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www.rockridge.org
THE
R ckridgeNews

VOL 38   •   NO. 4   •   ISSUE  NO. 407   •   APRIL 7, 2023                       CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

April RCPC Election
Uncontested
How to Build Affordable
Housing in Rockridge?
Nuts and Bolts discussed at
RCPC’s Town Hall in March
the Board has cancelled further elec-
tion proceedings, as well as the annual
meeting ordinarily scheduled for the
third Thursday in April. On April 22
all nominees will commence their
terms as newly elected directors. Brief
bios of the six newly elected directors
will appear in the May edition of the
Rockridge News, as is customary.
The board expresses its gratitude
to all those who were interested in
running for election and those who
put forward nominations for new
board members. The next election
will occur in the spring of 2024, at
which time all interested residents
will again be encouraged to run for
the board. Rockridge needs you!
For more, information, email
election@rockridge.org. n
by Ben Friedman, RCPC Board
Member and Election Officer
by Casey Farmer, Chair, RCPC
Board of Directors
N
Tearly 70 residents gathered for
a Town Hall on the topic of
affordable housing in Rockridge on
Tuesday, March 14. This topic was
chosen due to the many questions
about how to build affordable housing
in a high-resource area like Rock-
ridge, especially on the few large and
vacant available parcels.
Commencing the event, City of
Oakland Housing and Community
Development Senior Advisor Chris
Norman gave an overview of the
City’s efforts to build and invest in
affordable housing.
Rick Jacobus, principal at Street
Level Advisors (a consulting firm that
he Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council’s 2023 election is
uncontested: six residents, including
five incumbent directors, applied to
fill six vacancies. All six applicants
were verified as residing within
RCPC boundaries, and, accordingly,
have qualified as nominees. They
are:   Mark Aaronson, Louisa
Bukiet, Star Lightner, Ken Rich,
Zac Unger, and Tom Lollini.
As authorized under the bylaws in
the case of an uncontested election,
project. He has co-developed a free
online calculator tool that enables
any member of the public to assess
housing development costs, in which
they can include affordable units,
add or subtract units, adjust parking
amounts, and much more: https://calc.
inclusionaryhousing.org/ihc/.
“Some communities appear to have
set affordable housing requirements
too high as a way to prevent develop-
ment of market-rate housing — this
only makes the housing challenge
facing low-income people worse,”
said Jacobus.
Who invests in market-rate housing
projects? It may be your very own
pension plan. CalPERS, CalSTRS,
and many other retirement funds reg-
ularly invest in housing development
projects. Who invests in affordable
housing projects? We do. The gener-
ous voters and taxpayers of Alameda
County and Oakland currently
fund Measure A1 and Measure U
provides economic analysis to munic-
ipalities and local agencies, including
BART) provided a high-level overview
of the costs, financing mechanisms,
and risks of building a housing
This slide reflects the City of Oakland’s investment approach to affordable
housing. It models best practices and the Association of Bay Area
Government’s three-pronged approach to address the housing crisis:
Production, Preservation, and Protection.
Presented by Emily Weinstein, Deputy Director,
City of Oakland’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
March Town Hall, see next page


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page 2
APRIL 2023

Housing Innovation, spoke about
legislative changes that have impacted
housing in California. Metcalf noted
that since 2016, nearly 100 State laws
pertaining to housing have been
passed and signed. He detailed the
three categories of changes to the
State’s housing laws:
RCPC
March Town Hall
continued from front page
The Rockridge News was founded in 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.
(successor to Measure KK), which
fund affordable housing units.
Additionally, some portions of State
and Federal taxes are used for afford-
able housing. Oakland also levies
“Impact Fees” which are a subsidy
from market rate developers into our
Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Planning and Zoning Enforcement
• Cities are required to zone for many
more housing units. • Requiring
affordable housing to be distributed
throughout cities,
not concentrated in
low-income neighbor-
hoods but also mixed
into “high-resource
neighborhoods” like
Rockridge. • New
enforcement authority to
penalize municipalities
which are not in compli-
ance, such as proposing
infeasible housing sites.
• Accessory Dwelling
Units (ADU), also
referred to as granny
units or backyard cot-
tages. These units must
now be easily approved
by each City’s Building
Department, ADU
permitting has grown significantly
throughout the state, from 2,100
units in 2016 to 21,000 units in 2021.
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks .........................Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis......................... Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk......Business & Distribution Manager
Judith Doner Berne.........................Senior Staff Writer
RCPC Board of Directors, 2022-23
Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary
Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer
Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman,
Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson,
Ken Rich, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger
According to the City of Oakland’s most recent analysis,
the average cost to construct a unit of housing is $811,000
within our city. To make this unit affordable, a developer
must make up the difference between what a low-income
family can afford to pay and the unit cost with a myriad of
government subsidies and tax credits.
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.
This was a slide included in the presentation by Rick Jacobus,
Principal at Street Level Advisors.
All letters must be limited to 600 words and are
published at the discretion of the RCPC. 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.
Jeff Levin, Policy Director for East
Bay Housing Organizations, explained
the two ways to make housing afford-
able: through rent subsidies (such as
Section 8 vouchers) or through capital
subsidies (a grant to pay the costs of
building affordable housing, such as
the Low Income Tax Credit Program).
“There is a tremendous gap between
housing being built at market-rate
versus what we are producing in
affordable housing,” said Levin.  He
noted that in 2012, the State Legis-
lature ended Redevelopment which
had previously invested $1 billion per
year in affordable housing. One way
the City of Oakland responded to that
loss was by imposing “Impact Fees”
on market-rate housing construction
that help fund affordable housing
projects and that have generated $80
million since their inception in 2016.
Ben Metcalf, Managing Director
of U.C. Berkeley’s Terner Center for
Entitlement Streamlining
• Making permit processses for hous-
ing move faster if projects adhere to
the existing zoning, such as by limit-
ing the number of public hearings.
Metcalf highlighted the State’s
success in growing the number of
affordable units constructed each
year (doubled since 2016 to ~20,000
units per year despite increased
land, material, and labor costs). This
growth is due to increased State and
Federal investment in affordable
housing and changes in State law
to permit higher-density affordable
housing projects. However, there are
still many more families who qualify
for affordable housing than units
available.
The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any
articles, letters, display ads, or classified ads.
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your
check for $20, payable to RCPC with “Rockridge
News” noted on the memo line.
Mail payment to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Avenue,
PO Box 22504, Oakland, CA, 94609
Display Ad Deadline for MAY 2023:
April 20, 2023
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.
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.
March Town Hall, see next page


