Calendar
This campaign is committed to building our platform in partnership with the community. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel. We want to uplift the amazing progressive grassroots work that is already happening.
Over the next few weeks, we will host People’s Assemblies on everything from public safety to education. Together we will imagine an Oakland with housing security, true public safety, sanctuary for all, and create a plan to get us there.
Our next People’s Assembly will focus on housing, and the crisis of affordability that is displacing Black communities and forcing thousands of long-time Oakland residents into the streets. We believe public land should serve the public good – not generate profit for developers. Join us to dream about an Oakland where housing is a human right, and displaced Black families have the right to return to the communities from where they were displaced.
It's a big day for #PeoplePower @ #LakeMerritt in #Oakland!
10 AM: Oakland Hands Around Lake Merritt—Lake Merritt Arches
1 PM: People's Assembly on the Housing Crisis—Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Join APTP, #CatBrooksForMayor, SURJ, & more to uplift our community & imagine together! pic.twitter.com/DErbUTf4W5— Elizabeth Fitzer (@ItsBethFitzer) June 16, 2018
The City of Berkeley holds it’s Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 17, from 11am to 7pm. This cultural event celebrates African American culture and traditions, as well as promotes community diversity.
The event – featuring music, food, health screenings, historical exhibits & art for children – takes place along Adeline Street, from Ashby to Alcatraz in Berkeley.
Please join us to watch the award winning documentary ‘Gods In Shackles’. Bring along your favorite vegan dish (enough for 6-8 people)
6:00 to 6:15: Mingle with attendees and enjoy the delicious food
6;15 to 7:45: Screening of ‘Gods in Shackles’
7:45 to 8:00 PM: Call for donations and Q-A with Seema Vaid
Details about the film:
Gods in Shackles is a feature-length documentary film, an exposé revealing the dark side of the southern Indian state of Kerala’s glamorous cultural festivals that exploit temple elephants for profit under the guise of culture and religion.
By exposing the abhorrent torture suffered by India’s heritage animal, Gods in Shackles offers hope to the thousands of endangered captive and wild elephants in India through heightened awareness that will inspire key stake holders and policy makers to enhance the living conditions of these highly social animals.
By film maker Sangita Iyer (B. Sc., M.A. PGD Journalism), Filmmaker born and raised in Kerala, India
Event Co-ordinator: Seema Vaid, Volunteer, Voice for Asian Elephants Society a non profit organization that has the following vision:
“Creating sustainable communities through caring for, and protecting endangered captive and wild Asian elephants”
Note: This event is free but donations would be much appreciated. Funds will go towards, creating a safe havens for temple elephants rescued from the endless abuse and cruelty in Kerala.
We document current events, make films together, steward an editing suite and share a film equipment library. We also host film screenings, often with local directors, and put on an annual short film festival for independent Bay Area filmmakers. Our goal is to make the digital filmmaking accessible – no overpriced college degree or certificate program required!
We are also a good group to reach out to if you’d like to screen a film at the Omni. We can be reached at liberatedlens@lists.riseup.net
We usually meet in the basement, unless otherwise noted.
8am – Rally at Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, 661 Washington Street (at 7th Street) in Oakland
9am – Support Comrades Awaiting Verdict in Department 109 (5th Floor)
The trial of the Berkeley 5 ended with the last two defendants taking the stand, as well as another witness for the defense, who had been at the protest in March. The prosecution’s case unraveled by the end of the day, and the prosecutor got increasingly vicious, which backfired and resulted in the judge dismissing the bogus weapons charge against one defendant.
The jury will begin deliberating Monday morning at 9am, and is expected back sometime after 10am. Please come out to support our antifascist comrades as we wait for the jury to deliver the verdict.
The Guardian published the following story about the case earlier this morning:
GET ON THE BUS TO PASS AB 931-Mobilization to Sacramento 6/19!
On Tuesday, June 19, AB 931 the Police Accountability and Community Protection Act, will be heard in committee for the first time! Please read below to RSVP and sign up for free travel and food.
We need to let the Legislature know that higher standards for police use of force is critical to save lives– they must pass AB 931 out of the Senate Public Safety Committee! AB 931 will make it more difficult for CA police to justify violent use of force against our communities. Show up to Sacramento on June 19 to pack the room and deliver a short ‘me too’ statement to the Senators to voice your support!
RSVP AND REGISTER HERE: www.bit.ly/RSVPJUNE19
**TRAVEL SUPPORT TO SACRAMENTO**
**NorCal: One charter bus will leave from Oakland on Tuesday, June 19 morning (Roughly 6am). NorCal bus will return on Tuesday, June 19.
