Take a look at what some supporters have to say about Dear Mayor Dellums and Council, I write as one of the founding members of COOS Citizens for Oakland’s Open Space. I represented the King Estates neighborhood (East Oakland) to this coalition of organizations that wrote and helped pass Measure K the 60 million dollar park bond measure in 1990. As you may recall the thrust behind Measure K was citizen led, grass roots activism at its best and most proactive. Measure K projects were scattered all over the city map and included open space, recreation centers, ball fields, gyms, senior centers, cultural facilities like the museum, and Chinatown park, the Morcom Rose Garden, Peralta Hacienda, Dunsmuir House and Gardens, the Zoo and of course City Stables. When we worked to draft the list of Measure K projects it was important to the group that we put a project or several projects in all districts of the city. There had to be something for everyone. Well, City Stables was to be for the hill area and the equestrian public, but because it would be the only horse facility owned by the city, it was intended from the start to be a full service riding stable offering lessons, boarding, training and diverse outreach programs Did you know equestrians were the original spark behind the formation of both COOS and Measure K? It is true. It was the equestrians who helped bring us all together and helped lead COOS to become a city wide coalition capable of carrying Measure K to victory. In light of this tremendous contribution, I think it is especially sad that the City is now seemingly turning its back on this energetic and important constituency. Current efforts to shut down the stable or transition it to an underutilized use I feel strongly that the city should embrace and encourage the MEPS vision for the site, not reject it. The City has the means to help MEPS nurture its plans and see them to fruition. Please redirect staff from their doomsday course. We will all be better served in seeing this magnificent asset returned to its highest and best use as a full service public riding stable. Yours very truly, Barbara Sutherland
2/11/07 Dear Members of the Oakland City Council.
Dear Members of the Greater East Bay! It has come to my knowledge that the Oakland City Stables is in dire My husband and myself have the opportunity as concessionaires (for the Over the years, we have entertained Oakland children at our ranch in By developing and continuing to offer this experience so close to their Myself and my husband find the most enjoyable part of our businesses is Cindy Wilkinson PS. I never mentioned the inner city adults who should also have the
2/8/07 I am writing in regards to the ongoing issues surrounding the City Stables That the City council does not support City Stables is, I am sure, not news The latest plan set forth will circumvent the RFP process in favor of a six First and foremost, it defeats the entire purpose of the RFP process. In my Secondly, the test program calls for trucking horses in for day use Third, the test program does not have any of the related components that the The citizens of Oakland have shown ongoing support for the proposal set Kind regards, CC: Congresswoman Barbara Lee: by fax 202-225-9817 and 510-763-6538 Dear Councilmember, Your support is needed again to save City Stables! Please reject the improperly adopted Life Enrichment Committee's "plan" to use an out of town provider to run a thrown together program in an unsafe and run down facility. This "program", which no one has seen in writing, puts out the wrong message to our children and is a slap in the face to the citizens of Oakland who voted to save the park as a full service horse facility as mandated through Measure K. Please redirect staff away from this plan and back to the table with the Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society (MEPS). The MEPS plan will ensure the facility is restored for public use with a wide variety of programs that serve a diverse spectrum of Oakland citizens. We have a good, viable and visionary Master Plan, evolved from a lengthy and thorough public process; we have funding; and we have a willing partner with strong community ties and resources in MEPS. MEPS site improvements will promote sustainability and green living. The MEPS programs and plan are supported by local equestrians, the neighborhood most affected by the stable, homeowners, parents, educators, recreation program planners and providers and community leaders from across the city. The MEPS plan puts Oakland citizens in stewardship of Oakland City Stables and is the only plan that can implement the facility improvements before the Master Plan expires this coming April. If permits are not pulled and work started by that time, the Master Plan will need to be redone, putting the State Bond funds earmarked for stable renovations at great risk of expiring. The MEPS programs and plan have my strong backing. City Stables deserves our best efforts NOW and MEPS deserves serious consideration and a process that supports and encourages their efforts. Thank you for keeping the public trust by supporting the Measure K mandate, supporting Hire Oakland First and the MEPS plan to get it done! Sincerely, Jennifer Smith Dear Councilmember, I am confused. I thought that our voting process showed support for sustaining the facility