Economics

Truck Scale and Minimart at Port of Oakland to be Evicted in October

Published

8 years ago

August 12, 2016

Oakland Port Scale, a small business that provides 24-hour truck scales, bathroom facilities and a convenience store for truckers and longshoremen at the Port of Oakland, will have to close its operations in October if the port cannot provide a more permanent location for the business.

The local business received an eviction notice from the port a few weeks ago, and negotiations to resettle the business somewhere else on port property fell through after the company requested that they be provided a longer-term lease that would give it some stability.

The port has only been willing to offer Oakland Port Scale a month-to-month lease.

According to West Oakland community leaders, the 24-hour business has been vital in providing services that keep dozens of large trucks off West Oakland streets ever day and reduce traffic pollution at the port.

The company’s efforts were also recognized this week when it was certified as a Bay Area green business by the California Green Business Program for following environmentally friendly practices.

“Our whole mission is to be close to the port to keep trucks out of West Oakland,” said Bill Aboudi, co-manager of Oakland Port Scale (OPS).

“If we shut down, then we’re dragging all those trucks through the community looking for a shower or something to eat,” he said.

On average, 180 truckers use OPS scales and 500 people visit their mini-mart per day, said Aboudi.

According to Aboudi, the port met with OPS last week to reopen negotiations on a lease on port property, but once more failed to secure a deal on any lease longer than month-to-month.

Due to projected moving costs amounting to $300,000, the possibility of OPS having to move again in the near future would be economically unfeasible for the small business.

The two parties reached a mutual agreement that the business would vacate the property by Oct. 15.

Mike Zampa, director of communications for the Port of Oakland, told the Post that the 24-hour truck scales and mini-mart’s departure would not result in migration of truck traffic to West Oakland neighborhoods.

“The port has other scales, (truck) parts vendors, restrooms and food available,” said Zampa.

“Our feeling is that truckers can find what they need within the port property and we don’t foresee them migrating into the community,” he said.

The services currently at the port, however, are not located in one convenient area like they are at OPS.

Furthermore, other services that OPS provides, such as showers and laundry machines, are not available for truckers and longshoremen at the port.

“I’m not sure how necessary the showers are anyway, since most of the truckers are just coming in and out,” said Zampa.

According to Brian Beveridge, co-director of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, the conflicts between the port and small businesses continue to happen “because the port has never had a comprehensive plan to accommodate trucks and the needs of truckers.”

“Whenever truck services are abruptly displaced, we see more port trucks on neighborhood streets,” Beveridge said.

“It’s not surprising that trucking and warehousing have had a heavy impact on West Oakland,” he said.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Business

Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship. Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Published

1 week ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA), answers questions from concerned entrepreneurs frustrated with a lack of follow-up from the state. January 24, 2024 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Lost Angeles, Calif. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship.

Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA) was a guest at the event. He told attendees about his department’s efforts to increase access for Black business owners.

“One thing I’m taking away from this for sure is we’re going to have to do a better job of connecting through your chambers of all these opportunities of billions of dollars that are coming down the pike. I’m honestly disappointed that people don’t know, so we’ll do better,” said Omishakin.

Lueathel Seawood, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County, expressed frustration with obtaining federal contracts for small businesses, and completing the process. She observed that once a small business was certified as DBE, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, there was little help getting to the next step.

Omishakin admitted there is more work to be done to help them complete the process and include them in upcoming projects. However, the high-speed rail system expansion by the California High-Speed Rail Authority has set a goal of 30% participation from small businesses — only 10 percent is set aside for DBE.

The importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in economics was reinforced during the “State of the California Economy” talk led by author and economist Julianne Malveaux, and Anthony Asadullah Samad, Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Assaults on DEI disproportionately affect women of color and Black women, according to Malveaux. When asked what role the loss of DEI might serve in economics, she suggested a more sinister purpose.

“The genesis of all this is anti-blackness. So, your question about how this fits into the economy is economic exclusion, that essentially has been promoted as public policy,” said Malveaux.

The most anticipated speaker at the event was Janice Bryant Howroyd known affectionately to her peers as “JBH.” She is one of the first Black women to run and own a multi-billion-dollar company. Her company ActOne Group, is one of the largest, and most recognized, hiring, staffing and human resources firms in the world. She is the author of “Acting Up” and has a profile on Forbes.

Chairman of the board of directors of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Alan Simon, a lawyer and the first Black Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor of California, moderated. They discussed the state of Black entrepreneurship in the country and Howroyd gave advice to other business owners.

“We look to inspire and educate,” said Howroyd. “Inspiration is great but when I’ve got people’s attention, I want to teach them something.”