Resources
Our Partners BLOCK BY BLOCK is dedicated to partnering with and empowering emerging and existing organizations around such issues as ending foreclosures, improving work conditions, involving parents in school budgeting decisions, supporting community policing, and neighborhood beautification. We believe in and support neighborhood leadership and work to provide a voice for all residents in local elections. As a 501©4 BBBON also supports progressive candidates and political initiatives after considering and discussing them as an organization. Our objective is to promote civic participation and increased communication. Join us as we focus our efforts on the unity and growth of Oakland. Community Organizations East Bay Asian Youth ...
CALL TO ACTION
CALLS TO ACTION begin with our monthly meetings which are held the second Thursday of each month. We share a potluck starting at 5:30 and spend an hour breaking bread and decompressing from our busy lives. Some of us are teachers, some of us own small businesses, some of us are doctors. All of us struggle to make ends meet as wages stagnate and the income inequality gap limits our "pursuit of happiness." The business meeting starts at 6:30 and our "Call to Action" presentation begins shortly thereafter. We begin with a panal of 3 or 4 civic leaders representing different areas of focus ...
Leadership/Committees
BLOCK BY BLOCK ORGANIZING NETWORK (BBBON) is a not-for-profit citywide, district-based volunteer organization founded and led by progressive residents of Oakland who believe in social and economic justice for all. Our membership is dedicated to building stronger, more sustainable Oakland communities by supporting local business and building neighborhood leadership. We work to build a unified city. “Our goal is One Progressive Voice for Oakland!” Our Mission The Mission for Block by Block Organizing Network (BBBON) is to build stronger and more sustainable communities for the benefit of ALL Oakland residents, especially those most impacted by the unfair ecomomic system in which we live. Everyday we strive to: develop and build ...
Steering Committee
[column-group] [column] [/column] [column] Sharon Co-Chair, Education Committee Chair Sharon Rose, a founding member of BBBON, is a teacher and a long-time activist around education issues. [/column] [/column-group] [column-group] [column] [/column] [column] Sheryl Co-Chair, District 7 Chair Sheryl Walton was born, raised and educated in Oakland and is a public health professional and community organizer. She is a founding member of BBBON and volunteers to bring social, economic and environmental justice to all Oakland residents and businesses. Sheryl serves on the Community Police Advisory Board and guest lectures at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Public Health on building partnership between government and community. [/column] [/column-group] [column-group] [column] [/column] [column] Jose Treasurer José Antonio Dorado was born and raised in Jingletown/Fruitvale. He has been a ...
This is a reminder that this is the first Measure LL mandated public hearing by the Police Commission. If we want to support the 83% of Oakland voters who passed Measure LL, we need to show up. I’ll be there. I hope to see you there.
Public Hearing on Policing in the Homeless Community Saturday, February 16 1:00 to 4:00 pm Taylor Memorial Church 1188 12th St. Oakland (@ Adeline)
The Oakland Police Commission announced its first public hearing to gather input from communities heavily impacted by policing. This hearing invites residents in the homeless community to share their experiences and recommendations on how to improve policing so that the Oakland Police Department protects and serves our unhoused neighbors. The Oakland Police Commission—an independent community oversight agency—will use the testimony from affected residents to write policies that will improve policing in their communities. The commission was created in 2016 by 83% of voters, to oversee the Oakland Police Department (OPD). OPD is in its 16th year of federal oversight, due to years of scandals, ongoing racial profiling and discriminatory use of force, and failure to practice constitutional policing. Before the hearing, lunch will be served from 11:30 to 12:45. Taylor Memorial Church is wheelchair accessible. Child care and Spanish translation will be provided. Outreach and logistics for the hearing are being coordinated by the Coalition for Police Accountability.
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST NEVADA TO GO BLUE!
OUR ALLIES IN RURAL NEVADA HAVE PUT OUT THE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE FROM BAY AREA RESIDENTS TO HELP PUSH OUT VERY VULNERABLE SENATOR DEAN (TRUMP) HELLER AND ELECT LIBERAL CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE ROSEN. ADDITIONALLY, DEMOCRAT STEVE SISOLAK IS UP AGAINST ARCH CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN ADAM LAXALT. BOTH RACES ARE TIED AT THIS POINT. EXCITING DOWN-TICKET RACES ARE PART OF THE COMBINED CAMPAIGN. THERE IS NO BETTER LOCATION TO MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE!
