Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

[Ben Campbell]

That response about the rats demonstrates the disconnect. I work at the hospital and walk the three sides of the park in the evening to get home. There are constant scurrying of rats on all three sides. Many from the northeast corner with the abused dog that is chained to the tree 24/7, the abandoned tent now full of garbage as the inhabitants simply popped a new tent up right next to it.

I got a message a month after sending my concerns to “homelessness” email that was a no response and told me to forward my 311 reports. That is so ridiculous. We have up on 311 long ago! If I take a picture to send in, I am immediately threatened with violence by the unhoused in the park. 

It is so absolutely amazing to me that we have a paid constituent relations person who will respond to none of us. We are lucky to get a one sentence response from our council person who is outwardly disparaged us in safety meetings and is completely MIA. Why should this NOT be news? 

And per report of others, this isn’t a problem in other parks. Why are we abandoned? Can we get a meeting with anyone on this? We need to show them the state of the park and surrounding areas (I’m tired our our neighborhood being a dumping ground).

Ben

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:15 AM Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com> wrote:

According to the City's own Encampment Management Policy, Mosswood Park is definitely a "high sensitivity area" which supposedly the City would prioritize ensuring the area is free of encampments and that encampments are actively managed. I literally live right next to the encampment on the corner of 36th and Webster and in the past five years, I've only seen the encampment grow without any active management whatsoever. What is the point of adopting an Encampment Management Policy if the City is not going to adhere to it? 

-Peggy Lee

36th Street

On Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you neighbors for keeping this conversation going. It’s beyond frustrating to note that this thread has been going for over 2 years and things have only gotten worse. Families with kids are leaving the neighborhood. We have to explain to our kids why we drive to other parks instead of going to the one next to our house.  It makes me sick to think of the huge property tax payment we’re supposed to fork over in the next few weeks. If an upcoming special election and a $30 million project doesn’t get anything done, what will?

Sarah

36th street 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 18, 2025, at 7:15 PM, Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com> wrote:



YES. I've had it. Who wants to chip in for a giant WELCOME TO FIFETOWN banner for the fences on Webster Street?

There's a guy in a black PT Cruiser who's clearly selling drugs, parked on Webster daily. There's trash all over the place and the junk pile grows and grows. Last week while walking the dog, my daughter and I watched a guy squat and SHIT near the entrance to the park, clearly out of his gourd on something. 

I hate when the right wingers go on about Oakland, I hate when people tear this place down, but I'm exhausted by the dysfunction. I'm living in the middle of this shithole and I'm OVER IT.

I don't fault the city workers. I want to know what the Councilperson and the interim mayor are doing. Because the pandemic is over, and I am still living in a goddamn war zone. WHAT'S YOUR PLAN, CARROLL? 


Thank you, 

Denise Simard 

    

On Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com> wrote:

I wrote to both our absent council member Carol Fife today cc'ing the Encampment Management Team in Oakland regarding this today. It is so disgusting and I am appalled as an owner here on 37th Street since 1997 to have this be my "local park" which I have paid to support all these years.

The dumping not only at this park but along Webster Street underpass that goes without services for many many months is included in this. There is an abandoned SUV that now has no tires and many other materials strewn across the main throughway for the ambulances heading to both Alta Bates and Kaiser Oakland. I have posted on 311 for a month now and had no response.

What prompted me today to write was seeing three children and their parents trying to rake and use the baseball field yesterday which is completely surrounded by tents, junk and god knows what strewn about. Where is the city? How is it that the summer youth camps can be cancelled due to the situation rather than dealing with the issue and allowing our youth to benefit. How is the rat infestation to be managed. I have a rental, an ADU that I built with encouragement from the city to provide affordable housing only to have many prospective tenants come by to then say they don't feel comfortable being in my neighbourhood

i am so sick of this

It has gone on too long and we neighbours deserve so much better

I demand answers

'

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 04:40:05 PM PDT, Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Mayor's Office / Oakland Elected Officials

This Mosswood Park encampment is absolutely out of control, I would say it has spiralled into a worse condition than ever before.

What is your plan to clean it up, it is absolutely disgraceful negligent behaviour to allow this to take place.

There is a project currently ongoing in the park worth north of $30million to provide services to the youth of the area....what is the purpose of planning this redevelopment if people are afraid to walk in the area due to the sprawling encampment that has been allowed to take over a public park!!!

There are a lot of eyes on Oakland and the Mayor's office for ongoing fraud allegations...I think it is time for elected officials to stand up and actually do some good for the area!!!

On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 1:32 PM Brown, Briana <BRB...@oaklandca.gov> wrote:

Chuck,

 

Thank you for the update. Tonya is out of the office. I will follow up with the EMT team on the status of her previous request.

 

I also want to inform you that this past Monday, Council Member Fife and I attended the Beat 8X Neighborhood Meeting, where Lt. Thomason acknowledged the concerns around Mosswood Park and pledged to increase security patrol at the park. Lt Thomason also committed to working with Captain Rosin and city staff to address root causes.

 

Lastly, Please send any 311 request number that you have.

Regards,

Briana Brown

 

From: Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 2, 2023 4:50 PM
To: Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com>
Cc: Love, Tonya <TL...@oaklandca.gov>; Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com>; Philip Clark <phc...@gmail.com>; hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com>; Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com>; Kathryn Molitor <ktmo...@gmail.com>; Allan Ayres <emd...@mac.com>; Bayeh, Rediat <RBa...@oaklandca.gov>; Ben Campbell <robot...@gmail.com>; City Administrator's Office <CityAdminist...@oaklandca.gov>; Collins-McMurray, Amauri <ACollins...@oaklandca.gov>; Cooper, Daniel <DCoo...@oaklandca.gov>; Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com>; District 3 <Dist...@oaklandca.gov>; Duffey, Harold <HDu...@oaklandca.gov>; Falls, C'Mone <CFa...@oaklandca.gov>; Fife, Carroll <CF...@oaklandca.gov>; Homelessness <Homele...@oaklandca.gov>; Karen Conway <kbcon...@gmail.com>; Laura Lin <kismet...@gmail.com>; Leggett, Blanca <BLeg...@oaklandca.gov>; Marc Ribak <marc....@gmail.com>; Monares, Greta <GMon...@oaklandca.gov>; na...@17th.com; Office of the Mayor <Officeof...@oaklandca.gov>; Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com>; Princess Allen (praccommis...@gmail.com) <praccommis...@gmail.com>; Rachel Wilson <rachel....@gmail.com>; Reiskin, Edward <ERei...@oaklandca.gov>; Schaaf, Libby <LSc...@oaklandca.gov>; Simmons, LaTonda <LSim...@oaklandca.gov>; Steward, Myisha <MSte...@oaklandca.gov>; Susan Jun <jun....@gmail.com>; Tammy Lim <tamm...@yahoo.com>; Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com>; Thomas, Edward <EdTh...@oaklandca.gov>; Tombolesi, Justin <jtomb...@oaklandca.gov>; Watson, Arthur <AWa...@oaklandca.gov>; Westbrook, Terri <TWest...@oaklandca.gov>; aud...@urbanhabitat510.com; brian.pearson <br...@studiopear.us>; broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net>; cassi...@gmail.com; in...@oaklandcityattorney.org; jordie bornstein <jor...@urbanhabitat510.com>; mosswood...@googlegroups.com; mosswoo...@gmail.com; preeti_s...@berkeley.edu; to: JoAnn Castillo <jcas...@joanncastillo.com>
Subject: Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

