Uncategorized

Agencies Say WIB Is Choking Services to Youth

Published

13 years ago

February 14, 2013

Oakland Post

Jumoke Hinton-Hodge

Ron Muhammad

By Ken A. Epstein

Agencies working with the city’s Oakland Workforce Investment Board are saying bureaucratic obstacles are choking nonprofit groups that depend on city money to provide counseling and job training opportunities. Particularly hard hit are small nonprofits that help teenagers and young
adults.
Speaking at the Feb. 7 WIB meeting at City Hall, agencies said they are still waiting for funding for the current fiscal year. Some have received their contracts as late as January for services that were supposed begin July 1, 2012. Agencies are also asking why they have not received the 20 percent funding advances that are part of their contracts, needed to jump start services until they receive funding for work after it is performed.

“Late contracts, non-contracts, are not a little problem, they are a huge problem. They are a pernicious and persistent problem. It’s time to say you’re going to address the concerns, said Richard de Jauregui, planning director of the Oakland Private Industry Council (PIC).

“There is a growing disconnect between this body and its providers,” said de Jauregui, who suggested the WIB hold workshops with the agencies it is funding to learn what they do and how to support their work.

Responding, WIB chairman Bryan Parker said the concerns are legitimate. “I personally, see this is a huge issue. I understand people cannot do their work without (the money).”

William “Bill” Patterson, who represents the Oakland NAACP on the WIB, says he wants the board to understand that the nonprofits are working with young people who are at risk of dying by violence.

“I don’t think anyone here understands the gravity of the situation. This is what your providers have to deal with. There is not enough energy put into giving them the resources they need to do the job.”

Asked about advances, WIB Executive Director John Bailey pledged to take care of the problem, “They have not been advanced. We have been working on a two-week timeline,” starting Feb. 7, said Bailey, who has stated that he is “carrying out the wishes of the mayor.”

“Rather than quibbling about this year’s (advances) to agencies,” said Agnes Ubalde, WIB vice chair who represents Wells Fargo Bank, “The advance policy is something that is going to be handled administratively. The staff is working with the City Controllers Office so we can make sure it is addressed for this one-time advance.”

“It’s not that we don’t want people to get paid,” Ubalde said. But others commented that the program year is more than one half over, and the advances have not yet been issued.

If nonprofits do not have money, Patterson said, “They have to lay people off and wait to see what you are going to do. For the little providers, that knocks them out of the ball game.”

According to some community members, the city and the Mayor’s Office are in violation of Oakland’s 2008 Prompt Payment Policy, an ordinance that requires “payment within 20 business days after receipt of an invoice for purchase of goods and/or services applicable to 1) the city with respect … to non-profit and for profit entities contracted to manage or operate city facilities or public programs or concessions on city-owned property.”

Also raising concerns was Jumoke Hinton Hodge, a member of the Oakland Board of Education who also works for a nonprofit agency

“I understand how important your role is, how much money you are supposed to be ushering into our community so our young people are served,” she said.

“I am a bit dismayed,” she said, questioning “whether there is clarity about what is being done and whether a system is in place.”

Hinton Hodge said she was scheduled to speak that evening at the memorial for a young victim of gun violence. “My children are dying,” she said. I want to work with you.”

“This is potentially a lawsuit,” said West Oakland community activist Ron Muhammad. “Those who are supposed to be served have not been served. We have a whole district (West Oakland) that hasn’t been served in a couple of years.

“Something has to be done. This has set up suicide for some of our agencies.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Uncategorized

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

7 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

12 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.