Search The Archive

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 covered in the Rockridge News? Have ques...

Star Lightner / Colby I grew up in Rockridge, and attended Chabot Elementary and (back then) Claremont Jr. High School. I returned and bought a house here after law school and met my husband over the back fence! Our kids attended local public schools wh...

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 barely cross the street here, and we’r...

Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Photo: Matt Day Studio Ghibli products and plants at Planterday. Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to se...

By Susan Montauk

Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, 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 in the Rockridge News? Have quest...

By Star Lightner

What started as a local project has now gone global. Stooping Club now Stooping Club, see next page Thanksgiving, see page 4 Kitchen Tour A Smashing Success by Star Lightner, RCPC Board Member and Kitchen Tour Chair Thank you Rockridge! The 2024 Kitchen Tour was well attended with more than 380 people touring the eight kitchens and two ADUs. It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon — not too hot, not too cold — and ...

By Star Lightner

by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair Do you like all things KITCHEN? The layouts, the colors, the fix­ tures, the appliances? Are you inter­ ested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at some of the coolest remodels in Rockridge? If so, the 2026 Rockridge Kitc...

By Star Lightner

Kitchen Tour: Seeking Volunteers by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair

By Star Lightner

The THE SNAP FOOD DRIVE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair $14,126 TOTAL RAISED $6,126 donated by the neighborhood $8,000 match: • $2,000: RCPC • $5,000: College Avenue . Presbyterian Church • $1,000: Chabot Road Neighbors 1,539 POUNDS OF FOOD Collected at Market Hall, the Rockrid...

By Star Lightner

hunger in Oakland during these trying times. n Donate to Support Families Who Were Denied SNAP RCPC by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair donate.accfb.org/ vfd/RockridgeGives You may have heard that the gov- ernment shut-down put an end to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding on Nov. 1. Even though the program has a $200 million reserve, ...

By Star Lightner

A Breakdown of Recent Updates to CEQA by Star Lightner, RCPC Board Member miss CEQA exemption criteria. The details of these bills are as follows: require mitigation to reduce the VMT to produce a less than significant environmental impact. Money gener- ated by such mitigation will be used tow...

By Star Lightner

A Zoom link is available to those who wish to attend remotely. For more details, visit www.rockridgencpc.com The Greater Rockridge NCPC meets every 2nd Thursday of even-numbered months. by Star Lightner, Rockridge Kitchen Tour Chair M Don’t Miss the Rockridge Halloween Parade: October 27 aybe you’ve seen the posters and banners around Rockridge; the Rockridge Kitchen Tour is almost here. If you love design and want an inside look at how R...

By Star Lightner

2024 Rockridge Kitchen Tour: See Great Kitchens as an Attendee or Docent by Star Lightner, RCPC Kitchen Tour Chair

By Star Lightner

Get an Early Peek at Rockridge Kitchens: Be A Docent by Star Lightner, Kitchen Tour Chair Planning for the 2024 Rockridge Kitchen Tour, scheduled for Sunday, October 13, is in full swing. The Kitchen Tour committee has selected eight kitchens and two ADUs to be featured on this year’s tour, and is now turnin...

By Star Lightner

Twenty-Year Update to City’s General Plan Moves Forward by Star Lightner and Aly Bonde, RCPC Board Members

...sts. Rockridge News Production Liam Pierce.......................... Editor & Layout Artist Susan Montauk.....Business & Distribution Manager RCPC Board of Directors, 2025 Casey Farmer................................................. Chair Star Lightner......................................... Vice Chair Jana Good.................................................Secretary Paul McDonnell.......................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary Barg, Kristen Be...

RCPC Board of Directors, 2025 Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair Star Lightner...............................................Vice Chair Jana Good...................................................... Secretary Paul McDonnell............................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary ...

Star Lightner has lived on 61st St. in lower Rock- ridge for 22 years. She grew up on Birch Court, and considers Rockridge her home. She worked as a lawyer, practicing environmental law, but now has a nontraditional job as Senior Editor of, and a contri...

... and an arts council. I have worked on neighborhood revitalization, fundraising, event creation, planning and forging community partnerships. I presently teach at the University level and am a non-profit consultant. Mike Taylor Ross Circle Star Lightner 61st Street I am a recent Rockridge resident who is interested in preserving our wonderful neighborhood. Great neigh- borhoods do not happen by accident — they require lots of individuals to work together and I want to help in this effort....

