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| Dear Oakland, Fall has arrived in the Town! Every day as I’m out and about in our neighborhoods, I notice the palpable community spirit bringing back life into our public spaces. Just last month, you helped achieve this through incredibly successful National Night Out events, vibrant (and crowded!) public festivals like the Laurel Street Fair, well-attended neighborhood and park cleanups, and more. As City Council heads into our fall session, there are a great number of issues around public safety, economic development, street safety, and housing solutions that we are tackling through and creative legislation as well as responsible and equitable budget decisions – but we rely on having strong and active communities to make our policy choices ultimately successful. I am grateful for every one of you who are re-invigorating our parks, restaurants, and commercial corridors by your presence, your cautious optimism, your activism, and shared commitment to rebuilding Oakland. |
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| COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS & FIRE STATION 25 REOPENING – SEPTEMBER 13TH On Saturday, September 13th from 12:00 – 3:00 PM, I will be co-hosting a Wildfire Preparedness Event & Fire Station 25 Open House along with Councilmember Zac Unger, County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas, and the Oakland Fire Department. This event will celebrate the reopening of Station 25, highlight the importance of wildfire preparedness from local and regional fire prevention officials, and provide critical information about the City’s evacuation survey, inspections and defensible space, and AC Alert program. OFD will also highlight strategies aimed at keeping Oakland safe, and residents will have the opportunity to explore the firehouse while engaging with the firefighters that work there. CLICK HERE TO RSVP for this important community event!  |
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| OAKLAND PRIDE 2025 SEPTEMBER 6TH & 7TH |
| As the first LGBTQ woman of color to serve as an Oakland elected official, Oakland Pride is always an incredibly special event. Check out the many exciting parties and gatherings this coming weekend celebrating the diversity of Oakland’s communities by clicking the event titles below! |
| Reel Queer Flix 2025 Wed. September 3rd, 6:00 – 8:30 PM – Grand Lake Theater (3200 Grand Ave) Oakland Pride Kickoff Party Fri. Sept. 5th at 10:00 PM – Fluid 510 (1544 Broadway) Oaklash Pride – Dulce de Leche Sat. September 6th, 4:00 – 10:00 PM, 7th West (1255 7th Street) Fairy Proud Pride Night at Fairyland Sat. September 6th, 6:00 – 10:00 PM – 699 Bellevue Noah’s Arc – A Cinematic Conversation Sat. September 6th at 6:00 PM – New Parkway Theater (474 24th Street) Children’s Fairyland Pride Family Weekend Sat. Sept. 6th & Sun. Sept. 7th, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – 699 Bellevue Oakland Pride Festival & Parade Sun. September 7th, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM – 14th & Broadway Oakland Pride After Party Sun. September 7th, 5:00 – 10:00 PM – Passport (1915 Broadway) |
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| Councilmember Ramachandran with current and former LGBTQ Councilmembers (from left) Rowena Brown, Rebecca Kaplan, and Charlene Wang at Oakland’s Pride Flag Raising event in June |
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| ADVOCATING FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION AT THE STATE CAPITOL |
| Last month, I represented the City of Oakland and the East Bay Wildfire Coalition – of which I serve as Vice-Chair – to advocate for a number of wildfire prevention bills with members of our State Delegation in Sacramento. These bills would help bring much-needed funds to Oakland residents to support with vegetation management and home hardening efforts, as well as advocacy to ensure the availability of affordable homeowners’ insurance. |
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| Councilmember Ramachandran and former Berkeley Mayor Susan Wengraf visiting the State Capitol last month as part of their advocacy for wildfire prevention funds |
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| OAKLAND DISTRICT 4 IN THE COMMUNITY |
| Last month, I took part in a number of community events aimed at celebrating and enhancing the beauty and culture in District 4. This includes teaming up with Mayor Barbara Lee for the 2025 Keep The Town Clean Day – an annual citywide effort to restore pride and safety to our neighborhoods – and for a meet and greet event to show appreciation for the work by District 4 residents committed to maintaining our beautiful public parks. And I was honored to once again participate in this year’s Laurel Street Fair & World Music Festival and to perform classical Indian music on the main stage! A huge thank you to all the city and community leaders that helped organize these important events and for their dedication to our District. |
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| Councilmember Ramachandran performs live at the 24th annual Laurel Street Fair & World Music Festival on August 9th |
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| Councilmember Ramachandran and Mayor Lee gather with volunteers at Bret Harte Middle School for Oakland’s 2025 Keep The Town Clean Day |
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| Councilmember Ramachandran and Mayor Lee listen to volunteers at last month’s District 4 Parks Meet & Greet |
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| SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION |
