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THE AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION OF THE OAKLAND METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |

Oakland Business Review

www.oaklandchamber.com | VOL XLII NO.2 February 2016

Visit www.oaklandchamber.com for more businessopportunities, news and event registration.

> Chamber’s 2016Economic Summit,‘Oakland Advantage,’set for March 18

Impact feesChamber takes positionPage 3

A SALUTE TO BLACK HISTORYMONTHPage 6

Pages 4-5

CITY COUNCILChamber completes tracking report

of Council actions

by Aly Bonde

Building on the success of last year’s exploration of whatattracts new businesses to Oakland, the Chamber’s 2016Economic Summit will take a closer look at Oakland’srapidly changing and expanding marketplace. Demandto live and work in Oakland is at an unprecedented high,and with that brings new development and great oppor-tunity for new and existing businesses alike.

Held on the morning of Friday, March 18, the annualEconomic Summit will feature a deep dive conversation about“The Oakland Advantage.” The event will explore the reasonswhy businesses and investors are coming here, and why thelongtime stewards of our economy are doubling down onOakland.

The summit will begin with a presentation from RobertSammons of Cushman & Wakefield, who will give an updateon Oakland’s rapidly changing real estate market. ChristopherThornberg of Beacon Economics will present the much-anticipated update to the Oakland Chamber EconomicIndicators Report, an annual district-by-district in-depthanalysis of Oakland’s economy.

The event will also feature a panel discussion ofrepresentatives from businesses who have chosen Oaklandto discuss what brought them here, what they hope toaccomplish, and what makes Oakland special. The panel willinclude Denis Ring of Ocho Candy, Peter Weingarten ofGensler, Eric Tao of AGI Avant, and Denise Pinkston of TMGPartners.

The summit will be held at the Kaiser Center on March 18,with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. The event will beginat 8 a.m. and continue until 10 a.m. Breakfast will be provided.To register, visit the Chamber’s website atwww.oaklandchamber.com. �

As part of our ongoing

mission to keep Chamber

members up to date on

local issues, the Oakland

Chamber of Commerce

will begin publishing

tracking reports of a

selection of City Council

actions from the previous

quarter. The goal is to

give members a snapshot

of what some of the

actions and priorities of

the Council have been –

grouped according the

Chamber’s public policy

areas of focus – along

with a brief summary.

The Council dealt often

with housing-related issues

this fall – which continues

to be true into the current

quarter as well. They began

the fall by adopting a

Housing Equity Roadmap.

The roadmap contains

numerous policy recommen-

dations including the

adoption of an impact fee,

expansion of condo conver-

sion restrictions, seismic

retrofitting, enforcement of

tenant protections, and

immediate rehousing

assistance.

The Council continued to

focus on housing throughout

the fall, taking action on

tenant legal services and

landlord workshops, as well

as declaring a shelter crisis.

You can see all Council

action, along with each

Councilmembers’ individual

votes, on pages 4 and 5. Stay

tuned for the next install-

ments in future OBR issues.

�

> City Council scorecard

> Oakland launches ‘Promise’initiative to triple numberof college graduatesOakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Oakland Unified School DistrictSuperintendent Antwan Wilson have launched the OaklandPromise. Over the next decade this cradle-to-career effort willtriple the number of low-income Oakland public school graduateswho complete a post-secondary education.

“This is the single most transforma-tive thing we can do for Oakland and itsyoung people,” said Mayor Schaaf. “In adistrict where 71 percent of students arelow-income, ensuring that more of ourkids earn a college degree has the po-tential to interrupt generationalpoverty. Today, we’re raising the bar forthis entire community by setting out a clear expectation for ourchildren’s futures and giving them the tools and the support to exceedthose expectations.”

Within a decade the Oakland Promise will:• Open 55,000 college savings accounts for Oakland children • Invest $100 million in college scholarships• Serve nearly 200,000 students and families across Oakland • Triple the number of college graduates from Oakland “The partnerships and resources coming together through the

Oakland Promise will help us ensure that every student graduatesprepared for success in college, career, and community,” saidSuperintendent Wilson.

Mayor Schaaf and Superintendent Wilson were joined at OaklandHigh School for the launch by Oakland Promise lead partners from theCity of Oakland, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), East BayCollege Fund and the Oakland Public Education Fund. CaliforniaLieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and OUSD graduate and currentOakland teacher Michael Jefferson delivered keynote remarks, speakingto the importance of the broad-based Oakland effort.

“For too many, economic growth has become a spectator sportand we know that income inequality is synonymous with barriers toeducational opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Newsom. “The OaklandPromise offers a model for the rest of the state, weaving together thebest practices to tackle generational poverty in a way never done before.”

The Chamber would like to thank its members who gave generouslyto Oakland Promise: Kaiser Permanente, PG&E, The Clorox Company,Golden State Warriors, AT&T, Comcast, Wells Fargo, DonahueFitzgerald, East Bay Community Fund, EMC Research, Madison ParkFinancial, and Visit Oakland.

If you would like to donate to Oakland Promise, please visitwww.theoaklandpromise.org. �

Save the Date: Economic Development Summit –

#Oakland AdvantageFriday, March 18

> City Council committeeconsiders development impact fee

The Oakland City Council began its first publication con-sideration of adopting an affordable housing impact fee atthe Community and Economic Development Committeeon Jan. 26. Impact fees charge developers of market-ratehousing a fee per unit of new development to help buildaffordable housing, make capital improvements, or fundtransportation. The idea to charge impact fees has longbeen considered in Oakland and is now coming closer toadoption.

While many cities in the Bay Area have affordable housingimpact fees, they are not a one-size-fits-all proposition, nor dothey always work as intended. It’s required by law for cities toconduct thorough studies before setting the level of the fee,and careful consideration must be given to the amount andphase-in schedule.

“If you set the fee too low, the city may miss the opportu-nity to collect funds to offset impacts,” Darin Ranelletti, deputydirector of the city's planning department, said during the staffpresentation to the Community and Economic Development

– continued on page 20

▲ Mayor Schaaf – withSuperintendent AntwanWilson and Lt. GovernorGavin Newsom standingnearby – announces thelaunching of the OaklandPromise initiative.

Port welcomes largest cargo ship ever – page 21

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com2

Names in the news

• Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, oneof the East Bay’s leading law firmsfor business, has elevated DanielNewbold to partner and welcomedDaniel Senter to its intellectualproperty practice. Newbold’spractice focuses on the implemen-tation and administration of alltypes of estate plans, including theuse of trusts and limited liabilitycompanies to sustain and enhancewealth for families and businesses.Senter represents individual andcorporate clients in copyright filingand enforcement, internationaland domestic trademark filing, andIP and business litigation.

• Oakland SymphonyExecutive Director Steven Paynehas appointed 16-year marketingand promotions veteran RubenPimentel, Jr. as the Symphony’snew marketing director. Pimentelhas a wealth of Bay Area andnational experience in marketingand promotions, particularly inmedia and broadcast, and wasmost recently marketing andpromotions director with CumulusMedia in San Francisco.

• The Pleasanton office ofLee & Associates, the largestbroker-owned commercial realestate firm in the nation, hasannounced the promotion ofJessica Mauser to principal. A spe-cialist in retail leasing, acquisitionsand dispositions, Mauser hascompleted more than 300,000square feet of transactions. In2012, she was nominated as an“Emerging Leader” by the East Baychapter of CREW (Commercial RealEstate Woman) Network. She hasalso been recognized by Costar asone of the “Top Producers” in theEast Bay Retail Market.

• DZH Phillips, one of thearea’s largest regionally-based

accounting and consulting firms, has welcomed AnthonySaris to its San Francisco office. With nearly 30 years ofexperience, Saris was previously chief executive officer ofreal estate investment firm St. Regis Properties and a part-ner and CPA at Rothstein, Kass & Company, LLP, the 20thlargest CPA firm in the country. His practice will focus ontax and accounting matters in the real estate industry.Saris has handled multimillion-dollar transactions for topreal estate companies and brokers, and has worked closelywith property managers and developers and major finan-cial institutions on acquisitions, renovations and loantransactions.

• U.S. Security Associates,with locally-responsiveoffices providing premier national security services andglobal consulting and investigations, has located itsNorthwest Area headquarters office to 480 Roland Way,suite 104, in Oakland. Its telephone number is (510) 382-9200.

• Visit Oakland partnered with the Oakland UnifiedSchool District in December to celebrate two outstandingstudent leaders on the OUSD school board. Visit Oaklandinvited the two students and their families to spendChristmas Eve with them at the Oakland Raiders gameagainst the San Diego Chargers. The two students wereDarius Aikens, a 17-year-old junior from Oakland HighSchool, and Bianca Ramirez, a 16-year-old sophomorefrom Fremont High School. Both represent Oaklandstudents at the district level and have spent countlesshours outside of the classroom to advocate for thestudent population. These leaders and four of their familymembers were invited to the Visit Oakland suite for a trueRaiders experience. �

Daniel Newbold

Ruben Pimentel, Jr.

Jessica Mauser

Daniel Senter

Sunset Magazine has begun its two-phased move into its new Oakland headquarters at thePort’s Jack London Square. When completed, the offices will take up about 20,000 squarefeet on the second level of the sixth floor mixed-use space at 55 Harrison St. The iconicbrand, which reaches more than five million readers through its magazine, digital and socialmedia channels, books, and events, is moving to Oakland after more than 60 years inMenlo Park.

“We’re delighted to move into such a vibrant area at the Oakland waterfront,” saidSunset’s Editor-in-Chief Irene Edwards. “This move reflects the fresh direction ourmagazine is taking. From past to present, Jack London Square’s ties to the food, wine andagricultural industries are an ideal fit for the Sunset brand.”

This spring, Sunset will unveil the office’s most anticipated feature – the new SunsetShowcase and Test Kitchen. Some of the Western United States’ most iconic recipes havebeen developed in the Sunset test kitchen, said Edwards.

In spring 2016, Sunset will also unveil its floor-to-ceiling wine “cellar,” which will housethe magazine’s historic collection, and photo studios.

Oakland is recognized as a food lovers’ destination. Sunset headquarters is likely toattract even more visitors to Jack London Square. Approximately 1.8 million people visiteach year.

> Sunset headquarters begins its move into Jack London Square

FEBRUARY 2016 | 3

For over 110 years, the mission of theOakland Chamber of Commerce hasbeen to promote economic growth andopportunity for Oaklanders. Part of thatmission is advocating for governmentpolicies that are responsive to our city’sneeds; and right now, one of our greatestneeds is more housing. The Bay Area is inthe midst of an unprecedented housingcrisis. In order for Oakland to realize itsconsiderable economic potential, wemust build more housing. Every new

unit built in Oakland – at any income level – helps relieve thehousing shortage, as well as create jobs and retail spending. It’scritical to our city’s continued growth that we implement policiesthat both address the region’s affordability crisis and support newdevelopment in Oakland.

Oakland lost its most valuable tool for building affordable hous-ing with the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in 2012. Whileno single policy solution can make up for the loss of redevelopment

Barbara Leslie

> Phased-in impact fees can build affordable housing– by Chamber President and CEO Barbara Leslie

funds, many cities have turned to per-unit impact fees on newmarket-rate development in hope of generating funds for affordablehousing. As Oakland considers adopting an affordable housingimpact fee, the critical question is how to design an effective feeprogram that continues to support new development. Unless it isphased in properly, an impact fee could render many existing proj-ects unfeasible and discourage new investment during a time ofgreat opportunity for Oakland. This would only serve to worsenOakland’s housing crisis.

As many of our neighboring cities experience unprecedenteddevelopment, building in Oakland continues to be slow. Despitea growing local economy and rising rents, institutional capital re-mains hesitant to invest in Oakland due to high construction costs,slim margins, low yields, and perceptions of public safety. UntilOakland has a track record of successful projects, it will continueto be difficult to secure financing as investors weigh risk withpotential reward of building here. There is a very real danger that anoverly aggressive fee program will discourage new developmentand therefore fail to generate any money for affordable housing –something neighboring cities have experienced. Only recently havewe seen institutional investors choose Oakland. An effective feeprogram should work to encourage that, not stop it in its tracks.