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page 3
APRIL 2023

March Town Hall
continued from previous page
Dogs of
Rockridge
Questions from Rockridge
Neighbors:
What is the data on the impact of
market-rate housing increasing the
number of affordable units? Is there a
“Trickle Down” effect?
“This is the big question. All of
the researchers agree that generally
market-rate housing is helpful for
affordability because not building is
a core cause of the housing crisis we
now face. If you don’t build enough
housing, there is a supply shortage,
which pushes rents and home prices
up and that is what is driving the
affordability problem,” said Jacobus.
This is Higgins, a 10-year-old
Beagle mix, staying warm in his
sweater during the fall rain. He
may be getting old, but he is still
young at heart. Higgins has been
a Rockridge resident since he
was a puppy and enjoys walking
through the neighborhood with
his family. Higgins loves people
and enjoys any attention he gets.
Does your pup live in Rockridge? If so, send
a photo of your four-legged friend with a short
commentary to: editor@rockridge.org.
Are there alternative ways to make
construction cheaper?
“The simplest answer is “no,” but
a workaround we’ve seen is building
smaller units. There is potential in
modular housing but so far we’ve
only seen modest cost savings,” said
Metcalf.
“Some amount of change has to
happen. Another way to think about
it: The absence of housing means
profound change as well — as we see
increased displacement, increased
homelessness, and increased ‘out-
migration’ of our children and our
families. Change is going to happen,
either because you don’t build and
your neighborhood withers from
within due to high costs and insta-
bility or because you do build and
you welcome some kind of growth
that hopefully is diverse by including
multiple levels of affordability,” said
Metcalf. “This is why it’s important
for groups like RCPC to mitigate the
legitimate concerns of neighbors about
housing growth and the need for more
neighbors… we all have to face some
burden when housing is developed
but the question becomes how do we
manage that burden,” said Jacobus.
Nine Bay Area counties are cur-
rently considering a bond to increase
housing production, preservation, and
protection on a regional level through
the Bay Area Housing Finance
Authority. This measure may come
before voters in 2024.
For all presentation slides and more
information, see Rockridge.org. n
Land costs in Rockridge and Temescal
are over $11 million per acre, which
is a lot higher than in the downtown
area. How does that affect the ability
to build affordable units?
“It makes it very hard,” said Jacobus.
“It does make it hard, it drives up the
costs. But land is not the only factor
— the costs to entitle and permit also
play a role,” noted Levin.
In a neighborhood like Rockridge,
where large sites for new development
are rare, what would be the most fea-
sible way to build as much affordable
housing as possible?
One thing that we are seeing is split-
ting large sites into separate projects:
one part is affordable and one part is
market-rate, so the affordable project
can leverage funding sources ear-
marked for fully affordable projects.
This also results in more affordable
units,” answered Jacobus.
Share Your Thoughts!
How do we protect the lifetime
investments of Rockridge homeowners
and their single-family homes from
multi-family project incursions while
balancing the need for more housing?


