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RockridgeNews

THE

www.rockridge.org

VOL 39   •   NO. 1   •   ISSUE  NO. 393   •   JANUARY 8, 2022                  CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 Businesses

Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC)  •  4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland  94609

Message from the
RCPC Chair:
RCPC JANUARY Town Hall MEETING
Thursday, January 20, at 7pm, online via Zoom
Dear Rockridge Community,
Happy New Year! Last year had
some challenges, and the directors
and members of the Rockridge Com-
munity Planning Council stepped up
to meet them enthusiastically.
During the last three months of
2021, our Ad Hoc Committee on
Redistricting, made up of board mem-
bers and Rockridge residents, worked
successfully to persuade the Oakland
Redistricting Commission to keep
our neighborhood from being split
into two City Council districts. At the
state level, we prevented the split of
the neighborhood into two Assembly
districts. Ordinary citizens can make
their voices heard — we just proved it!
In April 2021, RCPC conducted its
second Covid-safe outdoor Annual
Meeting and board of directors
election with the largest turnout seen
in many years. And in the autumn,
13 residents expressed interest, and
10 applied, to fill the vacancies left
by the departure from the board of
Michelle Boyd and Matt Levy. The
board appointed three new members,
filling Michelle’s and Matt’s seats, and
the long-vacant appointed 13th seat. A
renewed spirit of service to the neigh-
borhood is clearly on display.
In 2020, Covid halted some of
Rockridge’s favorite neighborhood
traditions, but 2021 saw them resume.
The Halloween Parade, this year
on the big day itself, had the largest
attendance that Chris Jackson of
the Rockridge District Association,
co-sponsor of the parade, could
remember. While the annual Rock-
ridge Out-and-About wasn’t held
last year, the Rock-and-Stroll events
January’s Town Hall meeting focuses
on the Rockridge community.
RCPC board members will provide
updates on current board projects, as
discussed in the Chair’s message (see
article on right). We will then invite
the community to discuss and prior-
itize the issues that the organization’s
board will tackle in 2022. In the past,
such meetings have led to fulfilled
visions such as the Rockridge Branch
Library and Frog Park.
If you have not attended a Rock-
ridge community meeting before,
this is a perfect opportunity to join
Agenda: RCPC Town Hall
Listening Meeting
• Become informed on current
RCPC board projects
• Help set the RCPC board priorities
for 2022
• Hear ideas and concerns from the
community and RCPC’s board
friends and neighbors to learn what is
happening in your neighborhood and
to help the board set its goals for this
coming year. n
Zoom meeting information:
To join the Zoom meeting via video, use: https://us02web.zoom.
us/j/88183499972?pwd=dVhjc3MrSnJLVTM2RUJN1Z2bWFMUT09
(meeting link is also available on rockridge.org or by request by emailing
townhall@rockridge.org)
To join the Zoom meeting via phone, call: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 881 8349 9972
Passcode: 776017
RCPC ELECTIONS IN APRIL
W

ednesday, March 2, 2022, is the deadline to declare candi-
dacy in the 2022 election for the Rockridge Community Planning
Council’s Board of Directors. The Annual Meeting and election will be
held on Thursday, April 21, with alternate polling on Saturday, April 23.
Six Board seats will be up for election. Any person 18 years or older,
whose principal residence is within the RCPC boundaries (see Rockridge.
org), is eligible to stand for election. Candidates will be asked to provide
documentation of eligibility (a driver’s license or utility bill with Rockridge
address will usually suffice).
For additional information about RCPC Board service, contact election@
rockridge.org. To declare candidacy, send a statement of intent to run to
chair@rockridge.org by 11:59pm on March 2, 2022. Late submissions cannot
be accepted. n

Message from Chair, see next page


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page 2
JANUARY 2022

ant to the community.
Finally, I’d like to thank everyone
in Rockridge for making my three
elected terms on the board and four
years as Chair an interesting, lively,
and often fun experience. I will be
leaving the board when my term ends
in April 2022.
I plan to continue serving Rock-
ridge in whatever ways I can and wish
all of my friends and neighbors a safe,
happy, and healthy 2022. n
Message from the Chair,
from front page
proved to be very popular.
What’s in store for 2022? As the
community continues to develop
ways to work around Covid, I look
forward to events like the FROG
Park 20th Anniversary celebration;
a resumption of the Kitchen Tour;
another neighborhood-wide cleanup
like the one RCPC sponsored in
March 2021; and more Town Halls
addressing issues and ideas import-
The Rockridge News was founded March 1986 by
Don Kinkead, and is published monthly (except
August).  It is sponsored by the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprofit
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.
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks ........................ Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis........................Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk................................Business Manager
Judith Doner Berne................................... Staff Writer
Leonora Sea, RCPC Chair
Survey Says?
We learned that the most popular
options for land use were, in order
of preference: housing, small-scale
retail, and restaurants. The least pop-
ular options were auto dealerships,
fast food chains, and big-box retail.
Interestingly, these results were con-
sistent across all demographics — in
other words, regardless of respon-
dents’ age group, length of Rockridge
residency, or renters vs. owners,
Rockridge residents are broadly in
agreement about how they would like
to see this land developed. 
Of these results, housing was far and
away the most popular way that our
community believes the land should
be used. Over 60 percent of respon-
dents indicated that housing was their
first choice, which was 3.5x more
popular than the second-most popular
option (small-scale retail). Housing
also came up in free-text responses as
the issue that is most important to our
community. After housing, in order of
importance, were homelessness, crime/
safety, support for small businesses,
parks, and transit.
There was, of course, some nuance
to the specific interests and con-
cerns that arose. For example, some
residents were concerned that more
housing might damage the character
of the neighborhood, whereas others
were concerned that lack of additional
housing would continue to keep
Rockridge unaffordable for most fam-
ilies. Others saw housing as a moral
RCPC Board of Directors, 2021-22
Leonora Sea..........................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Casey Farmer................................................ Secretary
Ashley Pandya.............................. Assistant Secretary
Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer
by Ashley Pandya, RCPC
Communications Chair
This past November and December,
nearly 400 Rockridge residents
filled out a survey that was posted
in the Rockridge News as a way to
express their preferences regarding
how the vacant land at the Ridge
Shopping Plaza (51st and Broadway)
can best benefit our local community.
The intent of the survey, administered
by the Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council, was to answer three
questions:
Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Stuart
Flashman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson,
Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Contacting The Rockridge News
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News? Have questions
about newsletter distribution? Want to volunteer to
be a Rockridge News block captain? Want to write a
letter to the Editor? We’d love to hear from you.
All letters must be limited to 350 words and are
published at the discretion of the Editor. Send
them to: editor@rockridge.org. Please be sure
to include your name, email address, and city and
street of residence. All submissions accepted
for publication are subject to editing for clarity
and brevity.
1- What are the most popular and
least popular ways that our community
would like to see the land at the Ridge
used ?
The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any
articles, letters, display ads, or classified ads.
2- How do these answers differ by
demographics, if at all ?
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your
check for $20, payable to RCPC with “Rockridge
News” noted on the memo line.
3- More generally, what issues are most
important to our community ?
Mail payment to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Avenue,
PO Box 22504, Oakland, CA, 94609
Display Advertising Deadline for February:
January 20, 2022
YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
Advertising rates are $28/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. Email Susan Montauk at smontauk@
gmail.com for information regarding classified ads.
[ B U L K ]  [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
Views expressed in published articles do not
necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council.
ReUpRefills.org
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND
Survey Says, see next page


