"Get over it."
I'm having a hard time with other blogs posting things like this.

Here's my response:

Okay, so is living in JLD for over 10 years "new to the neighborhood"? I don't think so.
Let me list the top 5 things I would have liked to have seen when she was elected the last time around - a time when I'm almost embarassed to say I voted for her. My goal of 5 simple things was:

1. Mixed-use parking permit plan. She didn't get us the permit plan. Brunner and Kernighan were WAY more supportive. And why did it take over 5 years? Why does it cost so much more than the residential permits? ($150 vs $50)

2. Neighborhood park. At one point we could have bought the lot where 288 Third now stands for $3 million. Obviously that didn't happen and now there are no empty lots left in the neighborhood for a park. I don't consider Estuary Park to be a neighborhood park.

3. Grocery store. Why did she just start contacting grocery stores during her campaign and not before then?

4. A better Jack London Square redevelopment plan. I've written about this at great length and my concern is that it will all be office space. She made lots of noise having supposed "issues", but still voted 5 minutes later in favor of the project without asking for it to be better.

5. Air quality testing.
Catering to West Oakland at the 100% cost of ignoring the rest of your district is because of race? No it isn't. At some point people down here pay taxes and don't feel that they're getting their monies worth. Obviously they thought that others would vote for them, so shame on them for not voting.

We have plenty of African-Americans, Asians, and even Latinos in our neighborhood, so please don't offend the Jack London District in saying that it's about race. Besides, a Council Member should represent their WHOLE district, not just one bit.

My goals for the next go-around?

1. Continuation of the Mixed-Use Parking Permit Plan. (it appears to be on shaky ground at the moment all because not enough people have signed up in the first month)

2. Grocery store. Work TOGETHER with JLS to get a grocery store in the area.

3. Dog park.

4. Webster Street Green. She mentioned this during the JLD District 3 Candidate Forum and I want people to hold her to it.

5. More neighborhood serving businesses in the District. Good luck with this one, because at this point I'm not planning on renewing my retail space lease in [Nov]2010. [anyone want to buy a mail and parcel store?]

Joanna Adler
Jack London Mail
Jack London News
Posted 6/09/2008