...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...

... borrow a projector and you borrow a screen and you have a community event.” The more established “Colby Park Cinema” draws a larger, younger audience as befits an area near Peralta Elementary. Begun by two sets of parents, Ben Riddell and Star Lightner, and their neighbors, Keith Beattie and Shelli Strand, this summer’s screenings mark the fourth year of what Lightner likes to call “pop-up movies.” “Our two families live directly across

“RO” illustration by Laura Serra Tickets on Sale Now for the 2026 Rockridge Kitchen Tour Developer Revises Proposal for Trader Joe’s Site by Star Lightner, RCPC Board Sunday, Sunday, September 27 September 27 Once upon a time, most kitchens in Rockridge probably had Wedge- wood stoves and birdcage refrigerators. In the oldest houses, the original stove was most likely wood-burning and, witho...

By Margaret McCarthy

...isten Belt.............................................Vice Chair Garrick Monaghan Beyer........................Secretary Paul McDonnell.......................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Sam Fishman, David Hatfield, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Natalie Musick, Brian Stromquist, Robbie Tasker

...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. by Star Lightner, RCPC Board Planning for the 2026 Rockridge Kitchen Tour, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, is in full swing. Te Kitchen Tour committee has selected the 8 kitchens and 2 ADUs to be featured on this year’s Tour, and is now recruiting another ...

... a very diverse assortment of kitchens, both aestheti- cally and in terms of budget, so there’s something for everyone. ● Paul McDonnell.......................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Sam Fishman, David Hatfield, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Natalie Musick, Brian Stromquist, Robbie Tasker

By Jack Leal

...- borhoods where dumping is more visible. “Illegal dumping drives down in- vestment in the city overall,” he said. “We lose taxpayers and businesses, we lose the resources needed to provide services in Rockridge and other neigh- borhoods.” Star Lightner, an RCPC board mem- ber, asked how Rockridge may itself be indirectly contributing to dumping

The June 2026 page 2 The Rockridge Kitchen Tour Date Announced Rockridge News Rockridge News by Star Lightner, RCPC Board for the Tour. Although this is not a super time-consuming endeavor, it does require web skills and regular main- tenance. But it’s a truly critical role, so we’re really hoping someone can help! The Rockridge News was founded i...

...Vice Chair Please email kitchentour@rockridge.org to volunteer. ● Garrick Monaghan Beyer........................Secretary Paul McDonnell.......................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Sam Fishman, David Hatfield, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Natalie Musick,Brian Stromquist, Robbie Tasker Whether you are planning your own remodel or just like checking out

...t. (Right) Mosiac tile art of neigh- borhood peackock ‘Kevin.’ “I love how this project enhances a central thoroughfare of our neighbor- hood and empowers young people to express themselves through art while caring for our community,” said Star Lightner, RCPC’s Kitchen Tour chair. Over the course of two weeks, Fitz-Faulkner, students, and volunteers used mortar to set the mosaic panels on trash cans, then grouted them. RCPC also expressed gratitude to BART and the Oakland Public Works Dep...

.... Rockridge News Production Ryan Phillips.........................Editor & Layout Artist Susan Montauk...............Business & Distribution Mgr. RCPC Board of Directors, 2026 Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Sam Fishman, Jana Good, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Paul McDonnell, Garrick Monaghan Beyer, Natalie Musick, Brian Stromquist, Robbie Tasker

...s. Rockridge News Production Liam Pierce.........................Editor & Layout Artist Susan Montauk...............Business & Distribution Mgr. RCPC Board of Directors, 2026 Casey Farmer...............................................Chair Star Lightner.........................................Vice Chair Jana Good.............................................Secretary

... ● Rockridge News Production Liam Pierce.........................Editor & Layout Artist Susan Montauk...............Business & Distribution Mgr. RCPC Board of Directors, 2026 Casey Farmer...............................................Chair Star Lightner.........................................Vice Chair Jana Good.............................................Secretary Paul McDonnell......................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Tom Lollin...

