Extracted text · highlighting “Jason Patton”

VOL 35   •   NO 1   •   ISSUE 371   •   JANUARY 2020

www.rockridge.org
CIRCULATION: 5800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council • 4123 Broadway, PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94611

New Laws for Accessory Dwelling Units Expand Housing
Options for Homeowners
— by Loni Gray

If you’ve been following the Accessory
Dwelling Unit (ADU) movement, then
you know that as of January 1, 2020, many
significant legal changes take place across
California. These changes, combined
with those that began in 2017, enhance
a family’s right to build what is needed,
so they can thrive and strengthen our
community in the long term.
what was being built. And it encour­
aged people to convert underutilized
structures like garages and studios by
“grandfathering in” structures already
Three years ago, the California
legislature took a major step. It gave
us the right to build an ADU on any
residential property, and it eliminated
most added parking requirements. If,
for example, your property is a half
mile from a bus stop, additional park­
ADUs, page 10
SAVE THE DATE:
RCPC Town Hall
with Ryan Russo on
Thursday, January 16th
Aing cannot be
required.
It’s still an
expensive af­
fair to build a
new dwelling,
but the 2017
law did make
some efforts
to reduce cost,
limiting the
fees to reflect
the scale of
ll are welcome and encouraged to
join the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) at the first
Town Hall of the year. The meeting will
be held on January 16, from 7:30-9pm,
at the Rockridge Library, 5366 College,
in the upstairs meeting room.
January’s event will feature several
topics of interest. To start the evening
off, Brooke Levin, former Director of
Public Works at City of Oakland, will
briefly introduce Oakland Measure Q,
a parcel tax to clean up our local parks,
waterways and recreation areas. The
homeless crisis will also be addressed.
Illustration: Loni Gray

Rockridge Community Planning Council
Needs Board Members Like You
— by Leonora Sea, RCPC Chair

H
Alameda County Supervisor Keith
Carson will also be on the agenda to
discuss the importance of the 2020
Census for our community, and how
his office is working to make sure an
accurate count of all of our residents
is obtained.
ave an idea for enhancing Rock­
ridge? Looking for a way to use
your talents and experience in service
to our community? Then running for
a seat on the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) just might be
right for you. Serving as board member
is an excellent way to work on conse­
quential issues relating to transportation,
communications, parks, land use, and
community-based grant projects.
nity involvement; and provide leader­
ship and representation for community
interests.”
Board members are elected “at-
large” so each represents all residents
within RCPC’s boundaries. The 2020
election of board members will be held
at the April 16, 2020, Town Hall. Six
seats are up for election. To qualify, a
candidate must be 18 years or older
and live within RCPC boundaries.
(See www.rockridge.org/boundaries.)
Our main Town Hall speaker
will be Oakland’s Department of
Transportation (OakDOT) Director
Ryan Russo, who will provide an
overview of OakDOT, its successes,
opportunities for the new year, and
other highlights. Come prepared
to learn more about transportation
in Oakland and how it has changed
since OakDOT’s formation. n
To quote the RCPC bylaws, the
purpose of RCPC is to “preserve and
enhance the unique character of the
Rockridge neighborhood; promote the
health, safety, and quality of life of its
residents; furnish a forum for commu­
To be considered as a candidate,
email info@rockridge.org no later than
close of business Wednesday, February
26. For further information, contact
chair@rockridge.org.. n


January 2020
2

New Laws Go Into Effect In 2020
The Rockridge News, founded March 1986
by Don Kinkead, is published monthly (except
in August) and is sponsored by the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC), a non-
profit public benefit organization founded to:
preserve and enhance the unique character
of the Rockridge neighborhood; promote the
health, safety and quality of life of its residents;
furnish a forum for community involvement;
and provide leadership and representation of
neighborhood interests.
This year, Governor Newsom signed
over 1,000 new bills. Here are some
key new state laws coming your way:
teachers to get a restraining order on
someone for guns if they fear that
person will cause harm.
Medical Cannabis
Children with medical conditions who
are treated with cannabis will now be
allowed to use the medication in school
with proper compliance and a medical

Online Privacy
The Consumer Protection Act gives
internet users the right to delete their
data, and to know what personal data
is being collected.
Harassment Reporting
The statute of limitations for
reporting workplace harassment
has been extended from one
year to three years. Additionally,
sexual harassment training is
now required for companies with at
least five employees.
Contract Workers
Only when a worker is free from the
direct control and direction of the em­
ployer and work outside of the compa­
ny’s core business, can they claim to be
independent contractors.
Nursing Mothers
New law requires accommodations
for lactating mothers in the workplace
including penalties for violations.
Circus Animal Ban
Exotic animals including elephants are
no longer allowed in circuses as a result
of the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act.
Gun Laws
SB-61 requires a 30-day waiting period
between buying semi-automatic rifles.
AB-12 allows employers, workers and
New Laws, page 13

Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks	�������������������Editor
Valerie Knight Design	�������Graphics & Layout
Jo Ellis	�������������������������������Assistant Editor
professional’s approval.
Private Prisons
All private detention facilities
and prisons must be phased
out by 2028, with no new
contracts being renewed.
Street Food Vendors
Local governments are now prohibited
from banning sidewalk food sales, and
are required to set up a licensing sys­
tem if they want enforcement options
other than citations or fines.
Arbitration Agreements
Employers are now prohibited from
requiring employees to sign arbitration
agreements.
Hair Styles
A person can’t be discriminated
against, at work or at school, as a result
of their hair style. This includes hair
that is afro-styled or braided.
Electric Scooters
The speed limit for scooters has been
raised from 25mph to 35mph, and
helmets are no longer required when
navigating city streets.
& Community
Calendar
Judith Doner Berne	�����������Eyes on Rockridge
Susan Montauk	������������������Business Manager
RCPC Board of Directors, 2019-20
Leonora Sea	����������������������Chair
Vacant	��������������������������������Vice-Chair
Casey Farmer	��������������������Co-Secretary
Andrew Masalin	����������������Co-Secretary
Ronnie Spitzer	�������������������Treasurer
Stuart Flashman	����������������Assistant Treasurer
Michelle Boyd, David Garcia, Mary Catherine
Haug, Matt Levy, Eric Lombardo, Anna L.
Marks, Robin Zimpfer McDonnell
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to RCPC with
“Rockridge News Subscription” on the memo
line. Mail to the address below.
Contacting The Rockridge News
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News? • Do you
have questions about newsletter distribution?
• Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News
block captain? • Would you like to write a
letter the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org;
www.rockridge.org; The Rockridge News,
4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611.
Articles and letters submitted for publication may
be emailed to the editor or sent to the address
above. Submissions are limited to 600 words,
must include the author’s name, phone number,
email address, and city or neighborhood of
residence, and are subject to editing for clarity
and brevity at the editor’s discretion and without
notice to the submitter.
Views expressed in articles and letters accepted
for publication do not necessarily reflect those of
The Rockridge News, its editor, or the board of
directors of the Rockridge Community Planning
Council. To reprint a Rockridge News article,
contact the editor.
Newsletter advertising deadline for February’s
issue is January 23.
Advertising rates are $26/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rate available. For display ads, call
Jo Ellis at (510) 653-3210 (after noon), or email
joellis1@hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right to
refuse any display or classified ad it deems inap­
propriate. (Classified ad contact: page 14.)


