Hi Lake Neighbors!
The meeting was interesting – with some of the new mix we got pulled into a few different unexpected tracks, but most felt it was productive. Thank you to PSO Officer Scott Hewitt, Lieutenant Ersie Joyner, City Councilmember Pat Kernighan, City Organizer Hoang Bahn for coming on a Saturday morning to our meeting. Come anytime to any of our meetings, you are always welcome. We did walk away Saturday with some additional strategies to add to our growing pile. A concise list follows under the “immediate safety issue” category below.
The simultaneous three pronged approach is still our deal: 1) IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE, 2) STRONG ONGOING POSITIVE EVENTS, 3) HEALING THE CAUSE INSTEAD OF TREATING THE SYMPTOM BY CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE BEING CAUGHT IF POSSIBLE.
This particular newer group mugging people here unfortunately has a effective strategy, they make hits all at once all over w/a driver, they sometimes fan out on a street and always wear black hoodies (remember not all black hoodies mean a threat…we all probably have one, but our assessment skills are good). They target anyone – mostly elderly and even an entire family (searched the kids, too)…we go into the safety issue first…
1) IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE:
* Use Whistle instead of yelling for help because it is more recognizable (OPD knows this)
* Tell all neighbors when you hear a whistle it means distress/need of help
* Start Night hikes with groups of 4 or more (healthy to walk and is meant to be fun and vigilant)
* Get walkie-talkies on your block (we use ch. 9)
* Meet your Neighbors on your block minimum (beyond is great)
* Eye contact and greet everyone around
* Offer bathroom stops for people working here to help us – Guardian Angels are around
* Approach, introduce and meet the police that are in our neighborhoods.
* Look at all cars around you when you are out – make sure they are empty
* Multiple males in black hoodies are the recent group – so be awake and aware.
* Walkie talkie noise is somewhat of a deterrent when you are out
* Sometimes saying what is up/hi is going to make you not selected for a crime…walking with fear or
distracted is more likely to attract a problem
* When calling dispatch say you’re calling about the series of robberies (it is prioritized)
* Call someone, leave line open & tell your location, if you are out & being approached (they can call,
and a robbery in process is prioritized)
* If robbed, cooperate fully – your stuff is not worth the risk.
* If robbed, leave your cards and cell active long enough for OPD to track them
* If robbed, take as much in visually as you can to recall later to OPD
* Get cell #’s of your own block neighbors (put in ph as “NBR Lateef” etc.)
* “Phone tree” w/ your block to call incidents in – higher priority with more calls in
* Cover tagging right away every time
* If something is happening & dispatch may be slow or no, call 3 neighbors and decide what
to do together (min of 3)
* When calling OPD emergency dispatch (510 777-3211) if you give your name, this up’s priority
* Email Captain Orozco & Ofcr Hewitt immediately on incidences after calling it in (they
have blackberries & it goes right away) ROrozco@oaklandnet.com, shewitt@oaklandnet.com
* CALL CALL CALL in everything – it may add to something later, it will be noted one way or other
response at times is immediate, and at times not at all – but do it anyway.
* Use luggage tag on your keys for id/bank card and don’t carry purse/bag when possible
* We will invite lead for city ofc in charge of streetlights to correct our situation of dim/no lighting
* We asked to be made a “project” by patrols so they can work continuously on our issue
OTHER News/Updates given at meeting: In the past 4 weeks OPD increased “robbery suppression” work and they have 3 wolf pack members in jail now, 19 people were arrested in the last few weeks (11 for robbery, 8 for weapons).
Hoang Bahn has a modified Neighborhood Watch in the works – we may use that if it certifies us.
Sean is looking into organizing great design/art on the always tagged PG&E boxes (Pat Kernighan is looking into that for him).
We want to find some Lake Neighbors to go to other neighborhood meetings to connect us all up more. Maybe Hoang can help make this easier.
There are currently no set hours at OPD’s auxillary office at Lucky’s (people were wondering).
WHAT WE WANT FROM THE OPD:
1) Better consistency of fast response for dangerous incidents that are called in
(ie: burglaries in process, suspects in this recent wave seen in action, etc.).
2) Follow up and responsiveness to our burglaries/robberies when we call to find out.
3) OPD increase use of Lucky’s Auxillary office (we can help you have internet to helpt this)
4) Please ask your officers to meet us. Reach out and make the effort.
5) Please inform us about the latest arrests and changes in our area.
Questions: Is OPD checking ATM camera’s for the stolen ATM cards that are being used after muggings? What do you advise when we see a spread out group of males in black hoodies walking the entire width/span of the street/sidewalk on a street? Can we have the regular beat officers (not just the PSO’s) come out of their cars so we can see them – we see them, but in motion in vehicles.
3) STRONG POSITIVE EVENTS…
We have many going. We have a continuous flow of great art exhibits and gigs and goings on in many different forms. We have the outdoor movies. We tried a recent new thing “happy hour” at one persons front steps so we meet people walking by, also and that was a big hit. People have hosted parties at their homes (BBQ’s, pie party, a word fast party, someone put together a guerilla cake fight that actually got rained out – but the ideas are boundless – be creative or be basic – anything is great). We have many ideas to grow and we need to have many people take this on and spread the active part.
