 Shattuck Avenue, the Nic Nak permit review has turned into a three ring circus replete with accusations of gentrification, racism and intolerance. While most of those charges have come from the supporters of

Nic Nak to Return to City Council May 18th

2010-05-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

The appeal of the Nic Nak Liquor store is returning to the City Council and has been agendized for Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 6:30 pm at the Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA. See agenda item 9.1 (City Council Agenda). At it's meeting of May 4, 2010, the City Council was unable to either deny or approve the proposed alcohol sales for the Nic Nak Liquor Store. This was due to

City Council Can't Make a Decision on Nic Nak

2010-05-05T00:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight, the City Council was unable to make a decision on the Nic Nak Liquor Store. A large number of neighborhood residents appeared before City Council asking the appeal be upheld and liquor sales at 6400 Shattuck be denied. After hearing scores of residents question the use of "historical relevance" as a basis for approving a major variance, expressing concerns about setting a new Citywide

NIc Nak Liquors coming to City Council Tonight

2010-05-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

As a reminder, the Nic Nak Liquor Store is coming to the City Council tonight on Appeal. The matter will be heard at 6:30 pm at 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 3rd Floor, Oakland. City Council Agenda (page 8 of 12). You can also access the staff report here Staff Report. This may prove to be an interesting public hearing. The owners of the Nic Nak, the Pannell's, have circulated fliers in the adjacent

Approval of Nic Nak Liquors Based on Historical Relevance?

2010-04-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

The appeal of the Nic Nak Liquor Store is agendized for the City Council on May 4, 2010 at 6:30 pm (see page 8 of 12 City Council Meeting Agenda May 4, 2010). This is a critical meeting that could significantly change City policy on allowing non-conforming liquor sales to be approved in the City of Oakland and perpetuate the proliferation of liquor stores. The City of Oakland Planning Staff are

Nic Nak Coming to City Council May 4th

2010-04-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

The Nic Nak Liquor Store is finally coming to the City Council for a public hearing. After several delays, the matter has been agendized for Tuesday May 4, 2010 at 7:00 pm at 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 3rd Floor, Oakland. This is an appeal by the East Lorin Neighborhood Association to overturn the Planning Commission's approval of a major variance and major conditional use permit to allow the Nic

Oakland--First World Taxes, Third World Services

2010-03-29T23:14:00.000-07:00

The Oakland Tribune recently reported that due to the city's "truly unprecedented" financial crisis, the City Council may be placing both a parcel tax and a utility tax on the November ballot to generate more revenue ( New Oakland tax measures.). The City of Oakland already has some of the highest combined taxes in the west. Overall, the city's annual budget for FY 2009-11 is approximately $1.1.

Bringing in Spring

2010-03-23T23:37:00.000-07:00

During the long, wet winter season our fight against blight slows down. Many of the repairs and improvements that are required to remedy blight are often difficult for property owners to undertake during the winter season. Consequently, we also go into hibernation. However, this winter much of our time has been taken up with a determined fight against the Nic Nak Liquor Store. Our strategy for

Nic Nak Hearing Delayed Until May

2010-03-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

The Nic Nak hearing of March 16 at the City Council has been delayed by City Council Rules Committee at the request of the Pannell's and their Attorney, Hiawatha Roberts. Mr. Roberts requested the postponement because a college friend of his and Judge in Texas recently passed away. Mr. Roberts is to attend the funeral which conflicted with the hearing date. The hearing will be rescheduled most

Approving Nic Nak Would Set Bad Precedent for Oakland

2010-03-11T09:13:00.000-08:00

The Nic Nak appeal will be heard by the City Council on Tuesday, March 16, 6:30 pm Oakland City Council Chambers, City Hall, Agenda Item 9.1. The appeal has been filed by concerned residents with support from the East Lorin Neighborhood Association, the Shattuck Crime Prevention Council, and business leaders. The Planning Commission approved the Nic Nak despite the objections of of North Oakland

