City Government
New West Oakland Skate Park Runs into Bumpy Ground
A conflict over a skate park in West Oakland has become the latest skirmish over what some see as the wave of gentrification that is sweeping the Bay Area.
The builders say the skate park is a productive use for property that was an eyesore and going to waste.
But a number of community members view these new arrivals like the settlers who thought they discovered America.
At issue is the “Lower Bobs Skatepark,” recently built on 8th and Pine streets in West Oakland’s Lower Bottoms neighborhood.
The builder is Gauntlet Skateparks, a non-profit organization that consists of “skate park builders from Oakland, Portland, Atlanta and Pittsburg working with local communities to get skate parks built anywhere, everywhere,” according to the group’s website.
However, in this case Gauntlet did not work with the community or local officials before building the park and instead constructed it without permits and liability insurance to ensure the public’s safety.
Santiago Menendez, an organizer for Gauntlet, says the area was filled with garbage, and the group just wanted to do “something productive” for the community.
“We did build it. We’re not denying that, but we’d like to move forward and talk about what we’re going to do,” said Menendez.
Given the lack of effort to work with the city form the beginning, Councilmember Lynette McElhaney calls Gauntlet’s methodology “disheartening” and “disrespectful” to residents.
“Doing it the way they have, has been a drain on the city’s scarce resources,” she said. “It’s discouraging to investors who actually go through the process.”
McElhaney cited another nearby skate park, Town Park, as an example of a project that went through the process in the right way.
Built in West Oakland at the historic Defremery Park by Keith “K-Dub” Williams, Town Park has been in operation since 2008. While the project may have taken longer to get up and running, Williams followed the necessary steps, according to McElhaney.
Williams is now in the process of getting permits to rebuild the wooden skate park with concrete, which he says Oakland needs more of. As someone who is familiar with the culture, he says he understands the Do It Yourself (DIY) attitude of skateboarding and resourcefulness of skaters, but skate boarders should be caring enough to engage the community from the onset.
“Aesthetically it’s a beautiful site, but in terms of not engaging the community, [it] may have been a bit naïve,” said Williams. “I’m about skateboarding and skateboard culture, but I’m about community first.”
“There’s a need for this type of recreation,” he said. “[But] if I had did that in Piedmont, I’d be in jail.”
He said some skaters have told him they were not welcomed when visiting the new skate park because they did not help build it or because they did not bring beer.
Williams, however, is not worried about these glitches. Instead, he says he is committed to his primary focus, creating events for youth to engage in.
In the meantime, Lower Bobs Skatepark is closed until an agreement is reached between the group and city officials
“We didn’t build it with permits, but we want to go on from here out the right way,” said Menendez. “We don’t want to lose it.”
McElhaney says she supports the group going through the process. She hopes that if the park is not approved, the group will responsibly remove it just like they built it and not impose that burden on taxpayers.
Activism
S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System
Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.
By Carla Thomas
San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.
“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”
According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.
“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”
Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.
SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.
Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.
Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.
Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.
Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.
“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
Bay Area
Mayor London Breed: State Awards San Francisco Over $37M for Affordable Housing
On April 30, Mayor London N. Breed announced San Francisco has been awarded more than $37.9 million in funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of the State’s Multifamily Housing Program (MHP). The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.
By Oakland Post Staff
On April 30, Mayor London N. Breed announced San Francisco has been awarded more than $37.9 million in funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as part of the State’s Multifamily Housing Program (MHP).
The HCD loan will provide the final funding necessary for development of Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a 168-unit affordable housing project located in San Francisco’s Mission District.
The new development at 1515 South Van Ness Ave. will provide 168 affordable homes to low-income families, formerly homeless families, and persons living with HIV earning between 25-80% of the San Francisco Area Median Income (AMI).
In addition, the project is anticipated to provide family-friendly amenities and ground floor community-serving commercial spaces that preserve the prevailing neighborhood character of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District.
“This funding unlocks our ability to move on building affordable housing units for families in San Francisco at a crucial time. We understand the level of need for more housing that is accessible, and like the state, the city continues to face a challenging budget cycle,” said Breed. “1515 South Van Ness is a good example of what can be achieved in San Francisco when you have strong community partnerships and an unwavering commitment to deliver on critical needs for our residents.”
