City Government

OP-ED: Oakland billboards–five on the way, more to come?

Published

11 years ago

August 3, 2013

Oakland Post

By Sierra Club Yodeler

How many huge, bright LED-illuminated electronic billboards does Oakland need (see February Yodeler, page 8)?

Currently, three billboards stand close to the Bay Bridge, west of the toll plaza, and five more are planned on the Oakland Army Base property (all along the I-80 corridor). The light pollution affects residents, drivers and wildlife.

We understand Oakland’s need for revenue, and the temptation of the offers of the billboard companys. The process of gathering input for the reuse plan for the Oakland Army Base was long and complicated, involving community stakeholders (primarily social-justice advocates and organized labor) and developers. The five approved billboards were sold to the public as a funding mechanism for youth job training.

The billboards are on a 66-year lease to Foster Media, with little oversight over revenue streams and income. Some of the advertising revenues will go to Prologis, the development corporation headed by Phil Tagami, who then is expected to allocate a certain amount each year to the job training center.

Unfortunately, the environmental community did not participate in the process. While we all agree on the importance of youth job training, we do not believe that billboards are the way to fund it. It is too late to pursue a legal challenge at the city level against the already-approved billboards, even though there is an Oakland ordinance which bans freeway billboards and Caltrans has oversight.

We are now working to prevent any more billboards from being approved by the City Planning and Zoning Department (and the City Council). Scenic East Bay, a loose coalition of local activists, is trying to organize public opposition, to let the City Council know that selling billboards is not the way for Oakland to pay for needed public services.

We have heard that 7 to 14 additional billboards are in the works, though we don’t have official confirmation or details. The Sierra Club has written a letter opposing billboards near the proposed new park at the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza, and will continue to advocate against light-polluting billboards that are harmful to wildlife and pedestrians.

What You Can Do

For more information see www.makeoaklandbeautiful.org. In particular, sign the petition there to let your elected leaders know that you oppose light-polluting billboards as a way to pay for needed public services.

Kent Lewandowski, Executive Committee, Sierra Club Northern Alameda County Group

This article is republished from the Yodeler, the newspaper of the Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter.

**Cross posting from Oakland Local**

Editor’s Note: This piece reflects an individual opinion and is not a reported story from the Oakland Post or Oakland Local. Both news sites invites community residents to share their views about events and issues in Oakland.

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City Government

San Pablo Appoints New Economic Development and Housing Manager

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo. Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Published

16 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Kieron Slaughter. Photo courtesy of the City of San Pablo

The Richmond Standard

Kieron Slaughter has been appointed as the economic development & housing manager for the City of San Pablo.

Since 2017, Slaughter has served as chief strategic officer for economic innovation in the City of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. Previously, he served in a 2.5-year appointment in the Pacific West Region as one of 10 Urban Fellows in the United States National Park Service.

Before that he was an associate planner in the City of Richmond’s Planning and Building Services Department from 2007-2015.

San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez lauded Slaughter’s extensive experience in economic development, housing and planning, saying he will add a “valuable perspective to the City Manager’s Office.”

Slaughter, a Berkeley resident, will start in his new role on Nov. 12, with a base annual salary of $164,928, according to the City of San Pablo.

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City Government

Aaron Osorio Rises Up Ranks to Become Richmond’s Fire Chief

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10. “I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.” Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Published

16 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Richmond Fire Department Chief Aaron Osorio. Courtesy photo

By Mike Kinney

The Richmond Standard

For Aaron Osorio, it started with a ride along on a firetruck at age 10.

“I thought it was the coolest job,” he said, adding, “I knew being in fire service would make a big difference in the community.”

Now a 27-year fire service veteran, Osorio appears to approach his work with the same youthful exuberance. And that’s good for the city as Osorio was recently named chief of the historic Richmond Fire Department.

Osorio is a San Francisco native who rose up the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief.

He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighters, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief. He said he truly loves working in this community.

While it isn’t common for a fire department to hire a chief that came up through its ranks, Osorio was credited by the city for serving Richmond well during uncommon times.

The city lauded him for developing internal policies and vaccination clinics during the initial COVID response, for supporting activation of the emergency operations center in response to a potential mudslide disaster in Seacliff last year, helping to draft mutual aid agreements and working to increase fire response capabilities for industrial incidents.

He’s also led departmental hiring and recruitment since 2018.

Osorio said it is an honor to be hired as chief and has big plans for the department moving forward. He said he wants to continue hiring and promoting for vacant positions, and also completing a strategic plan guiding the direction of the organization.

He also aims to replace and renovate a number of fire department facilities placed on the Capital Improvement Plan and create new ways to recruit that will enhance the diversity of the department.

Osorio said his experience within, and love for, the city of Richmond puts him in a good position to lead the department. He says he knows what is needed and also the challenges that are unique to the city.

“I look forward to utilizing that institutional knowledge to move the fire department forward in a positive direction and enhance the services we provide to the community,” the chief said.

Osorio holds a bachelor of science degree in Fire Administration and is also a California State Fire Marshal-certified chief officer, company officer, and state instructor.

He also holds numerous certifications in fire, rescue, hazardous material, and incident command.

The chief has been married to his wife, Maria, for 26 years and they have two sons, Roman and Mateo.

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Bay Area

Oakland Awarded $28 Million Grant from Governor Newsom to Sustain Long-Term Solutions Addressing Homelessness

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program. This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Published

17 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the City of Oakland has won a$28,446,565.83 grant as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant program.

This program provides flexible grant funding to help communities support people experiencing homelessness by creating permanent housing, rental and move-in assistance, case management services, and rental subsidies, among other eligible uses.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and the Oakland City Administrator’s Office staff held a press conference today to discuss the grant and the City’s successful implementing of the Mayor’s Executive Order on the Encampment Management Policy.