OAKLAND
Facing extreme overcrowding, the city of Oakland’s Animal Services Department is offering no-cost adoptions and extensively extended hours.
From Wednesday through Sunday this week, the shelter will be open daily from noon until 7 p.m. with hours extending until midnight on Thursday. Oakland Animal Services is at 1101 29th Ave. in Oakland. Overflow parking is available in the neighborhood and at the shopping center across the street.
— Anne Dunn, Oakland Animal Services director
Oakland to participate in U.S. sustainable cities initiative
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, in partnership with Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, announced this week that Bloomberg Philanthropies has chosen the city of Oakland as one of 25 U.S. cities to participate in the groundbreaking Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative.
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This three-year program is designed to leverage federal funding to incubate and implement transformative local solutions aimed at building low-carbon, resilient and economically thriving communities. Oakland officials says the city’s selection highlights its commitment to confronting climate change and addressing racial wealth inequity.
This initiative will provide substantial support to Oakland, including the formation of a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded innovation team consisting of up to three dedicated staff members with expertise in data analysis, insight development, human-centered design, systems thinking and project management.
This team is assigned to enhance the city’s capacity to drive progress on climate mitigation and promote equitable outcomes. Oakland will also receive multiyear, customized policy and technical assistance in collaboration with community-based organizations to mobilize public, private, and philanthropic investments. For more details, visit bit.ly/3vh0Dhd online.
— city of Oakland
PIEDMONT
Meet eco-artist Smith, see work this month at arts center
Locally-based eco-artist Leslie Plato Smith has mounted a show of watercolors and oil paintings, each one representing a person uniquely aware of the imminent danger to a particular group of animal denizens of our world and thus to the health and welfare of that world as a whole. She strives to communicate the urgency of a constructive response from all of us to the havoc we are wreaking on our planet.
Come to meet this much-awarded artist at the Piedmont Center for the Arts (PCA) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, March 24 and 31 or on Saturday, March 30, for an interesting and exciting conversation about art, life and living. Light refreshments will be served.
— PCA
Adult school writers to read their works aloud March 20
The literary talents of Piedmont Adult School students will be on display at a free special event, “A Spring Reading of Piedmont Adult School Writers,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 20 at 801 Magnolia Ave. in Piedmont. This informal evening will provide an opportunity for writers to read their work and listen to readings from their fellow students.
Most of the readings will be from students in the Piedmont Adult School class “Family Stories & Memoir Writing,” taught by former Piedmont resident Denise Bostrom. The public is invited to attend, hear these remarkable stories and get inspired to write about their own family history.
For more information, call 510-594-2717 or email pas@piedmont.k12.ca.us.
— Piedmont Unified School District
City taking survey on disaster readiness through Sunday
Piedmont residents can let the city of know how it can help them be better prepared for emergencies by completing a brief online survey through Sunday.
Responses will help city officials better understand baseline levels of preparedness among our community, where gaps exist and how they can best support more residents in taking important steps to prepare for disasters. The survey asks Piedmont residents:
• what type of disasters they’re concerned about;
• what steps they’ve taken to prepare;
• what barriers keep them from becoming better prepared;
• and what type of preparedness-related resources or services from the city would be most helpful.
Responses will inform city officials’ future education, outreach and programming as they strive to build a more prepared and resilient Piedmont. The survey is available at piedmont.ca.gov/DisasterSurvey.
For more information about household emergency readiness, visit piedmont.ca.gov/disaster. For questions about the preparedness survey, email Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan at dbrannigan@piedmont.ca.gov.
Nominate a city Heritage Tree for this year by March 22
Do you have a favorite tree in Piedmont’s parks and public spaces? Nominate it to become a city of Piedmont Heritage Tree! Piedmont’s Heritage Tree program, which began in 2018, is meant to raise awareness and appreciation for the city’s diverse urban forest. Each year, the city’s Park Commission selects up to five trees from a pool of community nominations to receive the Heritage Tree designation.
Previously selected trees include the evergreen dogwoods that bloom each spring in front of Piedmont City Hall, the grove of dawn redwoods surrounding the lawn area in Dracena Quarry Park, and the row of autumn blaze maples lining the 400 block of Wildwood Avenue.
To nominate a tree or group of trees, complete the online nomination form (form.jotform.com/240190478826058) by March 22. You’ll be asked for a brief description of the tree and what makes it noteworthy, its address or general location and photos of the tree if any are available. Trees on private property will not be considered.
This year’s class of Heritage Trees will be announced at the April 3 Park Commission meeting and highlighted at the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration at Community Hall from 3 to 5 p.m. April 26. For more details online, visit bit.ly/48IPuUh or email questions to Parks & Project Manager Nancy Kent at nkent@piedmont.ca.gov.
— city of Piedmont
OAKLAND
New automated system starts for nonemergency police calls
The city of Oakland and Oakland Police Department (OPD) launched a new auto attendant system in February for the OPD’s nonemergency line, aiming to improve communication and ensure efficient access to essential services.
The move comes in response to the escalating demand for streamlined communication, particularly after managing more than 430,000 calls to the department’s nonemergency number in 2023, nearly 34% of all calls handled by the OPD’s communications division.
When dialing the department’s nonemergency line at 510-777-3333, callers will be prompted by the auto attendant system to select their preferred language before being presented with four options to address specific needs:
• Option One: Direct connection to Oak311 for issues concerning abandoned vehicles (excluding vehicles blocking driveways) and encampments;
• Option Two: Connection to the Records Division, providing information on police reports, towed vehicles or recovered stolen vehicles;
• Option Three: Direct connection to the Traffic Division for individuals needing a collision report;
• or Option Four: Connection to Animal Control for inquiries related to animal services.
Callers are encouraged to stay on the line for further assistance with all other matters. If none of the provided options are needed, the duration of the recording before transferring callers to the nonemergency queue is about two-and-a-half minutes.
— city of Oakland
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