The Chamber believes a responsible fee program could include afour-year phase-in at increments of $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, and$20,000 per unit, with exemptions for projects that submit buildingpermit applications before the end of 2016. While fee levels can bedetermined based on the timing of the permit application, it’simportant to allow the payment to be made upon occupancy to en-sure the availability of rental income to help offset the fee expense.Given current market conditions, it’s likely that this is the mostaggressive fee schedule Oakland can tolerate. If an impact fee stopsmarket-rate development, not only will that exacerbate the housingshortage, it won’t generate any money for affordable housing. Thegoal should be to maximize the number of new privately developedunits, which in turn will maximize the funds collected for affordablehousing.

While a reasonable and properly phased-in impact fee will hope-fully play a part in addressing the housing crisis, it’s also importantto remember that impact fees are only one tool in the city’s toolbox.Oakland needs a comprehensive local housing policy that encour-ages new construction for all types of housing. Oakland shouldalso exhaust county, state, federal, and its own resources – such asconverting city-owned and tax-liened properties to housing – aswell as work with neighboring jurisdictions to find solutions. Thehousing crisis is not limited to Oakland; the solutions shouldn’t beeither.

As Governor Brown pointed out in his recent budget proposal,California’s economy is finishing its seventh year of expansion –two years longer than the average recovery. While the timing isuncertain, the next recession is getting closer. Policies enactedduring economic peaks must take into account their effects duringthe valleys that follow.

Oakland’s time is now. Virtually every economic indicator isheaded in the right direction. With the right policies, this is our op-portunity to continue the work of building an economic foundationthat is prosperous, equitable, and lasting. We can’t afford to miss it.

The Community and Economic Development Committee willdiscuss the impact fee proposal at its Feb. 9 meeting. For moreinformation or to voice your opinion, contact Aly Bonde atabonde@oaklandchamber.com.

Welcome Paola to the Chamber familyThe Chamber is pleased to welcome PaolaCastellanos, our new Events andMembership Manager. Fluent in Spanishand French, and a Saint Mary’s Collegealum, Paola has extensive experience inbusiness development with a diversearray of companies, from nonprofits tolarge privately-held global corporations.She also has more than 10 years of eventand project management experience,with a focus on community engagement

and corporate social responsibility.In her new role with the Chamber, she looks forward to creating

opportunities for collaboration among members and Oaklandresidents. �

Paola Castellanos

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com4

s part of the ongoing mission to keep our members apprised

of local government issues,the Oakland Chamber ofCommerce will publishquarterly reports on votestaken by the Oakland CityCouncil. These reports willfocus on Council actions thatare relevant to Oakland’sbusiness community and aregrouped according to theChamber’s public policypriority areas. The Chamber’stracking reports are meant torepresent a snapshot of theCouncil’s actions and prioritiesfrom the previous quarter, butdo include every action takenby the Council or CityAdministration.

> Fall 2015 City Council Tracking

HOUSING1. Housing Equity Roadmap – Sept. 30In a unanimous vote, the Council adopted the policy frameworkcontained within the Housing Equity Roadmap. The framework containsnumerous policy recommendations including the adoption of an impactfee, expansion of condo conversion restrictions, seismic retrofitting,enforcement of tenant protections, and immediate rehousingassistance.

2. Tenant Legal Services & Landlord Workshops – Oct. 20In a unanimous vote, the Council amended the contract with CentroLegal to increase funding for legal services to low-income tenants from$90,000 to $165,000 and to provide $35,000 for informationalworkshops for small landlords with 15 units or less once a provider canbe found.

3. Tenant Rights and Minimum Wage Enforcement – Oct. 20In a 7-0 vote with one absent, the Council approved an amendment tothe budget to provide $240,000 for community-based enforcement ofthe minimum wage, as well as $100,000 for outreach and educationaround the Tenant Protection Ordinance and Just Cause EvictionOrdinance. The original amendment was for $1 million, but was scaledback and adjusted to take effect after revenue sharing agreements withlabor unions have been fulfilled.

4. Fruitvale Transit Village – Nov. 17In a unanimous vote, the Council authorized a $7,050,000 loan to theSpanish Speaking Unity Council of Alameda to build Phase IIA of theFruitvale Transit Village project, which consists of 94 mixed-incomerental units (14 market rate) adjacent to Fruitvale Bart (Phase IIB willconsist of 181 market rate rental units). The loan will be for $4 million instate Prop 1C funds awarded to the City in 2014 for the project, and$3,050,000 in Central City East and Coliseum bond funds. Thenegotiated agreement releases the city from a $5.4 million balloonpayment due to the Unity Council in 2023 for lease payments on a seniorcenter.

A

FEBRUARY 2016 | 5

5. Declaration of a Shelter Crisis – Dec. 8In a unanimous vote, the Council passed the first reading of anordinance to declare a shelter crisis in the City of Oakland, whichallows for a more flexible set of building and health requirements incertain public facilities to expedite projects to shelter the homeless.Councilmembers Brooks and Kaplan expressed concern that thisordinance doesn’t include anything specific about what the city willdo. City staff will return with plans for locations during the firstquarter of 2016.

6. Strada Apartment and Hotel Development – Oct. 6 By a 7-1 vote, the Council approved an agreement with StradaInvestment Group for the development of a 14-story residentialmixed-use building with 250 units on Clay and 11th Street. Theagreement also includes plans for a hotel, provided the group cansecure funding. Councilmember Brooks voted no, saying thecommunity benefits package was inadequate during a housingaffordability crisis.

EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT7. Commercial Compost Rates Amendment – Sept. 29 In a 5-2 vote with one excused, the Council amended the City’scontract with Waste Management to ensure that commercialcompost rates are 30% below the maximum garbage rates in orderto incentivize composting. The amendment also requires WM toassist multi-family customers in reducing their bills, whichdramatically increased due to the addition of push-pull charges.Councilmembers Brooks and Gallo voted no, with Brooks notingthat the changes helped restaurants but not her residents.

8. Residential Solar Permitting Changes – Oct. 20The Council voted unanimously to provide a streamlined andstandardized permitting process for small residential solar systems,including online posting of permitting requirements and aconsolidated single inspection for each residential rooftop solarsystem. The changes ensure Oakland is in compliance with staterequirements, maintaining the City’s eligibility for solar andrenewable energy grant funding.

9. Adjustments to CWS Recycling Rates – Sept. 29 In a 4-2 vote with one excused and one abstention, the Councilfailed to approve adjustments to the California Waste Solutionscontract that would have increased recycling rates to adjust for thefact that the contract overestimates the total number of customersbeing served. This would have resulted in about a 10% increase in2016, decreasing to less than 1% by 2021.

10. Request for Options to Regulate Coal in Oakland – Sept. 21In a unanimous vote, the Council asked staff to provide them withoptions and recommendations for ways to regulate the export ofcoal from the former Oakland Army Base. The Council will receive areport on Feb. 16.

11. Department of Race and Equity – Nov. 17In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a salary ordinance andMOU with the City of Portland for the loan of Dr. Dante James toserve as Oakland’s temporary Director of Race and Equity while thenew department is set up and permanent director is recruited.

12. Oracle and 9-1-1 Upgrades Financing – Oct. 6In a 6-1-1 vote, the Council approved a resolution to allow the City toenter into a $17 million financing agreement with IBM Credit toupgrade the City’s outdated Oracle software, implement a newmunicipal budgeting system, and provide seed money to commencethe replacement of the 9-1-1 public safety system. CouncilmemberGuillen said he voted no because the proposal includes $6.45 millionto fund operations and support of the existing system through 2016.He believes it’s bad policy to finance everyday operations with loans.

PUBLIC SAFETY13. Measure Z Funding – Dec. 8 In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a resolution authorizing 32grant agreements with 24 non-profit and public agencies for a totalamount of $6,370,000 in Measure Z funds. The contracts willprovide violence prevention and intervention services toapproximately 3,800 high-risk individuals.

> Fall 2015 City Council Tracking

14. DOJ/COPS Grant – Dec. 8 In a 5-1 vote with two abstentions, the Council passed a resolution toaccept a $1,875,000 Department of Justice grant and appropriate atotal City contribution from the General Purpose Fund of $10,254,763for 15 new walking police officers. Staff said that allocating anadditional $3,734,233 from the 15-17 budget is possible, and that theremaining obligation would be incorporated into future budgets. Theresolution passed with Kaplan and McElhaney abstaining and Brooksvoting no.

15. Gun Tracing Funds – Nov. 17In a unanimous vote, the Council received an informational report onhow OPD plans to spend the $1 million previously allocated in thebudget to address gun violence. They plan to spend it on newtechnology and staff to better trace and catalog guns, as well as onovertime to respond to more ShotSpotter notifications and conductthorough checks when the system reports gunfire.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 16. Support for Worker Cooperatives Resolution – Sept. 8 In a unanimous vote, the Council approved a resolution to supportthe creation of worker-owned businesses. Oakland has been a leadernationally in the movement to create worker cooperatives, which areseen as a way to address income inequality and increase productivity.

17. City Center Commercial Development – Oct. 20In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a resolution to transfer theDDA for the property at 601 12th Street, owned by Shorenstein, fromthe Redevelopment Successor Agency to the City. This will make iteasier to amend the agreement to give Shorenstein an extension tobuild the planned 600,000 sq. ft. 23-story office building.

18. Online Business Portal – Dec. 8 In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a resolution to accept$50,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Small Business Administrationto create a streamlined multi-lingual online permitting navigationportal for new local businesses. The goal is to increase the number ofbusiness licenses and zoning clearances processed in a timelymanner.

19. Temescal BID Loan – Dec. 8 In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a resolution consenting to aloan agreement to secure $880,000 for the installation of up to 83pedestrian-oriented lighting fixtures. The City’s consent is neededbecause under the conditions of default, the lender would beentitled to receive a portion of Temescal Business ImprovementDistrict assessments.

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE20. Lake Merritt Bart Improvements – Oct. 20In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a resolution to accept$342,110 in Regional Measure 2 funds for the design andconstruction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessimprovements around the Lake Merritt Bart station, including thedesign of intersection improvements at the 1-880 underpassesbetween Broadway and Oak St.

21. Bike Lanes on Grand Avenue – Oct. 20The Council voted unanimously to remove a travel lane in eachdirection to create bike lanes and a center turn lane along thePiedmont border on Grand Ave. between Elmwood Ave and Jean St. –where there have been many bike-vehicle collisions, including onefatality in recent years.

22. Laurel Pedestrian Improvements – Nov. 17In a unanimous vote, the Council passed a resolution authorizing acontract with BKF Engineers for up to $750,000 to provideengineering services with the goal of improving pedestrian and bikeaccess along the MacArthur corridor to connect Mills College withthe Laurel Business District. �

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com6

February marks Black History Month

In an effort to educate all people about the vast contri-butions made by African American men and womenthroughout history, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodsonoriginated Negro History Week in 1926. He selectedthe second week of February as two prominent figuresin African American history – Frederick Douglass andAbraham Lincoln – were born in that month. In 1976,the event was extended to a full month and BlackHistory Month was born.

Below is a sampling of Black History Month eventsin Oakland throughout February. An * after the event name indicatesfree admission. All area codes are (510) unless otherwise indicated. Foradditional events and information, please visit oaklandnet.com/celebra-tions.

New Era/New Politics Tour*Wednesday, Feb. 3, 10 to 11:30 a.m.African American Museum and Library at Oakland, 659 14th St.

Highlights the African-American leaders who helped shape present-dayOakland. Learn how Lionel Wilson, Delilah Beasley, Byron Rumford andothers changed the city and Bay Area. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours or 238-3234

Reclaiming Nature: A Panel Discussion with Outdoor Afro andUrban ReLeaf*

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 4 to 6 p.m.Mills College Student Union, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.

Rue Mapp and Kemba Shakur will discuss connections to the naturalworld and how blacks and people of color can claim and hold space inensuring access and stewardship.http://www.mills.edu/academics/undergraduate/eths/blackhistory-month.php or 430-2080

26th Annual Celebration of African American Poets and their Poetry*

Saturday, Feb. 6, 1 to 4 p.m. 6 p.m.West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline St.