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page 3
JANUARY 2022

FORL Board
Calls for New
Volunteers
by Alona Rivord

their time, such as hosting branch
staff coffee klatches to brainstorm
and share ideas, boothing at Out
and About, and organizing volunteer
cleaning events. FORL members don’t
work in the library or choose circu-
lation materials, but rather support
library staff decisions and activities.
FORL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit orga-
nization and is seeking additional
adult volunteers to join its board of
directors for a two-year term. The
group meets monthly, currently vir-
tually, but plans to resume in-person
meetings at the branch at some point.
In 2021, FORL added a student
representative position on the board
with a 9-month term, mirroring the
school year. Looking ahead to fall
2022, a vacancy will be available to be
filled by a local middle or high school
student. This is an excellent opportu-
nity for a young person to share their
enthusiasm for the library and gain

valuable nonprofit board experience.
While FORL is interested in hearing
from all potential volunteers, it has
a particular need for technological
expertise to help manage web hosting,
email server, and other digital prop-
erties.
Interested in learning more? Contact
FORL at rockridgelibrary.friends@
yahoo.com. n
E

xpanded shelving in the children’s
room, new chairs in the reading
area, activities galore in the Teen
Zone, prizes for the summer reading
program, supplies for letters to library
pen pals around the world, and fund-
ing for other children, teen, and adult
programs — these are just some of the
things that the Friends of the Rock-
ridge Library (FORL) have supported
that aren’t covered by the City budget.
In close collaboration with library
staff, FORL helps identify ways to
improve branch facilities and support
programming. In addition to fund-
raising, board members also give of
and their potential solutions.
Over the next few months, we
are hoping to re-launch virtual and
in-person town hall meetings around
these topic areas to learn more. We’ll
start with a Virtual Town Hall Meet-
ing on January 20 where participants
can break into groups to discuss some
of these issues in more detail. We plan
to continue the conversations with
facilitated dialogue, a speaker series,
and more. Stay tuned. n
Survey Says, from previous page
imperative for keeping our unhoused
population safe. Still, others expressed
despair and frustration over the grow-
ing homeless encampments. 
Ultimately, what’s clear is that one
survey over a two-month period is not
enough to effectively engage our com-
munity, spark continued thoughtful,
nuanced conversation, and explore
ideas about these important issues

Land Use Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the
RCPC Land Use Committee
will be held on
Wednesday, January 26,
at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
Email landuse@rockridge.org,
or call (510) 652-5373 to attend.
The meeting is open to the public.
Check www.Rockridge.org for details.
Greater NCPC Meeting
The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
will not meet in January.
The next meeting will be held on
February 10, 2022, at 7pm, on Zoom
pending further notice.
Please email subject suggestions to:
chair@rockridgencpc.com


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page 4
JANUARY 2022

City Council Passes Ordinance, Authored by
Dan Kalb, Requiring Proof of Vaccination at
Oakland Establishments as of February 1, 2022

