Blog Archives

More Citizens Voice Opposition to Closing of Anna Yates

June 9, 2012
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More Citizens Voice Opposition to Closing of Anna Yates

More than 50 people sign Change.org petition to save Anna Yates Elementary School; Seek more information about school operating and construction costs The number of signatures is growing on a Change. org petition opposing the School Board’s plan to eventually close Anna Yates and combine both elementary and high school students on the campus of the Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL). While the construction of ECCL is expected to take years, the new school buildings are slated for completion in 2013-14. Construction will begin soon on the site of the existing high school, which will be torn down this summer. The citizens’ group is also requesting construction and operating budgets for all city school sites. School Superintendent Debbra Lindo denied the group’s request to be heard at the June 11 School Board meeting, saying there was no room on the agenda. She said she “is working to find a space” on the June 25 agenda but is making no promises. Read more. Here are some names and comments of those who signed the Change.org petition:   Amy Simpson Parent, Triangle Resident, property tax payer, ECDC Advisory Committee Member. I’ve been opposed to many facets of this project from the

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18-year-old Emeryville woman found slain remembered as ‘amazing activist’; boyfriend being sought in connection with her death

June 7, 2012
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18-year-old Emeryville woman found slain remembered as ‘amazing activist’; boyfriend being sought in connection with her death

(Reprinted from Oakland Tribune/Inside Bay Area By Kristin J. Bender and Anna Gallegos, Oakland Tribune Posted:   06/06/2012 11:26:03 AM PDT DeAngelo Eagleton of Emeryville is wanted in connection with the death of his girlfriend Taranda EMERYVILLE — Taranda Monique Jones dreamed of becoming a cosmetologist, and with three sisters she practiced her hair styling and makeup techniques regularly. But at 5 foot 8, she also had an athletic side, and did well at basketball at a former high school, said her older sister Tiffany Jones, 21. But lately, the 18-year-old Emeryville resident hadn’t had much interest in either, “blinded by love,” and failing, her older sister said, to show up for school because of her rocky relationship with on-again, off-again boyfriend, DeAngelo Eagleton. And now Eagleton, also 18, is suspected of killing the teen earlier this week. Eagleton, who has addresses in Emeryville and Oakland, is wanted on a probable cause warrant in connection with the shooting death of Taranda Jones. Jones was found with a gunshot wound to her upper torso in her home on 47th Street in Emeryville at 3:30 p.m. Monday, police said Wednesday. It was not clear who found her. Her parents were not immediately available for comment

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E-Ville School Superintendent Says No Room on June 11 Meeting Agenda to Discuss Anna Yates

June 6, 2012
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E-Ville School Superintendent Says No Room on June 11 Meeting Agenda to Discuss Anna Yates

Emeryville’s School Superintendent told residents concerned about the planned closing of Anna Yates that there is no time to discuss the issue at the June 11 School Board meeting. In an email to Brian Carver and other residents opposed to the eventual move of Anna Yates students to a new campus,  Superintendent Debbra Lindo said she is “working to find a space” on the June 25 agenda. “I will get back to you next week to let you know if I can accommodate your request before the end of the school year,” she said. Concerned residents had asked that the Board address the issue after they sent a letter to Lindo and the Board in mid-May, urging them to leave Anna Yates students where they are, and to provide the public with more information about the city schools’ construction and operating budgets. The group is opposed to the Board’s plan to eventually combine both elementary and high school students on the campus of the Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL). While the construction of ECCL is expected to take years, the new school buildings are slated for completion in 2013-14. Construction will begin soon on the site of the existing

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Citizens Lobby to Save Anna Yates, Say They’re Frustrated by School Officials’ Silence

June 5, 2012
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Citizens Lobby to Save Anna Yates, Say They’re Frustrated by School Officials’ Silence

Emeryville citizens upset over the planned closing of Anna Yates Elementary School say their repeated attempts to engage school district officials have fallen on deaf ears. The group of citizens has received no response to its May 23 request to be placed on the agenda of the next School Board meeting (Monday) June 11. The group is opposed to the Board’s plan to eventually close Anna Yates and combine both elementary and high school students on the campus of the Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL). While the construction of ECCL is expected to take years, the new school buildings are slated for completion in 2013-14. Construction will begin soon on the site of the existing high school, which will be torn down this summer. The citizens’ group is also asking the Board of Trustees for construction and operating budgets for all city school sites. Thought of by many parents and residents as the jewel of the Emeryville School District, Anna Yates recently underwent an $8 million renovation. But under the elaborate plans for the Emeryville Center of Communty Life, both Anna Yates’ and Emery High students will share a campus, along with recreational and other city/community services. However, it

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Over Its Dead Body: Oakland Says “No” to Emeryville Crematorium

June 2, 2012
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Over Its Dead Body: Oakland Says “No” to Emeryville Crematorium

Reprinted from the Oakland Tribune/Inside Bay Area Oakland turns cold shoulder to embattled crematory By Matthew Artz Oakland Tribune Posted:   05/22/2012 02:25:44 PM PDT Crematory opponent Ronnesha Cato of Oakland, Calif. poses with 21-month-old daughter Zwena OAKLAND — For just a few hours on May 10, one of the state’s busiest crematories was moving to East Oakland. That’s how little time passed between the moment the Neptune Society secured a city building permit for a new facility that would cremate up to 3,000 people per year, and the moment City Council Member Larry Reid requested an emergency ordinance to block Neptune’s project. Round one went to Reid. The council backed his measure last week, requiring Neptune to get additional approvals from Oakland’s Planning Commission, and once again pitting the company against a low-income community opposed to a facility that pumps out about three pounds of mercury every year. In 2006, community groups successfully blocked Neptune from moving its operations from Emeryville to Richmond, where residents argued they already had too many industrial polluters. Reid said he won’t stand for a major crematory in East Oakland, which has similarly high rates of asthma and air pollution. Even if the Planning