Community members of all ages are invited to participate by readingpoetry, performing, dancing and/or displaying works of art. This year’stheme is “#blacklivesmatter: The Politics of Blackness,” although allthemes are welcome. If you’re interested in being featured, call 238-7352. http://oaklandlibrary.org/events/west-oakland-branch/26th-annual-celebration-african-american-poets-and-their-poetry or 238-7352

The Walking Blues Tour (Oakland Blues Walk of Fame)*Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 to 4 p.m. West Oakland BART Station, 1451 7th St. (Meet at Center Street be-

hind the station)Come to the first official Walking Tour of “The Music They Played on 7thStreet/Oakland Walk of Fame” and learn about the accomplishments ofAfrican Americans who made the music of 7th Street in West Oaklandfamous all over the world. Other highlights will include meeting someof the recipients who are on the Walk of Fame. www.westcoastbluessociety.com or 472- 8800

Mindful Drumming for Healing and Community BuildingSaturday, Feb. 6, 3 to 6 p.m. Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc., 3278 West St.

Mindful Drumming is a transformative learning process that offers indi-viduals opportunities to experience diversity through rhythm andsound. Participants will utilize the twin concepts of rhythm and soundas a way of raising awareness and consciousness for a rich experience ofjoy and peace. There will be drums available. Kokomon Clottey, authorof “Mindful Drumming: Ancient Wisdom for Unleashing the HumanSpirit and Building Community,” will facilitate this gathering. www.ahc-oakland.org or 652-5537

Speeches of a Dream*Monday, Feb. 8, 6 to 8 p.m.New Parkway Theatre, 474 24th St.

Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St.Annual open mic night including poetry, art and music. www.mccatheater.com or 238-7217

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The Black Mozart: Enlightening the Enlightenment*

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.Mills College, Music Building, Room 271, 5000

MacArthur Blvd. Scholar Nalini Ghuman sets the record straight on thecontributions of black classical musicians. In this spe-cial session of her course on music in the Classical Era,she explores the remarkable life and music of Cheva-lier de Saint-Georges, the son of a slave who ended up

being one of the finest violinists, composers and swordsmen in Europe.He also led the first all-black regiment during the French Revolutionagainst the king, whilst teaching music to Marie Antoinette.http://www.mills.edu/academics/undergraduate/eths/blackhistory-month.php or 430-2080

Founders DinnerWednesday, Feb. 10, 6 to 7 p.m.Mills College, Founders Common, 500 MacArthur Blvd.

A fun celebration of African American history through food with enter-tainment by Hip Hop for Change. $10.75 per person. Free for children 3and under. http://www.mills.edu/academics/undergraduate/eths/blackhistory-month.php or 430-2080

African American Oakland* Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 to 7 p.m.Main Library, Bradley C. Walters Auditorium, 125 14th St.

In observance of Black History Month, Oakland History Room librarianDorothy Lazard will present a talk on the early history of African Ameri-cans in Oakland. She will share stories of early pioneers and the moversand shakers who helped establish the East Bay’s largest African Ameri-can community. A slide show will accompany her talk.www.oaklandlibrary.org/events/main-library/african-american-oak-land or 238-3222

“Blue-Eyed Soul Brother” When Bobby Kennedy Blitzed Oakland*

Thursday, Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m. to noonNorth Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way

A talk featuring rare photos and videos on the blitz of East, West andNorth Oakland by New York Senator Robert F. Kenney’s inspiring 1968presidential campaign. The presentation by historian Paul Lee will showthe remarkable relationships that he established with African, Asian,Latino and Native American residents a week before his tragic death.RSVP as space is limited.597-5085

Say Her Name: Black Female Bodies in the Breach*Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.Mills College Student Union, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.

Our labor, our bodies, our lives are valuable. A conversation with ac-tivists and organizers of Say Her Name and Black Lives Matter. The con-versation will focus on centering issues of black women and how theirbodies become targets for institutional, structural and physical violencein America. The conversation will cover the data in the report “SayHer Name: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women.” $3 fornon-Mills students.http://www.mills.edu/academics/undergraduate/eths/blackhistory-month.php or 430-2080

Write Out Loud: The Importance of Telling Our Stories Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.Mills College, Mills Hall, Room 318, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.

A hands-on writing workshop where participants explore how to writetheir stories using narrative nonfiction and fiction. This interactiveworkshop will focus on learning to write about issues facing blackwomen and contextualize them in personal essays and short stories.Faith Adiele, noted memoirist and essayist, will lead this session. $10 fornon-Mills students. http://www.mills.edu/academics/undergraduate/eths/blackhistory-month.php or 430-2080�

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FEBRUARY 2015 | 7

In January, the Alameda

County Bar Association

(ACBA) installed its 2016

Board of Directors. Amongst

them Eric Handler, a litigation

partner at Oakland-based

Donahue Fitzgerald LLP,

stepped into the role of

president-elect. He is eager

to continue the firm’s tradition

of serving the ACBA in its mission to promote

excellence in the legal profession and the Volunteer

Legal Services Corporation (VLSC), the nonprofit

arm of the ACBA, in its mission to facilitate access to

justice for everyone.

Handler joined the firm, then Donahue Gallagher

Woods, in 2003, just two years out of law school. He joined

the ACBA the same year as a way to connect with the local

legal community, and later he began volunteering in the

VLSC program. “I realized that the best part of the ACBA,

for me, is the work the organization does through the

VLSC in giving free legal services to low income county

residents and workers,” he said.

For several years, Handler has been leading one of

the monthly low-income bankruptcy clinics. “I help low

income pro per bankruptcy filers analyze whether bank-

ruptcy may be the right path for their financial problems,”

he said. “People often cry during the clinic while thanking

me for my time. What satisfies me about the work I do

> A partnership for Oakland

Eric Handler

both as a volunteer and as a lawyer is helping people and

going the extra mile to resolve their problems.”

Handler also volunteers his time as a member of the

VLSC’s Board of Directors and serves as its secretary /

treasurer.

Handler follows a proud history of service beginning

in 1929, when O.D. Hamlin became the firm’s first ACBA

president. In the 1970s, Joseph Woods, Jr., who was ACBA

president, helped establish the Alameda County Bar

Foundation and helped start the firm’s tradition of paying

for ACBA membership for all its attorneys who practice

in Alameda County. When the Foundation funded the

creation of the VLSC in 1982, the firm was first to take pro

bono cases and has been a constant supporter since then.

Jonathan McNeil Wong (ACBA president in 2000, VLSC

Board of Directors for many years and president) states the

firm has an “abiding belief in the importance of pro bono

service and the key role that the organized bar plays in the

provision of pro bono service, which has become a part of

our culture.”

All attorneys are encouraged to do pro bono service

for which they receive full billable credit without any cap.

Volunteering extends to coordinating VLSC’s clinics,

educating clients about the law and their rights, and

training and mentoring other lawyers.

Donahue Fitzgerald attorneys have contributed thou-

sands of hours of pro bono services. The Pro Bono Firm of

the Year for Alameda County in 1992, ACBA’s President’s

Distinguished Service Award in 1999, and the State Bar of

California’s President’s Pro Bono Award in 2007 are just a

few of the honors the firm has received for its dedication

to pro bono service.

Numerous firm lawyers have also received accolades,

including the State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manuel

award, presented to Handler in 2015.

Raised in Cincinnati, Handler is proud to live and work

in Oakland. He finds Oaklanders share values similar to

those in the Midwest, including a blue-collar work ethic.

“What it means to me are small and medium-sized

business owners and their employees who work hard to

make a living and to better the local community,” he said.

“It is important to me because typically those who have

worked hard to succeed care genuinely about the local

community.”

Looking forward to his ACBA presidency in 2017, Eric

Handler is pleased to continue the firm’s and his own

partnership with the ACBA and VLSC and Oakland. �

“What satisfies me about the

work I do both as a volunteer

and as a lawyer is helping

people and going the extra mile

to resolve their problems.”

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com8

Member update

> DIRECTORYADDENDUMThe following is a list of newmembers of the OaklandMetropolitan Chamber ofCommerce. Please refer to thesemembers when you have a needfor goods and services.

ADAMS ESQA Professional Corporation1300 Clay St., Suite 600Oakland, CA 94612(510) 832-6000Fax: (510) 832-3099Website: www.adamsesq.comWendy KraalEmail: oaklandadmin@adamsesq.comLegal Services

Beyond Emancipation675 Hegenberger Road, Suite 100Oakland, CA 94621(510) 667-7694Fax: (510) 667-7639Website: www.beyondemancipation.orgSara GoldwareNonprofit

Black Star Investment Group425 El Pintado RoadDanville, CA 94526(510) 566-2780Website:www.blackstarinvestmentgroup.comBrother AyindeReal Estate Development & Investments

CareBuilders at Home – East Bay1955 Gouldin RoadOakland, CA 94611(510) 628-8426Fax: (510) 628-8428Website: www.carebuildersathomeeastbay.com

Bryan RicksEmail:bricks@carebuildersathome.comHome Health Care Services

D’s Dollar Store6656 Bancroft Ave.Oakland, CA 94605(510) 355-6807Davita LlamsDiscount Store

First Republic Bank2110 Mountain Blvd.Oakland, CA 94611(510) 336-3918Fax: (510) 530-8885Todd BrantleyBank

NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Making a Difference…one child at a time.Jean Murrell Adams founded ADAMS ESQ in 2002 afterattending an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetingfor her own exceptional child. “I know what it’s like to sit in a(special education) meeting and come to the realization thatthe school district is not going to help your child,” she says.“I’ve shared that sinking feeling.”

Adams decided to do something about it. She left herhigh-profile position as head of litigation for DreamWorksStudios and formed ADAMS ESQ, a law firm dedicated to rep-resenting children with special education needs and fightingfor their right to an appropriate education. Since its forma-tion, the law firm has represented more than 3,000 childrenand their parents in California and Nevada – and even as faras away as Michigan.

ADAMS ESQ charges most parents a nominal retainer feeof just $1. (Under special education law, school districts mustpay parents’ legal fees in successful case resolutions.)

From modest beginnings, ADAMS ESQ now boasts sixlocations throughout California and Nevada and operatesprimarily from its Oakland headquarters. This public interestlaw firm is truly making a difference…one child at a time.

To learn more about ADAMS ESQ, visitwww.ADAMSESQ.com or follow ADAMS ESQ on Facebook at:facebook.com/Adamsesq4kids �

ADAMS ESQ

A boutique agency with a national presenceHarden Communications Partners: Our name says it all. Weare your communications partners. We work with you, ourclients, to tell your story in your voice.

Headquartered in the Bay Area, with dog friendly officesin the Oakland hills and New York, Harden Partners is asophisticated and customer-focused full-service boutiquecommunications firm specializing in content marketing,social media and digital content.

Established in 2007 by founder and president Patricia(Pat) Harden, Harden Partners has grown from a one-personconsultancy to an award-winning, mid-sized agency servingthe financial, healthcare and professional services sectors –and their amazing support technologies. We work inpartnership with local and national clients from majorinsurances companies and investment managers tocommunity-based organizations like Financial Women ofSan Francisco and the East Bay Vintners Alliance, reflectingour passion for locally made artesian wines.

Setting us apart, clients receive daily access to award-winning senior communications professionals who’ve workedfor America’s largest corporations and global PR firms. Ourteams work with national media outlets like The Wall StreetJournal, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post, andlocal favorites including the San Francisco Chronicle, Fox 2KTVU and Sunset Magazine.

