RightsCon is the world’s leading conference convened on the future of the internet. This year will see a bigger, brighter, and better RightsCon, more dynamic and outcome-oriented than ever before. Join us to shape the global conversation among human rights experts, business leaders, technologists, human rights experts, government representatives, investors, and advocates.
Why is fracking still allowed in our county? What can we do to ban it once and for all?
Join Alameda County Against Fracking for a free film screening of Dear Governor Brown, a game-changing new film about Californians living with extreme oil. Learn how you can play a crucial role in banning fracking and extreme oil extraction in Alameda county, and how a victory here will turn the tide on California’s toxic past, present, and future.
Film followed by discussion.
Val Rosenfeld and Flor Fortunati present their book: “Voices of the Undocumented”
Voices of the Undocumented brings to life the lives of people who have been forced to live in the shadows of this society because they have no legal status. These stories give a glimpse into the reality of the lives of the 11 million people who work and struggle to live in the U.S. who are subjected to deportation and exploitation. Nine immigrants tell their stories about their lives in Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala before coming here and about their lives once they arrive. Some tell of arduous journeys, walking through the desert to cross the border while hiding from the U.S. Border Patrol. Some came with visas and overstayed their time limits. Some left their children behind in their countries – children they have not seen for years. Their stories are based on interviews done by Val Rosenfeld, an English as a Second Language teacher and Flor Fortunati, a volunteer at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, California.
From the heartbreaking story of Salvador (an illiterate Mexican farm worker who entered the U.S. illegally four times), to Ernesto (an educated Peruvian womanizer), to the amazing accomplishments of Rocío (a graduate of a prestigious university), Voices of the Undocumented relates poignant accounts of the undocumented workers’ lives.
Support Anti-Gentrification Activists Facing Political Repression & Trumped-Up Charges!
The DA is aggressively prosecuting four Land Action organizers for their involvement in a recent adverse possession project. There are seven criminal charges, including three felony counts. Contrary to established precedent in Oakland in recent years, the DA has deliberately, and in violation of the law, pushed this civil dispute into criminal court. The case was brought to the DA’s attention because the property owner was personally connected to the DA’s office!
On Wednesday January 20, 2016 the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office issued arrest warrants for 4 organizers working with the non-profit Land Action. The organizers, now being called The Land Action 4, face 7 criminal charges-3 of which are felonies, up to 8.5 years imprisonment and $89,000 in fines . Among the allegations is that these organizers were involved in a “Conspiracy to Trespass,” a common charge used to target civil rights organizers.
Hundreds of abandoned/vacant properties have been occupied in the Bay Area in recent decades. Disputes over these properties generally remain in the civil realm. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the court rules in the title-holder’s favor and the occupiers are ordered to leave. Very rarely do they end with arrests, and never before have they resulted in felony charges. But this time, the DA has pushed what has historically been considered a civil matter into criminal court.
Please come pack the courthouse with us for our initial hearing! April 1st at 9m at the Wiley Manuel courthouse. There is plenty of 4-hour parking available, south of the 880 freeway on 4th, 3rd, and 2nd Streets, within walking distance of the Courthouse.
We ask for your support in the upcoming legal battle. Please come pack the courthouse with us for our initial hearing!
Also, please support our staff and volunteer activists by donating to cover the $3,500 in legal expenses currently accrued –https://www.gofundme.com/
A festive, mobile happening with art, giant projections, drumming and more!
Be on time cuz we’ll be moving!!!
Meet at 80 Grand Avenue (The plaza at the intersection of Broadway and Grand)
Details:
Oakland residents, community groups, organizations, arts groups and local small businesses facing the biggest housing and inequality crisis of our time are standing together in solidarity to block displacement. We are celebrating Oakland roots and collective power and raising our voices in rhythm and unison to demand a right to a roof and the city. Join us for this mobile happening featuring art, music and a series of powerful speakers highlighting how we can help each other hold onto home. This powerfully creative, family-friendly event will build momentum to push for a moratorium on evictions and rent hikes.
Multiple groups, fighting for equity and housing, aim to build a stronger, connected anti-displacement movement. We have to become a force to be reckoned with as our politicians continue to sell our land and city out from under us. With the influx of tech wealth and real estate speculation, we need a network that we can depend on showing up as we receive eviction notices and commercial spaces receive 100-200% rent increases. Join us April 1st to plug into the action, gather know-your-rights resources and tether together to hold onto our homes and community spaces.