*OAKLAND PICK UP LOCATION: Fruitvale BART,
3401 East 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601
Feel free to ask any questions here or on Twitter or Instagram: @YouthJusticeLA.
#NoCopOuts #ProtectThePeople #RightToLive
Hosted by White People 4 Black Lives / SURJ Affiliate Los Angeles, Anti Police Terror Project, more
This coming Tuesday, longtime socialist and labor activist Mike Parker will be joining East Bay DSA for a special event: a discussion of the rise and fall of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). June 19, 7pm, East Bay Community Space, Oakland pic.twitter.com/fPGhCfyfkQ
— East Bay DSA (@DSAEastBay) June 16, 2018
APTP meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
The Anti Police-Terror Project began as a project of the ONYX Organizing Committee. We are a Black-led, multi-racial, intergenerational coalition that seeks to build a replicable and sustainable model to eradicate police terror in communities of color. Founding coalition members include the Black Power Network, Community Ready Corps, Workers World, and the Idriss Stelley Foundation.
Since September 2017, Feed the Hood has has galvanized over 1,000 community volunteers, distributed 18,000 lunches and hygiene kits, and served over 3,000 unhoused people across Oakland. We want to thank all of the volunteers who have participated in Feed the Hood! We appreciate your service to our unsheltered and we’d like to say “thank you” with a small celebration.
Join us at MLK Shoreline Park at the Kingfisher Picnic area for a chance to kick back and chill with others who have contributed to Feed the Hood. We will provide:
- hot dogs
- links
- veggie kabobs
- water
Please bring a dish or drink you’d like to share. There will be games — volleyball, jump house, dominos, cards and life-size jenga! Bring the entire family.
BUT THATS NOT IT! We will also use this opportunity to begin collecting hygiene kit supply donations for the Feed the Hood 6 on August 5, 2018 at West Oakland Youth Center. You can RSVP for Feed the Hood 6 at bit.ly/feedthehood6.
Please some of the following hygiene kit supplies to donate. List is as follows:
- socks
- bandaids
- feminine hygiene products
- soap
- lotion
- deodorant
- detergent
See you there!
TICKETS: http://bit.ly/2L51Mf7
– People Power Investor – $12 ADV / $20 DOOR
– Feeling Generous Investor – $50
The Housing Oakland Now! Collaborative is a group of housed and unhoused people in Oakland who have joined together to create immediate and long term permanent solutions to the housing and homeless crisis in The Town. We are changing the game and the narrative on homelessness, and we need your support. Please join our First Annual Homes For All Fundraiser
The fundraiser features a night of live performances from Mistah Fab, La Misa Negra, Equipto, Gina Madrid, X-Clan, Jennifer Johns, Gift of Gab of Blackalicious, Audiopharmacy, Alia Sharrief, Ras Ceylon, DJs: Platurn, Davey D, Smoke-1 & Teao Sence plus a very surprise guest.
Live painting by the legendary Eessu, and a host of community leaders in the trenches uniting to raise awareness on the homeless crisis and the urgency to provide shelter for all of Oakland’s unhoused.
Afro-Pilipino cuisine provided by Oakland’s Original Lumpia Lady
Platinum VIP Investors: We are asking that organizations, companies and private donors to join the host committee with a gracious donation of $5,000 or more. You, your organization or company will be listed as an awesome supporter of Housing Oakland Now! on all marketing and digital event material. We would love to extend two complimentary tickets to the event to your organization/company and access to the VIP room – the entire upstairs to have a birds eye view of the event, seating and complimentary dinner.
All proceeds will go towards the funding of efforts by grassroots organizations The Village and The East Oakland Collective (EOC) . Both organizations are on the ground and in the trenches every day working on behalf of our unhoused brothers and sisters. Your generous support will go towards building materials for The Village’s tiny home projects, for EOC to open the first tiny home shelter in Deep East Oakland, a campaign to change the narrative of homelessness in Oakland and more!
Hosted by:
GINA MADRID :: The Village in Oakland #feedthepeople :: EQUIPTO :: East Oakland Collective :: Ron Dellums Institute of Social Justice
PERFORMING LIVE
Mistah FAB
La Misa Negra
X-Clan Worldwide
The Gift of Gab of Blackalicious)
GINA MADRID
The Watershed – 415 (EQUIPTO, Brycon, Monk HTS, OSK)
Jennifer Johns
Alia Sharrief
Ras Ceylon
Audiopharmacy
and SURPRISE GUEST
DJs: DJ Platurn, Davey D Cook, Danny J Smoky, Teao Sense
Dinner: 6:30 PM
Movie: 7:30 PM
subMedia is a grassroots, independent media collective which aims to promote anarchist and anti-capitalist ideas and aid social struggles through the dissemination of radical films and videos.