To learn more, visit www.hardenpartners.com or contactPat Harden at (510) 635 4150. �

Harden CommunicationsPartners

– continued on page 9

FEBRUARY 2016 | 9

Member update

> DIRECTORYADDENDUM – continued from page 8

Harden CommunicationsPartners, LLC11881 Skyline Blvd., Suite FOakland, CA 94619(510) 635-4150Website: www.hardenpartners.comAdrianna WebsterPublic Relations

Living Jazz1728 San Pablo Ave.Oakland, CA 94612(510) 287-8880Fax: (510) 486-2785Website: www.livingjazz.orgPage HodelEmail: info@livingjazz.orgNonprofit

Magi Arts Fitness Division8906 D St., Apt. AOakland, CA 94601(818) 200-7342Johnny AyaiHealth & Fitness Club

Mobile Mini Inc.44580 Old Warm Spring Blvd.Fremont, CA 94538(510) 252-9326Fax: (510) 651-4127Website: www.mobilemini.comDavid BonalStorage

STRAP – Support for Transforming Applied Practices1901 Harrison St., Suite 1100Oakland, CA 94612(510) 936-3340Website: www.strap-consulting.comMaria AghaManagement Consultants & Services

U.S. Security Associates, Inc.480 Roland Way, Suite 104Oakland, CA 94621(510) 382-9200Website:www.ussecurityassociates.comBrad LauerSecurity Guard & Patrol Services

Vroozi, Inc.18301 Vonkarman Ave., Suite 470Irvine, CA 92612(866) 509-5045Website: www.vroozi.comDante SykesComputers

NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Vroozi – purchasing made ridiculously simple, beautiful, and mobile.At Vroozi, we are passionate about building innovation to driveprocurement productivity for everyone, increase adoption, andreduce costs for companies. We focus on bringing value and delightto procurement professionals, suppliers, and anyone who makespurchases on behalf of the company, through intuitive shopping experience, intelligent process embedded technology, and accessibil-ity via any device.

Everyday shoppers can search and compare across catalogs,read product reviews, and order items with one-click. Procurementprofessionals have complete visibility into real time spend data, canensure proper workflow approval process, and integrate Vroozi toother financial systems. These are some of the reasons customersselected us as their purchasing partner.

Because Vroozi is 100 percent SaaS based solution, customerscan set up their marketplace in less than a week and suppliers canjoin the Vroozi network for free. From mid-size growing businessesto Fortune 1000enterprises, our customerstrust Vroozi.

For more information,visit www.vroozi.com orcontact us withinfo@vroozi.com. �

Vroozi

U.S. Security Associates (USA) is North America’s security solutionsleader, with locally-responsive offices providing premier nationalsecurity services and global consulting and investigations. Thecompany provides career paths for more than 49,000 securityprofessionals serving several thousand clients and a range ofindustries.

Innovative applications of leading-edge, proprietary technologyenable USA to rank annually among the world’s best trainingcompanies, sustain the highest standards of quality, and underscoreworld-class customer service with unparalleled accountability. USA’srise as one of today’s largest securitycompanies is a natural byproduct ofthese differentiators together with acommitment to investing in employeereward and development, giving backto local communities and relentlesslystriving to be a security company thatis Safe.Secure.Friendly.®

For more information, visitwww.ussecurityassociates.com. �

U.S. Security Associates

D’s Dollar is a true Dollar store – every item is just $1. It’s strategicallyplaced in East Oakland to help serve the people of that community.

D’s Dollar is a true example of big things coming in smallpackages with 20 different categories of merchandise from house-hold goods, party supplies, snack foods and canned foods to spices,personal care items, greeting cards, balloons with helium andcleaning chemicals.

The store is independently owned and operated, and much of thetime you can find the store owner personally greeting and interactingwith her customers.

D’s Dollar gets new merchandise every two weeks, so if youwould like a particular item that you don’t see in the store, customerscan simply request it. Stopby and support this newlocal business. �

D’s Dollar

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com10

> Leadership participantsget a lesson in public safety

The Leadership Oakland class of 2016 learned about a variety ofaspects of public safety in a seminar held at the city’s EmergencyOperations Center in December.

The day began with an address from Oakland Police Chief, SeanWhent. While murders have dropped 50 percent since 2012, they are stillthree times the national average. Chief Whent discussed a variety ofstrategies that are being employed to combat crime in Oakland, includinga discussion about ceasefire, community policing, body cameras, crowdmanagement techniques, and the role of federal monitors.

For public safety to be effective there must be a collaboration betweenthe public and the police, fire and emergency services. Two of the day’sspeakers were individuals who were so influenced by a public safety issuethat they made it the focus of their life’s work. The first was RashidahGrinage, who has worked for more than 20 years on police accountabilityinitiatives in Oakland, since her son and husband were killed in analtercation with the Oakland police. Grinage has been an insistent voiceto expose and mitigate police misconduct and the impact it has on thecommunity. She is the foremost advocate for a proposed PoliceCommission to oversee the Police Department including advising theMayor on the hiring and firing of the Chief of Police.

The other community activist was Genice Jacobs, who after learningabout the trafficking of young girls for sex became an extremely vocal andeffective advocate to end human sex trafficking. She was propelled intoher work on human trafficking when she reflected on the fact that ifmembers of the German community had stood up to Hitler and the Nazisthey may have been able to change history. Jacobs has created a helpfuland informative website called "Abolitionist Mom" that is an excellentresource for the community on human sex trafficking.

Following a tour of the Emergency Operations Center and the adjacentfirehouse, Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed addressed the group about thefire services in Oakland and how they are managed in the event of anemergency. The Fire Department is currently restructuring its resourceallocation following the defunding of the Wildfire Prevention AssessmentDistrict, which was defeated at the ballot box in 2013.

Chief Reed also described the challenges faced by the opposition tothe FEMA grant which will be used to thin trees and reduce brush incertain areas of the Oakland Hills to reduce the fire-load.

Clifford Chan gave anoverview of the water utility’splanning for the earthquake’simpact, as well as the currentstatus of the drought in ourregion. EBMUD has prioritizedand ensured water supplies to the electrical transmission hubs, the fire hy-drant network, refineries and hospitals. As one of the main entry points ofwater to multiple districts, the Dingee Backbone Pipeline is EBMUD’s mostcritical link for Oakland.

A seismically secure replacement of this pipe was just completed thisyear, further ensuring that more of Oakland’s water needs will be met. Dueto earthquakes, and other possible ruptures in the aqueducts and otherpipe networks, it is likely that water supplies to homes and buildings willbe broken. Chan recommended that individuals prepare a mobile, backupwater supply of two gallons per person per day, for seven days. It couldtake up to a month or more for water to be restored to homes.

First responders provide a lifesaving, critical service in the after effectsof a major earthquake or other emergency. In the forum led by GenevievePastor Cohen of CORE and Ana-Marie Jones, executive director of CARD(Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters), key points were: thegeneral public can fare better and more lives could be saved by trainingpeople with disaster preparedness strategies and a tangible, effectiveresponse system. Jones empowered all Leadership Oakland participantswith her “At-a-glance” Incident Com-mand System cards, which assign a teamwith roles and operations to handleemergencies. �

Mimi Rohr, Ingrid Severson and LouiseRothman-Riemer are all members ofthe Chamber’s Leadership Oaklandclass of 2015-16.

by Mimi Rohr, Ingrid Severson andLouise Rothman-Riemer

� Fire Chief Teresa Deloach Reed(second from the left) is greeted byLeadership Oakland participants (leftto right) Louise Rothman-Riemer,Mimi Rohr and Ingrid Severson.

> A study in health andhuman servicesby Jose Hernandez, Claudia Burgos and Julie Johnson

Following a successful start to Leadership Oakland’s issue-basedsessions in December, the conversation shifted from public safetyto health and human services in January.

The session wasled and facilitated byClaudia Burgos (ACTransit), Julie Johnson(Ray’s Electric), and JoseHernandez (Office ofCongresswomanBarbara Lee). It com-menced with a visit toYouth Uprising, a non-profit located in deepEast Oakland whosemission is to developyouth leadership aswell as to transform EastOakland into a healthyand economicallyrobust community.

Youth Uprising’sChief of Staff SikanderIqbal led the LeadershipOakland group in a tour

of the facilities and shared some alarming statistics of the surroundingcommunity. “We often experience as many as six shootings in a day, butthat is why our work is so important,” said Iqbal. He added that many ofthe issues within East Oakland are a result of racist systemic structuresthat have oppressed the African American population and hindered itsgrowth. Today, Youth Uprising provides educational support, health andwellness, job readiness, case management, and talent developmentservices to 3,000 youth ages 18-24 every year.

The tour was followed by a panel of service providers composed by theUnity Council’s Latino Men and Boys Program (LMB), Covenant House, andMISSSEY (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting & Serving Sexually ExploitedYouth).

Freddy Gutierrez, with the Unity Council’s LMB program, spoke abouttheir after-school program that is achieving above average attendancerates and grades among Latino students in the Oakland Unified SchoolDistrict.

Representing Covenant House and MISSSEY, Sergio Medina andAmba Johnson commented on the intersection between homelessness andtrafficked youth. Johnson argued that among other factors, youth who arehomeless are constantly preyed on by so-called “pimps” and forced intosexual exploitation. Medina acknowledged Johnson’s point and addedthat Oakland is facing a big homeless problem and there are insufficientshelters to accommodate the need.

Medina stated that Covenant House is the only shelter in Oakland foryouth ages 18-24, and that they consistently have a wait list of more than100 individuals. All three panelists agreed that the City of Oakland needsto allocate additional funds and services to its youth.

After lunch, the Leadership Oakland group headed back to theChamber of Commerce to hear from three government representatives.First up was Dr. Kathleen Clanon, the Alameda County Health Care ServicesAgency medical director, who explained her agency’s leadership structureand spoke on the health disparities affecting Oakland. In fact, Dr. Clanonrevealed that an African American child born in East Oakland can expect tolive 15 fewer years as opposed to an Oakland Hills resident.

The second speaker of the afternoon was Melanie Moore, director ofAll In Alameda County, a county-wide coalition whose goal is to eradicatepoverty and eliminate food insecurity by 2020. Moore stated that All In hasjust finished a series of community listening sessions to identify the needsof the community, and that pilot programs are soon to follow to test theirproposed solutions.

The day ended with a presentation from Josie Halpern-Finnerty withthe City of Oakland’s Health and Human Services Department.Halpern-Finnerty described the Oakland Unite program, which is a publicsafety collaborative aimed at reducing violence in Oakland. She added thatthe program is funded by tax-payer dollars and has brought in more than$15 million in state and federal grants to support the local investment inviolence intervention and prevention. Coincidentally, many of the morningspeakers reported receiving grants from Oakland Unite. �

Jose Hernandez, Claudia Burgos and Julie Johnson are participants inthe 2015-16 class of Leadership Oakland.

� Dr. Kathleen Clanon (left) and MelanieMoore at the Leadership Oakland Health& Human Services Day session in January.

A program of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

FEBRUARY 2016 | 11

> The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act)

Just before recessing for the holidays, the House and Senate passedthe Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act).President Obama signed the PATH Act and a fiscal year 2016 omnibuson Dec. 18.

The PATH Act does considerably more than the typical tax extenders legislation seen in prioryears. It makes permanent over 20 key tax provisions, including the research tax credit, and en-hanced Code Sec. 179 expensing. It also extends other provisions, including bonus depreciation,for five years; and revives many others for two years. Many extenders have been enhanced.

Permanent extensions for businessesThe PATH Act makes permanent many business-related provisions that had been up for renewal.

Code Sec. 179 expensing – Pre-PATH Act, the dollar limit for Code Sec. 179 expensing for 2015 had reverted to$25,000 with an investment limit of $200,000. The PATH Act permanently sets the Code Sec. 179 expensing limit at$500,000 with a $2 million overall investment limit before phase out (both amounts indexed for inflation beginning in2016). The PATH Act also makes permanent the special Code Sec. 179 expensing for qualified real property and removesthe $250,000 cap related to this category of expenditure beginning in 2016. Also made permanent is the special ruleallowing off-the-shelf computer software to be treated as Code Sec. 179 property and the ability of a taxpayer to revokea Code Sec. 179 election without IRS consent.

Research tax credit – The research and development (R&D) tax credit is available to taxpayers with specifiedincreases in business-related qualified research expenditures and for increases in payments to universities and otherqualified organizations for basic research.

