Onions
Onions to Oakland Police Department for ticketing drivers who honked in support of Prop. 8 demonstrators at High & MacArthur. Ticketing as a response to this political activity creates a chilling effect on the First Amendment's Freedom of Speech.
Onions to the owners of the private property on Virginia near Courtland, who have allowed debris, old furniture, and garbage to lie and multiply on the lawn, driveway, and porch for over three months. John Stewart of CEDA says realtor Ullon Willis has promised the owner would clean up the property before Thanksgiving. At Metro deadline, the rubbish still blighted the neighborhood except for what—we are told—an anonymous neighbor managed to clear away.
Onions to Caffe Diem, one of readers' favorite coffee houses. In spite of laws that prohibit smoking in public places, posted signs that say "no smoking within 20 feet of a Post Office" and requests by customers and neighbors, the owners continue to welcome smokers to their sidewalk tables.'The clouds of smoke waft inside, forcing everyone to share in the air pollution.
Orchids
Orchids to Kathleen Russell, 22X Neighborhood Coalition for Positive Change (NCPC) volunteer and Beautification Committee leader. Over the past few months Kathleen has organized street cleanups, public plantings, and basic streetscape repairs to help enhance and beautify the Woodminster, Oakmore, and Dimond communities. Kathleen and 22x volunteers are also working on outreach to teach habits that will help keep Oakland beautiful. Contact Kathleen at: HYPERLINK "mailto:krussell\@russell-gordon.com"krussell\@russell-gordon.com.
Orchids to Dal Sellman, long-time Metro volunteer extraordinaire, for taking on triple distribution duties as the Metro seeks to fill out the Distribution team, for handing out hundreds of copies of the Metro at the Dimond Oktoberfest, and for being the face of the Metro along MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel.
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