Thoughts On Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 runs from September 15 to October 15. The timing has historical significance: September 15 marks the
Opinions
35 articles
Putting Housing’s Racial Legacy in Context
Who gets to call a neighborhood home has never been simply a matter of personal choice. Across the United States,
Vote Yes on Measure RTM this November
If you want good public transportation to continue to be available in Rockridge, it’s critical to vote YES on
Party with a Purpose: Rockridge Neighbors Raise Funds to “Flip the Vote”
Everyone knows you need food, drinks, music and great people to throw a good party. Our neighbor Louise Music added
State Housing Law: What a Tangled Web
As readers of the Rockridge Voice may know, I and others have previously expressed our concerns about the two massive
Eclectic Baja Rockridge: Like a Fine Vintage Wine
For the past ten years, I’ve been creating my city models in my front yard on Hudson Street almost
Can Rockridge Learn from Paris?
Please note that this opinion piece is not intended to weigh in on any of the controversial construction projects currently
6230 Claremont — Enough is Enough!
Two months ago, the Rockridge Voice published my article arguing that Ellis Partners and Spirit Living Group were asking for
Extending Benefits Beyond Housing
Cities need stronger rent regulations because land is finite. Simply building more housing will not, by itself, guarantee long-term
New State Land Use Laws Sideline Community Input—Now What?
Oakland’s Planning Department is developing, for City Council approval, a new General Plan for how land will be used
Re: Proposed Development at 6230 Claremont Avenue
I am writing in opposition to the Senior Housing Project proposed for 6230 Claremont Avenue. My objections are based on
Petition Calls for Changes to Proposed Trader Joe’s Towers in Rockridge
A new petition on Change.org is calling for major changes to the proposed redevelopment of the Trader Joe’s
6230 Claremont: Understanding the Local Impact of State Building Regulations
Last summer, I learned that two real estate developers, Ellis Partners and Spirit Living Group, had filed a preliminary proposal
New Housing Proposals Leave Many Questions Unanswered
Fifty years ago, Rockridge neighbors proactively petitioned Oakland to create a new neighborhood-oriented commercial zone and residential zones that
I Am the Embedded Planner for Baja Rockridge
As urban planner Jonathan Pacheco Bell argues, planners should not plan from their desks but from within the communities they serve. I have taken that idea to heart. I plan from my front yard.
Architectural Students Envision 6230 Claremont Redesign
This past semester, in my housing design studio at the University of San Francisco, I wracked my brain to come
Julianne’s Garden: Reimagining the Space Between
For Julianne, the front yard is a place of self-expression. Her garden transforms the front yard into an extension of the home and a welcoming space for social interaction.
Losing Friends to the American Dream: Homeownership
When the pandemic ended and people were freer to move about, a lot of what people around us did was
Maximum Allowable Units: Getting the Math Right
I live on Auburn Avenue—6230 Claremont Avenue, the abandoned former site of the Red Cross Blood Bank, is right
The Fight Over High-Rise Buildings in Rockridge
The recent proposals to build high-rise (often defined as 12 or more stories) and mid-rise (5–12 stories)
Who Decides Rockridge’s Future?
If Rockridge residents feel increasingly powerless over the future of their neighborhood, there’s a reason. The frustration surrounding the
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
A Rockridge Perspective on the June Primary
By Kevin Charles, Guest Author Fellow Citizens, Here are two potential options for learning about our upcoming June open primary:
Negotiations at an Impasse as Developers Move Forward with Claremont Senior Center
By Leila Gough, Guest Author The conversation surrounding the future of 6230 Claremont Avenue took a sharp turn this week.
SB79 In Context
By Glen Jarvis, Guest Author Measuring Distance from Transit Hubs The 1/4 mile and 1/2-mile radius distances
The Step Stool That Crash-Landed in My Rockridge Cloud
As an artist, I am always looking for ways to improve my city-model–building craft, so I enrolled in
Rockridge’s Sense of Place: What Makes It Special — and Worth Protecting
Lower Rockridge — what I call Baja Rockridge — is changing. Once rooted in relationships, it’s becoming more and more defined
Rockridge Rooms, Distant Worlds
The interior design of many Rockridge homes triggers memories from different places in my life: New York, Los Angeles flea
Community Concerns: Reimagining the Proposed Claremont Ave. Development
By Leila Gough, Guest Author As we, Rockridge Neighbors for Sensible Housing, look toward the future of our neighborhood, this
A “Sustainable” Renter’s Life for Me in Rockridge
As a child, I grew up in a single-family home and always assumed that was the end goal — especially