100 percent gain exclusion on qualified small business stock – The 100 percent exclusion allowed for gain onthe sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than five years by non-corporate taxpayers is madepermanent. This benefit has proven a valuable method of funding certain startups. With a five-year holding period, itobviously still requires a long-term commitment. Trading such stock for other, similar stock, however, can be a usefuloption under which gain is allowed to be deferred.

Reduced recognition period for S corporation built-in gains tax – The PATH Act makes permanent the five-yearrecognition period for built-in gain following conversion from a C to an S corporation. A corporate-level tax, at thehighest marginal rate applicable to corporations (currently, 35 percent), is imposed on an S corporation’s net recognizedbuilt-in gain (for example, gain that arose prior to the conversion of the C corporation to an S corporation and is recog-nized by the S corporation during the recognition period).

Five-year extensions for businessesThe PATH Act makes several business-related provisions available for five years, under the rationale that, although theyshould not be made permanent, they are sufficiently valuable at this time to be relied upon for more than the usualtwo-year extenders period. Among these is bonus depreciation.

Bonus Depreciation – The PATH Act extends bonus depreciation (additional first-year depreciation) under a phase-down schedule through 2019. Bonus depreciation is now 50 percent through 2017, at 40 percent for 2018 and at 30percent for 2019. Also related, bonus depreciation is increased by $8,000, unadjusted for inflation in computing thefirst-year depreciation for passenger autos. Unlike Code Sec. 179 expensing (above), only new property is eligible forbonus depreciation.

Energy extendersThe PATH Act extends many energy provisions for businesses. Among those are the following:

Solar incentives – The FY 2016 omnibus extends the solar investment tax credit and the credit for qualified residen-tial solar property but subjects the credits to phase-down. Under the omnibus, both credits will not beavailable after 2021.

Energy-efficient commercial buildingsdeduction – The PATH Act extends through 2016 thededuction for energy-efficient commercial buildings.Additionally, the PATH Act updates the energy-efficient standards.

The PATH Act is more extensive than what wecan provide in this article, thus many extenders werenot mentioned. The Act also includes many individ-ual tax extenders and many non-tax extender laws.We advise all businesses to consult with their taxadvisor regarding how the PATH Act extenders affecttheir business and how to plan accordingly. �

Dennis Kaneshiro is a partner at the offices ofTimpson Garcia, LLP, CPAs and Consultants. Hecan be reached at (510) 832-2325.

by Dennis Kaneshiro

Dennis Kaneshiro

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com12

100 Filbert StreetOakland, CA 94607

510.444.7959

> Offer in compromise

Most tax problem resolution cases begin with a serious life event that creates a tax

problem as a side effect. Some of the events that can lead to tax problems are divorce,

loss of employment, and forgiveness of debt, including business reversal and medical

problems, just to list a few. Fortunately, the IRS has instituted the offer in compromise

(OIC) to provide a fresh start program to help those with continuing tax problems.

The OIC program may be the most desired Internal Revenue Service program

because once the offer is accepted and the individual pays the amount offered, the

overdue tax is settled over immediately. The OIC is a contract with the government

in which the taxpayer makes an offer to settle, the IRS accepts the offer, and there is

consideration (payment) that completes the essential elements of a contract. Of

course, the IRS does not just allow taxpayers to offer whatever they decide they can

pay. Taxpayers need to follow certain procedures to get their offers approved.

An offer in compromise is eye-catching because it allows taxpayers to pay what

they can afford and still be considered fully paid. The amount owed is not a considera-

tion when determining the acceptability of an offer. The IRS decides if an offer meets

the minimum amount they will accept by reviewing the financial information submitted

and by doing their own calculation of what they call the reasonable collection potential

(RCP). If the taxpayer’s offer equals or exceeds the RCP then it is likely the offer will

receive approval. However, there are other factors that the IRS considers in addition to

financial characteristics.

If the IRS believes the acceptance of an offer would undermine compliance by the

taxpayer they will reject it. Needless to say, the American tax system relies heavily on

voluntary compliance by taxpayers. Therefore, the acceptance of an offer from a

criminal or tax protester might lead other taxpayers to conclude that they should

simply not pay their taxes and then eventually ask for a settlement at a reduced amount.

Therefore, the IRS always reserves the right to reject an offer in compromise if they

believe it would in any way be detrimental to our voluntary tax system. �

Jong Lee, DBA, CPA, CFF is president of The Lee Accountancy Group in downtown

Oakland. He can be reached at (510) 836-7400.

by Jong Lee

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

A taxpayer’sproblems

may start inany numberof ways, butseldom does

a tax problemarise froma taxpayer

setting out tointentionallydefraud the

IRS.

Jong Lee

FEBRUARY 2016 | 13

> Taking care of fraud: best practices for business owners

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

Each year, more than $3.7 trillion is lost tobusiness fraud worldwide, and small busi-nesses tend to suffer disproportionatelylarge losses. Nearly 30 percent of allworkplace fraud happens to small busi-nesses with fewer than 100 employees. 1

“Small businesses that are particularlysusceptible to fraud must be vigilant,”according to Dawna Dowdell-Dos Santos,cash management and deposit officer forBank of Marin in Oakland. “The focusneeds to be both internal and external,with an emphasis on implementing theright tools and resources to combat thisever-present threat.”

In addition to always carefully moni-toring bank accounts for any potentialfraudulent activity, small businesses canprotect themselves by following thesethree best practices, which range frombasic protocols to more sophisticated

processes, depending on the size and nature of the business:

1. Establish internal controls• Limit electronic access to financial information or sensitive documents.• Create strong and secure passwords, and change them regularly.• Develop company policies that control how financial transactions are

made and implement review and authorization procedures.• Daily review and reconciliation by a party not involved in the payables

process.

Small businesses arethe engine of local

economies and nowhereis that more evident

than in the burgeoningEast Bay. While these

businesses are focusedon making money,

especially in a growingeconomy, their first

investment should be inprotecting their assets.

In good times and inbad, one thing businessowners must always pay

attention to is fraudprevention and

protection.

2. Secure and maintain computer systems• Be cautious when utilizing wireless networks. Avoid doing business on

public wireless networks, and use encryption on your own wireless network.• Ensure up-to-date firewalls, anti-virus software and spyware preven-

tion software are in place for all computers.• Maintain the physical security of computers and limit access to

computers that are used for sensitive functions.• Do not download or install software from unknown third parties.• Do not open email or email attachments from an unknown source.

3. Supervise and monitor financial transactions • Use an automated monitoring system and/or continually review wires,

transfers, payroll and business checks.• Provide ongoing training and adequately supervise everyone who

takes part in business finances. • If appropriate based on business size, consider utilizing CPAs to

conduct audits, and conduct your own regular and unscheduled audits ofinventory and finances.

With an estimated median loss of $145,000 to small businesses dueto fraud each year,2 prevention and protection are a must-have for anyorganization. Another must-have is a banking partner that focuses on theneeds of its business customers.

For more information on how Bank of Marin can be your resource forexpertise and ongoing support in preventing and managing fraud, contactDawna Dowdell-Dos Santos at (510) 748-8427. �

1 2014 Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse. ©2014 by theAssociation of Certified Fraud Examiners, Inc.

2 2014 Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com14

> Will the new revenue recognition rules impact your financials?

FASB wanted to simplify these complex

revenue recognition rules and create a

uniform guidance that could be applied

consistently across all entity types and

regions, thus the addition of Topic 606 to

the ASC (IFRS 15) “Revenue from Contracts

with Customers.”

Effective January 2017 for public

companies and 2018 for private companies,

all revenues are to be recognized using five

steps to apply the core principal; “An entity

should recognize revenue to depict the

transfer of promised goods or services to

customers in an amount that reflects the

consideration to which the entity expects to

be entitled in exchange for those goods and

services”

1. Identify the contact with a customer

2. Identify the performance obligations in

the contract

3. Determine the transaction price

4. Allocate the transaction price to the

performance obligation in the contract

5. Recognize revenue when (or as) the

by Jeff Tikalsky

entity satisfies a performance obligation

Each step contains a series of criteria

and considerations that require entities to

exercise professional judgment in estimat-

ing probable amounts to be collected and

timing of performance obligations to be

fulfilled.

But why do we care – we have two-

three years before any of this changes.

A real estate developer enters into a

contract with a customer to sell a building

for $1 million. The customer intends to

open a restaurant in the building. The

building is located in an area where new

restaurants face high levels of competition, and the customer has little

experience in the restaurant industry.

The customer pays a nonrefundable deposit of $50,000 at inception

of the contract and enters into a long-term financing agreement with

the developer for the remaining 95 percent. The financing arrangement

is on a nonrecourse basis, and the customer obtains control of the

building at contract inception.

The customer’s ability and intention to pay may be in doubt because

they intend to repay the loan primarily from income derived from its

restaurant business (facing significant risks because of high competition

in the industry and the customer’s limited experience), lack other

income or assets that could be used to repay the loan, and their liability

is limited under the nonrecourse loan.

Because of the preceding facts it is not probable the developer

will collect and should account for all consideration received – the

nonrefundable deposit and all principal and interest payments – as a

liability, and does not derecognize the real estate asset or recognize

revenue until either:

1. The developer can conclude it is probable they will collect

2. Substantially all of the consideration from the contract has been

received

3. The contract has been terminated

The developer must continue to subsequently assess the contract

to determine if collection is “probable.”

This is one example of a list of five criteria that all need to be met

before revenue can be recognized (not to be confused with the five

steps listed earlier).

This change is to be adopted one of two ways; retrospectively to

each prior reporting period presented in the financial statements, or

retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized at date of initial

application.

The retrospective adoption stresses the importance of gaining an

early understanding of these changes in order to determine the

information needed for disclosures and cumulative effect adjustments.

This pronouncement affects all entities that have contracts with

customers. It is safe to say many entities will be affected. Whether it’s

obtaining contract information for new disclosures, calculating probable

estimates of variable consideration, recognizing revenue at blended

prices due to a modification of contract for goods, or calculating book

tax differences, an early understanding of these changes will help save

time when this change is required.

RINA Accountancy Corporation will be discussing how these new

rules will impact your business revenue. �

Jeff Tikalsky is an audit senior at RINA Accountancy Corporation indowntown Oakland. He can be reached at (510) 893-6908.

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

Revenue is an importantelement in all businesses, akey indicator in determiningperformance. Currently,FASB Accounting StandardsCodification® containsrevenue recognitionguidance for multipleindustries, each with uniquereporting requirements.

Jeff Tikalsky

FEBRUARY 2016 | 15

> Volatility: The new normal for business

With all this great news that seems to be reported daily, there is an underlying current of volatilitythat is still unnerving many business owners.

Some observations: Bankers have been doing kabuki dances since the end of the GreatRecession suggesting that interest rates would be going up any day. Seven years after the dancesstarted, in December, the Federal Reserve Bank finally announced a 25 basis point (0.25 percent)increase in their Fed Funds rate. Banks quickly boosted their Prime rate to 3.50 percent from 3.25percent. It was met by markets and businesses with a great thud.

At the beginning of2008 the Prime rate was7.25 percent so even if theFed increases rates every

quarterly as has been hypothesized, rates will remainat truly historical lows for the foreseeable future.

The New Year commenced with a great deal ofglobal economic excitement. The Shanghai compos-ite index lost all of its 2015 gains in the first weekof the New Year and continues to slide. Oil is at itslowest price in 12 years. Other commodities havetracked along with oil in seeking new lows. All of thistriggered our own Dow Jones (DJIA) and Standardand Poors indexes to plummet. That said, the DJIAwas at 7,000 in February 2009 and is well above16,000 today.

Our own beloved Oakland has seen officevacancy rates plummet to 3.5 percent for Class A,and 4.0 percent for Class B commercial properties.Residential rents have soared more than in any othercommunity in the country with albeit mixed bless-ing. There are over 9,500 market rate residentialunits in the pipeline currently.

Uber choosing Oakland to be their headquartersis a game changer. Our unemployment rate at 5.5percent is below the state average of 6.3 percent.When I started my banking career here in 2001,there were two restaurants in which I could entertaincustomers. Now there are over 40 and Oakland is anational culinary destination.

