Apply by Monday to complete partial housing board term

ALAMEDA

The primary goal of the city of Alameda’s Housing Authority is to provide quality affordable and safe housing in Alameda for low-income families, households, seniors and veterans.

The seven-member Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is the Housing Authority’s governing body and includes two tenant members. The board has a current vacancy for one tenant member. This partial term ends June 30 but is eligible for reappointment for a full two-year term. Alameda residents who are at least 18 years old and participants in the Housing Choice Voucher program are eligible to apply.

The board meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at 703 Atlantic Ave. In 2024, some topics the Housing Authority will address include building new residential property at North Housing, implementing incentives to encourage more landlords to offer Section 8 lease opportunities and starting work on a new Strategic Plan.

Those interested in and eligible to apply for volunteering their service to the community for this position can submit an application online by Monday of next week at bit.ly/3unijXP. For more information visit bit.ly/3Gcwcus online or contact the City Clerk’s Office at clerk@alamedaca.gov or 510-747-4800.

— city of Alameda

Enjoy New Year’s Eve gala fundraiser aboard USS Hornet

The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum will host a New Year’s Eve gala fundraiser aboard the ship from 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1. All proceeds will benefit the museum’s education department and restoration of the ship and its various onboard aircraft.

The event will feature live music from Big Band musicians 3 O’Clock Jump and the Nick Rossi Swing Band. There will be a silent auction, food and beverages for purchase, a countdown to midnight and more.

The hangar bay will be heated with three dance floors and tables and chairs throughout. Parking will be free, black ties will be optional and vintage wear is encouraged. The floating museum is docked at 707 W. Hornet Ave. in Alameda. For more information or to buy tickets, visit bit.ly/hornetnye2023 online.

— USS Hornet

EAST BAY

Parks’ new officer to lead diversity, equity, inclusion work

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) has hired José González as its first equity officer to lead the agency’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. (photo courtesy of the EBRPD)

After a nationwide search, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) has announced the appointment of José González as its first equity officer to lead diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the public agency. González will start in the role on Dec. 18.

As the largest regional park district in the country, the park system spans Alameda and Contra Costa counties and serves an estimated 30 million visitors a year through park and trail access, visitor centers and programs. Its workforce provides services that encompass 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline and more than 1,300 miles of trails.

“We are pleased to share news of this pivotal role and welcome José González to help lead the East Bay Regional Park District to further strengthen its mission and impact, and build upon successes as we continue to prioritize a strong, systemic approach to equity both in our workplace and services to the public,” said Sabrina Landreth, the EBRPD’S general manager.

The new role will work to improve access to and use of parks services for all community members and support inclusive programs, services and public processes that reflect the East Bay’s diversity. The position will also lead on programs and activities to help diversify the EBRPD workforce, eliminate any systemic barriers to employment and promotion and ensure equitable policies and best practices to make the agency an employer of choice as it continuously seeks to build and retain a top-notch workforce.

“I am excited to join the East Bay Regional Park District as its inaugural equity officer,” González said. “I look forward to bringing my experience from the local to the national level around equity in the conservation field and community in a way that showcases the opportunity and leadership that the park district has been developing in this space for all of our community.”

González is a professional educator with training in the fields of education and conservation. He is the founder of Latino Outdoors as well as a consultant at large. As a Partner at the Avarna Group and through his own consulting, his work focuses on equity and inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.

He received his bachelor of arts at UC Davis with teaching coursework at the Bilingual, Multicultural Education Department at Sacramento State University. González received his master of science degree at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. He serves as a board member at Parks CA and Resource Media and as a member for the California Boating & Waterways Commission, among other leadership volunteer roles.

— EBRPD

ALAMEDA

City, various groups plan water shuttle service to Oakland

A partnership of public and private organizations and agencies, including the city of Alameda, is planning a new water shuttle service.

The shuttle would start as a limited service with the opportunity to grow over time. The current vision is for the water shuttle to travel between the foot of Fifth Street in Alameda and the foot of Broadway in Oakland, possibly with midday lunchtime service to Marina Village.

As of last May, grant funding matched with private and public funds was secured for a two-year pilot program expected to start this coming spring. A three-month initial pilot program this past summer was unfortunately deemed infeasible.

At this time, planners anticipate that the service would be free, accommodate bicycles and operate four or five days a week for nine to 12 hours per day depending on funding and times of year. For a map of the proposed service visit bit.ly/49wCUJv online.

Fruitvale Bridge traffic to be affected by work in Oakland

The “Fruitvale Alive!” pedestrian safety project is ongoing on Oakland’s Fruitvale Avenue (which becomes Tilden Way and then Lincoln Avenue in Alameda) and is expected to continue through the winter 2024-25.

While Fruitvale Avenue will remain open to through traffic, Oakland construction and lane closures will directly impact Alameda’s neighborhood around Tilden Way. The cities of Alameda and Oakland are working together to coordinate traffic impacts around the Miller Sweeney/Fruitvale Bridge. Please expect delays, use alternate routes whenever possible and budget extra travel time if you plan to travel through this area.

Fruitvale Avenue between East 12th Street and Alameda Avenue in Oakland is a critical gap in Oakland’s bikeway network. This stretch of roadway connects Alameda residents with the services, amenities and public transit around Oakland’s Fruitvale BART station.

The “Fruitvale Alive!” project will install a sidewalk-level protected bike lane, create a new connection to the San Francisco Bay Trail, widen sidewalks, install lighting and close two “slip lanes” at the south side of the corner of Fruitvale Avenue and East 12th Street (where cars make fast turns). For more details, visit oaklandca.gov/projects/fruitvale-alive online.

— city of Alameda

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