2) HEALING THE CAUSE:
We have a varied range of great and talented and good hearted people who are long standing members of this group who a great deal of experience working with youth and adults who have gotten into some really dangerous places and we want to work hard to meet them and get to know them and they get to know us. Lately we have had several new people attending that are expressing great interested in that approach. We must do that, we all agree – that is one of the prongs in our 3 pronged approach. We are pursuing this by approaching 2 programs in particular and also the DA’s office. We can seek being a part of restitution for people (youth and adults) arrested for crimes in this area – we want to have a sit down with people 1 at a time…the DA’s office is one place to seek this out. Suzanne B is going to contact one of the agencies, I will contact the other 2. Anyone who wants to spearhead this particular direction, please step up!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
LMBA Annual Holiday Party
You Are Cordially Invited To
“Lake Merritt”
Business Association’s
Please join us with Oakland City Officials,
OPD Officers, merchants, neighbors for food, drinks, prizes, music at our
Annual Holiday Event
Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Place: Woody’s Café, 1841 Park Blvd.
To RSVP, please contact LMBA President, Steve Ma
Cell Phone: 510-455-6374 or Email: steviewoodys@sbcglobal.net
The LMBA organizes merchants, business & professional people and other interested members of the nearby community to advance the economic welfare of businesses within & nearby the Lake Merritt Parkway District, to improve the environmental conditions within it and to serve the interests of its membership.
“Lake Merritt”
Business Association’s
Please join us with Oakland City Officials,
OPD Officers, merchants, neighbors for food, drinks, prizes, music at our
Annual Holiday Event
Date: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Place: Woody’s Café, 1841 Park Blvd.
To RSVP, please contact LMBA President, Steve Ma
Cell Phone: 510-455-6374 or Email: steviewoodys@sbcglobal.net
The LMBA organizes merchants, business & professional people and other interested members of the nearby community to advance the economic welfare of businesses within & nearby the Lake Merritt Parkway District, to improve the environmental conditions within it and to serve the interests of its membership.
Monday, December 14, 2009
OPD Communications
Captain Orozco,
Thank you for copying me on your response to Richard Berman's letter and Sean Henry's break-in and for your
fast response to this.
I know the crime is down statistically, but living here it just does not feel like it. We want to do what we
can on our end to work in concert with everyone to bring the rates down even lower because honestly
before this recent spike we had it was still a regular burglary we heard of in a home of a neighbor and tagging
constantly and car break ins and then all the drunken or lewd behaviors we see all the time -- almost daily
on our porches, etc.
We SO MUCH appreciate the OPD -- they are very nice to us and they really do care
about our needs. Out of our own family's interactions with the OPD only one was negative (an officer that came
by earlier in the year when our house was burglarized -- the responding officers were great, but when we called
to follow up the officer that came by was not interested at all in the evidence we had -- phone records
of a phone stolen from our house that time -- and my husband was basically told in so many words that
"well, what do you expect, you live in Oakland" -- which was really shocking to us. We had a more success
finding out some of what happened from people on the street who looked into it.
Dispatch is really mixed -- some of the people answering are very great and helpful and are answered by
people who really show that they care about the call/need -- and at the same time our calls are often
are met with rudeness. With our break in when I asked the emergency dispatch to please hurry because my
husband went into the house she snapped at me and lectured that "there is no HURRY" -- like I was
not allowed to say that -- I explained that my husband ran into the house and I did not know if anyone was still
in there which seemed to get her to be no longer rude with me -- I was genuinely afraid for my
husband's safety and there was very little sensitivity to this. We get response times that vary so greatly we never
know what will happen. Sometimes very fast, sometimes a few hours, sometimes none at all.
Please focus on this aspect with us, because telling us the stats are lower just makes us feel helpless --
the improvement is vital, but it still feels very unsafe at the current improved rate. We are not ever trying to be "trouble"
or a negative voice -- we are all good, hard working people who are very community minded and we do
appreciate the hard work that is very real that the OPD does. We care about their safety, also.
We would really appreciate close involvement in getting our neighborhood to the level of safety that we all
need and I am sure you would personally want in your own neighborhood -- I don't know if you live, here,
but if you do, then you understand.
We welcome you and the OPD officers to all our meetings. Our next one is Sunday January 3rd at 5pm.
Sasha Esposito (a Lake Neighbor)
On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM, Orozco, Ricardo wrote:
Mr. Henry & Berman:
I received an e-mail from Chief Batts regarding a recent burglary that occurred at Mr. Henry’s residence. I am looking in to the matter and researching why it took us so long to respond.
I am the Area Commander for Area 2, which is Central Oakland from Lake Merritt to High Street. As the Captain responsible for the Area, I can assure you that I manage my resources equitably and with the highest regard for the entire area. Based on our work so far this year I am pleased to report that Robberies are down 26%, Shooting are down 42% and Residential Burglaries are down 4%.