| Recently, I’ve spoken out against President Trump’s threats and actions against Oakland – from ICE immigration raids to possible National Guard deployment – and stated my commitment to standing up to the White House in order to protect the freedom and diversity of our community. This includes taking part in a press conference on August 14th with Mayor Barbara Lee, several of my Council colleagues, and representatives from local, County, and state offices and organizations. I’ve also been speaking out about these threats to our communities on social media; you can watch several of my recent videos on these issues by clicking the titles below. |
| Immigration Raids & Impact of Federal LawsuitsTrump’s Threats to Deploy the National Guard in OaklandThe Importance of Redistricting in California |
| Councilmember Ramachandran discusses recent ICE immigration raids in Oakland |
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| SAVE THE DATE – OAKTOBERFEST AND DIWALI 2025 |
| Save the date for two exciting events happening in the next few months! The first is the 18th Annual Oaktoberfest in the Dimond District on October 4th and 5th, which will feature outdoor dining, drinking, vendors, and entertainment with free entry for the whole family. And Friday, October 24th will be Oakland’s annual Diwali celebration! Stay tuned for additional information and updates on both events in the coming weeks. |
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| OAKLAND EVENT PLANNERS HOW CAN THE CITY HELP YOU? Have you ever tried to organize a public event in Oakland but found the process to be difficult or complicated? If so, I want to hear about it! If you’ve faced these challenges while planning a party, concert, festival, or other similar event, leave a comment in my YouTube video below so the City Council can explore new ways to improve the process going forward. Councilmember Ramachandran asks residents to discuss the challenges they’ve faced when organizing events in Oakland DISTRICT 4 INFORMATIONAL VIDEO SERIES Part of my role as a Councilmember is to provide as much information to my fellow residents as possible about changes to laws and policies in Oakland and throughout California, as well as offer some interesting looks at our City’s history and culture. One way I help to disseminate this information is through my video series on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, where I discuss emerging news and issues with the District 4 community. This includes a few recent videos, which you can access by clicking on the links below: 24-Hour Hotlines & Resources for Domestic Violence VictimsAC Alerts – Notifications to Help You Stay SafeMexico vs Japan Soccer at the Oakland ColiseumOakland City Council Meetings on TwitchCalifornia High Speed Rail Project Councilmember Ramachandran shares vital resources for individuals who have experienced domestic violence COMMUNITY INFORMATION & RESOURCES CITYCAMP OAKLAND 2025 “UNCONFERENCE”CityCamp Oakland is a one-day unconference — a participant-driven gathering where anyone can propose, lead, or join sessions about the issues and opportunities shaping life in Oakland. Expect to connect with a diverse mix of neighbors, civic leaders, technologists, advocates, designers, policy wonks, educators, and curious residents. Bring your ideas, your expertise, or just your curiosity — everyone is welcome, and no experience is required. To take part in this space for real conversations, cross-community connections, and collective action to shape Oakland’s future, click here for more information. HEAD ROYCE GRAND OPENING RIBBON CUTTINGOn Sunday, September 14th, the Oakland community will celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Head Royce school South Campus. The event will be held from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, with a speaking program at 11:00 AM and self-guided tours to follow. RSVP by September 10th by clicking here. EAST BAY WILDFIRE COALITION MEETINGThe East Bay Wildfire Coalition (EBWC) – on which Councilmember Ramachandran serves as Vice-Chair – will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, September 24th at El Cerrito City Hall from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This meeting is open to the public and will provide regional coordination and strategies that will make Oakland and its neighboring communities prepared to address the risk of wildfires. Click here to learn more or to participate either in person or virtually. REDWOOD HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION BLOOD DRIVEThe Redwood Heights Association will be holding a community blood drive on Saturday, September 13th from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Join your neighbors to help those in need by donating blood at the Redwood Heights Recreation Center (3883 Aliso Avenue). With someone in the U.S. needing blood every two seconds, your participation in this safe and easy process will help save lives. Click here to learn more or sign up. OAKLAND SERVES SEEKS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS MENTORSOakland Serves is seeking individuals to dedicate at least 1.5 hours per week to mentor Oakland students in the classroom in the areas of English, Math, and History. Several class schedules and high school locations are available. Click here to learn more about how to build a better future for students in our community. 