January 2020
3

Stop Signs Returning to Shafter Avenue
— by Jason Patton, Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Manager,

settled into incompatible behaviors.
Thus, OakDOT will be reinstalling
the stop signs on Shafter. The modifi­
cations will also include lowering the
signs in the traffic circles to improve
visibility, and replacing the “traffic cir­
cle” signs with signs that read, “Yield to
Traffic in Circle.” The work is planned
for completion in February 2020.
OakDOT, Safe Streets Division
The City of Oakland’s Department
of Transportation (OakDOT) will
be reinstalling the stop signs on Shafter
Avenue at Cavour, Clifton, and Hud­
son Streets. These are the locations
where stop signs
were removed in
conjunction with
the installation of
traffic circles in
November 2018.
For the past year,
OakDOT has
been monitoring
the traffic circles to understand how
they are functioning.
to the complaints of pedestrians that
fewer drivers are yielding to them as
they cross the street.
Reinstalling the stop signs will clarify
who goes first, and reduce speeds to
diminish the
likelihood and
severity of po­
tential crashes. It
will correct the
visibility issues
noted above, hav­
ing drivers stop at
each intersection
where they can clearly see each other. It
will also help protect pedestrians cross­
ing Shafter by reducing drivers’ speeds
and making drivers more likely to yield.
For more information, contact
jpatton@oaklandca.gov at the
OakDOT Safe Streets Division. n
“The Last Gift Box,”
A Free Community
Workshop on End-
of-Life Decisions
— by Patt Schroeder
T
Based on fieldwork and community
comments, we have determined that
reasonable people do not agree on who
has right-of-way at the circles. Some
people understand traffic on Shafter to
have the right-of-way: because the side
streets are stop-controlled Shafter traffic
should go first. Other people are of the
mind that the person who enters the
traffic circle first has the right-of-way.
he Caregiver Support Group of
College Ave Presbyterian Church
(CAPC) invites the local community
to attend “The Last Gift Box Work­
shop” on Sunday, January 19, 2020,
from 3–5pm, 5951 College Ave.
OakDOT recognizes that reinstalling
the stop signs is not ideal for bicyclists.
Shafter is a bike boulevard, and the
purpose of a bike boulevard is to prior­
itize bicyclists, maintain local access for
residents, but discourage cut-through
traffic. While being mindful of these
policy goals, OakDOT’s decision to
reinstall the stop signs is based on the
practical and immediate consideration
of keeping people safe on Shafter.
Tina Cole Kreitz, author of The Last
Gift Box, A Present to Those Who Fol­
low Me, will share the strategies avail­
able in her guide to help adult children
and their parents decide how they wish
to live and die. The discussion will
include how to organize papers, how
to make medical decisions, how to gift
possessions, and more.
Both of these views have a basis —
but they are incompatible with each
other. OakDOT staff documented
these kinds of interactions in field
observations of “near misses.” We
also analyzed lines of sight and found
blockages created by private landscap­
ing and buildings. We are sympathetic
When making changes to the streets,
there is often a “settling in” period
during which people become familiar
with the changes and adjust their
behaviors. After one year, people have
Tina's guide and workshop teaches
families how to discuss the difficult
issues included in end-of-life planning
and motivates them to make decisions
ahead of time, before a crisis occurs.
Tina speaks on this topic from the
perspective of deep personal expe­
rience, and with grace and a dash of
humor. Some who have participated in
her workshops consider her the “Rick
Steves’ guide for your last adventure."
Copies of her workbook will be
available for purchase at the event, and
those attending will be asked to make a
small donation of $10. You can reserve
your spot for free via Eventbrite at
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-last-gift-
box-workshop-tickets-84827534439
More information can be found
online at www.capcoakland.org. n


January 2020
4
Letters to the Editor

respects both the community and the
site (which includes two landmarked
buildings). Many think the project
would further gentrify the neighbor­
hood. Fears about fire safety, very
strong since the 1991 Oakland Hills
fire, should not be dismissed lightly.
NIMBY, YIMBY, SIMBY
and The CCA Campus
The City and its consultants are
currently working on the environmen­
tal impact review (EIR), which will take
six months to a year to complete.
Upper Broadway Advocates (UBA),
a neighborhood group, conducted
two public meetings earlier this year
to elicit community response. From
the masses of letters and comments,
three main positions have emerged.
Dear Editor,
California College of the Arts (CCA)
is moving from Broadway and College
to San Francisco.  As you most likely
have heard, CCA and the Emerald
Fund plan to construct 554 new mar­
ket-rate units in four 5 to 8 story build­
ings, and one 19-story tower, including
367 parking and 554 bike spaces. They
also want to add one floor to the exist­
ing dormitory at Clifton, with 35 units,
reserved for low income artists (six
percent of the total project units). The
project requires re-zoning and Master
Plan revisions to change the 35 feet
height limit to up to 190 feet.
What Next?
UBA’s position is that 19 stories
is too tall, 35 affordable units is too
little. Ultimately, these policy issues
will drive the City Council’s approval
or rejection. Downtown has been the
preferred place for high-rise buildings
(more than 7 or 8 stories). Along the
Broadway corridor, from Uptown
to College Avenue, new mid-level
housing is the norm. The two develop­
ments nearest CCA are 5 and 6 stories
tall (Baxter and Merrill). The City’s
Guidelines for Corridors and Commer­
cial Areas assert that new development
should “achieve a compatible transi­
tion between areas with different
scale buildings.”
NIMBYs (Not in My Backyard)
oppose any development that chang­
es the status quo, such as upzoning,
regardless of the impact. Their con­
cerns about traffic, parking, views, and
crime, etc. are often challenged as
trivial or spurious. Their desire to pro­
tect their neighborhood outweighs any
public benefits a project might offer.
YIMBYs (Yes in My Backyard)
approve of any housing development,
no matter how big or luxurious, regard­
less of neighborhood impacts. They
argue that the extreme housing short­
age requires large-scale development.
They feel that people moving into mar­
ket-rate units will free up older, cheaper
units, and that the associated impact
on traffic, parking, etc., and especially
appearance, are insignificant compared
to the public benefit obtained.
But what kind of transition is there
between Broadway’s mid-level build­
ings and the 19-story tower? The pret­
ty pictures on the developer’s website
do not adequately show the full height
of the tower, nor its position on the hill,
nor its relation to surrounding build­
ings. Is it not possible for Emerald and
CCA to build attractive housing that
integrates with the community, instead
of a Salesforce-like tower that looms
over it? Isn’t there a smarter solution?
SIMBYs (Smart in My Backyard)
welcome reasonably dense “smart”
development that benefits the neigh­
borhood and the city. The majority
response from the meetings was that
the tower is wildly out of scale as it
offers too few affordable units and dis­
California requires communities
Continued next page