Nic Nak Liquors Coming to City Council March 16

2010-02-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

The City Council Rules Committee has set March 16, 2010 for the Nic Nak appeal. This appeal is critical in determining whether the City Council will enforce its existing regulations on limiting the proliferation of liquor stores in Oakland by denying a conditional use permit and variance for alcohol beverage sales at 6400 Shattuck Avenue or whether it succumbs to the continued pressure and

Nic Nak Liquors Not Yet Agendized by City Council

2010-01-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, approval of the Nic Nak Liquor Store by the City Planning Commission was appealed to the City Council by concerned residents including members of the East Lorin Neighborhood Association and the Shattuck Crime Prevention Council. A written appeal was submitted pointing out in excrutiating detail the flawed justification of the Planning Commission. Interestingly, the appeal

A Mural for South Berkeley

2009-12-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

The corner of Ellis and Alcatraz has seen its share of fights, drug dealing, and graffiti. In the past years, the corner building fashioned a blank white wall that served as a canvas for taggers giving a grim and blighted reminder that South Berkeley still has a way to go before it pulls itself up by its bootstraps. This past summer, a corps of young students in Youth Spirit Artwork, directed

College Avenue Safeway Moving Forward

2009-11-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

Despite vocal opposition from a small cadre of nearby residents, the College Avenue Safeway continues to move forward in the entitlement process to rebuild the Safeway in Rockridge at College and Claremont. They have purchased the Union 76 Gas Station, closed it and fenced it. The City has also held a scoping meeting for the EIR. You still have until December 1st to identify issues you believe

Update on Nic Nak Liquors and the Appeal to City Council

2009-11-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

In a large outpouring of support against the approval of the Nic Nak Liquor Store, the North Oakland Community raised the filing fee to appeal the Planning Commission's approval of the Nic Nak Liquor Store. Community members banded together donations ranging from ten to one-hundred dollars. In this down economy, that is a significant indication of how much the North Oakland Community does not

Nic Nak Liquors Appealed to City Council

2009-10-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

On October 7, 2009, the Oakland Planning Commission approved a major conditional use permit and a major variance for the Nic Nak Liquor Store to sell alcoholic beverages. This approval occured in the face of heavy public opposition by members of the East Lorin Neighborhood Association, the Shattuck Crime Prevention Council and North Oakland business owners. North Oakland and South Berkeley

Nic Nak Liquor Store--Nothing different. It's all exploitative.

2009-10-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

Nic Nak Liquor Store at 6400 Shattuck Avenue is attempting to reopen after being closed for more than 5 years. Because their Deemed Approved Status as a legal nonconforming use has expired, they must get a Major Conditional Use and Major Variance from the City of Oakland Planning Commission. The Shattuck Crime Prevention Council, the East Lorin Neighborhood Association, business owners and

Nic Nak Liquors--A Case for Over-Concentration of Liquor Outlets in North Oakland/South Berkeley

2009-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Nic Nak Liquors at 6400 Shattuck Avenue is attempting to obtain a Major Conditional Use Permit and a Major Variance from the Oakland Planning Commission for liquor sales. Approval of this land use activity would create a major and significant precedent in the ability for liquor stores that have lost their Deemed Approved Status as a non-conforming legal use to re-open in Oakland.Because the

Nic Nak Liquors--At What Cost to Our Youth

2009-09-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, the proposal to open Nic Nak Liquors at 6400 Shattuck Avenue has stirred a tremendous amount of controversy in North Oakland. Many of those opposed to Mr. Ashrious Pannell's proposed liquor store cite an over abundance of existing liquor stores in North Oakland and the nuisance many have become in terms of loitering, public drunkenness, litter, graffiti, drug dealing and

Nic Nak Liquors--A Community in Disagreement

2009-09-16T21:27:00.001-07:00

Our recent blog about Mr. Pannell's efforts to get a Major Conditional Use Permit and Major Variance to sell liquor at 6400 Shattuck seems to have generated quite a few of comments. More than any other We Fight Blight Blog, this post, like Mr. Pannell's proposal, has garnered quite a bite of controversy. There are now 50 comments on the original post.Mr. Pannell, for unknown reasons, requested

