Uncategorized

Santana’s Quandary, Jordan Rolls

Published

13 years ago

May 10, 2013

City officials scramble to make city feel safe and secure as police changes occur

Some of the those who have had a say on how the Oakland Police Department is run are (from Top, L to R): Consultant Bill Bratton, Consultant Chief Patrick Harnett, Acting Chief Anthony Toribio, Consultant Robert Wasserman, Commissioner Thomas Frazier, U.S. Judge Thelton Henderson, former OPD Chief Howard Jordan, Mayor Jean Quan, City Administrator Deanna Santana, Acting Chief Toribio. Collage by Adam L. Turner.

By Ken A. Epstein

Police Chief Howard Jordan’s decision to retire from the Oakland Police Department, effectively immediately, took police and city officials by surprise this week.
He made his announcement Wednesday morning right before a press conference scheduled to discuss recommendations of the city’s outside police consultants. The press conference was cancelled.
“I am on medical leave and taking steps toward medical retirement,” he said. “This decision has been difficult, but necessary.”
Jordan provided a little more information in an interview with ABC7 News.
“I was never forced out,” he told a television reporter. “I actually had been talking to my physician for quite some time now, and based on his recommendation I decided to make that decision…
“In the long run, you know, after 25 years of service I have to think about what’s good for me and my family. And my goal is to control my own destiny, and at this point the only way for me to do that is to resign or seek medical retirement so I can live longer.”
Anthony Toribio, a 23-year OPD veteran, is now acting chief. The city has announced it will conduct a national search for Jordan’s replacement.
There was much media speculation that Jordan may have been fired or forced out by Commissioner Thomas Frazier, the federal court-appointed overseer who Judge Thelton Henderson gave the authority to demote or fire the chief.
But according to PUEBLO Executive Director Rashidah Grinage, who met with Frazier and Independent Monitor Robert Warshaw this week, she had no indication the two federal appointees had an inkling the chief was planning to quit the next day.
“I was talking to them about our frustrations and concerns about the leadership. It is not at all obvious to me they were aware he was leaving,” she said.
Grinage said, however, that she had a meeting in March with Jordan that seemed to reveal something about his state of mind.
She was talking with the chief about adopting a policy suggested by youth that officers should give business cards to young people who they come in contact with.
“At one point, Jordan asked, ‘Whose decision do you think it is – this new policy?´ I said, ‘It’s yours. You’re the chief.’ He replied, ‘Not everybody sees it that way.’”
“I have had the feeling, ever since he made that remark, that he was feeling that he had no authority anymore. He felt besieged. So, who can blame him for leaving?”
In addition to Monitor Warshaw and Commissioner Frazier, OPD is currently being evaluated by teams of police consultants hired by the city.
While consultants Bill Bratton and Robert Wasserman are making recommendations, they do not have the authority to make decisions, Grinage said.
“ Tom Frazier is running this department now. Ultimately, it’s up to Frazier what will be implemented. He’s doing what he was hired to do by the judge.”
Though some people may blame the compliance director for the difficult situation OPD now faces, “Ultimately, it is the city’s fault,” Grinage said.
“If City Administrator Deanna Santana were doing her job, we wouldn’t have a compliance director. She is the supervisor of the police department.”
“I wish people would start holding Santana accountable,” Grinage said. “If Mayor Quan wants to be re-elected, she better do something to hold Santana accountable. Leadership is all about being accountable for what happens on your watch.”
The city has had had two police chiefs resign since Quan has been mayor, she said. The city has had 10 years, more than enough time, to comply with the agreement with the federal court. “It’s the fault of the city’s leadership,” said Grinage.

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Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

8 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

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Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

12 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.