January 2020
5

from previous page
hoods friendlier, safer, and lovelier.
More neighbors means more support
for local businesses, more transit use
and less freeway traffic, and more
neighborhood characters to create
neighborhood character.
put together a down payment.
to set housing goals and report on
progress. Oakland has more than met
its goal for the well-off and dramati­
cally missed its goal for everyone else
(see below). Clearly, Rockridge, with
New apartments let people move in
without pushing others out, and they
can bring benefits that help the com­
munity in specific ways. For example,
my partner is an artist and, like most
Bay Area artists, she struggles to find
stable studio space. One of the unique
aspects of the new homes at CCA is
they are also bringing new affordable
workspaces to artists in the East Bay.
However, we can’t
welcome more neigh­
bors without building
more homes. Though I
live nearby, and though
we may have seen
each other on College
Ave, I do not live in
Rockridge. I love the
neighborhood, but I
simply have not been
able to find an affordable home.
Opening Rockridge to small apart­
ment buildings and moving forward
with the renovation of large sites into
hundreds of homes, as is planned for
the old California College of the Arts
campus, will create space for more
neighbors and maintain the colorful
streets and diverse businesses we
love. But above all else, it means
there would be more housing options
at more price points.
Unit Goal
Units Issued
Income Level
for 2018
Permit
Progress
Very Low, Low,
Moderate
6949
1,319
19%
But it’s not just big buildings that
can help us make a more welcoming
Oakland. We should be doing more
to encourage mom-and-pop con­
tractors to build naturally affordable
small apartment buildings rather than
flipping cottages into multimillion dol­
lar luxury single family homes. Duplex
conversions could be a new bread-
and-butter for these small businesses,
creating new homes for our growing
city and new income opportunities
for empty-nesters who want to stay in
their family house.
Above
Moderate
7816
15,622
200%
Totals
14,765
16,941
* City of Oakland 2018 Annual Housing Element Progress Report
its beauty, walkability and transit, is a
very desirable place for developers
who prefer projects with a high return
on investment — luxury with views.
The City Council’s continued approval
of large housing projects with few af­
fordable units indicates they buy into
the “trickle-down” theory of housing
— as the affluent move into mar­
ket-rate housing, they free up older
and cheaper units for poorer people.
I can’t comment on housing with­
out recognizing my own privilege as
someone with a white-collar career
and a family that hasn’t been subject
to the injustices of redlining. This
letter is not a complaint about my
housing challenges. It is a plea for
our broader community to consider
how harrowing this process must be
for our neighbors trying to grow a
family, for our neighbors dealing with
slashed hours and short paychecks,
for our neighbors scrambling for
This myth doesn’t work in cities
with expensive land and ever-grow­
ing demand from new and old resi­
dents. Surely the Council can require
a reasonable number of affordable
units. Isn’t there a smarter solution?
For readers of The Rockridge
News that haven’t had to find a new
place to live recently, it is a challenge
everywhere, but especially in Rock­
ridge. There aren’t many apartments
here. And even though newly built
apartments may sound expensive,
consider that a 30-year mortgage on
a bungalow in Rockridge costs more
than $6,000 per month — if you can
Residents of North Oakland and
Rockridge, what do you think? What
kind of smart development would you
support? Contact UBA at UBAOakland
@gmail.com, and visit our website
UBAOakland.org for links to City
documents and other resources.
— Submitted by Upper Broadway
Letters, page 6
Advocates
Won’t You Be My
Neighbor?
Dear Editor,
Last week, I met a new neighbor,
which is a rare treat in my aging,
low-turnover neighborhood. I was in­
trigued to learn that they had moved
into an ADU down the street, much
like the one I live in. I didn’t know
there was an extra home in that back­
yard, but now I’m delighted to have
a new face to greet in the morning.
More neighbors make our neighbor­


January 2020
6

Remember to
Shop Rockridge!
HAPPY
NEW YEAR!!!
May 2020 bring much
joy and happiness
and successful home sales!
MAXI LILLEY
510.919.8997
maxi@redoakrealty.com
The Rockridge Realtor® with A Designer’s Eye
       DRE#1919653

Letters
from page 5
land itself. Indeed, Proposition 13 is
something we all must grapple with,
none more than aspiring renters and
homeowners with nowhere to go.
The CCA redevelopment is an op­
portunity to set a positive example
for all communities in the Bay Area
while moving Rockridge forward with
a sound moral compass.
emergency housing after a crisis,
for our neighbors trying to find an
apartment that is wheelchair acces­
sible, or for any one of the 350,000
people in our region dealing with
housing insecurity.
Oakland hasn’t always been a
welcoming and inclusive city. Like the
United States writ large, we have a
history of racial and economic injus­
tice that we cannot look away from.
However, I know that Oaklanders
and Rockridgers today love our city
because of its diversity and inclusive­
ness, its opportunity and openness.
Let us all extend that welcome to our
new neighbors. I look forward to say­
ing hello, and I hope you do too.
— Logan Williams
Instead, we are throwing up road­
blocks and grinding development
once again to a standstill. Robert
Brokl and Alfred Crofts wrote an
opinion piece in last month’s Rock­
ridge News that, in addition to UBA’s
efforts, highlights a surprisingly naked
NIMBY sentiment and set of ideas
(The Presidio, a federally owned Na­
tional Park property, as example? How
many affordable units are there in
the Presidio?) that largely ignore the
realities we face as a community, and
will ultimately be self-defeating in the
mid- to long-term with declining tax
revenues, under-enrolled schools, and
a lack of home-care workers to serve
Rockridge residents aging in place.
An Opportunity for
Progress
Dear Editor,
Why not push for even more vertical
development on the site with higher
standards for design, and along with
it argue for even more green space?
Why not push for a set of beautifully
designed and developer-funded Navi­
gation Centers for homeless, knowing
that these centers are associated with
reduced homeless numbers in the
immediate proximity — not to mention
it being the right thing to do? Why not
use efforts like these to gain greater in­
volvement and subsidies from the city,
county, and state to re-imagine Broad­
way and College Avenues as shining
examples of micro-mobility and access
to major transportation hubs?
In response to the CCA site rede­
velopment proposal, a new organiza­
tion in Rockridge called the “Upper
Broadway Advocates” formed and
mobilized hundreds of residents with
extraordinary speed. Their concerns
are legitimate (e.g., traffic, trees,
affordable units), approach thoughtful,
and intentions seemingly in the right
place. The headline on their website
pleads: “Asking for your help in pre­
serving Oakland.” So what exactly are
we intending to preserve?
Our dramatically increasing home­
less numbers on doorsteps and in
storefronts, lack of residential units
of all kinds, vacant retail shops on
College Avenue, and soon-to-be
declining school enrollment numbers?
Or an idealized version of the past,
one where everyone has access to a
single-family home, walking access to
BART, and unobstructed views from
their back porches (Rockridge as
“A Little Hamlet” as described by
a Rockridge News contributor last
year)? The former is unsustainable,
and the latter, impossibility.
Let’s find ways to imagine and
progress toward better futures instead
of clinging to preservation practices of
the past. Our future depends on it.
— Gabriel Kleinman
Editor’s Note: Views expressed in articles
and letters accepted for publication do not
necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors
of the Rockridge Community Planning
Council. We welcome your comments and
suggestions. Please send them to editor@
rockridge.org.
Urban centers across the country
(in our state specifically) are changing
dramatically, few more than Oak­