Campaign Launch & our FIRST Signature Gathering mobilization
The “Protect Oakland Renters Act” & initiative campaign officially starts this Saturday and we want each and every one of you to be part this movement moment!
This is the official launch of our effort to qualify a measure on the November 2016 Ballot to protect renters being displaced in droves by skyrocketing rents, unfair evictions, and unlawful practices. We will have a brief program and training on why the time is NOW to protect renters and take on Oakland’s growing displacement crisis, a quick “signature gathering 101” followed by heading out to neighborhoods and high traffic areas to speak directly with Oakland voters and collect signatures to qualify this measure on the November Ballot! Can we count on you to join us this Saturday?!
We are calling on all allies of renters, working families and communities of color being pushed out of the city to turn out in large numbers to show both the breadth and strength of the coalition, as well as to ensure that we have a solid crew of folks to kick off our volunteer signature gathering program!
Please respond directly to this post or RSVP: becki@cjjc.org
Berkeley working families need your help. Join us in getting the few more signatures needed to qualify our initiative for the November ballot. The initiative will:
� Raise Berkeley’s minimum wage to $15 by October 2017
� Raise it further each year by 3% + inflation till it gets in sync with Berkeley’s official “Living Wage” currently $16.37
� Bring sick leave up to the standards set by Oakland, Emeryville and SF
� Prevent tip theft
Everyone has probably heard by now of the legislation speeding through the California Legislature with the governor ready to sign. It will make our state the first in the nation to adopt a path to a $15 minimum wage. Clearly this is a victory for the nationwide fight of fast food and other low paid workers to make $15 the floor under everyone’s wages.
This is a major victory for all of us but not the end of the fight. Working families in the bay area and many other very expensive areas need to get to $15 faster and move beyond it. It is a matter of survival. Berkeley activists have set the stage to do just that.
Join us. Make history. Lead the way to setting the new, higher standard for the very expensive Bay Area.
The Oakland Justice Coalition is a coalition of organizations and individuals that grew out of a series of public forums hosted by theOakland Alliance, and now includes the National Union of Healthcare Workers, the Oakland Education Association, the Anti Police-Terror Project, Block by Block Organizing Network, the Coalition for Police Accountability, the The Community Democracy Project (Oakland), the Oakland Green Party, the Oakland Livable Wage Assembly, the Oakland Tenants Union and Socialist Alternative Bay Area .
This is the kickoff event for our plan to turn out hundreds of volunteers to canvass disenfranchised communities across Oakland, registering voters and building a people’s campaign for our three endorsed ballot measures:
From the Coalition for Police Accountability: Measure X, an amendment to the Oakland City Charter that turns the current Citizens’ Police Review Board into a Police Commission that has power to approve police policies and discipline officers who are found guilty of misconduct.
From the Oakland Tenants Union: Oakland’s “Renters Upgrade” would expand Oakland’s current “Just Cause for Eviction” law and provide greater ability for the city to enforce existing laws amidst a wave of unfair evictions and widespread harassment as demand for housing in Oakland grows.
From Oakland Livable Wage Assembly: A Minimum Wage/Fair Scheduling ordinance that will raise Oakland’s minimum wage to $14/hr in 2016 and $20/hr by 2020, as well as implement fair scheduling similar to San Francisco’s recent ordinance and mandate enforcement of both.
These three measures represent a people’s legislative agenda, enacted through direct democracy at the ballot box. The Oakland Justice Coalition invites anyone who is concerned about Oakland’s housing crisis, police repression of communities of color and rampant income inequality to join us in building a grassroots movement for social, racial, economic and environmental justice.
North Oakland and other East Bay folks, come on out tomorrow for a very special culture and art event and show support for some ally org efforts!
“With the help of folks from Ohlone Nation, we will be welcoming the finished creation of Oakland’s first intersection mural. After sharing lunch, we will convene talking circles on the themes of anti-gentrification, restorative justice and indigenous rights. We’ll finish with youth performances by Bay- Peace and hip hip show with Red Star and Anthony Sul. See you at noon tomorrow!”
