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Indybay Feature
Thousands At Risk Of Eviction Over Energy Price Tag
Low Income Renters In The
Bay Area May face Eviction If
Their Utilities Get Turned Off.
Bay Area May face Eviction If
Their Utilities Get Turned Off.
Thousands At Risk Of Eviction Over Energy Price Tag
Posted Febuary 9th,2001 By Lynda Carson
Oakland Ca-In the face of soaring energy costs
that may result in the displacement of thousands
of Oaklands low-income renters,the Mayors Office
is dragging it's feet to alleviate the crisis.
On Friday Febuary 9th,Keith Schuerholz of
Oaklanders Assistance Center at City Hall was
adamant that Oaklands landlords demand the right to evict renters if they cannot pay their bills.In addition,
he suggested that renters contact the Eviction Defence
Center if they need assistance.Mr.Schuerholz's comments were made when concerns were expressed that thousands
of low-income renters may face eviction if they fail to pay their utility bills.In a further display of insensitivity to the
crisis at hand for the areas low-income renters, Mr.Schuerholz claimed that he himself has been evicted twice during
the past few years,as though this is all merely the magic of capitalism at work and nothing to be alarmed about.This is normal in a capitalist system he went on to say.For what it's worth this City Official declined to state the reasons why he was evicted twice.
To make matters worse,according to the rules of the U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development,
families/people being served by H.U.D. Funded Programs such as the Section 8 Voucher Program,must pay utility
bills in order to continue participating in the Section 8 Voucher Rental Program. In Oakland alone,last year
there were 2,964 families waiting for Section 8 Vouchers.Calls to Council Member Jane Brunner's Office plus the one
to the Mayors Office where Mr.Schuerholz responded, showed how clueless that City Officials were to the crisis low-income renters of Oakland faced.It did not occur to neither office that low-income renters may be at risk of eviction if they fail to raise the extra needed cash to pay off the P.G.&E. thugs.Oakland's Housing Authority serves over 10,000 families thru H.U.D. Funded Programs,many now at risk because of soaring utility rate hikes.
One Section 8 Renter wishing to remain anonymous,claimed that in November 2000,her P.G.&E. bill was $85.62,
Decembers bill shot up to $91.99,and January leaped up to $145.00! On a fixed income,its a stark reality of using the money to pay the rent or pay P.G.&E.Theres not enough money to pay off both at once,she states,and has no idea where to get assistance.
For others in the same boat,the following info may help for Rental Assistance Programs.
A)Catholic Charities Oakland -510/763-3102 x4201
B)For Aid Call-444-6834- -Rental Assistance...
C)RAP Program 510/836-4826
D)East Oakland Switchboard-510/6369
E)Independence Support Center-510/465-2904
F) Try this # for more info-510/420-7076
Posted Febuary 9th,2001 By Lynda Carson
Oakland Ca-In the face of soaring energy costs
that may result in the displacement of thousands
of Oaklands low-income renters,the Mayors Office
is dragging it's feet to alleviate the crisis.
On Friday Febuary 9th,Keith Schuerholz of
Oaklanders Assistance Center at City Hall was
adamant that Oaklands landlords demand the right to evict renters if they cannot pay their bills.In addition,
he suggested that renters contact the Eviction Defence
Center if they need assistance.Mr.Schuerholz's comments were made when concerns were expressed that thousands
of low-income renters may face eviction if they fail to pay their utility bills.In a further display of insensitivity to the
crisis at hand for the areas low-income renters, Mr.Schuerholz claimed that he himself has been evicted twice during
the past few years,as though this is all merely the magic of capitalism at work and nothing to be alarmed about.This is normal in a capitalist system he went on to say.For what it's worth this City Official declined to state the reasons why he was evicted twice.
To make matters worse,according to the rules of the U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development,
families/people being served by H.U.D. Funded Programs such as the Section 8 Voucher Program,must pay utility
bills in order to continue participating in the Section 8 Voucher Rental Program. In Oakland alone,last year
there were 2,964 families waiting for Section 8 Vouchers.Calls to Council Member Jane Brunner's Office plus the one
to the Mayors Office where Mr.Schuerholz responded, showed how clueless that City Officials were to the crisis low-income renters of Oakland faced.It did not occur to neither office that low-income renters may be at risk of eviction if they fail to raise the extra needed cash to pay off the P.G.&E. thugs.Oakland's Housing Authority serves over 10,000 families thru H.U.D. Funded Programs,many now at risk because of soaring utility rate hikes.
