Jim Ryugo, the interim Parks & Rec Director, returned my call about Henry Chang's little event with city staff. Jim said that Chang's chief-of-staff, Willie Yee, had told him that this was going to "be like a town hall meeting."

No one from Chang's office returned my call about this event. When I file a complaint with the Public Ethics Commission about this we can all be certain that they will do nothing. Sanjiv Handa calls them the "Pathetics Commission" and, sadly, he is exactly right in his assessment.

Henry Chang is the absolute worst of a deplorable, incompetent and wretched lot. It is not insignificant that in a city of 400,000 that virtually no one wants the job. Chang is not only astonishingly insipid in his remarks but he is clueless and gratuitous. He has never had an original thought in his life. It is obvious he uses the position as a means to get free travel to China in his never-ending quest to land a couple of Pandas for the zoo. But, to be fair, the rest are equally contemptible and remarkably mediocre or worse.

Does everyone remember Willie ("Gollum")Yee from
his years as head of Zoning? The guy who repeatedly
blamed his wife for not letting them live in Oakland,
so they were forced, I guess, to live in Orinda?

With the surplus of corrupt and unopposed charletons standing for election, Jeanette, you must step in. Ask yourself, can we really afford to have old lady Brunner with her finger on the button? You need to go in there and shake things up, rattle a few cages.

You are right about the part where he doesnt have an original thought. Look on his own website under accomplishents and you will find very little credible successes. A resolution is not an accomplishment. As he stated " his primary goal is [was] to bring a panda to Oakland. According to one of his friends and supporters, he was the reason it didnt happen. (after giving 300k as a gratuity to the Chinease Govnt.) see http://www.eastbayexpress.com/issues/2003-07-09/cityside.html/1/index.html

Henry Chang should have been voted out of office for Rebecca Kaplan in 2000. I can t wait to vote in March for Melanie Shelby. I have heard her speak, and at least she sounds sincere and intellegent, and has real ideas.

Eric,
Thanks for the enlightening web link. Memphis spent $8 millon for a panda cage, oh I mean habitat and the Express quotes an estimate of $20 million over five years, I can only see our future----Henry Chang pushing for a city wide "Panda Assessment District," at only .10 cents per square foot of improved residential property.
It's the same view: "If only we had a panda, football team, basketball practice courts, casino, ice skating rink, convention center, world class downtown then Oakland would be taken seriously."
As usual, the cart is before the horse. If only Oakland had safe streets, good schools, reliable public transit, reasonable taxes and responsible public officials not on the take, then private industry would provide the rinks, theaters, malls, stadiums etc.
But besides Chang bribing the wrong people there is one likely big reason that hit me in the Express article that even they missed. The damn pandas would be going to Knowland Park! I can see that big fat idiot spinning in his grave---that the city would be dealing with "Red" China. The Chinese seem to not have forgotten our senator from Taiwan, even if the Express et al have. The guy dedicated his life to bashing "Red" China, and now we want the Chinese to donate pandas to park and zoo named in his honor?
Everything else aside, history does have a way of coming back to bite you in the ass.

Frank,
You forgot to put the monorail to Oakland International on your list.
As for the pandas, they would be at-risk of being injured in a drive-by.

Oh, yes, the Monorail...They say those things are awfully loud...

On the matter of so many councilmembers running without opposition....

Once in a while, I turn my attention to what's going on in Oakland politics, but more often than not information comes to me and it's not good.

I still know a lot of people in Oakland; few care about politics. It's sad. I thought the recall election marked a change, but really it was about celebrity. Other than that, people find politicians wholely undeserving of their posts, or public gratitude.

I'm firmly planted in the sports industry, and enjoying every moment, because a great byproduct of my efforts with the City of Oakland has been a FANTASTIC relationship with the NFL.

But Oakland is considered by many, especially in sports, a laughing stock. Beyond sports, people just don't seem to have any energy or care for Oakland. There does not seem to be a paper or website (this comes close) where I can go to find out what's going on (in fact, this is the best one). The Tribune and Montclarion are not what they used to be.