 

Yesterday morning I went by this encampment and there were chairs from a vehicle on fire in the middle of the encampment the entire area had a cloud of plastic smoke through the neighborhood the fire department came for the fourth time in the last week this is a complete violation of the rules of the park it is complete violation of the encampment rules for the city of Oakland and it shows a total lack of leadership by The Parks and Recs Department and the City of Oakland

 

On Tue, Jan 24, 2023 at 5:40 PM Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear city officials, 

 

This evening as my wife was walking home from work across Mosswood Park as she does most days, she saw a person with a rifle near the Webster encampments, along with a group who were spray painting bikes and a car. She kept on walking, and then called 911 as soon as she got home. I hope the police responded, but who knows. Also note that parents were picking up their kids from the after school program, folks were nearby with their dogs, and people were playing on the basketball courts. This is not an exception, or an anomaly, this is the norm. 

 

Please, for the safety of all, send help. If nothing is done, I hate to think of what situation would elicit a positive response.  

 

On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 4:04 PM Love, Tonya <TL...@oaklandca.gov> wrote:

Good afternoon,

 

I have forwarded your request for the Homeless EMT team to return to Mosswood Park to address the new tents and debris. 

 

The Homeless EMT asks residents to submit 311 ticket requests for service or direct email to the homle...@oaklandca.gov. In my request, I reminded them that Mosswood Park is a site of ongoing concern.

 

However, to help, please send new photos or the 311 ticket claim numbers, if you have them for me to send to EMT team.

 

Tonya

 

Thanks,

---

 

Tonya D. Love

Chief of Staff

tl...@oaklandca.gov | 510-238-7245

Carroll Fife - Council Member

City of Oakland, District 3 

 

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“Nobody's free until everybody's free.”-- Fannie Lou Hamer

 

---

From: Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2023 3:29 PM
To: Philip Clark <phc...@gmail.com>
Cc: hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com>; Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com>; Kathryn Molitor <ktmo...@gmail.com>; Allan Ayres <emd...@mac.com>; Bayeh, Rediat <RBa...@oaklandca.gov>; Ben Campbell <robot...@gmail.com>; Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@gmail.com>; City Administrator's Office <CityAdminist...@oaklandca.gov>; Collins-McMurray, Amauri <ACollins...@oaklandca.gov>; Cooper, Daniel <DCoo...@oaklandca.gov>; Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com>; District 3 <Dist...@oaklandca.gov>; Duffey, Harold <HDu...@oaklandca.gov>; Falls, C'Mone <CFa...@oaklandca.gov>; Fife, Carroll <CF...@oaklandca.gov>; Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com>; Homelessness <Homele...@oaklandca.gov>; Karen Conway <kbcon...@gmail.com>; Laura Lin <kismet...@gmail.com>; Leggett, Blanca <BLeg...@oaklandca.gov>; Love, Tonya <TL...@oaklandca.gov>; Marc Ribak <marc....@gmail.com>; Monares, Greta <GMon...@oaklandca.gov>; na...@17th.com <Na...@17th.com>; Office of the Mayor <Officeof...@oaklandca.gov>; Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com>; Princess Allen (praccommis...@gmail.com) <praccommis...@gmail.com>; Rachel Wilson <rachel....@gmail.com>; Reiskin, Edward <ERei...@oaklandca.gov>; Schaaf, Libby <LSc...@oaklandca.gov>; Simmons, LaTonda <LSim...@oaklandca.gov>; Steward, Myisha <MSte...@oaklandca.gov>; Susan Jun <jun....@gmail.com>; Tammy Lim <tamm...@yahoo.com>; Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com>; Thomas, Edward <EdTh...@oaklandca.gov>; Tombolesi, Justin <jtomb...@oaklandca.gov>; Watson, Arthur <AWa...@oaklandca.gov>; Westbrook, Terri <TWest...@oaklandca.gov>; aud...@urbanhabitat510.com <aud...@urbanhabitat510.com>; brian.pearson <br...@studiopear.us>; broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net>; cassi...@gmail.com <cassi...@gmail.com>; in...@oaklandcityattorney.org <in...@oaklandcityattorney.org>; jordie bornstein <jor...@urbanhabitat510.com>; mosswood...@googlegroups.com <mosswood...@googlegroups.com>; mosswoo...@gmail.com <mosswoo...@gmail.com>; preeti_s...@berkeley.edu <preeti_s...@berkeley.edu>; to: JoAnn Castillo <jcas...@joanncastillo.com>
Subject: Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

 

[EXTERNAL] This email originated outside of the City of Oakland. Please do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and expect the message.

---

Councilmember Fife:

My partner and I were enthusiastic in voting for you in 2020 because we love Oakland and we saw ourselves staying here to raise our family.  Issues around housing and safety are our biggest concerns living in this community and we saw these as your priorities as well, and we were hopeful about things getting better, but unfortunately it seems things have only gotten worse.

 

The conditions in the park are not safe or healthy for those living in the park, those who use the park, and those of us living around the park.

 

I echo the concerns around safety for everyone in our neighborhood. My family was excited to move to this neighborhood with it's proximity to the park, but unfortunately we have also had traumatic experiences and feel unsafe leaving the house with our 2 young children.  One resident of the park tried to attack my one year old and her babysitter while they were walking through the park in broad daylight, chasing them, spitting at them, yelling profanities, and throwing mud at them.  My child can't run and play in the park without risking falling on needles, broken glass, or feces.  We have seen a park resident waving around a machete in broad daylight, right in front of our house, and were unable to leave the house.

 

These issues are only "addressed" after months and months of continuous calling, only to be cleaned up and then start right over from scratch because there are no systems in place to prevent it.  We understand this is a huge undertaking, and this is what you signed up for and what thousands of voters trusted you to do.

 

Thanks for your attention,

Sarah

36th St.

 

 

 

On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 11:24 AM Philip Clark <phc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks to Guybe for starting this thread. 

 

Councilmember Fife, 

 

A few observations and reflections about the current situation:

• The encampment has grown to 6-8 tents with a huge amount of trash and debris at the SW entrance to the park. I've seen zero mitigation activity from the city, and I walk by there 2-3 times per day with my dog, so I'm very confident nothing is getting done.
• I am a tall able-bodied male, and **I** don't feel safe walking on Webster at night, much less entering the park to walk my dog. It's disturbing on a visceral level to not feel physically safe on the block where you own a home. Imagine walking out of your home and feeling unsafe.
• The unhoused folks nightly burn trash fires, which release carcinogenic smoke over the block. It is terrifying to walk around covering your face wondering if you'll get cancer in the future because of where you live. 
• I regularly have packages stolen off my porch, including a Christmas present from my family. Imagine that you feel like you need to stay inside, and keep your things and loved ones inside in order to protect yourself - all the time.

