Nikki Fortunato Bas, Councilmember

01/20/2021

💉😷 COUNTY VACCINE UPDATES: COVID vaccine administration began in Alameda County in mid-December. Healthcare workers are currently receiving vaccines as part of Phase 1a. Phase 1b is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks, which covers those 65+, essential workers, and those living in congregate settings.

Visit covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines to learn more and sign up to be notified when the vaccine could be available to you.

01/18/2021

Anti Police-Terror Project

Let's reclaim #MLK's radical legacy to #Refund #Restore #Reimagine our Oakland communities with #HousingForAll, safety focused on prevention & healing, and a progressive corporate tax to help ensure a #JustRecovery. Join the final event of MLK weekend at 12noon with Anti Police-Terror Project.

See you soon!

Meet us at the Port of Oakland, near Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, or join us virtually via FM radio, http://protestsound.com, Facebook live, or join a zoom watch party hosted by Senior and Disability Action w/ CC & ASL.

For more details: https://www.antipoliceterrorproject.org/new-events/reclaim-mlk-march-2021

01/16/2021

More than 1,000 of you tuned into last week's launch of my #RoseBudThornNFB video series -- thank you. Here's episode 2.

As a reminder, Rose Bud Thorn is a way to connect directly and casually with you about our work, sharing 🌹 a rose (inspiring, joyful), 🌻 a bud (look forward to your support), and 🥀 a thorn (challenge + opportunity we'll overcome together).

📢🌻 I want to highlight the 2-part #CallToAction I share for my bud.

[1] Visit bit.ly/extendoak to join Tuesday's Council meeting and share public comment on Item #6 in support of extending COVID-19 #EmergencyPaidSickLeave for our frontline workers.

[2] Contact your CA representatives urging them to pass #AB15, which would extend the statewide #EvictionMoratorium until the end of this year and not limit cities’ abilities to further protect our residents: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

For my thorn 🥀💔 I talk about public safety; please watch til the end. A dear young man from our San Antonio community was severely injured due to gun violence. Gratitude to Trybe, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, Oakland Unite for leading a community circle to show our love and care to his family and neighbors. We must balance the need to prioritize police resources on immediate response to violent crime, with long term structural changes focused on refunding community services to address root causes and ensure we all have the stability and security needed in order to thrive.

Thanks for listening and see you next week.

01/16/2021

🥊 💪🏽 MEET DALIA “LA PANTERA” GOMEZ: You may have seen kids learning to box in District 2’s San Antonio Park recently. Dalia Gomez is a professional boxer, motivational speaker and OUSD physical education teacher, who founded Vertical Skillz @verticalskillz in 2004 to serve Oakland youth through opportunities focused around building their physical, mental and character strength.

Recently, she began running a free outdoor kid’s self defense / boxing camp in San Antonio Park using one of the tennis courts! Tap in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon. Learn more from The Oaklandside @theoaklandside at bit.ly/boxingd2.

📸 by Amir Aziz.

01/15/2021

📢✊ CAR CARAVAN TO RECLAIM MLK'S RADICAL LEGACY: Join Anti Police-Terror Project @antipoliceterrorproject 7th Annual Reclaim MLK’s Radical Legacy Weekend with virtual events today through Sunday and a car caravan march on Monday. The caravan begins at noon at the Port of Oakland and will head down International / E. 14th to East Oakland with a short program at the end.

Virtual events over the weekend include workshops on fighting evictions, creative writing for justice, and land liberation legislation.

This year’s theme is #Reimagine. We must continue working not only to improve conditions within the limits and brokenness of our current systems, but also on making big changes to reinvest in critical social programs that will help ALL of our community members achieve safety, stability, and success. 🖤

01/14/2021

✍️🔮 ATTENTION YOUTH POETS: Young writers age 13-18, apply for 2021 Youth Poet Laureate - Oakland by February 1! The Laureate earns an educational scholarship, and all finalists are invited to serve as ambassadors with ongoing opportunities for performances, projects, and peer support.

Learn more & apply at bit.ly/oakyouthpoet. Thank you to Oakland Public Library for leading this program.

01/14/2021

💵 🛠 YOUTH MINI-GRANTS: The deadline for ReCAST’s Youth to Youth mini-grant application is quickly approaching! Young people in Oakland between the ages of 13-21, with at least one adult, can apply for up to $5K to fund a project idea that seeks to improve the well-being of our community.

Learn more and apply by Tuesday, January 19th at oaklandca.gov/services/apply-for-youth-mini-grant-funds.

01/12/2021

📝 COUNCIL MEETING PREVIEW: Hope you can join or share public comment at tomorrow's 1pm Special Council meeting bit.ly/jan12preview.

✅ I’m introducing a resolution with CM Thao to create a Blue Ribbon Task Force for my progressive business tax proposal / ordinance approved by Council last summer for placement on the November 2022 ballot. By inviting the largest corporations in Oakland to invest in our general purpose fund, we can grow our revenue and ensure a just recovery from COVID-19.