My staff and I will continue to provide the best/quality service you demand. I will reply once I have the information regarding the call and if you have any questions please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
Ricardo E. Orozco
Captain of Police
Oakland Police Department
Area 2 - Bureau of Field Operations
(510) 238-3351 - office
Thank you for copying me on your response to Richard Berman's letter and Sean Henry's break-in and for your
fast response to this.
I know the crime is down statistically, but living here it just does not feel like it. We want to do what we
can on our end to work in concert with everyone to bring the rates down even lower because honestly
before this recent spike we had it was still a regular burglary we heard of in a home of a neighbor and tagging
constantly and car break ins and then all the drunken or lewd behaviors we see all the time -- almost daily
on our porches, etc.
We SO MUCH appreciate the OPD -- they are very nice to us and they really do care
about our needs. Out of our own family's interactions with the OPD only one was negative (an officer that came
by earlier in the year when our house was burglarized -- the responding officers were great, but when we called
to follow up the officer that came by was not interested at all in the evidence we had -- phone records
of a phone stolen from our house that time -- and my husband was basically told in so many words that
"well, what do you expect, you live in Oakland" -- which was really shocking to us. We had a more success
finding out some of what happened from people on the street who looked into it.
Dispatch is really mixed -- some of the people answering are very great and helpful and are answered by
people who really show that they care about the call/need -- and at the same time our calls are often
are met with rudeness. With our break in when I asked the emergency dispatch to please hurry because my
husband went into the house she snapped at me and lectured that "there is no HURRY" -- like I was
not allowed to say that -- I explained that my husband ran into the house and I did not know if anyone was still
in there which seemed to get her to be no longer rude with me -- I was genuinely afraid for my
husband's safety and there was very little sensitivity to this. We get response times that vary so greatly we never
know what will happen. Sometimes very fast, sometimes a few hours, sometimes none at all.
Please focus on this aspect with us, because telling us the stats are lower just makes us feel helpless --
the improvement is vital, but it still feels very unsafe at the current improved rate. We are not ever trying to be "trouble"
or a negative voice -- we are all good, hard working people who are very community minded and we do
appreciate the hard work that is very real that the OPD does. We care about their safety, also.
We would really appreciate close involvement in getting our neighborhood to the level of safety that we all
need and I am sure you would personally want in your own neighborhood -- I don't know if you live, here,
but if you do, then you understand.
We welcome you and the OPD officers to all our meetings. Our next one is Sunday January 3rd at 5pm.
Sasha Esposito (a Lake Neighbor)
On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM, Orozco, Ricardo
Mr. Henry & Berman:
I received an e-mail from Chief Batts regarding a recent burglary that occurred at Mr. Henry’s residence. I am looking in to the matter and researching why it took us so long to respond.
I am the Area Commander for Area 2, which is Central Oakland from Lake Merritt to High Street. As the Captain responsible for the Area, I can assure you that I manage my resources equitably and with the highest regard for the entire area. Based on our work so far this year I am pleased to report that Robberies are down 26%, Shooting are down 42% and Residential Burglaries are down 4%.
My staff and I will continue to provide the best/quality service you demand. I will reply once I have the information regarding the call and if you have any questions please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
Ricardo E. Orozco
Captain of Police
Oakland Police Department
Area 2 - Bureau of Field Operations
(510) 238-3351 - office
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
MTG: 12-09-09: Guardian Angels Guest Speaker
Hi Lake Neighbors!
First…mark down OUR NEXT MEETING ON A SUNDAY (we are going to rotate Tuesdays and Sundays so more people can make it more often)…January 3rd at Hector and Sasha’s house (1704 3rd Ave., right on the corner of 3rd Ave & E. 17th Street). 5pm…Potluck! Please let me know if you want your home to be next to host a meeting (a few of you have already – thank you)!
We had a great meeting last night with our guest Guardian Angel Oakland Chapter Leader (and also Coordinator for Northern CA) Christina Fernandez. Thank you for the strong turnout.
Christina talked with us about the Angels and also about general safety – and she let us know that now they are going back on patrol (less events that are in need of security this time of year) that since we have called and have the need that they are going to patrol our neighborhood!
The Guardian Angels keep a varied route and so you will see them all over – make sure to offer them your support and hospitality if needed. Say hi – see if they have any needs (ie: water, restroom, coffee, an apple…). They carry no weapons, but they do have bullet proof vests and a lot of training. You can tell it is them by their uniform of black cargo pants, boots, white shirt with Guardian Angels on it, red jacket and beret. They work after hours generally (because they are all volunteer – all have a varied range of “day jobs”) and are always in a group of minimum 4 angels. They don’t use their given names and have working nicknames. Christina said that they have an excellent relationship with the OPD and will work to de-escalate situations.
One big point made as a group is that we would RATHER treat the cause of all this crime stuff in a strong positive way – and we will keep doing that better and better – but that we must also meet it at a “symptom treating” level very strong as well.