January 2020
7

RCPC Welcomes New Board Members

Rockridge Community Planning
Council Land Use Committee
RCPC is pleased to announce the appointment of three board members
to fill the current vacated seats.
The next Land Use Committee meeting
will be on Wednesday, January 22, at
7:30pm at the Rockridge Branch Library.
Agenda will include updates on discus­
sion of the Legislature’s further consider­
ation of transit area up-zoning through
a revised SB 50 (Wiener/Skinner) and an
update on the Rockridge Housing Study.
Please check https://rockridge.org one
week prior to confirm the meeting
date, time, and place.
Eric Lombardo
had a broad portfolio including housing
programs and community development.
Since retiring I have pursued a certificate
in interior design. My husband and I
have four children, seven grandchildren
and, amazingly, a great-grandchild on
the way. Our three youngest grandchil­
dren are here in the Bay Area.
As a young person, renter, environ­
mental professional, rider of transit
and bikes, and ad­
vocate for/member
of the LGBTQ
community, I am
excited to have this
voice and bring
these perspectives
to the board.
Finally, we love our dogs (replacement
children) and we train together in dog
agility classes. As a recent transplant to
Rockridge, I look forward to contribut­
ing to our wonderful community.
Turner Moves on
After 15 Years As
Block Captain
— by Susan Montauk
B
At my day job,
I raise funds for the Sierra Club’s
national work on clean energy,
public lands, and outdoor access.
I’ve also done some volunteering
for housing/tenant rights and for
public education.
Matt Levy
My background is in public policy
and data analysis, having received my
master’s degree
in policy from
Stanford Univer­
sity. Previously, I
have worked on
strengthening insti­
tutions of gover­
nance internation­
ally and have been
increasingly interested in applying my
expertise at the local level.
lock Captain William Turner is
moving on soon from his home on
Cavour. He has enjoyed delivering The
Rockridge News to his neighbors for 15
years, but now he hopes one of those
neighbors will take over his job. Thank
you, William, for playing an import­
ant part in making Rockridge a truly
neighborly community. We wish you
lots of luck in your new digs and new
endeavors.
I have lived in Rockridge with my
partner, Alex, since early 2018 and
spend much of my personal time
exploring our regional parks on foot
— Redwood Regional, Sibley Volcanic,
Huckleberry Botanic, Claremont and
Wildcat Canyons, and Lake Temes­
cal — are nearby favorites of the more
than 30 East Bay Regional parks I’ve
had the fortune to visit thus far.
The Rockridge News relies on the
support of residents to deliver the
newsletter each month to neighbor­
hood homes. Who will take his place?
If you live on Cavour or nearby please
consider helping out with this monthly
20- to 30-minute paper route. There is
one other route that needs to be cov­
ered as well:
• 	 Route 15A: Delivers newsletters
I look forward to meeting more
of my neighbors and the Rockridge
community. Say hello if we cross paths
at a cafe on College, on a local trail, or
in the neighborhood.
I currently manage an analytics
team at High Lantern Group, applying
data science to the practice of issues
management where I regularly write
and think about key issues impact­
ing the country and the implications
for business. I’m also working as a
data science consultant for the Judi­
cial Council of California on a team
seeking to improve digital services for
those going through civil and family
law matters without a lawyer.
Robin Zimpfer McDonnell
It was The Rockridge Kitchen Tour
2019 that drew me to the organization
where I volunteered my assistance
and enjoyed getting to know my won­
derful neighbors. I’ve had a personal
interest in design, and was able to
put that interest to work in designing
and building a Modern Craftsman
house and remodeling a century-old
Craftsman house prior to moving into
our circa 1914 Craftsman house here
in Rockridge.
along both sides of Cavour between
Manila and Miles.
• 	 Route 22C2: 500 block of Forest
Street and 500 block of Martin
Street.
Our unique delivery system is a
community effort. Block Captains de­
liver newsletters door-to-door; District
Captains deliver bundles to the Block
Captains. The newsletter is published
the first weekend of each month (ex­
cept August), and your bundle will be
delivered to your doorstep. Call (510)
547-3855 or email Susan at smontauk@
gmail.com to volunteer. n
My legal partner, fur baby, and
I have been living in Rockridge since
May 2018. We often think about
extending park cleanups to the actual
neighborhood given the vast amounts
of trash littered everywhere that in-
evitably is making it into the Bay and
the broader ocean. We love the area,
and enjoy long walks around the
neighborhood regularly. I'm eager
and humbled to play a part in our
community's future. n
The bulk of my professional career
spanned 23 years working for Riverside
County. Before retiring, I was the Assis­
tant County Executive Officer of Eco­
nomic Development. Our department


January 2020
8

2020 Vision for Rockridge in the Next Decade
— by Judith Doner Berne

Lthat our now grown sons feel they have
to go elsewhere to afford a home. What
do I want to see in the next ten years?
I want to see the affordability bubble
burst so there could be affordable
houses for all who want to live here.
Maybe it is an impossible dream, but I
still wish it were so.
ots of national and world leaders
are speculating on how the 2020s
will affect the nation and the globe. But
how will it affect our small corner of
not to leave anything in their cars —
especially valuables.
I hope that I will stop seeing people
walking down the street with their full
attention fixed on a smartphone. I saw
a woman walk past my house doing
this the other day, in the dark, and I
almost said to her, “You are a walking
target.” If I want to use a cell phone in
public, I try to put my back against a
wall somewhere, and when I’m done
I put the phone back in my purse.
Besides, if you aren’t staring at your
phone, you might make eye contact
with a neighbor and say hello.
the world? As
we enter a new
decade, here’s
what some of our fellow residents, each
involved in the community, expressed
as their predictions and/or hopes for
Rockridge.
Karen Ivy, Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC) Secretary:
Annalee Allen, City of Oakland tours
coordinator:
In the new decade, I hope that
crime, especially crimes against the
person and auto break-ins, will de­
crease. But frankly, I don’t expect
that it will. Stealing smartphones and
laptops is just too profitable for thieves.
I hope that residents of Rockridge
will be realistic about crime, and quit
thinking that “it can’t happen HERE,”
because it can happen here. The
NCPC will keep reminding people
I grew up just over the line in South
Berkeley/Claremont neighborhood,
went south for college and didn’t come
back until the late 70s. My husband
and I first rented, then bought in
Rockridge, and raised our family. We
feel so lucky to live here, wishing the
houses had remained the affordable
modest places we once knew and sad
Chris Jackson, Rockridge Business
District Association Operations
Manager:
Empty storefronts give a false
perception of the true story — College
Avenue has a very low vacancy rate.
Our district continues to generate well
over a million dollars in tax revenue
and this is a testament to our small
businesses. I'm pleased to share that
the much talked about building sand­
wiched between La Boulangerie and
Pegasus Books (#5550 through #5510)
is now scheduled for renovation.
Dan Kalb: Oakland City Council
member, District 1:
As residents of Rockridge, Vala­
rie and I cherish the walkability of
the neighborhood, the beautiful tree
canopies on many of our streets;
restaurants and the vibrant shopping
district along College Avenue; amazing
hot chocolate at the Chocolate Dragon
Bittersweet Café; convenient access to
BART; the Temescal Farmers’ Market;
two independent book stores and an
awesome branch library; the beautiful
Craftsman architecture in which so
many of us take pride; and of course,
our wonderful neighbors.
But we also face some serious chal­
lenges — including reducing crime,
housing our homeless, and repairing
damaged sidewalks due to city-owned
trees. My hope and plan for 2020 is
Continued next page