The purpose of this article was to shed somelight on the economic paradigms under which we arecurrently operating. If we wait for the “crystal ball”to validate our emotional economic assumptions, wewill miss the current economic cycle. There is still nobetter time in our generation to expand business andrecommit to our community.

Now is also the time to recommit to the “BuyLocal” movement. Whether at the farmers marketon Grand Avenue, new retail on Broadway, orrestaurants at Jack London Square, keeping eco-nomic activity in our city is vitally important. Thereis no better place to show your community commit-ment than by using a community bank. They are anintegral part of the “Buy Local” movement since attheir core they attract local money and lend it backout locally. �

Anthony Thompson is senior vice president atUnited Business Bank.

by Anthony Thompson

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

Anthony Thompson

Since the end of the Great Recession, the Bay Area has led the nationwith residential real estate and commercial real estate prices at all-timehighs and unemployment rates at all-time lows. The East Bay, withOakland as its de facto capital, has lagged the rest of the Bay Area butwe have certainly caught the wind and our sails are now full with theeconomic air that is propelling the rest of our mega-region.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com16

> How to get ready for tax filing – Seven steps of preparation

Now that the holidays are over, another event that is loomingon the horizon may not be a cause for celebration – filingyour tax return. Nevertheless, you can relieve some of thestress by having your return professionally prepared. Therestill is a little “work” required on your part, but it should nottake much time or effort. Here are seven steps to guide youalong the way.

1. Assemble tax documents.Undoubtedly, you have beeninundated with numerous tax forms for the 2015 tax year, includ-ing W-2s and 1099s. Employers are required to send W-2s to em-ployees by Feb. 1, 2016. Similarly, investors will receive 1099s withthe details of their investment activities. Instead of just dumpingthese in a pile on your tax return preparer’s desk, review them firstto ensure they are accurate. In particular, verify the cost basisused to determine the tax ramifications of securities transactions.

2. Verify Social Security information. It is critical to providecorrect Social Security numbers for all dependents, including anychildren who were born or adopted in 2015. You can claim anexemption of $4,000 that is available for each dependent, in addi-tion to a $1,000 credit for qualified children, but exemptions forsome high-income taxpayers are reduced under a re¬-instated taxrule. Also, retirees may owe tax on Social Security benefits.

3. Organize financial statements.Having your bank andinvestment statements on hand will make it easier to trace theorigin of funds and reasons for deposits or payments. For in-stance, it may be determined that a bank deposit constituteda tax-free gift rather than earned income. Similarly, brokeragestatements might indicate a carryforward of a tax loss that canbe used to offset capital gains realized in 2015.

4. Organize business records. The same advice applies toself-employed individuals and business owners, who are often laxwith their record keeping. Make sure that expenses can be sub-stantiated through receipts and other documentation. Rememberthat the IRS pays close attention to travel and entertainment(T&E) expenses, including deductions for business use of vehi-cles, so proper record keeping for T&E is critical.

5. Check IRA details. A taxpayer can contribute up to $5,500to any combination of traditional and Roth IRAs ($6,500 if age50 or older) for the 2015 tax year. Deductions for traditional IRAsare phased out for active participants in employer-sponsoredretirement plans (and spouses of active participants). Roth IRAcontributions are nondeductible, but generally lead to futuretax-free payouts. Note: The deadline for IRA contributions for2015 is April 15, 2016.

6. Audit-proof charity deductions.Under the currenttax rules, cash and cash-equivalent gifts to charities must besupported by records, including written acknowledgements fordonations of $250 or more. For a contribution of a lesser amount,the appropriate statement will suffice. Stricter substantiationrequirements apply to gifts of appreciated property (e.g., an inde-pendent appraisal isrequired for gifts valuedabove $5,000).

7. Schedule ameeting. The last itemon the checklist is ar-ranging an early meetingwith your tax return pre-parer. This can head offpotential problems andresolve any discrepan-cies. Then you can relaxin the knowledge yourreturn is in good hands.

Even if you are notpreparing your ownreturn, do not wait untilthe last minute to getstarted. �

Robert “Bob” Griffin,CPA, is the managingpartner of WilliamsAdley & Company-CA,LLP. He can be reachedat (510) 893-8114.

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

> When considering a tax professional – choose wisely

Choosing the right tax professional is not difficult todo when you first take the time to understand yourneeds. Be aware that not all tax preparers and con-sultants have the same set of skills and expertise;therefore, not just anyone will do for your particularsituation.

Whether you are in need of a tax preparer (someonewho prepares or reviews your annual tax returns) or atax consultant (a professional who can assist you withtax planning or tax problem resolution), you areencouraged to do your due diligence and consider thefollowing:

Professional designationIf you only require tax preparation you will want to ensure that s/he is properlylicensed and trained to prepare taxes. Be sure that your tax preparer is either a CPA(Certified Public Accountant), an Enrolled Agent (licensed by the federalgovernment), an attorney (properly licensed by the state) or a Registered TaxPreparer (certified by the federal government). All tax preparers who are paid toprepare taxes must have one of these designations. If you are unsure, request thepreparer’s PTIN number.

Need tax planning for your estate or business? Look for a tax professionalwho specializes in tax planning and strategies. This individual may be a CPA or atax attorney and can provide insight into and guidance for your future tax issues.

TrainingHow many years of experience does the professional have? What is her or hisexpertise? Is she or he skilled enough to assist you with your complex tax issues?

IntegrityWe all want to pay the least amount of taxes possible, but we should also ensurethat the returns we file are accurate. Choose a professional who prides her/himselfon accurate filings. Be wary of anyone willing to “stretch the truth.”

ThoroughnessWork with the professional who goes that extra step and interviews you aboutyour situation to ensure she or he is covering all aspects of income, credits anddeductions that apply to you. Remember that they are the professional and shouldbe able to enlighten you on opportunities to legitimately minimize your taxliability, not the other way around.

FeesTax professionals are not regulated on what they can charge in fees, so choose aprofessional whose fee structure fits within your personal or business budget. Becareful not to choose a professional simply for low fees; you want the bestprofessional with the right skill set for your situation to be your first priority. �

Mittie Grigsby is owner of Grigsby Finance and Tax Services in Oakland, andis an Enrolled Agent, license to practice before the IRS. She can be reached at(510) 638-4878.

by Mittie Grigsby

Mittie Grigsby

by Robert “Bob” Griffin, CPA

FEBRUARY 2016 | 17

> Eight things that could trigger a business audit

Whether you're doing taxes for your own business or a client'sbusiness, the small – but real – possibility exists for an audit.Understanding the chances of an audit and what the Internal Revenue Service may payparticular attention to can help you and your client during an audit, if and when one occurs.What are some common triggers that might lead to an audit by the IRS?

Running a home-based businessOperating a business from one’s home is becoming more and more common with high-speedInternet. However, the IRS is scrutinizing just how much of a home is actually used for a homeoffice. Per IRS Publication 587, someone claiming a den or single room of their house will bemore likely to have the deduction approved versus claiming their entire home. Similarly, thesole room or workspace must be used exclusively for one’s business, not for familyentertaining or personal storage.

Reporting business lossesIt is normal and often expected for a business to have losses during the first few years. However, if losses are stillreported years after the business' incorporation, the IRS might take a second look.

Higher income, higher audit chancesOn average, the chances of an individual audited by the IRS are about 1 percent. However, the more income reported, thegreater the likelihood of an audit. Tax returns showing incomes of $200,000 and more have an increased chance of anaudit, about one in every 30. Filers making $1 million or more have an even greater chance of an audit – about 11 percent.

Lopsided and unsubstantiated charitable deductionsDonating and not substantiating a high percentage of one’s income might raise a red flag with the IRS. Giving away halfof one’s income, not appraising a car or similar valuable donation or forgetting to include IRS Form 8283 might have theIRS requesting an audit.

Major currency withdrawals and depositsBusinesses that make deposits or withdrawals of $10,000 or more may trigger an IRS audit. The IRS gets countlessreports of these types of withdrawals every day, and they will naturally pique the interest for an audit.

Medical billsBills from medical problems might be deducted if they meet a certain threshold. If medical bills add up to more than 10percent of a filer’s adjusted gross income andthey are younger than 65, they might be de-ductible. However, gym membership fees,nonprescription medications and medical pro-cedures for aesthetic purposes only do notqualify under the rules as medical expenses.

Partially completed tax returnsWhether it’s a Social Security number, a signa-ture, or a 1099 Form not submitted, the IRS’system and auditors often flag such returns.And sometimes computer or data entrymistakes result in an audit to ensure thereare no other errors in the tax return.

Tally up and include all 1099sStaying organized with all types of 1099s willhelp a tax return go smoother, reducing thechances of accidentally forgetting a 1099 andpotentially triggering an audit. Whether it’s a1099-MISC documenting income earned fromself-employment, a 1099-INT for earnedinterest, a 1099-G documenting an income taxrefund or another type of 1099, ensuring allnecessary 1099s are included will ensure theIRS’ system is in agreement with the supplied1099s.

The IRS can still choose to audit a business’tax returns regardless of the circumstances.However, staying organized, following IRSregulations and maintaining one’s own recordswill help reduce the number of errors – whichwill make it a much smoother process for allinvolved during tax time. �

Doug Regalia is a partner with Regalia &Associates, CPAs. He can be reached at (925)314-0390.

by Doug Regalia

Doug Regalia

SPECIAL SECTION Finance & Taxation

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com18

▲

Flynn’s presentation featured hundreds of new units andthousands of square feet of ground floor retail space, both ofwhich are necessary to Oakland’s continued economic growth.Some of the artist renderings of the projects are featured below.

2323 Broadway – Signature Development, 105 residentialunits, office and retail. This multi-use project is known as TheHive.

MacArthur Village – 3838 Turquoise Way, 90 units andground floor retail. Phase I of a 634-unit development at theMacArthur BART Station. Built by Bridge Housing – 100 percentaffordable. (Not shown.)

1100 Clay St. – Strada Development, 225 units and groundfloor retail. Sits on city-owned land and there are plans to build

a hotel in Phase 2.

1401 Wood St. – City Ventures, 171 units and ground floor

retail. This townhouse project is adjacent to the West Oakland

train station (foreground).1700 Webster St. –Gerding Edlen, 206 units and ground

floor retail. This residential project is east of Broadway.2302 Valdez St. –Wood Partners, 200 units and ground

floor retail. A residential project in the Broadway Valdez area.4901 Broadway – SRM Development, 126 units and ground

floor retail. On the corner of Broadway and 51st Street. �

> Chamber gets a peekat seven new housing projects

Rachel Flynn, thedirector of

Oakland’s Planningand Building

Department, gavean overview of

some of Oakland’scurrent housingprojects at last

month’s EconomicDevelopment

Forum. As demandto live in Oaklandcontinues to rise,new constructionis a vital part of

helping to relievethe housing

shortage.

� 2323 Broadway

CREATING A STRONG ECONOMY

Economic Development

� 1100 Clay

� 1401 Wood

� 2302 Valdez

� 1700 Webster

� 4901 Broadway

The SEP is primarily funded by the voter-approved Alameda County Measure BBtransportation sales tax. Measure BB isprojected to contribute almost $30 millionannually to AC Transit. The District plans toinvest approximately $24 million of thosefunds to improve bus service within AlamedaCounty.

In 2010, AC Transit was forced to reduceservice due to the economic downturn. TheEast Bay is now experiencing a revitalizationeconomically, culturally and socially, and theapproval by the AC Transit Board now allowsthe District to be more proactive with thesegrowing demands.

“We were in an unenviable position in2010, forced to reduce service that we knowour customers relied on to get to school, towork and to medical care,” said AC Transit

Board President H. E. Christian Peeples. “I’m thrilled to approve aservice plan that both restores and enhances this invaluable service inan unprecedented way.”

The SEP was designed with improved frequency as its primary focus.As a result, AC Transit has created a Frequent Service Network, whichprovides more buses running every 15 minutes or better along several keycorridors. �

FEBRUARY 2016 | 19

> AC Transit Board approvesmore frequency, reliability, service hours

The AC TransitBoard of Directorshas approved the

largest serviceenhancement in the

district’s history.Currently known

as the ServiceExpansion Plan

(SEP), bus servicewill increase by

up to 14 percent,creating a more

reliable, convenientand efficient transit

network for theEast Bay.