One Section 8 Renter wishing to remain anonymous,claimed that in November 2000,her P.G.&E. bill was $85.62,
Decembers bill shot up to $91.99,and January leaped up to $145.00! On a fixed income,its a stark reality of using the money to pay the rent or pay P.G.&E.Theres not enough money to pay off both at once,she states,and has no idea where to get assistance.
For others in the same boat,the following info may help for Rental Assistance Programs.
A)Catholic Charities Oakland -510/763-3102 x4201
B)For Aid Call-444-6834- -Rental Assistance...
C)RAP Program 510/836-4826
D)East Oakland Switchboard-510/6369
E)Independence Support Center-510/465-2904
F) Try this # for more info-510/420-7076
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YOURS IN RESISTENCE,
WALLACE T. BEAVER
It is written in the Constitution that as citizens of the U.S. we have the right to expect our government to provide us with food and SHELTER. Well, shame on us, but since 1991, city after city in the European Union, including such pre-eminent metropolises as Duffeldorf, Germany, and Baegora, Bulgaria, have done just that. Are we to believe that not only are Europeans more skilled at fashion-designing and containing dangerous diseases, they are also better at giving their citizens services that are promised in OUR Constitution? I know the French Revolution showed how good Europeans are at taking American precedent and running with it, but this it's the 21st Century and we should have learned something by now.
I challenge Mr. Schurholz and his ilk to give us one good reason why Oakland can't just pay for all of our electricity bills. We already have assumed half the burden rightfully theirs by paying for our own food, do they want to abdicate their responsibilities entirely by makinig the "shelter" part null and void, too? Why don't we just tear up the Constitution entirely and be done with it? After all, that's what Russia did and see where they are now. Plus, since PG&E will only have to send one bill to Oakland, as opposed to the approximately 1,415,582 bills it currently has to send, the savings in paper, postage, and manpower should help pull the utility company out of the dire straits it finds itself in.
Thank you Lynda for providing us with this forum and I wait to hear back from Mr. Schurholz and the rest of our Oakland Officials.
P.S. Lynda, I also wanted to add that your name alone should have alerted me to the quality of your article. My absolute favorite actress in the entire world is Lynda Carter, so I know anyone with the name Lynda stands for justice. Thank you, Superwoman!
Schueeeer, he SAYS he wants to help people, but all he does is help them become embroiled in the tendrils of his patently unsustainable socio-economic "system" called, that's right, Capitalism.
Power corrupts, and absolute power--like that wielded by Mr Scheurholz--corrupts absolutely. Only when The People realize that we cannot rely on our oppressors (oppressors like Keith Schuerholz!), will The People finally overthrow America and send us back to the lovely pre-economic days of tribal love, village happiness, and seamless cashless exchange!
Jerry Brown has it in for you (and you, and you, and you). Don't let his minions distract you from our mission: living our incredible interesting alternative lifestyle, ready to support any revolution that is started by others.
I understand why I shouldn't have to pay for anything, and Mr. Schuerholz understands, too. He is just so brainwashed by the Profit Motive that he doesn't realize the true value of doing whatever I want.
Hypocrisy, mental colonialism, civil service slavery, things costing money....it's all part of the same Uberkontroll with which Oakland is infested. Jerry Brown...Keith Schuerholz..they're the all-powerful dictators who throw up obstacles to our worry-free self-expression.
Impeach Keith Schuerholz!!
We must demand an entire City audit to uncover the graft propagated by Keith Scheurhulz.
Herr Schuerholz ist ein Kapitalistschweinhund und sollte für das Beschmutzen seines deutschen Erbes an den Kosten einiger Paare der alten Marinejeans- und -tabellenpayoffs in Form von Geometriebüchern und Süßigkeitstäben beschämt sein!
Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Schuerholz!