Arts and Culture

Financial Failure by Oakland Cannery’s Landlord Leads to Eviction of Longtime Residential Artists

Douglas Stewart has spent the last 15 years making his space at the Oakland Cannery into a home with artwork on every free space of the walls and vinyl records covering the tabletops. The Oakland Cannery is more than a residence for Stewart and its other tenants, it’s also their workspace. However, after 47 years, the residents have been issued a 120-day eviction notice.

Published

1 year ago

November 7, 2023

Magaly Muñoz

Tenants Doug Stewart (left) and Alistair Monroe in the studio of the late Arthur Monroe, who made the Cannery the site of Oakland’s first live-work space in Oakland. Photo by Magaly Muñoz.

By Magaly Muñoz

Post Staff

Douglas Stewart has spent the last 15 years making his space at the Oakland Cannery into a home with artwork on every free space of the walls and vinyl records covering the tabletops.

Stewart is a man of many titles, including teacher, activist, advocate and above all, artist. He’s worked in arts preservation, poetry and has helped in juvenile justice centers and prisons to support vulnerable communities dealing with mental health and wellness issues.

The Oakland Cannery is more than a residence for Stewart and its other tenants, it’s also their workspace. However, after 47 years, the residents have been issued a 120-day eviction notice.

Problems at the Cannery began in 2016 when Green Sage, a Colorado-based cannabis cultivation company, acquired the property at 5733 San Leandro St. Their plan was to use this and other similar sites in the area for large-scale cannabis production.

“Unfortunately, however you want to look at it, Green Sage took over as landlords right around the time that the licenses and the Oakland Cannery got deemed as a ‘green zone’. And that’s when they started kicking out the commercial tenants below us and really started activating the space for cannabis operators and operations,” Stewart said.

Stewart and Alistair Monroe, son of the late painter Arthur Monroe who is responsible for the Cannery’s transformation into Oakland’s first live-work residence, claim their homes became unlivable due to the property owners’ neglect.

Both told stories of poor plumbing, electrical problems, lack of security and maintenance workers entering their homes unannounced. Despite numerous complaints and maintenance, requests, the property owners failed to address the problems.

“They had a lawless mentality to say that we were not residential use, we were commercial use, and we had to do as they say,” Monroe said.

Stewart supports safe cannabis cultivation and equal market opportunities. He is critical of Green Sage for saturating the market and hindering local business growth in Oakland.

Holding a micro-license for distribution and sales, Stewart benefits from an equity program that aids Oakland residents impacted by the War on Drugs with permits, grants and interest-free loans.

Stewart tried to use the Cannery’s commercial space for his license but was denied by the property owners. His efforts to rent other city spaces also ended in eviction.

“I can’t really afford to find a new place for my business license to hang up after being displaced by my last business operations location and then also having to try to juggle and figure out where I’m gonna be laying my head within the next three months after the Ellis Act eviction,” Stewart said.

Three years into their ownership, Green Sage defaulted on a $55 million loan from a Canadian private commercial mortgage lender, Romspen. The managers of Green Sage have since disappeared.

In September, Ellis Act evictions were served to residents of the Oakland Cannery enabling the landlords to take their properties off the market and remove all tenants.

According to Wikipedia, the Ellis Act is a 1985 California state law that allows landlords to evict residential tenants to “go out of the rental business” in spite of desires by local governments to compel them to continue providing rental housing.

Mark Mersel, an attorney who represents Romspen, states that after Green Sage defaulted on their loan, the mortgage company had to foreclose on the property.

He stated that many, if not all, of the current tenants at the Oakland Cannery had not paid rent or did not have valid leases with the property, and that they are all “basically squatters.”

“All Romspen is trying to do is get this property to operate, not be a blight on the neighborhood, and operate it for its industrial intended purpose,” Mersel said.

Monroe suspects the evictions were retaliation for lawsuits and complaints about unlivable conditions in the building and says he saw this coming from a mile away.

“The first day the landlords were on site they just openly said ‘we’re going to be removing you guys,’” Monroe said.

Eddie Ytuarte from the Oakland Tenants Union asserts that under the Ellis Act, unless the tenants were given relocation payments at the time of the notice, the eviction is invalid.

