Island safety concerns and a request for donations
Unsafe overbuilding in Alameda
To the Editor:
What is the purpose of a city having a government if it is not to ensure the safety of its residents? Of course, cities have many additional responsibilities, but safety has to be at the top of the list. While we value the services provided by our police department and fire department, we tend to overlook the importance of having the City maintain optimal conditions to permit safe and efficient responses to events that might require evacuation from our various neighborhoods and from the island itself.
Unfortunately, our City Council and the planning staff have not only downplayed the importance of our ability to safely and efficiently evacuate neighborhoods and even the island in the face of potentially catastrophic emergencies, but they have actually taken steps to make evacuation more problematic for most Alamedans.
Park Street, formerly a four-lane primary evacuation route, was narrowed to two lanes, one in each direction. Grand Street is currently being converted into an obstacle course. In addition, allowing an unconscionable amount of additional housing to be constructed at Alameda Point adds to the congestion already present in the vicinity of the Posey Tube. The barriers on the arbitrarily designated Slow Streets will definitely interfere with any attempt to evacuate from those at-risk neighborhoods.
Other actions under consideration by the Council include construction of multiple housing units at South Shore and conversion of the Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center to a housing development with as many as 300 units. These two projects are a result of the Council’s refusal to seriously challenge the assignment of an unreasonable number of additional housing units by ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments.
Our representative to ABAG declined to actively represent our interests, and our current and former faux representatives in Sacramento have rarely, if ever, done anything significant that would benefit their constituents in Alameda. In fact, they have invariably drafted and voted to support the legislation that has created this ongoing continued attack on every city in the State’s ability to optimize our environment, safety, and quality of life.
We have areas where the flow of traffic is already being significantly throttled. And any politically mandated new housing projects can only serve to make areas of focal congestion worse, which in turn will make it virtually impossible for people to evacuate from the island, especially those who live in neighborhoods in the center of the island and also those impacted by the throttling effect of Slow Streets in their respective neighborhoods.
As we enter another election season, I ask that we take a serious look at the candidates’ qualifications. Do they have a history of putting the welfare of their constituents, the residents of Alameda, first? Or do they have a history of supporting the dominant political party in Sacramento that has been responsible for limiting our ability to respond to and control our local environment and various other issues? Are they independent, or might they beholden to the developers, labor unions and other organizations that attempt to influence our political process through the use of quid pro quo financing of campaigns, making in-kind donations, and instructing their members regarding which candidate(s) to support.
Jay Garfinkle
Bring music and fun to residents at West Shore Post Acute
To the Editor:
Help us bring connection and music to our residents in Alameda! As the activity director at West Shore Post Acute, my absolute passion and responsibility is to bring fun, comfort, and entertainment to the patients in our 135-bed facility.
When dealing with health challenges, a little joy goes a long way. My goal is to help our residents redirect their focus away from their medical conditions and toward something engaging, uplifting, and meaningful. Beyond just being fun, these initiatives serve as a vital non-pharmacological approach to patient care, helping to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being without relying solely on medication.
To expand this specialized care (especially for our residents who are unable to leave their beds) we are launching two incredible programs, and we need our community’s help to make them a reality!
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The Bedside Visit Program
We want to build four mobile entertainment stations. By placing flat-screen TVs on rolling stands, our activity staff can wheel a world of engagement right up to a resident’s bedside.
To build these, we are looking for donations of:
- Four flat-screen TVs.
- Four mobile rolling TV stands.
- Four streaming sticks (Amazon Fire Sticks or Roku).
What we will do with them:
- Virtual Travel: Tours of world class museums or scenic locations.
- Wellness: Guided meditation and gentle chair exercise sessions.
- Brain Power: Interactive trivia, puzzles, and cognitive games.
- Family Connection: Video calls on a large screen to help residents see their loved ones clearly.
The Music & Memory Program
Music has a unique power to awaken memories and bring immense comfort. We are launching a personalized music program for our residents! I already have a wonderful collection of music ready to be loaded onto SD cards for commercial-free, therapeutic listening, now we just need the gear to play it.
To launch this, we are seeking donations of:
- Wireless over-the-head headphones (must have a Micro SD card slot).
- Portable radios (must have a Micro SD card slot).
“A change of scenery isn’t always possible, but bringing music and the world to the bedside changes everything.”
How You Can Help
If you have any of these items to spare (new or gently used and working), or if you would like to purchase one to donate, we would be incredibly grateful!
- Drop-off Location: 508 Westline Drive, Alameda, CA 94501.
- Can’t drop it off? No problem! Reach out to me directly, and I will gladly schedule a time to come pick the items up from you.
If you can’t donate items, please consider sharing to help us spread the word to our Alameda neighbors. Thank you for your endless support of our wonderful residents!
Eric Simon, [email protected]
Activity Director, West Shore Post Acute
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