The formula to win a council seat is simple: care, knoweldge, a little money, and a great knoweldge of Internet marketing and public relations. But you've got to care before all of that can fall into place.

I for one, don't care as much as I did. I'm not convinced the City's current leaders are interested in really promoting the city, and no one cares about the terrible state of the Oakland Coliseum and the local sports industry, from high schools to pro level. Oakland could be so much better.

But I've spent most of my adult life saying that, or writing it. I'm having too much fun now. I'm off to my 3rd Super Bowl in February, to make more business contacts, and solidify the current ones.

But in closing, I must add this: The Coliseum Authority has no business failing to secure events like bowl games at that facility, or not developing a sound business plan for future activities. The current executive director feels "tied-up" by the board. SMG is still permitted too much authority, and has a contract that causes them to do less, not more, stadium work. The public's money and trust are not being properly looked after.

I told Roland Smith time and again to pay attention to the matter of the Coliseum and give it a full audit, but he's afraid to do so. I'm tired of mentioning it to him. Have some more spiked egg nog, Roland...

I think he may feel someone's going to lose out on the free tickets SMG gives some officials. I'm not kidding.

Geez.

Zennie

I think there is a political machine in this city that has a lockgrip on city politics. It is so-well financed by all the developers now that the only way they will be challenged in my opinion is by a strong, united, citywide coalition of neighborhood and progessive groups that can come together with some kind of united program and platform and run and work for opposition candidates like happened 20 years ago in SF. It recently happened again with the advent a few years ago of district elections in SF again. This resulted in the near victory of Matt Gonzales.

This group of politicians, in my opinion, is financially bleeding both the residents and the city into the ground. Despite all their power and powerful connections, we now have to show after 6 years one of the nations's worst public school systems and now, which I find equally dreadful, a collapsing public transit city.

I WOULD'NT BE SURPRISED IF THEY BRING THE ENTIRE CITY OF OAKLAND CLOSE TO FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. They seem to think that public monies are their own personal purse to play with and dispense, playing favor and reward with. We all know they work for everyone except for the broad citizenry and common good.

Their vision of this city, a pallid commercialimitation of SF, is not ours. They were destroy the uniqueness of Oakland, the way SF's vibrant cultural uniqueness and flavor of it's neighborhoods is now being destroyed by crass commercial development and condominium development.

The close green election in SF where Matt Gonzales actually got l0,000 more votes than Newson but lost because of big money on the absentee votes (he was outspent l0 to l)shows us victory is possible.

The problem is, I think, I lot of us neighborhood activists are plum worn out and the rest of the newscomers to the city are struggling to pay their gargantuan mortgages less they be put out of their homes.

I think it would be really good at least, if such a body could form, like the cityside community congresses that formed in SF 20 years ago to run another citywide candidate in advance or one candidate in a district, but it would require at least a year's advance organization and preparation.

It's a long term struggle. This is the Green program, although I'm not a Green: Running candidates in local elections on important issue platforms. I subscribe to it if you want to see change come in the city. Otherwise, we are just spinning our wheels in what my partner calls "feel good" politics but we are not getting anywhere. (It does feel good though!)
Val

The REALLY funny part about Henry Chang meeting at Fenton's is that the immediate neighborhood is furious with Fenton's and embroiled in litigation and/or planning commission stuff because Scott (owner) has built/done all kinds of stuff that is impacting his neighbors...for neither his staff nor himself to know about that shows a slight lack of research beforehand, or a lack of general information about neighborhood issues. They met with him and informed him about it all, and he seemed mildly interested.

Yes, I agree with Joan boycott Fenton's! Fenton's is destroying our neighborhood. Every night, long after 8 p.m. when everything should be closed, I get woken up by teenagers loudly slamming their car doors, talking on their cell phones and every morning I am shocked to see the leavings of these disrespectful ice cream eaters. I am agast that a business such as this could be allowed to operate in the MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD of modest single family homes. Someone needs to go and burn that place down!

