August 23, 2022
In this edition...
Alameda's young people are returning to school and many walk and bike. We urge you to take extra caution when driving, especially during drop off and pick up times. We know that 63% of crashes involving young people have occurred within a quarter mile of a school, yet only 38% of Alameda’s streets are within a quarter mile of a school. We also know that the top two dangerous behaviors associated with severe crashes are failure to yield to pedestrians and unsafe speeds.
Commit to leaving a little early and slowing down, be mindful of the bright sun, and be extra careful approaching and driving in crosswalks – especially near school sites. Don’t double park or park at red curbs – that can block visibility of children in crosswalks. Don’t pass a car stopped for a pedestrian. Watch for bicyclists and pedestrians coming from driveways. And look out for bicyclists before opening your car door.
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The algal bloom we've been seeing in Alameda now extends across much of the East Bay's shoreline and into San Francisco and the South Bay. SF Baykeeper continues to advise caution against contacting the murky, discolored waters or eating seafood from affected areas.
 Photo from SF Chronicle article by Noah Berger, taken of a jetty near the Encinal Boat Ramp
- We'll be releasing a draft Active Transportation Plan for public review in September. The draft plan presents a strategy to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities in Alameda by 2030. Alameda's transportation system is the single largest source of the City's greenhouse gas emissions and the 2030 date allows for close coordination between the Active Transportation Plan implementation strategy and the Climate Action Plan’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goals.
- The City’s annual street repair and resurfacing project will begin in late August and is estimated to be complete by late November. Construction work hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm. During construction, motorists will experience minor disruptions in traffic, temporary loss of parking spaces, restricted street access, and increased noise and dust levels. We will maintain bus stop access throughout the project.
- Late night Tuesday, August 23 and Wednesday, August 24, Caltrans is closing the Posey Tube (leaving Alameda) for maintenance at 10 pm and reopening at 4:30 am.
Two new public art pieces were recently installed at Alameda Point, Beken by artist Dewitt Godfrey, a 32-foot corten steel sculpture at the new Waterfront Park and Alameda Afore by Rodrigo Nava, a series of 3 corten weathering steel sculptures in the median at the intersection of West Atlantic and Main Street.
Rockspinners by artist Zach Coffin, two multi-ton, interactive sculptures, were installed in Jean Sweeney Park near the playground and the Cross Alameda Trail, and can be spun easily and silently with a single push.
Beginning Monday, September 12, the Alameda Free Library will be increasing the number of hours it is open to the public. The Main Library will now be open on Monday and Tuesday mornings and will be adding an extra hour on Sundays. The West End and Bay Farm Island branches will now be open late on both Monday and Tuesday evenings. Creating a more consistent schedule across all three locations will allow the library to increase patron access to in-person services, schedule a wider variety of storytimes, host more class visits, and offer more programs – not to mention make it easier for people to remember when the library is open!
The nomination period has closed for Mayor and Councilmember candidates for the November 8, 2022 election. The candidates for Mayor are Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Barack D. Obama Shaw, and Trish Spencer. The candidates for Councilmember are Paul Beusterien, Tony Daysog, Hannah Groce, Tracy Jensen, Jim Oddie, and Bill Pai. There are also two City measures on the ballot, Measure E, a Charter Amendment regarding City Council salaries, and Measure F, an increase to the Transient Occupancy Tax.
- The Alameda County Public Health Department is responding to monkeypox, which is being referred to as MPX. On August 1, Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency. The County is working with community partners to ensure access to MPX vaccines for those with the highest risk of exposure. Currently, the risk of getting MPX is very low for the general public. There are 2,356 cases in California and 148 cases in Alameda County. MPX is mainly spread through intimate or skin-to-skin contact with rash or sores and testing is widely available.
- COVID-19 case rates are on the decline, however masks remain strongly recommended in indoor public settings to prevent airborne infection.
- The next regular meeting of the Alameda City Council will be held Tuesday, September 6, at 7 pm.
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Click here for a calendar of all City Council and City Board and Commission meetings.
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Click here to view events at the Alameda Free Library.
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Current City job openings include finance and utility billing manager and inspection and location specialist at Alameda Municipal Power, Program Specialist II for the City's Clean Water Program, Librarian, and part-time recreation and maintenance positions.
- ACI (Alameda County Industries) is Alameda's service provider for garbage, recyclables, and organics (compost). Their new campaign plants a tree in the Angeles National Forest for every customer who goes paperless. Sign up and help re-establish trees lost in the devastating 2020 Lake Fire.
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Sign up to receive emergency alerts and significant road closures by text, email, and phone.
This is a bi-weekly newsletter with important news and information from the City of Alameda. You can unsubscribe here.
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