If it's still hard to grasp how serious this feels, you have an open invitation to come and walk my dog with me after dinner, at night. 

 

I'll also add that homelessness is the *only* issue I vote on right now. 

 

Phil

 

36th street

 

 

 

On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 7:59 AM hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Can we please keep personal commentary out of this email chain

 

Rather use this to continue an ongoing conversation to engage the City and our representatives to address the various issues that have arisen over the past few years regarding our neighbourhood, specifically Mosswood Park.

 

We all agree that the status quo is unacceptable

 

The recent flooding on the underpass on Webster that was finally cleared after 4 days was not helped by the mountain of trash that is being created thus blocking drains.

 

Why is it that the neighbours have to continue to fight for basic services once again?

 

Frustrated beyond belief

Hannah

37th St

 

On Sunday, January 22, 2023, 5:42:39 PM PST, Kathryn Molitor <ktmo...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

I think it is absurd to assume there aren't children living in those tents, Chris. 

 

On Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 5:33 PM Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Good for you Kathryn, the next time you’re mugged you might not be as lucky as others have been in Oakland!! I’m going to guess that you don’t have kids, your opinion might change then…as you say perception is important!!
Take care!

 

On Jan 22, 2023, at 5:26 PM, Kathryn Molitor <ktmo...@gmail.com> wrote:



I would like to point out the city spends thousands of dollars a year painting over the tagging (which to me usually ends up being beautiful calligraphy once they finish a piece) to make it toupee concrete gray.

 

And around Oakland many fences have been put up to prevent people from living in certain areas. 

 

The disregard for human lives trying to survive over hostile architecture is incredibly disheartening. When we call for action to help “clean” the neighborhood. Please think about actual solutions not paint and fencing.

 

I walk in mosswood almost nightly as a single white female who has been mugged in this neighborhood, and do not feel unsafe. Perception is important.

 

On Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 2:11 PM Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@exploratorium.edu> wrote:

thank you for this email. I would like a second dose for my family on Webster Street as encampment is starting to grow on the Webster side of Mosswood, the drug dealing, and the general vandalism to vehicles and theft of packages has started to increase again in the neighborhood, the area that is being occupied is the picnic area for families for the park and again in the evening the access points to the park for vehicles is not being secured so there are vehicles up to things in the evenings at the park 

 

On Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 2:08 PM Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Councilmember Fife, and other City officials, 

 

I write again to ask for immediate help regarding the encampments on the Webster St side of Mosswood Park. The situation has grown steadily worse over the last several weeks, with a growing number of tents, trash, and most recently gun activity. 

 

You may have seen an email from Mosswood Center Dir, Terri Westbrook. If not, she shared with me that during the week of Jan 9 around 5:30pm, while picking up their child from the after school program a parent witnessed, "a black man jump out of his car who had a gun on his waste side appear as though he was looking for an unhoused person living in the tents on the Webster street side of the park." Terri informed her Supervisor, Elena Bermeo about this incident along with Officer Triana, who is Mosswood Park's  Community Resource Officer (CRO).  Subsequently the parent unenrolled her child from the program. 

 

I have filed multiple 311 reports to no avail, and am now appealing directly to the City for immediate action to help all involved - both the unhoused and housed, as well as the youth and staff in Mosswood's after school program, and the public that use the park daily. 

 

And again I ask, what good is the Encampment Management Policy if there's no enforcement or accountability? The policy clearly states that encampments near a park with, "playground structures or tot lots, or host city programs or classes for children shall be the city's highest high-priority areas." (pg. 3) Youth and sports programs at Mosswood are in full swing. The city continues to accept people living in squalor, surrounded by drugs and crime. Where is the line between their right to refuse and public health and safety? Would this be tolerated in other more affluent neighborhoods like Rockridge, or Piedmont? We're all frustrated and feel helpless, bordering on hopeless. We don't know what else we can do other than calling 911 and these continued emails/demands for attention, positive action, and long term impact. 

 

The situation is out of control and needs immediate attention. The unhoused have fires burning around the clock, and with the recent historic rains and cold temps, they continue to endure through extreme and dangerous conditions. WE ALL NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY!

 

Guybe Slangen

36th St., Oakland

 

--

“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” -- L.R. Knost

 

"I believe education is the fundamental method for social progress and reform." -- John Dewey

 

 

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Chuck Mignacco

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Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

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Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

 

--

Philip Clark
Cell: 415.685.3075

 

--

“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” -- L.R. Knost

 

"I believe education is the fundamental method for social progress and reform." -- John Dewey

 

 

[Kathryn Molitor]

I think home owners who do not rent more than 2 units withholding property taxes is actually a very good way to put pressure on the city to make housing affordable and available for all. That is the kind of pressure the city will actually respond to. It’s how the developers get their way. Not sweeps. Actual solutions. 

And Lord knows we have the empty rooms. 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:55 AM Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Ben:

The rats carry diseases, but I guess Carroll Fife thinks that the park is so close to a hospital, that's okay.

The dog chained to the tree at the MacArthur/Broadway corner of the park?  In late summer when we were in days of triple-digit heat, I called animal services. Do you think they gave a rat's ass (pun intended)?  

Maybe we should get a signature campaign together of all of us who intend to refuse to pay property taxes and contact the media, like iTeam investigates.  I emailed this woman yesterday.  I think everyone shgould email her as well:  Stephanie...@abc.com

[Aminah Cherry]

I am totally down with welcome to fifetown- and property taxes.  Aminah 

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 19, 2025, at 11:08 AM, Kathryn Molitor <ktmo...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[JoAnn Castillo]

Well, I already paid my property taxes this year - but if we pay late there is a significant penalty, so I, personally, would think hard about that.

JoAnn

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mosswood-park-rac/A31BEA2F-D86B-4319-B9D0-E5894FB8C6DA%40gmail.com.

[Kathryn Molitor]

I think getting very clear in messaging will also help.

Why do we have rats? 

Why does this keep repeating?

Why do we have so many new building in the area and more campers than ever before? 

Something like:

As the district that elected Carol Fife who has been targeted since day one for her radical housing stance, we are ready to back her up. We want intergenerational and multi-ability communities.  We are sick of the gentrification. Listen to our elected official or no more money. 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 1:16 PM Aminah Cherry <aminah...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Kathryn Molitor]

Long term v short term “late fees” in the minds of lots of people. 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

[Kathryn Molitor]

They are rarely offered alternative housing. To remove the encampment you have to offer those people other places to go. Acting like this encampment hasn’t been repopulating for the last 20 years is disingenuous. It’s just not behind the tennis courts anymore. 

If your demands come at the expense of human lifes, you will not see change. 