Nic Nak Liquors---A Liquor Store Coming to Your Neighborhood Soon

2009-09-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

North Oakland and South Berkeley are littered with liquor stores. The blighting effect of these car-oriented businesses is far and wide--litter, graffiti, loitering, boom cars, drug dealing, vandalism, and even murder. Neighbors living near liquor stores in North Oakland and South Berkeley have had their quality of life greatly diminished by liquor stores and their patrons. Neighbors have

Update on College Avenue Safeway

2009-09-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Below is a letter from Elisabeth Jewel regarding the status and an update on the proposed College Avenue Safeway. As many of you may remember, there has been somewhat of an uproar generated by a small number of residents about the proposal, which includes completely rebuilding the Safeway by moving away from the typical suburban model to something more urban and urbane. The proposed design

Make Oakland Better Now

2009-08-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

We Fight Blight has been working hard to make North Oakland and South Berkeley a better place to live by focusing on blight, crime, and infrastructure improvements. So it was with much glee that we recently learned about another grassroots effort to Make Oakland Better Now.http://www.makeoaklandbetternow.org/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?&entry_id=46025Make Oakland better

Caltrans Begins Repaving Deteriorated Ramps In North Oakland

2009-08-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of this year, we reported that Caltrans had allowed several of its on-ramps and off-ramps in North Oakland to significantly deteriorate to the point of creating safety hazards as well as a very, very bumpy ride for motorists and commuters. These ramps included the southbound on-ramp at MLK and 52nd St. to Highway 24 and the northbound off-ramp from Highway 24 to MLK and 52nd St..

The Neverending Garbage

2009-07-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

You've got to love Oakland. It is the place that people love to trash...literally. Just take a look around at the streets of Oakland. What do you see? Neverending garbage...literally. Cans, liquor bottles, cigarette boxes, bags of fast food leftovers, condoms, candy wrappers, drug packages, and buckets of human waste. Yes, even human waste. Who dumps all of that stuff--Oaklanders. Young and old,

City of Berkeley Violates the Public Records Act

2009-06-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

Because of the growing frustration with the City of Berkeley's unwillingness and inability to enforce basic blight issues in South Berkeley, we submitted on May 6, 2009 several Public Record Act Requests to the City Manager, Phil Kamlarz. The purpose of the request was to better understand what, if anything, has been done by the City to investigate complaints about blight in south Berkeley. The

City of Berkeley Fails to Enforce Blight Ordinance

2009-05-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

Sadly, the City of Berkeley fails to enforce it's own blight ordinance. Multiple requests for enforcement of the blight ordinance and removal of abandoned and inoperable vehicles in South Berkeley have failed to produce much, if any results. The lack of enforcement appears to be a systemic problem within the City ranks. In an effort to shed light on this lack of enforcement, two public records

Using Inmates to Fight Blight

2009-04-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

This article showed up recently in Commercial Appeal regarding Memphis Tennessee. Memphis shares similar problems as Oakland with crime and blight. This program provides an opportunity to address issues of blight, while giving inmates an opportunity to contribute back to their community. With the large number of inmates and parolees that originate from Oakland, coupled with our massive budget

The City of Oakland Fills Potholes on Shattuck Avenue

2009-04-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

We recently got this response below from Jaime Ramey, PWA- Department of Infrastructure and Operations Street and Sidewalk Maintenance, regarding the problems with potholes on Shattuck Avenue from Woolsey Street to 58th Street. We appreciate Mr. Ramey's quick response and his dedication to fixing the potholes. However, we have to wonder with Oakland's infrastructure being in such a poor state,

Potholes on Shattuck Avenue--58th Street to the Berkeley Border

2009-04-08T07:45:00.001-07:00

As many of you are acutely aware, the section of Shattuck Avenue in North Oakland between 58th Street and the Berkeley Border at Woolsey Street is replete with potholes. The ride is nothing less than rough and is worse than some of the Third World roads we have encountered in impoverished countries abroad. Some neighbors have reported damaging their vehicles when negotiating this treacherous

