Community
Evergreen Baptist Church Considers More Affordable Housing
Speaking at times with tears in his eyes, Bishop Frank Pinkard Jr., pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church on West MacArthur Boulevard in Oakland, became emotional when discussing the housing shortage crisis in our city.
“We have 120 units of beautiful, affordable housing for disabled and senior citizens – 80 units at the J. L. Richard Terrace on E. 12th, and 40 units at the adjacent Mother Irene Cooper complex,” he said.
“Seniors deserve a safe, affordable place to live,” he said. “We need more.”
The Evergreen housing development was already underway in 1984, and when Bishop Pinkard came to lead the congregation in April of 1985, he supported and completed the vision of Pastor J. L. Richard. The church’s housing commitment also includes a house close to their sanctuary in addition to the 120 units on E. 12th Street.
“We need to keep as many Black people as possible in the city,” Bishop Pinkard went on to say. “So many with deep roots here, fell prey to the suburban flight and social climbing mentality, and now they wish they had stayed.”
“Moving van out, moving van in,” said Bishop Pinkard. Only now the cost and availability of housing is prohibitive. His intention is to preserve the senior population of the city to allow seniors and the disabled the “luxury” of living out their lives in comfort, safety and community.
Evergreen started as the first “Black Church” pastored by a Black minister in the City of Alameda. This was unprecedented in 1947, when racism and ignorance prevailed. Over the next 10 years, from 1947 to 1957, the church moved five times to its current location and 408 West MacArthur Boulevard was transformed into the beautiful sanctuary it is today.
And that physical location is what weighs heavily on Bishop Pinkard’s mind.
“There is a parking lot behind the church,” said Bishop Pinkard. He discussed his thoughts that the parking lot is “only filled on Sundays and for funerals.”
He feels that there is a possibility that the church could make use of that land for a building project.
“Black churches have a lot of land,” he said, “and I believe we are charged to use that for community-building efforts, and for Evergreen that may mean more affordable disabled and senior housing.”
“We have not made a decision, but it weighs heavily on me. So we shall see.”
“Beth Eden has done housing. Allen Temple has done housing. Acts Full Gospel is mounting a large housing project. Williams Chapel is doing the same – and on their parking lot,” he said.
“These are all pioneers, and we were, too. Now, we may be again.”
At 83 years of age, Bishop Pinkard said he might not be here for this project, but after deeper consideration and prayer, he will decide whether or not to bring the idea to his dedicated and committed congregation.
“What a glorious past we have had! What a promising future we have!
“Let us move forward in confidence for He has said, ‘For I am the Lord, I change not.’ Go forth in joy and confidence no matter what might occur, knowing that in Jehovah God our future is secure.”
Evergreen Baptist Church, under the leadership of Bishop Pinkard, may become the next faith-based organization to answer the call for much needed affordable housing in Oakland.
Bishop Pinkard has earned the following academic and seminary degrees: B.A., M. Div., D. Div.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of December 25 – 31, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 25 – 31, 2024
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Bay Area
Glydways Breaking Ground on 14-Acre Demonstration Facility at Hilltop Mall
Glydways has been testing its technology at CCTA’s GoMentum Station in Concord for several years. The company plans to install an ambitious 28-mile Autonomous Transit Network in East Contra Costa County. The new Richmond facility will be strategically positioned near that project, according to Glydways.
The Richmond Standard
Glydways, developer of microtransit systems using autonomous, small-scale vehicles, is breaking ground on a 14-acre Development and Demonstration Facility at the former Hilltop Mall property in Richmond, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) reported on social media.
Glydways, which released a statement announcing the project Monday, is using the site while the mall property undergoes a larger redevelopment.
“In the interim, Glydways will use a portion of the property to showcase its technology and conduct safety and reliability testing,” the company said.
Glydways has been testing its technology at CCTA’s GoMentum Station in Concord for several years. The company plans to install an ambitious 28-mile Autonomous Transit Network in East Contra Costa County. The new Richmond facility will be strategically positioned near that project, according to Glydways.
The new Richmond development hub will include “over a mile of dedicated test track, enabling Glydways to refine its solutions in a controlled environment while simulating real-world conditions,” the company said.