✅ I’m joining CMs Taylor, Reid, and Fife to urge Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley to charge former BART police officer Anthony Pirone in the killing of Oscar Grant.

✅ I’m joining Vice Mayor Kaplan, CMs Taylor and Fife to urge the national park service to initiate an exploratory survey to analyze the appropriateness of a national park or monument dedicated to the Black Panther Party in the Bay Area.

✅ I’m partnering with Vice Mayor Kaplan in amending a resolution requesting the City Administrator to follow the Center For Disease Control (CDC) Interim Guidelines On Homelessness and COVID-19 to only clear encampments if individual housing units or alternative shelter is provided, amending the resolution to prohibit congregate shelters as offers of alternative shelter during COVID.

01/09/2021

[🌹Rose 🌻 Bud 🥀 Thorn] my first weekly video update!

Excited to announce that I'll be sharing regular videos here to better engage and inform you of what our office is working on and how you can support! I'll use a #RoseBudThorn format.

🌹 A rose will be something that's positive, inspiring, or brings me joy.

🌻 A bud is something I'm looking forward to, which I hope you'll keep on your radar and consider supporting.

🥀 A thorn is a challenge -- that I know we can overcome with our community's leadership and participation.

This week's thorn is also an opportunity: this coming Tuesday at Council we'll hear my proposal for a #ProgressiveBusinessTax. Please join me to support inviting the largest corporations in Oakland to invest in our city and a just economic recovery, rather than further cutting essential services that harm our most vulnerable residents.

Hope you'll tune in & check back for more #RoseBudThornNFB videos. Till next time!

01/08/2021

Nikki Fortunato Bas, Councilmember

01/04/2021

🙏 Today, I was elected by Council to serve as Council President. Congratulations to my colleagues, Rebecca Kaplan appointed as Vice Mayor and Sheng Thao appointed as President Pro Tempore.

I am humbled and honored to serve for and alongside you, the people, of our beloved city in this role. It’s time for all of us, the Council, the Mayor, and the City Administration, to work towards the progressive priorities the people of Oakland voted for: a #JustRecovery in Oakland, in which our most vulnerable neighbors receive our investment and support; #HousingAsAHumanRight by preventing displacement of low-income residents and people of color, and creating adequate housing for our unsheltered residents; public safety focused on prevention and healing, and prioritizing violent crime; and a budget based on our values, that invites the largest corporations in Oakland to invest in our city, services for our residents, and recovery from this devastating pandemic.

We’ll ground this work in our values of equity, inclusion and democracy. We’ll aim to work with all branches of our city as one united, effective government. Our residents, workers, and small businesses need us to work boldly together now more than ever, and with your participation and leadership, I am hopeful we can do it.

Thank you to Annette Bernhardt for the portrait in D2's Chinatown. 🙏

01/04/2021

It's Oakland Inauguration Day!

Congratulations to Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan, Noel Gallo and Dan Kalb and City Attorney Barbara Parker on their reelections, to Councilmembers-Elect Carroll Fife and Treva Reid on their victories, and to the newly elected OUSD Board members Sam Davis, VanCedric Williams, Mike Hutchinson and Clifford Thompson.

We have so much to do to protect and serve the people, and to ensure a Just Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to doing this together with my newly elected colleagues and in partnership with the people of Oakland.

01/03/2021

♻️🎄 RECYCLE / COMPOST YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE: Se your clean tree at the curb for collection on your regular compost collection day until January 15th. Please do not set out tree stands or decorations.

Learn more at oaklandrecycles.com. After the 15th, please cut your tree to fit in your compost cart for regular weekly collection.

01/03/2021

💰 CA SMALL BIZ RELIEF GRANTS: $5-$25K grants (based on annual revenue) through the state's Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program are now available -- apply by January 8th, 11:59pm.

Learn more about necessary documents, criteria and how to apply through a partner organization in Alameda County based on your language needs at careliefgrant.com/partner/alameda.

01/01/2021

As 2020 closes, I wish you & yours a safe & healthy new year.

Safety is feeling secure in our homes, neighborhoods & businesses, as well as having the security of a home, job, education & healthcare to provide the stability our communities need to thrive.

Oakland is suffering from the loss of over 100 lives to gun violence, which impacts Black neighbors in East Oakland the hardest. Here in District 2, San Antonio continues to suffer our highest crime rates including persistent human trafficking despite the dangers of COVID, and our business corridors are increasingly targets of armed robberies including our beloved local businesses like Woody’s.

Safety is a top priority for me. We’re addressing immediate needs. Our City Council took action to make gun violence OPD’s #1 priority. My team and I join neighborhood council meetings to prioritize & address your safety concerns. We meet regularly with OPD leadership to share your concerns & problem solve. We conduct safety walks with OPD & community members to identify environmental deterrents to crime. When tragic incidents occur, we work with our public safety leaders to follow up, understand trends & support focusing our resources. Now, as the Administration implements its budget cuts, we are advocating for keeping important programs like our community resource officers who walk our neighborhoods & help build the relationships that create safety.