Safety measures we are taking on as a neighborhood and we ask that everyone work to get everyone else around us on the same page…
1) Know your neighbors & their friends/family– go meet them, invite them to meetings or have dinner or a BBQ, bring them something…
2) Say hi to everyone in a confident and very present way – you are paying attention to who is in your neighborhood and you are still being friendly and aware at the same time. It is a message either way.
3) Have a whistle on your keychain (I have some to give out at our next meeting)
4) Blow a whistle instead of yelling if you can if help is needed (strong extended blasts)
5) If you have no whistle, yell to call 911 – it’s is more effective then a general scream an it tells what you need someone to do
6) Get sensitized to responding to a whistle if one is heard – that is our signal as a group, or community that you are needed.
7) Walkie talkies are not only heck of convenient – they are a deterrent and make you less of a desirable target because of the noise they make – it sounds like an undercover cop or a neighborhood patrol
8) Don’t carry a purse or bag whenever possible – Christina suggested carrying a luggage tag on your keychain (she does) for your id or any small atm card you need for the moment, etc.
9) Call Call Call for all weird stuff you see – the OPD’s emergency # is 510 777-3211 (put that on your cell phone so you can call fast because 911 won’t work on a cell).
10) Don’t walk around on the cell phone – it impairs your hearing behind you so you can be snuck up on from behind and it usually means you are distracted from your environment and are a better “target”
11) Paint over your tags that happen on your homes – in case it is gang related – which it is not a lot of the time, but to keep things as clear as possible, don’t let your home (or car!) be a place for gang territory markings.
12) Introduce yourself and get to know any Oakland Police assigned here. They are people that we need to know and who need to get a sense of us, also.
13) To help deter home burglaries…Have motion sensor lighting, and also an option are cameras – even one that does not record still can put off a person considering where to break in and it can give you a view outside from inside. Double bolts are good, too, she said.
14) Windows – one neighbor found that there is a security film that can be put on windows instead of having bars put up and it seems like pretty amazing stuff that is worth looking into. 3M makes some and I am calling to see if they give group discounts! I’ll let you know what I hear – I don’t have a price at all yet, so it may be very expensive.
15) I am adding this one sorta spontaneously…even though we have the Guardian Angels here, maybe we can even go out in groups of 4 or more for fast night hikes where we are out of our houses and aware… going for walks at night in small groups in your own neighborhood is a way of creating a positive vibe all around and it increases safety for everyone…right?
Someone noted the website for tracking (reported) crimes in the area, which is: http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/crimewatch/
There was some discussion about carrying weapons – but that is a very personal decision and you MUST know what you are doing with whatever you choose if you choose one! Don’t carry something you don’t know how to use and don’t feel confident using or it will be used on you! Christina mentioned that even a trial size of Lysol or hairspray can be a safe “weapon” to carry because sprayed in the eyes it is not comfortable.
Okay, that is mostly it for the moment! Please keep in touch with us and everyone and let’s completely change the climate here in terms of crime and make it a safe place to be for everyone.
MUCH Friendship & see you all around a lot!
Sasha
First…mark down OUR NEXT MEETING ON A SUNDAY (we are going to rotate Tuesdays and Sundays so more people can make it more often)…January 3rd at Hector and Sasha’s house (1704 3rd Ave., right on the corner of 3rd Ave & E. 17th Street). 5pm…Potluck! Please let me know if you want your home to be next to host a meeting (a few of you have already – thank you)!
We had a great meeting last night with our guest Guardian Angel Oakland Chapter Leader (and also Coordinator for Northern CA) Christina Fernandez. Thank you for the strong turnout.
Christina talked with us about the Angels and also about general safety – and she let us know that now they are going back on patrol (less events that are in need of security this time of year) that since we have called and have the need that they are going to patrol our neighborhood!
The Guardian Angels keep a varied route and so you will see them all over – make sure to offer them your support and hospitality if needed. Say hi – see if they have any needs (ie: water, restroom, coffee, an apple…). They carry no weapons, but they do have bullet proof vests and a lot of training. You can tell it is them by their uniform of black cargo pants, boots, white shirt with Guardian Angels on it, red jacket and beret. They work after hours generally (because they are all volunteer – all have a varied range of “day jobs”) and are always in a group of minimum 4 angels. They don’t use their given names and have working nicknames. Christina said that they have an excellent relationship with the OPD and will work to de-escalate situations.
One big point made as a group is that we would RATHER treat the cause of all this crime stuff in a strong positive way – and we will keep doing that better and better – but that we must also meet it at a “symptom treating” level very strong as well.
Safety measures we are taking on as a neighborhood and we ask that everyone work to get everyone else around us on the same page…
1) Know your neighbors & their friends/family– go meet them, invite them to meetings or have dinner or a BBQ, bring them something…
2) Say hi to everyone in a confident and very present way – you are paying attention to who is in your neighborhood and you are still being friendly and aware at the same time. It is a message either way.
3) Have a whistle on your keychain (I have some to give out at our next meeting)
4) Blow a whistle instead of yelling if you can if help is needed (strong extended blasts)
5) If you have no whistle, yell to call 911 – it’s is more effective then a general scream an it tells what you need someone to do
6) Get sensitized to responding to a whistle if one is heard – that is our signal as a group, or community that you are needed.