SCHEDULE
IN the Intersection:
12:00pm – 12:20pm–Welcoming Flute/Drum with Ernesto Olmos and Gerardo Marin & Introductions
12:20pm – 12:50pm–Ohlone led Dedication Ceremony with Wicahpiluta Candelaria, Anthony Sul, Carla Munoz & Kanyon Sayers-Roods
12:50pm – 1:10pm–Community Share – “Share your Piece on Peace” – 10 persons from the community will share in the circle
1:10pm–Close this segment with a song
1:13-1:55pm- FOOD!! (Potluck, please RSVP if you can bring a dish to this community event!! info@aplaceforsustainablel
INSIDE:
2:00-2:45pm—TALKING CIRCLES
• Gentrification – Led by Susan Park
• Restorative Justice – Led by Malachi & Tatiana Chaterji; healing, trauma, impact in communities
• Indigenous Rights – Led by Rafael Jesús González
YOUTH FROM BAY PEACE & MUSIC
3:00-3:20pm—Bay Peace*; Led by Willanona Perry & Tatiana Chaterji – Improvisational group poem on the themes of gentrification and displacement, with a presentation featuring Augusto Boal’s method of Image Theater
3:30-4:30pm—Hip Hop with Red Star & Anthony Sul
4:30-5:00pm—Close
This ceremony and celebration is brought to you by Economic Development Without Displacement Coalition’s (EDWDC) Art and Culture working group, PLACE, and North Oakland Restorative Justice Council.
A neighborhood based mural project: “Declaring Peace Through All Our Relations” was approved last May, 2015 by the city of Oakland, and was painted by community for community. We are excited to share this day with you to honor Art & Culture in the commons we share!
Through the lens of the arts and deep culture, we will celebrate community at the mural site while delving thoughtfully into issues of Indigenous rights, Restorative Justice and Anti-Gentrification.
Please join us at the intersection of 64th and Marshall Street where we will begin with a dedication ceremony led by a member of the Ohlone Nation – the first people of this land. Afterwards enjoy music, performances and story-telling inside.
*”Frozen Image Activity” on gentrification by youth from Bay Peace:http://www.baypeace.org/
Food will be locally sourced
DONATIONS • DONATIONS • DONATIONS
Your help is greatly appreciated. If you care to donate to this event it will go toward street permit, ceremonial needs, and food to begin with. A little goes a long way!
HOW TO DONATE: Please go to http://
IF THERE IS ANY DIFFICULTIES, please email us at: info@aplaceforsustainablel
Hernan Jaramillo was murdered by OPD in July 2013. The family has decided not to accept a settlement, and will be pursuing a trial. The official announcement will be made on this day. Please come out and support!
The hearing will be at the Courtroom 2, 17th Floor at the United States District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, in San Francisco.
More information: ACLU Northern California Statement
After two years and much behind-the-scenes work by Alameda County Against Fracking (ACAF), a comprehensive ordinance that would ban all extreme oil and gas extraction methods is coming up for approval by the Alameda County Planning Commission. The proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment would:
Modify the Alameda County Zoning Ordinance (ACZO) to prohibit high intensity oil and gas operations in the unincorporated area, including Well stimulation by increasing the permeability of the formation; enhanced recovery wells that are injected with brine, water, steam, polymers, carbon dioxide, or other gasses into oil-bearing formations to recover residual oil and in some limited applications natural gas; hydraulic fracturing; acid fracturing; acid matrix stimulation treatment; acid well stimulation treatment; and disposal or storage of the substances used in or the waste or byproducts of the uses listed above, including but not limited to hydraulic fracturing fluid, acid well stimulation fluid, well stimulation treatment fluid, flowback fluid, wastewater or produced water. Modify the ACZO to prohibit Disposal or storage in pits or sumps of any wastewater or produced water that is a byproduct of any oil and gas operations (uses listed in 17.06.040(I)).
See below for the official hearing notice, including the full text of the ordinance.
This final draft includes provisions that ACAF felt were most important not only for banning surface activities that enable fracking and other extreme oil and gas extraction methods, but also the percolation pits and sumps which have been notoriously involved in contamination of surface waters and clean water aquifers in California’s Central Valley.
Opposition has included E & B Natural Resources, owner of the six wells operating in East Alameda County, which objects to any limitation on its current operations, and Californians for Energy Independence, a petroleum industry front group which argues that the County should defer to the State of California in these matters, despite—or because of—the many failures of state agencies to adequately regulate oil producers. Some East County landowners have also spoken out against regulation in past committee meetings.
We don’t know how much opposition Big Oil and its local allies will mount at the April 4th Planning Commission hearing. But we hope there will be solid turnout of our own folks, pumped up (you should pardon the expression) and ready to testify, or to hold signs during the hearing.
Will Alameda County join Santa Cruz, Mendocino and San Benito in saying no pasaran to the oil industry? Passage of this ordinance by the Planning Commission is the last hurdle before the Board of Supervisors makes the final decision. Come join this historic effort!
Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!