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page 4
APRIL 2023

How Could Oakland’s
Housing Element
Impact the Future of
Rockridge?
by Ronnie Spitzer, RCPC Board
Member, and Stu Flashman
Iimpacts resulting from the proposed
changes (see bit.ly/OakGPUDEIR).
The City is inviting comments on
the DEIR until 5pm on May 9, 2023.
Comments can be submitted via email
to generalplan@oaklandca.gov. The
City will also hold a public meeting
on the DEIR on April 19, 2023, at City
Hall. Phase II of the General Plan
Update (starting Fall 2023) will cover
the other State-required elements.
On College Avenue, properties
are currently zoned for a maximum
height of three stories, with ground-
floor commercial uses and more
varied uses (including residential)
allowed above. Rockridge residential
streets currently include a mixture
of residential types, with an average
density of 10 to 15 units per acre.
The General Plan designates most
Lower Rockridge residential streets
as “Mixed Housing Type Residential
(RM),” with the most common cor-
responding zoning for single-family
or duplex housing being RM-1.
about the General Plan Update, visit
bit.ly/OaklandGPU and sign up for
announcements.
The Zoning Ordinance implements
General Plan policies and controls
what types of uses are allowed in the
various parts of the city. It regulates
what can be built in the city’s many
neighborhoods, including building
heights, density, parking, as well as
what kinds of uses are allowed. The
recent enactment of State bill SB 9
meant that, in California, zoning can
no longer limit housing to one house
per lot: Oakland’s zoning is changing
accordingly.
The General Plan revision is pro-
ceeding in two phases. Phase I,
through Summer 2023, includes
the new Housing Element. Now,
zoning changes are being readied to
implement that new Element. A Draft
Environmental Impact Report (DEIR),
prepared pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
analyzes the potential environmental
n February 2023, Oakland’s Housing
Element, which outlines how the city
will address housing development
from 2023-2031, was approved by
California’s Department of Housing
and Community Development (HCD).
Attention now shifts to implementing
that element through zoning changes.
Phase 1 Preliminary Zoning Code
Amendments have been released for
public review. The Planning Com-
mission will hold a hearing on those
changes on April 15. Public comments
will be accepted until May 5, 2023, via
email to generalplan@oaklandca.gov.
The Housing Element is a manda-
tory part of the City’s General Plan
within the Oakland General Plan. The
General Plan acts as a “Constitution”
to guide the City’s future. It includes
a collection of policies related to var-
ious aspects of community life (e.g.,
transportation, safety, parks & open
space, etc.). The Housing Element, one
of the required parts, must show how
the City will provide housing to meet
expected future population growth.
The entire Oakland General Plan is
currently being updated — its first
update in over 20 years. To learn more
Figure 1. Examples of missing middle housing types.
Source: https://missingmiddlehousing.com/.
Major streets such as Claremont and
Alcatraz are zoned for a mixture
of single-family homes, duplexes,
townhouses, and small multi-unit
buildings, with RM-2/3 or RM-4
zoning respectively.
The currently proposed Phase I
zoning amendments may signifi-
cantly transform Rockridge. The
“Missing Middle Housing” zoning
amendments would change the
development standards in formerly
single-family neighborhoods to allow
higher densities, including multi-unit
Housing Element, see next page


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APRIL 2023

circumstances, a
limited number of
commercial facilities
(general food sales,
full-service restau-
rants, general retail
sales, etc.) could be
allowed by-right in
the RM-4 zone, and
conditionally in RM
1, 2 and 3 zones.
The City is pro-
posing to rezone
much of the Lower
Rockridge residential
area from RM-1 to
the higher density
RM-4, as shown in
Figure 2. This would
allow a broader
range of housing
options within our
“high resource area,”
and is, in part, a
response to HCD’s stated concerns.
However, these zoning changes don’t
address affordability. A separate
affordable housing overlay district
attempts to incentivize affordability.
The City is considering upzoning
the rest of Lower Rockridge during
Phase II. Zoning in Upper Rock-
ridge (above Broadway) is largely
unchanged. All this conforms to what
was proposed in a letter to the City
from the RCPC board (available on
rockridge.org). Some other organiza-
tions made similar requests. The City
is soliciting feedback on these pro-
Housing Element, from previous page
Figure 2. Existing zoning and
proposed zoning changes.
housing types ranging from duplexes
and townhouses to smaller apart-
ment buildings. An example of how
missing middle housing might look is
shown in Figure 1 (see previous page).
All Mixed Housing Type Residential
zones will allow 4 units or more on
lots greater than 4,000 sq. ft., and
at least 1-2 units on any lot. The
minimum lot size would decrease.
Buildings could be spaced more
closely and be higher, and more of the
lot could be covered by buildings. (i.e.,
less room for yards) A big difference
in what the new RM-4 zoning would
allow, compared to the other rezon-
ings in Rockridge, is that it would
increase how many units (beyond
four) would be allowed on lots bigger
than 4,000 sq. ft. Under certain
Figure 3. Proposed and existing commercial
building heights.
posals during the General Plan and
accompanying rezoning processes.
On College Avenue, the proposed
zoning changes would increase max-
imum building heights from 35 feet
to at least 55 ft. On the BART station
property, the maximum height would
go to 175 feet (15-17 stories). Zoning
for some other nearby areas, such as
the Trader Joe’s parcel, would also
allow higher and denser construction.
(see Figure 3 above).
Future issues of the Rockridge News
will provide more information on the
General Plan. n
Planning Commission
Public Meetings:
The Planning Commission Zoning
Update Committee will discuss
the proposed zoning amendments
at its in-person meeting on
April 12, at 3pm.
Note: The Planning Commission will
conduct a public meeting to receive
comments on the Draft EIR on
April 19, 2023, at 3pm
in the Council Chambers in Oakland
City Hall, l Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.


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APRIL 2023

Upcoming Events
at the Rockridge
Library
For Children
Storytime: Every Thursday and
Saturday at 10:30am.
Read to a Dog: Thursdays at 4 pm
Intergenerational Origami
Workshop: Tuesday, 5/2; 4 pm, &
Tuesday, 4/18, 5/16; 6:30 pm.
Storytime: Soul Soup with Amber
Hines, Saturday, 4/15; 10:30 am. Sing,
dance, and play. Amber’s drumming
blends traditional and contemporary
music to uplift the spirit.
(Chess Club will resume in June.)

