On the first and third Mondays of the month, the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project holds its data viz and oral history meetings related to our project in Alameda County.
Calendar
9896
Jun
19
Mon
Living Graveyard (monthly protest)
Covered with sheets to represent the dead of wars, people lie down on the city sidewalk in front of the Federal Building, This is legal, non-violent witness. People stop, look and think. (Bring your own sheet)
Iraqi Deaths 2,973,613
U.S. Deaths 4,520 Coalition 4,841
Syrian Deaths, unknown
Afghan Deaths 30,000+
U.S. Deaths in Afghanistan 2,399 Coalition 3,535
Pakistani Deaths over 1,000 from drone attacks
Sponsor: Ecumenical Peace Institute www.epicalc.org
Welcome to Ecumenical Peace Institute / Clergy and Laity …
www.epicalc.org
Mission Statement: Ecumenical Peace Institute / Clergy And Laity Concerned (EPI/CALC) is a prophetic voice and witness, embracing all faith and earth-based traditions …
Welcome to Ecumenical Peace Institute / Clergy and Laity …
63283
Jun 19 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hello, Comrades!
First off, we would like to thank EVERYONE for their participation in the#DefundOPD Campaign. Your actions have spoke loudly and have clearly influenced the City’s decisionmaking process when it comes to allocating money to the Oakland Police Department.
That being said, the fight is not over! City Council plans to announce and vote on its proposed budget, and we want to be there in full force to hold them accountable!
On Monday, June 19 at (tentatively) 5 pm we need folks to TURN UP to Oakland’s City Council Meeting. Please bring your DefundOPD signs, share this on social media, and participate in the #DefundOPD social media campaign (instructions below!):
1) Print your handy dandy “Less cops, more _______” or “Menos policías, más _______” from www.defundopd.org or make your own
2) Use your imagination. What would you fund with all those millions?
3) Snap a photo
4) Post and tag #DefundOPD, city council members and some friends!
http://www.defundopd.org/
63275
Jun 19 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
In November, 2016 we succeeded in getting the Oakland City Council to instruct the City Administrator to report on the usefulness of a feasibility study for creating The Public Bank of Oakland. Our next goal is to convince the City Council to commission that study as soon as possible, and incorporate it into a business plan for a public bank in Oakland.
After that, we will pressure the Oakland City Council to pass enabling legislation that will create and fund a public bank for Oakland. Our overarching goal is to see a public bank flourish in Oakland while it helps the community, thereby providing an example for other jurisdictions wishing to rid themselves of their dependence on Wall Street banks.
We are always looking for help bringing Public Banking information to Oakland residents. There are many ways large and small to be involved; from data entry to tabling events to branding and marketing assistance. Whether you’re looking to jump in with something specific or just want to lend a hand from time-to-time, please be in touch or come to a meeting.
Donate to Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland
Thanks to the generous support of our fiscal sponsor, HERA (Housing and Economic Rights Advocates), you can now make a tax-deductible donation to support our work. Our main expenses at the moment are related to outreach materials and mechanisms.
Click here to donate
*Important: Select “Other” from program and include “Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland” in the Honoree’s name section.
Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland t-shirts are available for a $20 donation! Email us at contact@friendsofpublicbankofoakland.org for details.
Sign the Petition!
You will also be able to sign the petition in person at upcoming events. Be on the lookout for our table, and let us know if there are events where people would like to hear more about the Public Bank of Oakland.
https://friendsofpublicbankofoakland.org/petition/
63224
62964
OccupyForum presents
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
Film: From the Ashes
by Radical Media
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
OccupyForum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
Film: From the Ashes
by Radical Media
OccupyForum is hosting a free screening of a new National Geographic documentary about coal, From the Ashes. Join us to watch this film together in community. Come and share any updates about the coal campaign in Oakland and talk more generally about the struggle for environmental and climate justice as we resist the new administration in Washington.
From the Ashes captures Americans in communities across the country as they wrestle with the legacy of the coal industry and what its future should be under the Trump Administration. From Appalachia to the West’s Powder River Basin, the film goes beyond the rhetoric of the “war on coal” to present compelling and often heartbreaking stories about what’s at stake for our economy, health, and climate. From the Ashes invites audiences to learn more about an industry on the edge and what it means for their lives. Please spread the word about this opportunity to see the film and discuss the issues. The screening is free; donations are welcome.
Learn more:� https://www.fromtheashesfilm.com/�
You can see a trailer for the film here
63269
Jun
20
Tue
Jun 20 @ 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm
The Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland will be out in full force at the council meeting next Tuesday. Please find us in our bright green shirts to receive signs. We will also have t-shirts available for sale. If this is your first time participating in something like this, please find us and we will help you get oriented.