Also deciding to live next to gas station was your choice, chuck. 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com> wrote:

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 19, 2025, at 4:59 PM, Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com> wrote:



I would happily sign on to sue the city

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM Philip Clark <phc...@gmail.com> wrote:

I am beyond angry. I am going to look into withholding my property taxes, and releasing them only when the following conditions are met: 

1. Encampments removed. Not offered alternative housing, removed.

2. The park is restored, meaning all the trash is removed and it’s clear how it will be maintained over time. 

3. Webster AND telegraph overpasses monitored and dumping violations enforced

Also I saw this story about Berkeley residents suing the city. I would be interested in doing this: 

https://nypost.com/2024/09/21/opinion/business-owners-in-berkeley-have-had-enough-of-the-chaos/

Here is the lead lawyers email: 

mailto:ilan....@asu.edu

Should we contact him to discuss a case?

Phil

Philip Clark

philclark.me

Find a time to connect 

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 4:26 PM hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thank you for passing on this welcome and long overdue news

I would still, and will follow up with them, feel it is only appropriate for everyone responsible from the city meet with us neighbours and community partners prior to this happening so that we as neighbours who have been significantly impacted get to know what the plan is going forward if 

A: people don’t want the apartments due to whatever the conditions of living in them are what happens next

B: how to ensure this never happens again

C: ensure the park is routinely monitored 

D: that Webster St underpass is included in the plan since people have been routinely, and still are, living there as well it being a dumping ground

For starters

This is indeed good news but in my mind not enough clarity and I think those of us who have dealt with the fallout should be shown some respect for having tolerated such chaos for years seeing our property taxes go toward nothing

Appreciate the follow-up

Hannah

37th St

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 1:55 PM, Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com> wrote:

I don't know if everyone received this reply from the mayor's office or if it just came to me.

Dear Mosswood Park Friends,

Thanks for caring so deeply about our neighborhood park.  My Supervisor asked me to let everyone know that the Mosswood Encampment will be closed before summer.

All the inhabitants will be offered apartments in a nearby refurbished motel.

Also, the dog situation has been checked out.  The dog is well taken care of by loving owners.  He is sweet and gentle and not a vicious animal.

Best regards, 

 

Mary Olsen 

Constituent Liaison 

Office of Mayor Kevin Jenkins

1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 3^rd Floor, Oakland CA 94612 

Phone: (510) 238-3141 | TDD: (510) 238-3254 

Email: officeof...@oaklandca.gov 

  

For general inquiries or leave a comment for the Mayor contact: Officeof...@oaklandca.gov  

For Homeless Encampment Reports contact: Homele...@oaklandca.gov  

For Small Business Assistance go to: oaklandbusinesscenter.com | (510) 238-7398  

For Illegal Dumping Complaints: Oak...@oaklandca.gov | 311  (in Oakland) |510-615-5566 (outside of Oakland) 

For Parking Citation Assistance/Payments/Residential Permits: 800-500-6484 Press #0 

For Housing Services: (510)238-3015/6182 | Rent Adjustment Program (510)238-3721 

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 1:07 PM hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com> wrote:

I just got an email via Nextdoor that there’s firefighters responding to an encampment fire 

Perhaps we can all pick a date and actually meet as neighbours and come up with a plan 

Where we can use our leverage 

I’m not technically savvy but if anyone else is can you set up a poll of a few dates/times for just neighbours within the next week to then make an action plan 

I’m all for withholding property tax (at least parka and maintenance etc) as well invite media 

We need action pronto 

Hannah 

37th

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 11:46 AM, Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com> wrote:

Adding a few more neighbors to the thread 

I would like to point out the city spends thousands of dollars a year painting over the tagging (which to me usually ends up being beautiful calligraphy once they finish a piece) to make it toupee concrete gray.

 

And around Oakland many fences have been put up to prevent people from living in certain areas. 

[JoAnn Castillo]

I am so tired of words, I doubt they will clear the encampment before summer. We've heard it before. A few times (understatement). 

I want action now. If they can't remove the tenters, install a dumpster, clean up the trash daily, if that's what it takes. Stop the fires - and yesterday's fire smoked up my house almost on Telegraph. Clean up the children's playground. Pick up trash throughout the park. Increase security NOW.

Sometimes I wonder if we should regularly have a team of us move trash into the middle of Webster and Telegraph, repeatedly, until they fluffing removing it.

Of course, I know the city is bankrupt and doubt they can do any of this. But that shouldn't matter to our demands.

thanks to all of you,

JoAnn

On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 6:25 AM Sarah Brekke-Velazquez <velazqu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello Neighbors,

I had to run by another campfire this morning on my run. There was a big one yesterday choking the air inside my house, both fires coming from Mosswood.

Enough is enough. We usually pay our property tax early, but we are not going to pay a single penny until something is done. We want something done, not words about things that are supposed to be done in the future.

Let’s not let this energy die down. 

Carlos

Neighbor at 36th st and Webster 

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 7:47 PM Theresa Chapman <tcha...@ccsf.edu> wrote:

The 580 off-ramp signs say "Broadway Auto Row".

Webster Street is a huge deterrent for potential customers!

Teri

---

From: Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 7:22 PM
To: Theresa Chapman <tcha...@ccsf.edu>
Cc: Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com>; Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com>; Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com>; Philip Clark <Phc...@gmail.com>; hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com>; Ben Campbell <robot...@gmail.com>; Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com>; Brown, Briana <BRB...@oaklandca.gov>; Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@gmail.com>; Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com>; Allan Ayres <emd...@mac.com>; Bayeh, Rediat <RBa...@oaklandca.gov>; City Administrator's Office <CityAdminist...@oaklandca.gov>; Collins-McMurray, Amauri <ACollins...@oaklandca.gov>; District 3 <Dist...@oaklandca.gov>; Duffey, Harold <HDu...@oaklandca.gov>; Fife, Carroll <CF...@oaklandca.gov>; Homelessness <Homele...@oaklandca.gov>; Karen Conway <kbcon...@gmail.com>; Laura Lin <kismet...@gmail.com>; Leggett, Blanca <BLeg...@oaklandca.gov>; Marc Ribak <marc....@gmail.com>; Monares, Greta <GMon...@oaklandca.gov>; Na...@17th.com <Na...@17th.com>; Office of the Mayor <Officeof...@oaklandca.gov>; Princess Allen (praccommis...@gmail.com) <praccommis...@gmail.com>; Rachel Wilson <rachel....@gmail.com>; Simmons, LaTonda <LSim...@oaklandca.gov>; Susan Jun <jun....@gmail.com>; Tammy Lim <tamm...@yahoo.com>; Thomas, Edward <EdTh...@oaklandca.gov>; Watson, Arthur <AWa...@oaklandca.gov>; Westbrook, Terri <TWest...@oaklandca.gov>; aud...@urbanhabitat510.com <aud...@urbanhabitat510.com>; brian.pearson <br...@studiopear.us>; broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net>; cassi...@gmail.com <cassi...@gmail.com>; in...@oaklandcityattorney.org <in...@oaklandcityattorney.org>; jordie bornstein <jor...@urbanhabitat510.com>; mosswood...@googlegroups.com <mosswood...@googlegroups.com>; preeti_s...@berkeley.edu <preeti_s...@berkeley.edu>; to: JoAnn Castillo <jcas...@joanncastillo.com>; Jahs...@gmail.com <Jahs...@gmail.com>; Anna.de...@gmail.com <Anna.de...@gmail.com>; Kasper <kasper...@gmail.com>; velazqu...@gmail.com <velazqu...@gmail.com>; David....@gmail.com <David....@gmail.com>; Chris.s...@gmail.com <Chris.s...@gmail.com>; Suz...@panix.com <Suz...@panix.com>; fhen...@sbcglobal.net <fhen...@sbcglobal.net>; ihen...@sbcglobal.net <ihen...@sbcglobal.net>; kattp...@gmail.com <kattp...@gmail.com>; Obess...@aol.com <Obess...@aol.com>

Subject: Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

 

You don't often get email from chrisw...@gmail.com. Learn why this is important

**Removed Kathryn from the chain, she is obviously very happy living next to the mess, so good for her!! 

I will join if this goes legal. Maybe loop Kaiser into potential litigation?