A Rockridge
Nonagenarian Retires
as Block Captain
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News
Distribution Manager
For Adults
Rockridge Book Club: Saturday, 4/8;
3:30 – 4:30 pm. Join the Rockridge
Book Club every 2nd Saturday for a
lively discussion. April’s book is Finding
the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard.
Please call (510) 597-5017 for more info
and to get a copy of the book. 5/13 is
our next meeting — book t.b.d.
Check out our Seed Library. Seed
packets are ready and waiting for you
to take them home. Bring your leftover
or extra seeds to share with the
community. If you have any questions,
contact us at (510) 597-5017.
Save the Date for The Decolonized
Kitchen with Maribel Garcia:
Saturday 5/27, 11 am.
Rockridge News volunteer, Edward Jay
Intergenerational Origami. (See
dates and times for children).
Many, many thanks to Edward Jay,
who, at the age of 92, is hanging
up his Block Captain hat for the first
time since he started delivering The
Rockridge News in 1985. He is a ster-
ling example of how service to your
community can keep you fit but he
is eager for someone in his neighbor-
hood to take over his route as soon
as possible. Or, if you prefer, we have
another choice — on College Avenue
— to replace Leslie Osterweil (Thank
you, Leslie and Gideon). Please let us
know if you would like to be Block
Captain for Edward’s Chabot route or
Leslie’s route.
For Teens
Teen Advisory Board (TAB):
Wednesday, 4/12 & 5/10; 4-5pm. Join
the Rockridge Branch Library Teen
Advisory Board and take an active role
in creating, planning, and implementing
programs and services you want to
see at your local library. Every 2nd
Wednesday in the TeenZone. New
members welcome!
Poetry and Pudding on Wednesday
April 12th 3-4pm in the meeting room
for Black Out Poetry and Oreo “dirt”
cups. This event immediately precedes
the monthly TAB meeting, 4-5pm.
Route 05I: Odd and even numbers
on Chabot Road from Ivanhoe to
Chabolyn Terrace
After School, Weekdays: Pop-up
crafts, card games, and board games
happen in the TeenZone.
• CAv1: Businesses and apartments
along College Avenue from Clare-mont
Ave to BART. Stacks at Zachary’s and
Crossroads (shared stand with East
Bay Express), 1951, Supercuts, and the
Golden Squirrel.
Summer Volunteers: Rockridge
Library is looking for volunteers ages
11 to 16 to help with our Summer
Programs in June and July. Please
contact Stanley at slamontagne@
oaklandlibrary.org or stop by the
Children’s Reference Desk.
Block Captains deliver newsletters
door-to-door. Their bundles are
delivered to their front porches the
first weekend of each month except
August. To volunteer, call (510) 547-
3855, or email Susan at smontauk@
gmail.com. n
All Oakland libraries will be closed
Monday, 5/29 for Memorial Day.
Find more information at www.
oaklandlibrary.org/events. n


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APRIL 2023

Celebrate Earth Day
at Big Frog Park
by Alison Drury
I
When: April 22, 2023
from 9am to 12pm
Where: Meet at the big oak tree
by the Big Frog play structure to
sign the waiver to participate in the
cleanup and related activities.
n celebration of Earth Day 2023,
Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt
(FROG) are planning a cleanup of Big
Frog Park along with other activities.
This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest
in Our Planet,” which was developed
to encourage citizens, businesses, and
governments to invest in our planet
and improve our environment —
and leave a better legacy for future
generations.
Tasks include weeding, pruning,
trash pickup, raking, sweeping,
gardening, and applying a non-toxic
sealant to the Little Frog play struc-
ture (weather permitting). Families
and groups are welcome. Students
needing service hours for school can
receive a signed letter verifying their
participation.
Please bring your own gardening
gloves and refillable water bottles.
Some gardening gloves will be avail-
able onsite, so please bring disposable
gloves if you’d like to borrow a pair.
Tools will also be provided, but if you
have your own, please bring them.
Coffee and snacks will be provided.
For a proper headcount, please RSVP
to: info@frogpark.org by April 18. n
Susan Bernosky
IN MEMORIAM
as promotional and beautification
initiatives.
Susan was a lover of motorcycles,
Burning Man, other people, good
discussion, and the arts — often writ-
ing her own poetry. She was widely
known, respected, and appreciated.
She and Dave Bernosky had been
married since 2001 after having first
met at Burning Man. She is survived
by three grown children and two
stepchildren. Her memory will be a
blessing to all who knew her. n
Photo by Anna Marks
Artwork by Jenny Wehrt
Susan Bernosky ended her battle
with cancer on Wednesday,
February 22, at the age of 65. She had
been an insurance agent since 1987,
working in Rockridge for more than
25 years with Allstate, Strahan Insur-
ance Services, and most recently at
Cook, Disharoon & Greenhouse Inc.
Susan worked with the Rockridge
District Association (RDA) for more
than 15 years, serving as treasurer,
long-faithful president, and behind-
the-scenes as a mover and shaker.
She helped the RDA enhance Rock-
ridge through public works as well

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Let me help you!
Anne D. Brandon
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Each franchise is independently owned and operated.


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page 8
APRIL 2023

She Tracks Rockridge Crime — for All of Us
by Judith Doner Berne
“C
tuned in via Zoom.
“Karen has been the core of the
Greater Rockridge NCPC for many
years,” Ubell said. “She established
and maintains the website and email
lists. She transcribes our meetings
She’s not deterred by meeting atten-
dance and continues on.”
“I’m not about to give up on it,”
said Ivy, who, with her husband, Jim
Ringland, has lived in Rockridge
since 1986. “Communication with the
police is so important. We don’t have
much violent crime,” Ivy said. “We
have property crime in spades.” She
considers reading crime reports and
comments by residents on Nextdoor

ovid did us in.” That’s Karen
Ivy’s take on the seeming lack
of public interest in attending
meetings of the Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC), despite Oakland’s
upsetting crime statistics.
“They just stopped coming,” said
Ivy, even though meetings have
resumed every other month in the
upstairs conference room of the Rock-
ridge Library and are also accessible
via Zoom, just as they were during the
pandemic. Only two residents showed
up for the February meeting, hosted
by Ivy, NCPC chair Mike Ubell, and
treasurer Eric Neville. Five others

