Prohibiting the Use of Weapons Against Elephants in Oakland

At the October 16 Rules & Legislation Committee meeting, Councilmembers Gallo, Kalb, and Vice Mayor Reid submitted, for consideration, legislation that is intended to prohibit the use of weapons against elephants within the City of Oakland.

The item is a continuation of the Ordinance Establishing Additional Regulations on Circuses that was unanimously approved by the City Council in January 2014. The current ordinance states, "In addition, the Administration shall also provide options for possible legislation by the June 1, 2015 deadline that address the conditions of performing animals, including an option that mirrors the implements ban proposed by the Los Angeles City Council."  In his remarks, Councilmember Gallo indicated that the proposed ordinance, supported by the Oakland Zoo, the East Bay SPCA, and many members of the community, would indeed be modeled after the "Bullhook Ban" that The City of Los Angeles passed unanimously earlier this year. The Los Angeles municipal code was modified to include the following:


SEC. 53.74. BULLHOOKS - PROHIBITION ON USE. 

It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bullhook, ankus, baseball bat, axe handle, pitchfork or other implement or tool designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant in the City of Los Angeles. For purposes of this section, the term use shall include brandishing, exhibiting or displaying a bullhook or an implement designed to look like a bullhook in the presence of an elephant for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of the elephant. The ordinance shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

The proposed ordinance is scheduled to be heard at the Public Safety Committee meeting on December 2 at 6PM.

Watch the City Council Rules & Legislation Committee Meeting discussion on the proposed ordinance to prohibit the use of weapons against elephants in the City of Oakland.

Save Oakland's Shelter Animals

The city of Oakland animal shelter is in crisis and the animals at risk. A group named "Save Oakland's Shelter Animals" was established to advocate for changes that ensure humane shelter operations and more animals saved from euthanasia.

Several of us spoke at the April 29 meeting of the Oakland City Council Public Safety Committee. Here's what we had to say

 

To keep up the pressure, the group is planning a "Dog-In Rally" at Oakland City Hall on Tuesday May 6 at 5:00 pm and will send a large contingent in to speak at the City Council meeting starting at 5:30 pm.

To learn more about what's happening at the shelter watch this recent report by KTVU

Keep Temescal Clean & Beautiful

A number of years ago I was walking the dogs in my neighborhood and saw an inordinate amount of litter piled up along the sidewalk.

I thought to myself, "Someone should do something about that mess."

After several days passing the growing litter pile, noticing more litter and graffiti, and saying, "Someone really should do something about that" I went home to grab a garbage bag.

As I was picking up the trash I was approached by a woman who said, "Thanks for doing that, how did you get organized to come out here?" I looked down at the garbage bag and the litter pile and thought "organized?"

Well that was the beginning of Keep Temescal Clean & Beautiful, an all volunteer effort to maintain a beautiful Temescal neighborhood by picking up litter, painting over graffiti, reporting illegal dumping, and sponsoring neighborhood beautification projects like mosaics, gardens, and art projects.

The easiest way to participate is to drop by one of our weekly litter pickup walks that take place every Sunday from 9am - 10am. We meet at the corner of 43rd and Shafter; bags and litter pickup tongs are provided.

The best part is, because you've demonstrated a desire to keep your neighborhood clean, we'll let you keep the tongs and throw in a few bags too!

Keep it clean!

Citizens Support Oakland Animal Services

The FY2013-15 Proposed Policy Budget is now available for review.

Large numbers of Oakland citizens are speaking out on behalf of Oakland Animal Services. Oakland Animal Services plays a critical public safety role in our community and these Oaklanders (among many others) are voicing their support to ensure that the Oakland Animal Shelter is fully staffed, fully funded, and remains open to the public.

Faith!

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22790229

 

Fatih

To The People Of Oakland...

Dear Friends:
It is up to you what the future of Oakland will be. Oakland is no longer a village. It is a city, a growing one. It is your duty to keep it growing, to keep it prosperous.

Oakland, with its wealth, beauty and brilliant future, is an ideal attained by pioneers who struggled for years over inumerable hardships. The cement, the steel, the mortar and glass and the thousand and one things which go into Oakland, was not conceived overnight.

I realize the future of Oakland is far beyond human imagination. I thank you for your wonderful work. So partake of her hospitality and prosperity, invest, build, prosper and live happy in Oakland.

Your well wisher,
Oakland's Guardian Angel

These are the words written and compiled by Florence B. Crocker in 1925 and re-introduced to us by Oaklander Justin Kanalakis in 2011 via the website Who Made Oakland.

I'm struck by how this Oakland pride from so long ago resonates with many of us living in Oakland today. But what makes people proud to live where they do? One might like the city they live in because it's got great restaurants, access to nature, manicured lawns, or whatever, but liking or even loving where you live is different from being proud of living there.

We have Oakland pride. There is an aspect of ownership in feeling proud. Pride is what moves us to volunteer our time to help our neighbors. Pride spurs a civic passion and the belief that we can make a difference; it's our obligation to make a difference.

Oakland pride is a shared sense of place. There is a oneness about it. With all of our different backgrounds and stories, the one thing that we can all agree on is that we are proud of HERE. Who Made Oakland is a reminder that those that came before us felt exactly as we do about this place - proud.

So let's do it Oakland People... "Invest, build, prosper, and live happy in Oakland."

Next up... The Lake Merritt Monster!

Outsource Oakland Animal Services?

At last Thursday's City Council meeting, Ignacio De La Fuente asked Chief Batts if the City of Oakland should turn over the Oakland Animal Shelter to the SPCA or to Alameda County. The Chief indicated that OPD has discussed options for outsourcing as De La Fuente suggested.

Council Member De La Fuente asked Chief Batts, "Have we explored, really, transferring that animal shelter to the SPCA, the County, some other agency that can deal with the animal shelter?" The Chief responds, "We have, we are currently exploring different things to do with the animal shelter. I do have to applaud my staff who works out there who does an outstanding job but we are looking at ways to maximize that org to utilize it or even to adress that situation like you were saying."

Here's how it went down:

Ignacio...



The Chief responds....


I'm not exactly sure what this means? If we don't have any money in the budget for OAS now, how could we possible provide enough resources to the SPCA to operate a legitimate shelter? And who would handle animal control and enforcement? The City is considering allowing backyard livestock but wouldn't have anyone around to enforce whatever restrictions were in place? Sounds like a tea party slaughterhouse operators dream scenario.

I'm curious if anyone has a good idea of what this outsourcing proposal would look like in reality? On the surface it seems a bit sketchy and would, once again, leave Oakland animals to suffer.