7) Walkie talkies are not only heck of convenient – they are a deterrent and make you less of a desirable target because of the noise they make – it sounds like an undercover cop or a neighborhood patrol
8) Don’t carry a purse or bag whenever possible – Christina suggested carrying a luggage tag on your keychain (she does) for your id or any small atm card you need for the moment, etc.
9) Call Call Call for all weird stuff you see – the OPD’s emergency # is 510 777-3211 (put that on your cell phone so you can call fast because 911 won’t work on a cell).
10) Don’t walk around on the cell phone – it impairs your hearing behind you so you can be snuck up on from behind and it usually means you are distracted from your environment and are a better “target”
11) Paint over your tags that happen on your homes – in case it is gang related – which it is not a lot of the time, but to keep things as clear as possible, don’t let your home (or car!) be a place for gang territory markings.
12) Introduce yourself and get to know any Oakland Police assigned here. They are people that we need to know and who need to get a sense of us, also.
13) To help deter home burglaries…Have motion sensor lighting, and also an option are cameras – even one that does not record still can put off a person considering where to break in and it can give you a view outside from inside. Double bolts are good, too, she said.
14) Windows – one neighbor found that there is a security film that can be put on windows instead of having bars put up and it seems like pretty amazing stuff that is worth looking into. 3M makes some and I am calling to see if they give group discounts! I’ll let you know what I hear – I don’t have a price at all yet, so it may be very expensive.
15) I am adding this one sorta spontaneously…even though we have the Guardian Angels here, maybe we can even go out in groups of 4 or more for fast night hikes where we are out of our houses and aware… going for walks at night in small groups in your own neighborhood is a way of creating a positive vibe all around and it increases safety for everyone…right?
Someone noted the website for tracking (reported) crimes in the area, which is: http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/crimewatch/
There was some discussion about carrying weapons – but that is a very personal decision and you MUST know what you are doing with whatever you choose if you choose one! Don’t carry something you don’t know how to use and don’t feel confident using or it will be used on you! Christina mentioned that even a trial size of Lysol or hairspray can be a safe “weapon” to carry because sprayed in the eyes it is not comfortable.
Okay, that is mostly it for the moment! Please keep in touch with us and everyone and let’s completely change the climate here in terms of crime and make it a safe place to be for everyone.
MUCH Friendship & see you all around a lot!
Sasha
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
MTG: 11-03-09
Hi Lake Neighbors…
We meet next for our regular meeting on: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3RD @ Regeneration Church @ 6:30pm
We got what we needed to get done done…we established a core group of neighbors to make sure we can pull together in case of emergencies. There are so many varied circumstances – as long as it is one that involves us keeping our power and cell phone ability, then connecting over any situation is pretty easy because we are already so connected. Suzanne and Tank are going to establish a phone tree of the CORE people (anyone can be a core person, we are just identifying the people we see showing up the most…if you want to be one of those folks, just say so and we will put you into the mix). If something happens that compromises our power and cells then we will have radio/walkie-talkies and we also have established a location where we will all meet to decide how to proceed with whatever comes up which is the small block of East 17th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. ANYONE can show up there should something happen, not just the people working on this at the moment.
We also agreed that as a group of committed core people we should have at least our own households set by having the “to-go” bag and what we need for 3 days (minimum, more is great). We are also inventorying our abilities and equipment (camping, 1st aid, etc.) that can be shared with all. We are looking into the best radio/walkie-talkie plan we can all do and we will email all with that once we know (Sean is contacting our CORE II instructor).
That can all be set in a few weeks.
From there we will build more – connecting with LMBA hopefully and more specifically Lucky’s and Walgreens when it is up and running – they will want neighborhood support because they may be targeted for looting, etc. and that can be a 2nd location as well as Regeneration who will always be up for getting involved in any way to help.
We also want to approach managers of apartment buildings to include/streamline organization around serious events.
Also, Sharleshia is going to look into how to join any plans the city/districts have going on. Core group people keep an eye out for an email with the basic info we talked about...
WE MAY HAVE A MOVIE ON HALLOWEEN -- we are picking a creepy one for the occasion (Coraline is probably going to be the headliner with some Halloweeny short cartoons beforehand). The Halloween trunk or treat is in the evening from 5 to 8pm in the regen parking lot.
BY THE WAY...happy hour in the hood was really fun! We WILL do it again for sure.
OKAY...That's it for now. See you in the neighborhood a lot!
MUCH Friendship,
Sasha
We meet next for our regular meeting on: TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3RD @ Regeneration Church @ 6:30pm
We got what we needed to get done done…we established a core group of neighbors to make sure we can pull together in case of emergencies. There are so many varied circumstances – as long as it is one that involves us keeping our power and cell phone ability, then connecting over any situation is pretty easy because we are already so connected. Suzanne and Tank are going to establish a phone tree of the CORE people (anyone can be a core person, we are just identifying the people we see showing up the most…if you want to be one of those folks, just say so and we will put you into the mix). If something happens that compromises our power and cells then we will have radio/walkie-talkies and we also have established a location where we will all meet to decide how to proceed with whatever comes up which is the small block of East 17th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. ANYONE can show up there should something happen, not just the people working on this at the moment.