“From the beginning of my term as Supervisor, I have fought to bring affordable housing to 1515 South Van Ness” said Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “In the interim, the site has been utilized for homeless services and shelter, and I am thrilled that HCD has recognized the value of this development, and we are finally ready to break ground and bring 168 affordable homes to low income and formerly homeless families in the Mission.”
Owned and occupied by McMillan Electric Company until 2015, the City and County of San Francisco purchased 1515 South Van Ness Avenue in June 2019 with the intent of developing new affordable housing.
In November 2020, the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) released a Multi-site Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified developers to build affordable housing on the site, and subsequently selected Chinatown Community Development Corporation (CCDC) and Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) in May 2021 to develop the site.
The project is expected to begin construction in winter 2025.
“A strong, long-term push by Mission advocates to make this site 100% affordable is now paying off, with 168 family units that include services and childcare. People of color communities know what they need, and we are excited to be in partnership with a team, consisting of MEDA, CCDC, and MOHCD, that listens,” said Malcolm Yeung, Executive Director at CCDC.
“We are excited to be in partnership with CCDC, yet again, and for the opportunity to develop intergenerational affordable housing in the City’s Mission District,” said Luis Granados, executive director at MEDA.
Increasing housing affordable to lower-income and vulnerable residents is a key priority in the City’s Housing Element which calls for additional funding for affordable housing production and preservation, as well as Mayor Breed’s Housing for All Executive Directive that sets out the steps the City will take to meet the bold goal of allowing for 82,000 new homes to be built over the next eight years.
Tuesday’s funding announcement emphasizes the importance of regional and state collaboration in order to reach our housing and climate goals.
“We are thrilled—not just to bring a project of this size to a community with great need — but to do so with community-based developers and their partners who understand the neighborhood and sensitivities around cultural preservation,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.
City Government
Vallejo Continues to Accept Applications for Boards, Committees and Commissions
The City of Vallejo is requesting applications to serve on a number of the City’s boards and commissions. Vallejo residents who are interested in serving on an advisory body are invited to submit an application and supplemental questionnaire for consideration.
By City of Vallejo
The City of Vallejo is requesting applications to serve on a number of the City’s boards and commissions. Vallejo residents who are interested in serving on an advisory body are invited to submit an application and supplemental questionnaire for consideration.
There are currently openings on the following boards, commissions, and committees:
- Beautification Commission(2) terms expire 6/30/28
- Civil Service Commission(2) terms to expire 6/30/28
- Design Review Board(2) terms to expire 6/30/28
- Housing & Community Development Commission(1) term to expire 6/30/28
- Housing Authority(1) tenant commissioner term to expire 12/31/24
- McCune Collection Commission(3) terms to expire 6/30/28
- Participatory Budget Steering Committee(6 members & 3 alternates) terms expire 6/30/25
- Planning Commission(2) terms to expire 6/30/28
- Surveillance Advisory Board – Districts 1, 2, and 3 Members OnlyDistricts 1 & 3 terms to expire 1/2/25 and District 2 term to expire 1/5/27
- Sister City Commission(1) term to expire 6/30/27
- Solano Commission for Women & Girls(1) Vallejo representative can be youth or adult. Term to expire 4 years from date of appointment
For City Boards and Commissions, except for the Civil Service, McCune Collection, and Sister City Commissions, the Surveillance Advisory Board, and the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee, all appointed members must complete and file a Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700, within 30 days of appointment.
All City Board and Commission members must complete AB 1234 Ethics training and file a Certificate of Completion within 30 days of appointment.
In most instances, to be eligible for appointment, applicants must be residents of the City of Vallejo. Information regarding the duties of each board and commission and specific criteria for appointment may be found within each application. With some exceptions, appointments are typically for a term of four years.
The application period will remain open until a sufficient number have been received in the City Clerk’s Office
Interviews with the City Council are tentatively scheduled for the evenings of June 3 and 10. Applicants must attend the interview to be considered for appointment on a board or commission.
Application forms and supplemental questionnaires are accessible in several ways:
- The City’s website, located on the Boards and Commissions page
- At City Hall, Office of the City Clerk, 555 Santa Clara Street, 3rd Floor, Vallejo, CA
- By Email at abrahamson@cityofvallejo.net, or by phone at (707) 648-4527
By U.S. Mail: City of Vallejo, C/O City Clerk, PO Box 3068, Vallejo, CA 94590
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