Oakland is Not For Sale!

"We're Oakland people_ Fighting Back_ we're Oakland students_Fighting Back_ we're Oakland Workers..Fighting Back! _..cause Oaklands'_.. Not For Sale!!!"

As I affixed a large green florescent sticker stating OAKLANDS NOT FOR SALE to my 19 month old son's sweatshirt I noticed the nervous rumbling of blue suit wearing officials standing awkwardly in front of Oakland City Hall watching the hundreds of youth, adults and elder citizens' of Oakland chanting, demanding justice and resisting massive gentrification in Oakland.

We were all present to testify at a rally organized by the 16th and Wood Street Coalition and emceed by Wilson Riles and Jakati Omani which was preceding an Oakland City Council hearing on one of the largest Redevelopment giveaways to hit West Oakland yet; a project named by developers; The Central Station Project. The project is located at the West Oakland Wood Street Train Station. PoorNewsNetwork first reported this story in July of 2004 when the proposal officially met with organized resistance from the conscious citizenry of West Oakland, because the project does not adequately meet the needs of the community. The community was present last night to demand a Community Benefits Agreement from the developers of Wood St, in other words; affordable housing, prevailing wage jobs, environmental clean-up, and the preservation of the historic train station building that will be the centerpiece of the development.

Pastor Sauls, a local pastor and activist originally from South Africa was one of many powerful black leaders and citizens who addressed the crowd, " We are sick and tired of the Oakland City Council working with those who are trying to take over our neighborhoods without our input, we don't have to choose between preservation and revitalization, its not an either or - it's a both and. Preservation needs to include the preservation of homes for poor people." Pastor Sauls went on to call out West Oakland district council member Nancy Nadel by stating that being neutral is not being a leader"

"I am honored to stand with you, because what you are about is reasonable, is compassionate and needs to happen," The crowd grew silent with the words of the next speaker, former congressman Ronald Dellums who spoke in solidarity with the West Oakland community and specifically the Pullman Porter museum, "With respect to the museum at 16th and Wood Street, I grew up on 1014 (Wood) Wood Street is my hood, Its part of my personal history, my family history, My Uncle CL Dellums and A Philip Randolph organized the first black trade union in the history of America when they organized the brotherhood of Sleeping Car porters and changed the perception of the black worker for all time. These were courageous people and that station is a monument to their courage.

"The strength of the Bay Area lies in its diversity and diversity should not be sacrificed on the altar of development. Gentrification is an idea that we must reject." Mr. Dellums paused for a moment before he concluded his pointed narration of real talk, " I am honored to stand with you today - it makes a gray-haired old guys' heart soar like that of a youthful eagle."

"Oakland is not for sale, before we sell Oakland we will all go to hell, Lift every voice and sing, Let us march on until Victory is Won,,, hmmmmmmmmmmmmm" After Congressman Dellums we had a musical break with the lilting sounds of O-Town Passions who inspired resistance and empowerment with their on-site acapella concert

Margaret Gordon, the unofficial mayor of West Oakland and one of the best organizers in Oakland closed out the rally, "we need to be unified on how we live, work and play in West Oakland, we also need decent living wage jobs in this community. Period.

And that is it. Before we let another big developer tear apart our communities of color at their roots, we must resist we must fight for truth, for equity and for justice. Period. In other words; Oakland is NOT for SALE.

Over a hundred people testified in front of the city council last night and Council members Bruenner and Nadel did in fact present some changes to the proposal, but the City Council still needs to hear your opinion..Contact your Oakland council member as soon as possible to let them know how you feel before they vote to approve this project on the 17th of May. For more journalism on issues of poverty and resistance by the folk who experience it first-hand go on-line to www.poormagazine.org (Photo Credit; Will Steel/PNN)