We also agreed that as a group of committed core people we should have at least our own households set by having the “to-go” bag and what we need for 3 days (minimum, more is great). We are also inventorying our abilities and equipment (camping, 1st aid, etc.) that can be shared with all. We are looking into the best radio/walkie-talkie plan we can all do and we will email all with that once we know (Sean is contacting our CORE II instructor).
That can all be set in a few weeks.
From there we will build more – connecting with LMBA hopefully and more specifically Lucky’s and Walgreens when it is up and running – they will want neighborhood support because they may be targeted for looting, etc. and that can be a 2nd location as well as Regeneration who will always be up for getting involved in any way to help.
We also want to approach managers of apartment buildings to include/streamline organization around serious events.
Also, Sharleshia is going to look into how to join any plans the city/districts have going on. Core group people keep an eye out for an email with the basic info we talked about...
WE MAY HAVE A MOVIE ON HALLOWEEN -- we are picking a creepy one for the occasion (Coraline is probably going to be the headliner with some Halloweeny short cartoons beforehand). The Halloween trunk or treat is in the evening from 5 to 8pm in the regen parking lot.
BY THE WAY...happy hour in the hood was really fun! We WILL do it again for sure.
OKAY...That's it for now. See you in the neighborhood a lot!
MUCH Friendship,
Sasha
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
MTG: 10-06-09
The Lake Neighbors
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING MINUTES (10/6/09)
Hi Lake Neighbors! The main issue discussed was Disaster Preparedness and I will highlight that discussion. After that, we mostly covered events and that follow.
As a group we identified a location to come to should we have a major disaster event. This is our current operating plan and it is up for adjustments as we get better prepared/trained….we just need to have something in place right now.
The agreed first choice location to meet and work from: The block of E. 17th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues – we will have a workplace set up with what we have there with the different yards/fences and garages…It is close enough to everything and also tucked out of the way from bigger streets – it is small enough for easy containment. IF SOMETHING UNFORSEEN IS WRONG WITH THIS LOCATION AT THE TIME OF DISASTER…2nd place to go to then will be Regeneration Church. More than likely whatever we make happen will be a combination of places.
We meet in 2 weeks (10/20) Tuesday night at 6:30 pm at Regeneration’s church Café to set up emergency packs (we are hoping to invite a woman Sharleshia knows who sells these at a reasonable price…$35?). Please try to make it if you want to be involved. At that time we will also map out our houses and number them in case we need to assign tasks, etc.
In the mean time, over the next week:
· Collect water, and water treatment items
· Collect canned foods
· Collect basic medicines
· Get walkie talkies – we use channel 90 (they are $20 ea. @ home depot)
· Keep gas tanks over ½ full as a practice
· Suzanne has a commitment to collect herbal 1st aid (she is an herbalist – she is also planning to hold classes for this soon if you have specific needs, she can design classes around those)
· Jessica will email me the handout she gave at the meeting to help people plan (we want to prepare for 7 days on own)
· Next meeting a woman named Gabriana will try to be there (she is a neighbor – who also sells insurance as there was an interest in equake insurance at the meeting.
We may try to have a fundraiser at the next outdoor movie to collect items for e-prep (emergency preparedness)
CORE UPDATE: CORE III Training is available ONLY at their site @ Mills College…they do not have dates set yet, but next set will be in Jan/Feb & we can put our names on the list now (it will most likely be 1 eve. 6:30-9 for 3 weeks and then a Saturday class)
ALSO…MAKE UP CLASSES FOR CORE 1: 11/3 6:30 9pm Mills College & MAKE UP CLASSES FOR CORE 2: 11/10 6:30 9pm Mills College
WATCH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS vigilantly – crime is WAY up and we have to pull together. Call or Email Officer Scott Hewitt (shewitt@oaklandnet.com ). Suzanne reported that her friend was held up at gunpoint (several guns, several assailants) at 6th & E. 15th at 10pm. Remember to track these things because Sean is looking to start a neighborhood patrol soon – keep a log of times of day and incidences so we can plan accordingly.
FUN:
HAPPY HOUR IS HERE…almost! THIS Thursday (TODAY!) between 6 & 7pm, cruise by and say hello and visit at the combined porches of Sasha & Hector AND Jessica & Richard on E. 17th between 3rd & 4th Ave. We are right in the middle of our tiny little block & we will be easy to find. Happy hour for us is NOT necessarily alcohol related – just happy.
Next movie night – Steve Ma’s Jam Fest PART 2 is this coming Saturday (was parceled because of the weather – he wants to follow with a movie which will start soon after 7pm because it is getting darker earlier now. He needs our help pitching in – please try to be there to help. Contact me if you are able. JAMFEST PART 2 starts earlier in the day on Saturday (10/10) 3 to 6pm over by Woody’s…the Movie follows at 7pm or soon after.
