Rules and Committee)
Thursday, May 23rd, 2024
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor & City Council FROM: Councilmember Kevin Jenkins Council District 6
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATIVELY
RENAMING OF THE 8200 BLOCK
OF FONTAINE AVE/FONTAINE
OVERPASS “DAVID SAKURAI
WAY” PURSUANT TO THE
POLICY AND CRITERIA
ESTABLISHED BY OAKLAND
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO.
77967 C.M.S.
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 2024
RECOMMENDATION
COUNCILMEMBER KEVIN JENKINS IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT COMMEMORATIVELY RENAMING OF THE 8200 BLOCK OF FONTAINE AVE/FONTAINE OVERPASS “DAVID SAKURAI WAY” PURSUANT TO THE POLICY AND CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 77967 C.M.S.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Office of Councilmember Kevin Jenkins is requesting the commemorative street naming of 8200 block of Fontaine Ave/Fontaine Overpass. This location was chosen because it is the location of Rudsdale High School, where David Sakurai tragically lost his life.
Background/Legislative History
Kazuhiro David Sakurai, a cherished member of the community, dedicated over 18 years of service as a carpenter for OUSD's Buildings and Grounds Department. On September 28th, 2022, David was critically injured during a shooting that occurred at Rudsdale High School and subsequently died on November 17th, 2022. David was known for his sense of humor and mischievous pranks. He has also been described by those who knew him well as a man with a heart of pure gold who was always willing to jump in and help anyone who needed it. David’s nickname among his OUSD Buildings and Grounds friends was “MacGyver,” because his skills crossed many trades, and he could improvise solutions with whatever was available. He had the trust and respect of his co-workers. They knew that David would stand up and speak up for them when a wrong needed to be made right. David had served as shop steward for the OUSD carpenters from 2017 until his death. When David learned that he only had a few days to live, his union brothers came to the hospital to say goodbye and confided that they were struggling from
Honorable Mayor & City Council
Subject: Recommendation to Commemoratively Rename a Street Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024 Page 2
Oakland City Council
May 21st, 2024
the trauma of the shooting and did not feel adequately supported. From his deathbed, David immediately picked up his phone and called the Union Business Rep, advocating for their needs to be met. During his time in the hospital, David also expressed desire for the incident to be handled through a restorative justice process, instead of simply incarcerating the individuals involved. David believed that incarceration and punitive justice measures would only perpetuate the cycle of violence. David grew up in Berkeley, graduated from Berkeley High School and ran David Sakurai Construction, a general contracting business, from 1985 until he began working with OUSD. For many years, David volunteered as a basketball coach, and board member for the East Bay Youth Athletic League. David was the loving partner of Anne Okahara, and step-father to Kazumi Chin and Masami Chin, and their partners Michelle Lin and Jaskanwal Pawar. There are so many who feel blessed to have had him as a friend, a brother, uncle, or coworker. David always said that each of us has to pay back or pay forward our debt of gratitude, and David was always the first to do so and he will forever be remembered as a kind and giving man of great integrity.
FISCAL IMPACT
The costs/fees associated with developing the sign and installation will be provided by Oakland Unified School Board President Sam Davis.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
We will be working closely with the family and with Oakland Unified where this took place to continue to commemorate David’s memory.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmembers Kevin Jenkins recommend that the City Council adopt this commemorative street renaming.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Dyana Delfin Polk, Policy Coordinator, Office of Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, District 6.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin Jenkins
Councilmember Kevin Jenkins
Honorable Mayor & City Council
Subject: Recommendation to Commemoratively Rename a Street Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024 Page 3
Oakland City Council
May 21st, 2024
District 6
Prepared by: Dyana Delfin Polk
Name of Preparer, Policy Coordinator, District 6
Attachments (#): (If Applicable)