I got this from Mr Duffey, while appreciating the update I have heard this all before to be honest.

What are the ways to combat the encampment coming back?

I have seen those present reject housing in the past, are Oakland going to enforce the new legislation which does not allow people to camp on the sidewalk after housing has been offered? These questions would need to be answered among others.

Mr. Wallace, I understand your frustration as Mosswood Park is a lovely community space, I assure you that we are working to remove the encampment and return the park to the entire community.  The City received a grant from the State for the closure of Mosswood Park.  We are currently waiting for a facility to temporarily house everyone within the park.  We anticipate the facility's availability to take place sometime in late April- early May. When the facility is available, everyone in the encampment will be offered shelter and the encampment will be closed. The City is also prepared to restore areas destroyed by the encampment and program the park space to reduce re-encampment as we look forward to the new community center opening in the fall of 2025

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 6:55 PM Theresa Chapman <tcha...@ccsf.edu> wrote:

Perhaps 36^th and 37^th Streets need to be annexed to District One.

Teri

---

From: Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 6:40 PM
To: Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com>
Cc: Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com>; Philip Clark <Phc...@gmail.com>; hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com>; Kathryn Molitor <ktmo...@gmail.com>; Ben Campbell <robot...@gmail.com>; Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com>; Brown, Briana <BRB...@oaklandca.gov>; Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com>; Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@gmail.com>; Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com>; Love, Tonya <TL...@oaklandca.gov>; Allan Ayres <emd...@mac.com>; Bayeh, Rediat <RBa...@oaklandca.gov>; City Administrator's Office <CityAdminist...@oaklandca.gov>; Collins-McMurray, Amauri <ACollins...@oaklandca.gov>; Cooper, Daniel <DCoo...@oaklandca.gov>; District 3 <Dist...@oaklandca.gov>; Duffey, Harold <HDu...@oaklandca.gov>; Falls, C'Mone <CFa...@oaklandca.gov>; Fife, Carroll <CF...@oaklandca.gov>; Homelessness <Homele...@oaklandca.gov>; Karen Conway <kbcon...@gmail.com>; Laura Lin <kismet...@gmail.com>; Leggett, Blanca <BLeg...@oaklandca.gov>; Marc Ribak <marc....@gmail.com>; Monares, Greta <GMon...@oaklandca.gov>; Na...@17th.com <Na...@17th.com>; Office of the Mayor <Officeof...@oaklandca.gov>; Princess Allen (praccommis...@gmail.com) <praccommis...@gmail.com>; Rachel Wilson <rachel....@gmail.com>; Simmons, LaTonda <LSim...@oaklandca.gov>; Steward, Myisha <MSte...@oaklandca.gov>; Susan Jun <jun....@gmail.com>; Tammy Lim <tamm...@yahoo.com>; Thomas, Edward <EdTh...@oaklandca.gov>; Watson, Arthur <AWa...@oaklandca.gov>; Westbrook, Terri <TWest...@oaklandca.gov>; aud...@urbanhabitat510.com <aud...@urbanhabitat510.com>; brian.pearson <br...@studiopear.us>; broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net>; cassi...@gmail.com <cassi...@gmail.com>; in...@oaklandcityattorney.org <in...@oaklandcityattorney.org>; jordie bornstein <jor...@urbanhabitat510.com>; mosswood...@googlegroups.com <mosswood...@googlegroups.com>; mosswoo...@gmail.com <mosswoo...@gmail.com>; preeti_s...@berkeley.edu <preeti_s...@berkeley.edu>; to: JoAnn Castillo <jcas...@joanncastillo.com>; Jahs...@gmail.com <Jahs...@gmail.com>; Anna.de...@gmail.com <Anna.de...@gmail.com>; Kasper <kasper...@gmail.com>; velazqu...@gmail.com <velazqu...@gmail.com>; David....@gmail.com <David....@gmail.com>; Chris.s...@gmail.com <Chris.s...@gmail.com>; Suz...@panix.com <Suz...@panix.com>; fhen...@sbcglobal.net <fhen...@sbcglobal.net>; ihen...@sbcglobal.net <ihen...@sbcglobal.net>; kattp...@gmail.com <kattp...@gmail.com>; Obess...@aol.com <Obess...@aol.com>; Theresa Chapman <tcha...@ccsf.edu>

Subject: Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

 

You don't often get email from denise...@gmail.com. Learn why this is important

Denise Simard 

 510.326.4743

    

[Guybe Slangen]

Hello all, while I've been silent on this thread since we moved to SF, we still own and rent out our home on 36th Street, and when we lived there I was quite active with advocacy with the city. I share your anger and sadness, and feel strongly that no one deserves this treatment, whether you are housed or unhoused. 

Only thing to add is that I had conversations with a reporter from Oaklandside a while back to try and get more attention in the media. She was interested, but nothing came of it. I imagine now, since the situation is much worse, she may be more interested:

Natalie Orenstein 

Housing and Homelessness Reporter, The Oaklandside 

(510) 219-5513  

@nat_orenstein

Good luck, and thanks for all you are doing. 

On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com> wrote:

I found these:

Barbara Lee: In...@barbaralee4oakland.com

Loren Taylor: te...@lorenforoakland.com

Tyrone Jordan: jordanfo...@yahoo.com

As for the idea I suggested about withholding property taxes, we should only do that IF we can get media to take the matter on, because I can guarantee that if we retroactively try to get the steep late payment penalties waived, it won't happen unless we draw the line in the sand.

I have never been able to get a hold of anyone at Henry Levy's office, ,even a phone number or email is impossible top locate.

Thomas

On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com> wrote:

Does anybody have contact info for the mayoral candidates so we can include them in this conversation?

Sent from my iPhone

<image.png>

[Kathryn Molitor]

As a renter I can’t do much. But I have contacted a person who works in media and has lots of reach here in the bay. If I hear back them I will let you all know. 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

[Anshuk]

Researching who might have access to the D3 councilmember. 

The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 21 was the highest donor last cycle (Source). The Local 21 chapter is led by Bianca Polovina, Political Action is led by Frances Hsieh, and their Oakland VP is Julian Ware. 

