Neighborhood Builds Community Coalition
With a border reaching into the hills neighborhoods of Montera and Woodminster and stretching down the hill to I-580, the swath of land between Sausal Creek and Coolidge Ave. makes Beat 22X one of the larger and more geographically diverse of the 57 Oakland police beats.
The numerous neighborhood communities within 22X (including Oakmore, Lincoln Heights, Montera, Upper Dimond, and Lower Dimond) have predominately acted independently when addressing their needs for police and other city services in response to safety and crime issues. A cross section of volunteers and city staff have recently formed a steering committee to work on forming a well-balanced and result-oriented council for Beat 22X. Begin the process of formulating priorities for your neighborhood on Monday, February 4, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Greek Orthodox Church in the Richmond Room, 4700 Lincoln Ave. Contact Meg Bowerman, 531-7139 or Neighborhood Services Coordinator Renee Sykes, 238-7929.
FFYC Emancipation Village
The Fred Finch Youth Center (FFYC) located at 3800 Coolidge Ave. shares details on proposed renovations to four of the residential facilities and the request to change the ratio of residents on the main campus. Chief Operating Officer Kathie Jacobson and Kate Durham presented the vision at the January Dimond Improvement Association (DIA) meeting.
Plans for physical improvements to what will be called Emancipation Village are undergoing a feasibility study with detailed designs due to come out mid-year. FFYC is working on forming a neighborhood advisory committee to work with FFYC and architects on layout and design. The intention is to replace the four existing 10-12 unit apartment buildings with structures that more closely resemble residential homes, similar in design to the three built on Coolidge Court in the mid '90s.'
The January 2 DIA meeting minutes report that the preliminary plans are in keeping with all provisions of the agreement except for the age range of participants. The 1995 agreement between FFYC and area residents named DIA and placed specific guidelines on the number and ages of campus residents. The straw vote conducted at the meeting showed initial support for the amendment with the expectation that FFYC will work to inform all interested about the proposed changes in the 60 days leading up to a final vote to adopt the amendment (scheduled for the March 5 DIA meeting).
Complete minutes and additional documents from the January 2 DIA meeting can be viewed at Dimondnews.org.
You can contact Fred Finch representatives Kathie Jacobson, COO, at kathiejacobson\@fredfinch.org or Kate Durham at katedpm\@sbcglobal.net or (415) 827-2260.
Safe Routes to School
Oakland's Safe Routes to School program will perform a Walk Audit on Thursday, February 7 at 2:30-4:30 p.m., leaving from Bret Harte Middle School. Join the Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) to walk the area with local students.'
Contact Shawna Brekke-Read, parent volunteer and PTA president of Bret Harte Middle School, bretharteoaklandpta\@yahoo.com.
Celebrate '08
Dimond History calendars are still available. There are only a few left at Farmer Joe's, La Farine, and Paws and Claws. Thank you for supporting this community fundraiser. The DIA looks forward to spending the proceeds on what matters to you.
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