and riding program for the Oakland City stables. I think the plan currently on the table, is not what the voters had in mind. You may be keeping some sort of equestrian plan going, but it is the equivalent of going to the auto repair shop and having the mechanic repair your vehicle with duct tape. Yes, the vehicle is repaired and he upheld his part of the agreement, but the vehicle is set up to break down again. I do not think this make shift program is what the voters had in mind. The Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society has a wonderful program and funding planned for the stables. It will enable a diversified program for the community that is both animal and environmentally conscientious. This makes the community and the surrounding neighborhood happy. This makes the voting public happy. The other program is set up to fail and will create more problems for the city in the future, not to mention going against what your voting constituents wanted. This program has been a part of the community and an important part of many lucky children's lives for years. Research shows that equestrian activities, whether through riding programs or rehabilitation programs (physical or institutional), have a profound effect on human development. These programs produce, percentage wise, far better results than any other community programs, sports or otherwise. And we all know Oakland gravely needs these type of programs. If anything we should improve and expand the program. Please work with the MEPS program. It will be a cost effective program that is good for the community, good for the children and provides the best quailty of life for the animals involved as well. Thank you for your time, Nina Cook Dear Ms. Edgerly, City Administrator I am very pleased that city officials listened to their citizens and have put energy back into reopening city stables and not just giving up and closing it forever. But we need a provider that will implement the Master Plan; just hauling horses onto the facility for a program does not do that. One of the most important lessons that at risk youth need to learn is respect for them selves and thus respect for others and their community. How can we show that we respect them, if their city endorsed program sends them to a facility in such an unsafe condition? We need to have the stables physically improved to allow the community a safe place to meet and the horses a safe place to live. We need to have horses on site to teach youth that part of respecting the horses is to learn to care for them properly. We need to have boarding at market rates to generate funds to maintain the facility. As you are aware, boarding does not generate much profit, but it does cover the hard costs of paying utilities, insurance, upkeep on the facility and repairs. The boarded horses will also be shared with the program providers; that will allow them to have a ready source of horses for their programs without the expense of purchasing the horses and paying for the full cost of their care. Most importantly, we need to have many programs operating at the facility to meet the needs of all of our diverse community. This is a wonderful, unique piece of property that has enough physical room to run many programs at the same time and thus positively impacting a large number of community members with many different kinds of special needs. The MEPS board and their supporters bring to the table an immense wealth of knowledge, expertise, diversity, dedication and experiences. Without exaggeration, combined, they have hundreds of years experience in horse care, working with children and volunteering their time. This has been acknowledged by other experts, and more program providers have come forward, joining with them in wanting to be part of their vision by running their programs at the site. Implementing the Master Plan is too big for one person; it needs the strength of many. Because of its 501 (c) (3) standing, MEPS is able to raise funds from sources that an individual cannot. Because it is local, MEPS has attracted many local specialized program providers. They have successful programs that cater to the special needs of their clients, but they would not be able to run the whole facility alone. MEPS has the support of all the neighbors. MEPS has committed support from the local horse community. MEPS has broad support from the local community. All of these are critical for the long term success of City Stables. MEPS was formed solely to save city stables, and is ready to start implementing the Master Plan immediately. Time is of the essence, the work needs to be started now, before the Master Plan expires. Now is the time to let MEPS turn an unsafe facility into a jewel that benefits all members of our marvelously diverse community. Sincerely, Kathy Dunn Dear Councilmember Quan~ The proposal made by councilmember Brooks to trailer horses from out of town to serve Oakland youth in a dilapidated equestrian facility is flawed in a number of serious ways. The increased traffic, pollution, and stress on the horses alone should be enough to disqualify the plan. Bypassing the opportunity to enhance the safety and security of the facilities, employ community members, serve our diverse equestrian community, utilize available funding, and implement the Master Plan that was formulated in a public process is