HALLOWEEN Trunk or Treat – Bring your car (can be decorated to be Halloweeny) and park at Regen Parking lot on E. 15th St. and 3rd Ave with treats in the trunk for kids to have…for more info check in with Dave Kim – you can email me and I will pass on questions and I can re-announce and update as I get more info. Sounds like a fun thing, to do, though, right?
TEA FUNDRAISER AT THE FARM…SUNDAY 10/25 (and every last Sunday of the month) will be Bee Tea at Funktown farm to fundraise – $5 gets you all the tea and tea food you want and helps the farm raise money (this time for bees!!!!).
THE PARKWAY: Steve Ma let us know about an effort on the part of the iliketheparkway people to secure some time at The Parkway Theatre over the holidays but this is fraught with obstacles and challenges and may not be possible. We will let you know if we hear more!
FYI: The group was interested in offering help to the people living in the house that recently burned down (@ East 18th St. & 5th Ave.) – I contacted the Red Cross to see if we could do anything to help out and they said that all their needs have been met.
OTHER FYI: Steve Ma let us know that the next LMBA (Lake Merritt Business Association) meeting will be on Tuesday 10/13 from 12-1 and that there will be a representative for “Streetscapes Improvement Project” that is slated to bring their improvement efforts ($1.7 mil) to E. 18th and also up Park in 2010. The meeting is held in an office right next to Woody’s Café.
See you all over the neighborhood,
Sasha
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING MINUTES (10/6/09)
Hi Lake Neighbors! The main issue discussed was Disaster Preparedness and I will highlight that discussion. After that, we mostly covered events and that follow.
As a group we identified a location to come to should we have a major disaster event. This is our current operating plan and it is up for adjustments as we get better prepared/trained….we just need to have something in place right now.
The agreed first choice location to meet and work from: The block of E. 17th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues – we will have a workplace set up with what we have there with the different yards/fences and garages…It is close enough to everything and also tucked out of the way from bigger streets – it is small enough for easy containment. IF SOMETHING UNFORSEEN IS WRONG WITH THIS LOCATION AT THE TIME OF DISASTER…2nd place to go to then will be Regeneration Church. More than likely whatever we make happen will be a combination of places.
We meet in 2 weeks (10/20) Tuesday night at 6:30 pm at Regeneration’s church Café to set up emergency packs (we are hoping to invite a woman Sharleshia knows who sells these at a reasonable price…$35?). Please try to make it if you want to be involved. At that time we will also map out our houses and number them in case we need to assign tasks, etc.
In the mean time, over the next week:
· Collect water, and water treatment items
· Collect canned foods
· Collect basic medicines
· Get walkie talkies – we use channel 90 (they are $20 ea. @ home depot)
· Keep gas tanks over ½ full as a practice
· Suzanne has a commitment to collect herbal 1st aid (she is an herbalist – she is also planning to hold classes for this soon if you have specific needs, she can design classes around those)
· Jessica will email me the handout she gave at the meeting to help people plan (we want to prepare for 7 days on own)
· Next meeting a woman named Gabriana will try to be there (she is a neighbor – who also sells insurance as there was an interest in equake insurance at the meeting.
We may try to have a fundraiser at the next outdoor movie to collect items for e-prep (emergency preparedness)
CORE UPDATE: CORE III Training is available ONLY at their site @ Mills College…they do not have dates set yet, but next set will be in Jan/Feb & we can put our names on the list now (it will most likely be 1 eve. 6:30-9 for 3 weeks and then a Saturday class)
ALSO…MAKE UP CLASSES FOR CORE 1: 11/3 6:30 9pm Mills College & MAKE UP CLASSES FOR CORE 2: 11/10 6:30 9pm Mills College
WATCH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS vigilantly – crime is WAY up and we have to pull together. Call or Email Officer Scott Hewitt (shewitt@oaklandnet.com ). Suzanne reported that her friend was held up at gunpoint (several guns, several assailants) at 6th & E. 15th at 10pm. Remember to track these things because Sean is looking to start a neighborhood patrol soon – keep a log of times of day and incidences so we can plan accordingly.
FUN:
HAPPY HOUR IS HERE…almost! THIS Thursday (TODAY!) between 6 & 7pm, cruise by and say hello and visit at the combined porches of Sasha & Hector AND Jessica & Richard on E. 17th between 3rd & 4th Ave. We are right in the middle of our tiny little block & we will be easy to find. Happy hour for us is NOT necessarily alcohol related – just happy.
Next movie night – Steve Ma’s Jam Fest PART 2 is this coming Saturday (was parceled because of the weather – he wants to follow with a movie which will start soon after 7pm because it is getting darker earlier now. He needs our help pitching in – please try to be there to help. Contact me if you are able. JAMFEST PART 2 starts earlier in the day on Saturday (10/10) 3 to 6pm over by Woody’s…the Movie follows at 7pm or soon after.
