THE www.rockridge.org RVOL 36 • o NO. 5 •ckridgeNews ISSUE NO. 375 • MAY 2, 2020 CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIdENCES; 200 BUSINESSES Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) • 4123 Broadway, PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94611 Documentary Features Long-Time Rockridge Residents and Disability Rights Activists — by Neil Jacobson n March 25, the film “Crip O Camp – A Disability Revolution” was released on Netflix shortly after its debut at Sundance where it won the Audience Award. It’s directed and produced by Nicole Newnham and Jim Librecht, along with Sara Bolder, Neil and Denise Jacobson both starred in the film “Crip Camp” which and in conjunction with Barack and was an audience favorite at the Sundance Film Festival this past January. Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions. Crip Camp, see page 12 School’s Out, But Claremont Middle School Looking Back, Moving Keeps On Keeping On Forward: An Author’s Recollections — by Shona Armstrong — by Judith Doner Berne n the wake of the abrupt closure of and teachers, has since put together IOakland public schools on Friday, distance-learning programs for t’s hard to have your “Eyes on Rock- March 13, Rockridge’s local middle students that the teachers continue Iridge” when you are confined school perseveres. Principal Jonathan to refine and improve in cooperation to your house. I never imagined Mayer, along with the district and his with Claremont families. Students are being dependent on Instacart and a team of determined and caring staff Claremont, see page 11 daughter for groceries, and the daily, almost hourly worry about far-flung family, embedded in coronavirus hotspots like New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Massachusetts and Detroit. In fact, my eyes are the only uncov- ered part of my face as I venture onto neighborhood streets in a daily attempt to get exercise, fresh air and a taste of spring that awakes my senses. My eyes delight in the arrays of Eyes on Rockridge, see page 14 THE page 2 MAY 2020 Help Keep Our First Responders Safe — by Angela Moore, Oakland Police Neighborhood Services Coordinator The Rockridge News was founded March 1986 by Don Kinkead, and is published monthly (except he COVID-19 pandemic is equipment they need to keep them- August). It is sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprofit T affecting us all, personally and selves healthy and safe as well. As public benefit organization founded to: preserve professionally. Much of what we once the pandemic spreads, masks, gloves, and enhance the unique character of the Rockridge took for granted has been impacted and other protective safety items neighborhood; promote the health, safety and quality of life of its residents; furnish a forum for in some way. Even though many of are in short supply. It’s time for the community involvement; and provide leadership us have the option of telecommuting, community to reciprocate their dedi- and representation of neighborhood interests. many City of Oakland employees cation by providing them with much are still required to provide essential needed safety items. We are looking Rockridge News Production services. for latex and latex-free gloves, hand Anna L. Marks ....................... Editor & Layout Artist Jo Ellis ..................................................Assistant Editor The two departments that we con- sanitizers and masks. & Community Calendar tinually depend upon to keep our city If you are a seamstress, and willing Judith Doner Berne ....................... Eyes on Rockridge safe and provide emergency services to make and donate cloth masks, Susan Montauk ...............................Business Manager are the City of Oakland’s police and please do so. If you don’t have your fire departments. These front-line own pattern, but would like to help, RCPC Board of Directors, 2019-20 workers risk their health and wellbe- there are instructions throughout the Leonora Sea .........................................................Chair n Vacant ......................................................... Vice-Chair ing on a daily basis to make sure we internet. Casey Farmer ........................................ Co-Secretary stay safe and get the help we need. If you would like to make a donation/s Andrew Masalin .................................... Co-Secretary These men and women are to be or have questions, please contact Ronnie Spitzer ..............................................Treasurer applauded for their commitment Stuart Flashman ..........................Assistant Treasurer Angela Moore, Neighborhood Services Michelle Boyd, David Garcia, Mary Catherine and dedication to their jobs, and it’s Coordinator, at (510) 773-0473, or Haug, Matt Levy, Eric Lombardo, Robin Zimpfer important to make sure they have the email [email protected]. McDonnell Contact the board: [email protected] For information: [email protected] Contacting The Rockridge News OakDOT Seeks Feedback on Slow Streets Are there community issues you’d like to see covered in The Rockridge News? Have questions he City of Oakland is