Tuesday, May 26th – Walk Oakland Bike Oakland Monthly Meeting
Did you know that Oakland has a Bicycle Master Plan? Well, it does. Recently updated and approved in December, 2007, the Oakland BMP serves as the citywide, long-range policy document for promoting bicycling as a viable means of transportation and recreation in Oakland. Join Jason Patton (Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner for the City of Oakland) as we learn about the Oakland BMP and discuss how it can be used as a tool for advocates. (As always, grub will be provided – yum!) This meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm at Bay Area Wilderness Training, 2301 Broadway, Suite B – enter on 23rd Street. For more info, visit WOBO’s website.
Wednesday, May 27th – AC Transit Hearing on Fiscal Emergency
Via Ride ACT: “Faced with rising costs and dwindling financial resources, the AC Transit board of directors recently called for a public hearing on May 27, 2009, as a prelude to possibly declaring “fiscal emergency.” A declared “fiscal emergency” would provide the district with the ability to make ongoing adjustments in service and operations to counter what is predicted to be a debilitating financial crisis… Despite the recent passage of Measure VV–a parcel tax measure that is expected to to yield about $14 million annually for the district–the ongoing weakening of the local economy and the catastrophic loss of STA funding is causing AC Transit to:
- Adopt a fare increase, effective July 1, 2009
- Scrutinize all expenditures
- Institute a hiring freeze for all but essential positions
- Direct staff to achieve operating/service efficiencies of 15 percent of the budget
- Outline possible service adjustments which would be enacted later this year, pending a future public hearing and approval by the board.
The public is encouraged to attend the hearing on the fiscal emergency which will be at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday May 27, 2009, in the second floor Board Room, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA.” If you can’t make it to this meeting, take AC Transit’s service cuts survey to let them know which lines are most important to you.
Thursday, May 28th – City Council Budget Workshop
The Council will be meeting this week to discuss the budget in further detail. For background, I highly recommend checking out V Smoothe’s coverage of the budget, which is really the only in depth budget coverage you’ll find anywhere. This workshop will be held from 1-7pm in the Council Chambers in City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza.
Friday, May 29th – Dancing Under the Stars at Jack London Square
Via Angela Woodall: “Free Outdoor Classes from May 1 to July so you can Dance the Night Away on Oakland’s Waterfront. On Friday nights this Spring and Summer, Jack London Square will see sizzling salsa, tight turns, and elegant waltzes. But on this dance floor, there will be no judges and no one will be voted out. Jack London Square today announced Dancing Under the Stars, a summer of free outdoor dance classes open to the public. Over ten Friday night sessions, visitors will be treated to professional instruction in a range of popular steps, all on Oakland’s waterfront and by the light of the stars. Dancing Under the Stars will begin at 8:30 PM each Friday at the foot of Broadway from May 1st to July 3rd.” This Friday, they’ll be teaching the American Tango.
Saturday, May 30th – Alameda County Democratic Party Candidate Training
If you’ve ever considered running for office (and I hope that several members of the blogoaksphere have), then you should check out this training on Saturday. The Alameda County Democratic Party is presenting a “pre-candidate” training focused on preliminary issues, personal impacts and information that someone thinking of running for office should consider. The program is a free event. Several successful candidates in last year’s election attended when this program was first presented last year. Four panels will be featured: “Do I Really Want to Run”; “How do Campaigns Work”; Legal and Administrative Requirements; and, the Democratic Party. The program will be held from 10am-1pm at the Peralta Community College Board Room at 333 E. 8th St. Email acdemtraining@aol.com for additional information.
Sunday, May 31st – Oaklandish Salsa by the Lake
This annual event is back, 100% free and kickin off the summer season with a bang. Oaklandish will be offering free Salsa dance classes and a live performance by Salsa band Rumbache. And while you’re there, check out some of their brand new t-shirt designs. This event is at the Splash Pad Park, across the street from the Grand Lake Theater from 1:00-6:00pm.
Living in the O 
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