And that is why we at the 'Snooze call him
Henry ka-Chang.

Frank,
Your comment is lame and derivative.
Fenton's was burned down in episode 8F06, with hilarious results.

"I am agast [sic] that a business such as this could be allowed to operate in the MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD of modest single family homes.""

I'm hoping this is sarcasm. I'd hardly call Piedmont Avenue the middle of a residential neighborhood. If you can't handle the noise and bustle of an urban commercial strip, then M-O-V-E. I'm sure Fentons predates most of the homeowners in the neighborhood.

Fentons is seeking permits to manufacture ice cream for wholesale at their restaurant site. The restaurant has already been doing this without permits for a limited number of outlets. The issue will be before the Oakland Planning Commission on Wednesday, January 7.

On July 29, the City Council gave owner Scott Whidden 30 days to complete the soundproofing for the massive, loud new compressors on his roof that run the freezers, etc. The soundproofing is STILL not complete 5 months later.

Fentons had been allowed by the city to open in early June without the soundproofing. (The special treatment here has been astonishing.) Whidden's own sound engineer reported that the middle-of-the-night ambient noise increased by a factor of 8 when the new compressors started up. (Yes, eight times louder!). I personally sat in a meeting where Whidden had assured neighbors that the compressors would be quieter than the old ones. Neighbors spent the summer heat waves trying to decide if they were made most miserable by the roaring noise (with windows open for air) or by the terrible heat (with windows closed to reduce the noise).

Also on July 29 the Council imposed additional conditions on the Fentons operation. Though the average person would think the conditions were inexpensive and simple to execute, Mr. Whidden and Fentons seem to have been unable to comply with the rest of them, either. Some examples: screen garbage from public view and keep the dumpster lids secured, redirect a new spotlight so that it does not shine into a neighbor's house and bedroom. direct the delivery trucks to load and unload from Piedmont Avenue, and not block the residential side street or attempt to turn a semi around there (which has resulted in damage to neighbors' cars and destruction of street trees).

There is not neighborhood opposition to producing ice cream on site for consumption in the restaurant or retail sales there. That is a limited quantity, and is considered an "accessory activity" to the restaurant under zoning codes, says our attorney Leila Moncharsh. Manufacturing for wholesale is classified (rightly) as an industrial activity, and was not allowed under the zoning in place when Fentons moved into the site in 1962, nor is it allowed under current zoning.

Oakland codes allow manufacturing to expand significantly without further public review once it is approved, so the neighbors are very concerned about the possiblity. More production means more employees, more deliveries of raw materials and pickups of products, probably more late night work shifts--and employees do park on the side streets even now and get noisy at the end of their shifts. The variance would also set a bad precident for other businesses on the avenue which might want to manufacture as well. (Ever buy Marzetti's salad dressing? It started as a product sold at the front counter of the family-owned Marzetti's Restaurant in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio.)

I should also point out that many of the issues neighbors are complaining about did not become issues until the current owner took over (in 1986). All exasperated joking aside, nobody condones arson. But when it was closed for a year and a half, neighbors did get to see how many of the disruptions on their residential streets are from Fentons .

If you are a Fentons customer, please be considerate of the neighbors. You wouldn't believe the number of people who think that an ice cream run is an emergency that justifies blocking a neighbor's driveway! Here's to a better Oakland!

Valerie,
They've been churning ice cream for mass consumption there since before Foremost Milk owned the joint.
Do you want to see the end of a long-standing Oakland business beloved regionwide?

George,

Obviously, Valerie doesn't know and doesn't care because she's not an Oaklander--she's from Columbus Ohio, which is somewhere on the other side of the Caldicott Tunnel, so we should just ignore her.

Not to further inflame the debate, but it didn't occur to me that we could use fake names...if we're going to comment in an adult way, how about using our real names?

I appreciate your thought into this, but when the use of fake names occurs, you should also consider that not everyone is in a personal or professional position to use his or her real name. That alone should not be the basis to stifle discussion about Oakland issues.