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Mayor Jennifer West To Speak Tonight on State of the City

May 31, 2012
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Mayor Jennifer West To Speak Tonight on State of the City

(Reprinted from the E-ville Eye Community Blog) As part of Mayor Jennifer West’s community outreach program, she will be visiting and sharing her “State of the City” report at the Emeryville Warehouse lofts 7 pm tonight (Thursday, May 31). Also in attendance will be city manager Patrick O’Keeffe. Come hear about what’s happening in our town and have a chance to share your thoughts. Subject matter including: • Sherwin Williams Cleanup & Development • Bay St. Pedestrian Bridge • Park Avenue Beautification • Greenway Path To read more, go to The E-ville Eye Community Blog (If viewing this story from the homepage: To make a comment, or to read the comments of others, click on the headline to go to the story page, then scroll down to the bottom.)  

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Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL) On Chopping Block

May 28, 2012
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Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL) On Chopping Block

State Has No Obligation to Fund ECCL; Attorney for Emeryville’s Oversight Board Says Agreement is Void Two Days Too Late An agreement by the state to pay $21 million in redevelopment money toward the Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL) does not constitute an enforceable contract and the city should withdraw its request for funding, said the attorney for Emeryville’s Oversight Board. The county-level Board was established to monitor the city’s transition now that the Governor has eliminated state redevelopment funds. Oversight Board attorney Paula Crow has submitted an analysis of ECCL and other pending city projects under a new state law (AB 26) which defines what is and is not an enforceable obligation. Crow’s analysis, submitted to Oversight Board members Friday, said the agreement between the state and the city regarding ECCL was made two days too late. The contract was executed on July 1, 2011, two days after the effective date of the law eliminating redevelopment. Crow said ECCL should be removed from the city’s list of projects submitted to the state for continued funding under AB 26. Crow’s recommendation will be discussed by the Oversight Board at its regular meeting 5:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, May 29 )

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To the Editor: Emeryville Can be Creative, Smart in Using Staff, Saving Money. And Don’t Forget the Arts.

May 23, 2012
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To the Editor: Emeryville Can be Creative, Smart in Using Staff, Saving Money. And Don’t Forget the Arts.

Re: “The City’s Financial Future” (May 8, 2012) (City Council Special Meeting to Discuss the Budget 5:30 pm Today, Emeryville City Hall) When I look at the staff cuts, I only see people in the front lines getting cut. Why does the city need a Director of Redevelopment at $180,000 a year when there won’t be a redevelopment agency?  A lot of smaller, innovative cities have combined economic development and planning. On Monday night, at an Emeryville budget meeting, the City Manager said he does his own clerical work. Get him some help and free him up to do some of his old duties as head of Economic Development. And he won’t be as busy because he won’t have the redevelopment funds to cut deals with developers. I heard on Monday night that the two people who the Director of Economic Development wants to cut is Nancy Templeton, the person handling everything from graffiti abatement to community gardens and more, and another person who only makes $35,000 and whose job it is to run the public art program part-time. She has a background in the arts, and according to what I heard on Monday night, has taken the arts to

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Emeryville and Oakland Celebrate Bike-to-Work Day!

May 10, 2012
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Emeryville and Oakland Celebrate Bike-to-Work Day!

Bike-to-Work Day in Emeryville saw 30% increase in bicyclists over last year! Here’s a report from Peter Schultze-Allen, Emeryville’s Environmental Programs Analyst: The count at our three bike stations in Emeryville was up 30% from last year. And that doesn’t include the new bike station at 46th and Adeline that had a big turnout. We had record numbers at all our stations! 1. San Pablo and 40th once again was the leader with 322 cyclists riding by and/or stopping at the table (up 15% from last year.) Back in 2006 we only had 110! 2. The Greenway Station was very popular with 224 cyclists. Clif Bar wants to host a station there next year on their own like Novartis. 3. Next was 46th and Adeline with 206. A great start for a new station. Oakland is planning on striping bike lanes on Adeline soon so that will help next year. 4. The Bay Trail station at Powell and Frontage was up 50% over last year with 127 cyclists counted! 5. Novartis had 168 at their station this year. On to Next Year! (Click photos to enlarge.) (To comment on this story, click on the headline to go to the story

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Former City Councilman Ken Bukowski Urges Council to Support Program for Poor

April 19, 2012
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Former City Councilman Ken Bukowski Urges Council to Support Program for Poor

Bukowski sends letter to City Council members urging their support of $50,000 needed to save ECAP Ken Bukowski is seeking the Council’s support of a $50,000 allocation from the city’s General Fund to maintain the distribution of food and clothing by Emeryville Community Action Program (ECAP), located at 3610 San Pablo Ave. ECAP has provided food and clothing to the community for 15 years. Bukowski sent the letter to Mayor  Jennifer West, and Council members Jac Asher, and Ruth Atkin. He said he did not send it to Council members Nora Davis or Kurt Brinkman because they do not support his request. Jennifer, Jac, and Ruth: I bumped into Helen Bean and Michelle DeGuzman at ECAP (Emeryville Community Action Program) this afternoon. They have really cleaned up the place. I sure hope you will support $50,000 of funding for ECAP ASAP. Please don’t insult them any further by mixing up potential funding for them with any other city expense. I can hardly believe the April 3 staff report would even suggest that any cessation of services to feed hungry people is OK …  For $50,000 each year, can you think of any other way to provide food and clothing for the needy?

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