outrageous. I strongly encourage you to take whatever steps are necessary to redirect staff away from this unacceptable proposal and work with MEPS to promptly implement a comprehensive plan to provide a rehabilitated equestrian facility that will be locally operated and accessible to all of the citizens of Oakland. As an long-time Oakland homeowner, parent, educator, and member of the equestrian community, I hope you will seriously consider and act upon this request. Sincerely, Diane Wyman Brenum Dear Ms. Books, Mayor Dellums and City Council Members, Wendy Tokuda and John Kawamoto, I understand the council will hear again on City Stables next Tuesday at 7:00 pm and would like you to consider the following: Your plan to bring in horses from the Sierra Foothills is not the best plan for a long term solution. I can not understand how Tami K can trailer 4 or more hours a day and still have any time to plan and implement a program that will be beneficial for our youth. The expenses in gas alone make this prohibitive and I believe this will result in no more than "pony rides". At the end of this experiment she still does not have the local backing or financial means to make the needed improvements to the location. You have a citizens group (MEPS) www.oaklandcitystables.org, which is comprised educated and thoughtful horsemen and who have the full support of the community. They have financial backing, they have programs, and they have the support of many people who will sustain them. If they were able to begin tomorrow, I believe they could have the grading and drainage work done in about 60 days. The pipe panels and enclosures they have suggested are a standard in the horse community and take very little time to put together. Electrical and plumbing could be completed, then hay and bedding could be laid in, making it possible for horses to board at City Stables within a reasonable time frame. Concurrently a part of the organization can be contacting and evaluating which students might find the best benefits of bonding with a horse. Each horse that is stabled at City stable has the potential to bring in $500.00 a month. I would think a board schedule scaled to income might be appropriate with someone who donates their horses time to youth programs receiving an added reduction. If there were 50 horses boarded, 25 at full board and 25 at an average of half that amount, there is the potential to raise approximately $18,000.00 per month. This would go a long way towards maintaining this facility. This scenario has the potential to provide horse related programs to a huge amount of people! If each horse has an owner, a sponsor and is available three hours a day to youth, each horse can provide approximately 25 people per week with a lesson, clean up responsibility and a nicker & nuzzle! If you consider that 25 horses could provide this service - well that totals more than 100 hours per month per horse! I have heard lots of negative "rumors" surrounding City Stable and would not like to believe that: 1) The city does not want to work with MEPS because they feel MEPS is arrogant. 2) The city would not like to support City Stable because they would be catering to a lot of rich, white ladies. 3) The city actually has a developer who will pay $17.5 million for this site. May I counter each of these? 1) Personal feelings should not be a part of this consideration; it should be treated in a business like manor. 2) The "rich, white ladies" are women like me who are waiting to donate time, money and effort to reach inner city kids and teach them how to ride, be responsible for their actions, perhaps even to compost horse manure and grow organic lettuces. 3) I would think there might be quite a furor in the community if a facility that the people of Oakland voted on specifically was sold to a developer, no matter how the arrangement was come to. I could go on and on about the historical significance of horses in the Skyline Community and this site specifically, or write to you about the programs I would like to help with: 4-H, asking Wendy Tokuda to help with gardening projects and perhaps even Alice Waters would buy organic produce, etc. etc., but nothing can happen until the City Council can come to a decision. Please reconsider supporting MEPS carefully before the Tuesday meeting. Lee Rutter Mon, 1 Jan 2007 19:04:49 I am writing to request that the Oakland City Stables be preserved as this is a great asset for Oakland's citizens. I rode there when I was a child; since I came from a VERY low income family, I was only able to do this at the city stables. Now I work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the East Bay as a volunteer and have been looking for a way to get my "little" into riding as well and was very disappointed that the city stables were no longer open. Please do what you can to preserve and renovate this wonderful facility as it would be a tremendous asset for adults and youngsters alike!! Thank you, Nikko Lindley Dear Ms. Edgerly, City Council, Jerry Brown, and MEPS: Please don't close city stables. I have attended many meetings at the stables, at city hall, at the homes of people interested in keeping the stable open. I have written letters to every council member. I have spoken in front of you. And I'm disgusted. Every time a roadblock has been put up, people have come forth with proposals