How Many Close Calls Before City Hall Listens?

For years now—roughly two decades—neighbors have been raising concerns about the safety of the intersection at Marlow & Foothill Way. It’s a route that kids, parents, cyclists, and walkers use every day, especially going to and from Roosevelt Elementary. Many of us have had the same experience: close calls, cars not stopping, and that constant feeling that it’s only a matter of time before something really bad happens.

Recently, I’ve shared with the City:

• Video of a CHP cruiser actually hitting a villager at this intersection

• Dashcam and bike footage showing repeated near-misses

• Documentation that the City removed a community-installed safety sign we had put up to try to slow drivers down—without replacing it with anything

Our HOA, which represents nearly 400 homes, has formally reached out as well. The message from Oakland DOT that I’m posting here is the response we received.

I’m sharing this publicly so that my neighbors can see exactly where things stand and how the City is framing the issue. From our perspective on the ground, the danger is daily and obvious. From the City’s perspective, because there are “only” a small number of officially recorded crashes in the last decade, this intersection doesn’t rate as a priority.

If you live in this area and are concerned about this intersection—and especially if you or your kids use it to get to Roosevelt—I’m asking you to consider reaching out to the City and adding your voice. The more of us who speak up, the harder it will be for these concerns to be brushed aside with statistics that don’t match our lived experience.

Please send an email to the director of the Department of Transportation Josh Rowan. Here's his email - jrowan@oaklandca.gov

Public safety shouldn’t depend on waiting for a tragic crash that finally shows up in a data set. We’re simply asking for proactive, common‑sense protections for our community before that happens.

Below is the email chain between myself and Oakland officials - so you can read it for yourself. (most recent is on the top, oldest is on the bottom)

Director Rowan,

Thank you for your response. 

I understand that the City is prioritizing the high injury network and high equity zones. However, I need to be very clear that the current framing of “only two crashes in the past decade” does not reflect what is actually happening at the intersection of Marlow and Foothill Way, nor the lived experience of the families who use it daily.

Key points that your response does not address:

1. Documented, recent serious incidentA CHP cruiser hit our neighbor at this intersection. I have already provided video of this event. This is not a hypothetical risk; it is a clear, documented failure of safety at this specific location.

2. Daily near-misses involving childrenEvery school day, children from Sheffield walking or biking to Roosevelt School are almost hit. I personally have been nearly hit multiple times while taking my son to school, and I have submitted video evidence from my bike and dashcam showing how close these calls are.

3. 20+ years of known dangerResidents have been raising concerns about this intersection for roughly two decades. The danger here is chronic and well-known in the neighborhood, even if it does not fully show up in the limited crash data you’re referencing.

4. Community representation and lack of responseOur HOA represents nearly 400 homes. We have collectively tried to engage the City repeatedly since the summer and did not receive a substantive response until now. Lack of serious consideration, despite organized community outreach and clear video evidence, is deeply concerning.

5. City actions that increase riskThe City removed our community-installed safety sign at this intersection. That sign was a grassroots attempt to mitigate risk while we waited for formal action. Removing it, without providing any alternative safety measure, worsened conditions without addressing the underlying problem. I also sent you the video proof of your crews removing the sign. 

I recognize that Oakland must focus resources on its high injury network, but prioritization should not mean ignoring documented danger—especially where children are involved and video evidence has been provided. Relying solely on reported crash counts misses the reality of near-misses, under-reporting, and the fact that not every narrowly-avoided collision generates a police report.

Specific requests:

1. A concrete, written plan and timelineBy the end of this week, I am requesting a written response that addresses:

   • Whether DOT will conduct a site visit and/or focused traffic/safety study at Marlow & Foothill Way, and by what date.

   • What short-term, low-cost safety measures (e.g., signage, striping, daylighting, speed cushions, crossing improvements) can be implemented while longer-term priorities are evaluated.

   • How DOT will account for documented video evidence and community reports of near-misses when decisions are made, not just crash counts.

2. Consideration of liability and public safetyI have included the City Attorney on this correspondence, as the City now has clear notice that this intersection is dangerous, particularly for children traveling to and from Roosevelt School. Continued inaction in the face of documented risk and repeated written complaints raises serious public-safety and liability concerns.

I am cc’ing:

• Roselyn at Oaklandside, who covers public safety and has been provided our videos and documentation.

• Our HOA President, representing nearly 400 households directly affected by this intersection.

We are not asking for the impossible—we are asking for the City to take our documented safety concerns seriously, to look beyond bare crash counts, and to propose at least interim measures so that our children and neighbors are not relying on luck to get across this intersection safely.

I look forward to a substantive response, with specific next steps, by the end of this week.

Sean Everhart 

150 Marlow St 

(510) 219-2205 

On Tue, Nov 18, 2025 at 9:48 AM Rowan, Josh Rowan <jrowan@oaklandca.gov> wrote:

Sean,

You have received a response from DOT, and our position has not changed.  While more than half of the city's serious and severe crashes take place in intersections, this intersection has experienced two crashes in the past decade.  Further, when expanding to the entire neighborhood, there have been four crashes over the past decade.  We remain focused on the high injury network, especially in high equity zones, and this intersection does not rate as a high priority.

