Arts and Culture
Financial Failure by Oakland Cannery’s Landlord Leads to Eviction of Longtime Residential Artists
Douglas Stewart has spent the last 15 years making his space at the Oakland Cannery into a home with artwork on every free space of the walls and vinyl records covering the tabletops. The Oakland Cannery is more than a residence for Stewart and its other tenants, it’s also their workspace. However, after 47 years, the residents have been issued a 120-day eviction notice.
By Magaly Muñoz
Post Staff
Douglas Stewart has spent the last 15 years making his space at the Oakland Cannery into a home with artwork on every free space of the walls and vinyl records covering the tabletops.
Stewart is a man of many titles, including teacher, activist, advocate and above all, artist. He’s worked in arts preservation, poetry and has helped in juvenile justice centers and prisons to support vulnerable communities dealing with mental health and wellness issues.
The Oakland Cannery is more than a residence for Stewart and its other tenants, it’s also their workspace. However, after 47 years, the residents have been issued a 120-day eviction notice.
Problems at the Cannery began in 2016 when Green Sage, a Colorado-based cannabis cultivation company, acquired the property at 5733 San Leandro St. Their plan was to use this and other similar sites in the area for large-scale cannabis production.
“Unfortunately, however you want to look at it, Green Sage took over as landlords right around the time that the licenses and the Oakland Cannery got deemed as a ‘green zone’. And that’s when they started kicking out the commercial tenants below us and really started activating the space for cannabis operators and operations,” Stewart said.
Stewart and Alistair Monroe, son of the late painter Arthur Monroe who is responsible for the Cannery’s transformation into Oakland’s first live-work residence, claim their homes became unlivable due to the property owners’ neglect.
Both told stories of poor plumbing, electrical problems, lack of security and maintenance workers entering their homes unannounced. Despite numerous complaints and maintenance, requests, the property owners failed to address the problems.
“They had a lawless mentality to say that we were not residential use, we were commercial use, and we had to do as they say,” Monroe said.
Stewart supports safe cannabis cultivation and equal market opportunities. He is critical of Green Sage for saturating the market and hindering local business growth in Oakland.
Holding a micro-license for distribution and sales, Stewart benefits from an equity program that aids Oakland residents impacted by the War on Drugs with permits, grants and interest-free loans.
Stewart tried to use the Cannery’s commercial space for his license but was denied by the property owners. His efforts to rent other city spaces also ended in eviction.
“I can’t really afford to find a new place for my business license to hang up after being displaced by my last business operations location and then also having to try to juggle and figure out where I’m gonna be laying my head within the next three months after the Ellis Act eviction,” Stewart said.
Three years into their ownership, Green Sage defaulted on a $55 million loan from a Canadian private commercial mortgage lender, Romspen. The managers of Green Sage have since disappeared.
In September, Ellis Act evictions were served to residents of the Oakland Cannery enabling the landlords to take their properties off the market and remove all tenants.
According to Wikipedia, the Ellis Act is a 1985 California state law that allows landlords to evict residential tenants to “go out of the rental business” in spite of desires by local governments to compel them to continue providing rental housing.
Mark Mersel, an attorney who represents Romspen, states that after Green Sage defaulted on their loan, the mortgage company had to foreclose on the property.
He stated that many, if not all, of the current tenants at the Oakland Cannery had not paid rent or did not have valid leases with the property, and that they are all “basically squatters.”
“All Romspen is trying to do is get this property to operate, not be a blight on the neighborhood, and operate it for its industrial intended purpose,” Mersel said.
Monroe suspects the evictions were retaliation for lawsuits and complaints about unlivable conditions in the building and says he saw this coming from a mile away.
“The first day the landlords were on site they just openly said ‘we’re going to be removing you guys,’” Monroe said.
Eddie Ytuarte from the Oakland Tenants Union asserts that under the Ellis Act, unless the tenants were given relocation payments at the time of the notice, the eviction is invalid.