Open Delivery Route
for College Avenue
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News
Business Manager
J
On December 21, 2021, the Oak-
land City Council unanimously
approved an ordinance, written by
North Oakland representative, Dan
Kalb, that prevents Oakland residents
who are not fully vaccinated from
accessing indoor restaurants, bars,
coffee shops, clubs, gyms, fitness
centers, yoga studios, concert venues,
museums, senior care facilities
and City Hall, among other estab-
lishments (however, no one can be
prevented from attending official
City meetings). Outdoor dining is
not affected.
Indoor events with less than 500
attendees are exempt from the ordi-
nance, and, over Kalb’s objection, so
are libraries and dental offices. Retail
shops, such as nail salons, that do not
serve food or drink are also exempt.
“We looked at the other jurisdictions
to see the commonalities in which
types of businesses are covered. We
will monitor this and if there is vocal
support for including spas and nail
salons, for example, we may add those
in later in the spring,” said Kalb.
Proof of full vaccination (two doses
of Pfizer or Moderna; or one dose of
J&J) and a current ID will be required
as of February 1, 2022, for all adults;
children 12 and older need only show
proof of being fully vaccinated.
“We may amend the ordinance in
the spring to include boosters once
we see when most people have gotten
their booster shot,” Kalb confirmed.
Kalb continued, “Business owners
who do not comply are subject to a
civil or administrative fine. This will
be enforced by our Code Enforcement
bureau. First-time offenders will likely
receive a written warning; after that
repeat offenders will be fined. Individ-
uals will not be cited unless they get
caught using a fake proof of vaccina-
tion card.”
Those with medical exemptions
need to provide a recent negative test
(within 72 hours) to comply with the
ordinance. No exemptions will be
made for those who obtained natural
immunity through previous exposure,
or for those with religious reasons.
According to Councilmember Kalb,
“This Emergency Ordinance will be
in effect as long as we are under our
local state of emergency. The City of
Oakland will likely lift our state of
emergency when the County does.”
CovidActNow (covidactnow.org),
shows Alameda County has an overall
vaccination rate of 83.1 percent with
overall deaths trending downwards
since Jan/Feb of 2021, https://covid-19.
acgov.org/data.page?#vax-status. n
oy Kummer is giving up her College
Avenue route. We thank her for
her service as Block Captain to busi-
nesses along her route, and for her
continued service as a Block Captain
in her neighborhood. Her route,
described below, requires delivering
the newsletter to businesses from
BART to Claremont Avenue. Shop-
ping along the way is permitted and
encouraged. We have another opening
(below) that we hope to fill soon.
Route Cav1: Businesses and apartments
along College Avenue from Claremont
Ave to BART. Stacks at Zachary’s and
Crossroads (sharing stands with East
Bay Express), 1951, Supercuts, and the
Golden Squirrel block.
Route 03C: Along Eucalyptus, Oakland
boundaries (23 houses)
Captains deliver newsletters door-
to-door. The newsletter is published
the first weekend of each month,
except August, and your bundle will
be delivered directly to your doorstep.
Call (510) 547-3855 or email Susan
at smontauk@gmail.com to volunteer,
and please be sure to mention the route
number when you do. n


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page 5
JANUARY 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
YIMBY to NIMBY
be imposed on the neighborhood by
disinterested developers seeking to
profit from providing expensive hous-
ing for a new wave of residents. The
subsequent reduced “quality of life”
includes little or no accommodation
for the people who need affordable
housing most.
The question remains, how can
today’s inevitable change be shaped for
a better outcome? Balanced discussion
can help. Nobody alive today wrote
the racist housing codes of yore, and
the majority of us want to see more
affordable housing built. What do we
want Rockridge to grow into over 10,
20, or 30 years? Let’s talk about it. n
many big homes were divided into
apartments, and new multi-unit
buildings were added, increasing the
density without radically changing
the look and feel of the neighbor-
hood. The insertion of many flimsy
postwar “dingbat” apartment build-
ings made a lovely neighborhood
rather ugly. Historic European cities
are full of wonderful dense neigh-
borhoods — unfortunately, however,
America is best at destroying such
places. “Urban Renewal” is a bad
memory for many people.
Lightner is confusing housing prices
with “character.” The charming feel of
Rockridge is largely the result of the
charming architecture, not a result of
the people occupying these homes. If
a radical change occurs, it is likely to
dear Editor: We know that the
Rockridge News wants to present differ-
ent viewpoints, and, as Star Lightner’s
letter (December 2021) expressed her
own personal thoughts, this leaves
room for a different point of view.
There is a spectrum of opinions
between ultra YIMBY and extreme
NIMBY positions. Name-calling and
denigrating people who like, or live,
in single-family homes is not useful,
nor is insulting them by calling them
“wannabe Piedmonters.” Rockridge
can certainly accommodate more
people, but what demographic? In
what numbers? In what manner?
These questions are worth asking.
In Adams Point before WWII,
Kirk Peterson
College Avenue

More Harm Than Good
• By claiming that the underserved
communities need to be able to use
libraries and other public services, the
city exempts itself from enforcement
and pushes the burden upon the pri-
vate sector. Small businesses are still
struggling; many have closed due to
the shutdowns and mandates. Increas-
ing their costs while driving away any
of their customers or employees will
only cause more financial hardship.
• We need to address diseases of
despair and deferred medical treat-
ments due to Covid policies. Suicides,
substance abuse, domestic violence,
mental health problems, and child
abuse have all risen significantly.
Forcing someone to lose their liveli-
hood or to sink into isolation due to

dear Editor: In order to justify
Oakland’s Vaccine Passport ordi-
nance, Dan Kalb claims that “there
are benefits here even if it will tem-
porarily cause someone not to go to
their favorite bar.” His condescension
is a disservice to the people he was
elected to represent. The benefits are
negligible and overwhelmed by the
negative consequences.
• Alameda County already has a
vaccination rate of nearly 85 percent.
Many of the unvaccinated have nat-
ural immunity from having already
contracted Covid. The City widely
provides testing and vaccinations for
those who want them, and the vacci-
nation rate is increasing without the
ordinance.
• Per the Alameda County Health
website, Covid deaths have dropped
significantly https://covid-19.acgov.
org/data.page. Hospitals are not
overwhelmed. Given this progress,
the benefits of the ordinance do not
outweigh the costs.
• People of color and those who
are economically disadvantaged have
lower vaccination rates. This policy
has a disparate impact upon them.

lack of a vaccination passport puts
them at risk in these areas.
• The impact of such government
overreach on our civil liberties cannot
be overstated. Individuals should not
be coerced into medical treatments
against their free will. Nor should
they be forced to show proof of com-
pliance to move freely in society. n
Deborah Eudaley
Buena Vista Avenue
A reliable source of facts on
COVID-19 and its prevention within
the USA can be found at the Center
for Disease Control website,
www.CDC.gov.
The opinions represented in
the Letters to the Editor do not
necessarily reflect the views of
The Rockridge News, the Rockridge
Community Planning Council, or the
RCPC Board of Directors.
BUYING?
SELLING?
LET ME HELP YOU!
Anne D. Brandon, Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@Corcorangl.com
Lic# 01877719 | AnneDBrandon.com


