March 2023
Dear friends, family and constituents,
At the core of my vision for addressing Oakland’s housing crisis has always been a shift from a financialized housing system to housing as a human right. An important part of implementing this vision has been to demand that our local government fulfill what should be any government's primary function: care for people who don’t have the means to fight for themselves, particularly in the face of unregulated market forces. This is why I sought election as a public official and why I am leveraging this role to create a housing program that addresses deep, system-level failures, some of which I want to share with you here.
One important focus of this program will be to increase homelessness services and sites. As we know, the conditions that people experience on the streets are not safe and we must prioritize dignified short-term and long-term housing solutions. When it comes to closing encampments, this requires leading with services so we’re not just shuffling people from one place to another. If we lead with a motivation of care in re-homing encampment residents, we can ensure they get connected to services they need, and if the services being offered don’t do that, to support the long-term development of alternatives.
In order to be effective at this work, we will need to address the tendency of neoliberal governments to outsource essential City functions and services, that receive taxpayer dollars, to private nonprofits. Whether it is the eight acres at North Gateway or the myriad of other spaces that sit vacant and underutilized, there are opportunities to have government-operated sites with services for thousands of people to transition into permanent housing. Bringing these services in-house allows us to not only increase services, but to also better monitor the services we are providing, because no matter how good a nonprofit is, at the end of the day the City has no authority on their hiring practices, their cultural competency, or their quality control.
When it comes to long-term solutions such as deeply affordable low-rent housing, since the private market largely ignores these types of developments, we will need strategies such as public lands for public use. This looks like spearheading initiatives similar to Seattle’s Measure 135 that creates a Social Housing Department. Having a dedicated social housing department will allow the City to be an owner and operator of properties, giving the City the ability and flexibility to creatively meet our current housing needs. Social housing is structured differently from the public housing of the past, which you can read more about on my website. Within the framework of public lands for public use, my office is also working to create a formal process to give Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and nonprofit developers access to County-held vacant, tax-defaulted properties.
Another component to the housing program I am organizing around is to address displacement. The sad reality of the eviction moratorium ending is that people will be evicted and with thousands of individuals already living on the streets, we cannot tolerate any more people becoming unhoused. As such, my office is working to bolster the Rent Adjustment Program (RAP) so it can better serve tenants and housing providers. It is also important that we help fund legal services for those facing illegal evictions, rent increases, and uninhabitable conditions.
Another policy that has also been implemented elsewhere with success has been the Right of Return. It gives priority access to housing support to families and their descendants who have been displaced and forced to move out of Oakland by development projects such as highways.This housing support can come in a variety of forms including priority access to affordable units in new and existing developments.
More information and links on all these components of my housing program are on my website, and I will be sharing more in-depth information on each throughout this year. As always, please reach out if you’d like more details or information on any of the things I’ve laid out here, my office can use that feedback to add to our public education efforts.
In service and solidarity,
Councilmember Carroll Fife
Items In This Newsletter
County Eviction Moratorium Set to End Apr 30, 2023
Abandoned Cars Now Addressed By The Vehicle Enforcement Unit
City of Oakland Ransomware Alert
City Hall Has Reopened
City of Oakland Business Tax Reductions Due To Progressive Taxation; License Renewal and Tax Extended Due Date - Payments due by April 17, 2023
Thursday LIVE - Building A Positive Housing Program Through Legislation and Organizing
District 3 Community Cleanup - April 1st (THIS WEEKEND!)
District 3 General Town Hall - April 8th
Oakland D3 Measure U Housing Conversation - April 19th
Oakland Animal Services - Townhall Series - April - July
Images In The Community
Updates
County Eviction Moratorium Set to End Apr 30, 2023
On Tuesday, February 28th, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted not to extend the Alameda County Eviction Moratorium and it will now expire on April 30, 2023. While Oakland's moratorium is still active for now, Oakland residents who do not have Just Cause for Eviction will lose eviction moratorium protections on April 30.
However, even after April 30, a landlord cannot evict a tenant because of unpaid rent that is owed from before April 30, so long as the unpaid rent is due to impacts from the pandemic. If you do receive an eviction notice related to unpaid rent from this period, it is important that you submit a Declaration of COVID-19-Related Financial Distress. You should also contact a legal service provider if you receive an eviction notice.
Affected tenants can check out this FAQ by Centro Legal de la Raza to stay up-to-date on what will happen when the county moratorium lifts.
2. Abandoned Cars Now Addressed By The Vehicle Enforcement Unit
Last week the City of Oakland launched the Vehicle Enforcement Unit within the Oakland Dept of Transportation.
Two years ago during the last budget cycle, I worked with my council allies and advocated for cost-saving opportunities for civilian employees to take over certain functions performed by sworn police officers. More than 5,600 calls for service each year will now no longer be handled by police, which is expected to lead to more timely and cost-effective service.