January 2020
9

Leonora Sea, Rockridge Community
Planning Council Chair:
trian-friendly” shopping district that
could revitalize the area and retain the
mystique of the area’s Craftsman homes.
to protect and enhance the wonder­
ful qualities of all neighborhoods
including Rockridge, and to continue
to work in cooperation with neigh­
borhood groups and City of Oakland
staff to address many of the challenges
we face throughout North Oakland. I
envision, and will continue working
to realize, a year full of local eco­
nomic vibrancy, improved safety in
Rockridge and all of North Oakland,
and a resilient community where
neighbors help neighbors and the City
is timelier in addressing problems big
and small.
PG&E has said that over the next
ten years there will be more power
shutoffs like the ones we experienced
this past October. I hope this will
give the Rockridge neighborhood the
impetus to become, even more than
it already has, a resilient community:
more neighbors with power sharing
their service with those without; more
people taking emergency training;
and more groups forming to check on
each other and share resources during
blackouts and other emergencies.
Now, BART and other public sourc­
es seem set on bringing big changes to
Rockridge. Contemplating the roots of
today’s Rockridge leads only to a de­
cade to come (the 2020s) of like-mind­
ed people pulling together to insist
upon, again, a role in the creation of
their own future.
Jody London, Oakland Unified
School District Vice President and
Director, District 1:
My wish for Rockridge, and all of
Oakland in the 2020s, is that our city
is recognized as one where all chil­
dren receive a quality education that
recognizes and respects each child's
history and heritage. Oakland must
work to ensure our city is accessible to
families that have been here, and those
who wish to come, including the many
students who arrive in Oakland every
year from other countries.
I predict that as the city of Oakland
repaves streets in the neighborhood,
especially College Avenue, residents
ultimately will find they have better
infrastructure for cyclists and pedes­
trians. I hope this comes true, and that
additionally, we have improved bus
transit through Rockridge. That could
mean many fewer cars, creating even
safer streets and more street space
available for disabled and elderly resi­
dents who absolutely depend on their
cars for daily living in Rockridge. n
Don Kinkead, Rockridge News
Founder and Newly-Retired Editor:
Forty years or so ago, Rockridge’s
future was bleak: The seemingly
simultaneous constructions of Inter­
state 980 and BART had decimated
whole neighborhoods — 500 homes
and 22 business for the highway alone,
according to an East Bay Times report
— as both projects knifed through the
once-prosperous business district. The
tone of the neighborhood turned sour
and merchants left for better locations,
leaving many storefronts empty and
boarded up.
My vision is a quality school system
that serves all children. The schools in
Rockridge are great schools, some of
the highest-ranked and most in-de­
mand in the city. Not every area of our
city has schools like those we have in
North Oakland. My vision is that every
part of the city will have great schools
and families will not be compelled to
travel across town to access the educa­
tion every child deserves.
I want to thank those who made time
to contribute to this column during this
busy holiday season and for their con­
tinuing contributions to our community.
Happy New Decade!
In the early 1970s, BART and the
City began eying homes around the
Rockridge station for replacement by
high-rise rental units. Outraged res­
idents lobbied successfully for new
zoning that would create a “pedes­
If you have questions about this column
or suggestions for future columns about
Rockridge, email judyberne@att.net.
DRE 01265873 | 01798658
Fall Market Competition Drives Price
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
12/3/2019
3
1

6667 Chabot Rd                    $1,395,000
        $1,395,000
24
$1,475,000
12/6/2019
2
2

5714 Broadway                        $995,000
           $995,000
26
$1,285,000
12/6/2019
3
2
         5761 Ayala Ave                      $1,182,000
        $1,182,000
19
$1,400,000
12/15/2019
4
2.5

5868 Chabot Ct                     $2,500,000
        $2,500,000
 0
$2,500,000
Homes sold in December closed 9.7% over the asking price on average.
Specializing in Rockridge | 510.459.4338 | MotleyTeam.com
Want the highest possible price? Call us and we will show you how we will get it!
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01866771. All material presented herein is intended for informational
purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of
any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.


January 2020
10

ADUs
from page 1
truly significant about this state law is
its intent: it empowers families to build
these appropriately-scaled dwellings
in all of our neighborhoods. Plus, it
explicitly forbids local jurisdictions
from making the law more stringent
locally — they can only make it less so.
Pretty remarkable!
munities we invest in more resilient.
No, the ADU law is not perfect. We
need more allowable height to let prop­
erty owners with small yards participate
by building over garages. We need more
financing and design options to drive
down the costs so more of us can access
the benefits. Those of us working to
make the ADU law better continue to
engage on these issues.
located on lot borders.
In 2020, the law takes a leap forward
and encourages ADU building by allow­
ing just about any residential property
owner to build not only one, but both an
internal and an external ADU unit, if de­
sired. It extends this right to multi-family
owners as well. It eliminates some waste­
ful construction requirements in order
to facilitate better design and less costly
construction. It even establishes size and
siting rules that limit the local jurisdic­
tions’ use of certain land-use tools.
So now we can have a place for an
au pair or caretaker, a rental unit for
some supplemental income, or a small­
er, easier place to live for ourselves. It
allows us to invite an aging parent to
share our place without the loss of our
privacy or their independence. Like­
wise, we can share our property with
our adult kids, keeping them and their
kids close to us.
Lastly, the ADU law has a powerful
impact in a much broader sense: It gives
us permission to choose what else could
be situated on our properties, beyond
the solitary single-family dwelling, that
might make living easier and better.
And it allows us each to ask: “How do I
want to live more intentionally as a part
of my community?” n
Further, it makes clear that these
infill dwellings are meant to add to our
long-term housing stock, and so the
law restricts their use as short-term
rentals of less than 30 days. (As an
ADU advisor, I’ll gladly explain all the
new policy details to anyone interested
in using this powerful tool for housing
development.)
But even more importantly, I think
these sweet, infill places let families stay
and put down deeper roots in our com­
munity. We can get involved locally and
benefit directly when we know we will
remain in our community no matter
what stage of our lives we are in. This
makes both our families and the com­
Loni Gray is an ADU advisor and
project catalyst. Her background in
home rehabilitation, small home and
collaborative housing design, finance,
and housing policy gives her a unique
lens that she brings to her clients in her
firm All Things Housing.
But beyond the policy details, what’s
This is the first of two articles on the
new ADU law that will be formally
introduced on January 1, 2020. This
new law is a blend of three bills (AB 68,
SB 13 and AB 881) that have already
been signed by Governor Newsom. Our
second article, to appear in February,
will cover more details of the bill,
and we welcome reader questions and
comments for our future coverage of
this topic.
Private Pilates Training
New Client Special:
3 Private Sessions for $195
(510) 658-4000
findingcenter.com
6214 Florio St, Suite 4
Oakland, CA 94618
Experience * Knowledge * Performance

