December GA is a Special Event

BBBON holiday flyer_1115

Please go to The Events Tab to RSVP and let us know what you will bring and do.

Tags:
Posted in General Assembly by Michael Tigges. Comments Off on December GA is a Special Event

Latest Draft of the Open Letter to Oakland Elected Officials Concerning the Housing Crisis

A Message to Oakland’s Elected Officials

You Have Passed the “Housing Roadmap” – Now What?

We applaud the City Council’s passage of the “Housing Equity Roadmap” on September 30, and urge you to quickly implement its strategies and more, in response to the housing crisis that is displacing many long-time Oaklanders right now.

We appreciate that Mayor Schaaf has formed a Housing Cabinet, and after some advocacy, included one tenants rights advocate from Causa Justa Just Cause.  But the Cabinet includes an over-representation of for-profit developers, as we know that many for-profit developers have made large financial contributions to your political campaigns, and we know that these for-profit developers have attempted to control Oakland’s city government and elected officials for many decades through political contributions to increase their millions in profits.

Oakland is made up of over sixty percent renters, and in order for the Housing Cabinet to come to solutions that will benefit all of Oakland, we challenge you to create a Cabinet that is representative of the population of this diverse city.  It should consist of members who are proportional to the population of Oakland, that is, over 60% renters and a majority of people of color.  At least one seat should be reserved for a representative from the Oakland Tenants Union.

We call on all of you to act now to implement the Housing Equity Roadmap strategies into the 2015-2016 Midcycle Budget Process and the 2017-2019 Budget, and to work together creatively to fund strategic priorities that will prevent immediate displacement of long-time residents.

In particular, we call on you to:

  1. Declare Housing State of Emergency and Immediate Moratorium on Approval of New Projects To meet the crisis that is upon us and to stabilize the housing market in this moment, we call on city government to declare a Housing State of Emergency and a moratorium on approval of new projects until significant developer impact fees are implemented, along with a timeline to implement the Housing Equity Roadmap, including an inclusionary zoning ordinance.
  2.  Developer Impact FeesComplete the study which will allow the City to impose impact fees on developers that will go toward affordable and low income housing (and other impacts, like better roads). Impose the highest amount suggested by the study and dedicate the majority of it to affordable housing. Do not approve new projects until the impact fees are in place.
  3. Inclusionary Zoning We call on our elected officials to demand that Governor Jerry Brown sign an amendment to Costa Hawkins to allow for inclusionary zoning in all California cities, and to pass immediate substantial Developer Impact fees that can produce the equivalent of at least 30% affordable housing in new developments. To ensure that the cultural and economic diversity we all love about Oakland can stay here, we advocate that at least 15% of new units are accessible to 40% and below Area Median Income (AMI), and that at least 15% of new units are accessible to 40%-80% AMI.
  4. Use 50% of Boomerang Funds for Affordable HousingThe City should increase the percent of proceeds received from former redevelopment funds from 25% to 50% to increase the number of affordable units that can be built.
  5. Mandate At Least 50% New Development Around Transit Be AffordableAs studies have shown, low-income residents use public transit more and market-rate developments around transit increase car usage. Therefore, at least 50% of new development around BART and AC Transit hubs should be held for affordable housing at 80% AMI or below. Oakland’s Fruitvale Village is a national model for equitable transit-oriented development without displacement, and Oakland should continue leading this important work.
  6. Public Land for Public GoodAllocate un-used lands and properties currently supported by public tax dollars to affordable housing or mixed-usage for public good. This includes working with the Oakland Housing Authority to ensure that the 2530 9th Avenue property currently for sale and all properties purchased with public tax dollars remain affordable housing units.
  7. Fund the Down Payment Assistance and First Time Homebuyer ProgramsEnsure that down payment assistance programs targeted to long-time Oakland residents to be able to purchase their homes are funded at levels that actually enable low-income and middle-income residents to buy homes in the Oakland market.
  8. Protect Tenants RightsWe call on city government to implement a comprehensive rent control ordinance. Oakland’s Rent Adjustment law was written by landlords to preference landlords in the majority of cases. We call for a revisiting of the Rent Adjustment process to ensure that tenants rights are protected, including more than two seats of the Rent Board held for tenants (as homeowners often side with landlords) and the burden of proof put on the landlord rather than the tenant.We also call for the implementation of the Tenant Protection Ordinance to be funded through public attorney assistance for tenants, because the majority of tenants cannot afford lawyers to file cases in Superior Court. All landlords should be required to provide a copy of Tenant Rights laws with all tenants, or be charged fines that go to funding the Tenant Protection Ordinance.
  9. Pass an Anti-Speculation TaxTo prevent further displacement of residents resulting from the flipping of houses and properties for profit, the City should implement a higher tax on for-profit corporations that buy foreclosed properties or buyout current residents to make a profit. This should include any companies using services like AirBnB to take large numbers of rental units permanently off the market.
  10. Revise Accessory Dwelling Unit PolicyCities across the nation are revising policies to allow for more smart density as the country re-urbanizes. The City Council should pass an ordinance that allows homeowners to add accessory units on their open land, including allowing tiny homes and easing parking restrictions with the understanding that more and more residents are biking and taking public transit.

