City Government

Eviction in Effect for Army Base Businesses

Published

13 years ago

September 13, 2013

“We’re asking them to take [their truck], move it and park it somewhere else, ” John Monetta, City of Oakland

The eviction notice served by the Alameda County Sheriffs Department to Bill Aboudi’s Oakland Maritime Support Services (OMSS) took effect Friday, Sept. 13 as sheriffs were scheduled to lock him out, giving Aboudi and his tenants 18 days to get their possessions off the property.

However, as Aboudi continues the moving process to his new site, leased from the city, he is working with the Port of Oakland to have utilities and electricity installed.

Normally he would need 60 days to downsize and move his business to the new location, says Aboudi, who has less than a week to figure out his next step, what he considers an unrealistic timeline for anyone in this position.

The city’s energies are being expended on moving forward with its massive Oakland Army Base Development project, leaving much uncertainty as to how OMSS will be able to resume business at the new 5-acre property and how the city intends to fulfill demand for truck parking, keeping the big rigs forced to find space on neighborhood streets.

Many observers say the city’s timeline for evicting OMSS and its tenants is impractical to say the least. The notice of exact site boundaries for the 5 acres was not specified until Thursday, the day before Aboudi was scheduled to be locked out.

“We’re moving as quickly as possible, but we still have some hurdles we have to overcome,” said Aboudi. “We need some special help.”

Aboudi says the threat of having to be locked out of his own business is haunting independent truck drivers who use his services and 18 tenants that employ 250 people.

The port is currently working to expedite the process of providing electricity and other utilities for the new site, which they say could take a week to complete. In the meantime, Aboudi will have to pay for generators and portable water trucks as a contractor works on installation.

“We want to be assured that at least we’re moving and that the city will not pull the trigger after we’ve been working to move forward,” Aboudi said at the city’s Community Economic Development meeting Tuesday.

City Administrator Fred Blackwell, Councilmember Lynette Gibson-McElhaney, and John Monetta – project manager in the city’s Real Estate Services Division – all were praised at the meeting for their efforts to resolve these issues as the Army Base Project moves forward.

According to McElhaney, the lock out is still under negotiation, but sheriffs do have the authority to close the doors on OMSS.

“We’re working on a solution to delay the order to lock out,” she said.

City staff is also still looking at options to address the anticipated overflow of truck parking but have no answers.

The port is supportive of the city’s efforts to address this, said Mark Erickson, Senior Maritime Projects Administrator for the Port of Oakland.

At this point, seven out of 10 trucks that use OMSS space for parking have nowhere to go.

Parking somewhere else could mean parking along Wood Street and residential neighborhoods in West Oakland, putting the local community at higher risk, according to concerned community members.

“We’re asking them to take [their truck], move it and park it somewhere else,” said Monetta.

McElhaney has also raised concerns that locking truckers out would limit access to their tools and interfere with their business. “We are in no way looking to deny somebody their livelihood,” said Monetta.

It is also uncertain where the Customs Examination Station (CES) will relocate. One possible location is at a warehouse in West Oakland near Raimondi Park, adding to more truck traffic.

“This is a poor place to be putting Customs. We have worked hard to keep these trucks out of the community,” said Margaret Gordon. “The city needs to take this to the health and safety committee and see what are the risk factors.”

At press time, Mayor Jean Quan did not respond to the Post about truck parking or the future of small businesses that are being displaced by the Army Base development.

“We’ve been trying to work through this but the city is not to be trusted. They’re not taking into consideration anybody’s livelihood,” Aboudi said.

A Wood Street resident said, “The developer promised us that he would preserve and create jobs, but now it seems his story has changed.”

“They’re destroying a lot of small businesses right now. A third world country would give us better support than they’re doing,” Aboudi said.

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Alameda County

The Marin City Flea Market Is Back

The Marin City Flea Market returns on May 23, offering arts, crafts, vintage items, and collectibles. The market aims to uplift local vendors and celebrate cultural diversity.

Published

1 day ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Customers shopping in Marin City Flea Market. Photo courtesy of marincityflea.org.

By Godfrey Lee

After a long absence, Marin City will once again hold its flea market. The market will have its grand opening on Saturday, May 23, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church parking lot on 101 Donahue St. It will be held every fourth Saturday of the month

The market will be free to the public

There will be arts, crafts, vintage, collectibles, and other items on sale at the market. Interested vendors can contact info@marincityflea.org or text (415) 484-2984 for more information.

“The Marin City Flea Market’s mission is to uplift local vendors, celebrate cultural diversity, and provide an accessible community space where creativity, entrepreneurship, and connection can thrive,” says their website, marincityflea.org.

