May 19: News and Notes

We launched Rockridge Voice on January 11, just over four months ago, as a way to amplify the voices of local residents and add to the conversation about what we want for our neighborhood. As of today, we have published 123 articles about everything from open space to politics to housing.

We have chosen to keep all our content free, without a paywall, to make it accessible to everyone who is interested. At the moment, all of our writers are volunteers. We hope that you, our members, will upgrade to one of our paid levels. For those of you who have done so already, thank you. Your support allows us to keep this independent media flourishing.

We received many submissions for this, our 10th edition. In an effort to avoid overwhelming our readers, some of them will be held for our next e-newsletter scheduled for June 2 (we moved our publishing day from Sundays to Tuesdays with as of this e-newsletter). Who knew our small community had so much to report on? It speaks volumes about our highly involved and active readership. Please continue to send us your story ideas, letters, and opinions.… your voice counts!

Anna L Marks
publisher/editor
editor@rockridgevoice.com

More than A Workshop: The BEAM Introduces a Collaborative Third Space for Creativity

By Anna L Marks

In a converted industrial building on the outskirts of Emeryville, a new kind of creative hub is taking shape—

Advancing the Future of Women’s Leadership through Sports

By Judith Doner Berne

Named one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the SF Business Times in 2019, and recipient of the Founder and Visionary Award at Haas, Kellie McElhaney continues to innovate. She recently launched the Leadership Academy for Women’s Sports with a three-day workshop in March.

FASHION Show 510 Runway and Street Party at Mercy Vintage

By Anna L Marks

Bay Area fashion lovers pulled their best outfits and came to a fashion show and street party at Mercy Vintage (5505 College Avenue) on Saturday, May 16, and transformed Forest Street into a celebration of creativity and style in motion.

May Is Affordable Housing Month: Will Any Be Built?

By Annette Rahbek Floystrup

At the center of this discussion is a growing divide between the rapid expansion of market-rate housing and the severe shortage of housing that is genuinely affordable for low- and very-low-income households.

Who Decides Rockridge’s Future?

By Shelli Strand

Whether residents support or oppose the projects themselves, the reality is the process has fundamentally changed. Decisions once shaped heavily by neighborhood perspective are now increasingly driven by Sacramento policy.

Don’t miss out, there’s more....

Stitching Color into Life: The Art Quilts of Aparna Ewing

At first glance, Aparna Ewing’s life seemed destined for science. Trained in biomedical research and computer science, she spent decades working in laboratories and developing scientific software. But beneath the precision of data and technology was a lifelong love of color, fabric, and design waiting to emerge. Today, the

Rockridge VoiceMolly Porter

Update: Electronic Billboards at Lake Temescal Withdrawn by Council Member Charlene Wang

Dear Editor, A five-month collective effort by Friends of Lake Temescal to stop the Oakland City Council from contracting to allow two massive LED day-and-night billboards next to Temescal Regional Recreation Area has prevailed: The billboard proposal—which included five locations in Oakland—has been quietly withdrawn by its sponsor,

Rockridge VoiceGuest Author

May 19 Update: 6230 Claremont Development Project

The project at 6230 Claremont continues to move forward. City staff declared the application complete on April 21, 2026, which officially started the “shot clock” for a formal zoning consistency determination. Rockridge Neighbors for Sensible Housing (RNSH) believes the application contains several errors and faulty assumptions regarding Oakland zoning laws.

Rockridge VoiceGuest Author

Opinion: How to Vote in the CA Governor’s Race

If you are a Democrat in California and don’t want two Republicans to be your choice in November for governor of our great state, there is only one way to use your vote for governor on the primary ballot that is likely sitting on your kitchen or dining room

Rockridge VoiceMolly Porter

What’s Blooming in Rockridge? Nepeta tuberosa

“What is that cool tall purple-flowering plant?” is one of the most common questions I get this time of year when I’m down working in the Frog Park Climatescape or when someone walks past our front yard. Invariably, passers-by are referring to Nepeta tuberosa, a Mediterranean plant native to

Rockridge VoiceJohn Kamp

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