Attend our outreach event before the council meeting.
Time: 4:30PM
The Friends of the Public Bank of Oakland is organizing a political action an hour before the full council meeting. We will be making money grow on the Coastal Live Oak in the Plaza by taping paper bills onto the leaves to symbolize the revenue the city of Oakland can earn for our community if it creates a public bank. Please join us and support the movement!
The regular Council meeting will begin sometime after the Special Council Meeting on establishing a Department of Violence Prevention, which begins at 5:00 PM.
Subject: Feasibility And Economic Impact Of Establishing A Public Bank
From: Finance Department
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution (1) Amending The City Of Oakland’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17 Midcycle Budget (Which Was Adopted Pursuant To Resolution No. 86250 C.M.S. On June 21,2016) To
(1) Appropriate One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), From The Fiscal Year 2016-17 General Purpose Fund (1010) Balance For A Contract To Complete A Feasibility Study On Public Banking In Oakland, And
(2) Authorizing The City Administrator Or Her Designee To Negotiate A Scope Of Work, Terms And Execute A Contract With Global Investment Company In An Amount Not To Exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000)
1. View Report, 2. View Supplemental Report, 3. View Supplemental Report, 4. View Supplemental Report
63270
Jun 20 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Special Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland
Subject: Establishing The Department Of Violence Prevention
From: Councilmember McElhaney, Kaplan And Council President Reid
Recommendation: Adopt A Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.29 Of The Oakland Municipal Code Entitled “City Agencies, Departments And Offices” To Create The Department Of Violence Prevention Focusing On Ending The Epidemic Of Violent Crime In Oakland And Healing Trauma In Impacted Communities
| 1. View Report, 2. View Supplemental Report, 3. View Report |
A winding, two-month push for the new city department meets its conclusion Tuesday. The proposed department would be put under the control of the city administrator. Last week, its tenuous future was defended by Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney who unleashed a highly emotional call for its creation amid a proposal by some of her colleagues for a blue-ribbon commission. – East Bay Citizen
63273
Jun 20 @ 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
On Tuesday May 16 more than 200 people turned out to the Berkeley City Council in anticipation of the Council’s vote on whether or not to continue Berkeley’s participation in Urban Shield. After waiting six hours for the agenda item to be heard and after giving powerful testimony, we were told that the Council once again decided to postpone the vote. The coalition and supporters staged a walkout to show the Council that we won’t stand for this kind of manipulation.
The Council has rescheduled the vote for June 20th at 6pm at Longfellow Middle School, 1500 Derby St in Berkeley.
LET’S TURN OUT STRONGER AND MORE ORGANIZED!
We want to redouble our efforts at the upcoming meeting in showing the Berkeley City Council that they need to stand on the side of the people and not on the side of militarization and oppression.
presspasslettertocityofberkeley
63258
Jun 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Mark Your Calendars
Special Berkeley Hearing on Urban Shield:
The Berkeley City Council will be voting on the city’s participation in Urban Shield.
On Tuesday May 16 more than 200 people turned out to the Berkeley City Council in anticipation of the Council’s vote on whether or not to continue Berkeley’s participation in Urban Shield. After waiting six hours for the agenda item to be heard and after giving powerful testimony, we were told that the Council once again decided to postpone the vote. The coalition and supporters staged a walkout to show the Council that we won’t stand for this kind of manipulation.
LET’S TURN OUT STRONGER AND MORE ORGANIZED!
We want to redouble our efforts at the upcoming meeting in showing the Berkeley City Council that they need to stand on the side of the people and not on the side of militarization and oppression.
In the meantime, please call and email the mayor and Council people to urge them to vote No To Urban Shield!
Mayor Jesse Arreguin/ (510) 981-7100/ mayor@cityofberkeley.info
District 1/Linda Miao/(510) 981-7110/ lmaio@cityofberkeley.info /
District 2/Cheryl Davila/ (510) 981-7120/ cdavila@cityofberkeley.info
District 3/ Ben Bartlett/ (510) 981-7130/ bbartlett@CityofBerkeley.info
District 4/ Kate Harrison / (510) 981-7140 kharrison@CityofBerkeley.info
District 5 / Sophie Hahn/ 510) 981-7150 shahn@CityofBerkeley.info
District 6 / Susan Wengraf / (510) 981-7160 swengraf@CityofBerkeley.info
District 7/ Kris Worthington / (510) 981-7170 kworthington@CityofBerkeley.info
District 8/ Lori Droste / (510) 981-7180 ldroste@CityofBerkeley.info
63196
Jun 20 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Join us for a discussion of resistance in the Trump era with internationally acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Naomi Klein.