Steve DeCaprio: Activist for Squatter Rights
A musician by trade, DeCaprio toured Europe in the late ’90s. “There was a huge movement in Europe to take over abandoned buildings and use them for purposes advancing art, culture, education, and political organizing,” said DeCaprio. “Seeing these accomplishments in Europe was very inspirational.” When DeCaprio returned to the United States, he had no choice but to make that inspirational idea a reality: “Upon my return, I was informed that there was no longer work for me at my previous employer. Soon after, I was evicted from my home so that the landlord could find tenants willing to pay more money. With no job and no housing I decided to occupy housing using the models I experienced in Europe.”
Fighting for Squatter Rights
While the idea of squatting is nothing new, DeCaprio’s approach to “occupying,” as he prefers to call it, is unique. DeCaprio seeks to permanently improve and repurpose abandoned buildings for the benefit of the community at large, and within the law. To do that, he has exhaustively researched and educated himself on a widely misunderstood law called adverse possession. Simply put, adverse possession states that anyone can legally claim an abandoned home if they establish stable residency in the space and maintain it, assuming no prior owner comes forward proving ownership within a specific period of time. The trick, of course, is dealing with law enforcement that doesn’t understand the concept and views DeCaprioand others like him as simple trespassers.
Countless run-ins with the police have motivated DeCaprio to become familiar enough with the law that he now counsels other squatters on how to successfully defend themselves from the system. He’s set up an advocacy organization called Land Action, which fights on behalf of fellow occupiers facing eviction. “Once I pass the bar I intend to litigate on behalf of occupations specifically, and human rights generally,” said DeCaprio. His own trial for “conspiracy to squat” is imminent.
Though he acknowledges it hasn’t been easy, DeCaprio says the success and growing enthusiasm he’s seen keeps him motivated. “These occupations are more focused on direct action rather than symbolic action,” said DeCaprio. “I am excited by this development because I think it is a more effective model for change during a time such as this when the political processes are so compromised.” (UTNE Reader)
Q&A and Announcements will follow. Donations to OccupyForum
Martin Luther King Memorial
Inter-Generational Community Readings
“Beyond Vietnam:A Time to Break the Silence”
The day after the anniversary of this prophetic speech (1967) and his assassination (1968)
Public, Shared Readings
12 noon, 2 pm and 4:30 pm
Be part of a mosaic of voices, reawakening King’s power
for the here and now
Sign up for a certain time at <bit.ly/MLKReaderReg>
or just show up. There are 16 segments for each reading.
This event is part of the Global Day Against Military Spending (GDAMS), April 5 to 18 <demilitarize.org>
Link to the speech: https://tinyurl.com/MLKSpeechInSections
Sponsoring Organizations
BAY-Peace, Better Alternatives for Youth; Labor Committee for Peace & Justice; Women’s Int’l League for Peace & Freedom (SF & East Bay); United for Peace & Justice-Bay Area; Western States Legal Foundation; Asian-Americans for Peace & Justice; Jewish Voice for Peace-Bay Area; Nafsi Ya Jamii; East Bay Peace Action, Haiti Action Committee
“Our only hope today lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit and go out into a sometimes hostile world declaring eternal hostility to poverty, racism, and militarism.”
“I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today–my own government.
Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.
The community coalition — The Oakland Post Sunday Salon, Oakland Tenants Union, Oakland Alliance, Block By Block Organizing Network, John George Democratic Club, Wellstone Democratic Club — that sponsored the request to declare a “Housing State of Emergency” with Moratoriums on Rent Increases (above CPI), and on No-Cause Evictions, named a volunteer Action Committee at the Mar 13 meeting. The Committee met last week and developed a suggested list of actions (attached) that City Council could consider implementing during the moratorium period.
The “Moratorium Resolution” will be heard and acted on by City Council at the Council’s April 5 meeting.
The Agenda number of the Resolution is not known at this time as the April agenda has not been released (appx 7:30pm may be safe to plan for) .
Please feel free to spread the word, call or email councilmembers, plan to attend, and build a huge attendance at the April 5 meeting.
A rally in City Hall Plaza is being planned to take place before the Council meeting.
Also sign up online to speak when the item number is released.