HALLOWEEN Trunk or Treat – Bring your car (can be decorated to be Halloweeny) and park at Regen Parking lot on E. 15th St. and 3rd Ave with treats in the trunk for kids to have…for more info check in with Dave Kim – you can email me and I will pass on questions and I can re-announce and update as I get more info. Sounds like a fun thing, to do, though, right?
TEA FUNDRAISER AT THE FARM…SUNDAY 10/25 (and every last Sunday of the month) will be Bee Tea at Funktown farm to fundraise – $5 gets you all the tea and tea food you want and helps the farm raise money (this time for bees!!!!).
THE PARKWAY: Steve Ma let us know about an effort on the part of the iliketheparkway people to secure some time at The Parkway Theatre over the holidays but this is fraught with obstacles and challenges and may not be possible. We will let you know if we hear more!
FYI: The group was interested in offering help to the people living in the house that recently burned down (@ East 18th St. & 5th Ave.) – I contacted the Red Cross to see if we could do anything to help out and they said that all their needs have been met.
OTHER FYI: Steve Ma let us know that the next LMBA (Lake Merritt Business Association) meeting will be on Tuesday 10/13 from 12-1 and that there will be a representative for “Streetscapes Improvement Project” that is slated to bring their improvement efforts ($1.7 mil) to E. 18th and also up Park in 2010. The meeting is held in an office right next to Woody’s Café.
See you all over the neighborhood,
Sasha
Thursday, September 3, 2009
CORE Fall Update
Greetings from CORE!
The Fall 2009 edition of Esprit de CORE is now available online at http://www.oaklandnet.com/fire/core/esprit.html. Highlights include features on The Great California ShakeOut, 2-1-1 and H1N1 Flu. (Having trouble opening our files? You can download Adobe Reader at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.)
Are you ready to ShakeOut? Join millions of other Californians on October 15, 2009 at 10:15am (10/15 at 10:15) in the largest “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill in history! This statewide event is free, and all CORE volunteers are encouraged to learn more and register to participate at www.ShakeOut.org. Share the information with your coworkers, classmates, friends and family – then register to participate as a whole group, or as individuals. Resources and suggestions for every type of participant is available for free from the ShakeOut website. Visit http://www.shakeout.org/participants.php?county=Alameda to see the breakdown of who is already registered in Alameda County! (As of September 3rd we have more than 25,000 signed up!)
Almost twenty years have passed since the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which caused 70 fatalities and over 3,700 injuries, damaged over 18,000 homes, and collapsed sections of the Bay Bridge and Interstate 880. On Saturday, October 17, 2009 the City of Oakland will host an emergency preparedness from 3:00 to 5:30pm at Cypress Freeway Memorial Park, on Mandela Parkway between 12th and 14th Streets. Oakland community members and dozens of other agencies are invited to “Honor, Reflect and Prepare” on the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. More information will be shared with CORE volunteers as it is available.
Stay safe this holiday weekend! General safety tips about extreme heat, barbeques, wildfires and other topics are available at http://www.oaklandnet.com/fire/core/emergencyprepare.html.
Thank you for your continued commitment to emergency preparedness.
Kaity Booth
CORE Emergency Planning Coordinator
Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies
Oakland Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services
Tel: 510.238.6351 ~ Fax: 510.238.7761
www.oaklandcore.org
The Fall 2009 edition of Esprit de CORE is now available online at http://www.oaklandnet.com/fire/core/esprit.html. Highlights include features on The Great California ShakeOut, 2-1-1 and H1N1 Flu. (Having trouble opening our files? You can download Adobe Reader at http://get.adobe.com/reader/.)
Are you ready to ShakeOut? Join millions of other Californians on October 15, 2009 at 10:15am (10/15 at 10:15) in the largest “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill in history! This statewide event is free, and all CORE volunteers are encouraged to learn more and register to participate at www.ShakeOut.org. Share the information with your coworkers, classmates, friends and family – then register to participate as a whole group, or as individuals. Resources and suggestions for every type of participant is available for free from the ShakeOut website. Visit http://www.shakeout.org/participants.php?county=Alameda to see the breakdown of who is already registered in Alameda County! (As of September 3rd we have more than 25,000 signed up!)
Almost twenty years have passed since the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which caused 70 fatalities and over 3,700 injuries, damaged over 18,000 homes, and collapsed sections of the Bay Bridge and Interstate 880. On Saturday, October 17, 2009 the City of Oakland will host an emergency preparedness from 3:00 to 5:30pm at Cypress Freeway Memorial Park, on Mandela Parkway between 12th and 14th Streets. Oakland community members and dozens of other agencies are invited to “Honor, Reflect and Prepare” on the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. More information will be shared with CORE volunteers as it is available.
Stay safe this holiday weekend! General safety tips about extreme heat, barbeques, wildfires and other topics are available at http://www.oaklandnet.com/fire/core/emergencyprepare.html.
Thank you for your continued commitment to emergency preparedness.
Kaity Booth
CORE Emergency Planning Coordinator
Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies
Oakland Fire Department, Office of Emergency Services
Tel: 510.238.6351 ~ Fax: 510.238.7761
www.oaklandcore.org
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