Donald Trump’s takeover of the White House is a dangerous escalation in a world of cascading crises. His reckless agenda — including a corporate coup in government, aggressive scapegoating and warmongering, and sweeping aside climate science to set off a fossil fuel frenzy — will generate waves of disasters and shocks to the economy, national security, and the environment.
Acclaimed journalist, activist, and bestselling author Naomi Klein has spent two decades studying political shocks, climate change, and brand bullies. From this unique perspective, she argues that Trump is not an aberration but a logical extension of the worst, most dangerous trends of the past half-century — the very conditions that have unleashed a rising tide of white nationalism the world over. It is not enough, she tells us, to merely resist, to say no. Our historical moment demands more: a credible and inspiring yes, a roadmap to reclaiming the populist ground from those who would divide us — one that sets a bold course for winning the fair and caring world we want and need.
This timely, urgent book from one of our most influential thinkers offers a bracing positive shock of its own, helping us understand just how we got here, and how we can, collectively, come together and heal.
Book signing to follow. Copies of No Is Not Enough will be available for purchase at the event. A discounted ticket/book bundle is also available in advance.
63207
Jun
21
Wed
Jun 21 @ 8:45 am – 1:00 pm
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
We Need GREEN
HOUSE
GAS
Caps,
Not Massive Emissions Increases!
11th-hour Air District staff changes to Rule 12-16, scheduled for a vote this coming Wednesday, effectively sabotage what was to be the first-in-the nation rule to regulate local refinery-emitted greenhouse gases. In a stunning reversal, the Air District is now trying to grandfather in horrendous emission increases. Staff’s history of reckless permitting is causing them to propose a total gutting of the caps by raising permissible emissions levels by 25% – the equivalent to adding a whole other Chevron or Shell refinery to our air load! We must pack the house and express our outrage.
We need the GHG emission limits that were in Rule 12-16 when the staff proposed it at the continued adoption hearing on May 31, and which Board voted to direct staff to bring for adoption on June 21.
The Board must resist staff chicanery and stay the course. Now more than ever the community needs to stand up in support of meaningful caps on refinery GHGs, not faux-caps that allow massive emissions increases.
Read the Sunflower Alliance update at http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/urgent-defend-real-ghg-caps-not-allowances-for-increased-emissions-june-21/
Please arrive no later than 8:30 AM so that we can fill the hearing room. There will be massive oil industry & building trades turnout, so come early to stand at the head of the line.
============================
Original note:
Regulating criteria pollution—included within the original proposal for 12-16—will not be considered at this time. But it will be addressed in other rule-making, including Rule 13-1, to be presented by staff for consideration in a few months.
Air District staff dropped its opposition to capping GHGs after the Air Resources Board delivered a game-changing letter on April 5th. Richard Corey, ARB’s executive officer, declared his support for Rule 12-16 and Rule 13-1, the related staff proposal to limit greenhouse gases via an emissions-per-barrel approach. “We support the intent of these rules and agree more can and must be done to deliver real reductions in pollutants that are impacting the health of residents living near refineries,” Corey wrote. “We agree both approaches could help to ensure that these sources do not add to the state’s overall emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria or toxic pollutants.”
The co-pollutants emitted by refineries along with greenhouse gases have very local impacts, which state policy is beginning to address. A growing body of research shows that people who live closest to refineries are most heavily impacted by these toxic and criteria emissions. Bay Area public health experts have estimated that a cap on local refinery emissions could save 800–3,000 lives regionally over 40 years. Without it, fenceline communities would face an 8–12 times worse per capita mortality impact.
Rule 13-1 does not currently call for directly controlling particulate matter and could allow refinery-wide emissions to increase. Making sure that rule is loophole-free is our next big struggle. But for now, this first step towards GHG caps is a very giant step in the right direction.
Please arrive at 8:45 AM so that we can fill the hearing room. There will be massive oil industry turnout, so come early to stand at the head of the line.
Additional Information
Here is the analysis, conducted by local public health experts, of the deadly local health impacts of a tar sands transition.
For background, listen to this April 19th KALW report, which includes interviews with members of the Richmond community whose very lives depend on the passage of this rule. (Both the broadcast and a transcript are available.)
Reporter Will Parrish has done excellent investigative work on the issue. See his recent articles in the Monthly and the Nation.
Finally, follow this link to more detailed background on this website of the four-year struggle to cap refinery emissions.