We ask you now to take these bold steps, and to not be timid, in this critical small window of time that we have right now to save Oakland’s diversity. We call on our elected officials to stop giving developers whatever they want because they tell you that no one will develop in Oakland if you place restrictions on them. Oakland is at the hub of a very profitable economy, and people will continue to build here. It is your responsibility to the residents to ensure that Oakland is built and developed as an inclusive and equitable city.

November, 2015

Tags: , ,
Posted in Housing by Michael Tigges. Comments Off on Latest Draft of the Open Letter to Oakland Elected Officials Concerning the Housing Crisis
Custom Content 2

Draft Demands to Combat the Affordable Housing Crisis in Oakland

Inclusionary Zoning & Developer Impact Fees

We call on our elected officials to demand Governor Jerry Brown sign an amendment to Costa Hawkins to allow for inclusionary zoning in all California cities, and to pass immediate substantial Developer Impact fees that can produce the equivalent of at least 30% affordable housing in new developments.  To ensure that the cultural and economic diversity we all love about Oakland can stay here, we advocate that at least 15% of new units are accessible to 40% & below AMI, and that at least 15% of new units are accessible to 40%-80% AMI.

Use 50% of Boomerang Funds for Affordable Housing

he City should increase the percent of proceeds received from former redevelopment funds from 25% to 50% to increase the number of affordable units that can be built.

Mandate At Least 50% New Development Around Transit to Be Affordable

s studies have shown, low-income residents use public transit more and market-rate developments around transit increase car usage.  Therefore, at least 50% of new development around BART and AC Transit hubs should be held for affordable housing at 80% AMI or below.  Oakland’s Fruitvale Village is a national model for equitable transit-oriented development without displacement, and Oakland should continue leading this important work.

Public Land for Public Good

Allocate un-used lands and properties currently supported by public tax dollars to affordable housing or mixed-usage for public good.  This includes working with the Oakland Housing Authority to ensure that the 2530 9th Avenue property currently for sale and all properties purchased with public tax dollars remain affordable housing units.

Fund the Down Payment Assistance & First time Homebuyer Programs

Ensure that down payment assistance programs targeted to long-time Oakland residents to be able to purchase their homes are funded at levels that actually enable low-income and middle-income residents to buy homes in the Oakland market.

Protect Tenants Rights

We call on city government to implement a strong rent control ordinance.  Oakland’s Rent Adjustment law was written by landlords to preference landlords in the majority of cases.  We call for a revisiting of Rent Adjustment process to ensure that tenants rights are being protected, including more than 2 seats of the Rent Board held for tenants, as homeowners often side with landlords and the burden of proof put on the landlord rather than the tenant.  We also call for the implementation of the Tenant Protection Ordinance to be funded through public attorney assistance for tenants, because tenants most of the time cannot afford lawyers to file cases in superior court.  All landlords should be required to provide a copy of Tenant Rights laws with all tenants, or be charged fines that go to funding the Tenant Protection Ordinance.

Pass an Anti-Speculation Tax

To prevent further displacement of residents for flipping houses and properties for profit, the City should implement a higher tax on for-profit corporations that buy foreclosed properties or buyout current residents to make a profit.  This should include any companies using services like AirBnB to take rental units permanently off the market for more profitable use by short-term visitors.

Revise Accessory Dwelling Unit Policy

Cities across the nation are revising policies to allow for more smart density in cities as the country re-urbanizes.  The City Council should pass an ordinance that allows homeowners to add accessory units on their open land, including allowing tiny homes and easing parking restrictions with the understanding that more and more residents are biking and taking public transit.