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JANUARY 2022

Choosing Rockridge
by Ben Friedman
For the past four years, my wife
Lauren and I rented an apartment
just off College and Alcatraz. This
fall, we bought our first home — a
little house near Colby Park. Lauren
was raised in Seattle and I hail from
New York City, but we have found
belonging and identity here in the
East Bay, and so we are making it
official. We choose Rockridge. As we
put down roots, I’d like to express
gratitude for the many reasons that
contributed to our decision.
There are too many joys of Rock-
ridge to mention in-depth, but here
are a few. Thanks to the crew at Yasai
for your shelves and kindness. Three
cheers to Ver Brugge for your hand-
painted signs and center-cut bacon.
Kudos to the stores and homes alike
across our community that publicly
declare that Black Lives Matter, honor
science, inclusion, and love, and cele-
brate our frontline workers.
Hooray Rockridge BART for its
spectacular city views and for the
gift of public transit. A tip of the cap
to the abiding crowd at Cole Coffee
— I don’t know what you’re always
plotting, but it makes me smile. I love
our neighborhood’s holiday cheer,
including spooktacular Halloween
decorations, an even better Halloween
Ben and Lauren, both transplants, choose Rockridge to put down roots.
parade, and dazzling Christmas lights.
Finally, huge thanks to the Rockridge
News, which has helped me under-
stand our neighborhood and its affairs
as much as anything.
I’m grateful for Boichik Bagel,
which continues to give this some-
times-homesick New Yorker a deep
connection to my roots. As good as
the bagels are, I’d argue the best ser-
vice Boichik provides is the Proustian
scent of bagels boiling and baking
that perfume the late night and early
morning air. In truth, I’m thankful for
all of “Carb Alley” — the spectacular
trio of Boichik, Casa Barotti, and La
Farine that makes walking on College
on a Saturday mid-morning a jolly
gluten-filled slalom course.
Part of our deep and abiding love
for Rockridge is its environmental
setting. We are both thrilled to have
access to the wild East Bay hills and
are immeasurably grateful to the East
Bay Regional Park District for its
stewardship of our parks. The ability
to enjoy runs and hikes up Claremont
Canyon Regional Preserve and other
nearby parks is a gift few other urban
communities can boast. Addition-
ally, the riot of wisteria, roses, and
countless other flowers that burst
forth is a joy, as are our redwoods that
seemingly stand sentry throughout
Rockridge.
As we benefit from the myriad
amenities that Rockridge offers, we
seek to act in reciprocity with this
community that has given us so
much. Your recommendations for
ways to give back are welcome. Our
first step is paying a monthly Shuumi
Land Tax to the Sogorea Te’ Land
Trust, a volunteer contribution that
serves to support the Land Trust and
the Ohlone people on whose lands we
all reside. Please join us if you can at
www.sogoreate-landtrust.org and…
see you around the neighborhood. n


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page 7
JANUARY 2022

Nuthouse Comedy Returns to the
Golden Squirrel
by Myrna Walton

open-source guild. We know who’s
coming up or going down.”
Comedians looking for good
spots get in touch. Out-of-towners
send videos. Bijl adds that no one
who appears on the scene unknown
becomes an instant star. “It takes
a long time to find your voice and
perfect your craft, eight years at least
for men, twelve for women because
they have not been given as much
stage time. There used to be so many
lineups with only one or two women

(This article was scheduled for publication in April 2020, but was held when the
club was forced to close due to the County’s “Shelter at Home” policy that was put
in place the month prior. We are happy to report they have finally reopened.)

Wsaw stand-up comedy for the first time
22 years ago and her life’s choice was
made. She lost her French accent due
to speech therapy (but she can resur-
rect it, along with southern and valley
girl). What did her six-year-old daugh-
ter say after seeing a performance?
“Mommy said a lot of bad words.”
Pollack descends from an Orthodox
Jewish family in Brooklyn, grew up
in Boston and studied at Hampshire
College. He always knew on some level
that he wanted to be a comedian. Four
years ago he started performing in
his apartment in West Oakland every
Friday night. People bring their own
drinks, or buy two-buck Chuck stored
in his bathtub. His cat, Lexi, prowls the
audience, leaping from table to table.
The two teamed up four years ago, to
produce and perform in shows at the
Squirrel.
Pollack says they continually try to
find the best available talent. “Between
the two of us, we know pretty much
every comedian in town. Each of us
goes out four or five times a week
to see what’s new, what’s hot. The
comedian network is sort of like an
hen was the last time you went
to a comedy club? Now you
can stroll from home, have a dinner
or a drink, and laugh continuously for
an hour and a half — all on College
Avenue.
Who would think that an Oakland
venue the size of a large living room
would feature comics of international
standing? They come to sharpen their
material alongside local contenders.
At a recent Saturday night at the
Nuthouse at the Golden Squirrel, six
comedians, women and men, some
well known, others on their way up,
convulsed the audience. And it hap-
pens every Saturday at 8:30pm.
A few years ago, comedy was
happening big in San Francisco,
according to co-producer of the Nut-
house, Jonah Pollack. Now, there is a
great Oakland comedy scene, so no
need to drive an hour and back when
you can have an affordable night out
nearby. Some neighbors even started a
babysitting co-op so their whole street
could attend.
Stand-up comedy has evolved
so much in the last 10 or 15 years.
There are fewer mean-spirited men
on super steroids — with increasing
numbers of women in the audience,
men can’t be as insulting as they
once were. The comedians, ranging in
age from their 20s to 60s, unleashed
a wide choice of topics: sex, ethnicity,
children, parents, penises, politics, the
difficulties of adding your dog to your
health insurance, and French Alexa
who smokes a cigarette and sneers at
your questions.
Clara Bijl (pronounced “belle”)
and Jonah Pollack, co-producers
and comics themselves, are unlikely
partners. She grew up in a small
town in eastern France and studied
in Charleston, South Carolina. She

