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Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org We’re also very concerned about pedestrian and cyclist safety. As it is now, we can bare...

RCPC Election 2022 Casey Farmer (Incumbent) Carlton Street Ben Friedman Colby Street Candidate Statements Af ter almost 5 years as a resident of Rockridge, I excitedly announce my candidacy for the RCPC board. I work in environmental philanthropy and advocacy, and will use my conservation and government affair...

A Lot to Ponder When Ben Friedman moved to Rockridge in October 2017, the vacant lot at the intersection of College and Claremont caught his eye and his imagination. Despite the healthy redwoods at the rear of the lot, the grasses in the center seemed dead. When the rains ...

Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger The Rockridge Café is also cel- ebrating a milestone anniversary ­— 2023 marks its 50th year on Col- lege Avenue. Owner Bill Chung and his wife Jean (Jea...

[ enjoyed neighborhood newcomer Ben Friedman’s piece about the vacant lot at College and Claremont. (The Rockridge

By Ben Friedman

RCPC: MAY TOWN HALL Rooms for Rent? How to Home Share by Ben Friedman, RCPC Board Member and Election Officer C Louisa Bukiet, Star Lightner, Ken Rich, and Zac Unger. Tom Lollini is new to the board. Bios of this year’s slate of RCPC members appear below. The next election will occur in the spring of 2024, a...

By Ben Friedman

RCPC Board Elections Planned for April by Ben Friedman, RCPC Election Officer j SAVE THE DATES j RCPC / JCC East Bay JOINT TOWN HALL Are you a resident of Rockridge wondering how to help serve our community? Six seats are up for election to the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) Board...

By Ben Friedman

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 ...

By Ben Friedman

Neighboring Redwoods Abound by Ben Friedman A Reminder To Observe Protocols When Recreating Outdoors by Eric Lombardo, RCPC Parks Chair Happy New Year, neighbors. This winter is a hard one, as we are all asked to follow the guidance of our public health experts and limit our activit...

By Ben Friedman

by Ben Friedman | hee spring, | was inspired to write about the empty lot at the College-Claremont intersection when I saw it come alive following the winter rains (as it has again). As anew California resident after spending my first 30 years on the East...

...e Tour! David Beiser 15 by Star Lightner Congrats to the six winners highlighted above; please welcome them to the RCPC Board of Direc- tors. And a big THANK YOU to departing RCPC Board Members Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Ben Friedman, Robin McDonnell, and Kirk Peter-

By Jody Colley

Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken R...

...in McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson, Ashley Pandya, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger

By Stuart Flashman

tested election. Incumbents (with vote counts): Robin McDonnell (176), Casey Farmer (146), Annette Floystrup (128), and Kirk Peterson (124) retained their seats. Two new mem- bers joined the board: Ben Friedman (123), and Alysoun Bonde (118). The vote tallies for the rest of the 2022 candidates were as follows: Diana Mitchell-Chavez (114), Brett Moyer (103), Eric Neville (72) votes. RCPC board member Ronnie Spitzer assists neighbors with the voti...

...ember Zac Unger to his commitment to this process and for his interest in seeing progress made. This has been a 20-year effort for many residents. The time is now to pilot solutions that address the reduc- tion of traffic volume and speed. Ben Friedman Colby Street n be reduced significantly in our neigh- borhood. There have been deaths, accidents, and destroyed property as well as intensive air quality issues

By Annette Floystrup

...ms and create opportunities that make life more vibrant, interesting, RCPC Board of Directors, 2023-24 Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken R...

Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken R...

Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Trash Cans, see next page Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lol...

...bution Manager Judith Doner Berne......... Senior Contributing Writer RCPC Board of Directors, 2023-24 Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken R...

...bution Manager Judith Doner Berne......... Senior Contributing Writer RCPC Board of Directors, 2023-24 Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Love Again Fabrics / 6030 College Avenue Shops, from front page Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Ann...

By Susan Montauk

RCPC Board of Directors, 2023-24 Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer

Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken R...

By Carol Kasparek

............Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Zac Unger Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there community issues you’d like to see covered...

.......................... Vice-Chair Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer TRiO Plus (Teachers Rooted in Oakland Plus) Mark Aaronson, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup,

............Chair Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, 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 covere...

...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

...obin 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 a...

By Casey Farmer

Coming in April: RCPC BOARD ELECTIONS j SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 14 j TOWN HALL: The Economics of Housing Affordability by Casey Farmer, Chair, RCPC Board of Directors Oby Ben Friedman, RCPC Election Officer of Oakland’s Housing Community Development, and Chris Norman, Chief of Staff, City of Oakland’s Housing Community Develop- ment. This will be followed by an illustrious panel of experts. Questions for the panel: • Wh...

funding for affordable projects and for major efforts li the Housing Element. Rick Jacobus, a national expert in inclusionary housing and affordable homeownership, is the principal of Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, 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 cov...

.................................Treasurer To run for election, prospective candidates must submit a statement announcing an intent to run no later than Wednesday, March 1, 2023, by email to chair@rockridge.org. Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Candidates must meet the criteria for membership (at least 18 years of age and...

...kland has built many market-rate units surpassing our regional housing goals in that category while vastly underbuilding affordable units. Does this mean we should have a moratorium against market-rate units? Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org • What questions do you have about housing? Contacting The Rockridge News Are ...

Social housing is defined as “hous- ing units that would accommodate extremely low-income, very low-in- come, and low-income residents (per State and Federal standards).” Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson, Ashley Pandya, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger Additional information about California’s ballot measures will be mailed to all registered voters early this month. Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For info...

................................. Vice-Chair Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Stuart Flash- man, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson, Ashley Pandya, 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 Th...

................................. Vice-Chair Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Stuart Flash- man, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson, Ashley Pandya, 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 Th...

Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer RRNews: How long will the project take? When will the JCC Move In? Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Stuart Flash- man, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson, Ashley Pandya, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger JCC: We’re looking at many years for this project to come together — what’s there and what’s being built will be dependent on zoning with the understanding that in...

...co- lades from the East Bay Express to Bon Appetit, plans to open Boichik Bagels in Rockridge this spring. Her shop will be located on College Avenue just past Alcatraz, in the original Noah’s Bagels location. Rockridge resident and writer Ben Friedman interviewed her for The Rockridge News.

around here. /Photo: Ben Friedman

By Ben Frie

...r is literally injecting life into the exhaling soils. Seemingly overnight, the Claremont-College intersection triangle changed. Fresh grasses appeared and SEIS Spe GOR ROME TE OTL AOE Neha lively green. Our wet spell in Rockridge newcomer Ben Friedman would like — the author's name, phone number, email address, and mid-January provided more to see the neglected greensward at College and city or neighborhood of residence, and are subject

To discuss Rockridge’s silvicultural history or share other exemplars of our redwoods, please email Ben at bfriedman86@gmail.com. n