and plans to satisfy the city council. We have been put on hold too many times. To my mind, the city council is only going through the motions of making it seem that they are considering options for the stable when in reality, they are trying to get their hands on the Measure K money that should have gone toward the stable. If you want to do something unique and valuable for our city and its people...if you want to maintain integrity, maintain the stable. Sincerely, Marilyn Green Dear Ms. Edgerly, I write to express my strong support and encouragement for the reopening of City Stables as an equestrian facility as intended by voters in the passage of Measure K. It is my understanding that the Office of Park and Recreation has brought a recommendation before the Rules Committee to "Keep City Stables Closed As A Horse Boarding And Equestrian Center And A Recommendation To Reallocate $400,000 in Proposition 12 Grant Funds From The City Stables Project To The Carter Gilmore Field Project;." This recommendation should be rejected whole heartedly. A city as diverse as Oakland should promote and encourage diverse forms of recreation. City Stables, bordered by the East Bay Regional Parks, is ideally suited as an equestrian access point to EBRPD's recreational trail system that extends for hundreds of miles. The stable's arenas, buildings, and land also offer a unique opportunity to provide a place for public programs that can reach a diverse cross section of society. Youth programs, educational programs, horse boarding, training and lessons, are all valuable programs that create opportunities for the public. In the last 20 years or so, Oakland has lost several stables and many opportunities for its public to experience equestrian activities. Measure K, when it allocated monies for City Stables (then Vista Madera Stables) was supposed to help correct this trend by placing in public ownership the City Stables site. There is no justification for denying the public the intended use of this facility through the closure of this valuable public asset. I believe strongly that the City has a responsibility to make this right. I encourage you to return this facility to full operation as a public stable with diverse programs such as what MEPS is offering the City. Sincerely, Elizabeth Schwartz Dear Ms. Edgerly, I am writing to echo the sentiments of others who have written in response to recent moves to close City Stables permanently and to divert the funds earmarked for the project by Oakland voters elsewhere. It is abundantly apparent that some within the City have no intention of honoring the choice voters made in passing Measure K to maintain the equestrian facility and it is an patently wrong for the current City administration to follow this shortsighted path. Today, more than ever Oakland youth need to be able to establish a connection with the environment. An equestrian facility is one of the best ways to accomplish this. In numerous publications and popular books, including Last Child in the Woods, scientists have documented the dramatic decrease in childhood disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder when a connection with the environment is re-established. In addition, overall violent tendencies decrease when children have the opportunity to work with animals. The City Stables should be the epitome of cultural equestrian diversity, hailing the rich history of the horse in California from the Black Cowboys to the Latin Vaquerros, to the trail savvy Pony Express riders, to the European influenced hunter/jumper and technical dressage. Equestrian activities offer a physical skill set that once established in a child often stays with them for life, keeping many adults active and fit well into their senior years. Unlike other equestrian facilities in Oakland the surrounding Bay area that have been engulfed by development, City Stables adjoins the vast East Bay Regional Parks system, providing even greater opportunity for youth to reconnect with the environment. MEPS has put forth a fully viable proposal and deserves the opportunity to bring the wishes of the voters to fruition. I encourage you and your associates at City Hall to have the courage to do the right thing, honor the intent of Measure K, have faith in MEPS and the surrounding community that support the stables, and give the youth of Oakland a local resource and opportunity to connect with the environment and history. Kind regards, Liz Taylor Dear Ms. Edgerly, As a long time 4-H'er and a part of the future generation, I strongly support the reopening of City Stables. I believe that agricultural/farm education is important for each and every person to have access to. I recently moved to Oakland and such a diverse city should most definitly fund stables to promote even more varied forms of recreation. It's also possible that in closing the stables, you would put the city at risk for more developement of open space. Oakland has more open space, trees and nature than many large cities and that makes it unique and special. In the past 7 years my 4-H club has been trying to promote information, awareness and public interaction with domestic livestock. We have also used the animals theraputically, visiting retirement homes and camps for disabled children. These stables have some aspects and programs similar to those we have successfully administered. If passed, closing the stables would also reduce the scarce horse boarding space and 24 hour stewardship. If for any reason the stables are not working out, it means there needs to be a change in administration or other areas, not the destruction of the City Stables Program. