Featured

Stirring the Pot: Pet Peeves – Time for Some Spring Cleaning

Published

10 years ago

April 1, 2014

Aaaaaw … spring is in the air.

Okay, okay … with this week’s unseasonal weather in the Bay, filled with thunderstorms, hail and snow predicted for some of the hills, the last thing on anyone’s mind is spring. But they do say, “April showers, bring May flowers,” so I guess it’s all good.

The fact of the matter is it is springtime – a time for reflection, renewal, rebirth and rejuvenation. Not just for one’s self, but for the physical things in our lives, too.

Out with the old, in with the new. Time to organize your home, office and thinking; time to make all that is “dirty,” clean. And for me, it’s time to check out what’s going on around us and share who and what I think should get swept to the side or better yet, given the old heave-ho for good.

The rain – Yes … I’m back to that again. I know the trees must bloom and the flowers must blossom (and yeah, there is this drought thing I hear about), but all it does is make people who cannot normally drive worth a lick, drive even worse. “Slippery When Wet” is not road sign porn.

J-walkers – I’m not sure how to get rid of this group (ruling out actually hitting them, which I would never, ever condone bodily harm to anyone who doesn’t deserve it), but I am really beginning to think Oakland has its own set of unspoken rules when it comes to when you can cross the street:

Crosswalk ‘Walk’: “Take your time, you have the right-of-way. And if you are talking on a cell phone, you have the right to walk a little slower.”

Crosswalk ‘Don’t Walk’: “That car isn’t going to hit you. Take your time because you don’t have a vehicle and it’s tough walking everywhere you go.”

Crosswalk, period: “These are not meant for you. They are markers to tell drivers where to stop so as to not be hit by crossing traffic. You cross when and where you choose to make it the easiest for you.”

J-walkers pushing shopping carts – If you’ve driven anywhere in Oakland, you have at least once encountered a human-steered shopping cart filled with cans, bottles, recyclables and/or pallets. In some areas, we actually feel the need to give them the right of way! Recently, late one night, I watched two men pushing carts filled with pallets that they couldn’t see over, down the middle of Broadway. #Seriously?!

Lawbreakers – Now I’m not talking about your run-of-the-mill criminals … I’m talking about those people – specifically drivers – who believe a silly no talking or texting on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle law actually applies to them. How silly of me to want to get where I’m going without having to overcompensate for your obvious strong command of the road and others around you. Hey, YOLO … right?

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning, professional journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to our readers, , contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com. Need more stirring? Visit stpminute.blogspot.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

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

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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

6 days 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

6 days 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.