Moratorium on Evictions & Rent Increases for 2 Years

To stabilize the housing market in this moment, we call on city government to pass and implement a moratorium on evictions and rent increases for 2 years, or until the Housing Equity Roadmap is fully implemented, to prevent further displacement of residents.

We ask you now to take these bold stops, and to not be timid, in this critical small window of time that we have right now to save Oakland’s diversity. 

We call on our elected officials to stop giving developers whatever they want because they tell you that no one will develop in Oakland if you place restrictions on them.  Oakland is at the hub of a very profitable economy, and people will continue to build here.  It is your responsibility to the residents to ensure that Oakland is built and developed as an inclusive and equitable city.

As of 10-21-2015

Tags: ,
Posted in Housing by Michael Tigges. Comments Off on Draft Demands to Combat the Affordable Housing Crisis in Oakland

October GA at Lions Creek Crossing continues the housing discussion

BBBON GA Mtg Announce Oct 15

Tags:
Posted in General Assembly by Michael Tigges. Comments Off on October GA at Lions Creek Crossing continues the housing discussion

Welcome to Block By Block Organizing Network

BLOCK BY BLOCK ORGANIZING NETWORK was founded in 2010 to unite progressive community activists Block by Block, District by District to create one progressive voice for Oakland.  We organized District Town Halls for both the Mayor and Council Members.  We sponsored community forums on Small Business Development, Public Safety and Jobs.  We worked within our neighborhoods organizing street clean-ups and walks confronting the sexual exploitation of minors.  Our members meet regularly with City Council Members and other community activist to insure that Oakland serves the needs of the entire community especially the communities most impacted by the unfair economic system in which we live.  

Tags: ,
Posted in Featured Content by adminbbbon. Comments Off on Welcome to Block By Block Organizing Network

Action Items from September GA on Housing

Calls to action

  •             09-30-15 City Council Hearing, attend and speak,
  •             Participate in 10-17-15 Stand Up to Speak Out! An Oakland-Wide Anti-Displacement Forum.
  •             Build Community Engagement.  Form Coalitions with like minded groups.
  •             Influence State Policy (candidates).
  •             Set-up meetings with elected re Road Map.
  •             Letter writing / Social Media Campaigns.  ’’Demand time line for implementing Road Map.
  •             Prioritize Key strategies.
  •             Housing Cabinet – Assure developers do not dominate, assure activists and tenant reps are invited.
Posted in Featured Content by Michael Tigges. Comments Off on Action Items from September GA on Housing

What on Earth is Going on with the Oakland Police Department?

 

I live in the quiet, safe Lakeshore neighborhood of Oakland. Of course,it’s not completely safe-we suffer car break-ins and home burglaries and some street robberies-this is a high crime city. But lately something has been going very wrong even in our neighborhood-and  the Oakland Police Department has become part of the problem.

For many decades OPD had a reputation as one of the worst departments in the country. It was said that the department used to recruit “Southern crackers” to come beat on Oakland’s Black population. That experience helped Oakland give birth to the Black Panthers whose number one job was to prevent police violence (and provide programs like free breakfasts which served as government models) until they were mostly wiped out by government forces.

But many years into the implementation of federal oversight of OPD, the department had just begun to reform under the quiet leadership of new Police Chief Sean Whent. After a terrible rate of police killings averaging seven a year and under its first woman mayor, Jean Quan, use of force complaints dropped significantly. A high school senior, Alan Blueford, was shot to death and the mayor took steps which resulted in no more police killings for the last two years of her administration.

That may seem like little enough to ask, but it seemed to herald a change. The force recruited new young commanders and made them accountable to the neighborhoods they oversaw. Many of us were hopeful for reform while still keeping a close eye on how things developed.

But back to my quiet little Lakeshore neighborhood, I was heading out to a meeting in the Fruitvale a recent summer Thursday evening (you’ll see why the summer description is important later). As I drove down Lakeshore I heard sirens and watched as three police vans careened around a corner a block ahead of me, two of them sherrif’s vans and one OPD van.