“A lot of things that landlords refuse to do are actual code violations,” Ytuarte stated. “For instance, if the plumbing is no good, or if the heat is insufficient, it’s breaking city codes and if the tenants are under rent control, they could petition for lower rents or they could sue in small claims court.”
Neither Stewart nor Monroe received relocation payments, only copies of checks via email.
Ytuarte suggested that tenants looking to fight eviction should seek pro-bono legal services or find an attorney who will take on the case for a much lower rate.
Monroe said that they tried those options, but to no avail. In other efforts, he and Stewart have hosted events to bring in city officials, like Mayor Sheng Thao and almost every Oakland City Council member to plead their case and find support from their resources.
A City of Oakland’s public information officer (PIO) wrote in an email to the Post that they have attempted to connect local developers who want to preserve the live-work space to the property owner, but the property owner has not shown any interest.
“The City has been working to protect the Oakland Cannery and other live/work communities from displacement pressure due to cannabis for many years. In 2018, the City adopted legislation prohibiting any type of cannabis business in live/work spaces. Then in 2023 it went further, prohibiting cannabis cultivation on any part of a property that contains work/live spaces,” said the PIO.
“Unfortunately, no local protections can prevent landlords from filing an eviction under the Ellis Act, as that is California State law,” the PIO concluded.
Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who represents District 6 where The Cannery is located, stated that beyond moral support, there’s not much else that his office can do to help the residents.
“I think displacement has been a big issue in the last 15 to 20 years. We are losing a large share of our African American population from Oakland. A lot of them are being displaced and being forced to move outside of the county and outside the state,” Jenkins said.
Monroe and Stewart stopped paying rent in response to the mistreatment of Green Sage and the COVID-19 pandemic. The eviction moratorium protected tenants from eviction due to unpaid rent during the pandemic.
City ordinance states that in order for a property owner to terminate residency, they have to provide a good or just cause. The Ellis Act is considered a just cause.
Ultimately, it’s not about the buyout price for Monroe or Stewart. They want The Cannery to remain an affordable live-work space for artists.
“It’s more than just having a place to lay my head. It’s a place of advocacy. It’s a place for art to be preserved. For a culture to be preserved and for a community to be lifted,” Stewart said.
Art
Mayor Breed, Actor Morris Chestnut Attend S.F.’s Indie Night Film Festival
On June 1, the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Indie Night Film Festival arrived at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco. San Francisco native Dave Brown, Founder and CEO of the Indie Night Film Festival, has a vision for the film industry that is squarely focused on promoting the many talented producers, actors, and designers contributing to this billion-dollar industry. The festival has been running for 12 years and it’s only up from here, he says.
By Y’Anad Burrell
On June 1, the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Indie Night Film Festival arrived at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco.
San Francisco native Dave Brown, Founder and CEO of the Indie Night Film Festival, has a vision for the film industry that is squarely focused on promoting the many talented producers, actors, and designers contributing to this billion-dollar industry. The festival has been running for 12 years and it’s only up from here, he says.
A weekly celebration of cinematic artistry designed to elevate emerging talent while providing a platform for networking and collaboration, entrepreneur Dave Brown created Indie Night to bridge gaps within the filmmaking community by fostering connections between like-minded individuals worldwide. The Indie Film Festival currently has over 450 film submissions worldwide, and its cinematic vault only continues to grow.
The festival showcased over 10 short films and trailers, and featured Faces of the “City: Fighting for the Soul of America,” produced by veteran actor Tisha Campbell. This film is about the vibrancy and legacy of San Francisco. The festival also previewed “When It Reigns,” a trailer by Oakland’s burgeoning filmmaker Jamaica René.
Indie films have not just challenged traditional cinematic norms; they’ve shattered them. These films offer unique storytelling perspectives and push creative boundaries in truly inspiring ways. With their smaller budgets and independent spirit, they often tackle unconventional subjects and portray diverse characters, providing a refreshing alternative to mainstream cinema. As a result, indie films have resonated with audiences seeking an escape from formulaic blockbusters and are increasingly celebrated for their authenticity and originality.