JOIN OUR CCC (CALIFORNIA-CARSON CARAVANS) TRAVELING TO NEVADA (LESS THAN 4 HOURS/CARPOOLS TOO!) FOR A WEEKEND, WEEK OR MORE. ORIENTATION, TRAINING, LOCAL TEAMS & HOUSING PROVIDED.
Why is the Nevada Election Important?
U.S. Senator Dean Heller is the most vulnerable senator running for re-election. He’s the only Republican senator running in a state that voted for Hilary Clinton in 2016.
Big-name Republicans and die-hard supporters of Trump’s agenda are using multi-million-dollar war chests from corporate donors to try to buy this election. Yet the key races – U.S. Senate and Governor – are in a dead heat at this point.
Now is time to help. Californians helped Democrats win in 2016: together we turned their other Senate seat blue (Catherine Cortez Masto won), flipped the state legislature from a red to a blue majority, won the state for Clinton, AND elected a Democratic Mayor in heavily Republican Carson City. Rural Nevada has 30% non-partisan voters, many of whom are against Trump’s destructive policies. Rural Nevada needs OUR help to reach out to potential blue voters NOW.
How Can We Help?
Our allies in rural Nevada have activists ready to welcome, house, train, and work with us to encourage their neighbors at homes, shopping centers and community venues to vote for their own and the country’s interests. A weekend investment of your time can make a big difference in Nevada.
We are organizing weekend carpools (4-hour drive) and rides for those volunteers who stay a week or longer. Carson City is ONLY 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe, an extra bonus.
When Do We Go?
Carpools will leave the Bay Area every weekend between Labor Day and the election.
Perhaps you, your family, friends, co-workers or neighbors would like to travel and work together with us. Alternately, you can join a team of union members and supporters, dedicated educators, climate-protection activists, and health-care-for-all proponents.
Let us know if you can join us, and we’ll help create your trip to your needs and availability.
Complete our volunteer information form at this link, return it to us: Flip Rural Nevada Volunteer Form
Contact: FlipNevada
Sep 18
20
Rally for Kevin de Leon
The Latino Task Force invites you to an important rally in support of US Senate candidate Kevin de Leòn.
De Leòn is up against Democratic Party favorite Dianne Feinstein who is seeking her 6th term. Even though the State Party voted in July to endorse de Leòn there has been little support from them.
That is why it is up to us, the progressives, grass roots, and social justice activists to publicly voice our support for a new generation of leadership. It is time for new energy to lead within the Democratic party.
De Leòn will be speaking at the September 22 rally and we want to greet him with a large and loud crowd. The Rally will take place at the Peralta Hacienda, Oakland, 2 pm (see attached flyers).
We are asking that you bring your family and friends, post, advertise and distribute the flyer to your networks. BE PART OF THE NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP!
Mariano
Latino Task Force
Dec 17
7
BBBON Holiday Party
BBBON will be honoring some of our local heroes for the past year. Pam Drake played a pivotal role at qualifying LL (Oakland Police Commission).
on the November ballot and then helping to lead its passage. The New politce commission will meet at its inaugural meeting on Wed Dec 13 one day before our party. Great timing at celebrating a true change in Oakland.
Second honoree is Karolyn Wong a rank and file member of both the Chinatown Coalition which succeeded in gaining millions in community benefits in Chinatown developments; as well as the East Oakland Collective in their attempts to gain changes in the new Oak Knoll Development. Thirdly, Angie Tam from the East Oakland neighborhood near Castllemont on the Oak Knoll Project and local community improvements.
Posted on behalf of Rashidah Ggrinage
“YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT”
At 1:00 AM or thereabouts on Wednesday 7-19, Libby’s abstention was read and distributed to the City Council. Interestingly, she offered an intriguing alternative: to pass our restriction on her appointees, subject to change by the Commission itself.
