November 18, 2021
Dear Friend,

As of this week, over 81% of Alameda County's Latinx population and 74% of Black residents have received a first COVID vaccine dose. These two communities have been the most disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic, and these hopeful numbers represent great progress. All Oaklanders can still get a COVID shot (and a flu shot!) at this link.

Welcome to the Mayor’s Weekly Briefing, your weekly Oakland news roundup. Please forward this to a friend. They may subscribe here. If you have a second, please fill out this survey to help us reach all Oaklanders.

Oakland Love,
—Libby
MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF
Oakland Launches Pilot to Stop Displacement, Prevent Homelessness
This week we are excited to launch a new program to help keep Oaklanders in their homes, especially residents who aren't served by existing programs. The Shallow Subsidies Housing Pilot provides 200 households a portion of their monthly rent to stop displacement from Oakland and prevent them from experiencing homelessness. We call it a "shallow subsidy" because it's more cost-effective than Section 8, and just a little help can make all the difference for some people trying to make ends meet. This bold program can truly be a model for addressing housing insecurity.

Oakland Increases Bulky Waste Services!
All Oakland residents can now schedule free large item drop-off appointments with Waste Management of Alameda County, and apartment tenants can schedule curbside bulky pickup service! All Oaklanders deserve a cleaner city and an easy, affordable way to dispose of those items that won't fit in your usual trash bin. Please take advantage of these new free services by calling 1-888-WM-BULKY or by visiting this link!

Town Nights Bringing Holiday Spirit In Oakland
Oakland's Department of Violence Prevention is partnering with several local organizations to put on "Town Nights," a series of community celebrations all over Oakland. Town Nights will take place on Nov. 22, Dec. 3, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17 and feature free food, game, sports, entertainments, and a whole lot more. We hope to see you out there!
Cultural Strategists Sought For City Government
The City of Oakland is seeking residents for a new round of the Cultural Strategists-in-Government program, to be embedded in nine different Oakland city offices and departments. We need new perspectives in all corners of our City government to help find creative solutions to our most pressing challenges. Engaging creative thinkers who are rooted in a broad range of communities will help us build the sense of belonging among all Oaklanders. Find out more below!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK
"Him." by Bay Area-based photographer Jordan Jimenez. Congratulations to Stephen Curry for breaking the all-time NBA record for three-pointers made, and thank you Steph, for bringing Oakland and the Bay Area so much joy over the past 10 years.

COMMUNITY LINKS TO USE AND SHARE
  • Nov. 20 is the last day for families to sign up to receive a gift through the Mayor's Annual Holiday Drive. If your family could use help with presents, please sign up now!

  • 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.

  • Checkout Nearby Bay Area, a hyper-local shopping app and website that features products exclusively from Oakland and Bay Area businesses.


  • REMINDER: Despite the federal moratorium ending on 9/30, Oakland's eviction moratorium remains in place. Find rental resources here.

  • Oakland entrepreneurs and business owners can now meet with City business support staff at 5 local libraries. Learn more here.

  • Learn about red flag warnings and and why they matter in Oakland, and visit the City's red flag warning website for updates on fire danger.

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