Caltrans in Action

2009-03-10T07:47:00.001-07:00

Since writing to inform Caltrans about the problems at some key North Oakland over/underpasses and onramps, Caltrans Maintenance has responded with action. Crews have recently been busy repairing broken guardrails and removing overgrown brush. We have to credit Caltrans for a quick response. Not all of our concerns have been addressed, and we will be discussing those further with Caltrans, but

Caltrans Responds

2009-03-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Executive Director, We Fight BlightThank you for your email of concerns related to the condition of Caltrans pavement, landscape, guardrail, litter and graffiti removal, and homeless camp removal on the Highway 24 on-ramp starting at 52nd Street (nearChildren's Hospital), the Highway 24 over crossings at 52nd Street, 54th Street and Shattuck Avenue, 55th Street, and 56th Street and Telegraph

A Little Bogged Down

2009-03-04T18:23:00.001-08:00

I wanted everyone to know that at the moment We Fight Blight has been a little bogged down with personal and work related responsibilities. While we have not given up our fight against blight, we have not had an opportunity to blog about it. But rest assured, we are still making progress. We have been the squeaky wheel with the Cities of Oakland and Berkeley and Caltrans, pushing the bureaucrats

Updates on Blight Complaints

2009-02-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

Inoperable VehiclesThere were a smattering of nine inoperable/abandoned vehicles in North Oakland that were reported quite some time ago, but were not either tagged or towed. Working with the Oakland Police, it was determined that there were some operational issues with the tow company. All nine vehicles have been tagged and the property owners notified. If the vehicles are not made operable or

Temescal Tool Lending Library Fights Blight

2009-01-15T20:16:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite public institutions is the Temescal Tool Lending Library at the North Oakland Public Library. While small, the Tool Lending Library is chock full of tools for the house and garden. Everything you need to maintain your home in tip-top shape is available. Really, there is no excuse for property owners or renters to not fix a problem with their house for lack of tools. With a

A Letter to Caltrans

2009-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

Messieurs Kempton, Sartipi and Eshqipour:We wish to bring to your attention several significant conditions with the highway and overpasses in North Oakland that create safety problems for the traveling public and contribute to the appearance of blight in our community. We understand that some, but not all, of the ongoing conditions were brought to your attention by the City of Oakland's lawsuit

Infrastructure and Economic Stimulus--Can Oakland Get Its Fair Share?

2009-01-06T21:28:00.000-08:00

Apparently, our new Councilwoman, Rebecca Kaplan, has made it known that she intends to lead the charge to ensure that Oakland gets its fair share of federal economic stimulus dollars. We applaud her and find her perspective to be refreshing.Becks at Living in the O reported that: At Kaplan’s reception yesterday, she told her supporters that her first focus in office is to add to the

Economic Stimulus and Oakland's Streets

2009-01-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

In looking at other East Bay Cities such as Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord, one has to wonder.... how do they manage to maintain their streets and keep them repaved to avoid third world conditions? Why does the City of Oakland have such a difficult time repaving its own streets? We often hear that in Oakland we pay a disproportionate amount of taxes, yet get so little in return. Keeping

Shattuck Avenue--the City of Oakland Maintains Blight

2009-01-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

The purpose of the City of Oakland's Blight Ordinance is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens by requiring a level of maintenance of residential, commercial, and industrial property which will protect and preserve the livability, appearance, and social and economic stability of the city and which will also protect the public from the health and safety hazards and

Christmas Day in North Oakland-South Berkeley

2008-12-25T21:49:00.001-08:00

North Oakland-South Berkeley is an eclectic mix of progressive desires to improve the community and resistance to change; the past and the future; the good, the bad, and the ugly. We Fight Blight took a Christmas Day stroll and this is what we saw. We think it's a good representative cross-section of our North Oakland-South Berkeley neighborhood. We Fight Blight is always looking to make a

