City Government
Homeless Housing on Public Land at East 12th Street
On August 2 residents will be relocated to a portion of the same East 12th Street remainder parcel and will stay on-site until the program opens. Residents have been offered priority, first placement in the program. Others will receive temporary housing in other programs.
The following are Oakland Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas’s recent answers to questions about building homeless housing at a city-owned parcel at East 12th Street and Second Avenue. The answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
What is this project?
Informed by the experiences of our unsheltered neighbors and by homeless advocates, (Nikki Bas’s) District 2 team has been working closely with city departments and Housing Consortium of the East Bay (HCEB) to develop a large-scale homelessness intervention on the city-owned parcel at East 12th Street and 2nd Avenue. The project would:
- Provide temporary housing and comprehensive, trauma-informed/harm reduction services, serving high-needs District 2 unhoused residents, providing them permanent housing.
- Provide “tiny home” PalletShelter structures for up to 65 homeless residents and support services including healthcare and housing navigation.
- On the same parcel, a co-governed program supported by provider Tiny Logic will house 14 residents in PalletShelters.
What is the project timeline?
We expect construction to begin on this project on August 4 and for individuals to move into the Pallet Shelters as early as this fall.
How will individuals be selected or approached for participation in the program?
The city has been coordinating outreach to encampments in the immediate geographic area, prioritizing larger encampments near Lake Merritt and East 12th Street.
Where will the current residents living on the East 12th remainder parcel move when construction begins this week?
On August 2 residents will be relocated to a portion of the same East 12th Street remainder parcel and will stay on-site until the program opens. Residents have been offered priority, first placement in the program. Others will receive temporary housing in other programs.
How are you incorporating wrap-around services into the program?
Staff from HCEB will employ trauma-informed and harm-reduction wrap-around services and care, working closely with each resident to provide case management that fits their individual needs.
How will safety and privacy be maintained for residents and the surrounding community?
HCEB will hire security professionals to secure the site daily, and the adjacent co-governed program supported will have residents providing their own security. The site will also be secured by a keypad for entry/exit, a 6-foot fence to provide privacy, and ample lighting.
What are the “Community Agreements” for the program and residents?
The service provider, HCEB, will draft Community Agreements to ensure that safety, restorative justice, well-being and community-building are prioritized at the site. Residents will provide input and agree to these terms and will be asked to leave if rules are violated.
What is the best way for neighbors to support the program?
Our project will feature a “Community Council,” a group of stakeholders, including housed residents, nearby business owners, advocates, faith leaders and others, to provide ongoing guidance, community participation, and support. Email lsalaverry@oaklandca.gov to get involved.
Is there a plan for site beautification?
Bas’s office is working with potential partners, students and teachers at nearby schools and community groups, on murals and beautification efforts. Email lsalaverry@oaklandca.gov information.
What plans are there for noise, dust/debris mitigation during construction?
Site preparation/construction will consist of grading the parcel; this process will be minimally invasive and short. Assembly of PalletShelters will also be relatively simple. Each structure can be set up within 45 minutes, not requiring heavy equipment.
What are the future plans for this parcel, previously slated for development of the LakeHouse Commons Project?
The Lakehouse Commons Project, approved in 2016, is a mixed-use housing project by developers UrbanCore and the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). The group has missed several construction deadlines and has received six separate extensions or updates. The most recent extension means that – if they are able to confirm their financing – the project would not begin for at least one year. A city staff update will be available in August.
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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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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