West Oakland Resident View on the Wood St. Development Project

Coalitions and grass roots groups change agendas just as activists, outsiders, and even developers come and go, but we remain. We, the people vested in our neighborhood, must make our voices heard when decisions are made about what should happen in West Oakland. Outsiders claim to speak for us; they say that we don’t want a diverse neighborhood. They even suggest that as West Oaklanders we can’t afford a $300,000 home, when homes in this area for years have been selling in the $400,000 and upward range, and current and former West Oaklanders alike are buying them.

There’s a notion that the developers can insure long term employment. The reality is we know as local residents that union labor does not mean jobs for West Oakland. However, development in general offer an opportunity for the unions to step up, train and educate, then employ West Oakland residents using Oakland training centers which reach out to our at-risk youth. This requires some preparation by unions, but until then non-union construction contractors and sub-contractors should be allowed a sizable portion in the construction phase. We need more people with diverse backgrounds and more businesses into West Oakland which would represent the opportunity for an increase in the number of permanent jobs opportunities for the community.

It’s a noble thought that explores the possibility in which the City of Oakland's Redevelopment Agency would purchase the train station but the reality is that the council is currently working to close a $31.7 million dollar budget gap by the end of June as well as a $26.4 million dollar projected shortage in the 2006~2007 budget. Unless some other sources are willing to financially step up, the developers should be allowed to proceed with the sound strategies that they have presented.

Respectable non-profit organizations like the East Bay Community Law Center are being misled by organizations with suspect credentials that are struggling to survive embezzlement and mis-use of funds allegations. As the development defends itself from unsubstantiated accusations and other negative and false propaganda, we West Oaklanders will suffer the long term consequence while the grass root groups, coalitions and activists have changed their interest and moved on!

Some of the benefits of the Wood St. Development includes: It‘s the first major residential development in West Oakland that is not subsidized by any existing public funds, and the developers have not even asked for public money. The development includes the clean-up & beautification of empty and polluted industrial land. It provides 1,000 to 1,500 new homes, which means more people, more voters, and more taxes, thus resulting in a stronger community voice to fight pollution and truck traffic, to support schools, and improve the quality of life in West Oakland. The SP 16th St. Train Station will benefit from a restoration with private funds and also redevelopment funds that will be generated by the development. A landscaped plaza will be publicly accessible in front of the train station. A diverse nonprofit board will determine the historic structure’s future use. Approximately $100 million in tax increment money will be generated, of which tens of millions of dollars can go towards helping low income families purchase a home. The developers are also funding a homeownership assistance center at Mandela Gateway.

Marcus Johnson, Chair
West Oakland Resident Association (WORA)

West Oaklanders should attend, show your support and voice your opinion at the City Council meeting, Tuesday, May 03, 2005, at 6:00pm in Council Chambers, 3rd floor, Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. Parking is free in the Clay Street Garage.

You can sign up to speak in advance at:
http://www.oaklandnet.com/government/city_clerk/speakerupdate.cfm