Wow, I thought, something really dangerous is happening on that little street. As I  continued down Lakeshore and across Mandana, I heard more sirens and speeding vehicles, pulling over barely in time to prevent my car from getting clipped by a police car flying down Mandana as two more raced back down Lakeshore. Watching in my rear view mirror, I saw at least one more shoot across Mandana-so that’s at least 7 cars in going 3 directions within a couple minutes-flying up, down, and around our quiet neighborhood. Restaurant patrons could be seen pouring out onto the sidewalk to see what the hell was going on.

I tweeted about it and received a private message from one commander who regularly responds on twitter.He replied that he was on vacation and so didn’t know what was going on but made sure to tell me that they don’t do those high speed car chases anymore as they are acknowledged as too dangerous.

Recall that I said it was a summer evening-school hadn’t started and it was between 6:15 and 6:30. Not only could a car have easily been hit but a child playing ball or just crossing the street could have easily been run down. So I asked a friend who lives in Deep East about his experience, and he told me they still do high speed chases in his neighborhood all the time but they don’t admit to it. [We later heard on the TV news that they were chasing a robbery suspect but no Nixle, no police response to the danger they put our neighbors in was forthcoming, nor has it yet.]

Then two more disturbing things happened in our neighborhood this summer that make me think-something has gone terribly wrong with police reform in Oakland. Our department of which I was recently proud, has managed to kill 4 suspects this summer alone, not including one very strange death that may or may not have occurred in police custody. According to the bit of police video that a few select folks have seen, it was not caused by officers; but it was such a bizarre death, no one is willing to believe that.

Surprisingly, two of the recent police shootings which resulted in deaths happened in my neighborhood, the GrandLake district. One of them, the death of Demouria Hogg, has still not been explained, and no video has been shown to anyone outside the department. It occurred after he had been seen passed out in his car right on the off ramp to Lakeshore. It may have been justified but the public can’t know that and the lack of transparency can only lead to one conclusion. The other was the death of a young homeless man who had attacked an officer with a bike chain. The whole episode seems badly done all around but it’s hard to judge how it might have been dealt with, with no videos and differing accounts from neighbors.

Here’s the thing, there are plenty of folks in Oakland who will assume that the police killed a dangerous bad guy AND there are some who will assume the police were totally unjustified. There are two ways to fix this 1) show the videos, and 2) go back to the drawing board and work harder not to kill people who have not been tried and found guilty (more mental illness intervention and training, etc.)

Now I’m not assuming, as some will, that these officers wanted to kill these suspects. But something has changed and we have taken a step back in our quest for a reformed department, one that does not use excessive force unless absolutely necessary. Some have even asked if the new mayor has somehow sent a signal for a police crackdown regardless the loss of lives and community trust. We know she sent a signal for a crackdown against demonstrators although she seems to have backed down on that in the face of community opposition.

I’ve been happy with and noted that this mayor has made some really good appointments to top jobs and even one commission appointment-that of a young man who is a leader in the field of restorative justice. But, if there is even a suggestion, a hint, to command staff and rank and file to let up on reform and reducing use of force, this could be the result.

One thing we do know is that Mayor Schaaf has not been as visible as Mayor Quan  in the community. Does she do regular ride-alongs as her predecessor did? Does she talk with young people in East Oakland about this issue and visit their neighborhoods? I just don’t know.

But the last time I saw her appear with the chief was after the May Day debacle of vandalism on Broadway Auto Row and that appearance did not go well. A chief who is trying to reform a department like ours needs open support from the city’s leadership or his force will lose faith in his leadership.

To me the question of whether a police shooting was justified is difficult to answer without the evidence being presented in some form to the community. Our city has led by obtaining cameras for our officers and insisting that they use them, but what good does that do if we never see the videos?!

It’s time we demand that our city and state leaders develop comprehensive legislation clarifying how and when these videos will be made public and how they will be preserved. The Riders scandal was a direct result of Jerry Brown’s promise that his administration would reduce crime by a certain percentage and the force’s response to getting it done.

But “enlightened” law enforcement knows that crime cannot be brought down without the assistance and trust of the community most impacted by it. Without trust in our local institutions, there is no way to reduce crime and violence. We need to hear from our mayor and her administration that she supports reform-including reducing these fatal responses-and our chief that we the public have a right to know how our police department is functioning-including taking responsibility when it is at fault.

Tags:
Posted in Drake Talk by Pamela Drake. Comments Off on What on Earth is Going on with the Oakland Police Department?