If anyone have common connections with them, we could attempt getting a coffee with them and see if they'd empathize.

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Anshuk

[Nick Houshower]

Appreciate the thought on reaching out to the donors supporting our elected officials. 

It looks like the IFPTE 21 is actually led by a different group?

https://ifpte21.org/staff/

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mosswood-park-rac/CAH8N5TJDTrm5LstcXkrj%2BCxY4mcB2gWU4BzgTU92_MUh3RP9pw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Josh Harkinson]

I have two kids, now aged 12 and 15 and have lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade. We used to go to Mosswood Park to play soccer or throw a frisbee. We stopped going there several years ago once it became a trash dump and tent city. It is not a pleasant place to spend time, nor is it safe. The City of Oakland should just sell it to developers so that they can build low income housing on it. That would be better than the current situation. I have no idea why they are spending money on a new community center when they can't maintain basic safety, enforce the rules, or keep the park clean.

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:32 AM Ben Campbell <robot...@gmail.com> wrote:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mosswood-park-rac/CABcKtOrxCCLWM7R4Wqzu%2BmTLZWxoeuFN40H7XXCX__kZpiTLuw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Kathryn Molitor]

Just selling to developers is what got us in this situation I’m sorry, but this thread needs a huge check on how you talk about homeless people they are people first those people are not the issue. The system is the issue developers coming into our city and not providing housing at an affordable rate is the issue. There are plenty of open houses and apartments in Oakland to house everybody.

 the issue is greed.

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

[Kathryn Molitor]

Couldn’t have been more clear Thomas. Check your feelings 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com> wrote:

OUR issue, Kathryn, is not greed.  That may be the city's issue or developers', but our issue is safety, health, liveability, etc.

[Chuck Mignacco]

You have to realize that there is never going to be a happy outcome. The best we can hope is that most of these people get a place to live and sleep, which is what we all want. We also hope that people who have medical or addiction issues are also getting help at the same time. Parks are not meant for this. There is no infrastructure to support this and there is no way for this to be a continuous thing. The park is for everyone every day during open hours I deal with this everyday we have benches surrounding my building in the city people sleep there at night and then have to pack up in the morning and move on because the businesses are opening every situation has rules and until we can work with the basic rules none of us will achieve any goals

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--

Chuck Mignacco | Senior Manager, Campus Facilities 

Cmig...@exploratorium.edu | w:415-528-4338 | m: 415-385-4695 

 

Museum: Pier 15, San Francisco, CA 94111

Mailing: 17 Pier, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94111

"We are all in this together"
http://youtu.be/dht_3NziwSw

[Kathryn Molitor]

Exactly. 

This isn’t just a city issue, this isn’t just a state issue, this is a national issue of greed. Of people caring more about cement being clean than humans having shelter. The greedy people keep building more ugly badly built luxury BS all over the state. It is not the answer. It has made our situation worse by taking away green space and space for people to camp. And Carol Fife has been targeted for saying as much. Cops and carceral punishment already get half of our cities’s budget and the issue has only gotten worse. Jail and developers have the same goals. 

The only obvious answer is what Norway did and make housing available and accessible to EVERYONE. But there is no profit in that and we live in a country that is convinced profit is the only way to succeed.

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 12:32 PM Naomi Schiff <naomib...@gmail.com> wrote:

I don’t think attack on fife is the best way to get city help.

[Kathryn Molitor]

“For everyone” of a certain caste? 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

[Kathryn Molitor]

And the main reason they keep burning could have been prevented by accepting Terri’s proposals for smart parks. But they refused, because of possible fires…. The loops of the logic are indeed madding. 

Nature may reach the same result in many ways. - Tesla

On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM Broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net> wrote:

Accommodation only gets you so far, going along to get along. For example, Moss House abandoned by city, left to burn and/or be trashed. City has little $ or interest for security and maintenance, what’s the likely fate of the new rec center? The last one burnt to the ground.

On Mar 24, 2025, at 12:32 PM, Naomi Schiff <naomib...@gmail.com> wrote:



I don’t think attack on fife is the best way to get city help.

[David Johnson]

Hi I normally don’t chime in, but as someone who was born and raised in this area and grew up in the Mosswood rec center, and served on the advisory board for twenty years. I have seen the changes first hand and I understand the challenges surrounding the park has made the area unsafe on many levels. 

If you’re going to acknowledge the problems, please, include how we got here due to gentrification. For someone to suggest that the city needs sell the park and let developers build housing, says a lot about these “groups” that secretly come together when it’s a problem for them.  We all know that if housing was built on the land, it would  discriminate against those who aren’t in a certain tax bracket.  Many of you, moved into the area,  expecting it to be a suburban utopia, that’s convenient for you, and this is why there’s mistrust with many of you. I agree that the situation in the park needs to be solved, since this is my home and the place that kept me from streets , but I’m tired of people with,  reactionary solutions, that only benefit their own interests. It’s interesting how no one has ever held Kaiser accountable, for building  and only putting back into the park when they want land in the area.  I see most of you on  the street, when I walk through the neighborhood, and It’s funny how you define community, based on your comments and actions. 

[Josh Harkinson]

Please read this Atlantic Monthly story if you are interested in learning more about how constructing housing affects the cost of housing and the role that progressive politics has played in our gentrification crisis. Housing is expensive because land, labor, and materials are expensive, and because, especially in California, there are very high permitting and legal costs, there's lots of regulatory uncertainty, and anyone can block a project through the disingenuous use of CEQA. Blaming "greedy developers" for the high cost of housing represents an overly simplistic view of the situation and is one reason why our politics on this issue remain deadlocked.

I would rather Mosswood be a park than affordable housing. Mainly that is because I live nearby and like parks. But the way our "progressive" Bay Area approaches this issue represents the epitome of bad faith. I lived in India for five years where the huge, illegally constructed slums had electricity, toilets, running water, and inhabitants who cared for each other through extended family networks. Here our slums have none of these things. We tell ourselves that they are not slums because they are not permanent, but every day that looks like more of a lie. The reality is that our slums are worse than those in the poorest countries in the world and just as entrenched. This city needs to wake up and look around.

There are three ways to go about building affordable housing in Mosswood Park. The City of Oakland can build the housing itself, partner with developers, or do what it does best and simply look the other way while individual people appropriate the land and construct their own makeshift facilities. The third approach is what they do in Mumbai and it has worked out much better than what we have right now.

Mosswood is not a park right now. It is a slum. So let's either make it work better as affordable housing or let's turn it back into a park. That is the decision. 

 

On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi David

I appreciate your perspective

I’ve only been here since 1997 but it’s the longest I’ve been anywhere in my life so it certainly is home to me

I disagree with the comments regarding developing the land too and I understand we all have different perspectives and ultimately want the best for everyone that is housed and unhoused and those that value the park and what it offers

Hopefully we can offer our thoughts and suggestions in ways such as yours they value all our input for the common good 

I hope you join the group we have set up so we hear from long term residents 

Hannah 

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

[JoAnn Castillo]

Please move this discussion to mosswood-neighborho...@googlegroups.com. There are now 2 locations for this continuing discussion and it's getting confusing. Please join that group, only 26 folks are there yet but 48 are here...

