By contrast, almost every person speaking in favor of the Zoo's expansion plan was either a Zoo employee, married to a Zoo employee, Zoo board member, or otherwise affiliated with the Zoo.

Repeatedly, community members also expressed anger over the Zoo's dismissive and disrespectful response to community concerns and asked why, if the Zoo cared about the community, it had refused, during the past 2 years during which this current plan was being developed, to work with community members on a plan all could support. Instead, the Zoo continues to simply announce what it has decided. Seeking community input, as one community member put it, was "a sham" under the circumstances.

Darin Ranelletti of the City of Oakland Planning Division announced that the Planning Division has scheduled an informational briefing for the planning commission for April 21 at 6 pm at City Hall. Please mark your calendars now and turn out to help us save Knowland Park for future generations to enjoy.

Meanwhile, we continue to work to spread the word and engage more community members to defend the last, largest remaining piece of open space owned by the city. Please let us know if you want to get more involved, and thanks for helping keep our open space open!