Posts Tagged ‘You Tell Us’
You Tell Us: Oakland needs a Department of Transportation
Mayor Libby Schaaf’s 384-page proposed budget includes a subtle but potentially significant change to the structure of Oakland’s city government: the creation of a Department of Transportation (DOT). It turns out Oakland has never, in its 162-year history, had a department dedicated to transportation. This omission is long overdue for correction, which needs to occur…
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Our Young People Deserve an Education – Not Cuts
Today, many families in the East Bay face serious challenges. Some are working two or three jobs and still struggling to make ends meet. Many face the terrible reality of hunger and homelessness. Others are fighting to get their young children into Head Start programs to give them a jump-start in life, while others struggle…
Read MoreYou Tell Us: #Reclaim MLK
As Oakland and Bay Area activists, we’ve sustained a localized hashtag that circulates nationally. These hashtags act as pillars — points of reference we can call upon as iconic moments within this movement.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Oakland should ban the bullhook
Elephants are one of the world’s most awe-inspiring animals, and at the same time, one of the world’s most vulnerable. Oakland’s City Council is currently considering an ordinance that would ban the use of weapons against elephants in the city, including pitchforks, baseball bats, and axe handles. But why? Are Oakland’s elephants being jabbed by…
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Why I support Measure BB
Measure BB is an Alameda County ballot initiative that, if passed this November, would expand an existing sales tax to fund dozens of critical transportation projects in our community through 2045.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Oakland voters should reject Measure Z
Ten years ago, the city claimed it was broke, and that there was a public safety safety crisis. They asked voters to approve a “temporary” parcel tax that would last 10 years to lower crime. Sound familiar? After 10 years of the failed Measure Y, the public safety crisis is obviously far worse. This alone…
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Why I support Measure FF to raise the minimum wage
Measure FF is a ballot initiative in Oakland looking to raise the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $12.25 an hour. That $3.25 hourly increase provides someone working 40 hours a week with roughly an extra $520 each month. That alone might cover somebody’s car payment, health insurance, or help cover daycare costs.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Cellphone ‘kill switches’ will cut robberies
About three-fourths of robberies in Oakland involve theft of smartphones. Now a bill passed by the State Senate will require “kill switches” to inactive the phones, thereby removing the incentive to steal them, writes District One Councilmember Dan Kalb.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: To combat violence, put love into action
Pastors of Oakland and many more are joining forces to fight against the long trend of violence. They have been meeting and doing more than praying. They are actually putting faith to work.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: My mother’s work deserves dignity
After my mother migrated from the Philippines with my father in 1983, she became employed as a domestic worker. She has worked in private households and in caregiving facilities. Since I was 5 years old, my mother has been the breadwinner and backbone of my family. With her low wages she’s provided the basic necessities for our family while continually sending money to our relatives in the Philippines.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Meatless Monday, a resolution that can make a world of difference
It’s never been easier to eat with a conscience. The Oakland Unified School District is participating in Meatless Monday; local restaurants like Italian Colors, Mezze and Boca Nova offer Meatless Monday menus; and we have an abundance of restaurants that offer meat-free fare daily.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Vote yes on Measure A1
If you read the Measure A1 Expenditure Plan, you will see that, by law, the money must be used for animal care, children’s educational programs and maintaining the zoo’s affordability. It does specify that money would go towards upgrading animal enclosures and repairing animal shelters – but this “construction” is a far cry from using the funds to expand the zoo.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Vote no on Measure A1
I enjoy the zoo, and I truly appreciate how the East Bay Zoological Society transformed it into a special East Bay destination. But their agenda for the zoo conflicts with the preservation of open space and native habitats, and over the years they’ve worked very hard to blur the distinction between the Zoo and Knowland Park and to secure political allies that will back their proposals.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Exie could be your neighbor. She’s mine.
At the Food Bank, we haven’t seen signs of an economic recovery. FY 2012 marked the first time we responded to more than 40,000 calls from people whose pantries were empty. People are lining up for food for three hours before their neighborhood pantry opens, rain or shine. More than 300 callers each month reach out to our Emergency Food Helpline for the very first time.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: Tough love
I got a lot of love for my last op-ed, The Oakland Diss (thank you for your kind words). But I also received a lot of flak. I was called “delusional” and “naive.” I got emails asking me if I had ever even seen “the real Oakland.” My thoughts were even dismissed by SFist with an “uh-huh, sure” pat on the head.
Read MoreYou Tell Us: The Oakland Diss
It’s like we are the Boo Radley of the neighborhood, and nobody even dares to knock on our door because some guy one time told a friend that people in Oakland hate puppies and practice dark magic.
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