Nuthouse, see next page


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JANUARY 2022

Nuthouse, from previous page
on the bill.”
“Comedy comes from shared expe-
rience,” says Clara. The audience says,
“Ah, it’s not just me who feels that.”
The appeal is universal. The audience
at the Squirrel last month, ranging
from 20-year-olds to seniors, laughed
uproariously at the same jokes. One
comic reflected on the miseries of
child-rearing — “When I pile the four
kids in the car, the noise is so loud,
sometimes I slam on the brakes just
to get that instant of silence, then it
starts – Mama, mama, mama, mama,
mama, mama, (long pause) mam-
amamamama.” The seniors in the
audience laughed just as hard as the
young and middle-aged folks. Maybe
it’s nostalgia for some, and painful
daily truth for another, but everyone
cracked up.
Co-Producer Clara Bijl of Nuthouse Comedy, hosts free shows at the
Golden Squirrel, 5940 College Avenue, every Saturday at 8:30pm.
Bijl says the best shows have a
slightly illicit feeling. This was true
when an older, thin, frail woman came
on stage — the very stereotype of a
small-town, aged librarian. How brave
she seemed to stand up there and
dare the audience to leap over their
first impressions and prejudices. And
it did, when she recounted how she
taught her ESL students the parts of
speech using the Spanish swear words
they taught her. Everyone in the audi-
ence whooped and hollered.
The best joke of the evening was
from a young man saying, “I’m tired
of having old people run this country.
Trump is 73. Bernie is 96, Warren is
110. It’s like my grandfather telling me
how to set up Wifi. Except, he’s from
India so he knows how.”
Bijl says comedy is the hottest thing
now, perhaps because of the depress-
ing state of the country. Everyone
needs a good laugh… and you can
even hang out afterward with the
comedians if you like. n
The Nuthouse@the
Golden Squirrel is located
at 5940 College Avenue,
walking distance from BART.
Free shows every Saturday
at 8:30 pm. See https://www.
eventbrite.com/e/nuthouse-at-
the-golden-squirrel-a-weekly-
stand-up-comedy-cabaret-
tickets-210176913807.
For more info, email Clara
Bijl, clarabijl@mac.com, Jonah
Pollack, jonah.m.pollack@
gmail.com or Jeff Dean,
jeffmdean22@gmail.com.


THE

page 9
JANUARY 2022

Rockridge Real Estate: On the
Precipice of Change
collaboratively about these changes,
or will we push back because we are
afraid of change? 
Embracing these changes will not
solve Rockridge’s housing crunch over-
night. But, allowing for more growth
in key areas will eventually create
more attainable housing opportunities
for many more people, for renters and
buyers alike, while also alleviating
price pressures in more vulnerable
parts of the East Bay. The data and lit-
erature is clear on this point. I should
know: I am a nationally recognized
housing expert at U.C. Berkeley, with
my research and policy analysis quoted
in the New York Times, NPR, the Wall
Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times,
and The Chronicle, just to name a few.
Any denial of the need to build more
housing, of all kinds, to address our
housing challenge is tantamount to
climate denialism, and should not be
entertained. It is my sincere hope that
our neighbors can understand that
the magnitude of our crisis demands
action today.
We already know the cost of inac-
tion; it’s playing out throughout the
region and state, where under-building
and exclusionary practices continue to
stymie much-needed new housing and
increase housing costs. Rockridge can
be a leader, and I remain optimistic
that my home of the last seven years
will do the right thing and embrace
the need for more neighbors. I will be
watching with great interest, from just
past the Webster tube. n
by David Garcia, former RCPC Board Member
In 2021, my wife and I were blessed
with a new baby boy, our second
child. We were thrilled to bring him
home to Rockridge, to walk with him
along College and stroll down Shafter.
But while our family was growing, our
housing situation remained unstable.
As renters, our residency was tenuous,
especially as we were quickly outgrow-
ing our two-bedroom space.
With this in mind, we decided to
buy a home, put down roots, and raise
our family. But sadly, that won’t be in
Rockridge. Despite having valuable
jobs, sparkling credit, and resources
for a sizable down payment, homes
here are completely out of reach for
our family. After a year-long search,
it was clear that the community we
loved, where we raised our first boy
and brought our second baby home to,
had no room for us as homeowners.
Instead, we are moving to Alameda.
We’ve had the privilege to live in
Rockridge since 2014; it is our home.
But Rockridge, as idyllic and charming
as it is, stands at a crossroads. It is
beyond expensive to live here. Just
look at the realtor advertisements
in this very publication, boasting of
home sales going for significantly over
asking, upwards of $2 million. Or look
at the average neighborhood rents
which reach “luxury” pricing despite
there being no new “luxury” apart-
ments built within our boundaries.
But maybe most starkly, you can
look at the RCPC board composition,
which, with my departure, will have
lost all renter representation on the
board, as three of my other board
colleagues, all renters, have all been
compelled to leave the neighborhood
over the last year to afford the dream
of homeownership. The RCPC board is
now composed entirely of homeown-
ers, nearly all white, nearly all over 50
— in stark contrast to the demograph-
ics of our neighborhood. 
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Rockridge can grow in meaningful,
inclusive ways while maintaining its
precious charm and scale. This can
be accomplished by welcoming more
duplexes, triplexes, and other multi-
unit options that can be sprinkled
throughout our neighborhoods,
the types of homes that used to be built
and that fit seamlessly into our com-
munities before they were restricted or
prohibited in downzonings.
Smaller and hence less expensive by
design, this “missing middle” housing
typology, had it existed at a higher
scale here, could have given families
such as ours more choices for staying
in Rockridge. But with a statewide
push for more housing everywhere,
Rockridge may be seeing such new
growth in the near future anyway. 
This is already partly underway.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
have caught on thanks to statewide
legislation easing restrictions, and
new laws take this idea even further,
allowing for some lot splits and duplex
conversions. And, as Oakland grapples
with new zoning changes needed
to accommodate a massive increase
in State-mandated housing goals,
Rockridge is more than likely going to
be asked to do a lot more than what
we’ve currently done. The question we
face is: do we think thoughtfully and