The number of units proactively working to identify and tow abandoned autos has increased exponentially and will also have an Encampment detail to support the City's Encampment Management Team, so that unhoused residents are also supported in maintaining their vehicles, and overall, the health and safety of our communities.
You can submit sightings of abandoned vehicles through the city service 311. My office also started a D3 specific Abandoned Vehicle Form so we support in monitoring the removal.
3. City of Oakland Ransomware Alert
Have You Or Someone You Know Worked For The City Of Oakland Within The Past 10 Years?
The City of Oakland was recently subject to a ransomware incident and city employees with specialists from CalOES have been working tirelessly to restore all impacted systems. They have become aware that an unauthorized party has released some of the information acquired from the city network.
The City is actively notifying individuals whose personal information might be involved as quickly as possible, in accordance with applicable law and providing resources to protect the personal information of those impacted.
Current and former Oakland employees should call 1-866-869-1861, a cyber facts hotline to access free 1-year service with Experian to help protect your identity following this cyber attack.
For detailed information on how to review your accounts statements and credit reports, and protect your personal identity info against this ransomware attack, check out this resource.
4. City Hall Has Reopened
City Council meetings are back in-person and will allow for hybrid participation, allowing the community to participate and comment on agenda items both in-person and online.
You can find more information about upcoming meetings and how to participate on the City’s website under City Council.
Safety protocols will be in place for in-person attendance:
Everyone who comes to City Hall is required to check in with building security and go through a temperature screening before entering the building.
Masks are required for entry into City buildings regardless of vaccination status and must be worn throughout the public meeting.
Community members, council members and commissioners who are sick should not come to City facilities.
Community members and Commissioners attending meetings in City Hall also must go through the screening stations for access into the building and will be required to sign in at the security desk.
5. City of Oakland Business Tax Reductions Due To Progressive Taxation; License Renewal and Tax Extended Due Date - Payments due by April 17, 2023.
Back in November, Oakland voters approved a new tiered, progressive business tax structure that I, alongside the leadership of Councilmember Bas, now Mayor Thao and Councilmember Kalb, co-introduced. A progressive tax structure imposes higher rates on businesses that earn more in gross receipts and in Oakland it will provide a reduction in business taxes for roughly 23% of business taxpayers - most small business enterprises will only pay $60 per year!
Some important updates for this coming tax year:
All persons engaging in any business activities, including property rental, in the City of Oakland are required to apply for or renew their business tax certificate, and submit their 2023 annual business tax payments by or before April 17, 2023. The business tax payment or portion thereof which is not paid by or before April 17, 2023, shall be declared delinquent and may be subject to late charges.
Apply or Renew Online | Calculate your 2023 business tax payment
The City of Oakland Finance Department is available to help businesses:
Call (510) 238-3704 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and Wednesdays 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (excluding holidays)
Live chat at https://ltss.oaklandnet.com 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Email BTWebsupport@Oaklandca.gov
Walk-in services available Monday and Wednesday 8am-4pm through April 17th (for 2023 only). Other times only available by appointment. Face coverings must be worn.
Events
6. Thursday LIVE - Building A Positive Housing Program Through Legislation and Organizing
Last Thursday, I went live to talk about the housing program I am building through legislation and organizing. I discussed expanding homelessness services and long-term goals such as low-rent housing. You can still watch the recording on YouTube.
7. District 3 District 3 Community Cleanup - April 1st
Join me for another community cleanup my office is organizing, second one of the year!
My office will be facilitating these cleanups regularly throughout the year, precinct by precinct. In addition to making our parks and public spaces more beautiful and cared for, it will also be a great opportunity to meet fellow District 3 residents.
Materials such as pick-up sticks, trash bags, vests etc. will be provided. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather! Rain is not expected.
8. General Townhall - April 8th
My office's first town hall of the year is quickly coming up! It will be a great opportunity for residents of District 3 to come together and discuss concerns and solutions that affect District 3 at large and each precinct specifically. It will be an in-person event, but we will also livestream through my Youtube channel. We hope you can join us. RSVP here.
9. Oakland D3 Measure U Housing Conversation - April 19th
Throughout April, the City of Oakland's Housing and Community Development Department will be meeting with each district in Oakland to share their understanding of housing needs and data in Oakland and how this will inform funding priorities and process for the Measure U Affordable Housing and Infrastructure Bond. Join my office in this discussion, you can rsvp through this eventbrite link.
10. Oakland Animal Services - Town Hall Series - March - July
The Oakland Animal Services are hosting a series of Town Hall meetings to share updates on OAS’ operations, programs, and vision, as well as answer any community questions.
These sessions are open to all, and will be held virtually over Zoom on the following Wednesdays at 6:30pm:
April 12: How OAS makes outcome decisions (e.g. adoption, transfer to other organizations, and euthanasia)
May 10: Understanding what animal control officers do
June 7: Specific topics around cats
July 12: Specific topics around dogs