 
		

		
   
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“as part of my duties.”
That’s also because she finds that the
Oakland Police Department’s (OPD)
monthly crime reports for both lower
and upper Rockridge have not been
kept up to date and therefore are inac-
curate. Still, she emails the statistics
she receives to residents and adds her
own summary of the findings, for
which she regularly gets a “thank you.”
However, the recent ransomware
attacks on the City have apparently
impacted the crime statistics too.
“When I pulled the 90-day list of
reported crimes in Oakland from the
city data feed on March 3, there was
nothing in it after February 7, for any
beat anywhere in the city,” Ivy said.
To keep up with city-wide shootings
and homicides, as she suggested in the
February 2023 issue of the Rockridge
News, the next best bet is the daily
papers or Nixle.com for OPD.
“I was bored,” Ivy gave as one
reason she took over as NCPC secre-
tary in 2007. She had recently retired
as a senior consulting systems engi-
neer in the information technology
division of Bank of America. No, she
had no real background in police
work, except that “one of my older
cousins was a cop… and I’m a detec-
tive story addict.”
Although it’s not part of her pro-
scribed NCPC duties, she’s a regular
participant on the panels that conduct
oral interviews of Oakland police offi-
cer candidates. Each panel, according
to City ordinance, must have one
senior city employee, one non-senior
City employee, and one citizen. “So, if
citizens don’t participate, police can’t
be hired,” she said.
Ivy sends out emails to let Rock-
ridge residents know of upcoming
interview panels. “They feed you. It’s
not an all-day thing — usually from
8am to 2:30-3pm. You have a steady
sequence of candidates that all field
the exact same questions.”
Eyes on Rockridge, see next page


THE

page 9
APRIL 2023

The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council Meeting Notice:
Eyes on Rockridge, from previous page
“I find Karen to be one of the most
dedicated and driven volunteers to
ever work on the NCPC,” said Susan
Montauk, a former NCPC chair. “And
she is so very consistent and precise
in her communications to 12X and
12Y (police beats for lower and upper
Rockridge) citizens. I believe Covid
dampened the participation factor for
lots of organizations. RCPC stopped
doing in-person Town Halls, for
instance — so no surprise there.
“I believe it would take a very
high-profile Town Hall to revive inter-
est in the NCPC, but there are issues
that roil OPD now, and how that
affects our neighborhood should be
addressed,” Montauk continued.
Inspired by her mom, a library
assistant in Napa who organized the
statewide library assistants’ union, Ivy
earned a master’s in library science
from Cal Berkeley. And, although
she started as a librarian, she’s
proud that in an era in which career
changes were less common, she opted
for high-tech just as the industry
was emerging. “I was doing online
searches before the World Wide Web.”
Another feat of which she is proud
is that she recently lost 75 pounds.
When Covid hit, the gym where
she took water aerobics shut down,
“I started walking. It also involved
changes in my eating habits.” She has
since resumed water aerobics, adding
it to her walking routine.
When Ivy isn’t in motion, she’s
reading or doing IT as a volunteer for
Life Ring Secular Recovery, which
helped a relative regain sobriety. “I
don’t watch television. We have one
but haven’t used it in years.” She also
has been singing alto with the Oak-
land Symphony Chorus for 24 years
The next meeting will be held
at the Rockridge Library:
Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7pm,
 in the Rockridge Library’s upstairs
conference room. It will be a hybrid
meeting for those who want to
attend remotely.
For Zoom link,
visit: https://www.rockridgencpc.com/
To suggest meeting topics,
send an email to:
chair@rockridgencpc.com.
broken into twice during NCPC
meetings, although there was nothing
of value.
“Karen has been involved with
NCPC forever, as far back as when I
was chair, and that’s going 14 years
plus,” said Chris Jackson, operations
manager for the Rockridge District
Association. “So, she certainly served
her time and continues to do so.”
The next NCPC meeting is
Thursday, April 13, at 7pm, at the
Rockridge Library. The agenda
includes crime statistics, a neighbor-
hood discussion, a Q&A period with
a representative from the Oakland
Police Department, and a speaker
from the Oakland Office of the
Inspector General.
Photo by Judy Berne
After losing 75 pounds,
Karen Ivy enjoys a cookie at the
Hudson Bay Cafe.
and is a past member of the Oakland
Symphony Board.
“We like Rockridge so much,” Ivy
said. “My husband is a regular at
Cole Hardware. I’m in and out of the
library all the time.” No, she’s never
been a victim of crime herself. “I
never have my face in a phone. I’m
interested in what is going on around
me.” But, ironically, her locked car,
parked in the library lot, has been
To comment or to offer ideas
for future columns, please email
judyberne@att.net. n
# of homes for sale is well below normal levels (unlike 2023 snow & rainfall)! Today's loan rates near double late 2021.
That's not a coincidence. Homeowners hesitant to switch from a 3% rate to a 6% rate, so some are staying put for now.
That low inventory and slightly lower prices have caused Buyer activity resurgence from the latter 2022 slow down.
So contact me about how it can be a good time to make a move from both a Buyer and Seller perspective.

COMING THIS SPRING:
4 Bed 2 Bath ~2500 sqft, 1 block off College Ave, Classic Brown Shingle, spacious rooms, large level yard, Price TBD
April is awareness month for: Physical wellness, Oral care, Cancer control, Pets/ASPCA, Landscape Architecture/Gardens,
Math, Financial literacy, Women's empowerment, Human Rights, Diversity, Fair Housing, Earth Day/Keep America Beautiful,
Car care, Building relationships/Customer loyalty, Jazz appreciation, Poetry/Letter writing, Community spirit

THANKS FOR SKY WATER MOTHER NATURE!
WE'RE READY FOR A LITTLE MORE SUNSHINE!


