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vOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Caldecott Lane Earth Day Clean-Up

DANGEROUS CONDITION ON PROPERTY?

Immediately behind 150 Caldecott Lane is a natural waterway that travels down from Tunnel Road.  This waterway flows into a private property drain.

The drain is located just behind the retaining wall.

If one looks further up the hill, there are more sand bags…

And chicken wire fence.

Why are there so many sand bags behind the buildings on Caldecott Lane?

It appears that the answer is: “to block water flow.”

It also appears that there are natural creeks flowing from the hills above us and down from Tunnel Road.

What is particularly disconcerting is that some tenants have reported flooding in both 150 and 142 Caldecott Lane.  

While I have not substantiated these reports, I have received separate and independent reports about flooding to be concerned. . . To substantiate flooding, dated photographs are necessary showing the condition.  These conditions should first be reported to building management. If the conditions are not abated by the property owner, then the City of Oakland Building Inspection Department should be notified.

While reports about an inadequate number of garbage containers and debris on the property can be made anonymously, a report to a city official about your unit is not anonymous.

FROM BLIGHT INTO BEAUTY AND BACK AGAIN

By March 15, 2013, a rotting sofa, wood debris, and chain link fence were removed from the private property behind 130 Caldecott Lane.

Tenants breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Did you see that?  All that stuff has been removed!”

But, it’s beginning to look like a Third World Country again.


Now the property is accumulating barbecue grills and refrigerators.

While our leases state:

“Resident is responsible for the upkeep of the yard and landscaping, and keeping said area free from garbage, Resident’s personal property, and debris.”

Under California law, the Landlord is responsible for the following:

California Civil Code section 1941.1 states:

(a) A dwelling shall be deemed untenantable for purposes of Section 1941 if it substantially lacks any of the following affirmative standard characteristics or is a residential unit described in Section 17920.3 or 17920.10 of the Health and Safety Code:

(6) Building, grounds, and appurtenances. . .and all areas under control of the landlord, kept in every part clean, sanitary, and free from all accumulations of debris, filth, rubbish, [and] garbage. . .

Please join us on Saturday, April 20, 2013 - EARTH DAY - to help clean up:

        Construction debris behind our buildings on public property;

    Clean storm drains of vegetation and litter.

Adopt-a-Spot has provided us with tools, gloves, garbage and recycling bags, pitchforks, and a dumpster for the debris which the City will haul away.

The dumpster will be located on the median strip at the junction of Highway 24 and Caldecott Lane.  It will be delivered on Friday, April 19, 2013 and picked up on Monday, April 21, 2013.

Brown bags will be used to collect vegetation. Please don’t fill these bags to the top -- the bags will be too heavy to lift.  Sort out rocks, litter, and dirt and leave these items behind. 

Clear bags will be used for garbage only.

We will separately collect recyclables and provide them to a recycling center.

CLEAN-UP BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 20, 2013.

Two locations:  1)  Behind 130 Caldecott Lane

                          2) Behind 142 Caldecott Lane

Sign-up Sheets:  You will need to sign the Adopt-a-Spot sign-up sheet and read the waiver before volunteering. Parents will need to read and sign a waiver pertaining to children.

We will furnish: Water, Gatorade, Snacks.  Tools.  Hand-Wipes.

What to Wear:  OLD clothes and layers.

Wood Debris:  Sort out wood carefully.  Watch for nails.  Nails will need to be hammered down before disposal to prevent injury.

If you are allergic to Poison Oak, remember “Leaves of Three, Let Them Be.”

First Aid Kits will be available.

The debris behind the public utility at 130 Caldecott Lane will be removed by Keep Oakland Beautiful.

                                THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING!

WORRIED ABOUT EVICTION?

Check into this great resource developed for California judges.  It takes about 3 hours to review the material and is "chock full" of information that can help you with your defense.

Unlawful Detainer Actions

The eviction process is called an "unlawful detainer" action in California courts.

THE SHELL GAME

As of April, 2013, the building at 130 Caldecott Lane now has three (3) 96-gallon garbage containers.

The numbers are:

9509 007700 (taken from 142 Caldecott Lane)

9511 011537

9509 007633

The two 35-gallon garbage containers that were "residents" at 130 Caldecott Lane were moved to 142 Caldecott Lane. . .

Under which “shell” shall we find the “pea?”

For more about the “shell game” click here.

Please join us on Saturday, April 20, 2013 -- EARTH DAY -- 
to help clean up:

    

* Construction debris behind our buildings on public property;

* Clean storm drains of vegetation and litter.

We are working with the City of Oakland Adopt-a-Spot program and are one of 70 participating Earth Day clean-up sites in Oakland.

Adopt-a-Spot has provided us with tools, gloves, garbage and recycling bags, pitchforks, and a dumpster for the debris which the City will haul away.

The dumpster will be located on the median strip at the junction of Highway 24 and Caldecott Lane.  It will be delivered on Friday, April 19, 2013 and picked up on 

Monday, April 21, 2013.

Brown bags will be used to collect vegetation in the clogged storm drains. Please don’t fill these bags to the top if you volunteer since the bags will be too heavy to lift. 

Clear bags will be used for garbage only.

We will separately collect recyclables and provide them to a recycling center.

CLEAN-UP BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M. on Saturday.

Please wear OLD clothes and long sleeve shirts.

We will furnish water, Gatorade, and snacks.

The debris behind the public utility consisting of chain link fence, old sofa, 

scaffolding, palettes, sewer pipes, etc. will be removed by 

Keep Oakland Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.  

We’ll also advertise the debris on Craig’s List as “free” stuff for people 

to haul away at their own expense.

Please join us on April 20, 2013 – EARTH DAY – to help clean up Caldecott Lane!  Meet us behind 130 Caldecott Lane.