Featured

Gov. Gavin Newsom Kicks Off Statewide Tour Over Housing Crisis as He Signs Bill in West Oakland

Published

5 years ago

October 10, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom kicked off a statewide tour on October 8 at the West Oakland Senior Center to sign a series of bills that build on his administration’s efforts to tackle the housing affordability crisis.

The move is said to be the nation’s strongest statewide renter protection package along with a number of other bills to address the rising costs of rent and housing. AB 1482 by As-semblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) creates a statewide rent cap and eviction protections that are critical to combatting California’s rising cost-of-living and housing cri-sis.

“California will now have the strongest tenant laws in the nation with the support of Gov-ernor Gavin Newsom,” said Chiu. “This bill will help 8 million Californians on the brink of homelessness. Just because someone rents doesn’t make them any less worthy of a stable home. Until everyone is housed and has a home we will continue to fight for renters and tenants.”

For Newsom, housing affordability has been a top priority with his signing of an unprece-dented state budget of $1.75 billion investment in new housing with incentives for cities to approve new home construction in June. The budget includes $1 billion for counties to combat homelessness and $20 million for the legal services of renters facing eviction.

Housing Advocates Stasha Powell of Fare Rents for Redwood City Rental Stabilization and Protection spoke of the many organizations involved in the movement. President of (ACCE), the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, Sasha Graham, shared how her eviction in Richmond left her and her son homeless for three years. “I’d lived for 10 years without incidence when the new owner demanded a 100% rent increase,” she said.
Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Buffy Wicks, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and other legislators joined SEIU and ACCE members in a packed room while Newsom signed the bills.

In the first weeks of his administration, Newsom signed an executive order that created an inventory of all excess state land in order to locate land parcels to develop into affordable housing, launching partnerships with six California cities in April.

Also, earlier in the month, Newsom announced the first Request for Proposal on state-owned land to be issued in the city of Stockton. The Newsom Administration has also en-forced state housing law – putting more than 40 cities on notice that they were out of com-pliance with state housing requirements and in jeopardy of legal action.
In August, the governor unveiled a proposal to create a permanent fund to provide legal support to Californians facing eviction or foreclosure.
Other stops for Newsom’s rent and housing tour will include San Diego and Los Angeles.

Carla Thomas

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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

Published

14 hours ago

April 26, 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.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.