THE
page 10
APRIL 2023

Gardens in the Pocket
by Carol Kasparek
Fhave the natural display be “curb-
friendly” so it looks intentional,
flexible, and wild. Agave, Euphorbia,
and Clarkia were some of the plants
they selected. Local gardeners should
note that plants often fail due to either
under-watering or over-watering, and
they should be careful not to water
lavender at all during the summer.
Last month, they went to work
on implementing their plans. Lock-
sley/Forest was the first area to be
transformed. Neighbors, who also
contributed plants and watering
to the current project, had already
tended the corner. Clearing the ivy at
the site was one of the most difficult
amendments. “We should have used a
truck to yank out some of the tougher
tendrils,” noted Kamp, who incorpo-
rated the big-hole process — digging
a hole much larger than the size of
each plant — to allow for maximum
aeration and drainage. The site has a
unique feature, freeway ramp water-
ing, where moisture moves down the
overhead freeway into the garden
patch. Much of the remaining water
needs are provided by osmosis, yet
Cullinane frequently lugged gallons
more to ensure there was enough for
proper growth. He explained that,
as root systems go deeper, watering
needs lessen.
As for Miles/Hudson, the two incor-
porated the existing colorful growth
with some height variations. Culli-
nane envisions a gathering spot on the
corner and added benches as a way to
bring people together. A bench and
plant recently went missing at the site,
but otherwise, the plea on Cullinane’s
sign to respect the space has been
heeded. The gardens continue to ben-
efit from supportive neighbors who
contribute plants, water, and tending.
Cullinane and Kamp see other areas
that could be enhanced. They offer
to provide plant lists and checklists
to anyone interested in taking on a
project of their own. The duo plan
to remain stewards of the gardens so
they continue to flourish.
Contact Patrick Cullinane at
pbc117@sbcglobal.net, or John Kamp
at kamp@prairieform.com, for more
information. n
lourishing visual delights can be
thoroughly enjoyed by all while
walking around Rockridge this spring
— these include two beautiful pocket
gardens, one at the corner of Miles
and Hudson and the other at the
corner of Locksley and Forest. Created
by Patrick Cullinane, and developed
with assistance from John Kamp, the
gardens were made possible through
funding from the Kevin Faughnan
grant that Cullinane received last
September from the Rockridge Com-
munity Planning Council (RCPC).
“When the opportunity presents
itself and you have the capacity to do
something to make your community a
better place …you need to respond to
that,” said Cullinane about his appli-
cation for the grant.
“I like doing landscaping that is for
the public, not hidden… that makes
walkability even better,” says Kamp,
a landscape and urban designer, and
licensed landscape contractor.
In the grant application, Cullinane
noted that he would seek help from
a professional landscaper. He looked
no further than three blocks away
to John Kamp’s place. Kamp used
Cullinane’s concepts for each section
to determine specific plants and place-
ment. With a low- to high-design,
Kamp incorporated the color and
durability they both wanted to display.
Patrick Cullinane determines where
best to place specific plants.
Urban designer, John Kamp ensures
the gardens are properly watered.
Rockridge shares a Mediterranean
climate with western Chile, Western
Australia, the Western Cape of South
Africa, and most of coastal California.
The dry summers and wet winters
are fairly unique, according to Kamp.
Plants were chosen that would thrive
in the dry summer months. Another
design factor they integrated was to


THE

page 11
APRIL 2023

Oakland Tech Bulldogs Win Third Division 1 State Title

Photo/Amir Aziz

Oakland Tech’s Bulldogs secured the teams place in history — claiming their
third straight title last last month with a win over Santiago High of Corona. n

Ashby Village: Is it
American Midnight?
by Sigrid Deusberg
Aand led by and for older adults who
share their skills, support, and exper-
tise to navigate the challenges and
opportunities of aging.
Every day, members, supporters,
and over 300 trained volunteers come
together to provide social engagement
opportunities and support services
for one another and our various com-
munities. Together, we imagine and
create the best possible experience of
aging — with optimism.
This event is free for all to attend.
To register, please use this link:
https://tinyurl.com/HistoryAV, or
email sigrid@ashbyvillage.org.
To learn more about membership
and volunteer opportunities, call (510)
204-9200, or visit ashbyvillage.org. n
re we in a new, unstoppable
nosedive for American democ-
racy? Or a grim rerun of our forgotten
history that we can fix and emerge
from intact and improved? Join
acclaimed historian Adam Hoch-
schild for an exclusive Ashby Village
Arts & Culture Series presentation
on his new book, American Midnight:
The Great War, A Violent Peace and
Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis, on
Sunday, April 30 at 2pm, on Zoom.
Ashby Village is a community built
CollegePrep
A private high school in Oakland

The College Preparatory School is a vibrant day school for grades 9-12 in Oakland’s
Rockridge neighborhood. At College Prep we believe in the foundational importance of
scholarship, the value of dialogue, and the need for academically curious young people
to belong to a kind, creative, diverse, and joyful community. We challenge our students
to engage deeply in learning, appreciate one another, and grow into adults who are
intellectually adventurous, ethically sure-footed, and generous of heart and spirit.