For Speaker Card: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityClerk/s/SpeakerCard/SpeakerCard/OAK032373
council@oaklandnet.com. (goes to all council members)
District 2, the Eastlake area Councilmember Abel Guillén
(510) 238-7002, aguillen@oaklandnet.com
District 3, Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney
(510) 238-7032, lmcelhaney@oaklandnet.com
District 1, Councilmember Dan Kalb
(510) 238-7001, dkalb@oaklandnet.com
District 5, Councilmember Noel Gallo
510-238-7005, ngallo@oaklandnet.com
District 6, Councilmember Desley Brooks
(510) 238-7006, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
District 7, Councilmember Larry Reid
(510) 238-7007, lreid@oaklandnet.com
District 4, Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington
(510) 238-7042, acampbell-washington@Oaklandnet.com
Councilmember At-large Rebecca Kaplan
(510) 238-7008, rkaplan@oaklandnet.com
City Administrator Sabrina Landreth
(510) 238-3301, cityadministrator@oaklandnet.com
Mayor Libby Schaaf
(510) 238-3141, officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com
TODAY, 6:30pm, #Oakland: Liberated Lens Local Filmmaker Series presents: FIRST FRIDAY https://t.co/AkPloe2DSR pic.twitter.com/bQv8zUOmAb
— Indybay (@Indybay) April 5, 2016
Laurel Book Store welcomes Sarah Schulman, author The Cosmopolitans, and Lucy Jane Bledsoe, author of the forthcoming A Thin Bright Line, who will discuss queer life in midcentury Greenwich Village through the eyes and stories of their new novels’ characters.
The Cosmopolitans is a novel set in Greenwich Village in 1958. Earl, a black, gay actor, and Bette, a white secretary, have lived next door to each other for thirty years, building a relationship of trust and caring. Then Hortense, a wealthy young actress from Bette’s past appears to “make it” in New York, and all their shared assumptions are shattered.
Sarah Schulman is a novelist, nonfiction writer, playwright, screenwriter journalist and AIDS historian. The Cosmopolitans is her 17th book.
At the height of the Cold war, a heartbroken woman agrees to suppress her homosexual desires in order to take a top secret government job. When she subsequently falls in love, she’s forced to make impossible choices. Based on a true story, A Thin Bright Line is a novel of Cold War intrigue, the birth of climate change research, and the foment of 20th century queer culture.
Lucy Jane Bledsoe’s new novel A Thin Bright Line, based on the life of her aunt and namesake, will be published in January of 2017. She’s the author of five other novels and several kids’ books.
We believe that love is the universal language. We also believe that love is the universal cure to heal what ails societies worldwide. These meditation happy hours are our love offering to the community and are the result of a beautiful new & evolving partnership w/The Art of Living facilitated by Neelam Patil…& the universe ♥
Benicia’s City Council is about to make a decision that could put our communities at risk. Valero Energy Corporation wants to build an oil-by-rail terminal at their Benicia refinery — meaning more dangerous oil trains coming through the Bay Area.
If approved, this terminal would allow trains carrying over 2.5 million gallons of toxic, explosive crude oil to travel through the area every day. We don’t need more fossil fuel infrastructure that puts communities and our climate at risk. Greenlighting fossil fuel infrastructure is the last thing our cities should be doing.
On February 11th, the Benicia Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny Valero’s dangerous plan, but Valero has appealed that decision to the City Council and is trying to rush through a reversal. The Benicia City Council will hear public comment on Valero’s appeal on April 4th. We know Valero is putting lots of pressure on the City Council to approve their project — that’s why we need to make sure City decision makers know that residents from across the region are watching.
We need to protect our communities and our climate. We need to stop this project once and for all.
City Council Agenda (sole) item:
Open the public hearing and solicit public comment. After public testimony at this meeting:
1. Add an additional hearing date of April 18, 2016
At the following meeting(s), Staff recommends the City Council continue to take public
comment, consider all appropriate documents and testimony, and then consider the
following actions:
1. Consider and reject the applicant’s request for continuance.
2. Deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission’s unanimous decision to deny
certification for the EIR and to deny the Use Permit; or
3. Decline to certify the EIR and provide specific comments on the deficiencies of the EIR
and direction on what needs to be improved in the EIR and remand back to Staff with
direction to return to Council with the EIR and Use Permit; or
2
4. Uphold the appeal and
i. Adopt the draft Resolution certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report, adopting
CEQA findings for the Project and adopt the Statement of Overriding Considerations and
the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and
ii. Uphold the appeal and adopt the draft Resolution approving the Use Permit for the
Valero Crude by Rail Project, with the findings and conditions listed in the resolution.
Justice 4 Mario Woods. Justice 4 Amilcar Perez Lopen. Justice for Alex Nieto.
Join us at a townhall meeting to make our voices heard.
Refreshments will be available.