Bay Area

CalTrans Enforces Clearance in Oakland, Protestors Help Some Residents Stay

“They posted signs saying everyone had to get off the property”

Published

5 years ago

February 5, 2021

Kiki

Four protestors crouch behind and hold shields on a tract of CalTrans owned land next to Mosswood Park in North Oakland on January 28. Another protestor, Annmarie Bustamante (right), stands next to the shield holders. A homeless resident (back center right) gathers his belongings during a clearance. Photo by Zack Haber.

While facing intense rain and protests on January 27 and 28, California Highway Patrol officers and California Dept. of Transportation (CalTrans) workers cleared tents, trash, broken branches, and homeless people from a tract of CalTrans-owned land that sits between Mosswood Park and the 580 Freeway in North Oakland.

CalTrans referred to the operation as a cleaning. Activists, local civil rights lawyers, and the site’s residents called it an eviction. Two residents successfully resisted being removed from the site and stayed on the tract of land.

“They posted signs saying everybody has to get off the property,” said Osha Neumann, a lawyer with the East Bay Community Law Center who was at the tract on January 27. “To me, that’s an eviction. There’s no question the intent was to displace people.”

CalTrans posted a NO TRESPASSING notice on January 25. Printed words stated the site was scheduled for cleaning on January 27. The date “1/28/21” was also added in blue pen ink.

In an e-mail to Oakland resident Charlotte Ashlock, who inquired about the operation, CalTrans Deputy District Administrator Cheryl Chambers claimed a resident was tapping into a CalTrans electrical panel, which affected 30 streetlights in the area and initiated the clearance.

“During the pandemic, CalTrans is only moving people…if there is an emergency to life or infrastructure as happened with the electrical tap at Mosswood” she wrote.

Caltrans public information officer Janis Mara told The Oakland Post that the cleaning was done because “illegally compromising electrical components poses a fire hazard to those in the area and threatens the integrity of the infrastructure.”

Neumann believes, despite the illegal tapping, CalTran’s actions were not fair to the residents. “Making everybody leave because somebody tapped into electricity is like requiring everybody in an apartment complex to vacate because one tenant is running an illegal extension cord out the window to a socket in the basement,” he said.

By January 29, the vast majority of the tract’s residents moved about 40-60 feet away into Mosswood Park. Mara reported that “Caltrans requested assistance from the City of Oakland to provide social services and outreach in advance of this removal,” but no residents reported being offered alternative shelter.

Two residents, who lived in a small home they had made mostly out of recycled wood and plastic, remained in their home and on the site despite the order to leave. John, who lives in the home, thinks it is not a threat to CalTrans or public health.

The Caltrans-owned tract of land where John’s home sits is smaller than the tennis court it rests behind and is forested with pine and acacia trees. John said he has been on the site on and off for five years because it’s “out of the way.” During the warmer months, thick foliage often makes the area invisible to those outside of it.

On January 27, John and his roommate told CalTrans workers and CHP Offices that they did not plan on leaving. About a half dozen protestors supported them that day.

“I’ve just had them move me around enough,” John told The Oakland Post. “They play musical chairs with everybody, give 5% of the people housing, then take it away a few months later.”

John had been cleared from the area before, but he and his roommate stood firm during this operation and protestors aided them. On January 28, about 20 protestors showed up despite heavy rain. Ten of them held colorful wooden shields. Six of the shield holders stood outside. John and his roommate’s home while four others stood outside another resident’s red tent as he gathered his belongings. About a dozen and a half CalTrans workers gathered and cleared trash and tree branches from the area. Occasionally, workers fell in the slippery mud. A few CHP officers monitored.

The resident who lived in the red tent, who asked not to be named for fear of police retaliation, did not resist the clearance. But the protestor’s presence allowed him extra time to clear his possessions. In the past, CalTrans had destroyed possessions he wished to keep in similar operations.

“This has been one of the best times in terms of being able to salvage my possessions because of the help of the volunteers,” he said. “It was nice to have advocates have our back.”

“They’re clearing debris but also some belongings,” said a protestor while holding a shield January 28. They also asked not to be named due to fear of police retaliation.

“We just want to be sure they don’t touch people’s structures. Threatening people’s ability to shelter themselves at a time like this is appalling.”

CalTrans has a documented history of destroying homeless residents’ belongings during clearances. They agreed to pay $5.5 million in February 2020 to settle a lawsuit that Neumann worked on, Sanchez V CalTrans, which accused the department of illegally destroying homeless people’s property during sweeps in Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville between December 2014 and October 2019. At least 1,200 people in Oakland, Emeryville and Berkeley said CalTrans destroyed their possessions and have filed claims.

According to John, there had been 20 people living on the CalTrans tract, but most left on January 27 due to feeling intimidated. A protestor, Annmarie Baustamente, who was on the track during both days of the clearance said that some residents were absent during the clearance. She saw CalTrans bag and store people’s items that appeared to be worth more than $50 but worried about residents losing other items that had sentimental value. Bustamante, along with several residents, also expressed worry about a resident who uprooted herself and all her belongings due to the clearance days after her partner died. Neumann said he talked to a resident who lost personal artworks and art supplies that were important to him.

Andrea Henson, a lawyer with the Oakland’s Eviction Defense Center who was on the tract on January 28, said she was appalled to see CalTrans throw away a hand-washing station. “If they were doing a cleaning, then shouldn’t the handwashing station have been moved aside or replaced?” she asked.

Caltrans Public Information Officer Janis Mara’s claimed the wash station was “inoperable and beyond repair.” In her e-mail, CalTrans Deputy District Director Cheryl Chambers said the department allowed one resident “to remain onsite due to his health concerns.” Both lawyers who were onsite, Henson and Neumann, said they thought the reason John’s home was not torn down was the protestors’ presence and John and his roommate’s determination to stay.