I couldn't agree more, George.

It seems that some of the conditions placed on Fentons don't really need to be there. For example, redirecting a light so that it does not shine on a neighbors house or bedroom reads as personal. The "victim" is better served by just asking to talk to the owner and suggesting a better position for the light. Was that done?

It seems like much of this is the typical nitpicking that one or two neighbors will do. I just hope that it doesn't lead to the death of Fentons.

Hey folks, Henry IS being challenged -- by a terrific, energetic, committed woman: Melanie Shelby. Don't sit by idly while Henry coasts into another term. Register to vote, then exercise that right. Remind your friends and neighbors that they DO have options. Melanie has some major endorsements: Jane Brunner, Desley Brooks, labor unions, etc. Check out http://www.melanieshelby.org for lots more info about Melanie, her goals for Oakland, and her committment to our City and the Council as a full-time, hardworking voice for all of us.

Disclaimer: I am the caucus chair of National Women's Political Caucus - Alameda North branch, which has endorsed and is actively supporting Melanie, but I am also a very concerned Oakland resident!

Why would you want to vote for Melanie Shelby?
A look at her platform has all the nice things everyone wants to hear. Better police, better housing and help for Oakland merchants. Yeah so what, I mean could you write anything different?
What does it mean to promote Oakland in a positive way? You should promote it in a positive way, but is that really useful as a political platform? Shop Oakland is a great idea. The truth is many people shop in Emeryville. Not having that store space in Oakland was a miss. Think about Union Square in The City!
Enforce HUD laws? They should be enforced! Where the hell are the Federal representatives? Are they doing their job?
Her youth program centers around MOCHA. She is a board member of this group. What other groups will be funded? Her platform is vauge on funding and direction.
She wants police and City employees to recieve housing assistance. Police are well paid. If they are not living here I doubt affordability is the issue. Why should we subsidize well paid public workers at the expense of private workers?
The Uptown project is a copy of Jerry Brown's ideas.
Wherehouses in the Army Base? Is that really good land use? We have wherehouses, San Francisco has Mission Bay, and Santa Clara County has Silicon Valley. We plan to use valuable land to store merchandise!
She is right to say government should serve the people. I think everyone must know who their elected officials are. I get tons of fluff mailers from them; filled with useless info and phone numbers. It will be a great day when useful people get elected and propose useful ideas.

I don't see a single thing on Melanie's website about the NUMBER ONE issue facing Oakland today, which of course is when we will finally get new Pandas. Only Henry Chang has pledged to bring pandas to Oakland. Remember to vote yes on Pandas, yes on Oakland and yes on Henry Chang. After all, without pandas, our city is lost.

In fact, an endorsement by Delsey Brooks is a very SCARY endorsement indeed as Delsey Brooks is one of the main pushers of condominmum conversion, one of the main tools San Francisco has used to subvert rent control. Remember, we are already losing enrollment in schools to families being unable to afford the high cost of apartments and living here in Oakland. Do we need to destablize rent control further with these kinds of endorsers and supporters? I'm curious as to where Melanie, whom I've never heard of before, stands on this issue. Until then, I'll stick with Mr. Panda bear. As for Jane Brunner's support,
have we heard anything from Ms. Running for the STate Assembly on anything Gov. Schwarznennegger is doing since our Councilwoman took a hit at Arnold in a published letter to the editor which advertised that it's her office that trains state asembly members in sexual harrassment? How about the harrassment of poor women and children off the welfare rolls. I've tried for over a year to get Jane Brunner to speak in support of Wilma Chan's Assembly bill 4 which will ONLY raise the taxes on the rich by a mere $53 I read yesterday?
Hey, do you think she will finally say something about this on Feb. 7th at her monthly meeting? I'm not holding my breadth, but I hope others will come prepared to do more than just be spoonfed as to what they should or should not vote for. Let's tell Jane what she should or should not be doing as our next Councilwoman and ask her what her program is for the council and the state assembly which she has already shown an interest in running for and is presently building a hefty war chest.
Val Eisman