Interstate 80 is on its way to getting SMARTer with the I-80 SMARTCorridor Project.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in partnership withthe Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) and the Contra

Costa Transportation Authority(CCTA), has been testing newlyinstalled overhead sign frames(gantries), traffic informationboards, ramp meters, variableadvisory speed signs and more.

When activated in spring 2016,the signs, traffic informationboards and other project elementsalong the corridor will notifymotorists of incidents or blockedlanes ahead, provide real-time traffic conditions and expected travel times, andhelp smooth traffic and enhance safety.

The overhead sign frames are located along westbound I-80 betweenRichmond and Emeryville, while the other elements, including the six largetraffic information boards, are installed in both the eastbound and westbounddirections between the Carquinez Bridge and the Bay Bridge.

With the current phase of testing nearly complete, Caltrans will soon embarkon extensive testing of the integrated system, which will continue until theanticipated system activation in spring 2016. The testing of the individualelements began earlier this summer.

These project elements form a comprehensive, coordinated networkalong this 20-mile stretch of I-80. The I-80 SMART Corridor Project integrateselectronic signs, ramp meters and other state-of-the-art elements into aregional system to enhance motorist safety, improve travel time reliability, andreduce accidents and associated traffic congestion along one of the busiestcorridors in the Bay Area.

In the event of an incident, motorists using westbound I-80 will see signsthat will direct them to slow down or change lanes well ahead of time, as well asprovide other useful information. Following the instructions on these signs willhelp reduce secondary accidents caused by sudden lane changes or abrupt stopswhen lanes are blocked as a result of an incident. Another benefit is thatemergency vehicles will be better able to reach the scene of an accident due tocleared lanes. Motorists can see a demonstration of the new signs on the projectwebsite, 80SMARTCorridor.org.

The San Pablo Avenue corridor and some local roads are also part of thisproject, integrating the interstate and local road operations into a single system.

For more information about the I-80 SMART Corridor Project, visit80SMARTCorridor.org. �

> Get ready for a SMARTer wayto drive on I-80

� During incidents, overhead signswill light up when there is anupcoming accident or traffic jam,reflecting real-time conditionsahead. Successive overhead signswill be coordinated to informdrivers to change out of blockedlanes gradually. The red X signinforms drivers that the lane isblocked ahead.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com20

> Take the escalator insteadof the elevator (speech)

Wrong! In my “Maximize Your Mixing” class Iexplain how the elevator speech has hamperedmixing success. Lots of people fear going to amixer because they don’t have a polishedelevator speech. Too bad – had they gone, theywould have likely met a new client or two.

The term “elevator speech” meansdelivering your “pitch” in the time span of anelevator ride, or approximately 30 seconds totwo minutes. But…

You’ve heard itover and over

again – have your“elevator speech”polished for whenyou go to mixers

and social events,right?

The Oakland-based law firm of Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean LLP hasbeen named to the sixth annual “Best Law Firms” list published byU.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm’s Litigation-Real Estate practice moved from a Tier 2 ranking to MetropolitanTier 1, joining the Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /Insolvency and Reorganization Law,Construction Law and Real Estate Lawpractices. Additionally, Wendel Rosen’s LandUse & Zoning Law practice was awarded aMetropolitan Tier 2 ranking.

Firms included in the 2016 “Best Law Firms”list are recognized for professional excellence with

persistently impressiveratings from clients andpeers.

In addition, the firmcongratulates Land UsePartner Patricia Curtin onbeing selected as a 2015 Northern California RealEstate Woman of Influence. Curtin, who wasrecognized for her contributions andachievements to Northern California real estate,was presented with an award and profiled in asupplement to the San Francisco Business Times.A member of Wendel Rosen’s three-personManagement Committee, her practiceemphasizes land use and local government law,representing both private and public sectorclients.

Wendel Rosen also welcomes a number ofnew attorneys, bringing the firm to a total of 67:

• Evelin Bailey has joined the firm as anassociate in its Employment Practice Group. Herpractice focuses on defending employers in suitsalleging anti-discrimination and wage and hourviolations. Her experience also includesrepresenting employers faced with immigrationworksite enforcement investigations related tothe Form I-9.

• Jeffery Levi has joined the Trusts andEstates Practice Group. Levi, who joins the firmfrom Roisman Henel LLP in Oakland, is certifiedby the California State Bar Board of LegalSpecialization as a specialist in probate, estateplanning and trust law.

• M. Brooke Wilson also has joined the Trustsand Estates Practice Group. Wilson, also fromRoisman Henel, focuses on estate planning, trustand estate administration, and federal estate andgift taxation, and is also a State Bar Boardcertified specialist in probate, estate planningand trust law.

• Quinlan Tom has been named to theConstruction Practice Group. Most recently withMcInerney & Dillon in Oakland, Tom has morethan 25 years of experience representing privateand public owners, general contractors,subcontractors, suppliers, developers, architects,construction managers and other professionalsin all aspects of construction litigation. �

> Wendel Rosen honored; new attorneys named

Editor’s note: Author David de Leeuw recently held a “Networking 101”seminar at the Chamber offices.

by David de Leeuw

Patricia Curtin

Jeffrey Levi

M. Brooke Wilson

Evelin Bailey

Quinlan Tom

> Development impact fee

Committee. “However, if we set the fee too high, it could slow develop-ment, which would in turn result in less fees being collected.”

There is a real risk that setting the fee too high, applying it to too manyexisting projects, or phasing it in too quickly could kill a significant amountof development in Oakland and therefore worsen the severe housingshortage. Any unit built – at any income level – will help relive the hous-ing crisis. City staff have recommended phasing in affordable housingfees along a three-year schedule at $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000 permulti-family unit, along with a $720 transportation fee and potentiallya future capital improvement fee. The fees would be less in West andEast Oakland.

Berkeley and Emeryville both have $28,000 per unit fees, and itshould be noted that their impact fee programs have not worked asintended – bringing in little money to their Affordable Housing TrustFunds.

Approximately 40 housing activists turned out to the Jan. 26committee meeting to advocate for immediate fees at $25,000 per unit –far more aggressive than what is recommended by the experts and citystaff. Most people involved in the conversations around impact feesbelieve that option to be unsustainable. About eight public speakers atthe meeting – including representatives of the Oakland Chamber ofCommerce – supported the creation of a reasonable, phased-in impactfee that encourages development and investment in Oakland.

“Unless it is phased in properly, a fee could render many existingprojects unfeasible and discourage new investment during a time ofgreat opportunity for Oakland,” Barbara Leslie, president and CEO of theChamber, said in her remarks to the committee. “Regardless of the levelat which the fee is set, without new market-rate development it will failto raise any funds foraffordable housing. Zero times $24,000 or $25,000per unit is still zero.”

Over two hours of public testimony left the committee withlittle time to discuss substantive matters regarding the fee. TheCouncilmembers asked staff to return with more information on a fewpolicy questions at their next meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday,Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m. �

Aly Bonde is a member of the Chamber’s Public Policy Department.

continued from page 1

Have you ever been to a mixer and someone starts to give you theirelevator speech? Have you observed their eyes? They roll slightly up and tothe left – because they are accessing their memory to deliver their cannedpresentation. There goes eye-contact!

And what do we do during their elevator speech? Once it is obviousthat it is a speech, we go from active listening to judging and worrying. Wethink: “What is she trying to sell me?” or, “Wow – pretty good elevatorspeech,” and then, “Oh-oh, in 30 seconds, it’s time for me to give her myelevator speech,” so now your eyes are rolling up and to the left. The resultis a whole lot of words, without much real connecting about what you twocan possibly do for each other.

Here’s what I teach instead: Picture an escalator instead of an elevator.You’re going up, the other person is going down, and you are withinearshot of each other for about seven seconds. That’s long enough to say,“Hello, my name is John Smith, with XYZ Widgets,” and for them torespond in kind. Then picture both of you jumping back on the escalatorseveral times to continue the conversation. You need little sound-bites tokeep the conversation rolling along in a mutually attentive natural flow,instead of a canned presentation.

Ideally, some of these sound bites should be questions instead ofstatements, like, “Have you heard about XYZ Widgets before?” or “Whatbrings you to this mixer?”

Got a polished elevator speech? Chop it into itty-bitty sound bites andtrust your intuition to decide which one to say and when. Or, try answeringthese questions to construct your escalator sound bites – What are you

good at? What do you offer? Who needs yourservice? How are you unique? Keep theseanswers short: one sentence, seven secondsshort. Break multiple sentences into their own“escalators.”

Try asking new contacts these samequestions and listen to their answers. This willhelp you keep the conversation flowing and ifyou listen carefully, you’ll learn if this person is agood lead for you. After all, that’s what you reallywant to know, right?

Don’t make your full pitch. Swap businesscards and agree to follow-up at a later date foryour full presentation. Then go meet some morenew people, you networking superstar! �

David de Leeuw conducts Mixing/Networking workshops fororganizations large and small. If you are interested in the next mixingskills workshop or in a private workshop for your team, contact himat (925) 817-7808 or email David@TheChamberLink.com.

David de Leeuw

FEBRUARY 2016 | 21

> Thoughts from Councilmember Campbell Washington

Campbell Washington expressed herexcitement about the launch of OaklandPromise, an initiative aimed at triplingthe number of Oakland public schoolstudents who graduate from college.The first phase – creating collegesavings accounts for low-incomekindergarteners and at-risk childrenborn in Oakland – will roll out on a pilotbasis this fall, with the hope of scalingup in the near future.

Also on the Councilmember’s agendafor this year is her effort to getOaklanders to approve a soda tax likelyto be on the November 2016 ballot.Berkeley became the first city in thecountry to pass a one cent per ounce taxon sugary drinks in 2014. Now Oaklandand San Francisco are looking to do thesame thing. Campbell Washington saidthe Oakland measure would be similar toBerkeley’s and would raise $11 million peryear for public health and education.

The Council is also currentlyconsidering charging a fee on newmarket-rate development to go towardsfunding affordable housing, capitalimprovements, and transportation.Campbell Washington said there will bedebate on the Council about how tophase-in the fee, what level to charge in

various parts of the city, as well as how to allocate the funds among thethree categories.

The discussion was part of the Chamber’s monthly Inside Oaklandseries – a public forum for Chamber members and their guests featuringpublic and private decision makers who affect Oakland.

The next Inside Oakland will be held on Friday, Feb. 26 and will featureOakland’s new City Administrator Sabrina Landreth, who will discuss hergoals and priorities for the city. �

Oakland CityCouncilmember Ann

Campbell Washingtonspoke to a group of more

than 30 members andguests last month at the

Chamber’s regularInside Oakland series.

The Councilmemberspoke about severalissues upcoming for

Oakland in 2016.

Delivering high-quality, patient-centered caredoesn’t end when patients leave the hospital.Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit MedicalCenter collaborates with skilled nursingfacilities in Oakland and Berkeley to helppatients continue healing and return home.

Repeated hospitalizations are stressful –physically and emotionally – for patients andtheir families. Nationally, about one in fiveMedicare patients discharged to a skilled nursingfacility is readmitted to a hospital within 30 days.

By emphasizing coordinated care andcommunication, we work closely with hospitaland skilled nursing staff to ensure patients

return home – not to the hospital.In 2014, Alta Bates Summit began partnerships with Elmwood Nursing

and Rehabilitation Center, Oakland Healthcare and Wellness Center, andPiedmont Gardens. Each committed to high clinical standards to improvecare coordination and decrease preventable hospital readmission.

Reducing readmissionsSince partnering with Alta Bates Summit, all three facilities have seen adrop in the number of patients readmitted within 30 days.

• In 2015, their combined readmission rate to Alta Bates Summit is12.3 percent compared to almost 20 percent nationwide.

• Emergency room visits and the number of patients readmitted tothe hospital within a 48-hour period have also declined.

While Alta Bates Summit works closely with these three facilities,patients and their families may select any nursing home, home healthagency or other providers.

