Laurel/Redwood Heights NCPC News

by Kaye Stewart

39th Avenue Noticeable progress was made over the past few weeks on 39th Avenue. Gambling, drug sales and loitering moved up the street after several 3600-block property owners pitched in to hire private security services. Fortunately, the shifting of activity encouraged others to get involved and come to the meetings. A blighted cyclone fence was removed at 3675 and replaced with a lower, wood-slatted fence. The dumpster was also removed from the front of the property and the parking lot repaved. The 3600-block owners renew No Trespass orders monthly with the Oakland Police Department, enabling officers to arrest anyone on their premises who is not on a lease or a guest of a resident. The group is gaining momentum with continually increasing participation from property owners and renters and is committed to organizing the street from MacArthur Blvd. to Bayo. Owners of buildings on 39th Avenue where illegal activities are occurring will be asked by the group to hire the private security services of Intervention Agency, remove blight, and to evict problem tenants promptly. Residents are educated on their ability to file a Public Nuisance lawsuit (in the amount of $5,000 per family member) against property owners who refuse to deal with illegal activities occurring on their properties. Anyone in the area who is having problems with loitering, gambling, drug sales, or prostitution on or near their property is encouraged to come to the meetings to find solutions. They meet monthly on the third Tuesday of every month at World Ground Caf? at 7 p.m. Schools Laurel Elementary School celebrates fall harvest this year on Saturday, November 6, from 2 to 6 p.m. Activities will include craft making, festival booths, an astro jump, and great food. Please stop by to help out and/or enjoy the festivities. Following in the footsteps of Sequoia Elementary School and Bret Harte Middle School, Laurel Elementary School has requested that Oakland Unified School District fund a Pre-Healthy-Start Planning Grant facilitator in order to create and maintain a grant-writing collaborative. The Bret Harte Collaborative is in full swing and meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 at Bret Harte Middle School on Coolidge Avenue. All are welcome. Green Space We teamed up with L-CAP last month to create and empower an Open/Green Space group that will work to secure and develop open and green space in the Laurel. The lack of public space was pointed out by Nguu Tran to Mayor Brown at the September Neighborhood Council meeting. Nguu presented the mayor with a proposal for a minipark and signatures of support. We will all need to work together to encourage city government to assist us in filling this void in our community. To join the Open/Green Space group or for more information, contact L-CAP at 986-9021. Elections The Neighborhood Council will hold elections for calendar year 2000 in December. To find out more, please attend our November 11 meeting, which will be held at the Chick'N'Coop at 7 p.m. We will be back at Laurel School on December 9 for our annual holiday potluck. Come join us! Together we can increase safety and opportunity in our community.