“The only reason that the house wasn’t torn down was the protest,” said Henson.

During the clearance, Neumann spoke to the commanding officer on-site and tried to persuade him that tearing down John’s home during the storm and under COVID would look bad for CalTrans and harm the residents. Neumann asked for time to work out solutions to problems CalTrans had with the encampment.

“He listened,” said Neumann, “but I didn’t change his mind. What changed his mind was the presence of eviction defenders.”

By February 2, at least three residents had moved back unto the CalTrans owned land.

Kiki

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

1 day ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.

Oakland Post

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Activism

First 5 Alameda County Distributes Over $8 Million in First Wave of Critical Relief Funds for Historically Underpaid Caregivers

“Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers are lifelines for so many children and families in Alameda County,” said Kristin Spanos, CEO, First 5 Alameda County. “Yet, they often go unrecognized and undercompensated for their labor and ability to give individualized, culturally connected care. At First 5, we support the conditions that allow families to thrive, and getting this money into the hands of these caregivers and families at a time of heightened financial stress for parents is part of that commitment.”

Published

1 day ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

Costco. Courtesy image.

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregivers Can Now Opt Into $4,000 Grants to Help Bolster Economic Stability and Strengthen Early Learning Experiences

By Post Staff

Today, First 5 Alameda County announced the distribution of $4,000 relief grants to more than 2,000 Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers, totaling over $8 million in the first round of funding. Over the full course of the funding initiative, First 5 Alameda County anticipates supporting over 3,000 FFN caregivers, who collectively care for an estimated 5,200 children across Alameda County. These grants are only a portion of the estimated $190 million being invested into expanding our early childcare system through direct caregiver relief to upcoming facilities, shelter, and long-term sustainability investments for providers fromMeasure C in its first year. This investment builds on the early rollout of Measure C and reflects a comprehensive, system-wide strategy to strengthen Alameda County’s early childhood ecosystem so families can rely on sustainable, accessible care,

These important caregivers provide child care in Alameda County to their relatives, friends, and neighbors. While public benefits continue to decrease for families, and inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, these grants provide direct economic support for FFN caregivers, whose wages have historically been very low or nonexistent, and very few of whom receive benefits. As families continue to face growing financial pressures, especially during the winter and holiday season, these grants will help these caregivers with living expenses such as rent, utilities, supplies, and food.

The funding for these relief grants comes from Measure C, a local voter-approved sales tax in Alameda County that invests in young children, their families, communities, providers, and caregivers. Within the first year of First 5’s 5-Year Plan for Measure C, in addition to the relief grants to informal FFN caregivers, other significant investments will benefit licensed child care providers. These investments include over $40 million in Early Care and Education (ECE) Emergency Grants, which have already flowed to nearly 800 center-based and family child care providers. As part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, preparations are also underway to distribute facilities grants early next year for child care providers who need to make urgent repairs or improvements, and to launch the Emergency Revolving Fund in Spring 2026 to support licensed child care providers in Alameda County who are at risk of closure.

The FFN Relief Grants recognize and support the essential work that an estimated 3,000 FFN caregivers provide to 5,200 children in Alameda County. There is still an opportunity to receive funds for FFN caregivers who have not yet received them.

In partnership with First 5 Alameda County, Child Care Payment Agencies play a critical role in identifying eligible caregivers and leading coordinated outreach efforts to ensure FFN caregivers are informed of and able to access these relief funds.FFN caregivers are eligible for the grant if they receive a child care payment from an Alameda County Child Care Payment Agency, 4Cs of Alameda County, BANANAS, Hively, and Davis Street, and are currently caring for a child 12 years old or younger in Alameda County. Additionally, FFN caregivers who provided care for a child 12 years or younger at any time since April 1, 2025, but are no longer doing so, are also eligible for the funds. Eligible caregivers are being contacted by their Child Care Payment Agency on a rolling basis, beginning with those who provided care between April and July 2025.

“This money is coming to me at a critical time of heightened economic strain,” said Jill Morton, a caregiver in Oakland, California. “Since I am a non-licensed childcare provider, I didn’t think I was eligible for this financial support. I was relieved that this money can help pay my rent, purchase learning materials for the children as well as enhance childcare, buy groceries and take care of grandchildren.”

Eligible FFN caregivers who provided care at any time between April 1, 2025 and July 31, 2025, who haven’t yet opted into the process, are encouraged to check their mail and email for an eligibility letter. Those who have cared for a child after this period should expect to receive communications from their child care payment agency in the coming months. FFN caregivers with questions may also contact the agency they work with to receive child care payments, or the First 5 Alameda help desk, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, at 510-227-6964. The help desk will be closed 12/25/25 – 1/1/26. Additional grant payments will be made on a rolling basis as opt-ins are received by the four child care payment agencies in Alameda County.

Beginning in the second year of Measure C implementation, FFN caregivers who care for a child from birth to age five and receive an Alameda County subsidized voucher will get an additional $500 per month. This amounts to an annual increase of about $6,000 per child receiving a subsidy. Together with more Measure C funding expected to flow back into the community as part of First 5’s 5-Year Plan, investments will continue to become available in the coming year for addressing the needs of childcare providers in Alameda County.

About First 5 Alameda County

First 5 Alameda County builds the local childhood systems and supports needed to ensure our county’s youngest children are safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school and life.

Our Mission

In partnership with the community, we support a county-wide continuous prevention and early intervention system that promotes optimal health and development, narrows disparities, and improves the lives of children from birth to age five and their families.

Our Vision

Every child in Alameda County will have optimal health, development, and well-being to reach their greatest potential.

Learn more at www.first5alameda.org.