THE
page 10
JANUARY 2022

Mah Jongg Maven
Has Passion for
Iconic Pastime
Salk has taught scores of Rockridge
residents (yes, mostly women, includ-
ing myself) to play American mah
jongg — adapted from the Chinese
game invented in the late 1800s.
While Salk concentrates on selling
vintage American mah jongg sets from
her sizeable kitchen island, Eisman
fills her dining room table and buffet
with the jewelry, coasters, clocks,
picture frames, and vases she creates
— all featuring the game’s iconic tiles.
She also designs cocktail napkins and
mugs with slogans such as “It’s always
time to play mah jongg.” All are avail-
able on her Etsy website store.
“She’s so talented. What she had on
display was so creative and tempting,”
said Oakland resident Terry Kulka,
who attended the sale for the first
time. “She had a nice variety, and
she was so welcoming. It was a nice
experience.”
Eisman grew up in Chicago and
earned a degree in speech at North-
eastern Illinois University. Once she
and husband Jay Tennenbaum, now
retired from insurance sales, moved
to Oakland, she earned an MBA from
St. Mary’s College of California while
working in human resources for a trio
of banks.
When their son Jordan, now 28,
was born, she started a new career,
founding East Bay Moms (EBM), an
organization dedicated to providing
support, companionship, and net-
working for parents of infants and
toddlers that she ran for almost two
decades. For a $90 annual fee, mem-
bers enjoyed unlimited participation
in scheduled activities and a subscrip-
Photo by Judy Berne
by Judith Doner Berne
When I first contacted Lee
Eisman, she was in Scottsdale,
Arizona, playing in a mah jongg tour-
nament and selling her Mah Jongg
Tchotchkes, a business she started and
built up. After flying with two suit-
cases full of her mah jongg-inspired
designs and another for clothes, she
had resolved, well ahead of New
Year’s, “From now on I’m only selling
my merchandise if I can drive there.”
Eisman didn’t have to drive to
the annual sale she co-hosts at her
Rockridge home each November with
Berkeley mah jongg guru Toby Salk.
Lee Eisman’s third career is creating
mah jongg-inspired designs.
tion to their monthly newsletter. At its
height, it had 120 members.
“It started out as a hiking group
for new moms,” Eisman told me. “I
planned and led hikes every Friday
morning, except when I was on
vacation, for 19 years.” It expanded to
include a variety of special events such
as a monthly mom’s night out dinner,
family night at the Oakland Zoo, and
a yearly family camping trip.
She also put on an annual East
Bay Moms Preschool and Childhood
Resource Fair, held in the Grand
Ballroom of the Scottish Rite Center,
which attracted about 80 representa-
tives from schools and other childcare
programs, for the 400-500 parents
who attended.
Eisman publicized activities
mah jongg, see next page


THE

page 11
JANUARY 2022

they were both volunteering at CSL.
They play mah jongg together after
taking lessons they purchased at a
charity auction. Howland said she
wasn’t surprised when her friend
started her Mah Jongg Tchotchkes
enterprise. “She
always wanted to
be in business.
She’s the most
organized person
I know.”
Currently, Eisman volunteers
for the German Shepherd Rescue
League of Northern California from
which she adopted their dog, Louise,
and was about to become a board
member. “As you can see,” she said,
“I like to be busy.”
for the money. But it makes me feel
so good that people like to buy what I
make.”
All the while, she has been active
in philanthropic causes, such as the
Children’s Support League (CSL) of
the East Bay,
where she has
volunteered for
20 years. The
organization,
which put on
the annual Heart of the Home house
tour, raised money to help groups in
Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
that serve at-risk children. Sadly,
Eisman said, “We recently shut
down. It was just too hard to get
enough volunteers.”
“She’s very outgoing and very
giving,” said Rockridge neighbor Jan
Howland, who met Eisman when
mah jongg, from previous page
through the newsletter and a website.
The newsletter I read had 16 pages,
as many as this Rockridge News, and
as many ads. “I wrote, laid out and
printed the newsletter, which included
a schedule of the month’s activities, a
recipe, a restaurant review and articles
written by others that were of interest
to parents of young children,” she
said. “I would deliver stacks of them
to pediatrician and ob-gyn offices,
children’s museums and play places.
I also sold advertising for both the
newsletter and the EBM website.”
Although EBM folded soon after
she bowed out, “We provided an
avenue for parents to meet, exercise
and enjoy the outdoors,” Eisman
said. “I still have friends that I met
through East Bay Moms. It was a
very rewarding experience.”
Eight or so years ago, she took up
mah jongg, “a game my mom played
when I was growing up” and, is still
playing at age 93. In a recent game
with her mother and two of her moth-
er’s contemporaries, “They played for
money and my mom beat my butt.”
It’s the combination of luck and skill
that makes the game so much fun,
Eisman told me. “I love the vintage
sets. I love the tiles. And it’s a great
way to do something fun with friends.
I really never get tired of it.”
She has eight vintage and two con-
temporary mah jongg sets and plays
three or more times a week. When she
competes in tournaments, “I never go
with the expectation to win a prize.
But when you play faster and with
better people, you become a better
player. I like all the strategy.”
As for Mah Jongg Tchotchkes,
Eisman said, “I had always done little
crafts, off and on.” About six years
ago, when buying a mah jongg brace-
let for her mom online, she thought:
“I can make these.” Her first creation
was a necklace — a simple mah jongg
tile on a chain. Now, she enhances
the jewelry with beads, along with
the vintage tiles, which she finds both
online and prowling antique fairs and
thrift stores. “I kept coming up with
more and more designs. I don’t do it
To comment or suggest future stories,
email judyberne@att.net. n