The flea market is sponsored and run by the Rotary Club of Marin City.

For more information, contact info@marincityflea.org. Or text to (415) 484-2984

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Amsterdam News

School District Extends Supt. Dr. Denise Saddler’s Contract for a Second Year

The Oakland Board of Education has extended Superintendent Denise Saddler’s contract through June 2027, promoting her from interim to permanent superintendent with a salary of $367,765.45 per year.

Published

1 day ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Supt. Dr. Denise Saddler. File photo.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Board of Education voted this week to extend Superintendent Denise Saddler’s contract for another year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Under the new agreement, Saddler’s job title will become “superintendent”; she will no longer be called “interim.”

Along with the new title, she will receive full superintendent benefits and salary at $367,765.45 per year, according to the employment agreement.

The vote to approve the new contract passed 5-2 at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Saddler’s original interim contract was for one year. The school board was planning to select a permanent superintendent by the fall but earlier this year decided to delay the search.

The new contract reflects the Board of Education’s “determination that continuity in executive leadership is in the best interests of the district as Oakland Unified continues implementation of its fiscal stabilization strategies, academic priorities, labor relations initiatives, and operational improvements,” the employment agreement reads.

In November, the board approved a $150,000 contract with a consulting firm to carry out that search, but Board President Jennifer Brouhard told KQED last month that the process never got off the ground.

“No work was done, no money has been paid for the work (to) the search firm for the superintendent search,” Brouhard said. “Hopefully, we’ll be resuming that in the early part of the fall.”

Dr. Saddler was born and raised in Oakland, attended local schools, and has dedicated more than 45 years of her career to serving Oakland students and families.

She began her career in 1979 as a teacher of students with disabilities. Over the years, she has served as a teacher, principal, district leader, and teachers’ union president.

While working in OUSD, she has served as principal at Chabot Elementary, area auperintendent, and executive leader for Community Engagement and Educational Transitions. She has also supported schools as a principal coach and substitute principal and taught at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Saddler holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mills College and master’s degrees in special education and in Staff Development and Administration.

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Activism

Mayor Barbara Lee Joins National Public Safety Leaders to Advance Proven Violence Reduction Strategies

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee attends a two-day meeting with other mayors and public safety leaders to discuss violence reduction strategies; Oakland has seen a 39% drop in homicides.

Published

1 day ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Oakland was one of four cities participating in a public safety convening. Courtesy image.

By Post Staff

Mayor Barbara Lee this week joined Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and public safety leaders from Oakland for a two-day meeting focused on advancing cutting-edge public safety strategies, including focused deterrence and violence reduction.

The meeting brought together civic and public safety leaders from Oakland and Indianapolis to locations in Baltimore and Philadelphia to share lessons learned and identify innovative approaches to crime prevention, intervention, and enforcement.

The participating cities are widely recognized for pioneering community-centered public safety models that prioritize prevention, accountability, and sustained investment in neighborhood-based solutions

Oakland’s delegation included Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) Chief Holly Joshi, Oakland Police Department Assistant Chief Casey Johnson, and Ceasefire Director Annette Jointer.

Oakland’s participation underscores its continued leadership in advancing evidence-based violence reduction strategies and building a public safety system that integrates law enforcement with community intervention and prevention programs.

Oakland continues to see historic reductions in violence, reflecting coordinated efforts across the Department of Violence Prevention, Oakland Police Department, Ceasefire, and community-based partners, including:

Violent crime down 22%
Homicides down 39%
Lowest homicide total in nearly 60 years

These gains reflect sustained investment in focused deterrence strategies, real-time intervention, and expanded community violence interruption programs.

“Public safety is not achieved by any one agency alone—it requires coordination, trust, and a shared commitment to prevention and accountability,” said Lee. “We are proud to stand alongside cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis that are proving what works. We are seeing real progress in reducing violence in our communities, and we remain committed to building on that momentum through strategies that center prevention, intervention, and strong partnerships with residents.”

“Oakland’s progress shows what is possible when cities invest in focused deterrence and wraparound supports that reach people most at risk,” said Joshi. “Our work is grounded in building trust, responding quickly to emerging conflicts, and connecting individuals to services that interrupt cycles of violence. This convening was an opportunity to strengthen that work through shared learning with peers who are advancing similar strategies nationwide.”

Said Johnson, “Effective public safety requires a balanced approach that combines accountability with deep collaboration across agencies and communities.”

“We are seeing meaningful reductions in violent crime because of strong partnerships between law enforcement, DVP, Ceasefire, and community organizations,” said Johnson. “Engaging with peer cities allows us to refine and improve the strategies that are making Oakland safer.”