6100 Broadway    Oakland CA 94618   510.652.4364   college-prep.org


THE
page 12
APRIL 2023

Get a Total Makeover: Surprising Ways to
Re-Invent Your Look along College Avenue
by Susie Wyshak
Style Your Old Jewelry at
Pavé Fine Jewelry Design
Have old jewelry that’s too good to
sell or give away but “not you” enough
to wear? “Transforming old, unloved
jewelry into new pieces has been a
big part of Pavé’s business over the
past 40 years,” says Michael Endlich,
owner of Pavé Fine Jewelry. “Styles
change and elders pass down cher-
ished jewelry that’s not quite current,”
he says.
Design. Master jewelers work onsite at
Pave’s workshop, so they don’t need to
send work out as other jewelers may
do. And many of the Sales Design-
ers are also certified gemologists.
Customers often bring in heirloom
jewelry to be maintained or repaired.
Pavé will also melt precious metal
jewelry into something completely
custom-made or recycle gems for a
brand-new look.
Find them at 5496 College;
pavefinejewelry.com; (510) 547-7000.
Style Your Face at Yours Truly
Permanent Cosmetics
Would you love to have that sum-
mery freckle-nosed look year-round?
Now you can. Yours Truly owner and
artist Megan Hessler attributes an
Instagram “freckle filter” for the new
trend in freckle tattoos that last up to
three years. Not a freckle fan? Black
beauty marks add instant glamour.
Illusions of fluffier, more even,
thicker, crisper eyebrows are in
reach. Hessler’s team of certified and
licensed Body Art Practitioners help
clients of all genders touch up their
looks without the hassle of makeup or
hair dye. Hessler herself sports a brow
lamination for a brushed-up look.
Lash-line tattoos help the eyes pop
with semi-permanent eyeliner, adding
even more lid definition and a “fresh
awake look” without smudging or
Vintage wedding ring diamond
re-imagined into a new “nautilus” ring.
Customers can bring their jewelry
in and Pavé will redesign it or repur-
pose it into something they want to
wear. Imagine turning a brooch into
bracelets, cufflinks into earrings, or
rings into necklaces. “It can be a won-
derful way to re-incorporate grandma
or our parents into our lives. You keep
the ancestral connection yet make the
jewelry your own.”
Talent abounds at Pave Fine Jewelry
Makeovers, see next page


THE

page 13
APRIL 2023

wigs to fit naturally to a face’s shape
and with an eye to the customer’s
personal style. “When you buy a wig,
it doesn’t come tailored to your face,”
he explained. Arellano takes the same
approach when cutting and styling a
wig as he does with hair.
Arellano, a hair stylist since the
mid-’70s, can also dye wigs as long as
they are made with 100 percent real
hair. “People who have had chemo-
therapy and want to wear a wig will
come in, or I will go to their house to
style their wig,” he said. Clients with
hair toppers (hair pieces attached by
combs) and hair implants also look to
Arellano to cut and color their hair.
He has styled hair at his cozy Rock-
ridge salon since the mid-1990s.
Find them at 5475 College, (510) 207-
4672; arellanosalon.com.
Seeking a new career along with your
new style? The Rockridge businesses
in this article all employ state-licensed
artists who honed their craft in school
and on the job.
Susie Wyshak is a local real estate
agent who enjoys helping people and
businesses. n
Yoni Temple manager, Tessa Bagwill, models the eyebrow dying process.
The women-owned, women-run
boutique also offers eyebrow and eye-
lash tinting. 
Find them at 5831 College, (510) 239-
3052, theyonitemple.com
Makeovers, from previous page
skin irritation. Hessler herself models
the benefits of lip blush. This full-lip
tinting (nothing like the bold lip liner
of the ’80s) solves uneven lip color-
ation or lack of pigmentation.
“The year 2016 marked a turning
point in semi-permanent cosmet-
ics,” Hessler explained. “Dyes and
techniques used today have become
much more natural looking, unlike
the harsh, blue-green, metal-based
facial tattoos of past decades.” What
happens after one to three years? The
tints simply fade away. Unless you
come in for touch-ups, that is.
Find them at 5292 College Ave,
yourstrulyoakland.com.
Style Your Wig at Arellano Salon
So, it’s time to get a wig. Hair stylist
Carlos Arellano offers a solution to
those wanting something other than
an off-the-shelf wig look: He styles
Style Your Hair (yes, that one) at
The Yoni Temple
How Berkeley can Rockridge be?
Home to the “Berkeley Brazilian,” The
Yoni Temple offers the community “a
safe, sacred space where you can feel
pampered while receiving a wax.” 
Coined by owner Ashley Apple, the
“Berkeley Brazilian” evolves waxing
trends of the past few decades into a
new “do” combining a natural ’70s
look in the front with the famous
“Brazilian” in the back — minimizing
pain with high quality skin treat-
ments, soothing music, therapeutic
grade essential oils, and nourishing
ambiance. They offer a gender-
inclusive full menu of body waxing
services.