Committee Kickoff Meeting 

Sunday, March 30th @ 5pm-6:30pm  

344 37th Street (enter through the side gate) 

JoAnn

On Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM Naomi Schiff <Na...@17th.com> wrote:

But we do need our parks. However constructing alternative decent low-income housing is the right idea. And: we have a number of sites that could work, some of them already government-owned. For example, the 1/2-block of abandoned garage on Clay St. behind city hall. I walked around and measured it with a well-known aff housing architect some time ago. He said the site could accomodate something like 100 units, if I remember correctly, without high rise construction. Then there’s a state-owned block (EDD) of which a large part is surface parking lot, at 3rd Ave. (What happened to Newsom’s plan to designate state property for housing?) Why not build units above parking for the staff, or level the whole block, put offices in ground floor, housing above?

It is hard to believe that the amount of money, services, administration, community anguish, and infrastructure repair that is wasted on moving unhoused people around, repeatedly, into other inadequate conditions wouldn’t be much better expended in constructing some places to live.

[Westbrook, Terri]

Hello Mosswood Friends and Supporters,

I agree that Mosswood Park needs serious attention and a significant cleanup.  On MLK Day, we collected and cleaned up 164 bags of trash and debris, and 154 volunteers participated in the cleanup.  

As the Mosswood Park Center Director, I would like to update you on the encampment status at Mosswood Park and invite everyone in this email chain to attend the Mosswood Park Advisory Council (RAC) meeting on Wednesday, April 2nd, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

Here is the Mosswood RAC meeting link to join the meeting:

Mosswood Park Recreation Advisory Council Meeting Link

More News...

There have been new developments about removing encampments at Mosswood Park. The City received a 7.2 million ERF grant to close the three largest encampments in Oakland. Mosswood Park is one of those three parks delineated in the grant. Please plan to volunteer for the Mosswood RAC meeting on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 6:30 pm to continue this discussion. Thank you for your immense support and due diligence in caring about our beloved Mosswood Park.

Mosswood Park is partnering with Keep Oakland Beautiful and Youth Alive for the Earth Day Beautification Clean-up event. We offer Oakland Baller's tickets to all volunteers who register online for this event. Here is the link to the Mosswood Park Earth Day Beautification event:

Volunteer Sign up Link for Mosswood Park Earth Day Event

Mosswood Park Earth Day Beautification Event on Saturday, April 19, 10AM Eventbrite - Keep Oakland Beautiful presents Mosswood Park Earth Day Beautification Event on Saturday, April 19, 10AM - Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Mosswood Recreation Center, Oakland, CA. Find event and ticket information. www.eventbrite.com

Sincerely,

Terri Westbrook 

Center Director 

Mosswood Recreation Center 

3612 Webster Street 

Oakland, CA  94609 

(510) 597-5038 - Phone 

(510) 882-4369 - Cell 

 

Imagine, Inspire, Invest…Experience Oakland with Us! 

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” - Plato.  

 

This message and all attachments are intended only for the recipient(s) listed above and may contain CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED information.  If you have received this message in error, please destroy all electronic and paper copies and inform the sender.  Thank you.

---

From: hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2025 9:09 AM
To: na...@17th.com <Na...@17th.com>; Josh Harkinson <josh.ha...@gmail.com>
Cc: David Johnson <dance...@gmail.com>; mosswood...@googlegroups.com <mosswood...@googlegroups.com>; Allan Ayres <emd...@mac.com>; Collins-McMurray, Amauri <ACollins...@oaklandca.gov>; Watson, Arthur <AWa...@oaklandca.gov>; Leggett, Blanca <BLeg...@oaklandca.gov>; Brown, Briana <BRB...@oaklandca.gov>; Broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net>; C'Mone Falls <CFa...@oaklandca.gov>; Fife, Carroll <CF...@oaklandca.gov>; Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com>; Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@gmail.com>; City Administrator's Office <CityAdminist...@oaklandca.gov>; Daniel Cooper <DCoo...@oaklandca.gov>; Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com>; District 3 <Dist...@oaklandca.gov>; Thomas, Edward <EdTh...@oaklandca.gov>; Monares, Greta <GMon...@oaklandca.gov>; Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com>; Duffey, Harold <HDu...@oaklandca.gov>; Homelessness <Homele...@oaklandca.gov>; Karen Conway <kbcon...@gmail.com>; Simmons, LaTonda <LSim...@oaklandca.gov>; Laura Lin <kismet...@gmail.com>; Marc Ribak <marc....@gmail.com>; Myisha Steward <MSte...@oaklandca.gov>; Naomi Schiff <naomib...@gmail.com>; Office of the Mayor <Officeof...@oaklandca.gov>; Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com>; Philip Clark <Phc...@gmail.com>; Princess Allen <praccommis...@gmail.com>; Rachel Wilson <rachel....@gmail.com>; Bayeh, Rediat <RBa...@oaklandca.gov>; Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com>; Susan Jun <jun....@gmail.com>; Tammy Lim <tamm...@yahoo.com>; Westbrook, Terri <TWest...@oaklandca.gov>; Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com>; aud...@urbanhabitat510.com <aud...@urbanhabitat510.com>; brian.pearson <br...@studiopear.us>; cassi...@gmail.com <cassi...@gmail.com>; jordie bornstein <jor...@urbanhabitat510.com>; mosswoo...@gmail.com <mosswoo...@gmail.com>; preeti_s...@berkeley.edu <preeti_s...@berkeley.edu>; to: JoAnn Castillo <jcas...@joanncastillo.com>

Subject: Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

 

100% agreed 

The waste is astounding 

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On Thursday, March 27, 2025, 8:42 AM, Naomi Schiff <Na...@17th.com> wrote:

But we do need our parks. However constructing alternative decent low-income housing is the right idea. And: we have a number of sites that could work, some of them already government-owned. For example, the 1/2-block of abandoned garage on Clay St. behind city hall. I walked around and measured it with a well-known aff housing architect some time ago. He said the site could accomodate something like 100 units, if I remember correctly, without high rise construction. Then there’s a state-owned block (EDD) of which a large part is surface parking lot, at 3rd Ave. (What happened to Newsom’s plan to designate state property for housing?) Why not build units above parking for the staff, or level the whole block, put offices in ground floor, housing above?

It is hard to believe that the amount of money, services, administration, community anguish, and infrastructure repair that is wasted on moving unhoused people around, repeatedly, into other inadequate conditions wouldn’t be much better expended in constructing some places to live.

On Mar 27, 2025, at 8:14 AM, Josh Harkinson <josh.ha...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Leevert Holmes]

Good Morning, 

 My name is Leevert Holmes. I'm honored to be a member of this group and hope that we can advocate for a better Mosswood Park. Full disclosure, I moved here in 2020, only to move back to New York City in 2021, to then move back in 2022. I vividly recall in 2020 trailers being used in the park and learning that there was a fire is beyond heartbreaking as both a community member and as an educator for two decades. 

