Early Chinatown in West Oakland

Reading the travel page of the USA Today newspaper it list Oakland Chinatown as one of the 10 great places to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon. Chinese New Year's Eve starts January 22, 2012 and end with the Lantern Festival, February 2,2012.

San Francisco may boast that it’s has the nation's oldest Chinatown, the article states Oakland feels less touristy, a read place. Some would call it personality!

Did you know the early Chinatown in the mid-late 1800’s was located in West Oakland? Do you know where? Some of you may recognize the location when looking at the picture below.
 

At the turn of the century, Oakland was California’s second largest city, with a population of 67,000. When the 1906 earthquake struck, Oakland suffered considerable damage, but it avoided the devastating fires that crippled San Francisco. Oakland’s residents responded quickly to the disaster and welcomed almost 200,000 San Franciscans who sought refuge.

Most Chinese left San Francisco for Oakland and only about 400 remained in the city.

Oakland’s Chinatown boomed during the influx. Overnight Oakland, with its port and railroad lines, banks, and communication lines, became the base for the relief effort.



Artist who played in the Prescott: Etta James & Johnny Otis

Okay, raise your hand if you know that Etta James played here in the Prescott neighborhood clubs?

Did you know Johnny Otis played here in the Prescott neighborhood clubs?

And do you know the relationship between the two? Some information and answers are below.

First let me state this post does not intend to tell the life story of either artist; there are extensive stories elsewhere.

The intention of this post is to remind folks that the Prescott neighborhood has long been an incubator for crafts persons and artist of all genres. I have been privileged to experience the pre-post office 7^th street nightclubs as well as the surrounding clubs and continual diversity of the artist in the neighborhood. With the help of social media, the incubator has grown to include most of West Oakland.

Etta James:

Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles in 1938.

Like many early soul singers, she began performing in church, before switching to R&B music, recording classic songs like “Something’s Gotta Hold On Me” and one of popular music’s most memorable ballads, “At Last.”

Etta James’ influenced a variety of musicians, including Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Janis Joplin and even Christina Aguilera. Etta’s music has been sampled by Hip-Hop artists including Common, Kanye West, and LMFAO.

In the movie Cadillac Records, Beyoncé Knowles played Etta James and sings At Last at http://youtu.be/9BNOl5njHRY and All I Can Do Is Cry at http://youtu.be/dh-0jH4Rb7Y.

When Esther’s Orbit Room opened in 1963, Etta James, Al Green and T-Bone Walker was among the performances.

Johnny Otis

Born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes in Vallejo in 1921.

He began his musical career in 1939 as a drummer with Count Otis Matthew's West Oakland House Rockers playing in the Prescott neighborhood nightclubs. Enough said…

So what was Etta and Johnny relationship? Johnny discovered Jamesetta Hawkins singing at in a talent show at a Los Angeles nightclub with the group Creolettes and gave the singer her stage name reversing Jamesetta into Etta James.



R.I.P.

R&B icon Etta James died today, January 20^th 2012 in a Riverside, California hospital. She was 73.

Johnny Otis, the musician, bandleader, songwriter, impresario, disc jockey and talent scout who died on Tuesday, January 17^th 2012 at his home in Altadena, Calif. He was 90.

Oakland’s dedication to Martin Luther King Jr.

AAMLO Annual MLK Film Festival, Monday, January 16^th, 2012, 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

The African American Museum & Library is honored to continue its traditional Martin Luther King, Jr. film festival by presenting a selection of critically acclaimed documentaries that put into historical perspective the nation defining-movement of the 1950s and 1960s for African American civil rights. (Source)

Dedications to Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline In 1987, East Oakland community activist Ira Jinkins planted a magnolia tree in San Leandro Shoreline Park in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1993 Jinkins’ lone tree was expanded to an entire grove of trees and a native plant garden by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park was renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline Park at that time. (Source)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center was born of their dreams and of a joint agreement between the City of Oakland, the East Bay Regional Park District, the Port of Oakland, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the Martin Luther King, Jr. March & Rally Committee and then State Assembly Member Barbara Lee. (Source)

Oakland's Martin Luther King Jr Elementary School serves grades K-5 in the Oakland Unified School District.