THE
page 14
APRIL 2023

RCPC Financial Statement 2022
RCPC General Fund
Income
Contributions
          $345.00
Rockridge News
     $43,887.00
Kitchen Tour
     $22,648.44
Interest
$22.99
Total Income
     $66,903.43
Expenses
Rockridge News
     $42,251.90
Contractors
       $5,279.42
Insurance, Permits, Sales Tax
       $1,506.00
Misc Admin & Program Expenses
       $3,677.94
Kevin Faughnan Memorial Grant
       $661.50
Events
       $1,778.40
Total Expenses
     $55,155.16
Net Receipts (RCPC)
     $11,748.27
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
RCPC Assets, Savings/Checking
     $96,302.79
Equity & Liability
KF Community Improvements Prgm        $5,618.41
Legal Fund Reserve
     $55,000.00
Equity
     $23,936.11
Net Receipts
     $11,748.27
Total Equity & Liability
     $96,302.79
YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
[ B U L K ]  [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
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ReUpRefills.org
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND

Attention Residents:
Burglars Disguised as
Delivery Drivers
T
Saftey Tips and OPD
Recommendations:
• Make your home look occupied,
and make it difficult to break in.
• Lock all outside doors and win-
dows before you leave home.
he Oakland Police Department
(OPD) has seen an uptick in
residential burglaries where the
individuals involved are disguised as
Amazon workers. In several of the
cases, individuals wearing Amazon
delivery driver vests approach a
residence and ring the doorbell to
determine if the residence is occupied
or not. The individuals then force
entry into the residence, take several
items, and flee the area in a vehicle.
OPD is actively investigating each
of these burglaries. If you are a victim
or have information regarding any of
these incidents, call (510) 238-3951. n
• Leave lights on when you go out
or connect some lamps to automatic
timers during the evening.
• Do not allow deliveries, mail,
newspapers, or flyers to build up out-
side your home while you are away.
• Call the OPD non-emergency
number at (510) 777-3333, to report
suspicious persons.
For immediate emergencies, use
the number for the Oakland Fire
Department’s stand-alone dispatch
center: (510) 444-1616. OFD will
pick up in seconds most of the time.
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.


THE

page 15
APRIL 2023

Classifieds
List your 36-word message here for only $22 (phone number counts
as one word). Make check payable to RCPC, and write “Rockridge
News Classifieds” in the memo line. The deadline for May is April 20
(available May 6). Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504,
Oakland, 94609-20131. For info, email Susan at smontauk@gmail.com.
Make New Friends!
Share stories, tea and cookies with life-
long Rockridge resident. Every two
weeks or weekly? Play Rummikube?
Meet at my house or yours. Call Nancy
at 510/653-6018.
RN
Hiring Brain Game Instructors
For Seniors in the East Bay.  Assisted
Living and Memory Care; $25-$50/hour. 
Visit: www.californiagamegirls.com and
click yellow box “WE ARE HIRING”,
upper right on homepage for details.
Email: cagamegirls@gmail.com. n
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Finally: Spring!!  Need help with your
electrical plans? 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. CA Lic # 913727.
Shop
Rockridge
Plan for 2023 Now! Free
Home Evaluation w/Licensed
Neighborhood Realtor!
Market Value, Tax-Related Issues, Estate
Planning, Selling/Buying. Eve Levine 347-
526-1383  eve@vanguardproperties.
com; DRE#02133046. Each in-home
visit this month we donate $100 to
Friends of OPL.
Men’s Facial Treatment offered
at Penelope’s Aesthetics! 
C+energy is especially formulated for
men. Revitalizing, detoxifying, firming and
anti-fatigue properties renew the youthful
appearance! $120. Gift certificates
available. www.penelopecalef.com. 
Call 510/594-1552.
Immortal Fitness –
A New Neighborhood Gym
We offer a variety of workout equipment,
nutritional advice, personal training and
membership options to suit any budget.
Located at 3089 Telegraph Ave. For more
information call Matt @ 510/859-7771.
Handyman for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced.
Hauling and towing available. No job too
small. Reasonably priced. Lee Self. Call and
text 707/223-1298.
Reward Based Dog Training
Does your adolescent pup need help
with basic obedience, leash manners
or impulse control? We offer private
training customized to help your dog
succeed! Please call 510/646-9657 or
visit dogsquaddogtraining.com for more
information and to get started.
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.
Home Organization
Specializing in storage areas, downsizing,
closet design, home office, and senior
moves. Transform overwhelming spaces
to enjoy every area of your home. Get
started at SunshineOrganizingSupport.
com. Call or text Emily 510/472-0176.
DRE 01265873 | 01798658

Competition Drives Price in March
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
3/1/2022
2
1

5250 Locksley Ave                  $1,049,000         $1,049,000
14
$1,460,000
3/10/2022
2
1.5

5222 Shafter Ave                    $1,195,000         $1,195,000
22
$1,400,000
Garden Maintenance,
Cleanups & Design
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@
gmail.com. Check us out at www.
yourgreengardeners.com.
3/10/2022
3
2
         6494 Benvenue Ave               $2,100,000         $1,980,000
22
$1,980,000
3/17/2022
3
2.5

278 Cross Road                       $1,795,000         $1,795,000
12
$2,150,000
3/17/2022
2
1

471 North St                            $1,025,000         $1,025,000
13
$1,525,000
3/20/2022
4
3.5

6119 Acacia Ave                      $1,950,000         $1,950,000
18
$2,550,000
Homes sold in March closed 21% over the asking price on average.
Specializing in Rockridge | 510.501.3764 | 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.


COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE

THE
NOBE Duplex
Coming Soon
(2) 2 Bedroom Apartments
“I know Rockridge”
6960 Paso Robles Dr | Montclair
6960pasorobles.com
SALE PENDING! Located in one of
Oakland’s most popular neighborhoods, this
beautiful two-story Montclair home with
approximately 1,681 square feet of living space
combines mid-century architecture with many
modern updates and features wonderful indoor
and outdoor living spaces.
3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 1,681sf
Kevin Brown, Broker
Better Homes Realty, Rockridge
510.593.4780 | dre# 00644175