Boulevard Bites

by Sheila D'Amico

### Toby Abom alerts us that OPD cut Park Rangers from their proposed budget. Toby is one of seven Park Rangers (ten are authorized) who patrol more than 170 sites in Oakland and the Port, including 23 sites in the Metro readership area. OPD puts the total costs of saving to the city as $1 million but, according to Toby, the Port pays one-half million into the General Fund for these proactive services. Park Rangers aren't the only OPD service facing the budget ax. Among the others, P.A.L. (Police Athletic League) and its preventive youth services, including the summer camp at Roberts Park and fishing at McCrea Park. How do proposed cuts square with Measure Y requirements that the police may not drop below 739 or else Measure Y fees and taxes cannot be collected and the 63 Measure Y officers may not be added? ### Fairfax neighbors are organizing. Among top concerns, bike helmets for the neighborhood kids, neighborhood walks ? la Maxwell Park, reporting suspicious activity, earthquake preparedness, and, oh yes, getting to know each other. ### Poets Adelle (High St. Neighborhood News) and Jack Foley recently returned from the Big Apple, where they performed their poetry at New York Solo Play Lab and The Bowery Poetry Club. Two short plays by Jack were also performed by New York actors. They'll be reading their poetry this spring in Paris. ### Electronic listserves have taken the place of the ancient Greek agora and the city plaza. Here's a message that caught our fancy from Kelly McCown. "Did anyone lose a white rabbit, quite large? He is running around in the 3800 block of Lyman Road (across from Dimond Park), last seen hopping down the hill toward Fruitvale. He seems like someone's pet, clearly, but wouldn't come to us or our carrots."