Improving careAs part of our partnership, skilled nursing facilities:

• Access patient data from Alta Bates Summit’s electronic healthrecord, smoothing the transfer from hospital to post-acute care.

• Have increased rehabilitation and case management staff. Emmons Collins, M.D., oversees a specialized team of physicians and

nurse practitioners working with Alta Bates Summit physicians to carryout their recommendations and treatment plans for skilled nursingpatients.

“By focusing our quality improvement efforts on communicationbetween providers at the time of the transfer, we provide a better patientexperience, clinical outcome and reduce unnecessary readmissions to thehospital,” Dr. Collins says.

For patients and their families, that means receiving the right care atthe right place to support recovery and return home.

To learn more about how Alta Bates Summit partners to help improvepatient care in our community, visit newsroom.altabatessummit.org. �

Ursula Boynton, M.D. is the administrative medical director at AltaBates Summit Medical Center.

> The right care in the right place:partnership reduces hospitalreadmissions

Ann Campbell Washington

Recently, the Port of Oakland successfully berthed the largest cargoship to ever visit the U.S.

The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, at 1,310 feet nearly a quarter-milelong, tied up at the Port’s Outer Harbor. By docking without incident, itsymbolically opened the Trans-Pacific trade route between Asia and NorthAmerica to megaships.

Prior to the docking in Oakland, megaships carrying 18,000 containersor more have been used exclusively in Asia-Europe trade lanes. Now thatthe CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin has proven workable in Oakland, othermegaships will likely follow. They’re the most cost-effective, fuel efficientand environmentally friendly vessels afloat.

“This is a milestone for the Port of Oakland and for U.S. trade,” saidPort Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We’ll see more of these big shipsbefore long. This vessel also represents and reinforces the economicpartnership between the U.S. and France.”

According to Marc Bourdon, president of CMA CGM (America) LLC, asubsidiary of CMA CGM, “The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin’s call at thePort of Oakland was made possible thanks to a tight collaboration with allstakeholders at the port. By welcoming the largest containership ever tocall at U.S. ports, authorities have demonstrated their willingness to bepart of an ever growing shipping industry.” �

> Port of Oakland welcomesfirst ‘megaship’ in U.S.

– by Ursula Boynton, M.D.

Ursula Boynton

> Port of Oakland launches hotline, live chat, and office hours

“Our hotline, live chat, and office hoursare staffed by Port employees trained toprovide information and gather feedbackabout anything Port-related,” said Portof Oakland Social Responsibility DirectorAmy Tharpe. “We also provide resources,referrals and the latest updates aboutdoing business and working with thePort.”

The Port’s toll-free telephone hotlineis 1-844-OAKPORT (1-844-645-7678),and will be answered by a Port employeeMonday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to

5 p.m. The Port has a live chat feature at www.portofoakland.com availableMonday through Friday at the same time.

The Port of Oakland today holds office hours in West Oakland at theWest Oakland Jobs Resource Center, 1801 Adeline St. Office hours will beheld during the third Tuesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The EastOakland office is located at Cypress Mandela Training Center, 977 66th Ave.Office hours in East Oakland will be held during the second Tuesday ofevery month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Drops-ins are welcome. �

The Port of Oakland haslaunched a new toll-free

telephone hotline,website live chat, and

office hours in East andWest Oakland. This new

outreach program, called“Meet the Port,” provides

the public access andengagement with the

Port.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com22

The Oakland City Council has approved Phase Iof the Telegraph Avenue Complete Streets Plan,which extends bike lanes from downtownOakland to 41st Street, including protected bikelanes for nine blocks in the KONO District(Koreatown Northgate). Telegraph Avenue soonwill have Oakland’s first protected bike lanes,from 20th Street to 29th Street.

The goal of the project is for TelegraphAvenue to have a “safe, comfortable andattractive bikeway for people of all ages to enjoygetting around Oakland, visiting localbusinesses, commuting to work and school,visiting friends and enjoying all Oakland has tooffer.” (Bike Eastbay, 2015)

Oakland received a $4.5 million grant to upgrade this project with bike traffic signals at 27thStreet, MacArthur Boulevard and 40th Street to make these busy intersections safer forbicycling, and to add islands to the left of the bike lanes and eliminate bus/bike conflicts.

Currently, Transportation Service Division staff members have performed field walks to finetune adjustments to the striping plans that were developed last year after the City Councilapproval of the plan. Some small detailed adjustments include complying with drivewayclearances and additional pavement repair in the future bikeway. Crosswalks and center-turnlanes will be marked out soon. Transportation Service Division staff is projecting the completionof the bikeway prior to the National Bike to Work Day celebration in May.

First FridaysThroughout 2015, Oakland First Fridays street festival created significant impact in the monthlymarket space. Amongst the food vendor community, the festival provided economicopportunities for many mobile food entrepreneurs. The festival houses hundreds of arts, craftsand maker vendors, and draws thousands of patrons to the KONO district.

Oakland First Fridays is currently on winter break and will returnon March 4, celebrating thearts and community in the streets of the KONO District. �

> A look at the KONO District

The followingis another ina series ofcolumnsfeaturingnews andevents inOakland’sBusiness

ImprovementDistricts(BIDs).

>Abo

ut Tow

n – New

s from th

e BIDs

> A Chamber welcome CareBuilders At Home, which has been serving clients formore than 30 years, recently celebrated its new office witha ribbon cutting and open house. The office is located at400 29th St., Suite 403, in Oakland.

Above, director of operations Sara Ricks cuts the ribbonalong with executive director Bryan Ricks and home caremanager Christina Ochoa.

According to Bryan Ricks, home care has allowed thosewho cherish the homes they’ve built throughout their livesto remain in the comfort of that environment. It has alsoallowed people the capability to reduce care spending byoffering a viable alternative to institutional settings, such asnursing homes, which in most cases run more than three tofour times the cost of receiving care in one's home.

CareBuilders at Home believes that they are the bestoption for people who prefer staying in their own homeswhile receiving the best possible care.

For more information, call (510) 628-8426. �

> A mixing of cultures

The Peony restaurant in the heart of Oakland’s Chinatownwas the setting for the 2016 All-Chambers Mixer last month.Some 200 people representing five chambers of commerce inOakland were on hand for the event, which featured some ofthe finest networking at any one event in the city. Chambermembers enjoyed outstanding food and drink, a short wel-come by Chamber executives, and a raffle, which produced awinner of two tickets from Southwest Airlines for anywherethat Southwest flies in the continental United States.

Pictured at the mixer (seated, left to right) are OaklandMetro Chamber President Barbara Leslie, Oakland ChinatownChamber President Sandra Wong, Oakland African-AmericanChamber President Cheryl Perry League, and Cheryl Maier ofthe Oakland Private Industry Council, who was the luckywinner of the Southwest Airlines tickets.

Standing, left to right, were Treva Reid of PG&E, one of themixer sponsors; Victor Martinez, representing the OaklandHispanic Chamber; Jennie Ong, executive director of theOakland Chinatown Chamber; Greg Chan, representing mixersponsor East Bay Municipal Utility District; Merlin Edwards,from the Oakland African American Chamber Board ofDirectors, and Phuc Tran of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamberof Commerce. �

FEBRUARY 2016 | 23

Keeping you connected and informed

> FEBRUARY 2016

10 | Economic Development Forum |3 - 4:30 p.m. featuring an update on the Port of Oakland’s

three business lines – aviation, maritime and

real estate, presented by Pamela Kershaw,

commercial real estate director, and Amy

Tharpe, director of social responsibility, free

for Chamber members, $15 for non-members

25 | After Five Reception| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

26 | Inside Oakland BreakfastForum| 8:30-10 a.m.

featuring Oakland City Administrator Sabrina

Landreth, handling the day-to-day manage-

ment of the city, free for Chamber members,

$15 for non-members

> MARCH 2016

18 | Economic DevelopmentSummit, “Oakland Economy of theFuture,” | 7:30-10 a.m.

Kaiser Center

24 | After Five Reception| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Albany Bowl, 540 San Pablo Ave., Albany, freefor Chamber members, $15 for non-members

> APRIL 2016

1 | Women in Business RoundtableLuncheon| 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square

13 | Economic DevelopmentForum| 3 - 4:30 p.m.

free for Chamber members, $15 for

non-members,

22 | Inside Oakland BreakfastForum| 8:30-10 a.m.

free for Chamber members, $15 for

non-members

28 | After Five Reception| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

free for Chamber members, $15 for

non-members

All events held at Chamber offices, 475 14th Street, unless otherwise noted. Call 874-4800 to confirm dates and times. Meetings are open to all Chamber members.

Economic Development Summit #Oakland Advantage | Mar. 18

25 AfterFive

No charge for Chamber members. $15 non-members. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

@OaklandChamber#OaklandChamber#TheOaklandAdvantage

Economic Development ForumUpdate on the Port of Oakland| Feb. 10

TuesdayFebruary

INSIDE OAKLANDCity Administrator Sabrina Landreth| Feb. 26

The purpose of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamberof Commerce is to promote commerce and industry,to advance economic growth and to enhance thequality of life in the city of Oakland.

OBR OAKLAND BUSINESS REVIEW (ISSN 1092-7220)is published monthly at $100.00 a year by theOakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 47514th Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1903. Membershipdues include subscription. Periodicals postage atOakland, CA. Contents can’t be reproduced withoutpermission. POSTMASTER: Send address changes toOAKLAND BUSINESS REVIEW, 475 14th Street,Oakland, CA 94612.

EditorHANK MASLER, (510) 874-4808hmasler@oaklandchamber.com | www.oaklandchamber.com

Design/Production EditorCARTER DESIGNS

The articles published in this publication do notnecessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the OaklandMetropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEChair of the BoardMARK EVERTONWaterfront Hotel

CHARISSA FRANKFMG Architects

GREG CHANEast Bay MunicipalUtility District

DAN COHENFull Court Press

HILARY PEARSONSungevity

DAVID TUCKERWaste Managementof Alameda County

ZACK WASSERMANEx Officio CorporateCounselWendel, Rosen, Black & Dean LLP

BOARD OF D IRECTORS

KIM ARNONECutting Edge Capital

HARMINDER BAINSSecuritas

ALICIA BERTPG&E

ALISON BESTVisit Oakland

DAREN CHANAT&T

JOHN DOLBYDTZ

RON FORESTMatson NavigationCompany

BENJAMIN HARRISONColliers International

STAN HEBERTCalifornia State University, East Bay

MICHAEL HESTERMcGuire & Hester

NAVEEN JAINSparkart

VICTORIA JONESThe Clorox Company

PAMELA KERSHAWPort of Oakland

MICHAEL LEBLANCPICÁN Restaurant

KEN LOWNEYLowney Architecture

ROBERT LUCCHESEBank of America

KEN MAXEYComcast

ED MCFARLANJRDV Urban International

SAM NASSIFCreative HospitalityCorporation

MICKY RANDHAWAWells Fargo

JACKIE LYNN RAYSchnitzer SteelIndustries

JENNIFER SCANLONKaiser Permanente

DENNIS SCHRAGUCSF BenioffChildren’s HospitalOakland

DAVID STEINDonahue FitzgeraldLLP

Bj WASHINGTONJ.P. Morgan Chase

ELÑORA TENA WEBB,PH.D.Laney College

STACEY WELLSSutter HealthEast Bay

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Web site designWe work with you and your team to connect your product

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> LWV luncheon set for April 28

The ballroom at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center will be the site for a gala SilverAnniversary event – the 25th anniversary of the League of Women Voters (LWV)All-City Luncheon, which is set for Thursday, April 28. The event begins with regis-tration and networking at 11:15 a.m. and will end at 1:30 p.m.

Alex Padilla, California’s Secretary of State, will be the featured speaker.Secretary Padilla will share his plans to increase voter participation in California’selections and build a pool of registered voters that reflects more closely thediversity of the population of the state.

Individual tickets go on sale in March, but it’s not too early to pledge to host atable. For additional information, visit www.lwvoakland.org, call (510) 834-7640or email info@lwvoakland.org.

| OBR Oakland Business Review | www.oaklandchamber.com24