THE
page 12
JANUARY 2022

College Avenue’s South End Renaissance

Next door at TNT Strength, 5255
College, Jesse and Liam can help
and you get and stay fit. Across the
street, at 5250 College, Hanna and
her fellow artists are at work at Old
Crow Tattoo.
By the time this issue of the
Rockridge News is delivered to your
doorsteps, Semrit will have opened
‘im Moment Kaffee, at 5254 College.
Now the rest of us can once again get
coffee on our own block.
I have enjoyed meeting our new
neighbors, and you will too. I have
identified only the proprietors of the
new businesses, by first name, and
not included all of the other friendly
people who work with them. Nor
have I talked about the other busi-
ness that have been here for years.
College Avenue’s “South End” has a
lot to offer to the residents of Rock-
ridge, Oakland, and beyond.
The built environment that
Rockridge provides for visitors and
residents is a winner: human scale
and an eclectic mix of goods and
services housed in an interesting and
Oakland-funky collection of vintage
structures.
This is not an accident. In the wake
of the massive destruction visited
upon Rockridge by Highway 24,
RCPC led the charge as a strong local
voice for sound neighborhood plan-
ning. The result was the C31 zoning,
which was adopted by the City for
College Avenue, and later established
in other neighborhoods.
This zoning (now CN1) fosters,
protects, and enhances desirable
commercial activity and helps main-
tain a good balance between College
Avenue and the adjacent residential
neighborhoods. In the early 20th
century, Rockridge was a streetcar
suburb, and modest “taxpayer
blocks” and apartment buildings
were built along the avenue, largely
resulting in what it has become
today. These structures are still
in use more than 100 years later
— serving the needs of today, and
housing neighbors new and old. n
by Kirk Peterson
Tat 5239 College, offers retail floral,
and owner Leshia can provide floral
decoration for a variety of events.
Audiophiles and musicians can
go next door to ReVamp at 5241
College where amplifiers, new and
old, are repaired by Andy. At 5243
College, at the Extravagant Groom-
ing Lounge, Isiah and Josh are busy
keeping Oaklanders looking good
with a range of hair cutting and
grooming.
At 5247 College, Susie Novak
Interiors designs residential and
commercial interiors, and Kirk E.
Peterson Architect (yours truly), is
at the drawing board at 5253 College.
he new year will be more lively
than last year along the 5200
block of College Avenue, at Broadway,
because we have new neighbors.
Following the slow fade of the CCA
gallery and the disappearance of busi-
nesses caused by the pandemic, it has
felt pretty lonely here. I believe I’ve
been on the block longer now than
any other proprietor (three decades),
and the “ensemble” of goods and
services currently available, and the
people offering them, is better than
ever.
On the west side of College the
former CCA gallery space houses
new tenants: Rooted Floral Design,
ZϬϭϮϲϱϴϳϯͮϬϭϳϵϴϲϱϴ
Competition Drives Price in November
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
11/01/2021
4
2

5676 Oak Grove Ave            $1,795,000
        $1,795,000
7
$2,900,000
11/05/2021
3
1

5862 Chabot Ct                     $1,249,000
        $1,249,000
12
$1,500,000
11/09/2021
4
2
         5841 Colby St                         $1,375,000
        $1,375,000
12
$2,570,000
11/12/2021
4
3

5327 Shafter Ave                   $1,595,000
        $1,595,000
14
$2,630,000
11/15/2021
4
2
         6449 Chabot Rd                     $1,895,000         $1,895,000
15
$2,450,000
11/18/2021
2
2

5340 Broadway Ter                 $665,000
          $665,000
35
$675,000
Homes sold in November closed 48% over the asking price on average.
^ƉĞĐŝĂůŝnjŝŶŐŝŶZŽĐŬƌŝĚŐĞͮϱϭϬ͘ϰϱϵ͘ϰϯϯϴͮDŽƚůĞLJdĞĂŵ͘ĐŽŵ
tĂŶƚƚŚĞŚŝŐŚĞƐƚƉŽƐƐŝďůĞƉƌŝĐĞ͍ĂůůƵƐĂŶĚǁĞǁŝůůƐŚŽǁLJŽƵŚŽǁǁĞǁŝůůŐĞƚŝƚ͊
ŽŵƉĂƐƐŝƐĂƌĞĂůĞƐƚĂƚĞďƌŽŬĞƌůŝĐĞŶƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞŽĨĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂĂŶĚĂďŝĚĞƐďLJƋƵĂů,ŽƵƐŝŶŐKƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJůĂǁƐ͘>ŝĐĞŶƐĞEƵŵďĞƌϬϭϴϲϲϳϳϭ͘ůůŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚŚĞƌĞŝŶŝƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚĨŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶĂů
ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐŽŶůLJĂŶĚŝƐĐŽŵƉŝůĞĚĨƌŽŵƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĚĞĞŵĞĚƌĞůŝĂďůĞďƵƚŚĂƐŶŽƚďĞĞŶǀĞƌŝĨŝĞĚ͘ŚĂŶŐĞƐŝŶƉƌŝĐĞ͕ĐŽŶĚŝƚŝŽŶ͕ƐĂůĞŽƌǁŝƚŚĚƌĂǁĂůŵĂLJďĞŵĂĚĞǁŝƚŚŽƵƚŶŽƚŝĐĞ͘EŽƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚŝƐŵĂĚĞĂƐƚŽĂĐĐƵƌĂĐLJŽĨ
South End photos, next page
ĂŶLJĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƚŝŽŶ͘ůůŵĞĂƐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚƐĂŶĚƐƋƵĂƌĞĨŽŽƚĂŐĞĂƌĞĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞ͘


