Public Works inspecting sidewalks  

Ever wondered how much a broken side walk will cost you?

According to the fact sheet in Ms. Santana's newsletter for this week, you'll need a permit to repair any length of sidewalk that is not the city's responsibility to fix and that permit costs at least $400. That doesn't include the costs of hiring a contract to replace the sidewalk, which could cost about $2,250 for a 250-square-foot project.

The reason these sidewalk-repair facts are included in this week's newsletter is because of an effort by the Public Works Agency to survey streets throughout the city this spring.

If you own your property and there's damage to a sidewalk outside your home that isn't caused by a city tree, you will probably have to pay for the repairs. That is, if the damage is significant enough to be considered "a defect," which would mean that there's a section of concrete that is raised at least a quarter-inch, or enough to create an unsafe walking way.

Also of note is that the city's federal funds it can devote to repairing sidewalks has fallen to one-third of what it was in 2008, when the federal government provided about $1.6 million. Now it only provides $560,000.

Thankfully, however, the city also reports that 84 percent of its sidewalks are in working order and at least 32 percent of those are covered by the city.

The PWA's work will start on 35th Avenue. You can contact Fred Loeser, Right of Way Management Construction Supervisor, at floeser@oaklandnet.com or (510) 238-6348 for more information.

Flu season in Oakland


You've probably already heard by now that this year's flu season is the season to end all seasons. The flu is still mostly rampant in all corners of the country, though everywhere but the West Coast appears to be leveling off.


Thankfully, just in case you hadn't already made you memorized them, the city manager's newsletter this week has a list of handy tips for avoiding the flu entirely:


- Wash your hands often.


- Use hand sanitizer. 


- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.


- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.  


- Get plenty of sleep. 


- Eat more fruits and vegetables.  


- Get the flu vaccine. The current seasonal flu vaccination is generally safe and is the most effective prevention against influenza and flu-related respiratory illness. Plus, the vaccine helps maintain a stronger immune system if a new strain of flu emerges. Contact your primary treating physician to schedule an appointment for a shot. Many health plans provide the immunization free-of-charge.  


Dog park redux

Get ready for another round of vehement dog park debates - according to Ms. Santana's newsletter, the office of parks and recreation has determined another location for the park that was originally supposed to have gone in front of Children's Fairyland at Lake Merritt.


The new site will be located at the southern end of Snow Park, near the intersection of 19th and Harrison streets downtown.

Parks and Rec will be hosting an advisory meeting at 4:30 p.m. TODAY, Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the Lakeside Park Garden Center on 666 Bellevue Ave.


Like the newsletter says, the conversations between dog lovers, neighbors to Lakeside Park and the City Council remained "hopelessly deadlocked," after the original Council vote on the issue.

We'll see if tonight's meeting brings more impassioned discussions, though we're sure the city at least is hoping that it doesn't.


It's not like Oakland doesn't already have enough to deal with - crime waves, budget deficits, these guys (note the Coliseum in the background!) - but the uproar over dog parks stops for no one.


Click here for Deanna Santana's entire newsletter from this week.