Oakland Magazine Blog - November 2007

November 30, 2007

Weekend Events

Get out there and enjoy some great Oakland events this weekend.

• The Jingletown Arts and Business Community features their second annual holiday art walk this weekend. Many artists will hold preview receptions in their studios tonight and the walk is 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Dec. 1-2, free. Click here for maps and more information.

• The NickelBottom 5 Penny Opera offers a series of dynamic, original short stories and spoken word performances by Lower Bottom Playaz this weekend. 7 p.m., $10-$15, Dec. 1-2, East Side Arts Alliance, 2277 International Blvd.

• Hear the Oakland East Bay... Read more »

Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 in Music & Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 29, 2007

City Audit Issued

Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby today issued a performance audit of the City of Oakland’s payroll system. Unlike a financial audit, the intention of a performance audit is to address whether the City is effectively and efficiently spending taxpayer dollars and complying with relevant rules and regulations.
 
Auditor Ruby contracted Sjoberg Evashenk, a consulting firm run by Kurt Sjoberg, the former State Auditor of California, in March of 2007 to conduct the first comprehensive, citywide performance audit of the City’s payroll and compensation practices. Because 55 percent of the city’s budget is earmarked for personnel expenses, Ruby determined that this audit was a logical... Read more »

Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 in Local Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 28, 2007

Oakland Payroll Audit

New Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby will hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss the findings and recommendations of the first citywide performance audit of the City’s payroll and compensation practices. Ruby assumed office January 1, 2007, after being elected in November 2006 with over 65 percent of the vote. Upon taking office Ruby revitalized and restructured the Office of the City Auditor after an independent review by the Association of Local Government Auditors found that the Office had failed to meet Government Auditing Standards from 2004-2006. This audit release is the first of City Auditor Ruby’s term, and first audit performed of the City’s payroll system in recent memory. Payroll and compensation comprises roughly 55 percent of the City of... Read more »

Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 in Local Politics | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 27, 2007

Art Talk

Tomorrow evening, Oakland Museum of California's new Senior Curator Rene de Guzman, will be speaking at Oakland Art Gallery. Tickets are $15 at the door. In his lecture, de Guzman will examine the roles and functions of museums in the context of local and global art cultures, sharing his observations about the burgeoning Oakland art scene. You may pre-register by phone at (510) 637-0395 or online.

His discussion will focus on the ways that regional activities and ambitions reflect global trends and ideas, emphasizing strategies to assert local identity while placing Oakland and California in relationship... Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 in Music & Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 26, 2007

Spare the Air Tonight

The air quality tonight is forecast to be unhealthy. The Bay Area Air District is asking residents to refrain from burning wood in their fireplaces and woodstoves, and to drive less. Winter air pollution is mainly caused by small particle pollution, or particulate matter (PM). The two major winter sources of PM in the Bay Area are residential wood burning and motor vehicles.
 
You can help reduce winter air pollution if you:

- Do NOT burn wood tonight.
- If you must burn wood, burn less and use only dry, clean, seasoned wood, and nonglossy white paper.  Moist, or "green" wood smolders more, producing greater amounts of harmful air pollutants.
- Postpone errands and link necessary trips
- Retrofit your fireplace to burn natural... Read more »

Posted on Monday, November 26, 2007 in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 21, 2007

A Dangerous City?

Oakland was ranked as the fourth most dangerous city in the United States on Sunday by a controversial but closely watched private-research group that publishes a list of the country's most dangerous cities annually, the Oakland Tribune reported Monday. Nearby Richmond came in at No. 9. Oakland jumped four spots, from No. 8 last year, in this year's "City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America," which was published by CQ Press, a unit of Congressional Quarterly Inc. Detroit... Read more »

Posted on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 20, 2007

Free Thanksgiving Dinner

During this time of giving thanks, the City of Oakland is hosting a very special event designed to soften the hardship so many people experience this time of year: the 16th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Today's dinner is hosted by the City’s Department of Human Services and its partners—the Communities United Committee and the Emergency Food Providers Advisory Committee. This gala event is free and open to all low-income or homeless seniors, families and individuals. Hundreds of volunteers will serve a scrumptious Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings while guests enjoy live entertainment and a nutritious meal. This year’s entertainment features Rhonda Benin and Soulful Strut. Last year 2,500 were served, to donate call (510) 238-2077. The dinner is free today... Read more »

Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 19, 2007

Charges in Alameda Murder

The teenager accused in the slaying of a 15-year-old girl at an Alameda park on Halloween was arraigned Tuesday, when a judge told him he was charged with murder and ordered him held without bail, the Oakland Tribune reported last week. Quochuy Tran, 16 and an Oakland High School student, displayed no emotion during his brief appearance in Alameda County Superior Court. Tran allegedly shot and killed Ichinkhorloo "Iko" Bayarsaikhan while attempting to rob her as she gathered with her friends at Washington Park on Halloween, according to Alameda police. A junior at Alameda High... Read more »

Posted on Monday, November 19, 2007 in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 16, 2007

Weekend Events

FRIDAY

Alameda County School Superintendent Sheila Jordan and OUSD interim state administrator Vincent Matthews will honor National Children's Book Week by reading to students at Manzanita Seed Elementary School this morning. 2409 E. 27th.

SATURDAY

All spuds, no duds! Take the kids to the Mr. Potato Head Beauty Contest where they can cook up a stylin' potato personality. Museum of Children's Art, 1 p.m.–4 p.m., $7, 528 Ninth St., (510) 465-8770.

Help keep youth out of jail! Harry Belafonte's Read more »

Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 15, 2007

Joe Morgan Honored

Joe Morgan, a member of Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame and an Oakland resident, will be honored with a gala tribute tonight. The event is co-hosted by Alameda County Youth Development, Oakland City Council, the office of Mayor Ron Dellums and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell will act as master of ceremonies. Other celebrities will attend including Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson and Tony La Russa. All proceeds will benefit the George P. Scotlan Youth and Family Center. 6 p.m., Oakland Airport Hilton, 1 Hegenberger Road.

Read more »

Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 in Music & Entertainment | Permalink | Comments (0)