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Visitors to Greenleaf Academy 

Earlier this month, Oakland Promise officials made their way to Greenleaf Academy in District 6. The purpose of their visit is the initiation of the Kindergarten to College program. Greenleaf was chosen as one of the sixteen pilot schools for this program in fall 2016. Kindergarten to College program will be in all of Oakland's schools by 2018.

By investing in college savings accounts for every child from an early age, Oakland Promise aims to set all of Oakland's children on the path to success. This goal will be accomplished by establishing a college savings account for every kindergartner. With the Kindergarten to College program, Oakland Promise will give every student in an Oakland public school a college savings account funded with up to $100 at the start of Kindergarten. They hope this will encourage families to save for their children as well. As others donate to individual children's' accounts, the Kindergarten to College program will provide a match of up to $200.

Research shows children with a college savings account in their name are three times more likely to enroll in college than children with no savings. These kids are also four times more likely to graduate high school. Oakland Promise was founded as a cradle-to-career initiative that aims to triple the number of college graduates from Oakland within the next decade. Councilperson Brooks is excited at the attention it generating for kids in her district. She will be monitoring the process and the progress of Kindergarten to College closely.
 




 




November Wins For The Community!

   
  
I'm pleased to report that several Measures on the November ballot which I helped to author or advocated for were  overwhelmingly  passed by the voters. Measure HH the sugary drink tax; Measure JJ renters protection, and Measure LL which created an independent Oakland Police Department Commission.
I was one of the co-authors of Measure HH which passed with an overwhelming 61.75% of the vote! This measure now allows the City of Oakland to impose a 1 cent per ounce general tax on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages. Sugar-sweetened beverages products include: sodas, sports drinks, sweetened teas, and energy drinks. One of the main focuses of Measure HH was to combat the negative health impacts of Sugary drinks.  The measure requires the city to create an advisory board to recommend how to spend the money. The idea is to earmark it to pay for health and education programs in the community and in schools. The punishing effects of sugary drinks can no longer be ignored. In San Francisco, the city's budget analyst blames overconsumption of sugary drinks for a whopping $28 million in public health treatment bills!
"Although the beverage industry poured over $24 million dollars into the community to defeat Oakland's and other city's  initiatives  there deceptive tactics were unsuccessful.  They understand that if we pass this in Oakland the rest of the country will follow." - Councilmember Desley Brooks
I was an early supporter of Measure JJ and worked with the proponents to get the Council to put the Measure on the ballot.  Measure JJ, the Renters Protection Act, passed with 74.12 percent of the vote. Measure JJ will require landlords to petition with the Rent Board for rent increases that exceed the Consumer Price Index. The Measure will expand Just Cause eviction protections from the current cutoff date of October 1980, to buildings constructed through 1995. Lastly, JJ will expand the duties and powers of the Rent Board and Rent Adjustment Program to increase accountability and effectiveness in implementing tenant protections. In particular, the measure will require the creation of a "searchable data base", which will give tenant advocacy organizations better access to much needed data.
Measure LL passed with 82 percent of the vote, reflecting Oakland residents' deep desire to reform the police department and hold officers accountable. The commission will have powers to investigate police misconduct, impose discipline and hire and fire the chief of police, among other things.  No past or present police officers will be allowed on the commission. Any potential members to the commission must be at least 18 and Oakland residents.
 


 
  
 
Your Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council Needs You!

Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meetings (NCPC) are a city-community policing effort. These meetings allow for a designated police officer to meet regularly with community members in every neighborhood. The meetings focus on the specific residents' concerns and solve problems that lead to crime. These Council meetings emphasize leadership development, skill building, and strengthening relationships among residents. This neighborhood-level program brings community members together by police beat to work in partnership with the Oakland Police Department to solve problems that lead to crime.
Councilperson Brooks and her staff regularly attend NCPC meetings. The NCPC meetings give residents a platform to engage with other members of the neighborhood or community. The city has been split up into 53 sections based on existing police beats. Each NCPC meeting is staffed by an Oakland Police Department Community Resource Officer and a Neighborhood Services Coordinator. The role of the Community Resource Officer is to respond to crime related matters, take questions, and to provide awareness and updates to the community. The Neighborhood Services Coordinator's (NSC) role is generally to assist residents. NSCs help NCPC leaders identify and prioritize issues while providing advice and guidance on how to organize community resources. NSCs also stay in regular communication with a designated Community Resource Officer and act as the liaison between the police department and the community.  The purpose is to become familiar with the neighborhood, the issues it faces, and its history of crime issues.
All NCPC meetings are open to the public and are attended by people who live in the neighborhood. Each individual NCPC's goal is to make sure they help to improve the quality of life in Oakland neighborhoods and communities.  Neighbors work in sync to gain resolution to neighborhood and community issues.  NCPC meetings are held each month in the assigned police beat. 
For more information, please contact (510) 986-2715.