“A lot of things that landlords refuse to do are actual code violations,” Ytuarte stated. “For instance, if the plumbing is no good, or if the heat is insufficient, it’s breaking city codes and if the tenants are under rent control, they could petition for lower rents or they could sue in small claims court.”

Neither Stewart nor Monroe received relocation payments, only copies of checks via email.

Ytuarte suggested that tenants looking to fight eviction should seek pro-bono legal services or find an attorney who will take on the case for a much lower rate.

Monroe said that they tried those options, but to no avail. In other efforts, he and Stewart have hosted events to bring in city officials, like Mayor Sheng Thao and almost every Oakland City Council member to plead their case and find support from their resources.

A City of Oakland’s public information officer (PIO) wrote in an email to the Post that they have attempted to connect local developers who want to preserve the live-work space to the property owner, but the property owner has not shown any interest.

“The City has been working to protect the Oakland Cannery and other live/work communities from displacement pressure due to cannabis for many years. In 2018, the City adopted legislation prohibiting any type of cannabis business in live/work spaces. Then in 2023 it went further, prohibiting cannabis cultivation on any part of a property that contains work/live spaces,” said the PIO.

“Unfortunately, no local protections can prevent landlords from filing an eviction under the Ellis Act, as that is California State law,” the PIO concluded.

Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who represents District 6 where The Cannery is located, stated that beyond moral support, there’s not much else that his office can do to help the residents.

“I think displacement has been a big issue in the last 15 to 20 years. We are losing a large share of our African American population from Oakland. A lot of them are being displaced and being forced to move outside of the county and outside the state,” Jenkins said.

Monroe and Stewart stopped paying rent in response to the mistreatment of Green Sage and the COVID-19 pandemic. The eviction moratorium protected tenants from eviction due to unpaid rent during the pandemic.

City ordinance states that in order for a property owner to terminate residency, they have to provide a good or just cause. The Ellis Act is considered a just cause.

Ultimately, it’s not about the buyout price for Monroe or Stewart. They want The Cannery to remain an affordable live-work space for artists.

“It’s more than just having a place to lay my head. It’s a place of advocacy. It’s a place for art to be preserved. For a culture to be preserved and for a community to be lifted,” Stewart said.

Magaly Muñoz

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Magaly Muñoz’s journalism experience includes working for the State Hornet, the university’s student-run newspaper and conducting research and producing projects for “All Things Considered” at National Public Radio. She also was a community reporter for El Timpano, serving Latino and Mayan communities, and contributed to the Sacramento Observer, the area’s African American newspaper.

Muñoz is one of 40 early career journalists who are part of the California Local News Fellowship program, a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen local news reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities.

The fellowship program places journalism fellows throughout the state in two-year, full-time reporting positions.

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Magaly Muñoz

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Magaly Muñoz’s journalism experience includes working for the State Hornet, the university’s student-run newspaper and conducting research and producing projects for “All Things Considered” at National Public Radio. She also was a community reporter for El Timpano, serving Latino and Mayan communities, and contributed to the Sacramento Observer, the area’s African American newspaper. Muñoz is one of 40 early career journalists who are part of the California Local News Fellowship program, a state-funded initiative designed to strengthen local news reporting in California, with a focus on underserved communities. The fellowship program places journalism fellows throughout the state in two-year, full-time reporting positions.

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Arts and Culture

Beverly Lorraine Greene: A Pioneering Architect and Symbol of Possibility and Progress

Greene graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1936 with a degree in Architecture — a remarkable accomplishment for an African American woman at the time. She was never discouraged by the racial and gender discrimination that saturated her field.

Published

4 weeks ago

March 3, 2025

Oakland Post

Beverly Lorraine Greene. Public domain photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

In the mid-20th century, Beverly Lorraine Greene was recognized as the first African American woman licensed to practice architecture in the United States.

Greene was born on Oct. 4, 1915, in Chicago during an era when opportunities for African Americans, particularly women, were severely limited.

Her parents, James and Vera Greene, were deeply invested in her education, instilling in her a belief in the power of intellect and perseverance. She grew up during the Great Migration that transformed Chicago starting in 1900.

