City Government

New Army Base Development Overcame “Almost Insurmountable” Obstacles

Published

11 years ago

November 29, 2013

Now that the Oakland City Council has approved the $25 million, 17-acre development to build a parking and services center for trucks adjacent to the Port of Oakland, the project seems like an obvious win for everyone.

Who can argue with a development that supports thousands of truckers who are necessary to the functioning of the port, creates 900 permanent and construction jobs and improves air quality for Oakland neighborhoods plagued with off the charts asthma rates?

However, behind the good feelings expressed at the near unanimous vote at last week’s council meeting, the final passage of Bill Aboudi’s Maritime Support Services (OMSS) project was the result of years of bitter conflict and tortuous negotiations that are indicative of the state of the democratic process in Oakland and the kind of nearly insurmountable obstacles many small businesses must overcome to do business in the city.

Opposed to the project were the Teamsters, who only have a toehold among port truck drivers and want to organize them into the union. They have been portraying Aboudi as anti-worker.

About 90 percent of the trucks that are registered to service the port are owned by independent operators. Only about 10 percent work for big companies, and of these, about 100 are members of the Teamsters.

In addition, Tagami and some city staff seemed bent on pushing Aboudi out of business in their rush to make way for the Oakland Global development at the port, according to observers. The way the city has written its agreements, if for some reason Aboudi fails to sign a lease by Dec. 4, the property and project would go to Tagami.

What some people say is that the city essentially gave Tagami an economic incentive not to be anxious to work with the administration and council to reach an agreement with Aboudi.

In the face of the intense lobbying and opposition, Councilmembers Larry Reid, Desley Brooks and Rebecca Kaplan were unwavering in their support for the project.

The new members of the City Council, who started in January, had a particularly hard time sifting through the long history and various allegations against OMSS and personal attacks on Aboudi

According to many observers, one of the new councilmembers, District 3 Councilmember Lynette McElhaney, stood out as one who did the research, listened to all the sides, learned the issues and worked hard to make sure the conflict could be resolved.

She is credited with being instrumental in finally convincing the Teamsters to drop their opposition to the project.

McElhaney says her foremost interest was in keeping the trucks off the streets of West Oakland, and she discovered that Aboudi had been doing that. She also learned that most of the charges against Aboudi and OMSS were false or extremely exaggerated.

“The allegations made against OMSS are not true and harmed that man,” she said. “West Oakland has suffered, and the city has had to pay additional costs on this project, as people kept organizing against allowing it to move forward.”

“It is not the purview of this council not to do business with a company that won a competitive bid,” she said.

McElhaney said that a number of community leaders and organizations, particularly Brian Beveridge and Margaret Gordon of West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project and Steve Lowe of West Oakland Commerce Association, played a major role backing the project and helped bring her up to speed on the development’s convoluted history.

A long-term problem at the port has been the indifference of city and port officials to truckers and the key role they play at the port, as officials focused almost exclusively on pushing ahead on their moneymaking development project, said Lowe, vice president of the West Oakland Commerce Association.

Officials failed to develop a transition plan that took into account the needs of truckers and West Oakland residents, who want to keep polluting trucks out of their neighborhoods, he said.

Officials also seemed to have no interest in retaining local companies at the port, even though they fit in with future plans for developing port-related business.

One company that left was Bay Area Kenworth, a $60 million business that sold and repaired trucks and planned to move from diesel to LNG (natural gas) fuel.

“They couldn’t make a deal with the city, so they moved to San Leandro,” Lowe said.

“In all the exchanges with the city and the port, the idea of business retention was given short shrift. They should have been thinking of ho are we going to retain the businesses we have and how can we work together to do it,” said Lowe.

“The port and the city were negligent in caring for their tenants.”

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

5 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org

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BWOPA Honors Black Leadership and Legacy at 2024 Ella Hill Hutch Awards Dinner

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

Published

5 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

L-R: BWOPA State Executive Director LaNiece Jones; State Asm. Mia Bonta; BWOPA 2024 Man of The Year/Urban League SFBA CEO Ken Maxey; BWOPA State President Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones; State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas; Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember At-Large, Elect; BWOPA State Regional Director Vashone Huff. Courtesy photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

The evening was hosted by Dr. Shawna Charles, founder of The Charles Communications Group (CCG) headquartered in Los Angeles. Charles served as mistress of ceremonies.

With a track record of elevating voices and empowering communities, Charles’ leadership and insight brought a certain dynamism to the celebration.

“Each year, this event not only celebrates the enduring legacy of our beloved BWOPA founding member, Ella Hill Hutch, but also reaffirms and amplifies our unwavering commitment to building and sustaining Black political power across California,” said Dezie Woods-Jones, BWOPA founding member and State president.

“Ella Hill Hutch’s trailblazing leadership continues to inspire us as we forge ahead, empowering Black women to lead, advocate, and shape a more equitable future for all,” added Woods-Jones.

This year’s event introduced the DWJ Rising Star Award, honoring young leaders like Solano County Board Supervisors-elect Cassandra James, Danielle Motley-Lewis, Naomi Waters and newly elected State Assemblymember elect Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

According to organizers, the awardees all exemplify “the next generation of changemakers.”

Other awardees included:

Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
Man of the Year: Kenneth Maxey, CEO of the Greater SF Bay Area Urban League
President’s Corporate Award: Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente
In the Spirit of Ella State and Chapter Awards: Dr. Carolyn Greene, Dr. Marcella K. Smith, Dr. Carolyn Drake, Tinisch Hollins, Jackie Jones, Gloria Burgess Johnson, Tamika L’Ecluse, Ellen Nash, Betty Reid Soskin, and Ay’Anna Moody.

BWOPA also celebrated local champions across its chapters, including leaders in voter education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and community advocacy.

In a statement, BWOPA said, “Honoring Ella Hill Hutch’s legacy, BWOPA recognizes her pioneering efforts as the first Black woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her tireless work amplifying underrepresented voices continues to inspire BWOPA’s mission to build Black political power across California.”

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, partners and allies who believe in BWOPA’s vision to invest in building power for Black women’s leadership,” said LaNiece Jones, BWOPA State executive director. “Your support ensures that Black women have a voice at decision-making tables locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, advancing diversity and equity in leadership spaces.”