Sold:
1049Ordway.com 2,000sf+, 4BD 2BA, sweet block, ‘walkable’ to shops/restaurants  $1.5m
                 1733Dwight.com 2 story brown shingle w/ Park like back yard, 9 offers $1.39M
Coming:   742Cragmont.com ~3,000 sqft Tudor, 4BD 2BA + 1BD 1BA inlaw, pano views $2.1m
                 2 Broadway Terrace condos, Ocean Ave 2 homes/1 lot, Telegraph Ave mixed use property

January is the month for Family Fit Lifestyle, Financial Wellness, National Mentoring, Alzheimer’s
Awareness.

Happy New Year!!
Perry Riani, Senior Associate
2016 Realtor of the Year
1900 Mountain Blvd Oakland, CA 94611
1625 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA 94709
 C: 510.813.3799  Perry.Riani@Compass.com
License # 01402540


January 2020
11

can keep the floodwaters at bay during
our wet winter.
Mysteries Solved at Hardy Dog Park
— by Linda Zunas
How can you help keep our park
clean and safe? Donate your plastic
bags to the collection bins at either en­
trance (on Hudson or on Claremont).
Do not bring food into the park and do
not donate bags that had food in them
so we can keep rodents away.
This fall we had several mysteries at
the Hardy Dog Park, so let’s inves­
tigate three of them:
from the area. Once we found out
what had happened, we worked with
Public Works to have them returned
to their proper locations. We know
that in the rain people don’t want to
walk across the park to reach a trash
can, so having more is better for ev­
eryone. Thank you to Greg Tarver at
Public Works for resolving this issue
in a timely manner.
1) Where did all the chairs go?
One week in November, all the
chairs disappeared from the dog
park. Only the three benches that
our volunteers built and bolted to the
ground remained. After some search­
ing locally, the chairs were discovered
in two homeless camps and in a vacant
chatting circle in another area in the
park. The chairs left unused in the cir­
cle were returned, but the other chairs
were left for the homeless folks to keep
and use. If you have extra plastic lawn
furniture that has no cracks or breaks,
please donate it to the park.
All maintenance and cleanup is
done by our amazing volunteers. If
you are at the park and see trash or
poop, lend a hand and clean it up. Join
us for our monthly clean-ups the first
Saturday of each month so we
can keep the park looking great for
everyone, especially during the rainy
season, when people come from far
and wide to use our covered park.
Happy New Year! n
3) Why did the park flood after
Thanksgiving?
Our dedicated group of volunteers
with the Hardy Dog Park group had
not been doing flood control main­
tenance for the past few months due
to other commitments. We did hold
our regular monthly cleanup the first
Saturday of December and re-dug the
drainage ditches and rebuilt some of
the flood control berms. Hopefully we
2) Where did the trash cans go?
On another week in November,
all the trash cans were removed from
the dog park. After the Hardy Dog
Park group reached out to the City of
Oakland, it was discovered that Pub­
lic Works had removed the trash cans
Interior • Exterior
Lead-Certified Painters
For a free estimate
call Cydney
510•652•4034


January 2020
12

Daily Bread Delivers Surplus Food To
Those in Need
— by Susan Montauk
care centers and rehabilitation homes
that serve a few dozen people to the UC
Berkeley Food Pantry and overnight
shelters that serve thousands of stu­
dents, families, and seniors.
I
That remarkably effective program
remains viable through ongoing pur­
chases of milk coupons by shoppers
and our generous partners Berkeley
Bowl and Village Market. Coupon
sales ($2.25 each) at checkout allow
Daily Bread to maintain distribution of
almost 15,000 cartons of milk annually
that fund-strapped organizations have
come to rely on.
Carolyn
North. She
was deter­
mined to
rescue surplus
restaurant
and vendor
food and put
it to good use.
With the as­
sistance of just
t's 5pm on a Tuesday — time to
collapse the back seats of my car and
clear out the cargo space for a heavy
load of donated bread loaves and
pastries from Firebrand, an Oakland
bakery in the Uptown area. I’ll deliver
the donation to the UC food pantry in
the basement of the Student Union on
the Berkeley campus as I have done for
over a year now.
“It’s a struggle to keep coupon
purchases on track. But the need is
ongoing and the cost to each of us is
so low, less than that morning coffee.
So ‘buy a coupon’ is a habit I’m asking
people to form,” Patrice said. She went
on to explain that Daily Bread fills a
niche — those small service providers
scattered throughout Berkeley, Oak­
land and Richmond that do not have
access to the larger food distribution
Statistics from campus surveys reveal
astonishingly that 40 percent of UC/Cal
students are food-insecure and 10 percent
are actually homeless. These donations
and many more from various food
vendors help to nourish hundreds of Cal
students. I feel thankful that my deliver­
ies can make such a positive difference.
two other
friends she
set up a
fledgling
network
of vendors and recipients that, over the
decades, has expanded to its current
broad reach.
Patrice Ingelzi
is a coordinator
and volunteer
for Daily Bread.
Daily Bread is an entirely volun­
teer-run grassroots organization that was
founded in 1983 by Berkeley resident
For the last 20 years, Patrice Ignelzi
has ably coordinated the program.
She’s a volunteer, just like the rest of us,
and does a super-human job of keep­
ing enormous quantities of food from
going to waste by routing it to those in
need. She remembers that early on she
was delighted when a cooking school
was added to her donor list and that
some of the students at that school had
previously been living in a shelter that
received Daily Bread donations.
Frog Park Takes A
Leap into 2020
— by Fay Gordon
As a result of the bad weather, the
opening date for the renovated Frog
Park has been
postponed pend­
ing necessary
turf repair and
lawn restoration. The new equip­
ment will be ready in early 2020. For
the latest news, visit www.frogpark.
org. If you are interested in support­
ing our treasured community park,
email info@frogpark.org.  n
Susan Montauk
loads her car in
preparation for
a delivery.
networks. She says she
“thought this would be
a temporary volunteer
job some 20 years ago but the need for
this service has never gone away. In
fact, it just keeps growing.”
There are approximately 75 active
volunteers collecting food from estab­
lishments in the East Bay and delivering
to shelters, church kitchens, homes for
the needy and various other service
providers in the area each week. Daily
Bread also created the Milk for Kids
program at the Berkeley Bowl about
30 years ago. That milk is delivered to
more than a dozen locations from day-
If you’d like to explore volunteer-
ing with Daily Bread, please contact
Patrice at (510) 526-3123, or email
dailybreadberkeley@gmail.com. n
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only  Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Avenue, Oakland
601-1188
Mon – Fri  7 – 7 • Sat  8 – 6
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!