63204
The Police Commission will be talking about Tasers Wednesday/21. This is an ongoing debate, and took center stage when the supes Rules Committee voted to allow Petra DeJesus to stay on the commission for another term. The cops want Tasers, and say they are a good alternative to shooting people. A lot of activists who have studied the issue (and some police departments that have abandoned the devices) say there are really serious problems with giving officers what is generally considered a less-lethal, but still lethal, weapon.
The presentation from the “experts” will no doubt focus on how Tasers can keep people alive – if someone with a knife is threatening an officer or a civilian, zapping and thus immobilizing the suspect is better than shooting and killing them.
But what if the cops use the Taser not as an alternative to a firearm but as an alternative to de-escalation, to controlling the situation, to calling in for support from someone trained in handling mentally ill suspects? That’s what we’ve seen in other cities – the Taser is a crutch, a quick and easy way to avoid taking more peaceful steps to resolving a situation.
Interesting to see what the presentation to the commission addresses, and who the experts are. I am hearing that this is going to be a big push in the next few months.
63288
Volunteer with us!
The Prisoners Literature Project is based in Berkeley, California, and we’re always looking for volunteers to help answer letters, send out books, learn more about the prison system, and assist in other ways.
We currently meet on Sundays from 2-5pm and on Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30pm at the Grassroots House. This is located at 2022 Blake St. (at Milvia), Berkeley, CA 94704. (Map – there’s plenty of local parking, and the office is walkable in 11-15 minutes from downtown Berkeley BART or Ashby BART – also, AC Transit bus #18 stops nearby.)
(Please note that we can’t accept prisoner book requests at this address. Book requests from U.S. prisoners must be mailed to PLP; c/o Bound Together Books, 1369 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117.)
We welcome helpers of any age and experience at our volunteer sessions (here’s what they look like!), and are also very happy to host students looking for community service. You should read a lot, have neat legible handwriting, and be able to follow the rules to get books into prisons. We don’t make the rules, but we do have to follow them!
Bringing more than four people? Please contact us first so we can better accommodate your group. (BTW, we maintain ‘call for volunteer’ listings on VolunteerMatch.org, on Idealist.org, and on AllForGood.org, so you might have seen us there!)
Other ways to help?
If you can’t make it in-person to our volunteer sessions, we’d still love your help. In particular, we’re looking for donations — both one-time and recurring — to help pay for postage on the hundreds of book packages we send out monthly.
Other things we’d love help with include: fundraising efforts, publicity, and contacting publishers and distributors to get multiple copies of our most sought-after books. We need to keep building our reserves — and further reduce our request backlog.
Got more ideas? Come to a meeting and share them with us!
63037
Jun 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join the RPA in an interactive presentation which will provide an overview of local election systems, and discuss possible reforms, including ranked choice voting and forms of proportional representation. Speakers will include Pedro Hernandez, Deputy Director of FairVote California; Steve Chessin, President of Californians for Electoral Reform (CfER); and Joan Strasser, Board Member of CfER, and a teacher at Richmond High School.
There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
63285
Jun 21 @ 7:15 pm – 9:30 pm
Both Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg have asked more whistleblowers to step into the public light and speak out. Several brave individuals have responded. One of them is Melvin Goodman.
Melvin A. Goodman was a Soviet analyst at the CIA and the Department of State for 24 years, and a professor of international relations at the National War College for 18 years. He served in the U.S. Army in Athens, Greece for three years, and was intelligence adviser to the SALT delegation from 1971–1972.
Currently, Goodman is the Director of the National Security Project at the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC, and adjunct professor of government at Johns Hopkins University. He has authored, co-authored, and edited seven books, including his “National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism”, (published by City Lights) Gorbachev’s Retreat: The Third World; The Wars of Eduard Shevardnadze; The Phantom Defense: America’s Pursuit of the Star Wars Illusion; Bush League Diplomacy: How the Neoconservatives are Putting the World at Risk, and Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA.
Dennis J Bernstein will host, raising the topic of Syria and US Government lies.
Tickets at brownpapertickets.com and indie bookstores
63208
Jun 21 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Monthly APTP meeting, held on every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
– Strategize on addressing proposed changes to the BART police use of force policy.
– Find out ways you can use your talents and resources to support APTP and get involved with the work, including how to join various committees such as the Black Leadership Committee, First Responders, Action, Policy, Media, and Security committees.
– Find out more about the #DefundOPD campaign.
The Anti Police-Terror Project is a project of the ONYX ORGANIZING COMMITTEE that in coalition with other organizations, like Idriss Stelley Foundation, Community READY Corps and Workers World Party – Bay Area, is working to develop a replicable and sustainable model to end police terrorism in this country.