Greene continued her education, earning a master’s degree in City Planning and Housing in 1937, also from the University of Illinois. Her ambition was not merely to design structures but to shape spaces that fostered equity and community. In 1942, she became the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, obtaining her credentials in Illinois. This groundbreaking achievement, however, did not translate immediately into job opportunities.

Early in her career, she faced significant discrimination from firms unwilling to hire a Black woman. However, her determination never wavered. In 1945, Beverly moved to New York City, a place she believed could offer broader professional opportunities.

She joined the architectural department of the New York City Housing Authority, focusing on affordable housing projects. Her work during this time reflected her commitment to using architecture as a tool for social justice, ensuring that marginalized communities had access to well-designed, dignified living spaces.

Greene’s talents soon drew the attention of prominent firms. She was hired by Isadore Rosenfield, a respected architect known for designing hospitals. She contributed to the design of healthcare facilities, including the modernization of Harlem Hospital. Her portfolio expanded in collaboration with architectural personalities such as Marcel Breuer and Edward Durell Stone.

Notably, she worked on the prestigious UNESCO headquarters in Paris — a landmark project that brought her skills to an international stage. Her involvement underscored her ability to navigate the intricacies of large-scale, global projects, proving that her talents transcended the limitations society sought to impose.

Greene’s career was tragically cut short when she passed away unexpectedly in 1957 at the age of 41. Though her life was brief, her impact was profound. She shattered entrenched barriers, paving the way for future generations of Black architects and women in the field.

Oakland Post

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Activism

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Lateefah Simon to Speak at Elihu Harris Lecture Series

The popular lecture series is co-produced by the Oakland-based Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Peralta Community College District. Jeffries’ appearance marks the 32nd lecture of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series, which has provided thousands of individuals with accessible, free, high-quality information.

Published

1 month ago

February 19, 2025

Oakland Post

U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (left) and Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) (Right).

By Scott Horton

United States House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8) will be a speaker at the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series on Friday, Feb. 21.

The event will be held at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, 10 Tenth Street in Oakland, at 7 p.m.

The popular lecture series is co-produced by the Oakland-based Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Peralta Community College District. Jeffries’ appearance marks the 32^nd lecture of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series, which has provided thousands of individuals with accessible, free, high-quality information.

The overarching goal of the lecture series is to provide speakers from diverse backgrounds a platform to offer their answers to Dr. King’s urgent question, which is also the title of Jeffries’ latest book: “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?”

In addition to Jeffries, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) will also speak.

“Certainly, now is a time for humanity, in general, and Americans in particular to honestly and genuinely answer Dr. King’s question,” said Dr. Roy D. Wilson, Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Executive Producer of the lecture series.

“Dr. King teaches that time is neutral but not static. Like the water in a river, it arrives and then quickly moves on,” continued Wilson. “We must urgently create conditions for listening to many different answers to this vital question, and generate the development of unity of action among all those who struggle for a stronger democracy.”

In his book, Jeffries shares his experience of being unanimously elected by his colleagues as the first African American in history to ever hold the position of House Minority Leader.

In January 2023 in Washington, Jeffries made his first official speech as House Minority Leader. He affirmed Democratic values one letter of the alphabet at a time. His words and how he framed them as the alphabet caught the attention of Americans, and the speech was later turned into a book, The ABCs of Democracy, bringing Congressman Jeffries rousing speech to vivid, colorful life, including illustrations by Shaniya Carrington. The speech and book are inspiring and urgent as a timeless reminder of what it means to be a country with equal opportunities for all. Jeffries paints a road map for a brighter American future and warns of the perils of taking a different path.

Before his colleagues unanimously elected him Minority Leader in 2022, Jeffries previously served as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as an Impeachment Manager during the first Senate trial of the 45th President of the United States.

Jeffries was born in Brooklyn Hospital, raised in Crown Heights, grew up in the Cornerstone Baptist Church and he is a product of New York City’s public school system, graduating from Midwood High School. Jefferies went on to Binghamton University (BA), Georgetown University (master’s in public policy) and New York University (JD).

He served in the New York State Assembly from 2007 to 2012.

Admission is free for the Feb. 21 Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series featuring Congressman Jeffries. Please reserve seats by calling the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center at (510) 434-3988.

Signed copies of his book will be available for purchase at the event.

Oakland Post

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

1 month ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.