HAPPY

JOHNNY APPLESEED DAY AlamedaThe Official Newspaper of the City of Alameda SunVol. 20 No. 26 • March 11, 2021 AHS Alum Starring in Major Studio Release Ekene Ikeme Japanese restaurant. , who A former Alameda High School had his own food show on the Vice basketball standout is starring as television network, Huang’s World, the lead character in the recent- hired Takahashi as his personal ly released major studio motion assistant. HOMETOWN NEWS picture. Taylor Huang was set Fire Wire Page 2 Takahashi plays to film his directo- Police Blotter Page 5 the title charac- rial debut when he decided to recast All the doings of Island ter in the Focus safety & law personnel Features film the lead character Boogie, which a few weeks before was released filming was to on March 5. begin, according Takahashi attend- to The Hollywood ed Alameda High Reporter. About School (AHS) three weeks from 2006 to 2010. before produc- Takahashi, 28, tion was to begin, stars as Alfred Huang decided to THE CITY PAGE “Boogie” Chin, a cast Takahashi as Chochenyo Park Page 3 Chinese-American Boogie. Takahashi high school bas- was initially hired Park’s new name made official by City Council. City of Alameda ketball phenom to be a basketball This evening, the city’s Park and Recreation Commission will consider plans living in Queens, N.Y. (Takahashi is trainer for the original actor. Japanese American). Chin dreams Production for the film began in for developing the western end of the Jean Sweeney Park and Open Space the fall of 2019. The film also stars (above and below for reference. This portion of the park would be given of one day playing in the NBA. He faces pressure from his immigrant Taylour Page as Eleanor, Chin’s love over to agriculture, if all goes according to plan. parents to earn a scholarship to interest, and , who died an elite college, while also facing in February of last year, as Monk, Urban Agriculture on Agenda pressure from on-court rivals and Chin’s basketball rival. the stigma of playing a sport with Takahashi was a prominent bas- SPORTS Dennis Evanosky few successful Asian-American. The ketball player for the Hornets before graduating in 2010. Takahashi, at Reopening starts Page 9 This evening, March 11, the film also explores Asian culture and just 5’ 9”, is still the Hornets’ all- Indoor sports get the Park and Recreation Commission customs. time leading scorer. He led AHS to go-ahead after settlement. plans to discuss the urban agri- This is Takahashi’s first act- a 19-11 overall record and a spot in culture phase of the develop- ing role. In an interview with The the North Coast Section Div. II men’s ment of Jean Sweeney Park. Hollywood Reporter, the Alameda tournament as a senior. They lost This stage includes a com- native said he never thought his to tournament champion Redwood munity garden with an outdoor career path would lead him toward High of Larkspur, 55-45, in the semi- classroom, as well as compost acting. Takahashi moved to Orange final round. bins, fruit trees and a play- A forager’s lane will provide fruit Library, The community gar- County from Alameda about five ground. This project on the west for the public to pick,. A parking lot, den would serve Alameda years ago. While playing a pickup Alameda residents will not be end of the park will feature dem- a restroom and small picnic areas residents and address food basketball game he met “Boogie” able to watch the film at Alameda onstration gardens that model will also complement this project. insecurity with help from director Eddie Huang. Theatre & Cineplex because the busi- BACKYARD GROWING drought-tolerant landscapes, an This area of the park will also have the Alameda Food Bank, Huang, a world-renowned chef, ness is still closed due to COVID-19 Garden column Page 10 outdoor classroom and an urban a tool-and-seed lending library with local faith organizations and and Takahashi started a friendship protocols. However, select theaters Learn how to grow food orchard. assistance from the Alameda Free Alameda Backyard Growers. over their love of basketball and in San Jose, San Francisco, Daly City from other food. food. Takahashi had been working and Milpitas are open and showcas- part time as a yakitori chef at a ing the film, according to Fandango. CONTENTS HOMETOWN NEWS. . . 2 Council Ponders Police Reform County Says COVID THE CITY PAGE . . . . . 3 Ekene Ikeme mental health and deescalation appointed by the four-person com- OPINION...... 4 The City Council will hear the training on an annual or semi-annu- mittee, were assigned to exam- Numbers Improving POLICE BLOTTER. . . .. 5 final report from the community- al basis. The committee also rec- ine one of the five sections. They CLASSIFIED ...... 6 ommends the city continue its plan worked closely with the steering led Committee on Police Reform OBITUARIES...... 8 and Racial Equity at its Tuesday, to hire the number of APD officers committee to create the recommen- AUSD begins in-person instruction March 16, meeting. The report will authorized in the city budget (88). dations for each section. FUN IN THE SUN . . . . . 9 Dennis Evanosky recommend changes to policing Not all recommendations were The steering committee also The city still REAL ESTATE FOCUS . 