rolling out need neighbors’ participation. The about newsletter distribution? Want to volunteer the Slow Streets program in City is seeking out and inviting ongo- to be a Rockridge News block captain? Want to T write a letter to the Editor? response to the need for additional ing community feedback, and will Articles submitted for publication should be space for Oaklanders to have space work to make responsive adjustments emailed to the editor. Submissions are limited to 600 words, and must include the author’s to practice social distancing while on to the program implementation, as name, phone number, email address, and city or essential outdoor trips, and to reduce possible. All are encouraged to take neighborhood of residence. foot traffic at parks and outdoor trails. the survey at https://tinyurl.com/oak- All submissions are subject to editing for clarity Solutions that work for Oaklanders landslowstreets. n and brevity. To submit content, or for reprints of an article, contact: [email protected]. Newsletter Subscriptions To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your check for $20, payable to RCPC with “Rockridge News” noted on the memo line. Mail payment to: The Rockridge News, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611 Display Advertising Deadline for June issue: May 21, 2020 Advertising rates are $28/column inch. Six-month pre-pay rate available. For display ads, call Jo Ellis at 510-653-3210 (after noon), or email joellis1@ hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right to refuse any display or classified ad that it deems inappropriate. Email smontauk at [email protected] for information on classified ads. Views expressed in articles accepted for publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge News, its editor, or the board of directors of the Rockridge Community Planning Council. THE MAY 2020 page 3 pital and headed straight to a shelter Sharing The Love with little to keep warm other then a Through Baby hospital-issued blanket motivates me to keep going. Clothing Donations I never thought a one-time baby — by Lisa Klein clothing collection drive would turn into a successful nonprofit that has he idea of Loved Twice began in donated over 2 million garments TSeptember 2005 when I was to infants living in crisis. Due to watching the heartbreaking news of Covid-19 , we now have a contact-free Hurricane Katrina. That event was drop-off site open in Lafayette. Mon- especially devastating to disadvan- etary donations can be made on our taged mothers who simply needed to website. Sign up for our volunteer keep their babies warm. Having just network. n had my first child, I was deeply moti- To date, more than two million vated to help. essential garments have been delivered After seeing a posting on Craigslist to underserved communities. Visit from a church in Louisiana requesting Rockridge resident Lisa Klein www.lovedtwice.org or email info@ donations of baby clothes to help donates boxes of clothing for LovedTwice.org for more information. displaced newborns, I sent an email newborn babies through her nonprofit, Loved Twice. to my network. I collected over 200 pounds of baby clothing in four days from friends and neighbors and these items accomplishes two essential mailed them to the church. Witness- goals: Support vulnerable families by ing the impact this had, I realized this helping meet their basic needs while simple idea could expand as a result of simultaneously recycling thousands of the overwhelming local need. baby items that would otherwise end We collect gently used baby clothes up in landfills. (sizes 0-12 months only), sort these The stories I hear from social essential garments into boy and workers that distribute our boxes of girl one-year-wardrobes-in-a-box, baby clothes are heartbreaking. For and distribute the boxes through example, I received a box request for licensed social workers in hospitals, a 15-year-old mother whose parents shelters, and clinics in underserved threw her out of her house for getting neighborhoods. Each baby receives pregnant; another for a baby whose approximately 75 items, including father was just murdered; still another newborn onesies, sleepers, hats, boo- for struggling parents who just lost ties, books, and a warm soft blanket. their jobs. The stories go on. Knowing Keeping babies warm and reusing I can help a newborn leaving the hos- THE page 4 MAY 2020 CITY OF OAKLAND FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCES NEW COVID-19 SMALL The Paycheck Protection Program Oakland Undocumented Relief / BUSINESS RESOUrcES PPP offers cash-flow assistance with OUR Fund a 100% federally guaranteed loan to Provides $500 grants to undocumented employers, self-employed and independent immigrants and those in mixed-status fami- he City wants to share a contractors who maintain their payroll lies who’ve lost jobs / income. Tvariety of resources to sup- during this emergency. Check with your One Fair Wage Emergency Fund port small businesses and work- local bank for info. Serves very-low-income service and tipped These loans may be forgiven if bor- ers during the pandemic, and workers.