30TH ANNUAL CREEK TO BAY DAY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESVolunteers of all ages are invited to join Oakland Creek to Bay Day projects to clean Oakland’s creeks, shorelines, parks, and neighborhoods. Projects include trash removal, habitat restoration, tree planting, and beautification. Participation will not only help make a positive community impact but will also protect our creeks, bay, ocean, and beaches. Click here to learn more. Keep D4 Beautiful Local neighborhood clean-ups and beautification – click the titles to learn more Bienati Overlook Pocket Park Work Party Sun. September 7th, 9:00 – 11:00 AM – Bienati Way & Dimond Avenue Friends of Montclair Railroad Trail Work Party Sat. Sept. 13th, 9:00 – 11:00 AM – Montclair Railroad Trail & Cortereal Ave Keep Dimond Clean Litter Walk Every Wednesday at 8:30am, and Saturday at 9:00 AM Gardening in the Cascade Every Thursday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 3300 Joaquin Miller Park Allendale Community Garden Workdays Every Sunday, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – 3711 Suter Street Friends of Dimond Park Cleanup Every 3rd Saturday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM North Hills Community Association Garden Workdays Every 2nd & 4th Saturday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM High Street Coalition Cleanup Every 2nd and 4th Saturday, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM Friends of Joaquin Miller Park Cleanup Every Saturday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Laurel Art Garden Cleanup Every 3rd Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 3401 Delaware St. Friends of Sausal Creek Workdays Multiple days and times Garber Park Stewards Volunteer Days Every 1st and 3rd Saturday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Fireplace Plaza Claremont Canyon Conservancy Stewardship Days Every 4th Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Signpost 29 by Ashby & Tunnel Road Oakland Firesafe Council Monthly Meeting Every third Wednesday from 7:00 – 8:30 PM on Zoom Keep D4 Engaged Neighborhood Councils – click the titles to learn more Oakland’s Neighborhood Councils have regular meetings that are run by neighbors and attended by OPD Community Resource Officers. Participants discuss public safety and other local issues. Bret Harte-Joaquin Miller 22Y Neighborhood Council East Canyon 22x Neighborhood Council Montclair Neighborhood Council Laurel/Redwood Heights 25x Neighborhood Council Glenview Neighbors 16Y NC Other Neighborhood Associations Although not organized by the City, these groups serve similar functions. If you are part of any that you would like us to share, please let us know! Piedmont Pines Neighborhood AssociationNorth Hills Community AssociationDimond Improvement AssociationOakmore Homes AssociationRedwood Heights AssociationHomeowners of Crestmont Association Feet on the Street Laurel Community Safety Walk Join in a weekly walk of MacArthur between 35th and High Street every Tuesday at 6:00pm to create a shared sense of community safety and support local businesses. Participants meet at the Laurel Ace Hardware parking lot. For more information, email feetonthestreet@gmail.com. Keep D4 Vibrant Free or Low-Cost Events in District – click the titles to learn more First Friday – Close Encounters at Chabot Space & Science Center Fri. September 5th, 6:00 – 10:00 PM – 10000 Skyline Blvd. Teen Advisory Board at Montclair LibrarySat. September 6th, 1:00 – 2:00 PM – 1687 Mountain Blvd. Summer Hike & Sip at Chabot Space & Science Center Sat. September 6th at 5:00 PM – 10000 Skyline Blvd. Family Nature Adventures at Chabot Space & Science Center Sat. September 13th, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM – 10000 Skyline Blvd. Monthly Craft Time at Dimond Library Sat. September 13th, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 3565 Fruitvale Avenue Summer Hike & Sip at Chabot Space & Science Center Sat. September 13th at 5:00 PM – 10000 Skyline Blvd. Starlit Screens Outdoor Movies in Montclair – Wild Robot Sat. September 13th at 7:00 PM – Moraga & Medau Concert For A Cure – Benefit For Jammers Strong Foundation Sun. September 14th at 4:00 PM – 3500 Mountain Blvd. Dimond Library Book Club Wed. September 17th, 6:30 – 7:30 PM – 3565 Fruitvale Avenue Linocut Block Printing at Dimond Library Sat. September 20th, 2:00 – 4:00 PM – 3565 Fruitvale Avenue Live In The Laurel Featuring The Gold Souls Sat. September 20th, 6:00 – 8:00 PM – 4251 MacArthur Blvd Teen Pop-Up Crafts at Dimond Library Tues. September 23rd, 4:00 – 5:00 PM – 3565 Fruitvale Avenue Teen Crafting at Montclair Library Wed. September 24th, 2:00 – 3:00 PM – 1687 Mountain Blvd. MOCHA at Dimond Library Sat. September 27th, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – 3565 Fruitvale Avenue Redwood Heights Association Movie In The Park Sat. September 27th at 6:45 PM – 3883 Aliso Avenue Summer Hike & Sip at Chabot Space & Science Center Sun. September 28th at 5:00 PM – 10000 Skyline Blvd. Montclair Village Association Farmer’s Market Every Sundays, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – LaSalle Avenue Chabot Space & Science Center: Free Telescope Viewings Every Friday & Saturday, 7:30 – 10:30 PM – 10000 Skyline Blvd Dayan “Wild Goose” Qigong Every day at 8:30 AM – Dimond Park Sundays at Degrees Plato Every Sunday, 3:00 – 7:00 PM – 4251 MacArthur Blvd. Blues Band Sessions Every Saturday, 6:00 – 10:00 PM – 3411 MacArthur Blvd. Yoga in Dimond Park Every Sunday, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Dimond Park (behind tennis courts) Samba Funk Dance Every Thursday, 6:00 – 7:15 PM – 3824 MacArthur Blvd Trivia Night at Paulista Every Monday, 6:00 PM – 4239 Park Blvd Live Band Open Mic at Lounge 3411 Every Saturday, 9:30 PM – 3411 MacArthur Blvd |
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