By Debra Chaplan

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes at Splashpad

*** Ken Katz ***

There would be no Splashpad News if it weren’t for Ken Katz. Heck, there would be no Splash Pad Park as we know it. As the new configuration of the park was being conceived, he launched an email listserve in the early 2000s, which evolved into Splashpad News in 2013. Although he relinquished the title of “Publisher” in early 2024, he continued to write the monthly Grand Avenue update.

In late October, Ken informed me that it was time for him to take a sabbatical so he could focus on a long list of other passions, from home repairs to spending more time in the park’s California native garden. I hope he’ll miss his monthly wanderings to the shops on Grand and decide to come back, but the November column might be his last.

I know that Ken will keep sharing his advice and enthusiasm, and that I’ll definitely run into him at the Farmers’ Market or around the neighborhood, but I’ll miss working with him on a regular basis.

P.S. Ken has generously offered to introduce a new writer to the store owners at his favorite haunts along Grand. If you’re interested in covering the Grand Avenue beat, it doesn’t pay, but it could be a lot of fun. Please comment below or let me know at splashpadpark@gmail.com.

*** Jerry Barclay ***

I’m very pleased to announce that Jerry Barclay will now take over the Farmers’ Market beat for Splashpad News. Over the past few years, Jerry wrote several articles about the Grand Avenue redesign project. In addition to being an architect and construction project manager, Jerry served as the Chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Grand Lake Farmers Market for 14 years. I look forward to seeing a fresh perspective on our Farmers’ Market coverage starting next month.

Community pressure pays off

Back in 2022, neighbors on Lakeshore were fed up with cars speeding up the Avenue, as they left or approached the commercial block. “I am aware of at least two incidents of cars jumping the curb and crashing into structures. One was a church building, and the other was a retaining wall at Santa Ray/Lakeshore,” recalls Lakeshore neighbor Joseph “Seph” Petta, who says it happened in the early morning and in the afternoon while kids were walking through the neighborhood. “Our concern was mainly for children at preschool, families playing at the park across the street (Mandana Park), and churchgoers,” Petta adds.

Just last week, a driver clearly under the influence crashed at the intersection of Lakeshore and Santa Ray in the middle of the night; emergency personnel arrived, and the person abandoned the vehicle on foot. “This came after witnessing years of speeding along this stretch,” Petta says.

On October 27, in one of the first of several similar projects across Oakland, the city began work on creating a raised pedestrian island in the middle of the crosswalk near the playground, possibly with traffic posts (bollards) or lights for better visibility. I spoke with a worker who said he was confident that the project would be finished by early November. 

“Our goal was to slow cars down and provide a refuge for people crossing the busy street if cars do not stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk, which they often do not,” Petta added. 

“I would simply emphasize that the early organizing was a collaboration between Lakeshore neighborhood residents, the church, Lakeshore Children’s Center, and Council Member Bas and her staff,” says Pastor (Emeritus) Jim Hopkins from the Lakeshore Ave. Baptist Church. “I think that DOT took us seriously at the recommendation of Councilmember Nikki Bas and her community liaison aide, Debra Israel, at the District 2 office. 

Neighbor Hayley Young credited the Oakland Dept. of Transportation (OakDOT) for their thoughtful presentation to the neighbors, which highlighted situations where stop signs work and where they do not. She appreciated learning that the traffic imbalance at the intersection of Santa Ray and Prince with Lakeshore made it unsuitable for stop signs but ideal for a pedestrian refuge island. The community engagement was valued, and it’s reassuring to know that the chosen solution is backed by evidence aimed at slowing traffic and increasing awareness of surroundings. “It’s taken a long time for the project to actually break ground, but we are really grateful for the city’s support, attention, and persistence,” says Petta. “We’re excited for it to be finished and (along with our kids) excited to watch it get built!”

Still time to vote for Prop 50

As the Splashpad News goes to press, less than 18% of California registered voters have voted in the Special Election (Prop 50). If you haven’t voted yet and you’re concerned about Trump’s shenanigans regarding skewing the vote in the 2026 mid-term elections, there’s still time to vote YES on 50 and mail or drop off your ballot. You can also vote in person. Your vote could make a significant difference for the future of democracy in the U.S. Apparently Trump plans to send federal election monitors to supervise the election and  Attorney General Rob Bonta will also send election monitors to watch the feds.  Because of that possibility, it’s important to get your ballot in ASAP so that you won’t feel intimidated at the polls.

If you have questions about how or where to vote, go to the Secretary of State’s website.

Watch for ICE

On October 22, news spread that the federal government was sending over 100 Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents to Coast Guard Island in Alameda the next day. They were scheduled to be based there as a staging area for a planned federal immigration operation in the Bay Area. 

Bay Resistance and numerous organizations called for an emergency march and rally at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco, and another one emerged in the Fruitvale district on October 23. Earlier that morning, faith-based immigration activists set up a picket at the entrance to the Island; they were met with tear gas and pepper bombs. On October 24, 50 groups hosted meet-and-greet events for activists at local libraries around the Bay. (A sweet event took place at the Lakeview library that Friday evening.)

Whether it was people power or the influence of a few billionaires, in the end, the federal (CBP) deployments were called off for the entire Bay Area.

We aren’t sure if this is a permanent stoppage or just a delay, though we have our suspicions. We do know that ICE immigration enforcement forces are in the Bay Area and have been here, kidnapping hardworking people from their homes and courtrooms. There was a rumor that they were at the Hayward Farmers Market on October 25.

If you see, interact with, or get detained by ICE, stay calm and call the ACILEP hotline: 510-241-4011. Let them know your location, the type of vehicles you saw, and what happened in as much detail as possible. If you can, take photos. 

On the local level, now that we are coming off daylight savings time, it will get dark earlier, so the spirited anti-authoritarian Tuesday gatherings in front of the Grand Lake Theatre will move to an earlier time, from 4 to 5 pm.