10 and methods to address systemic directed squarely at APD. The com- made an “overarching recommen- Alameda County remains requires mask racism in Alameda. mittee recommended city staff create dation” without the input of the in the most restrictive Purple The four-member committee, a “Did You Know” social media cam- subcommittee. The committee rec- Tier of California’s Blueprint wearing and keep- Alameda Sun consisting of Alameda residents , paign to direct residents away from ommended the city create and staff for a Safer Economy. a new city department focused on ing to the 6-foot is a publication of were asked to focus on five sections emergency police reporting. If case numbers and test- Stellar Media Group, Inc. for change: unbundling services cur- In addition, under the recom- police accountability and racial positivity rate — the number social distancing 3215J Encinal Ave. rently delivered by the police depart- mendations on systemic and com- equity. In its report, the committee of COVID-19 tests that come protocol. Alameda, CA 94501 ment; review of laws that criminalize munity racism section, the commit- said the leader of this new depart- out positive divided by the ment would report directly to City Locally Owned, survival; review of police department tee proposes the City offer anti-rac- number of tests done — con- of its firefighters tested posi- Community Oriented policies and practices; systemic and ism training for businesses, which Manager Eric Levitt and work col- tinue to remain steady or tive for COVID-19 (“Alameda community racism/anti-racism; and would be led by Black people and laboratively with interim APD Chief improve, the county report- Firefighter Tests Positive for News: (510) 263-1470 police department accountability other people of color. Randy Fenn. ed that it could move into COVID-19,” March 11, 2020). Ads: (510) 263-1471 and oversight. The four-member steering com- APD;s initial priorities would be the Red Tier as early as next Three days shy of a year later Fax: (510) 263-1473 Each section has about five to mittee consists of Alameda resi- to determine the feasibility of sever- Sunday, March 14. by March 7, 2021, a total of seven recommendations in the dents Christine Chilcott, Al Mance, al of the key recommendations such This would allow activities 2,227 COVID-19 cases and 87 report. Recommendations ranged Cheryl Taylor, and Jolene Wright. as developing a protocol that will — including indoor dining, deaths have afflicted the City Visit us Online at from adding an outside review They were helped with formulat- require city leaders to be notified in movies, gyms and fitness cen- of Alameda. www. .com board to oversee police proce- ing these recommendations by high profile police interactions. The Like or Friend us ters, retail stores and muse- Alameda County has suf- on Facebook dures to requiring Alameda Police 60 subcommittee members. Each Council does not have to approve ums — to open in a limited fered with 81,255 cases and each recommendation. Follow us on Department (APD) officers conduct subcommittee member, who were The Council capacity. 1,289 deaths. Statewide, at Alameda_Sun created the steering committee after The county’s declining California is approaching the much-publicized police interac- cases have started to plateau. 3.5 million cases and 54,124 Apply for Scholarships tion with Mali Watkins last May Health officials continue to deaths. SPRING The Council authorized the encourage residents to con- The United States has seen FORWARD with Kiwanis Now committee on June 29, 2020. Levitt tinue to stay at least 6 feet almost 29 million cases and appointed the four members to apart from each other and to 524,997 deaths. Worldwide, Sun Staff Reports residents, provided the applicant the committee on Aug. 11, 2020. avoid gatherings, even after there have been more than The Kiwanis Club of Alameda’s graduates from an Alameda school The subcommittee members were they have been vaccinated. 116 million cases and more Kiwanis Foundation is currently and meets the eligibility criteria. appointed the next month. The City While trends are looking than 2.5 million deaths. accepting applications for its 2021 Community college-bound seniors released the committee’s draft rec- favorable, COVID-19 recovery The Alameda Unified are also urged to apply. scholarships. ommendations on Jan. 20. The com- is far from over. The virus is School District has announced The foundation encourages Applications and documents mittee then took part in two public still widespread, with several that in-person instruction will Daylight Saving Time Starts forums and community members graduating seniors from Alameda’s must be completed and submit- cases of the United Kingdom begin next Monday, March 15.. Turn Your Clocks also were asked to participate in high schools to apply. Application ted, postmarked no later than and South African variants The city still requires that an online survey. The committee Forward One Hour forms are available this month at Friday, April 30. Incomplete appli- detected in Alameda County. anyone out of doors wear a members used the public’s input to 2am Sunday Morning school sites and at www.alameda- cations will not be considered. Mail On March 10, 2020, mask and keep to the 6-foot kiwanis.org. applications to: Alameda Kiwanis create the final recommendations. & Check Your Smoke Alamedans learned that one social distancing protocol. Detector Batteries! The awards are open to Foundation, PO Box 1217, Alameda To read the final report, visit Alameda residents as well as non- CA 94501. https://tiny.cc/i8butz. Roller Skates Have Made a Comeback Photo and story by Maurice Ramirez oller skating clubs like Oakland- based East Baybes Skate R(Instagram: @eastbaybesskate) meet up to skate to music in the newly finished and unused Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal parking lot at Alameda

Point. The pandemic has created a PERMIT #789 PERMIT

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PRSRT STD PRSRT ity peaked in the roller disco era of the Sun Alameda 1960s and ‘70s.