Blight in Downtown Oakland

2008-12-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

Blight is a significant problem in Oakland creating an impression of a run down community that is rife with crime. First impressions are everything. It is no wonder that Oakland loses out on so many opportunities when it comes to business investment, tourism and shopping. If the local government cannot get a handle on blight, a very basic issue, why would businesses want to invest in the

Ashby BART Modernization Moving Forward

2008-12-16T22:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) held its third and last public meeting in South Berkeley at the Phillips Temple CME Church. Approximately 15-20 neighbors showed up to provide comments on a proposed modernization effort for the Station. The meeting focused primarily on pedestrian improvements along Adeline Street, including a bus shelter/seating area and gateway entrances to

The High Costs of Blight

2008-12-14T12:05:00.001-08:00

Eight years ago the Office of the City Auditor published its findings on a citizen's survey of blight issues in Oakland. Not surprisingly only 32% of those surveyed at the time were even aware that the City of Oakland had a blight ordinance. Only 24% of the respondents rated the cleanliness of the City as being good to excellent. Only 21% of the respondents had reported a blight problem and

Resolution of Blight--A Complaint Driven Phenomenon

2008-12-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

One of the most frustrating aspects of resolving blight in Oakland and Berkeley is that it is largely complaint driven. Neither the City of Oakland nor the City of Berkeley appear to be taking pro-active steps to identify and resolve blight issues. Rather, their systems rely largely on complaints from concerned residents. When pressed to address complaints in an efficient and effective manner,

Fall Musings

2008-11-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

To start this beautiful fall day, several of us rode through North Oakland. From the Berkeley border through Temescal, into Piedmont and looping into lower Rockridge. As we rode at a slow, but steady pace, we took notice of the area between the Berkeley border at Woolsey, Shattuck Avenue, MLK and 51st Street. The housing stock is not unlike that in the tonier parts of Rockridge, Piedmont and

Paint or Gunshots

2008-11-19T20:53:00.000-08:00

I came across this website by accident and it had an interesting little post about remedying blight in Temescal...the fixed window effect...watch out it is contagious.www.rebron.org/category/oakland/October 30, 2008 I can tell you about the gunshots we heard the other night, it was a car jacking on MLK. But I’d rather show you that our North Oakland/Temescal neighborhood is truly

Planning Commission Hearing on Creekside Project

2008-11-17T08:43:00.001-08:00

While I do not often report on development projects, I wanted to plagiarize the post below from Becks and her blog, Living in the O. This is not necessarily an issue of blight as much as an issue of positive change and turning a development more fitting for a suburban community into one of an urban village. The development and growth in Temescal has been nothing short of successful and its

Berkeley to Repave Shattuck Avenue from Woolsey to Ward

2008-11-12T23:55:00.002-08:00

Great news. We just noticed a large electronic sign on Shattuck Avenue which states that the section of Shattuck between Woolsey (Oakland border) and Ward will be repaved starting on November 16. We, as well as others, have been advocating for this portion of Shattuck to be repaved for many months. We are happy to see that the City of Berkeley has finally responded to citizen complaints about

City of Berkeley Continues to Perpetuate Blight on Shattuck Avenue

2008-11-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

If you recall, in late July we reported on the status of Shattuck Avenue between Ashby and the Oakland City border. We reported that this section of roadway had severely deteriorated to the point where it represents a public safety problem and detracts from the community, creating an appearance of neglect and blight. This section of the road is filled with so many ruts and potholes, that it is a

2008-10-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Community PolicingThe Annual Meetingof theShattuck Neighborhood Crime Prevention CouncilWednesday October 29, 2008 7:00 PMat the North Oakland Senior CenterCorner of 58th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way(park and enter on 58th Street side)Voice your concerns about neighborhood issuesMeet your local community policing officerGet action on noise, traffic, blight and drug dealingMeet and work

