An Alameda County judge has made another ruling in favor of tenants at the California Hotel in Oakland, keeping in place a temporary restraining order preventing Oakland Community Housing Inc. (OCHI) from evicting residents or shutting off utilities at the historic hotel.

In 1992, OCHI agreed to offer low-income housing at the hotel for 30 years but has since abandoned the tenants, many of whom are elderly and disabled, and is attempting to frighten them out of their housing. On July 15th, the non-profit threatened to cut off the utilities but the tenants have fought back and refused to move.

Since July 15, tenants have been providing for their own security, managing the hotel and keeping it clean, with the assistance of the Eviction Defense Center and other community organizations in Oakland. Currently, around 52 residents remain in the 150 room historic hotel, fighting against OCHI's attempts to force them out of their housing.

On July 23, residents celebrated their first week of resident control by dropping a large banner in front of the hotel that said, "We Will Not Be Moved."

Full story