Longer-term, Im committed to structural change that will generate more equity in our public safety system. As co-chair of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, I’m guiding our process to re-create a system that effectively re-invests our public dollars to improve safety for everyone — to focus OPD resources on violent crime & re-direct resources to more effectively address mental health, homelessness, minor traffic issues, non-criminal issues & violence prevention.

We can create the Oakland we envision together. Here's to a safe & healthy 2021!

12/27/2020

🚧 In case you missed it, see my recent newsletter on paving + traffic safety project schedules at nikki4oakland.com/paving_traffic_safety.

It includes information on: paving happening now in D2, upgrades to E. 15th + Foothill in response to unacceptable traffic-safety related deaths and injuries, a project bringing upgrades to 14th Avenue, and Lake Merritt bikeway improvements.

Thank you @oakdotgram for your hard work making great progress on paving, pedestrian/traffic safety upgrades. And a big thank you to the crews that have been repaving these last few weeks! Please watch for “no parking” signs and move your vehicles to avoid towing on 13th Ave, 11th Ave from Bayview to E. 8th St., 4th Ave from E. 10th to E. 18th St.

12/25/2020

✨🎄✨From my family to you and yours, we send our warmest wishes for a safe, healthy holiday season and a 2021 filled with peace, connection, and love.

I’m inspired by the compassion so many of you have shown during this hard year, from organizing meal drops and donations, to raising funds for struggling local businesses and families, to supporting the rights of our essential workers, to organizing virtual meet-ups to bring folks together and battle the isolation and discouragement many of us feel.

May you find some rest and rejuvenation as 2020 comes to a close. 💚💙

12/23/2020

🛹🤝 Thank you to the many skaters, neighbors, park volunteers and school community who have come together with the City to build a shared vision for Bella Vista Park, where everyone feels welcome in a fun and safe public space. I've appreciated hearing from dozens of you during last week's community meetings. My team looks forward to supporting the community's skate park proposal to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission in January, and longer term, we'll work together to explore a skate park and other possibilities as the City begins a planning process for San Antonio Park. Learn more from The Oaklandside @oaklandside at bit.ly/bvskate.

Also did you know, Bella Vista Park has an incredible history? It started out as an empty city-owned lot used by BV Elementary students as an overflow playground. Thanks to the leadership of neighbors, forming a group called Friends of Bella Vista Park in the 90s, the lot was transformed over the years into a beautiful park with basketball courts, playground equipment, and an astroturf field.

12/18/2020

📣 PROTECTING RENTERS / NO CONDO CONVERSION EVICTIONS: On Tuesday, we passed my resolution co-sponsored with CM Kalb urging Gov. Gavin Newsom @gavinnewsom to issue a moratorium on Ellis Act evictions during COVID and urging the state legislature to repeal the Ellis Act, which would address loopholes that currently allow landlords to evict tenants before converting their rental units into condominiums.

Please note while the state's eviction moratorium expires 12/31, Oakland tenants will STILL be protected by our local eviction moratorium which I authored, which does NOT expire until City Council declares our local COVID emergency is over.

Oakland's eviction moratorium is the strongest city-level moratorium in California.

Learn more about the moratorium & who to contact for help at bit.ly/oaknoevict. Meanwhile, we must continue advocating for rent and mortgage relief at the state and federal level. Housing stability for tenants during COVID is critical to all of our communities' health.

12/17/2020

Oakland unanimously votes to ban gas stoves in new buildings

💡🌎 ADDRESSING CLIMATE CRISIS + PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH: On Tuesday, we passed legislation I co-sponsored to prohibit newly constructed buildings from connecting to natural gas or propane infrastructure.

Going forward, electric infrastructure and appliances will be used in newly built homes, restaurant and shop buildings, and offices throughout Oakland. This is an important step to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with city and state goals, improve public health -- with natural gas linked to poorer ventilation + respiratory health -- and earthquake safety, using a safe and inexpensive alternative.

We're following Berkeley's footsteps in doing this, 14 other cities statewide, and hope more will join. Thank you to CM Kalb, Mayor Schaaf and City Planning & Building Department for your partnership!

Read more from Berkeleyside at bit.ly/oakelectric.

The law requires only electric infrastructure and appliances in newly built homes, restaurant and shop buildings, and offices.

12/17/2020

🏫👩‍🏫 PRIORITIZING EDUCATORS FOR VACCINE ACCESS: Grateful that City Council passed my resolution last night urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the state's department of public health to prioritize our public school educators for COVID vaccine access.

Any discussion of schools reopening must include providing vaccines to all school site personnel, in addition to testing. We must also implement other mitigation measures like contact tracing, improving school ventilation in schools, and creating support for small and stable cohorts of students.

These measures are especially important to help ensure that families of all backgrounds feel safe sending their kids back to school when the time comes. A recent OUSD survey showed that 55% of white parents responded that they would send their kids back to in person school this year vs. approximately 1/3 of Black, Latinx, and Asian parents feeling this way.

Read more from Mission Local @missionlocal at bit.ly/teachers1st. Photo by Sara Shepich via The Oaklandside.