That would have been acceptable to us, but Dan declined to accept that modification, so in the end – Dan’s original ‘main’ motion passed. Desley had left the meeting early which precluded another tie, so our “no” vote block fell apart. But Noel remained a firm ‘No’ vote – so we should remember that he stuck with us to the end –standing alone on principle.
This was the 1st reading. The vote allows the City to start “meet and confer” discussions with any labor unions involved. The 2nd vote will come when the Council reconvenes after summer recess in September. That will also be the time when the nominations for Commissioner will be presented to the Council for confirmation.
Thanks to the brave souls who stuck it out to the end: Allene, Sheryl, Susan, Lorelei, Larry, Elise, Karen, Mike and Lawrence – and to Bruce, Terri, Jean and others who held out as long as they could! (forgive me if I’ve left out someone – was pretty bleary eyed by the time it was over!)
Obviously, we will try to convince the Commission to accept this practice as a bylaw once they are seated.
*Don’t forget: July 26th – Norm Stamper at 7 PM at the Lakeshore Baptist Church – the Coalition should be there in force (unless you’re on the Selection Panel!).
*And our next Coalition meeting – Tuesday, August 8th at PUEBLO (3528 Foothill Blvd).
Posted in Featured Content Political Action Public Safety by .
Posted on behalf of Rashidah Ggrinage with edits to reflect dates and names accurately.
ALERT: THE ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE POLICE COMMISSION WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE JUNE 27TH MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS – WE NEED A LARGE TURNOUT AGAIN!
Thanks to everyone who showed up for the Public Safety Committee meeting on June 13th. We did an excellent job of presenting our concerns! Unfortunately, Abel Guillen was not persuaded, so we deadlocked. You can read The Express article and comments by following the link.
Next steps: We are trying to arrange to meet with Dan Kalb to see if we can close the gap between what his Ordinance provides and what we feel is necessary to change and/or include. If we are successful in achieving some measure of consensus, the hope is that we will withdraw our competing Ordinance and simply fight to amend it in the areas that are still dispute. Our chances of getting 5 Council votes are improved if we don’t challenge his Ordinance but simply try to amend it.
We will need to try to persuade Lynette McElhaney to agree with whatever amendments we propose and make sure Annie Campbell=Washington is still on board, as she indicated she was when we met with her on Friday 9-9. The other 3 votes will be Desley Brooks, Noel Gallo and Rebecca Kaplan.
I suggest that folks who backed Abel for District 2 Council member let him hear how disappointing he was and how he has undermined support for his re-election next year. Even if he doesn’t change his vote, he needs to know that we are paying attention!
Again – many thanks to all of you who came, who spoke, who ceded time, and who emailed Council members and represented this Coalition so passionately and intelligently!
Onward!!!! The fat lady hasn’t sung yet!
So I buried the lede of the Swanson-Report 6-21-2017. Official: Oakland mayor bungled police sex misconduct probe As if there are any more reasons to have an effective Police Commission.
Jun 17
12
Pack the Room!
If we want the Police Commission to function as we intended – efficiently, effectively and INDEPENDENTLY- we need to stand up and urge the Public Safety Committee to accept our amendments which Noel Gallo will carry. Speakers should identify whose district they live in and what organization they represent (if any).
Each one, bring one (or two or three!!!)— everyone should sign up to speak on item 8.
You can sign up here. Even if you’d rather not speak, sign up so so you can cede time to someone who needs more time, but we should have at least 25 speakers and we should PACK THE ROOM!
You can read our substitute ordinance (Kalb’s + our changes) Coalition Substitute Ordinance 6.13.17 LB 6-8 in legislative language. Changes are highlighted in gray and underline. You can also read the amendments Comparison of Kalb.Gallo and Coalition Ord in order to focus on the main points.
The meeting is set to begin at 5:00 pm in hearing room 1 – our item will probably not be called until 6:00 pm.
The implementation ordinance for the Charter amendment Measure LL is in the final stage of mark-up. The coalition has reviewed the most recent version and created a comparison document: Comparison of Kalb.Gallo and Coalition Ord
You can add your voice at the Rules Committee on May 11th and at the Public Safety Committee on May 23rd, both begining at 6 PM.