Martin Luther King Jr. Branch Library closed for renovation until May 1^st, 2012, contains a developing special collection on Martin Luther King Jr. features books, videos, audiotapes, and DVDs. The branch also houses a Black History Collection, which contains adult fiction, non-fiction and biographies written by or about people of African descent. (Source)

Martin Luther King Jr Way (née Grove Street) Grove Street, which stretched for several miles north from Downtown Oakland into North Berkeley, was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Way in 1984. The street had once represented the dividing line between neighborhoods where minorities could and could not live or buy property. (Source)

There are nearly a million documents associated with the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Check it out here http://www.thekingcenter.org/archive



Slow progress on Seventh Street...

West Oakland’s Seventh Street has witnessed its share of changes over the years.

As the western terminus of the First Transcontinental Railroad, Seventh Street served as a business and cultural center for decades through the early- and mid-20th century. But changes in transportation including the addition of freeways, the diminishing role of the railways and eventually the addition of the BART system cut West Oakland off from downtown and the waterfront, transforming this once vibrant and creative community into just another stop along the route to San Francisco.

The complete story at Oakland Local, click here

The Oakland Point Story

The Oakland Point District, a neighborhood of over 800 homes extending roughly from 8th to 16th Streets and from Pine Street to Mandela Parkway, is Oakland’s oldest and most intact Victorian residential neighborhood. Important themes in Oakland Point’s history include its settlement as an 1860s suburb, its intimate association with the railroad which promoted its growth in the 1870s, and its ethnic heritage.

The Central Pacific (later Southern Pacific) Railroad arrived in Oakland in 1869, establishing the western terminus of the transcontinental railroad at the Point. The railroad yards and shops were established in the early 1870s, and by 1878 the neighborhood was largely built up.

The Point was almost a “company town,’’ in that a high percentage of its residents worked for the railroad or in related industries, at all economic levels from laborers to executives. Seventh Street along the main rail line became a renowned business and entertainment district.

Oakland Point is remembered as a melting pot of many ethnic groups over the years - first Yankee and Irish and Northern European, then Italian and Slavic, Asian, and African-American. African-Americans have a long and prominent history in the neighborhood, beginning with the Pullman Porters who settled at the terminus in the earliest days of the railroad. They became a majority in the area during and after World War II, and established many thriving businesses and churches in Oakland Point.

Source: case number: LM04-001; pg 8, FORM LPAB-4, Oakland Landmark and S-7 Preservation Combining Zone Application Form

Weclome Aboard II--Train Station Events

The Central Station Development featuring Pacific Cannery Lofts, Zephyr Gate, Ironhorse Apartments and the historic 16^th Street Train Station continues to thrive with excitement!

The weekend the historic 16th Street Train Station, located at 16^th and Wood Street will open its doors for touring while hosting music by The Blues Society; food from sustainable Oakland food trucks; and Kids activities organized by Rock, Paper and Scissors on Sunday, on November 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. (Weather permitting). Come share your memories, any old pictures…

For more information and to follow the historic 16th Street Train Station and its events on Facebook facebook.com/16thStreetStation and Twitter @16thStStation and check out video www.indiegogo.com/16thStreetStation 

Also: Amtrak is celebrating 40 Years as America’s Railroad

EXCERPT--The present Amtrak station, a modern facility completed in 1994, sits at the eastern corner of the square. It was built after a 1989 earthquake damaged the old 16th Street Station (now called Central Station) designed by well-known Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt.

Opened in 1912, it originally had served as the principal facility of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

In 1868, the Central Pacific Railroad (CP) constructed the Oakland Long Wharf at Oakland Point, the site of today's port. The Long Wharf served as both the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad and of the local CP commuter trains. At West Oakland, the railroad established one of its largest rail yards and servicing facilities, and it later operated under the successor Southern Pacific Railroad.

Transformed into an economic powerhouse during the early 20th century, Oakland boasted industries including metals, canneries, bakeries, automobiles, and shipbuilding. [More]

This Weekend: Hot Links & Cold Drinks!

Enjoy Oakland this Weekend--Art & Soul Festival

11th Annual Art & Soul Festival

Noon to 6pm on August 20 & 21, 2011

Art & Soul is conveniently located in downtown Oakland adjacent to the 12th Street/City Center BART station.

About Art & Soul

A symbol of downtown Oakland’s renaissance, Art & Soul is a great entertainment value that sizzles with two music-packed days featuring Jazz, Rock, Gospel, Latin, R&B, Acoustic and Blues performed by national recording artists and top local talent.

