News

City Attorney, Councilmember McElhaney Work with Community Groups to Stop Illegal Business

Published

6 years ago

March 9, 2018

City Attorney Barbara Parker has announced that she filed suit against Santos Engineering in West Oakland for illegal recycling activity in response to concerns cited by neighbors, and District 3 Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney is seeking to halt environmental pollution in the area.

“Our residents and legal business operators deserve our protection and our service,” said Councilmember McElhaney.

“Working with the city attorney we have shut down several illegal operations and nuisance properties. We will not stand idly by while people profit from our pain,” she said.

Members of the West Oakland Neighbors (WON) and Beat7x NCPC Carol Wyatt originally raised concerns about dust plumes and illegal activity occurring at 2850 Poplar Street with the District 3 office last Fall.

“We take our constituent’s complaints seriously, “says Brigitte Cook, senior constituent liaison for Councilmember McElhaney.

“Based on the reports, we sounded the alarm and are pleased that the city attorney and administration moved to stop this harm to our community,” she said.

For decades, West Oakland neighborhoods have borne the brunt of environmental injustice and local government neglect.”

Santos Engineering engaged in activity at this site without acquiring a Conditional Use Permit and with disregard for the health and wellbeing of residents, according to a statement released by McElhaney’s office.

The lawsuit seeks to prove that the activities are a public nuisance, obtain an injunction to immediately cease these activities and punitive damages. Charges against Santos Engineering:
Deliberately releasing dust into the local residential neighborhood through the opened roof of the company’s warehouse;
Illegally tapping into a EBMUD fire hydrant and running the contaminated water into the City’s storm water system; and
Illegally hauling, storing, and breaking down debris material, some known to contain asbestos.

“For far too long, West Oakland has endured environmental crimes,” said McElhaney. “We want to send a strong signal that we will exhaust all legal means to stop people from harming our neighborhoods and our residents. We must work together to make sure that people respect our community.”

To report concerns about illegal activity in District 3, call (510) 238-7245.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Report Calls for Pressuring School Districts to Turn Over School Sites to Charter Groups

Don't Miss

Opinion: Navigating the City’s Entrenched Politics to Deliver Equity and Opportunity

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

13 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.