January 2020
13

New Laws
from page 2
Golden Squirrel Hosts Weekly Comedy Show

Minimum Wage
The state’s minimum wage increased
from $11/hr to $12/hr for companies
with less than 26 workers; $13/hr
for larger companies. In Oakland,
where Measure FF becomes effective
January 1, 2020, the rate rises 34 cents,
from $13.80 to $14.14 per hour.
Rent Control
Rental increases are now limited to 5%
plus inflation per year (not to exceed
10 percent total) for most rental units
(more than 15 years old) not already
subject to local rent control.
N
Animal Testing
Some cosmetics that have been tested
on animals will no longer be allowed
for sale after 2020.

Photo: Jonah Pollack
Nuthouse comedians
at The Golden Squirrel
play to a packed house.

uthouse at The Golden Squirrel is a free, weekly comedy show in the heart of
Rockridge that is held every Saturday night at 8:30pm. Nuthouse hosts a rotating
lineup of some of the best comics from the Bay Area and beyond.

The show is produced and hosted by internationally unknown standup co­
median Clara Bijl (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, SF Sketchfest, Cobbs, Punchline)
and Oakland resident and top-notch comedian Jonah Pollack (Oakland Comedy
festival, Comedy Soup, Underground at Oakstop).

Domestic Partners
All adult couples (with narrow excep­
tions), including heterosexual couples
under the age of 62, are now able to
register as Domestic Partners.
The Golden Squirrel is located at 5940 College Ave. n
When A Crime Occurs
If you see a crime in progress, call the police. Do
not call 9-1-1 from a cell phone. Call (510) 777-
3211 which routes directly to OPD dispatch. To
report a crime that has already happened, call
the non-emergency number at (510) 777-3333,
or fill in OPD’s Online Crime Reporting form at
www.oaklandca.gov/services/report-a-crime-
online. If you do need to call 9-1-1, be sure to
only use a landline.
Use these numbers to send
OPD an Anonymous Tip:
Pet-Friendly Parks
The Department of Parks and Recreation
is mandated to release a comprehensive
list of parks that allow dogs by July 1,
2020.
Crime Stoppers of Oakland:
(510) 777-8572
Homicide / Robbery Tip line:
(510) 238-7950
Vote by Mail
Ballots sent via the US mail no longer
require postage, ensuring that voting is
free for all Californians. n
OPD Sexual Assault Hotline:
(510) 637-0298


January 2020
14

Crime Report
— by Karen Ivy, NCPC Secretary

online at www. 2020Census.gov.
There were several reminders that
residents should not use 9-1-1 when
calling in for non-emergencies. Rather,
they should call (510) 777-3211 to
report non-violent offenses like car
break-ins, phone and laptop snatch
and grabs, and homelessness issues.
Residents are encouraged to report
all crime, because, even though most
of these crimes will go uninvestigat­
ed, they are important for statistical
reasons to help determine where the
need is for more patrols and a stronger
police presence.

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
                  5366 College Avenue
                   at Manila | 597-5017

Library program details/hours: Calendar, page 15
T

he Greater Rockridge Neighbor­
hood Crime Prevention Coun­
cil (NCPC) had an extremely lively
discussion on December 12, which
focused on crime and public safety in
the neighborhood. Thirty-four neigh­
bors attended, talking actively and
directing questions to OPD’s Commu­
nity Resource Officers, David Mac and
Kristine Juergens-Duenas, and later to
City Councilmember Dan Kalb.
Classifieds
RN
List your 36-word message here
for only $22. (Phone number
counts as one word.) Make check
payable to RCPC and write
“Rockridge News Classified Ad”
on the memo line. Mail to: RN
Classifieds, 4123 Broadway,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA, 94611.
The next deadline is January
23. The February issue will be
available February 7, 2020. For
information: Email Susan Montauk
at smontauk@gmail.com.
The meeting started with a short
presentation from Zan Stewart from
the 2020 Census, advertising the fact
that the Census is hiring right now for
jobs that pay up to $27.50 per hour.
Census job information is available
The NCPC will not meet in January
2020; the next bimonthly meeting will
be February 13, 2020, at 7pm. Please
note the change in the meeting starting
time. After a suggestion from our new
Neighborhood Services Coordinator,
Angela Moore, we polled the meeting
attendees and had a clear majority in
favor of this earlier time frame. The
meeting will run until 8:30pm in the
Rockridge Library upstairs conference
room. n
Penelope’s Aesthetics. Quality
facials for reasonable prices!
Honor your New Year resolution and
put on a fresh face! Try a relaxing
facial and discover how even tone,
texture and suppleness complements
your new, fresh attitude.  penelope­
calef.com  (510) 594-1552
Your Rockridge Specialists-
JUDITH GLASS & SHEILA
SABINE—The Grubb Company
Now may be the right time for a
move. Your home says a lot about you
and we are here to listen. Call (510)
326-5055 or email SSabine@Grubbco.
com
Handyman for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced.
Hauling and towing available. No job
too small. Reasonably priced. Lee Self.
(707) 223-1298. Call or text.
Member
www.buttrickprojects.com
law office of
dave karlinsky
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
Hardwood Floors
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat ex­
isting. Large jobs or small. Twenty-plus
years in Piedmont Ave/Rockridge.
Bruce Williams Woodfloors. Please
call or text Bruce at (510) 652-8121.
www.blwfloors.com
(510) 788-5700    www.davekarlinskylaw.com
Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:
• Estate planning

• Probate / trust administration

• Dispute resolution
Apartment for Rent
2700 first /2700 last/1000 sec 2
bedroom /1 bath. Application fee:
$25. Close to BART and downtown
Oakland. Address 3242 Linden Street
Oakland Ca 94608. Call Melissa
Parker at (408) 685-3550/email:
Melissabparker@gmail.com.
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
    schedule an appointment.


January 2020
15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

trips, tours and theater outings; Alzheimer’s
support groups, computer classes/more.
•	 Drug Collection Bin available in the Center.

