Local politics vs. the real world

The biggest shortcoming for me in the current mayoral regime is not that Ron Dellums is not a good CEO. This is a democracy not a corporation, a business, or a factory; it’s a town of many neighborhoods and cultures. What I did expect from this administration, at the least, was a return to participatory democracy, something that should be possible at the local level.

What businesses would you like to see come to Lakeshore?

Preliminary results are in from a survey about what types of businesses residents would like to see come to the Lakeshore Avenue business district. You can weigh in on this question right now by leaving a comment.

Musical venues and holiday events on Lakeshore Avenue

Santa and Opera Piccola carolers come to the Farmer’s Market (Sunday, the 16th) and to Lakeshore Avenue (Saturday, the 22nd). Check out some Lakeshore Avenue businesses for other musical opportunities.

Giving thanks and ideas for sharing

Pamela Drake surveys the thanks-worthy bounty that is Oakland and shares her ideas for richly satisfying ways to share your good fortune with others. What are yours?

Holidays, parking, undemocracy in our home town

I usually like to promote my hometown in this space, but I gotta get some things off my chest. First off, what bozo…

Sunday’s rally for Hillary

The obstacles I encountered at last Sunday’s rally for Hillary Clinton raise questions about the candidate’s approach to free speech and about the effects of canned campaigns on our freedoms, our creativity, and our diversity.

A better memorial for Chauncey

Chauncey Bailey was everywhere, covering, inventing, talking, and writing about it all. Losing him is like pulling on one of the threads that holds our hometown cloth together… and seeing what else will unravel. My hope is that multifaceted Chauncey is not remembered for his death and that his death is not used to diss the city he strove to cover in its good news and bad. That would not honor his memory.

Pamela Drake has lived in Oakland since 1973 and has been a community activist since the 80s starting with her involvement in OCO (Oakland Community Organizations). She has been staff to two council members, the director of the Grand Lake Neighborhood Center, presently runs the Lakeshore Business Improvement District, and teaches Adult Ed here. She raised her two children in Oakland where they attended public school.

Email Pamela.

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