  
 
 

Nine years ago, Councilperson Desley Brooks, Aaron Goodwin, and the Goodwin Family Foundation decided to adopt 1000 families for the Thanksgiving holiday. This event is called Giving Thanks.  Each family participating in Giving Thanks is given all the items needed to make their  Thanksgiving  meal.
Councilperson Brooks, along with sports agent Aaron Goodwin and The Goodwin Family Foundation started adopting Oakland families when they recognized a growing need in the community. This event is family oriented, with both Goodwin's and Brooks' families, their church families and community partners pitching in to assemble and distribute the baskets. 

A recent recipient of one of the Thanksgiving baskets wrote:
  • "Hi, Thank you so much for thinking of us on this Thanksgiving. I really appreciate the fact that you care if our families eat.  Giving me and my son this bag helps a great bit. I was figuring out who home to visit so we can eat, now we have our own dinner thanks to you. This is so kind of you and sweet. You have to be Heaven sent to do this right on time. Forever humbled and Grateful by this. You have touched someone and made their  Thanksgiving whole because of the good works you do. Thank you Thank you Thank you. Have a safe and blessed Holiday."
That's what this event is all about.  Its a labor of love, service, and a belief that neighbors must, and should, take care of neighbors.
We had over 60 community volunteers at the Arroyo location. We had members of my staff, Oakland Black Police Officers Association, Oakland Housing Authority Cadets, Oakland Housing Authority staff, Car Clubs, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority -- Oakland Eastbay Alumnae Chapter, and other individual community members. Aaron and I extend a heartfelt thanks to each and everyone who made the Giving Thanks event a success.
Happy Thanksgiving.











 


  
Join the Movement On The Corridor!

Twelve years ago Councilperson Brooks, David Glover, and OCCUR helped to start the Heartlands Merchants Association.  The Heartlands Merchants comprise four commercial corridors of East Oakland's District 6.   The four corridors include Millsmont, Seminary-Foothill, Havenscourt-Bancroft, Eastmont-MacArthur.  
These four corridors are home to charming shops and culture filled neighborhoods that sit in Oakland's foothills.The area is brimming with shopping appeal and family friendliness.  The Heartlands provide a wide variety of retail and vibrant business activity amidst some of the most attractive residential neighborhoods in the City of Oakland.  A feast for fashionistas and hair-design devotees with many quaint eateries and small businesses geared to serve the surrounding community.  Home improvement and antique enthusiasts will find everything needed for even the most unusual projects.
The Heartlands Merchants are working to revitalize our commercial corridors.  To that end, the merchants have sponsored activities along the corridor, sponsored marketing campaigns and customer discount programs; organized clean-ups; and had decorative banners  erected. 
The Merchants meet monthly and bring together neighborhood merchants/businesses, residents, government and community-based organizations. The unity makes it easier to strengthen and stimulate the economic development potential of emerging communities. By joining the Association, individual businesses can gain access to exclusive, money saving discounts on services and programs. Councilperson Brooks is always on hand to provide legislative updates and advocacy as well as valuable educational opportunities. These monthly meetings provide an opportunity for local merchants to address common challenges and learn about the many business resources that are available.
 
 
Join us every 2nd Wednesday of the month.
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Mills College - Safety Room
5000 MacArthur Blvd
Oakland - 94613

 
 
 
The Merchants Association is celebrating Small Business Saturday on November 26th!

Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after US Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local.

Small businesses often are overlooked by customers who are enticed by larger companies, and this can adversely affect the local economy in more negative ways than might appear on the surface. The rise of big conglomerate retailers and large chain stores has caused irreversible economic damage to the non-wealthy class in the last half-century. We have all seen large chain retailers further cementing their position in terms of taking over the retail sphere and displacing smaller, family-run businesses. This model has spread further throughout the world, and chain retailers have been usurping small businesses' market share worldwide in the last few decades.