Susie Wyshak Lydia Belusa-Niesen Laurie Williams Andrew Krulewitz David Garcia Star Lightner Jana Good

...s. Rockridge News Production Liam Pierce.........................Editor & Layout Artist Susan Montauk...............Business & Distribution Mgr. RCPC Board of Directors, 2026 Casey Farmer...............................................Chair Star Lightner.........................................Vice Chair Jana Good.............................................Secretary

...y! Rockridge News Production Liam Pierce.........................Editor & Layout Artist Susan Montauk...............Business & Distribution Mgr. RCPC Board of Directors, 2026 Casey Farmer...............................................Chair Star Lightner.........................................Vice Chair Jana Good.............................................Secretary Paul McDonnell......................................Treasurer SUBMITTING BLOGS AND EVENTS Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Kristen ...

By Gary Barg

...ubs, art classes and other group activities the community is involved with. We look forward to hearing your feedback as we roll out this new com- munity resource! n Rockridge Food Drive Update! Support Families Who Were Denied SNAP RCPC by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair donate.accfb. org/vfd/ RockridgeGives By the time you read this, the Rockridge food drive will be wrapping up, BUT there is still time

By Don Kinkead

...ana Good...................................................... Secretary Paul McDonnell............................................Treasurer RCPC’s 40th, see next page Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kim Suczynski-Smith, Robbie Tasker, Zack Walton

.....................Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Paul McDonnell............................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Jana Good, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Robbie Tasker, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the Rockridge News? Have questions about newslet...

.....................Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Paul McDonnell............................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Jana Good, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Robbie Tasker, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the Rockridge News? Have questions about newslet...

...at circumstances any alter- nate location would be utilized; how a specific alternate location would be chosen; and the possible impact a 40-year agreement could have on the City's abilty to implement its affordable housing strategy," said Star Lightner, Vice Chair of RCPC. n June 17, a week after the item was first introduced at the

.....................Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Paul McDonnell............................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Jana Good, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Robbie Tasker, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the Rockridge News? Have questions about newslet...

By Carol Kasparek

...offee. C C Location information provided upon registration. ongratulations to the new and returning board members who have been confirmed for two-year terms following the 2025 uncontested election. Incumbents returning to the board include Star Lightner and Mark Aaronson. New members to the board include Gary Barg, Jana Good, Robbie Tasker, and Paul McDonnell. Statements of the new board members are published on pages 3 and 4. The next election will occur in the spring of 2026, at which t...

.....................Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Paul McDonnell............................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt, Jana Good, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Robbie Tasker, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the Rockridge News? Have questions about newsletter distribut...

By Don Kinkead

................................. Vice-Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zack Walton through our survey, which you can access via the QR code on the front page, or at www.Rockridge.org. n Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are th...

By Don Kinkead

board in April, and to Star Lightner All submissions accepted for publication are subject to editing for clarity and brevity. The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any articles, letters, or advertisements. Newsletter Subscriptions To subscribe to The Rockridge News,...

By Don Kinkead

Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Get Involved: Attend An Event or Pop-Up Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zack Walton RCPC is excited by the energy that was brought to the first meeting, and we appreciate our neighbors’ thought- ful comments. We encourage the community to get involved. Join a Steering Committee: We rec- ognize th...

...ase see Rockridge.org for more information and examples of the organization’s impact. Email Chair@Rockridge.org to learn more about the election process and how to participate. n Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zack Walton What is the Scope of RCPC? Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org We’re your official neighborhood association focused on land use, development, transportation, public amenities...

.......... Vice-Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Photo by Anna L. Marks Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org In 2015, owner Lise Dale fell in love with the Bittersweet Café while working for the owner, and took it over when they wanted to move on ...

By Don Kinkead

...eople think about what they throw away, and as the organization continues to grow, so too does its impact… one forgotten curbside find at a time. n Stooping Club, from front page Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zack Walton operates worldwide, including new branches opening as far away as Ethi-

...nell: Docent Assistant Emily Hou: Website Design and Management Kim Suczynski-Smith: Brochure Design and Budgeting Eli Kaplan and Aaron Wulfsburg: Day-of Runners Mark Aaronson, Eli Kaplan, Louisa Bukiet, and Ben Riddell: Registration Table Star Lightner: Kitchen Tour Chair Elmwood Copy & Printing: Printing

................................. Vice-Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zack Walton infrastructure bonds with a 55 percent vote. This measure removes a systemic barrier that has for too long blocked communities’ ability to meet their affordable housing and infrastruc- ture needs. Prop ...

