OAKLAND
A bill from Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, on candidate security, AB 2041, passed its final vote through the Legislature early Sunday and is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. Bonta released the statement below in response.
Related Articles
Oaktoberfest returning to Oakland’s Dimond district Oct. 5-6
In brief: Piedmont venue to host Festival Opera series starting Sept. 22
In brief: Jason Kidd, Jaylen Brown announce racial wealth gap initiative
“Stalking and harassment have become all too common in today’s politics, especially for candidates who are female, LGBTQ+ and candidates of color. These tactics only serve to hurt our political process by intimidating wonderful potential candidates out of participating in our political system.
“I’m proud that my bill, AB 2041, to increase security opportunities for political candidates, has passed through the Legislature and is heading to the governor’s desk. I’m grateful for the bipartisan support this bill has received to prioritize safety and look forward to Governor Newsom signing this critical bill.”
AB 2041 would make California’s political candidate finance policies reflect the modern-day political climate. With the threats to elected officials and candidates running for office increasing at an alarming rate, according to Bonta’s office, the updates provided by this bill are long overdue.
If signed into law, the bill would increase the lifetime cap and extend security expense eligibility to the candidate’s or elected official’s family and staff. According to the California Women’s List’s 2023 Report, nearly two-thirds of women candidates (65.38%) experienced harassment during their campaigns, compared to 50% of men.
The report’s data was even more stark for women candidates of color — 54.76% of whom experienced stalking at least once during their campaigns (28.57% reportedly experiencing stalking frequently or very frequently). For LGBTQ+ women candidates, according to the report, 53.33% experienced stalking during their campaigns.
Bonta represents the East Bay 18th California Assembly District encompassing Oakland, Alameda and Emeryville. She also chairs the Assembly Health Committee.
— Assemblymember Bonta’s office
PIEDMONT
City’s adult school offering French classes beginning Oct. 7
Planning that long-postponed trip to France? Or do you just want to sharpen your French skills or learn some new ones? French classes at all levels will start the week of Oct. 7 at Piedmont Adult School. Classes will be taught by Jean Monnier, an instructor at the school since 2007.
Monnier, a native French speaker, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his teaching. He grew up in France’s Brittany and later moved to the United States, where he received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in comparative literature from UC Berkeley.
After teaching French at UC Berkeley for five years, Monnier moved back to France, where in the city of Tours he received his Ph.D. in French literature. Later moving again to America, he settled in Oakland and taught at Head Royce and Campolindo high schools.
In addition to teaching, Monnier’s fascinating career has included stints as a journalist for French national television and as an interpreter during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He has written multiple papers and books on French involvement in the California Gold Rush and other topics.
“I love teaching at the Adult School because my students are so motivated and excited to learn,” Monnier said. “We have great conversations about culture, politics, government and the like. The atmosphere is very friendly and social.”
In addition to French, Piedmont Adult School offers Spanish and Italian classes, as well as classes in art, business, computers, exercise and more. Check out classes and register online at piedmontadultschool.org or by calling 510-594-2655.
— Piedmont Adult School
City’s annual street sweeping starts, will run for 24 weeks
The city of Piedmont’s annual street sweeping was to begin this week. The city’s Public Works Department will conduct 24 weeks of street sweeping this year, a 50% increase from 2023.
To support this service increase, street sweeping is starting earlier in the year and will be more frequent. Daily sweeping throughout the season means all zones are now being swept every other week, except for city holidays.
Visit bit.ly/3AHnzJ3 online for information about the city’s street sweeping schedule by date, street sweeping zones by street name and a street sweeping zone map.
In addition to regularly scheduled street sweeping, Public Works performs supplemental sweeping throughout the year based on need — after storms, during periods of heavy leaf drop and in advance of major holidays.
Street sweeping is critical for keeping our storm drains clear during leaf drop season. Residents should move cars and any other obstacles blocking access to the curb off the street on street sweeping days.
Community members can get reminders about upcoming street sweeping events by subscribing to the city’s street sweeping alerts email list. City officials send the weekly schedule to this list every Sunday during street sweeping season.
For questions about street sweeping, email Public Works Director Daniel Gonzales at dgonzales@piedmont.ca.gov.
— city of Piedmont
Festival Opera artist recital series at venue starts Sept. 22
Festival Opera’s 33rd season will continue into autumn with a trio of Sunday afternoon artist recitals at the intimate Piedmont Center for the Arts.
The series will launch at 4 p.m. Sept. 22 with “Lucky in Love,” presenting mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich and pianist Jeffrey LaDeur. It will continue at 4 p.m. Oct. 27 with “Nothing to Fear,” featuring contralto Sara Couden and pianist Derek Tam.
The series will conclude at 4 p.m. Nov. 17 with “Muses and Musings of an Impresario” — a birthday celebration with special guest artists to be announced — showcasing baritone Zachary Gordin, who is also Festival Opera’s general director, and pianist Daniel Lockert.
Earlier in the company’s season, Festival Opera presented two annual “Opera in the Park” concerts at Orinda Community Park and Walnut Creek Civic Park, featuring beloved community park programs of grand opera and Broadway musical highlights.
For the mainstage production at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, Gordin and guest stage director Céline Ricci presented a double bill of two one-act operas regarding love and betrayal: Francis Poulenc’s riveting mid-1950s monodrama “La Voix Humaine” based on iconoclast Jean Cocteau’s play and baroque masterpiece “Dido and Aeneas” by Henry Purcell based on Virgil’s epic work “The Aeneid.”
For series tickets and more online information, visit festivalopera.org. The arts center is at 801 Magnolia Ave. in Piedmont.
— Festival Opera
OAKLAND
Oaktoberfest to return for 17th year on weekend of Oct. 5-6
Oakland’s Dimond district will host its one-of-a-kind Oaktoberfest fall festival for its 17th year on the weekend of Oct. 5-6, welcoming thousands of visitors with more than 200 craft beers, five entertainment stages, food, arts and ecology.
The Dimond will continue its tradition as an entertainment destination, begun in the early 1900s when beer gardens and German vacation resorts lined the boulevard. Oaktoberfest will bring world-class beer to the tented beer halls, serving steins of traditional German flavors and regional craft brew favorites.
Oaktoberfest 2024 will take place at the intersection of Fruitvale Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 5 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 6. Admission is free, but beverage package purchase options are available. For details online or to buy drink packages or reserve a dining hall, visit oaktoberfest.org.
— Dimond Improvement Association
To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before print publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.