Youngsters will love the kid-friendly carnival rides, interactive art projects, face painting and roaming costumed characters.

Stroll through the Artisan Marketplace, sample exotic foods and tasty treats from a multicultural menu and view great art.

Art & Soul, the Bay Area’s coolest festival, has direct transit access and free parking for thousands of cars.

Art & Soul Lineup

Official Program

Community Celebration at the Train Station

High hopes for revitalized West Oakland train station

It's the 4th of July, Have a GREAT Weekend!

Oakland: Monday, July 4^th Festival of Family Fun, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No fireworks display over Jack London Square again for 2011.

Alameda:  Mayor’s July 4th Parade; 9:45 a.m. – Alameda Race; 10:00 a.m. – Parade; 12:00 p.m. – 4:00p.m. – Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee; Rittler Park, Otis Drive and Grand Street.

Berkeley: Fireworks Monday, July 4^th at 9:30 p.m. off the end of the Berkeley Pier. Celebration at Berkeley Marina from noon to 10 p.m. with live entertainment, food, arts & crafts, kids’ playground and pony rides. More Info 

Piedmont:  Fourth of July Parade: Homegrown Spirit, 11:00 a.m. – Parade begins at Highland Avenue and Park Way

Richmond: Sunday, July 3^rd, The Oakland East Bay Symphony performs in concert at 5 p.m. at the Craneway Pavilion followed by fireworks at dusk. More info 

San Francisco: Monday, July 4^th at the Waterfront Festival / Pier 39. Live music from noon until the fireworks at 9:30 pm. More Info 

The Oakland Police Department has set up an anonymous, multilingual hotline for people to report illegal fireworks: (510) 777-8814.

To help get illegal fireworks off the streets, the Oakland Fire Department has set up fireworks collection barrels at the Station 3: 1445 14th Street.

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The California Highway Patrol is instituting a maximum enforcement period this Fourth of July weekend to keep the state’s motorists safe.

The maximum enforcement period will start at 6 p.m. Friday and continue through noon Monday.

“With many people taking to the roadway this holiday weekend, motorists can rest assured our officers will be on the lookout for those in need,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow in a press release.

The CHP will also be focusing on removing impaired drivers from the road, discouraging speeders and encouraging motorists to buckle up. These are the three primary causes of death on the road. (Story Via)

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Starting today (July 1^st) California courts will no longer erase traffic violations from a driver's record, even after that driver has attended traffic school.

Under a new law taking effect Thursday driver's who receive a traffic citation can still attend traffic school to prevent insurance companies from being notified of the violation.

However, AB 2499 changes the way that citation is recorded on a driver's record. The record will now show a conviction not a dismissed citation.

The DMV said the change was intended to erase a loophole in the prior law.

Before the change, the courts had no way to know why a ticket was dismissed.

DMV Spokesman Jaime Garza said that system was allowing chronic offenders to get around the law, attend more than one traffic school in an 18 month period and have multiple tickets marked dismissed without the courts knowing. (Story Via)

Raccoons in the Prescott

Community members walking their dog early this morning in the Raimondi Park area was surprised by 3 raccoons, charging them and their dog. They stated the raccoons seem focused on their dog, which is an adult lab mix.

As the raccoons charged, the walkers screamed which caused two raccoons to stop and retreat. One raccoon seemed more aggressive than the others and retreated very slowly after coming within 5 feet. The raccoons were reported as watching the walkers as they made their way east on 18th street from Wood Street.

During the last couple of months there have been reports from community members living in all parts of the Prescott neighborhood of raccoons in their backyards, driveways and on the streets in the night or early a.m. with some folks reporting some aggressive behaviors from the raccoons.

Although raccoons look cute and cuddly, the can and do great harm with those retractable claws. Let's keep our children and pets safe and don’t engage the raccoons.

Raccoons carry diseases that can be spread to other animals including dogs such as raccoon rabies, roundworm and distemper just to name a few.

Remember don’t leave those water and food bowls out at night. Make sure the tops on garbage cans are closed and secure.

Railroad Revival Tour



Fans react in screams as the bands perform for the Railroad Revival Tour on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Middle Shoreline Harbor Park in the Prescott-Oakland Point Neighborhood.

Neo-psychedelic pop-rockers Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Nashville string-band opened for the English folk-rock band Mumford & Sons.

