The Daily Dig

Hey neighbors, friends and members of our community at large.

Dave Newhouse, from the Oakland Tribune, wrote this awesome article about our efforts at St. Andrew’s Plaza and in our neighborhood. My mum is going to be so proud!

Take a look and if you get a chance take a moment to write a comment. I will see you this coming Saturday at St. Andrew’s Plaza at 10am for our bimonthly clean up.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17615007?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea....

Your neighbor and pal,

Alex Miller-Cole

415-699-9561

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Dave Newhouse: Generous green thumbs of volunteers

By Dave Newhouse

Oakland Tribune columnist

Posted: 03/14/2011 09:35:50 PM PDT

Updated: 03/14/2011 09:35:50 PM PDT

Some of the best police work in Oakland isn't achieved with guns, mace, dogs or a jailer's keys, but rather with rakes, hoes, clippers and brooms. An army of dedicated volunteers -- resembling a Peace Corps of green thumbs -- is policing and beautifying Oakland parks citywide.

The Oakland Parks Coalition is this city's answer to Johnny Appleseed, because its gardeners not only clean up weeds and debris, they plant trees and flowers. Alex Miller-Cole is part of this coalition. His territory is St. Andrews Plaza, where San Pablo Avenue, Filbert Street and 32nd Street converge in a triangle. Thus the plaza isn't much of a park -- or a postcard. Drug addicts, alcoholics and the homeless with all their possessions crammed into shopping carts hang out there.

"We bring a biohazard container," said Miller-Cole. "We pick up a lot of (hypodermic) needles. I just picked up a crack pipe. And I pick up lighters, used-up bags of weed, condoms and human feces."

Miller-Cole, 40, lives three blocks away, so he doesn't have far to walk for his alternate Saturday cleanups. And that's not all he does. "Whenever there's a murder in the neighborhood," he said, "I go to that block, get permission to plant trees, and then we landscape the whole street. It's better to counter violence with beauty, maybe." 

City money isn't planting those trees. Miller-Cole estimates having spent $10,000 to $15,000 out of his own pocket as a concerned neighbor. His main income is renting the residential property he owns with his partner, Christopher Miller-Cole. Alex is Cole; Christopher is Miller. Thus Miller-Cole. Alex grew up in Mexico. His dad was of German and English ancestry, his mother is part French. After his father died, he came alone to California at 18. He washed dishes, waited on tables, managed a store and got into realty, eventually as a property holder.

An Oakland resident for 16 years, he became an unpaid city gardener last year. "I think we have to," he said of the Oakland Parks Coalition. "We have a bit of a responsibility. The city has no money. It can't fix the sidewalks, it can't tend to the parks. And, yet, we live here, work here, breathe air here." The coalition's work force extends from teenagers to seniors. They believe in the city's name, "Land of Oaks," and they strive to preserve that image. "I am the steward of this park," Alex said of St. Andrews Plaza. "It's our city. We can live in a pig sty or fix it."

St. Andrews can be a pig sty. Alex pointed to the "urination station" -- an oak tree where the disadvantaged and the addicted relieve themselves. Alex asked the city to put in a public urinal, but got nowhere. He can only guess why.

"Someone will turn a trick there," he surmised, "or shoot up in there." Right then, a tall bearded man with a backpack entered the plaza and asked a homeless man, "Do you have any crack?" The homeless man replied, "Man, I don't do crack. I'm trying to get off the bottle." Across the plaza, a young man in a tie and vest showed up, handed a white object to an older man on a park bench, then left quickly. "A few neighbors signed a petition to close the park," Alex said.

Does he ever feel threatened? He said he's been yelled at, asked for money, and "rubbed all over" by a woman. But the more he's there, the more he's accepted. Some park denizens even offered to help him.

"They do a great job," he said. Every Friday, he and his partner hold an open house at their residence. "I have great neighbors," Alex said. "I like this community." A community that can pay him only with gratitude.

Dave Newhouse's columns appear Monday, Thursday and Sunday, usually on the Local page.

Know any Good Neighbors?

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Dear Mr. Newhouse,

Thank you very much for your kind and honest portrayal of one of the many issues we need to work on in our community.

I hope that this wonderful story will get more of our neighbors motivated to come out and help. I strongly believe that Oakland is entering a new era filled with energy, good will and hope in what the future will bring. 

I want to also take a moment to thank the many neighbors and volunteers who together with the San Pablo Corridor Coalition (SPc2) - come rain or shine - are always there to do their part as responsible and dependable members our community. You guys are amazing!

• Our next St. Andrew's Plaza clean up and beautification effort will be this coming Saturday, March 26th, 2011 at 10am. Everyone is welcome. We always have hot coffee.

Please stop by and say hi!

Info Call Alex 415-699-9561

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• On Friday, April 15th, 2011 (9:30am to 2"00pm) PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT will offer services and referrals to those in need in our community across the street from St. Andrew's Plaza at St. Mary's Center. Our City of Oakland Homeless Services Division and The San Pablo Corridor Coalition (SPc2) look forward to seeing you there. There are many ways you can volunteer and help. Info call 510-238-6590

• Medical, • Housing, • Employment, • Shelter, • Legal, • Case Management, • Public Assistance, • and if this was not enough they will serve lunch.

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• If you have anything in your garage that is accumulating dust - we want it!

 We will sell it on line and will use the funds to plant trees, paint facades, fix sidewalks and help uplift our neighborhood. Thanks!

info: alex@millercole.com

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 Hey World!

Please take a moment to read about our park and public service in "my garden" page. It is unlike anything you guys are doing. I hope all you - Green Thumped people can come and help us make this little park something our community can use and be proud of.

Our group of volunteers and neighbors will be at St. Andrew's Plaza this coming Saturday, March 12th. We start at 10am. I, Alex, bring the tools, coffee, lots of energy and a smile. 

The park is located in West Oakland on San Pablo Avenue at the intersection of 32nd and Filbert. 

It would be totally awesome if you came!