Visitors to the facility will be able to experience on-demand travel, explore the control center and visit a showroom featuring virtual reality demonstrations of Glydways projects worldwide.
The hub will also house a 13,000-square-foot maintenance and storage facility to service the growing fleet of Glydcars.
“With this new facility [at the former Hilltop Mall property], we’re giving the public a glimpse of the future, where people can experience ultra-quiet, on-demand transit—just like hailing a rideshare, but with the reliability and affordability of public transit,” said Tim Haile, executive director of CCTA.
Janet Galvez, vice president and investment officer at Prologis, owner of the Hilltop Mall property, said her company is “thrilled” to provide space for Glydways and is continuing to work with the city on future redevelopment plans for the broader mall property.
Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl added that Glydways’ presence “will not only help test new transit solutions but also activate the former Mall site while preparation and finalization of the Hilltop Horizon Specific Plan is underway.
Alameda County
Last City Council Meeting of the Year Ends on Sour Note with Big Budget Cuts
In a five to one vote, with Councilmembers Carroll Fife and Janani Ramachandran excused, the council passed a plan aimed at balancing the $130 million deficit the city is facing. Noel Gallo voted against the plan, previously citing concerns over public safety cuts, while Nikki Fortunato-Bas, Treva Reid, Rebecca Kaplan, Kevin Jenkins, and Dan Kalb voted in agreement with the plan.
By Magaly Muñoz
In the last lengthy Tuesday meeting of the Oakland City Council for 2024, residents expressed strong opposition to the much needed budget cuts before a change in leadership was finalized with the certification of election results.
In a five to one vote, with Councilmembers Carroll Fife and Janani Ramachandran excused, the council passed a plan aimed at balancing the $130 million deficit the city is facing. Noel Gallo voted against the plan, previously citing concerns over public safety cuts, while Nikki Fortunato-Bas, Treva Reid, Rebecca Kaplan, Kevin Jenkins, and Dan Kalb voted in agreement with the plan.
Oakland police and fire departments, the ambassador program, and city arts and culture will all see significant cuts over the course of two phases.
Phase 1 will eliminate two police academies, brown out two fire stations, eliminate the ambassador program, and reduce police overtime by nearly $25 million. These, with several other cuts across departments, aim to save the city $60 million. In addition, the council simultaneously approved to transfer restricted funds into its general purpose fund, amounting to over $40 million.
Phase 2 includes additional fire station brownouts and the elimination of 91 jobs, aiming to recover almost $16 million in order to balance the rest of the budget.
Several organizations and residents spoke out at the meeting in hopes of swaying the council to not make cuts to their programs.
East Oakland Senior Center volunteers and members, and homeless advocates, filled the plaza just outside of City Hall with rallies to show their disapproval of the new budget plan. Senior residents told the council to “remember that you’ll get old too” and that disturbing their resources will only bring problems for an already struggling community.
While city staff announced that there would not be complete cuts to senior center facilities, there would be significant reductions to staff and possibly inter-program services down the line.
Exiting council member and interim mayor Bas told the public that she is still hopeful that the one-time $125 million Coliseum sale deal will proceed in the near future so that the city would not have to continue with drastic cuts. The deal was intended to save the city for fiscal year 2024-25, but a hold up at the county level has paused any progress and therefore millions of dollars in funds Oakland desperately needs.
The Coliseum sale has been a contentious one. Residents and city leaders were originally against using the deal as a way to balance the budget, citing doubts about the sellers, the African American Sports and Entertainment Group’s (AASEG), ability to complete the deal. Council members Reid, Ramachandran, and Gallo have called several emergency meetings to understand where the first installments of the sale are, with little to no answers.
Bas added that as the new Alameda County Supervisor for D5, a position she starts in a few weeks, she will do everything in her power to push the Coliseum sale along.
The city is also considering a sales tax measure to put on the special election ballot on April 15, 2025, which will also serve as an election to fill the now vacant D2 and mayor positions. The tax increase would raise approximately $29 million annually for Oakland, allowing the city to gain much-needed revenue for the next two-year budget.
The council will discuss the possible sales tax measure on January 9.
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