The Oakland City Council recently approved a deal which would sell off the city's waterfront for a low price to a private developer. A BetterOaktoNinth.org is circulating a petition to save the city's waterfront and public space. The Oak to Ninth Project would wall off the waterfront, demolish the historic Ninth Avenue Terminal, build housing next to I-880, and create yet more traffic congestion. This deal, which its opponents point out received virtually no coverage in the corporate media, has been called "shady."

Oakland residents came up with the Estuary Policy Plan, which was approved by Oakland voters in 1999 and 2002. The city, however, is preparing to move forward with this private developer's plan which does not meet the goals or vision of the Estuary Plan. Civic organizations and alarmed citizens have organized as the Oak to Ninth Referendum Committee to mount a referendum (that would put the deal on the ballot) on this development agreement. This group is determined stop the present proposal. They were given 30 days, until August 17th, to gather 18,700 signatures from Oakland voters who are opposed to the Oak to Ninth Project. Read more

The Referendum Committee wants more open space with better public access; improved mitigations for public health dangers; preservation and re-use of the Ninth Avenue Terminal; better urban planning within the development, especially for traffic, schools, and recreation; a better economic deal for the citizens of Oakland, including more jobs and benefits; and an independent analysis to determine a fair affordable housing component to the project.

A Better Oak to Ninth website | Flyer | Response to Pat Kernighan's August Newsletter regarding the Oak to Ninth Coalition flyer | Jack London News Article from April, 2006 | Daniel Borgström's report from hearings in March