January 14, 2009 Demonstration for Oscar Grant
FYI -

The latest information that Oakland Police Department (OPD) has is only one demonstration will occur on Wednesday, January 14th. The event is scheduled to begin at 4 PM at City Hall. A ‘rally’ for approximately ½ hour and then a ‘march’ to the Alameda County Court House (12/Fallon) OPD will facilitate the demonstration and march.

14th Street between Clay and Lakeside will be closed to vehicles, vehicle traffic also will be re-routed a block above/below 14th Street . Parking on 14th Street will be impacted/not allowed (not sure of boundaries yet) Bus service will be re-routed.

Crowd estimates 800-1000 (organizer estimate) OPD has no firm figures. OPD expects peaceful demonstration but prepared for all contingencies.

For More Information:
Sergeant Michael Poirier
Chief of Staff
Office of the Chief of Police
Oakland Police Department
Office: (510) 238-3131
Email: mpoirier@oaklandnet.com
Posted 1/13/2009

Nia Sykes Responds to the Chronicle
I did not receive a response from the California Coalition of Women Prisoners, but a reader was kind enough to let me know that Ms. Sykes had written a letter (scroll down to "I do not advocate violence") to the San Francisco Chronicle. She says the quote was taken out of context and that she does not advocate violence. She goes on to say that she was praising the peaceful protest and that when things got violent, she moved to another block.

If this is the case, the Chronicle should be ashamed.
Posted 1/10/2009

An elegant post about.... Oakland
I read a variety of Oakland related blogs. I keep saying I'm not going to keep up with what's going on in my community, but obviously I do. Why? I don't honestly have an answer.

But this one post about the riots the other night makes me stop and think.

What does your Oakland look like?

I don't really need to know, but just think about it for a minute. There are lots of good things here, and sometimes we need to stop and think about them.

Cheers,
Joanna
Posted 1/09/2009

Open letter to the California Coalition of Woman Prisoners
I saw Ms. Sykes on the news the other night. I had no idea at the time that she worked for your organization. Now that I know, I'm even more appalled, if possible.

As an organization, I'd like to ask you to call for her resignation, or at the very least ask her to offer a sincere and public apology to the business owners of downtown Oakland that were affected by the nonsense the other night. Burning down cars and breaking store windows is not going to help the case of Oscar Grant, no matter how tragic and awful it is.

There are certainly ways to go about getting publicity and awareness for your cause. But to say, "...she should be glad she lost her business and not her life..." regarding property destruction at Creative African Braids - owned by a black woman no less. What kind of influence is she giving women in jail in San Francisco? I know that this is not the role model I'd want for a sister in need of advice.

I think that if she wanted to "make some noise" in Oakland, then she should have gathered a group of friends to go to every single BART stop with signs asking people to boycott BART. Think of what kind of pressure that might have pressed on BART administration versus the property destruction in Oakland, which did nothing to pressure BART to do anything. Think how a peaceful way of handling the situation might have done more damage to this public entity, rather than destroying the hopes and dreams of small business owners in Oakland who are already struggling in this economy in a City already with enough problems. For once this problem wasn't even caused by OPD. Ms. Sykes is giving the absolutely worst message possible to people who need as much good advice and direction as they can get. Ms. Sykes hasn't proved to be much of a role model based on what she had to say on the news.

Maybe it was just the heat of the moment that she said what she said in which case a public (and sincere) apology won't be so difficult. But in any case, saying what she said in the heat of the moment is no better than what that cop did.

I appreciate your time and attention in reading this correspondence and hope that your organization is truly sincere in helping women. All women, regardless of whether they are in prison or not. All women, regardless of whether they own a business or not. All women, regardless of whether they are black, white, pink, purple, or blue. ALL women.

Sincerely,
Joanna Adler
Oakland resident, business owner, and a woman.
Posted 1/08/2009

Local Developer Hal Ellis Dead at 77
SFGate has reported the death of local developer, Hal Ellis at his home in Piedmont at the age of 77. Mr. Ellis was a partner in Jack London Square Partners and along with his partner, Jim Falaschi, worked tirelessly to bring a new vision to Jack London Square. His efforts will live on with the new Jack London Market which should be finished in Fall 2009.
Posted 1/08/2009