New Form of Blight in South Berkeley

2008-10-24T07:53:00.001-07:00

This was recently reported on the East Lorin Neighborhood Associations' Yahoo Group.I began some gardening work on the median which has resulted in adiscovery of a new genre of crime and/or blight which I will callthe "trash plant". There was this large overgrown iris-like plant, alarge fronded plant with stalks of purple-blue flowers, that hadformed into a messy mass about 2 ft wide and 5 ft

Forest City's Uptown Will Help Revitalize Oakland's Downtown

2008-10-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

Oakland residential hub is set to open amid hopes of changing blight to a sightBy Cecily BurtOakland TribuneArticle Last Updated: 10/21/2008 10:48:51 PM PDT var requestedWidth = 0; Click photo to enlarge View of the Forest City Uptown development seen from the north side of the Fox Theater in...

Update on Targeting Blighted Houses

2008-10-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

We have made significant progress in working with the Oakland Vehicle Abatement Unit to remove abandoned and inoperable vehicles in our target area. Over 80 vehicles have been removed by the property owners, made operable or towed by the Oakland Vehicle Abatement Unit. Since we now have less than ten vehicles that are waiting for resolution, we are beginning to focus our attention on blighted

Update on Removing Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles From North Oakland

2008-10-14T22:46:00.001-07:00

As a reminder, the We Fight Blight Team has several major goals for the South Berkeley-North Oakland area bounded by Alcatraz Avenue (Berkeley), Telegraph, Market and 51 Street (Oakland): (1) get all abandoned and inoperable vehicles removed or to an operable status; (2) get all blighted properties reported to the City of Berkeley and Oakland for resolution; (3) identify all public property that

Is an Image of Buddha Appropriate for an Underpass

2008-10-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

We have heard that one member of the community is questioning whether it is appropriate to have a "religious" image painted on public property and another is questioning whether a Buddhist image should be used to fight blight.Regarding the appropriateness of whether a Buddhist image should be used to fight blight, I think that the individual posing this question grossly misinterpreted the

Proposed Mural for 55th Street Underpass

2008-09-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

This is the proposed mural for the 55th Street overpass in North Oakland. The mural is being coordinated through Councilwoman Jane Brunner's Office. If you are interested in providing comments on the proposed artwork, please contact Geoffrey Johnson by October 23, 2008 at: Geoffrey S. JohnsonConstituent Services & Legislative AidCouncilmember Jane Brunner, District

Oakland Setting Up New Prosecution Team

2008-09-28T00:48:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 26, 2008 - 3:56 PM PDT San Francisco Business Times - by Steven E.F. Brown On Monday, Oakland’s city attorney will give details of a new crime-fighting program set up by the city and Alameda County. John Russo plans a press conference Monday morning to introduce three criminal lawyers who will focus on “chronic non-felony crimes

Another View on the Berkeley Blight Ordinance

2008-09-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

I recently held a meeting with several City of Berkeley Staff to discuss their progress (or not) on a number of complaints related to blight. Unfortunately, I came away a little more than frustrated with the City of Berkeley because I seemed to hear a lot of "we can't, it's not possible, the problem is too small, we do not have enough staff, if we enforce it in South Berkeley we would have to

Want to Help Design Murals for Caltrans Overpasses in North Oakland?

2008-09-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

There will be a meeting on Thursday, September 25 from 7-8:30 at the North Oakland Senior Center to discuss the murals and improvements for some of the Caltrans overpasses (the street level portion) in North Oakland around 54th Street. These areas are attractive nuisances that promote illegal dumping, litter, graffiti and homeless encampments. The idea is to create an attractive area that the

Oakland Police Partner with the Community to Remove Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles from North Oakland

2008-09-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

The We Fight Blight Team indicated earlier that one of its primary goals was to eliminate all abandoned and inoperable vehicles from a designated area in North Oakland. Abandoned and inoperable vehicles contribute to blight, present safety problems for children, and eliminate valuable off-street parking. During these difficult times in the real estate market, abandoned and inoperable vehicles as