Regards,

Josh Rowan

Director

Department(s) of Public Works & Transportation

City of Oakland

From: sean everhart <sean.p.everhart@gmail.com>

Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 1:03 PM

To: Houston, Ken <KHouston@oaklandca.gov>; Hall, Trinity <THall@oaklandca.gov>; Rowan, Josh <JRowan@oaklandca.gov>; sean everhart <sean.p.everhart@gmail.com>; roselyn@oaklandside.org <roselyn@oaklandside.org>; DeVries, Joe <JDeVries@oaklandca.gov>; Gin Murphey <ginmurphey1@gmail.com>; Richardson, Ryan <RRichardson@oaklandcityattorney.org>; Zamora, Jasmine <JZamora@oaklandca.gov>; Jeanette Ward <president@sheffieldvillage.org>; Diane Russell <rustalk@aol.com>

Subject: Re: Intersection of foothill/Marlow-continued danger and no response

Hi all, 

I’m writing again regarding the ongoing safety issues at the intersection of Marlow and Foothill Way. I have been trying to get a response from the City since the summer, and yet there has still been no update or acknowledgment.

Even with the support of our HOA—which represents nearly 400 homes—nothing has been done, and we haven’t even received a reply. This intersection has been dangerous for over 20 years, and despite multiple efforts, it continues to threaten residents daily.

I continue to be nearly hit while taking my son to school. It is deeply concerning that even after a CHP cruiser struck one of our neighbors at this same location, the City has not acted. I’ve attached a video showing that incident as well as dashcam footage documenting ongoing safety problems.

I am cc’ing Roselyn from Oaklandside (public safety beat) and our HOA President on this message. As residents, we deserve to know why this intersection remains such a hazard after decades of documented danger.

I am requesting a written response and proposed next steps by the end of this week. The community cannot wait any longer for meaningful action.

Sincerely,Sean Everhart Sheffield Village citizen (510) 219-2205 sean.p.everhart@gmail.com

cc: Roselyn @ Oaklandside (Public Safety) cc Jeanette Ward (HOA President) 

On Mon, Oct 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM sean everhart <sean.p.everhart@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Ken and Trinity,

Thanks again for coming out to Sheffield. A few of the things I wanted to chat with you about. 

1.) I've included the video of the intersection in question. I counted, it's 4-5 times a week I almost get in a head on collision at this intersection.

2.) The neighbor at 101 Covington is the individual in question. He has north of 8 cars, one of which blocks the sidewalk. He has harassed neighbors for years but I don't get into that. The bigger problem is a intersection that doesn't have stop signs and you can't see cars coming

3.) The Privacy Commission and Oakland IT 

You and I should spend some time together. My biggest thing with Oakland, and why I voted the way I did, the city doesn't do enough to make sure we dont get sued. That is huge to me as an Oakland taxpayer. It is also something I deal with professionally and can help you frame things a certain way. You have my cell looking forward to connecting with you soon. 

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Diane Russell <rustalk@aol.com>

Date: Fri, Aug 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM

Subject: Re: Intersection of foothill/Marlow-continued danger and no response

To: Rowan, Josh <jrowan@oaklandca.gov>, sean everhart <sean.p.everhart@gmail.com>

Cc: Houston, Ken <khouston@oaklandca.gov>, roselyn@oaklandside.org <roselyn@oaklandside.org>, DeVries, Joe <jdevries@oaklandca.gov>, Gin Murphey <ginmurphey1@gmail.com>, district4@mileyforsupervisor.com <district4@mileyforsupervisor.com>, rrichardson@oaklandcityattorney.org <rrichardson@oaklandcityattorney.org>, Zamora, Jasmine <jzamora@oaklandca.gov>

Sean,

Thank you so much for documenting the hazards of the Foothill/Marlow intersection where drivers are only thinking of an onramp to 580 West. Especially important is the danger to children in the crosswalk that seriously needs to be more visible.

Diane Russell

Sheffield Villagers Oppose Reckless Driving

On Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 10:04:09 PM PDT, sean everhart <sean.p.everhart@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Josh,

I am writing to express my ongoing concern about the dangerous conditions at the intersection of Marlow and Foothill Way. Despite repeated outreach and clear evidence of the hazards, nothing has been done to address the situation. I've cc'd Gin and Diane who have been spearheading our communities street safety effort for 20 plus years. 

To support my concerns, I have included the following:

• The recent CHP accident video (The CHP cruiser t-boned one of our neighbors)

• Documentation regarding the City of Oakland removing our safety sign (An unknown neighbor put up the sign)

• A video from my dashcam showing the daily risks at this location (this almost accident happens to me multiple times a week)

• A video of myself riding my bike through the intersection, highlighting the dangers firsthand (The white car went and I had to slam on my brakes)

I want to emphasize that every time children from Sheffield Village walk or bike to Roosevelt School (Dutton Ave), they are almost hit by cars at this intersection. There is almost no painted crosswalk as well. The lack of action is putting our community—especially our children—at serious risk of injury or worse. 

I have included Nate Miley, our County Supervisor, and Roselyn Romero from Oaklandside, since public safety is her beat and she recently did a story. I am also copying the City Attorney, as the city’s inaction is now a matter of public safety and potential liability.

I urge you to review the attached materials and take immediate steps to make this intersection safer for everyone.

I appreciate all of your attention to this matter.