In 2017 subMedia has launched Trouble, a monthly documentary series.
In the two episodes of “Trouble” sub.Media examines gentrification by taking closer look at how it is playing out
in Toronto, New Orleans, Istanbul, Montreal, the Bay Area and Berlin and to see how people in these cities are fighting
back on attacks on their communities by developers, real estate speculators and the tech industry.
Discussion will follow the film.
Free snacks and popcorn!
Speak Up Speak Out! We Want Public Lands for 100% Public Use *
* Hands Off East Oakland! Don’t Sell Our Land to Market Rate Developers *
* Build Housing Affordable to Oakland’s Unhoused Now *
* Use Public Funds to Prevent Displacement NOT Facilitate Tenant Evictions! *
DID YOU KNOW?
- There are close to 50 publicly owned vacant or underutilized parcels in Oakland that the City of Oakland had deemed were suitable for housing development? These 50 parcels could produce over 7,300 new housing units IF the City stops prioritizing market rate development over affordable housing!
- As of December 2017, there are over 20,000 market rate housing units that the City of Oakland has approved that are under construction or in the pipeline, compared to less than 1,500 affordable units.
- That the City Council in June 2017 allocated $2.2 million to prevent displacement and homelessness of low-income homeowners and tenants? Councilmember McElhaney now wants to use $300,000 of those funds to pay landlords who are evicting tenants!
We are DEMANDING that Oakland’s Community & Economic Development Committee (CED) ADOPT:
- A resolution approving a 180-day moratorium on the sale of public land. No public lands can be sold or leased for 180 days.
- A public lands policy that is for 100% public use that includes affordable housing options for no to low income residents and the working poor in Oakland facing displacement and homelessness.
We are DEMANDING that Oakland’s Community & Economic Development Committee (CED) DOES NOT:
- Take $300,000 of Anti-Displacement Funds AWAY FROM low income homeowners and tenants and instead GIVE to The Hardship Payment Schedule Program for Landlords Evicting Tenants. This resolution is proposing that $300,000 goes towards funding lower income landlords who are required to pay tenant relocation when they are evicting even lower income residents! Ask CED to VOTE NO on this proposed resolution.
How you can HELP:
- Attend and speak at the Community & Economic Development Committee (CED) on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, 1:00 PM, City Council Chamber, 3rd Floor. View the CED agenda for June 26, here.
- Can’t attend? Submit eComments! Click on the eComment link on the top of the webpage to comment on the following agenda items: (Item 3) 18-0522 Subject: Receive A Report On The Public Lands Policy Process And Analysis. (Item 4) 18-0533 Subject: Resolution Approving A Moratorium On The Sale Of Public Land. (Item 5) 18-0663 Subject: Hardship Payment Schedule For Lower Income Homeowners (BUT REALLY LANDLORDS!)
- Email and/or call the CED members and demand that we want public lands for 100% public use and don’t want anti-displacement funds used to help landlords evict tenants:
President Reid, District 7
Email: lreid@oaklandnet.com
Phone: (510) 238-7007
Lynette Gibson McElhaney, District 3
Email: LMcElhaney@oaklandnet.com
Phone: (510) 238-7003
Noel Gallo, District 5
Email: Ngallo@oaklandnet.com
Phone: (510) 238-7005
CED Chairperson: Vice Mayor Annie Campbell Washington, District 4
Email: ACampbellWashington@oaklandnet.com
Phone: (510) 238-7004
Feel free to copy/paste and/or edit the following text when emailing the CED members:
I am writing to demand that the City of Oakland and administration use public lands for 100% public good and use. It it is time to end the prioritization of market rate development in Oakland. (RE: Agenda Item 4) This Tuesday, VOTE YES on a resolution approving a 180-day moratorium on the sale of public land. (RE: Agenda Item 3) This Tuesday, VOTE YES on a public lands policy that is for 100% public use that includes affordable housing options for no to low income residents and the working poor in Oakland facing displacement and homelessness. (RE: Agenda Item 5) This Tuesday, VOTE NO on the proposed resolution to take $300,000 of anti-displacement funds AWAY FROM low income homeowners and tenants and instead GIVE to the hardship payment schedule program for landlords evicting tenants.