It is paramount to remember the importance of supporting local small businesses. And with all the odds stacked against them, small businesses in the US need a day in their honor. Small Business Saturday is a relatively recent phenomenon - the first one was held in 2010 as a counterpart to Black Friday. From the very start, the day has been promoted through advertising on both social media and more traditional means such as television and radio advertisement. Some small business owners find that Small Business Saturday is a great time to run marketing promotions, as they can further capitalize on the increased foot traffic (from the already busy holiday shopping season), and on their online traffic. If you own a small business in District 6, you can contact the Merchants Association for help with Advertising.

As a consumer, we ask that you do your part! You can choose to spend your money at local small businesses on this day rather than going to the big box retailers at the local mall. After all, the best way to support small businesses is to go and spend money at them rather than somewhere else. You can also tell your friends to do the same, perhaps making a point of organizing a shopping day where you only visit small, local enterprises instead of chain stores. While you may or may not end up paying more, it's important to remember that spending your money at a small business generally puts more money into the local economy than if you're spending that money in a chain store.


 
  
 
 
 
 
 



Did You See Them?

 

The Commercial Corridors of District 6 have new Banners thanks to Councilperson Desley Brooks and the Heartlands Merchants' Association.  The colorful banners are one of many projects the Merchants have been working on to bring attention to the corridors.  

The merchants are also developing a holiday promotional package filled with deals and discounts you don't want to miss.

Councilperson Brooks and David Glover started the Heartlands Merchants Association thirteen years ago.  The group meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Mills College in the Public Safety Room, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., from 8:30 to 10:30 am.   Join us and help strengthen our commercial areas.
 




 

 
 





 



Minimum Wage Increase  - 

Effective Sunday, January 1, 2017, Oakland's Minimum Wage goes up to $12.86 per hour. Measure FF, the voter-initiative ballot measure passed in November 2014, provides annual increases to Oakland's Minimum Wage based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). In light of the increase, employers must be aware of the following:
 
  • By Thursday, December 15, 2016, employers are required to provide notice to employees and prominently display posters on the new Minimum Wage;
 
  • On Sunday, January 1, 2017, the Minimum Wage rate goes up 31¢ to $12.86; and
 
  • The other benefits mandated by Measure FF - paid sick leave and payment of service charges - remain the same as when the employment law took effect on March 2, 2015 
 
Notification posters in English, Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese are available for download at www.oaklandnet.com/minimumwage . A roster of upcoming business briefings offered by our partners, answers to frequently asked questions and details on outreach efforts are also on the web page. The next business briefings by our partners are:
 
  • Friday, December 2, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. (English)
    2017 Updates: Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave & Service Charges
    Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 1, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
    Presented by Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP
     
  • Wednesday, December 14, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Cantonese and Mandarin)
    2017 Updates: Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave & Service Charges
    Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 1, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
    Presented by Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP
     
  • Monday, December 19, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. (Spanish)
    2017 Updates: Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave & Service Charges
    Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 1, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
    Presented by Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP
     
Monthly Walk-In Workers' Rights Legal Clinics are held by the City's partner, Centro Legal de la Raza, 3400 E. 12th Street, on the third Wednesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. During these clinics, individual consultations with Centro Legal attorneys are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The next clinic will be held on Wednesday, December 21, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Other workers' rights clinics are by appointment only. Call Centro Legal de La Raza at (510) 437-1554. For more information, please visit  www.oaklandnet.com/minimumwage  or contact the Contracts & Compliance Office at  minwageinfo@oaklandnet.com  or (510) 238-6258.






Upcoming Holiday Closure At The City of Oakland  


On Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, the City of Oakland's administrative offices will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Police, fire and emergency services are not affected during the holiday. While the City's administrative employees are out of the office, if a situation arises that requires more staffing, the City has a plan in place to call in additional resources. To read the media release, please visit  http://www2.oaklandnet.com/w/oak061540
 

 
Prop. 47 Infomercial 
is a MUST SEE  
reducing your felony record 

Recording Artist, Justice Advocate, and Oakland native son Ise Lyfe stars in a statewide television infomercial designed to spread the word about Proposition 47, which California voters voted into law last year.