Organizers say the mission of Indie Night is to elevate the craft of independent artists and creators. It also provides a venue for them to showcase their work, network, and exchange information with new and established creatives. It creates a community that values and supports independent art.
For more about the Indie Night Film Festival, visit www.indienightfilmfestival.com.
Arts and Culture
Point Richmond Music Unveils Summer Concert Series Lineup
If the first performer set for Point Richmond’s Summer Music Festival is any indication, the concert series has some fantastic tunes in store for local concertgoers. The one and only Fantastic Negrito will kick off the concert series Friday, June 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.-ish with his unique blend of blues, R&B, soul and roots music.
By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Standard
If the first performer set for Point Richmond’s Summer Music Festival is any indication, the concert series has some fantastic tunes in store for local concertgoers.
The one and only Fantastic Negrito will kick off the concert series Friday, June 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.-ish with his unique blend of blues, R&B, soul and roots music.
The artist, who was born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, had a serious early-career car crash that damaged his guitar playing hand. But he rose above it to reemerge as the rebranded “Fantastic Negrito” in 2014, earning multiple accolades — including multiple Grammys — upon his musical rebirth, according to his bio.
Negrito’s current album is “White Jesus Black Problems,” called by his website “an exhilarating ode to the power of family and the enduring resilience of our shared humanity.”
Point Richmond’s Summer Music Festival has two more concerts lined up as well, starting with the “swampy tonk” sounds of Miracle Mule on Friday, July 26 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Also performing that night will be Lorin Rowan + the Deep Blue Jam, featuring Americana, rock, roots, and reggae tunes from 6:45 to 8 p.m.-ish.
The concert series’ final performances occur Friday, Aug. 23, when Van Goat rocks out from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by the Latin, Venezuelan and Caribbean vibes of Bululú from 6:45 to 8 p.m.-ish.
In addition to dancing in the street to the music, Point Richmond’s many restaurants will be open during the concerts, along with face painting for the kids and art by The Arts of Point Richmond.
The concert series is organized by Point Richmond Music. Find the concert venue at the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue in Point Richmond.
Art
El Cerrito Calls for Artists to Transform Its Utility Boxes
The City of El Cerrito’s Arts & Culture Commission is seeking individual artists, teams of artists or community groups to apply for its “2024 Utility Box Public Art Program.” The project is a beautification initiative designed to add to the vibrancy of the San Pablo Avenue corridor by having community artists transform unsightly utility boxes into attractive works of art, according to the City.
By Kathy Chouteau
The Richmond Standard
Do you have an idea for beautifying urban public spaces with your art? If so, this initiative might be perfect for you.
The City of El Cerrito’s Arts & Culture Commission is seeking individual artists, teams of artists or community groups to apply for its “2024 Utility Box Public Art Program.” The project is a beautification initiative designed to add to the vibrancy of the San Pablo Avenue corridor by having community artists transform unsightly utility boxes into attractive works of art, according to the City.
This program’s theme is “Artwork that Celebrates El Cerrito’s Natural Beauty and Environment,” and any artist/team/community group residing in Contra Costa County can apply. The boxes, including one main utility box and a smaller traffic signal box adjacent to each other, are located at Ashbury and Fairmount Avenues, next to Harding Elementary School in El Cerrito.
A $2,500 stipend is offered for each utility box completed and the application is due Friday, June 14, at 4 p.m. Work on the boxes begins Aug. 5, with work to be completed by Sept. 6.
To date, eight utility boxes have been painted by local artists as part of the initiative throughout 2021 to 2023. Artists including Adaleyd DeLeon, Kristen Kong, Shanna Strauss, Martial Yapo, Jesse White and Ricardo Cerezo have been selected by the city to beautify utility boxes with their art since the program’s inception.
Questions? Contact Will Provost at 510-215-4318 or wprovost@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us. Applications can be submitted online https://el-cerrito.org/1522/Utility-Box-Public-Art-Program
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