THE

page 13
JANUARY 2022

ISIAH: Extravagant Grooming Lounge
5243 College Avenue
JOSH: Extravagant Grooming Lounge
5243 College Avenue
LEISHA: Rooted Floral Design
5239 College Avenue
SEMRIT: ‘im Moment Kaffee
5254 College Avenue
ANDY: Revamp Amplifier Service
5241 College Avenue
SUSIE: Susie Novak Interiors
5247 College Avenue
HANNA: Old Crow Tattoo
5250 College Avenue
JESSE & LIAM: TNT Strength
5255 College Avenue


THE
page 14
JANUARY 2022

College Preparatory School Used Book
Sale Returns

After a Covid-required pause in
2021, the College Preparatory
School’s renowned used book sale is
back. Join fellow Bay Area book lovers
on February 26 and 27 to find out
why this is a not-to-be-missed event.
Thousands of used books will be on
offer for adults, teens and children,
including many recent and popular
titles in excellent condition. There will
also be some media, vinyl, puzzles and
a small selection of vintage/antique
books — something for book lovers of
every age. Most books are priced at $1
to $3, with some special books priced
slightly higher. On Sunday, there will
be a bag sale during the day — $5/bag
from 10am to 1pm, and $5 for 2 bags
from 1pm to 2pm.
The sale will be held in the Buttner
Auditorium on the College Prepara-
tory School campus at 6100 Broadway
in Oakland, on Saturday, February
26, from 10am to 4pm; and again
on Sunday, February 27, from 10am
to 2pm. There is free parking in the
school lot.
Please note: purchases are by cash or
check only. Contact Bookfair@college-
prep.org with any questions. n
law office of
dave karlinsky
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
(510) 788-5700    www.davekarlinskylaw.com
Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:
• Estate planning

• Probate / trust administration

• Dispute resolution
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
      schedule an appointment.


RN

THE

page 15
JANUARY 2022

ClassifiedAds

Stepparent Support
Private counseling and coaching with
veteran stepparent, counselor and
author of the monthly advice column
“The StepMom Whisperer.” Contact
Susan Haworth, 415/633-6104, or
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complimentary consultation.

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” in the memo
line. Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131.

The deadline for the February 2022 issue is January 20 (available Feb 5, 2022).
For more details, email Susan Montauk at smontauk@gmail.com.
Smart Home Done Right!
Immersive home theater, lighting,
shades, HVAC, locks, cameras & more
in one simple world.  Easy retrofit into
existing homes. Rockridge-based, decades
of experience, we make the experience
fun! www.performingartsaudio.biz Ben
Stiegler 510/823-0850.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Need more circuits for your holiday
lights? I can help with that. I’ve been
doing electrical work in Oakland and
Berkeley for over 35 years. Sutorik &
Company. www.sutorikandco.com. Lic
#397149. 510/655-3677.
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat
existing. 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.
Get Coaching. Get Results. 
• Want to exponentially grow your
business? • Ready to fast-track your
corporate job? • Considering starting
a new career venture? Schedule a
complimentary session now. Call (800)
322-5610 or visit DaisukiCoaching.com.
Dog Training
In home, private training customized
to help your dog succeed! Local
trainer with decades of experience. 
Please call 510/646-9657 or
visit dogsquaddogtraining.com for more
information and to get started.
OFFICE SUBLET
150 sq. ft. office with courtyard to sublet
in historic home on College Ave. Private
entrance but no waiting room. Furnished
or unfurnished. Restroom, but no
common area or kitchen access. $750/mo.,
includes internet. 650/430-2010. n
Penelope’s Aesthetics-Quality
facials and 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. penelopecalef.com; 510/594-1552.
Art Appreciation and Ceramics
Class
Join us to explore and discuss a wide
variety of art via Zoom, and if you
would like, create in clay with kiln
access.  Berkeley Adult School, Mondays
1pm. Info kathleenrowe@berkeley.net.
Handyman Service,
House Repairs & Remodeling
Dry rot, kitchen and bath tile refurbishing
or installation, window installation,
plumbing, fence, deck & handrail repair,
electrical wiring/fixtures, outlets. And
much more. Call Juan 510/692 -6399 or
email. jbahena.info@gmail.com.
Experience * Knowledge * Performance
With Over 300 Real Estate Transactions
Garden Maintenance,
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Experienced team of two dedicated
to the art of gardening. We specialize
in garden maintenance, cleanups and
custom garden designs. To contact us,
please email yourgreengardeners@
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yourgreengardeners.com.
Coming soon in Rockridge:
* 5432 Miles mid block bungalow, 3BD 2BA, formal & play spaces, 2 garages, $ TBD
* Upper Rockridge elegant contemporary, 4000sf, pano views, level yard, garage $ TBD
& more this spring!

January is awareness month for: Blood donation, Walking your dog, Hot Tea, Spaghetti!!

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


THE
is covid still a factor?
interest rates going  up?
is it a good  time to sell?
what’s the market doing?
do I need a biger home?
should we down size?
should I repair my home before I sell it?
Claudia Mills
510.350.6419
clauda@cmret.com
Lic.#01881682
If you have questions like these,
ask Claudia.
 She’s the one you should talk to.
www.ClaudiaMillsRealEstateTeam.com
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
COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland

COMING SOON
ROCKRIDGE
Updated 4 Plex
1 Bed/ 1 Bath - All Units Vacant
FOR RENT
ROCKRIDGE
Locksley Avenue
2 Bed/ 1 Bath
Updated Bath, Close to BART
Miles Avenue
2 Bed/ 1 Bath
Big Yard, Close to Temescal
Call for Address and Price
Create
some
Joy
Stay Safe and Well.
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
(c) 510-612-2547
RonKriss@JPS.net
“#1 in Rockridge
Real Estate”
160+ Successful Sales
in Rockridge
DRE# 01417458
www.LawtonAssoc.com