A Tool to Fight Blight

2008-09-20T10:01:00.001-07:00

Other communities share similar problems as South Berkeley-North Oakland. See the efforts below in this Connecticut community to address blight. A common theme is shared community values for maintaining properties and addressing blight and the notion that blight ordinances are largely complaint driven.Posted by Shore Publishing on Aug 14 2008, 11:06 AM

Crime and Blight They Go Hand In Hand

2008-08-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

On the 1800 Block of Harmon Street in South Berkeley there is a problem house. This particular house is by all definitions blighted--though the City of Berkeley exempts owner occupied, single-family dwellings and cannot require the property owner to maintain his property. The house has peeling paint, most likely the leaded variety, its siding is deteriorated, there are several inoperable

Making Progress in North Oakland

2008-08-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

The We Fight Blight Campaign is seeing the fruits of its labor in North Oakland. As we drive around the neighborhood, we can see abandoned and inoperable vehicles being towed and properties being cleaned up and repainted. The Vehicle Abatement Unit of Oakland has been nothing but stellar. We have provided them with many, many locations for abandoned and inoperable vehicles. They are steadily

Oakland's Neighborhood Law Corps

2008-08-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Problem Liquor StoreWe recently got a rather slick brochure from Oakland's Neighborhood Law Corps with City Attorney John Russo and Staff looking rather imposing on the front cover. The brochure was sent out to educate the community about the Neighborhood Law Corps which is intended to take on slumlords, shut down problem liquor stores and help make neighborhoods safer.The Neighborhood Law Corps

Still Investing in South Berkeley-North Oakland

2008-08-13T00:32:00.000-07:00

Green Condo Development on 65th Street, Oakland.Listed in the low $700,000 and all sold very quickly.This regionally recognized development replaced adilapidated single family dwelling with three condo units.While this blog focuses on eliminating blight in South Berkeley-North Oakland, we don't want to give people the idea that all is bad in our community. Far from it. Despite the poor economy

We Fight Blight--Geographic Scope and Focus

2008-08-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Several people interested in fighting blight have asked me to clarify the geographic scope and focus of the Fight Blight in South Berkeley-North Oakland effort. Understandably, the terms South Berkeley and North Oakland are a bit amorphous. To start, we have limited our geographic focus as follows: (1) Ashby to the north; (2) Telegraph to the east; (3) Sacramento/Market to the west; and (4) 52nd

Asbhy BART Station to Undergo Possible Modernization

2008-08-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

Bart Plaza Along Adeline Avenue BART recently announced that it is holding a public meeting to address potential modernization of the Ashby BART Station. This is an exciting opportunity for the Community to step forward and identify positive ways to improve the Ashby BART Station. The meeting is to address: (1) security; (2) customer convenience; (3) cleanliness;

Fight Blight--Request a Free Tree From the City of Oakland

2008-08-04T23:30:00.000-07:00

CITY OF OAKLAND FREE TREE PLANTINGSIf you would like to have a tree planted for free in front of your house or apartment building (in the "planter strip" portion of the sidewalk), fill out the City of Oakland Tree Planting form. Your property owner or apartment manager's signature is required.The City will:* Inspect your property for a qualified location* Cut open the sidewalk and remove the

Urban Litter Forum Examines Links to Crime and Economic Development

2008-08-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer DeLong "Litter and illegally dumped materials attract crime and repel economic development in urban areas" concluded a group of more than 80 attendees at an Urban Litter Forum. They agreed that blighted areas in the nation's cities are more impacted by crime and economic decline. The Urban Litter Forum, which convened in Hollywood, Florida, January 11-12, was sponsored by the

Can City Governments Be a Source of Blight?

2008-07-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Two fundamental purposes of blight ordinances are to ensure that property owners are maintaining their properties in a manner that avoids or eliminates a public health and/or safety issue and to ensure that property values and the tax base are maintained. As such, blight ordinances adopted by local governments require property owners to meet certain fundamental standards set by the community.

