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Housing Project For The Disabled Back On Track

by Lynda Carson (lyndacarson [at] excite.com)
Local Housing Project For The Disabled Finally Receives Full Funding After A Lengthy Battle.
Housing Project For The Disabled Back On Track

By Lynda Carson June 22, 2003

In what turned out to be a bitter-sweet victory, the 19 unit Eastmont Court housing project for the physically disabled got it's final funding approved by Oaklands City Council with a 5 to 3 vote in favor of the project.

Despite the objections of Councilwoman Desley Brooks who did all that was possible to sabotage the project, the June 3rd council vote over-ruled her by a slim margin and ended up leaving people across the city wondering why Councilwoman Nancy Nadel did not abstain from voting against the project for the disabled.

Many have been scratching their heads wondering why Nadel joined Councilmembers Wan and Brooks to oppose the project since she has usually been a strong advocate for affordable housing projects. Many affordable housing advocates were relieved to see this bitter feud come to a close, and they may not forget what they observed for a long time to come.

In a bizarre mind boggling scenario of dirty politics that would make great script for a Hollywood film, a large number of recovering drug addicts were pushed into the spotlight at the June 3rd council meeting to speak out against affordable housing projects in Councilwoman Brooks district. It seemed so bizarre that it became comical, since non of them seemed to know anything about the project being opposed.

Not only did it appear that the recovering drug addicts lacked enough insight about the proposed project to clearly illuminate why they opposed affordable housing projects, but, many observers of this twisted development were keenly aware that many drug addicts end up in affordable housing units because they generally cannot afford market rate rents.

Only a very sick mind could have ever dreamed up this kind of scenario to oppose a housing project meant to assist the physically disabled, said long time Oakland renter Mary Jones.

In a discussion with Councilwoman Nancy Nadel, she firmly stated that she was not against affordable housing projects for the disabled, but, was opposed to concentrated high density areas of the poor.

Nadel said that everyone knew that the project would receive final passage for the funding of the project in it's entirety, and that they only wanted to get the message out that affordable housing projects needed to be spread out across the city of Oakland, and not just in the flat land districts.

I've lived in the same district in West Oakland for more than 20 years said Nadel, and goes on to say that she has seen little change in the area with regards to crime and poverty.

Whatever message Councilwoman Nadel and the other council members were trying to get across to the public, many believed that they did not have to drag the non-profit housing developers through the mud just to send out their message.

In response to the mud slinging that has been going on ever since Councilwoman Brooks picked a fight with the developers, Project Manager, Angela Anderson from the East Oakland Community Development Corporation (EOCDC) has done all that is possible to counter the vicious lies being thrown about.

In her own written testimony, Ms. Anderson says; Our agency has been accused of not gaining or having community support. Neither developer would build if that were the case. When Ms. Brooks initially accused us of lying about having such support, I immediatly became concerned and went back out into the community and left letters, a picture of the project and description inviting anyone that had questions to please give us a call. 

We would be happy to assist them and show the benefits that affordable housing brings to families and individuals. As I canvassed over 200 homes, I spoke to the neighbors and they thought Eastmont Court was a very good idea. One phone call came into our office of a concerned woman that is making major improvements on her home. She doesn't want low income housing in her neighborhood because she lives across the street from a building that is not managed. I explained to her that she should put pressure on the landlord and let her know that we will manage our property professionally.

Affordable housing does not bring down property values, in fact it increases them. Other callers were interested in applying for a unit. I also gained signatures of over 70 people in the immediate neighborhood. That's pretty good given the ratios. The last council meeting really disappointed me because the people that spoke out in opposition couldn't be from the neighborhood that I canvassed and I didn't miss a beat. 

I knocked on doors bounded by 65th Avenue, Outlook, 73rd Avenue, Bancroft and Church Streets. The disabled, nor those in need of housing should not be deprived of the chance to clime the ladder of living in a comfortable situation. I always believe that all people aren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Most of us need to rent before ultimately buying a home and some of us don't intend on buying a home at all. But the fact is, the high rent in Oakland has overwhelmed a lot of heads of households and those seeking an apartment in general.

There are also a lot of high density situations within the homes of many because people just can't seem to get on their feet. Jobs in the Bay Area cannot support the rapid increase of housing costs. Let's be real, the housing cost increase suprised many people, including the professionals. The attitude of Ms. Brooks is to "pull yourself up from your bootstraps" and that is not the reality of the daily lives of Oaklanders. When people live in high density and frustration, crime rates will continue to climb. We all need to do something about it, profession by profession.

Larry Hynson also of EOCDC has something to say about the housing project and the surrounding area. Hynson says; The council member for District 6 has indicated on several occasions publicly that the addition of more "low income" housing in the area will discourage retailers from locating in that area of her district. Well, I hope she read the front page article of today's June 13th , Oakland Tribune Cityside section that indicates the Eastmont Town Center is to locate a family-run food store on a 30,000 square foot site that will employ local residents. The article further states that other developments of Eastmont Mall include the renovation of 55,000 square foot of space for Alameda County to use at a site once used by JC Penny, with several private attorneys also opening offices at the mall. Clearly these additions will help draw restaurant(s) to the area. In addition, a drug store and athletic shoe company are ready to start their operations there.

I have said on several occasions, affordable housing can be used as a catalyst to stimulate neighborhood commercial revitalization, and EOCDC will be involved in such an effort outside of District 6 in the coming years ahead, Larry Hynson said.

The 19 unit Eastmont Court housing project for the physically disabled is a joint venture by the non-profit housing developers known as Resources for Community Development (RCD) and the East Oakland Community Development Corporation. The nearly $4 million project first began around the fall of 2000, and is expected to begin construction during October of 2003.

Dan Sawsilak of RCD, states that he looks forward to seeing the project reaching it's completion so that the physically disabled in Oakland can have a place designed to suit their needs. I'm glad to see the battle over this project come to a close, Sawsilak said.

This year, Oakland celebrates Affordable Housing Week from May 31 through July 9, and in maintaining her stand against affordable housing projects, on June 17th 2003 Councilwoman Desley Brooks abstained from voting for this years commemeration of Affordable Housing Week.
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