The comments section for the 09/21 1:30pm Life Enrichment meeting was so difficult to find aka inaccessible to the public, and by the time I figured it out, comments were closed, so I'm leaving my feedback here. It was emphasized repeatedly that the policy presented was not created with the intention to criminalize unhoused people. However, the standards listed that the city expects unhoused people to meet in order to not be CRIMINALIZED by police with poor or no training on how to handle interactions with those who experience mental health issues, abuse, poverty or addiction were not matched with the bare minimum: reciprocation of support. Examples: utilities, case work, trash pickup, food, temporary or PERMANENT housing. It should be obvious that unhoused people are not "inconveniencing" businesses, streets or pedestrians out of pure recklessness or laziness. Every unhoused person has either traumas, illnesses, disabilities, struggles, institutional oppressions they face or needs that can be listened to and met with money that the city DOES have. Treating houseless people as "equals" to housed people is not enough when housed people are not subjected to the same struggles. Struggles that can be traced back to institutional neglect of the marginalized and under-privileged. This is beyond their control and should not be treated as such. This policy is classist, selfish and inhumane.
My name is roachelle Logwood I currently resign in oakland district 7 unemployment has been responsive there is no source of income for me at the moment not to mention my continuous health complications. The moratorium ordinance must be extended until the state of emergency for the Coronavirus has been lifted entirely . Not to mention the defunding of oakland police department where finances should be allocated to black and brown communities struggling to stay afloat during this time . Experts are predicting without a moratorium set in place accurately until the end of a state of emergency a incredible surge of evictions will take place and I know for a fact that surely will occur . Extend alameda county housing moratorium!!!
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic reached California, Oakland faced a housing affordability crisis that threatened our public health, safety, and community stability. A wave of corporate landlords have bought up large parts of Oakland's rental housing stock. Their business model depends on displacing long-term black and brown tenants living in rent-controlled units so that they can rent out their units at higher, inflated prices. Despite our existing laws against tenant harassment, this behavior by bad actor landlords is still an effective way of removing tenants from their homes.
We are seeing devastating impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on our community. The aftermath of COVID-19 is only going to worsen Oakland’s housing crisis. Without strong protections, Oakland’s communities of color are on the verge of an avalanche of displacement from which they, and the city’s diversity, may never recover. While the city has taken steps to protect tenants by passing an eviction moratorium, some landlords are continuing to attempt to intimidate tenants into leaving. Now, and as we recover from this pandemic, City Council must act to keep Oakland residents safe and housed.
Oakland residents need our City Council to pass strong Tenant Protection upgrades NOW.
We are thankful that Councilmembers Dan Kalb and Nikki Fortunato Bas, and City Attorney Barbara Parker, have sponsored these important protections for Oakland tenants. We urge you and the other city councilmembers to join them.
Defund and disband OPD, and redirect funds to equitable community enrichment and reparations.