February 17, 2022
Dear Friend,

Happy Thursday morning! With the statewide mask mandate expiring this week, I encourage Oaklanders to do what they feel comfortable with, while also respecting other people's choices when it comes to wearing masks in public settings. Oakland's vaccine mandate is still in place, which highlights the effectiveness of vaccines and boosters. Let's work together, Oakland.

Welcome to the Mayor’s Weekly Briefing, your weekly Oakland news roundup. Please forward this to a friend. They may subscribe here.

In community,
—Libby
MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF
City Council to Vote Today on Ballpark EIR
Big vote today! The City Council will vote in a special session to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Waterfront Ballpark District at Howard Terminal. I’m grateful to city staff and our Councilmembers for continuing their due diligence to answer every question about the Waterfront Ballpark District’s EIR, which was unanimously recommended by our Planning Commission in January.

I commend Councilmembers Bas, Kaplan and Kalb for their proposed companion resolution that ensures the concerns of our community stakeholders are heard and addressed. A certified EIR will set the floor for the remaining negotiations, including robust community benefits and a development agreement that ensures that all Oaklanders benefit from this once-in-a-generation development that will create 18 acres of new waterfront public parks, more affordable housing, and tens of thousands of good union jobs.

Join the meeting at the link below, and watch my interview with ABC 7 Bay Area news about the upcoming vote.
Public Safety: Restoring Ceasefire's Success
On Monday, the Chronicle's Raheem Hosseini wrote a piece on the history of Oakland's Ceasefire program, contrasting the incredible decline in violent crime we saw over the last decade with the spike in violence during the pandemic.

Started in 2012, Ceasefire is a data-driven violence-reduction strategy coordinating law enforcement, social services, and the community. Based on proactive intervention, Ceasefire helped cut violence, shootings, and crime in Oakland to historic lows, but the pandemic has stopped much of this progress. With adequate resources, Oakland's model of holistic public safety—violence prevention, intervention, and enforcement—has been proven to be effective. We're committed to returning to the progress of the last decade, and continuing to innovate in order to make Oakland a safe city for all.
Celebrating the Year of the Tiger in Chinatown
A very happy and fortune-filled Lunar New Year to all who celebrate! On Saturday at Fa Yun Chan Temple, we offered our wishes for a year of good fortune for Oakland, and joined the wonderful Chinatown Ambassadors and the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce to share Lunar New Year greetings with Chinatown merchants.
Community Groups Launch Free Breakfast Program
Image via Community Kitchens
Community Kitchens, in partnership with Homies Empowerment and Eat. Learn. Play., is now offering free breakfast for Oakland youth. Three days a week in East Oakland, the program will serve healthy meals from local restaurants like DeVaughn's Cajun Kitchen, Sequoia Diner, Los Cocos Salvadorean, Grandma's Hands, and Otaez. Help spread the word!
ICYMI: Town Hall On Expectations For 2022
Last Thursday, we hosted a town hall discussion on my goals for 2022 and how we can support our physical and mental health, find resources for families, and learn about what's ahead. Our guests were Dr. Nick Moss, the Alameda County Public Health Officer, and Dr. Lee Atkinson-McEvoy, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UCSF Health. Watch the recording and catch up on what you missed at this link.
The City of Oakland is now requiring proof of vaccination for people 12 years and older to enter indoor public spaces such as restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters, gyms, concert venues, and museums. This is an important step that underscores how vital it is that Oaklanders get vaccinated and boosted. If you'd prefer not to carry around your paper vaccination card, get a digital copy and QR code of your COVID-19 vaccine record here.
CHART OF THE WEEK
Image via BART
BART is showing a new trend: Friday is now one of the highest ridership days of the week! BART reports that these Friday rides are not commutes to the office, but rather Oaklanders and people across the Bay Area enjoying the start of the weekend. Now open 7 days a week until midnight, BART is the convenient, safe, and sustainable way to get around our city.
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES
  • If you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, go get that money! Most families will receive $3,000 per child ages 6-17 and $3,600 per child under 6 as a result of the increased 2021 Child Tax Credit. Please visit ChildTaxCredit.gov to see if you're eligible and claim what you are entitled to.

