6 21-0347 Subject: Greenman Field Potential Property Transfer
From: Councilmember Taylor
Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From The City Administrator (Or His Designee) And Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) On The Status of Discussions Between The City And OUSD Regarding The Potential Property Transfer Of Greenman Field From The City To OUSD
Hello! My name is Matt Fondy. I am an Oakland resident, sports coach, and afterschool program provider at Greenman Field. I support the property transfer to OUSD because it would activate the space for more sports and would allow more youth to benefit.
I have been a teacher at CCPA for eight years (the school DIRECTLY adjacent to this field), and I've spent that time watching our students travel 30 blocks for soccer practice every year while there is a greenspace right next to our school.
I know there are some different proposals on the table. As a school, we have worked to have a good relationship with the Babe Ruth baseball league--there is little conflict currently in games and practice times, so it seems ideal to subdivide the field so that the city maintains control of the 66th side, and OUSD takes control of the 69th side. That way, we coud install astroturf so that our soccer team could practice locally, and the league could have baseball games.
It is ludicrous to me that our students have to travel such a long distance for their practices and games when there is a space here. Most of our students live within a mile of the school, and the ability to stay close by for sports would mean that families could more easily attend, we could build our sports culture, and students would be safer not having to travel such long distances. We are one of three middle schools, and the ONLY high school in OUSD without access to turf for sports. Please consider listening to what the families of Havenscourt have been asking for over the course of many years. - Chela Delgado, OUSD parent and alum and CCPA teacher
The Havenscourt/Lockwood community does not have any meaningful access to this field, even though that was written as a requirement when the lease to the city was made. Our students come from this neighborhood, and deserve to have a space for sports that is in their neighborhood as well, rather than travelling 30 blocks, when there is a field right here! Especially with CCPA expanding its student population (at OUSD's behest), this community of schools needs adequate sports facilities. CCPA is the ONLY OAL high school without a turf field, and one of only 3 middles schools. Together with Lockwood we make up the largest k-12 complex in the city. To deny those students adequate sports facilities due to legal loopholes and and bureaucratic shenanigans is unjust and unacceptable. The 2 proposals (grant lease to OUSD, or subdivide the property) would allow this access without any decrease in access to the Babe Ruth League. Please let's be creative problem solvers and make this happen. (CCPA teacher)
As a member of the public who has been following the OUSD Budget and the multiplicity of property deals made by OUSD that are not in the fiscal and fiduciary interest of OUSD's students, including this $1.00 lease. I do not believe that OUSD should pay the city money for a property which it already owns, especially in the context of other deals made with the city, such as forgiving $6.5 million dollars of debt on the Mountain Blvd property, which may be of minimal use to the district. Please make public ALL the property agreements between OUSD and the City of Oakland and look for accommodations that can benefit both parties.
My name is David Caamano, and I live away from the field. I want to be able to access it during school and sports.
My name is Betzaida gomez I live away from the field. I want to be able to access it during school and sports.
Hello! My name is Matt Fondy. I am an Oakland resident, sports coach, and afterschool program provider at Greenman Field. I support the property transfer to OUSD because it would activate the space for more sports and would allow more youth to benefit.
My name is daisy rodriguez. I live away from the field, but I want to be able to access it during school and sports.
Hi, My name is Edgar Tolento. I live away from the field but I want to be able to access this field during practices for sport and other purposes.
My name is carlos crespo I live in the community but I don't have access to any green space, even though I live next door to these fields.
My name is Martin Mendoza. I live in the community but I don't have access to any green space, even though I live next door to these fields
I have been a teacher at CCPA for eight years (the school DIRECTLY adjacent to this field), and I've spent that time watching our students travel 30 blocks for soccer practice every year while there is a greenspace right next to our school.
I know there are some different proposals on the table. As a school, we have worked to have a good relationship with the Babe Ruth baseball league--there is little conflict currently in games and practice times, so it seems ideal to subdivide the field so that the city maintains control of the 66th side, and OUSD takes control of the 69th side. That way, we coud install astroturf so that our soccer team could practice locally, and the league could have baseball games.
It is ludicrous to me that our students have to travel such a long distance for their practices and games when there is a space here. Most of our students live within a mile of the school, and the ability to stay close by for sports would mean that families could more easily attend, we could build our sports culture, and students would be safer not having to travel such long distances. We are one of three middle schools, and the ONLY high school in OUSD without access to turf for sports. Please consider listening to what the families of Havenscourt have been asking for over the course of many years. - Chela Delgado, OUSD parent and alum and CCPA teacher
In the End... More "Affordable Housing***", Profits for Connected/// Already Rich, and Wealthy Greedy Developers.
*** There is no such thing as Affordable Housing. = Just call it Combined Profits of The Overseers.
The Havenscourt/Lockwood community does not have any meaningful access to this field, even though that was written as a requirement when the lease to the city was made. Our students come from this neighborhood, and deserve to have a space for sports that is in their neighborhood as well, rather than travelling 30 blocks, when there is a field right here! Especially with CCPA expanding its student population (at OUSD's behest), this community of schools needs adequate sports facilities. CCPA is the ONLY OAL high school without a turf field, and one of only 3 middles schools. Together with Lockwood we make up the largest k-12 complex in the city. To deny those students adequate sports facilities due to legal loopholes and and bureaucratic shenanigans is unjust and unacceptable. The 2 proposals (grant lease to OUSD, or subdivide the property) would allow this access without any decrease in access to the Babe Ruth League. Please let's be creative problem solvers and make this happen. (CCPA teacher)
As a member of the public who has been following the OUSD Budget and the multiplicity of property deals made by OUSD that are not in the fiscal and fiduciary interest of OUSD's students, including this $1.00 lease. I do not believe that OUSD should pay the city money for a property which it already owns, especially in the context of other deals made with the city, such as forgiving $6.5 million dollars of debt on the Mountain Blvd property, which may be of minimal use to the district. Please make public ALL the property agreements between OUSD and the City of Oakland and look for accommodations that can benefit both parties.