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Mariah Volk, 10th grade Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakah, Jolly Kwaanza! I have been living in Oakland for all 17 years of my life. I have used the Oakland city stables, that are being recommended to close, as a girl scout and I know they are a treasure to the youth in our city. We are already losing so much, the A's...the Raiders...why can't Oakland keep anything? No wonder our crime rate is so high, there is hardly anything productive, safe, and cheap in Oakland. What is our city trying to accomplish by closing these stables? Is it an idea to raise money for the city? Because 1) Removing the horses, boarders, employees, and volunteers from the stable will lose money for the city and change the lives of everyone unwillingly involved in the closure and 2) The empty stables will likely be covered with a "development", losing the beautiful public space that we already don't have much of. So thank you for your wonderful foresight and intelligent planning, so typical of Oakland! You'll be hearing from me, Toni Longley P.S. You all should know that the decisions you make affect a lot more people than you think. Lately, the decision making I have seen from your parts hasbeen detrimental to our city, and worrisome to it's inhabitants. Honorable Mayor, City Council and Staff, I have been a proud resident of Oakland since 1994 and a lifelong horseback rider. Although Oakland is very urban, we are lucky to have our nearby regional park and a couple of remaining equestrian facilities. It would be a real loss to all of Oakland (and especially Oakland's kids) if we were to lose Oakland City Stables, one of our last remaining barns. I urge you to re-open City Stables so Oakland residents have a place to connect with horses for education, recreation, empowerment and fun. With City Stables, you have an opportunity to broaden the horizons of Oakland residents who might not otherwise get the chance to interact with a horse. You also have the vehicle to provide powerful programs such as therapeutic riding. You also have a chance to preserve a little piece of Oakland's history for future generations. Please do all you can to preserve and re-open Oakland City Stables. Sincerely, Osa Wolff Dear Oakland City Government - I am writing to voice my support of the Metropolitan Equestrian Preservation Society's plan to preserve and reopen City Stables for use by the community. As a lifelong East Bay resident, I feel that this invaluable resource to the community must be saved and preserved as an equestrian facility. - It is the city's only public riding stable, paid for with funds specifically allocated for its purchase in Measure K. - City Stables lends diversity to the city's offering of recreational and educational facilities and offers many opportunities to provide valuable programs for youth not available in the community. - Equestrian activities are healthful, positive experiences for youth and adults and should be supported at City Stables. - City Stables provides access to open space and the extensive EBRPD park system. I thank you for your consideration and efforts to do right by the community and preserve this facility. Regards, Devon E. E. Weston Deborah Edgerly, City Administrator This is to inform you of our continuing support for the continued presence of City Stables and open space preservations in our neighborhood. And concern regarding the city apparent plans to change nature of the land use in our neighborhood in which we live and where we enjoy our horses and the access to beauty of our regional park lands. As Oakland residents for 30 years and Skyline residents for as long we appreciate the equestrian facilities and do not wish to see them disappear. Oakland is one of the few urban areas that can boast a blend of Park and City and we want that to continue. If the City Stables were to be closed its demise would obviously lead to more housing in that location. This is a misuse of public lands and public trust. It can easily be argued that the "inner city" in lower areas of Oakland nearer Bart, and the Bridge with eventually potentially less consequence to traffic when developed, contain much building space that can be repurposed without allowing developers to seize prized opens space and prized public access to park lands for a few privileged individuals able to purchase high priced homes in the hills. The Skyline boulevard itself has not been studied for traffic impact from further numbers of housing from such possible developments. Not to mention that loosing access into the public park for further housing development is a failure of public trust. Please note we are in favor of the preservation of City Stables as follows: • That it must be preserved as an equestrian facility. It is the city's only public riding stable, paid for with funds specifically allocated for its purchase in Measure K. • that City Stables lends diversity to the city's offering of recreational and educational facilities and offers many opportunities to provide valuable programs