City Government

West Oakland Rocks ‘Friday Night Live’, Despite Youth Center Hold Up

Published

11 years ago

July 26, 2013

Despite funding issues forcing the West Oakland Youth Center to remain closed for now, last week staff kicked off Friday Night Live, a new series of community events that will run through August.

Approximately 150 people attended the event. Some residents danced to the tunes of a DJ spinning popular music while others enjoyed the food offerings. Most of the kids either got their face painted, rode their bikes or joined in the basketball tournament.

“I just heard the music and wanted to know what was going on,” said sixteen-year-old Edna Miller who lives nearby.

Sponsored by the City of Oakland, the County of Alameda, Healthy Oakland, YMCA, and District 3 Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney, organizers hope the new weekly event will give residents of the crime-ridden West Oakland community something to look forward to.

The Neighborhood Services Division decided on 33^rd and Market streets as the event venue in hopes of bringing energy and enthusiasm to residents of the area, Community Building Coordinator Dylan Hamilton said, citing the neighborhood as a “target area” in the Neighborhood Services Division.

West Oakland residents come out and support ‘FNL’

“It’s a message to the neighborhood that we’re going to use this as a positive space,” Hamilton said, adding they he also wants to drum up excitement for the youth center’s opening.

The $7.6 million West Oakland Youth Center began construction in 2008 under former District 3 Councilwoman Nancy Nadel. The grand opening was set to happen last Friday with the kickoff event, but according to Hamilton it was delayed due to issues with permits, licenses, and safety requirements.

Other reports in local media suggest that the center is ready to open but that the City of Oakland does not have the $340,000 needed to operate the facility. Mayor Jean Quan’s budget proposal released in June stated that the “City cannot absorb” the cost of operating the center. Oakland North attempted to reach Mayor Quan but she did not respond for comment.

Despite Mayor Quan’s budget, the City Council recently adopted an all-in budget providing the needed funding to support the Youth Center, according to McElhaney.

McElhaney also noted taxpayers made it possible last election, passing “Measures Y and A that fund the City-County Neighborhood Initiative,” she said.

The Neighborhood Services Division is still working to inspire residents in the community to come out and enjoy this family event. Some residents employed through the Mayor’s Summer Job program are tasked with canvasing the area to increase the community’s awareness about the event.

“We look forward to working with Supervisor Keith Carson and Alameda County on an ongoing collaboration to provide a safe place for youth in one of the most impoverished but culturally rich corridors in the City,” McElhaney said.

At last Friday’s event, local teen Miller gave her approval. “I am enjoying it and I’m going to come out again next week,” Miller said.

Friday Night Live will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. every Friday until Aug. 23. For more information, call Dylan Hamilton at (510) 238-2164 or email at dhamilton@oaklandnet.com

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.