Things that make me smile part 2

It’s been a heavy week, but in the midst of frustration and concern, there have also been some happy moments. Here are some of the things in Oakland that made me smile this week:

• Seeing a woman pick up trash on 14th Street. There’s trash everywhere in downtown Oakland so it was great seeing someone doing something about it.
• Finding out that the building of the fourth bore of the Caldecott Tunnel is being put on hold. Unfortunately, it will probably ultimately get built, but one can hope, right?
• The community coming together to organize a night out tonight and day of support tomorrow for Oakland businesses that were vandalized. I hope you’ll consider attending one of these events and supporting Oakland businesses.
• Voting for and watching two of my fellow East Bay Young Democrats leaders get elected as delegates to the state Democratic Party, and finding out that throughout the state Young Dems had been elected. It’s so exciting to see people in my generation getting involved in politics and taking on positions of power where they can make a real difference.
• Two storefronts that were previously covered in graffiti are now painted over. Last month, I posted several pictures of blight in downtown Oakland, including two photos of graffiti covered storefronts on Webster Street. Here’s what they looked like last month:

And here’s what they look like now:

It’s certainly not beautiful, but it is an improvement.

• Planning for the Barack n’ Roll Inaugural Party and watching our host committee grow. I hope you plan to come – it will be the event of the night.
• Overhearing a young man at Washington Mutual respond to the offer of a credit card, “No, man, those things are bad news.” If only more people thought this way…

How about you – what made you smile this week?