  • The City’s Economic & Workforce Development Department has launched a permanent business support program in Oakland’s neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Business Assistance program has added a sixth location and opened appointment dates for Oakland entrepreneurs and business owners to get advice and support. Appointments can be booked online at this link or by calling (510) 238-7398.

  • On-time enrollment for the 2022-23 OUSD school year has been EXTENDED to February 18. Visit http://chooseousd.org to submit your child's application. For assistance, please contact the Student Welcome Center at 510-879-4600, enroll@ousd.org or in-person at 746 Grand Ave.

  • If you live or work in Oakland and have attended a City of Oakland event, we want to hear from you! Exygy, an agency that builds and designs technology, is helping the City of Oakland connect with community members to learn how we can improve access to information and services on the City's website at oaklandca.gov. The session takes 30 minutes and involves meeting with a researcher over a video call. You will need access to a computer with the internet, and you'll receive a $20 gift card as a thank you. To see if you qualify to take part in this study, please complete this short survey.

  • Help shape Oakland's General Plan Update by participating in our upcoming community meetings. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all Oaklanders to create a visionary blueprint together for the future of our City. Find meeting times here.

  • New laws for 2022 make it easier to create more housing in Oakland! Single-family homeowners may now build more homes or split their lots with more homes, and owners of RVs may now occupy these "vehicular residences" with special permits. Learn more.

  • Oakland teachers, be sure to use DonorsChoose.org to get your school supply wishlists up! Steph and Ayesha Curry's Eat.Learn.Play. foundation will be filling one million dollars worth of non-tech, literacy-related requests.

  • REMINDER: Even though the federal moratorium has ended, Oakland's eviction moratorium remains in place. Find rental resources here.

  • Access a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record here.

OPPORTUNITIES

  • Oakland Parks, Recreation, & Youth Development (OPRYD) Department is now hiring for all part-time summer jobs, including Recreation Leader I/II, Recreation Attendant I/II, Recreation Specialist I/II, Sports Official, Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor, and Pool Manager. More than 100 openings are available. Apply now at this link.

  • UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland & Alameda Health System are teaming up for a job fair! Attend an online session today, Feb. 17 from 12-1 or an in-person event on Friday, Feb. 25 from 11-2. Find out more about the variety of jobs available at this link.

  • Interested in serving your city and contributing to a holistic, comprehensive, vision of public safety? Consider a career with Oakland Police Department at opdjobs.com

  • Civicorps, an incredible workforce development organization based in West Oakland, offers paid job training for young adults age 18-26. No experience necessary, and a high school diploma completion program is available for those who need it. Find more info about Civicorps opportunities at this link.
 
  • Are you committed to fair housing and rent regulation in Oakland? The Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board (aka the Rent Board) enforces the Rent Adjustment Ordinance and fosters fair housing for a diverse population of renters, hears rent adjustment appeals, and develops regulations for the Rent Adjustment Program. This is a great opportunity to learn more about rent regulation in Oakland as well as serve the community! You can learn more and fill out an online application here.

  • The City of Oakland is looking for qualified applicants to fill positions in our Planning & Building Department. Work with our experienced staff in the Strategic Planning or Zoning Divisions or our Digital Unit. Learn more and apply here.


  • Was your New Year's resolution to find a new job? Oakland residents have access to 5,000 free online courses in multiple languages to help advance your career of prepare to return to work. Learn more here.


  • The Youth Beat Multimedia Apprentice program, launching in 2022, is currently recruiting BIPOC young adults who are NOT currently on a 4-year college track but who are ready to dive into a career in media. Apprentices will gain access to professional tools, skills, and mentors they need to pursue a fulfilling career in the film and media industry. Apply here!

  • Oakland Unified School District is hiring for a variety of roles! Find out more at the OUSD Jobs Portal.

  • AC Transit is hiring bus operators. Jobs start at $22.11/hour after paid training. Learn more about further opportunities here.