With the passage of Proposition 47, certain low-level, nonviolent felonies can now be changed to misdemeanors on old criminal records. If you or someone you know has a prior criminal record with a felony record for any of the following crimes, you may qualify to remove the felony from your record and change it to a misdemeanor:
  • Simple drug possession 
  • Petty theft under 950 dollars
  • Shoplifting under 950 dollars
  • Forging or writing a bad check under 950 dollars
  • Receipt of stolen property under 950 dollars
If you have a previous conviction for crimes such as rape, murder or child molestation or are in the sex offender registry, you will not be eligible to get these felonies reclassified.  Click here  for a list of crimes that will exempt you from getting your record reclassified. Read more from the California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections  here .

 

 
 

Councilmember Brooks highly encourages Oakland residents to be informed 
on the issues being discussed on your behalf at City Hall. You can always visit the city's website and view upcoming agenda items.

   
  
The City Council meet the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of the month in Council Chambers on the 3rd floor of City Hall. Ceremonial presentations and non-controversial (consent) items will be heard at 5:30 pm. At 6:30 pm public hearings and discussion items are reviewed.
 
  
 
  
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Thank you for reading Councilmember Brooks' bi-weekly newsletter. Feel free to share it far and wide. If you have anything you'd like to share that you'd like featured in the newsletter, send an email to:

dbrooks@oaklandnet.com

We'd love to hear from you!
 __________________________________________________



Councilmember Brooks encourages 
us all to make the best health decisions possible! What we eat, think, and do impacts us all- so here's this week's health corner with useful info to keep us healthy and thriving!
 
   

Cranberry Orange Sauce

Servings:  2-1/4 cups
Total Time:  15 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, from one orange
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 (12 oz) bag fresh or frozen cranberries (do not use dried)
  • Zest of one orange, about 2 teaspoons
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

  1. Bring orange juice, water and sugar to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Add cranberries, orange zest and salt and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil gently for about 10 minutes, until most of cranberries have burst open.
  2. Transfer sauce to a serving bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve.


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Useful Information
  
  

Councilmember Brooks would love to feature you in her bi-weekly newsletter!

If you are a resident of District 6 with an interesting and positive story to tell about yourself or community, send and email to dbrooks@oaklandnet.com

We look forward to hearing from you!
 ______________________
 

The City of Oakland Website has new tips and access to resources to prepare you for the event of an earthquake.

       Readiness is key!
Click here to get the info
______________________
 
African American Male Achievement program is a  phenomenal effort within Oakland Unified School District to support Black boys
Click here for more information
______________________________
Quick Links
 
 

Let your voice be heard. Let's continue the work together to create the community we want to live in.  The community holds the power; they only need to use it.
  
I'm fired up about the positive change we can bring about in our community. Let's get to work. Come be a part of the solution -- acknowledging the existence of issues confronting our community while working to find creative means of addressing them.   
  
Join us for our 
Empowerment Committee Meeting
  
The First Saturday of each Month.
10:00 am- Noon
  
Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship Church
7272 MacArthur
Oakland, CA
  
The District 6 Empowerment Committee meetings 
are definitely the place to be! 
  
  
      Join us, stay informed!   

 
  

  ZERO WASTE


Councilmember Brooks has always worked towards  keeping District 6 and the entire city mobilized  towards clean, safe, and cost effective waste management. If you have any questions about recent changes and improvements to Oakland's waste services, 
please utilize the ZERO WASTE HOTLINE: 

To provide the best service to residents, we recommend forwarding calls and e-mails to the City's Recycling Hotline at 238-SAVE (x7283) or recycling@oaklandnet.com


 

The Recycling Hotline is fully staffed and ready to provide swift, effective assistance to callers. The Recycling Hotline issues work orders to Waste Management and CWS through Cityworks, tracks each service issue, explains the rules and requirements that apply to residents, building owners and businesses, and highlights all the benefits of the City's new program. The Recycling Hotline identifies and tracks issues and compels corrective actions as needed from Waste Management and CWS.


 

Constituents who want help finding the best rates available to them should contact the haulers directly: Waste Management is handling billing and rates questions for residential customers at 510-613-8710. Waste Management is also where businesses should call about trash and compost rates and service, and their business line is 510-613-8700. Commercial recycling remains an open market and business owners can shop around for different service providers using the directory posted on the program's new website, www.OaklandRecycles.com.

  
File a Complaint with
 
-Freeway on or off ramps overgrown; poor maintenance; illegal dumping on highway?  
Contact CalTrans. 
 
If any concerns regarding Caltrans maintenance arise, anyone at any time can complete and submit a form through the Maintenance Service Request (MSR) process. The form is located on the Caltrans, District 4 website, http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/msrsubmit/



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