for youth not available in the community. • that equestrian activities are healthful, positive experiences for youth and adults and should be supported at City Stables. • that you support the reopening of City Stables and the preservation of the facility as an enhancement to the greater community, and the neighborhood. • that City Stables provides access to open space and the extensive EBRPD park system. I trust you will recommend these improvements this is a valuable public resource and it is short sighted to close such a wonderful historic public asset. Bruce and Anita Thompson Dear City Leaders, I am writing to express my support of the Oakland City Stables and my concern at their being closed. I entered the horse world as an adult beginning rider 5 years ago and was astonished to learn just how extensive the horse community in the Bay Area actually is. I have now purchased my own arabian and sit on the Diablo Arabian Horse Association Board. In fact I would be at your council meeting on January 9th if it were not the same night as our board meeting. The Bay Area has become increasingly more and more developed, and with that the existence of open spaces and riding trails has become more rare and more precious. Once equestrian land has been removed and developed, we can never go back. Riding and related horse activities are good for the body and for the soul--particularly in these stress-filled times and in the middle of a huge urban sprawl such as we have in the East Bay. Many troubled urban youth have been helped by becoming involved with horses. It is a recreation that we are lucky to still have available to us--a recreation that helps us to remain fit and teaches us to respect and care for living creatures. On behalf of myself and my fellow horse owners and riders, I urge you to reconsider closing the Oakland City Stables. Sincerely, Sidney Simpson Dear Councilmember Brunner, I happened upon the City Stables back in July, and curious as to what was happening with such a great facility, I did a Google search upon returning to my office. I found the MEPS website, read it, and thought that it was an exciting plan for the city. I contacted the MEPS Board, and since July, have been sitting in on their Board meetings and speaking with them about their plans. I would like you to know that I fully support the proposal that they have put forth for re-opening the City Stables. I see no reason that the city would NOT allow MEPS to 1) rehabilitate the facilities, according to their plan, 2) create the programs for the at-risk kids, therapy riding for the physically/mentally challenged, 3) create a full – working self-sustaining stable that is a humane place for animals. This is a very dedicated group of Oakland residents, with tremendous support from Oakland residents, that have spent thousands of hours working with the expectation of making City Stables a first-rate property that the city can be proud – serving its youth, underprivileged, and retaining an important part of the history of Oakland. I am baffled that Parks & Rec could not negotiate a contract to put this in motion. Let’s look at the MEPS plan for just a moment…within a short period of time, they plan to rehabilitate the property: move and rebuild barns, create a safe riding arena, rehabilitate/build new stalls. When the property is rehabilitated, they will be able to bring in horses for boarding & lessons. This income will fund the programs that will serve the Oakland at-risk and challenged children. MEPS has the local talent, drive and fund resources to make this happen. For argument’s sake, lets say that the plan does not work and is not self-sustaining. The City of Oakland would then have a rehabilitated facility that could then more easily attract top-rate vendors (and those that want to use the City of Oakland facilities without the means to properly rehabilitate the property as recently suggested by Brooks). I am appalled with the most recent proposal put forth by Brooks to have a non-Oakland resident, with no money or plan to rehabilitate the facilities, truck animals to the facility daily (detrimental to the well-being of the animals). On SO, SO, SO many levels, this is an ill conceived plan. It shortchanges the people of Oakland, sends the wrong message to our children, and is harmful to the animals and the environment. It has virtually no community support and it violates the mandate of Measure K to preserve the stables as an active horse boarding facility. Besides lack of interest by counsel, the only place that there does not seem to be support is by Parks & Rec…but they should not be calling the shots on this.The MEPS plan completely fulfills the RFP requirements; it asks for no additional money to be spent by the City, has the demonstrated ability to raise funds, the ability to work with the community, and offers high quality programs from local people with a green and humane approach. Everything is ready for implementation. All it needs is the support of City Council to keep the promise of Measure K. I hope that you, and other City Counsel members can put the MEPS plan into place and quickly. Please feel free to call me with any questions. Thanks in advance for your consideration! As always, it was a pleasure seeing you on New Years! Warm regards, Diana Yonkouski, Oakland
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