Stand up for the people this Tuesday, June 26.
Please join Our Rev East Bay Tuesday, June 26 for a special evening with Jovanka Beckles and Gayle McLaughlin. Pizza and beverages are provided
The Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St, Berkeleyhttps://t.co/zWba20Qk7m@JovankaBeckles @GayleforCA @OurRevEastBay pic.twitter.com/TiJPjWlpPH
— NorCal4OurRevolution (@NorCal4Bernie) June 23, 2018
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
— causes, connections, and organizing for radical change
With Boona Cheema and Steve Barton
Stephen E. Barton, PhD is a long-time consultant to the Rent Stabilization Board, former Housing Director of the City of Berkeley, and an independent researcher/writer in evolutionary economics and community-based democracy. His analysis of rapidly rising rents in Berkeley led to passage of Measure U1 in 2016, increasing business license fees for commercial landlords, and providing the basis of the $100 Housing Bond on the ballot this November.
Boona Cheema is a recognized social justice pioneer, a Unitarian minister and founder/Executive Director (retired) of Better Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency. For 40 years, she, and BOSS, continue working with people experiencing poverty, disability, and the lack of affordable housing in Berkeley and Alameda County, providing jobs, shelter, and respectful aid while addressing root causes and solutions.
Bay Area: We're hosting a community forum with @CAIRSFBA & @aaaj_alc on Thursday to discuss the impact of today's #MuslimBan decision. All who wish to gather in the spirit of solidarity and support are welcome. RSVP at https://t.co/TmjVYpTTNS #StandWithMuslims #NoMuslimBanEver pic.twitter.com/ZFQ5kTOWZ8
— ACLU of Northern CA (@ACLU_NorCal) June 26, 2018
Our People’s Assembly will focus on cleaning up our air, water and streets. A greedy developer is trying to force a dangerously polluting coal terminal on West Oakland, and Libby Schaaf has failed to stop him. The streets and parks in East and West Oakland are covered in trash, while the Hills where Libby lives are sparkling clean thanks to unequal distribution of public resources. Oakland communities are suffering from rampant, unchecked environmental injustice. Join us to dream about an Oakland where everyone, especially our children, have access to clean, safe drinking water and air, and our streets are clean and free of illegal dumping.
Join the East Bay DSA’s Labor Committee for their regular Beer and Roses Social! Hang out with other members who are interested in getting involved in the labor movement, and hear from fellow East Bay DSA members about their experience at this spring’s national Labor Notes conference. (show less)
In the meantime, this Thursday at 7pm Franki and co. will be heard by the Oakland Rent Adjustment Board, downtown at city hall at 1 Oscar Grant (“Frank Ogawa”) Plaza, in Hearing Room 1. The plan is to keep on winning, and you’ve been invited to join—not only to show these tenants your support, but to also let the Rent Board know during open comment that Oakland takes all tenants’ needs seriously and that we demand an end to exploitation by the landlord class. More info below.
*The Fight*
The fight all started when the collective’s building was bought by real estate mega-speculator CBRE (the largest commercial real estate services and investment firm in the world). Selling to CBRE, the landlord denied the collective their contractually guaranteed first dibs on buying the building.
At the Rent Board two matters will be under consideration. First—are the collective members valid tenants with a right to live in the building (YES!). Second—how much does CBRE owe the collective for having extensively neglected their responsibilities at landlord, by refusing to remediate lead contamination, replace and repair the rotten wall, and deal with the mice that have taken up residence ($$$!). If the collective wins the Board’s support on the first matter alone, this will mean when they return to Hayward a win is straightforward—since the landlord is trying to evict simply on the grounds that the collective aren’t legitimate tenants.
So, please join us this Thursday, ready to show the rent board we stand solid and speak righteously, with Franki and co, and all tenants.
All Eyes on The Sheriff Mobilization from 12-2pm. The action outside will be at 12pm and we will head into the board chambers at 1pm.
Did you know that in the past 10 years the Alameda County jail population has decreased by half, but the sheriff’s budget keeps increasing? The Ella Baker Center and our allies are calling for an audit of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department because taxpayers deserve to know how our money is being wasted. The county supervisors will be voting to adopt the Alameda County’s $3.1 billion budget on Friday and we will be there to demand sheriff accountability and budget transparency!
The CAO just submitted a $3.1 billion proposed budget for fiscal year 18-19 to the Board. The BOS will be voting to adopt a final budget on June 29th. We are turning up to make our concerns heard by both Supervisors and media and expose the sheriff’s wasteful spending.