 Prior to moving to the Bay, I lived in Harlem where I started the Harlem River Park Alliance. The challenges I encountered are similar to here in the Bay Area, except the tone of the conversation. It's very difficult to advocate for this public space when folks are willing to rename it after the local council person (i.e. Fifetown), when folks propose privatizing public space and finally not acknowledge the unhoused as people. 

 In New York City, community groups advocating for their local parks create private-public partnerships, where we can devise an asset map to ascertain which corporations could support our endeavors with their expansive resources. It's difficult to imagine that Kaiser and Sutter Health are heavily engaged in ensuring that a public space thrives and willing to support community member's endeavour to prevent a mental and physical health crisis. Furthermore, there are those parked on Webster who are clearly engaged in nefarious and illicit activity preventing people from traversing on Webster from 36th to 34th street under the overpass. I also noticed that 29th and 30th street between Telegraph and MLK which previously had a housing encampment under the highway, now has a prominent street sign banning encampments along with planters to prevent parking. This is heavily needed on Webster in conjunction with any clean-up. 

 Finally, knowing there was arson which led to the destruction of the prior Mosswood Center and a need to maintain the new Recreation Center, what if any security mechanisms are there planning to be in place? How do we prepare to prevent an arsonist from returning? How can we try to sustain the park to continue to function as a park? 

 One proposal is for the park to have events scheduled throughout the year beyond Carnivale' and Mosswood Meltdown. Furthermore, there needs to be community usage of the park which for some would appear to be a form of gentrification and colonizers taking over public spaces, however, this is when I ask for the politicians, city administrators, community members and corporate partners to intentionally create and sponsor events that are inclusive and draws attention throughout the Town and beyond. 

 One of the challenges we encountered was public barbecuing in Harlem. At Morningside Park, which was closest to Columbia University and therefore presented its own unique problems (historically the university attempted to close the park to build a gym and recreation center where members of the Harlem community could access using the backdoor - LITERALLY), we didn't have designated barbecuing spaces, however, there was no shortage of park usage. What brought folks together was a party called Sundae Sermon, where people across ethnic and cultural backgrounds danced, gathered and created community to house music. Unfortunately, some neighbors of the community, closer to Columbia University and "Friends of Morningside Park" saw no value in Sundae Sermon which led to its demise at Morningside. A few years later, a university student was violently stabbed. Tragic deaths and violence in New York City Parks from Edmund Perry to members of the Exonerated Five also occurred in Oakland with the death of Bobby Hutton in DeFremery Park. 

 Apologies for my lack of brevity, however, the vitriol online (Nextdoor) and in silos (secret community meetings) can greatly destroy an opportunity for growth in Mosswood Park. My neighbor, brings his three children to the park as often as possible. He's able to walk his children and transport baseball equipment to the park to provide an opportunity for his kids to learn the pastime of baseball. I ask that we think of this family at the center of our engagement and dialogue. 

 I'm excited for our upcoming meeting and cleanup. 

Thank you. 

Holmes, Leevert

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[Westbrook, Terri]

Hello Mosswood Supporters,

We invite you to attend the Mosswood Recreation Advisory Council (RAC) Zoom meeting on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. We have a special guest speaker, Darlene Flynn, who will discuss the Department of Race and Equity's purpose and goals for the city of Oakland.  

Councilmember Carroll Fife will be joining the Mosswood RAC meeting tomorrow. Please invite the Mosswood neighbors and friends in your group to this meeting. 

Here is the link to join the meeting:

 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82073898162?pwd=PP4A8Xs3MKOPzbW8siAyzqAgMFhB7E.1

Encampment Update:

We will also discuss the latest updates and timeline for removing encampments within the park. We would like to hear from you. Please plan on attending. Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Terri Westbrook 

Center Director 

Mosswood Recreation Center 

3612 Webster Street 

Oakland, CA  94609 

(510) 597-5038 - Phone 

(510) 882-4369 - Cell 

 

Imagine, Inspire, Invest…Experience Oakland with Us! 

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” - Plato.  

 

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From: JoAnn Castillo <jcas...@joanncastillo.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2025 9:04 AM
To: na...@17th.com <Na...@17th.com>; mosswood-neighborho...@googlegroups.com <mosswood-neighborho...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Josh Harkinson <josh.ha...@gmail.com>; hannah kanzell <hkan...@yahoo.com>; David Johnson <dance...@gmail.com>; mosswood...@googlegroups.com <mosswood...@googlegroups.com>; Allan Ayres <emd...@mac.com>; Collins-McMurray, Amauri <ACollins...@oaklandca.gov>; Watson, Arthur <AWa...@oaklandca.gov>; Leggett, Blanca <BLeg...@oaklandca.gov>; Brown, Briana <BRB...@oaklandca.gov>; Broklcrofts <brokl...@sonic.net>; C'Mone Falls <CFa...@oaklandca.gov>; Fife, Carroll <CF...@oaklandca.gov>; Chris Wallace <chrisw...@gmail.com>; Chuck Mignacco <cmig...@gmail.com>; City Administrator's Office <CityAdminist...@oaklandca.gov>; Daniel Cooper <DCoo...@oaklandca.gov>; Denise Simard <denise...@gmail.com>; District 3 <Dist...@oaklandca.gov>; Thomas, Edward <EdTh...@oaklandca.gov>; Monares, Greta <GMon...@oaklandca.gov>; Guybe Slangen <gbsl...@gmail.com>; Duffey, Harold <HDu...@oaklandca.gov>; Homelessness <Homele...@oaklandca.gov>; Karen Conway <kbcon...@gmail.com>; Simmons, LaTonda <LSim...@oaklandca.gov>; Laura Lin <kismet...@gmail.com>; Marc Ribak <marc....@gmail.com>; Myisha Steward <MSte...@oaklandca.gov>; Naomi Schiff <naomib...@gmail.com>; Office of the Mayor <Officeof...@oaklandca.gov>; Peggy Lee <peggy...@gmail.com>; Philip Clark <Phc...@gmail.com>; Princess Allen <praccommis...@gmail.com>; Rachel Wilson <rachel....@gmail.com>; Bayeh, Rediat <RBa...@oaklandca.gov>; Sarah Brekke <sarah...@gmail.com>; Susan Jun <jun....@gmail.com>; Tammy Lim <tamm...@yahoo.com>; Westbrook, Terri <TWest...@oaklandca.gov>; Thomas Cooney <leto...@gmail.com>; Tonya Love <TL...@oaklandca.gov>; aud...@urbanhabitat510.com <aud...@urbanhabitat510.com>; brian.pearson <br...@studiopear.us>; cassi...@gmail.com <cassi...@gmail.com>; in...@oaklandcityattorney.org <in...@oaklandcityattorney.org>; jordie bornstein <jor...@urbanhabitat510.com>; mosswoo...@gmail.com <mosswoo...@gmail.com>; preeti_s...@berkeley.edu <preeti_s...@berkeley.edu>

Subject: Re: [friends-of-mosswood-rac] Mosswood Park encampments

 

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