City Government
Noel Gallo Organizes Weekly District 5 Cleanups
Oakland has always struggled with illegal litter and dumping on its streets and graffiti on its businesses.
From dumpsites filled with old tires and ripped up mattresses and graffiti plastered walls, on some streets the excess waste becomes a common sight and in many resident’s neighborhoods. Council Member Noel Gallo, who represents the Fruitvale district, and his office are working to combat the problem by holding weekly Saturday clean ups in different areas of his district to combat the litter and graffiti concerns.
His message is simple: Clean street equal Safe streets. Luis Ortega, a member of Noel Gallo’s team, organizes the clean ups, the first one they held was in January and has seen an increase in community support since they began.
“For the last six months we have been organizing community clean ups in our district. Councilmember Gallo and his office would like to keep promoting a safe and clean Oakland,” said Ortega.
In 2006, a litter tax was passed by city council charging businesses $230 to cover the cost of paying crews to clean up the streets. But since then, there hasn’t been much improvement.
Councilmember Gallo attends the clean ups and works side by side with volunteers and community members.
“I see the need for residents to regain pride in their community and their city, and this is just the start of the change I believe we need in Oakland,” said Gallo.
For information contact Noel Gallo’s office at (510) 238-7005 or visit galloforoakland.com.
Fernando Pauret, a student at Wesleyan University and Omar de la Cruz, a UC Santa Barbara student, are both summer interns with Councilmember Gallo.
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Oakland Post: Week of November 26 – December 2, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 26 – December 2, 2025
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Oakland Post: Week of November 19 – 25, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 19 – 25, 2025
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IN MEMORIAM: William ‘Bill’ Patterson, 94
Bill devoted his life to public service and education. In 1971, he became the founding director for the Peralta Community College Foundation, he also became an administrator for Oakland Parks and Recreation overseeing 23 recreation centers, the Oakland Zoo, Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.
William “Bill” Patterson, 94, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at his home in Oakland, CA. He was born on May 19, 1931, to Marie Childress Patterson and William Benjamin Patterson in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Dunbar High School and traveled to Oakland, California, in 1948. William Patterson graduated from San Francisco State University, earning both graduate and undergraduate degrees. He married Euradell “Dell” Patterson in 1961. Bill lovingly took care of his wife, Dell, until she died in 2020.
Bill devoted his life to public service and education. In 1971, he became the founding director for the Peralta Community College Foundation, he also became an administrator for Oakland Parks and Recreation overseeing 23 recreation centers, the Oakland Zoo, Children’s Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.
He served on the boards of Oakland’s Urban Strategies Council, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, and the Oakland Workforce Development Board.
He was a three-term president of the Oakland branch of the NAACP.
Bill was initiated in the Gamma Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
In 1997 Bill was appointed to the East Bay Utility District Board of Directors. William Patterson was the first African American Board President and served the board for 27 years.
Bill’s impact reached far beyond his various important and impactful positions.
Bill mentored politicians, athletes and young people. Among those he mentored and advised are legends Joe Morgan, Bill Russell, Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, and Lionel Wilson to name a few.
He is survived by his son, William David Patterson, and one sister, Sarah Ann Strickland, and a host of other family members and friends.
A celebration of life service will take place at Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center (Calvin Simmons Theater) on November 21, 2025, at 10 AM.
His services are being livestreamed at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1250167107131991/
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Euradell and William Patterson scholarship fund TBA.
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