Email Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1@hotmail.com, phone 653-3210
(after noon), or mail to: Rockridge News Community Calendar, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94611. Deadline is the next to the last Tuesday of the month.  Compiled by Jo Ellis

Put your old medications in a plastic baggie to
dispose safely. Do not flush or pour down the
drain. Sponsored by EBMUD.
Seniors age 55+ join for $12 annual dues. Provides
discounts, other benefits, and a subscription to
“The North Oakland Senior Times” with full sched­
ule of classes/events, lunch menus, and volunteer
opportunities. More info: 597-5085
N’hood Crime Prevention Council
No January NCPC Meeting. Next meeting:
Thurs, Feb 13, 7pm, at the Rockridge Library. For
more information, or to add items to the agenda,
email chair@rockridgencpc.com. Note: As of
2020, these meetings will be held at 7pm (a
half hour earlier than previously scheduled).
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
•	 Make a Tote Bag: free workshop with artists from
Rock, Paper, Scissors Collective, Wed, 1/22.
•	 Rock Painting: paint rocks and turn them into
magnets. All materials provided. Wed, 1/29.
FOR ADULTS
•	 Veteran's Resource Center Pop-Up: Speak
Save a Life, Give Blood
to a trained staff person to learn about benefits
you're entitled to for education, health, employ­
ment, housing, and more. Sat, 1/4, 10am–12.
•	 Refresh & Renew 2020: Practicing Mindful­
In partnership with the American Red Cross,
councilmember Kalb is once again sponsoring
the Save A Life Blood Drive on Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. “Day of Service,” which is
on Monday, January 20, 2020. The event will
be from 2-5pm, at the American Red Cross
Center located at 6230 Claremont Avenue.
If you are able to donate, please email Lisa
Jacobs at ljacobs@oaklandca.gov, or call (510)
238-7014 for an appointment.
Library Hours:
Mon, Thurs & Sat: 10am–5:30pm
Tues, Wed: 10am–8pm.
Fri, 12–5:30pm
Closed: Sunday. Also: Mon, 1/20 (MLK Day)
ness: Workshop to learn techniques that help
calm and uplift your body and mind. Relax,
renew, and set positive goals for the new year.
Sat,1/4, 11am–1pm.
•	 eBook Help: Work one-on-one with a librarian
FOR CHILDREN
***The Annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival:
coming to Rockridge Library on Sat, Feb 8,12
noon. Free for all ages. ALSO: Make your own
movie for this year's film festival. The deadline
to submit is Jan 10, 2020. How-to guides
for beginning movie-makers are available at
90secondnewbery.com—look under “resources.”
***Stretching for Caregivers: Every Wed, 10:15am.
Exercise class for adults who take care of in­
fants & toddlers. Bring your children, get a good
stretch, and visit with other caregivers.
•	 Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (for
to download eBooks. Fridays, 2–3:30pm. Book
appt. online or call 597-5017.
•	 Sing at the Library. Join the Rockridge
Library’s community choir. For all ages and
skill levels. No auditions necessary. Selections
will include folk songs and freedom songs.
Second Wed. each month: 6:30–7:45pm.
•	 Second Saturday Book Club: Call 597-5017
for details and book selection. 2nd Sat each
month, 3–4pm.
•	 Writers Support/Critique Group—All
Welcome: Bring 15 copies of up to 5 pgs
of any prose for reading/discussion (OK
to come empty-handed). 3rd Sat each
month,1pm; wheelchair-accessible.
Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Upstairs Art Gallery:
January: Lynn Lazarus; People at Work Photographs.
February: TBD
Lobby Display Case: TBD
First and Third Friday Square Dance
First and third Fridays of every month, 8–10 pm.
Always with live music and calling. All levels
welcome; all dances taught on the spot. $5-10
sliding scale donation. The Niebyl-Proctor
Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave.
More info: https://squirrellystringband.com/
north-oakland-square-dance/ or https://www.
facebook.com/NorthOaklandSquareDance/.
White Elephant 2020 PREVIEW Sale
Sunday, January 26,10am–4pm. Free admission.
Save the date for the annual White Elephant Sale
on Sat. and Sun., March 7 and 8, 10am to 4pm.
Shoppers have their first opportunity to see and
buy the new, the unusual and the unexpected at
the Preview Sale. Both the Preview and The White
Elephant Sale take place in the Oakland Museum
warehouse, on the Oakland Estuary at 333
Lancaster St. More information at  https://www.
whiteelephantsale.org/preview-sale/about-the-
preview-sale and https://www.whiteelephantsale.
org/march-sale-weekend/about-march-sale.
North Oakland Senior Center
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Mon–Fri, 9am–4:30pm. Programs include: Arts/
crafts; health counseling; dancing and exercise;
BUYING?
SELLING?
LET ME HELP YOU
all ages); Saturdays, 10:30am.
•	 Toddler Story Time: Songs, active rhymes and
stories (for 9 months to 2 years), Thursdays,
10:30am, upstairs.
•	 Pre-School Story Time: Read-alouds, songs,
ANNE D. BRANDON, REALTOR
35+ YEAR ROCKRIDGE RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER
DRE# 01877719 | 510.682.6644
ANNE@THEHIGHLANDPARTNERS.COM
and rhymes (ages 2 to 5); Thursdays, 10:30am.
All story times followed by Play Time; parents
and caregivers invited.
•	 Winter Bingo: Get your Winter Bingo Card
at the library to keep track of your indoor &
outdoor activities Pick out your book prize
through Jan 18.
•	 Chess Club: learn the basics; Instruction and
E
V
L
U
I
T
X
I
U
S
O
R
Y
P
T
B
S
R
U
A
R
N
T
D
S
O
Tchess sets provided. Best for ages 6 to 14 (all
ages welcome). Fridays at 3:30. Resumes on
1/10. Call Erica for new schedule.
•	 Paws to Read: Sandy’s dog Scout loves to
listen when kids practice reading aloud. You
pick the book. All ages welcome. Every Thurs,
3:30-4:30pm. Resumes on 1/9.
•	 Mix It Up Family Game Nights: All ages;
bring your favorite game or try one of ours. Get
to know other families. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45pm.
FOR TEENS (AGES 12 TO 18)
•	 TeenScape: play video games, table top
games, crafts, and general after-school
fun. Weekdays (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
3:30–5pm. (Wednesdays, 1:30-5pm)
The following events Wednesdays, 3-5pm:
•	 Felt Banners: make felt banners that speak
Diversity, Equity
& Inclusion in
the Classroom
January 16 · 6–8 pm
40 Dulwich Road · Oakland
your truth. All materials provided. Wed, 1/8.
•	 Perler Bead Notebooks: Meet in the Teen­
Zone to make decorations for our notebooks
using perler beads. All materials provided.
Wed, 1/15.
rsvp@auroraschool.org


January 2020
16

Congratulates Claudia Mills
as our #1 East Bay Agent 2019
This is Claudia’s 5th year in a row and we are
extremely proud of her achievements.
No. 1 Top Producing East Bay Agent 2016 - 2019
McGuire Partner™
ClaudiaMillsRealEstate.com
DRE #01881682
Short Term Rental
Rockridge
Furnished Rockridge Home for Rent
6mo. to 1year lease available Dec. 1.
Perfect for a Remodeling Family
5+ Bedrooms/ 4+ Baths
Huge Master Suite w/Panoramic View
Just above Broadway but still
Walkable to BART and the Avenue.
$6,500 per Month No Pets
Private tours available Call Ron
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients
 For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

OProperty Management
L A W T O N
A S S O C I A T E S
R E A L   E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
(c) 510-612-2547
RonKriss@JPS.net
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
“#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
160+ Successful Sales in Rockridge
www.LawtonAssoc.com

INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation.
Many local references.
All work Guaranteed.
(510) 654-3339
Sewer Problems?
Pipe Spy Can Help!
Trenchless Sewer Pipe
Replacement
Camera Pipe Inspection
Sewer Diagnostics
Sewer Service & Repair
$15 off camera inspections
$
510-465-3000
www.pipespy.com
Financing Available
Lic #: 754966