We are led by the most impacted communities but are a multi-racial, mutil-generational coalition.
For the July meeting:
There will be report backs on some of our recent actions including the Defund OPD campaign around the city budget process, including our shutdown of the Council budget meeting. You’ll also hear about our action to protest the promotion of rapist OPD Cops at their “secret” promotions ceremony.
We’d also love to have you get involved with APTP on a regular basis, by joining one of our committees. We will have committee breakouts as part of Wednesday’s meeting, so you can learn about what the different committees do. We know you all have lots of ideas and talent, so please contribute to further APTP’s on-going work.
Some of the committees include:
– Black Leadership
– First Responders
– Action
– Comms/Media
– Policy
– Security
– Fundraising
See you all on Wednesday!
63209
Jun 21 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
KPFA Radio and City Lights Books present:
Both Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg have asked more whistleblowers to step into the public light and speak out. Several brave individuals have responded. One of them is Melvin Goodman.
Melvin A. Goodman was a Soviet analyst at the CIA and the Department of State for 24 years, and a professor of international relations at the National War College for 18 years. He served in the U.S. Army in Athens, Greece for three years, and was intelligence adviser to the SALT delegation from 1971–1972.
Currently, Goodman is the Director of the National Security Project at the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC, and adjunct professor of government at Johns Hopkins University. He has authored, co-authored, and edited seven books, including his “National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism”, (published by City Lights) Gorbachev’s Retreat: The Third World; The Wars of Eduard Shevardnadze; The Phantom Defense: America’s Pursuit of the Star Wars Illusion; Bush League Diplomacy: How the Neoconservatives are Putting the World at Risk, and Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA.
Dennis J Bernstein will host, raising the topic of Syria and US Government lies.
Tickets at brownpapertickets.com and indie bookstores. $12 for advanced tickets. $15 at the door.
63246
Jun
22
Thu
The BART Board will vote on on a proposal to rescind the ordinance that would have BART police ticket people who take up more than one BART seat. BART has limited police resources, and police should be focusing on serious crimes. This ordinance would increase BART delays, 17% of which are already caused by police interactions. And according to the BART Police Officers Association, this ordinance would likely target homeless people and increase use of force incidents.
BART should not criminalize etiquette violations. Instead Bart Board Chair Saltzman will be proposing an educational campaign to ask riders to use one seat.
The Board will also be voting on the Safe Transit Policy introduced by Directors Lateefah Simon and Nick Josefowitz, who wrote an op-ed this weekend about the policy:
“We understand how critical our system is for residents to get where they need to go. With more than 500,000 people living in the Bay Area without legal permission, we must ensure that all riders are protected when using BART in their professional and personal lives. Immigrants, including those who are undocumented, are an indispensable part of our community and economy, and their contributions to our cities are an important reality in the Bay Area.
“The policy would forbid BART from spending its resources to enforce federal immigration law and prohibit BART police officers and employees from questioning riders about their immigration status.”
There’s more on Thursday’s agenda, including approval of the annual budget, expanding the youth fare discount to youth 13-18 years old, and considering additional parking at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. Read the full agenda here.
63289
Jun 22 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Board of Directors Meeting. Agenda.
Directions:
The BART Board Meeting Room is entered on Webster Street between 20th and 21st, to the north of the large CVS store at 20th and Webster.
BART will be considering newly-elected BART rep Lateefah Simon’s proposal for “sanctuary transit” i.e instructions to BART’s police department to not cooperate with immigration enforcement activities on the Bay Area’s rail system and to ensure unfettered travel to and from work, family and leisure for all residents regardless of status.
…The risks to our undocumented riders are real. On May 14, after being questioned about his immigration status, a rider on the Metro Transit system in Minneapolis was tased and arrested. Within days, he was transferred to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a federal immigration judge ordered him deported. The right to use public transit should never come with exposure to such danger. Implementing the Safe Transit Policy is essential for preventing similar incidents on BART.
…
The Safe Transit Policy ensures that regardless of ethnic or national origin, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation or immigration status, riders can count on a safe and secure environment on BART.
Specifically, the policy would forbid BART from spending its resources to enforce federal immigration law and prohibit BART police officers and employees from questioning riders about their immigration status.
63280
We will be having our next Decarcerate Alameda meeting this Thursday, June 22nd. If you can, please bring some snacks to share.
Our agenda will include planning for the July 24th hearing on mental health alternatives, our upcoming art build, jail outreach and more.
63287
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