Videos on YouTube capture segments of the show, here.

The Port of Oakland's Middle Harbor Park located in the Prescott-Oakland Point was the first stop of six cities traveling by train, from the Bay to New Orleans.

The uniqueness of Middle Harbor Park proved to be one of the few spots in the Bay Area that met the tour's criteria of being big enough to hold a major festival and near usable train tracks with the ability to park the 13-car train right at the venue being part of show.

For this show, the Railroad Revival Tour was able to sell 8,000 tickets in 4 hours.

Pictures and slideshow can be found here http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17907230

If you attended, we are interested in your experience and ask you to share it with us.

If you are interested in going to the Middle Harbor Park, it is located at the intersection of 7th St. and Middle Harbor Rd. More information including map and driving directions can be found at http://www.portofoakland.com/communit/serv_midd.asp 

Meeting and Events: WOPAC, NCPC, Earthday, Vincent Academy and Air Space Workshop

Who: West Oakland Project Area Committee (WOPAC)

What: City of Oakland staff members provides updates on the Governor’s Budget Proposal and Redevelopment; West Oakland Area Plan and Housing; The WOPAC makes recommendations of funding NPI proposals

When: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Where: West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA

For additional information, please contact: Hui-Chang Li, City Of Oakland, CEDA, Redevelopment Division at 510.238.6239 or

Who: Prescott Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council Meeting, Beats2Y & 5Y

What: PSOs provide neighborhood beat priorities updates; Meet and talk with your various neighborhood Community Policing and Problem Solving Officers.   Agencies Invited include: BART Police Department; Oakland Unified School District (OUSD); Oakland Police Department (OPD); Oakland Housing Authority (OHAPD)

Where: OHA Administration Building, 935 Union St.

When: Thursday, April 14, 2011, 6:00 p.m.

Note: Community members who need to speak with PSOs and other Officers from the various agencies serving the Prescott neighborhood regarding a specific neighborhood issue will have an opportunity to do so, vis-à-vis.

For additional information, please contact: NCPC Chair: Marcus Johnson at 510.290.8300 or



Raimondi Park 18th & Wood St.

From more information contact vrocha[AT]oaklandnet.com

Activities include tree planting, cut & clean and graffiti removal

  

More Information: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/s/SO/OAK025879.

New Charter Elementary Schools serving Prescott Oakland Point

Vincent Academy intends to be a safe, joyful, academically rigorous, and community-minded elementary school where children can develop their innate talents and skills, learn about the complex world around them and receive the support necessary to truly thrive and become community leaders in a global context. Jean Driscoll, Vincent Academy Board Member

Who: Vincent Academy will be located within area consisting if park, tennis courts, Skate Park, swimming pool and public library and will offer:

• TUITION-FREE charter elementary school NOW enrolling Kindergarten and First Grade Students opening August 22, 2011.

A safe, nurturing, and joyful environment for learning

• A rigorous education with high academic standards tied to real worldexperience and learning

• Year -round program

• After-school program, to 6 pm daily

What: An informational meeting

When: Tuesday, April 19, 2011; 5:30 p.m.

Where: West Oakland Public Library, 1801 Adeline Street.

For more information, please contact Sandra Phillips 510.333.8399

Visit their website at www.vincentacademy.org

Creative Utilization of "Air Space" in West Oakland

Who: California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) and City of Oakland

What: Workshop on potential uses for "air space" IN WEST OAKLAND, which will include discussion on CalTrans and City of Oakland zoning and use restrictions, photographs of the empty sites, potential lease rates, and a presentation on the leasing process.

When: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where:  West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline Street

For more information, please contact Xiaojing Wang at 510.238.7031 or xwang[AT]oaklandnet.com

The Oakland Running Festival is this weekend

On the Saturday, March 26th the Oakland Running Festival will feature the Oakland Tribune 5K at 6:30 AM

On Sunday, March 27th the Oakland Running Festival will feature the Marathon and 4-Person Relay at 7:30 AM; Half Marathon at 9:00 AM; and Kids Fun Run at 8:30 AM

All runners will enter the Prescott neighborhood from 7th Street, turning right at Mandela Parkway and continue until turning right at 32nd street.

Drivers should use caution.

Be advised there will be street and freeway ramp closures for the full and half marathon routes on Sunday, March 27th beginning early 7:00 AM through 2:00 PM.