Please Report Broken or Burned Out Street Lights

2008-07-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

The following is from Karen Ivy at the Rockridge NCPC"When I attended the City Auditor's meeting today on the audit of the Public Works dept., somebody brought up the issue of burned out street lights, and asked why Public Works can't be more proactive - they actually come out to fix dead street lights pretty promptly once they are reported, but somebody has to call the problem in. The meeting

North Oakland Effort to Remove Abandoned and Inoperable Vehicles

2008-07-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

During the past several weeks, there has been a concerted effort in the North Oakland neighborhoods bordering Berkeley (bounded by the Berkeley/Oakland border, Telegraph Avenue, Martin Luther King Jr. Way/Adeline, and 59th Street) to identify and remove abandoned and inoperable vehicles. The City of Oakland Abandoned Auto Detail has responded admirably tagging and removing vehicles with a

Why are litter and illegal dumps problems?

2008-07-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is from the National Center for Environmental Decision Making Research in the United Kingdom. http://sunsite.utk.edu/ncedr/guides/litter/introduction.htmLitter and illegally dumped solid wastes pose risks to human health and the environment. Litter is transported into drains and commonly ends up in area rivers or bodies of water. Illegally dumped wastes attract flies and may leach into the

Fight Graffiti in Berkeley

2008-07-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

The City of Berkeley is committed to a clean and safe environment for residents, visitors and businesses. All acts of vandalism, including graffiti, are a sign of neglect. Experience has shown that when graffiti is not removed immediately, more follows. Quick reporting and eradication is the best anti-graffiti strategy.The City works with private property owners, businesses, and residents to

City of Berkeley Clean City Program

2008-07-15T00:17:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the City of Berkeley has a Clean City Program...This in from a Lorin District Neighbor. Thanks Robin.The spirit of cooperation and community responsibility is alive and well in Berkeley. The City that is known for it's community spirit and environmental concern is intensifying its efforts to inform and motivate residents and businesses to make conscious and positive choices that

Litter and Illegal Dumping

2008-07-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that some parts of South Berkeley and North Oakland are awash in litter? Take a really close look at Shattuck Avenue Between Berkeley Bowl and Alcatraz. It is a dump heap. Unfortunately, this is typical of our community. Although many in South Berkeley and North Oakland pride themselves on being environmentally sound and green, they do little to stem the tide of litter and

Grand Jury Report on Drug Houses in Berkeley

2008-07-07T23:34:00.000-07:00

See page 45 regarding the Alameda County Grand Jury Report on Drug Houses in Berkeley. This has implications for blight issues in South Berkeley. Not only does this specifically address more aggressively pursuing drug houses, but the same rationale and logic can be applied to owner occupied, single family dwellings and issues of blight. It is time that the City of Berkeley get serious about

Oakland Abandoned Auto Detail Rocks

2008-06-30T23:10:00.000-07:00

The Oakland Abandoned Auto Detail has been doing an outstanding job at tagging and towing inoperable and abandoned vehicles on public and private property. Inoperable and abandoned vehicles are one of the most significant contributors to blight in North Oakland and South Berkeley. In a 2-3 block area centering around Alcatraz Avenue approximately 15 inoperable and abandoned vehicles were recently

The "Broken Window" Theory

2008-06-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

This explanation of the "broken window" theory was written by Henry G. Cisneros when he was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. It was published in a series of essays titled "Defensible Space: Deterring Crime and Building Community" - January 1995. James Q. Wilson and George Kelling developed the `broken windows' thesis to explain the signaling function of neighborhood

A Tale of Two Cities

2008-06-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

This tale of woe was recently recounted to me by a frustrated resident that lives along the Berkeley Oakland border. In trying to address blight issues in his neighborhood related to dilapidated houses, a concerned citizen checked the City of Berkeley web page to find out the process for reporting blight and what the City does to investigate and resolve blight issues. Unfortunately, the City web

What is urban blight?

2008-06-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

By wisegeek.comThe word blight typically refers to plants that are withered or rotting due to disease. Urban relates to or refers to a city or characteristic of city life. When the two terms are put together, urban blight refers to the deterioration and decay of buildings and older areas of large cities, due to neglect, crime, or lack of economic support. Urban blight is a typical sight in