................................. Vice-Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Urgent Call for Docents Lastly, the RCPC Kitchen Tour committee still needs MANY more volunteer docents for the Sunday, October...

bleshoot on the day of the tour. Want to be part of the action? Contact Kitchen Tour Chair Star Lightner; kitchentour@rockridge.org. n Next Meeting: July 18, on Zoom The Rockridge News was founded in March 1986 by Don Kinkead and is published monthly (except August). It‘s sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprof...

................................. Vice-Chair Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zack Walton Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the

By Judith Doner Berne

...kday Take this Opportunity to: Eyes on Rockridge, see page 10 • Meet new neighbors and introduce them to each other. SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, October 13 • Re-learn the names of many neighbors you may have forgotten. Rockridge Kitchen Tour by Star Lightner, Kitchen Tour Chair • Build a more resilient neighbor- hood: Begin a conversation about emergency preparedness or training together with the City’s CORE program (see www.oaklandca.gov/ services/readyoakland). Hello Rockridge, the 2024 Rock...

.......................... Vice-Chair Kim S. Smith................................................. Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zack Walton, Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the Rockridge News? Have questions about newsletter...

...ll income groups, especially for Andrew Charman 192 Annette Floystrup 179 Stuart Flashman 173 Ronnie Spitzer 167 Jennifer McElrath 164 Kirk Peterson 162 Bambino Thrift, see next page Got Kitchen? Got Time? Join the 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 ...

.......................... Vice-Chair Kim S. Smith................................................. Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac Unger, Zach Walton, Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Contacting the Rockidge News Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the Rockridge News? Have questions about newsletter...

By Annette Floystrup

........................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, 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 in the Rockridge News? Have quest...

........................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, 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 in the Rockridge News? Have quest...

...ice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Trash Cans, see next page Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Zac Unger Land Use Committee Meeting Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org The Rockridge community is encouraged to participate in LUC meetings where elements of t...

........................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Zac Unger Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org

................................... Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Love Again Fabrics / 6030 College Avenue Shops, from front page Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Zac Unger Murasaki Futon and Fine Bedding / 6050 College Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org

........................... Vice-Chair Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Zac Unger Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org Rockridge Community Planning Council’s Land Use Committee Meeting Contacting the Rockidge News Are there community ...

By Jody Colley

Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman, 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 in the Rockridge News? Have quest...

By Carol Kasparek

..................................... 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 in the Rockridge News? Have quest...

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, at which time all interested residents will again be encouraged to run f...

..................................... 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 covered in the Rockridge News? Have ques...

By Casey Farmer

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 co...

..................... 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

...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 covered in The Rockridge News? Have q...

...asurer 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 maintain a principal resi- dence ...

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 (Jean passed away last May) opened the...

...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 there community issues you’d like ...

by the standards of Oakland, means somewhere in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 a year for a household. I think market-rate housing right now is unaffordable, and that’s what, unfortu- nately, is mostly being built these days. Star Lightner: I grew up in Rock- ridge and I bought a house here just over 20 years ago, so most of my life has been spent in Rockridge. And the Rockridge today is not the Rockridge I grew up in — all the gentrification and ridiculously priced housing....

only two of the 95 applications that the team made were rejected. Star Lightner 62st St. 40+ year Rockridge resident who was born and raised in the community. n 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...

Special thanks to neighborhood photographers: Leonora Sea, Judy Berne, Star Lightner, Julianne Sherback and Audrey Liu

individually — in thinking about the future of Rockridge. Yes In My Backyard! — Star Lightner, 36-year Rock- ridge resident

By Leonora Sea

Thank you to the homeowners, including Carolyn and Jim Baldocchi, Francesca Boyd, Foster Goldstrom, Glen Jarvis, Star Lightner and Ben Riddell, Cheri and Willie Smith, and Maryly Snow, who generously opened their homes and kitchens to tour guests, patiently answered our many questions, and made themselves available for many preliminary house visits. Without them,

...ization of that triangular parcel and what is currently an ugly parking lot. I would appreciate RCPC not pretending to be the sole voice of “the neighborhood” and at least acknowledging that not every neighbor is opposed to this project. — Star Lightner RCPC Board Replies: We Support a Thoughtful Remodel The RCPC board is aware that some community members support the Safeway on College project as proposed. But surveys of customers and nearby residents have indicated that a large majority ...