Streets will reopen after participants move through the neighborhoods.

For the festival weekend schedule, click here

For the Runner's Handbook, click here

Remember to plan ahead and check the complete detour schedule and map.

Our Neighborhood Detours:

If you are located on the West side (Prescott Neighborhood) of Mandela Parkway, your detour for the Marathon (miles 19, 20, 21) and Half Marathon (miles 6 + 7) is:

Oakland Run Festival is suggesting that starting at 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM, you take Wood Street north, then a right on 34th Street, stay on 34th and cross San Pablo, left on Martin Luther King, Jr Way, take sharp right at 47th Street onto Highway 24 westbound toward I-580 or I-980.

After 1:30 PM: Runners will have cleared area; streets will be reopened to normal traffic.

Note: I have my own suggestion for getting around. If anyone is attempting to access any of the freeways, whether it is I-80, I-580, I-880, I-980, Highway13 or Highway 24 (an often overlooked amenity in the Prescott) living in the epicenter of the bay, they still can.

If you can make your way to West Grand and Campbell, turn west on West Grand and at the first light (frontage road) you make a right, it will take you to I-580 Berkeley, Richmond; a left will take you to the I-880 (7th street ) freeway on-ramp.

At Frontage Road and West Grand, you continue west (towards SF) after the next light, you will have the option of either I-80 San Francisco (left lane) or I-580 Downtown Oakland, Haywood (right lane). From I-580 you can access I-980 (Downtown), Highway 24 (Concord/Walnut Creek) or Highway 13 (Monclair).

If you discover or know of another way, drop me a note at marcus_a_johnson [AT] yahoo.com

If you are located on the Eastside of Mandela Parkway, your detour for the Marathon (miles 19, 20, 21) and Half Marathon (miles 6 + 7), are:

Oakland Run Festival is advising from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM the northbound Mandela Parkway (toward Emeryville) will be closed to traffic. They are suggesting to get to West Grand you should take a right on Brush to I-980.

You can either continue straight onto I-980 westbound toward I 880 southbound (on-ramp entrance at 16th Street) or take a left on 17th Street, then a left on Castro to I-980 eastbound toward Highway 24 and I-580.

After 1:30 PM: Runners will have cleared the area and streets will be reopened to normal traffic.

Tsunami Wave hits North of Bay Bridge Area Video

Remember to set your clock forward one hour

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, March 13th.

SAVE-THE DATE: Thursday, March 3rd

SAVE-THE DATE: Thursday, March 3rd Celebrating 10 Years of Help, Hope & Healing with the Khadafy Foundation for Non-Violence.

The Khadafy Foundation will celebrate its 10th anniversary Thursday with a gala fundraising dinner at Scott's Seafood Grill & Bar in Jack London Square, featuring Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts as the keynote speaker. He will be joined by special guests California's Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan.

WHAT: 10th anniversary gala fundraiser dinner

WHEN: Thursday, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Scott's Seafood Grill & Bar, 2 Broadway, Oakland, in Jack London Square

TICKETS: $50; purchase in advance at http://www.khadafyfoundation.org/ or at the door

KHADAFY FOUNDATION for Non-Violence

Based in Oakland, California, the Khadafy Foundation provides support services to anyone who has lost a child or other loved one to violence. At this time of greatest crisis, we reach out with immediate support.

If your friend or family member was recently killed, please call Khadafy Foundation at (510) 839-1706 so they can assist you through this difficult time.

Click links to learn more about Khadafy Foundation programs and history, or to make a donation.

Community Meeting

 

Monday, February 28, 2011; 7:00 - 8:00 pm

1199 Pine Street (Pacific Cannery Lofts Sales Office)

Please join us to hear about the status of the Wood Project and surrounding neighborhood:

How traffic patterns and local circulation are changing and options to improve them.

The current zoning proposal to allow the Icehouse to be used for a broader set of uses like research and development, broadcasting and media activities or light manufacturing uses

Train Station Update

How do I get there?

From West Grand:

Turn left onto Frontage Road (Follow Central Station Signs);

Follow signs to turn left into Central Station;

Make immediate right towards Pacific Cannery Lofts; Look for “Sales Office Sign”

From 7th Street:

Turn right onto Frontage Road (Follow Central Station Signs)

Follow signs to turn right into Central Station

Make immediate right towards Pacific Cannery Lofts; Look for “Sales Office Sign”