Stop Chinatown Evictions

PacRen - What's it all about?

It's about self determination.

It's about preserving much needed affordable housing for Oakland's Chinatown.

It's about protecting our communities against continual gentrification.

It's about carrying out a legacy of hard work by community organizations who fought for the Pacific Renaissance affordable housing units.

HEART OF THE FIGHT

In May of 2003, 50 units of affordable housing units in Oakland's Chinatown were served eviction notices. Against much pressure and uncertainty, six households, comprised mainly of seniors, chose to stay and fight despite the mass exodus of neighbors around them. Today, three households still remain and are firm in their resolve to keep all 50 units affordable.

At the heart of the fight are people learning to demand their basic rights to affordable housing in a climate of increased gentrification throughout Chinatowns and other poor ethnic communities in the U.S. One of the tenants children said of his mother that after living for more than 60 years in the U.S., "she's finally learning that she can fight back." The PacRen campaign is also about raising consciousness within Chinatown and about the power of each community member to support others for their rights - in so doing discovering their own freedom to speak out.

WHO ARE WE FIGHTING?

Would you believe a rich, greedy developer and an inept city council that is allowing him to get away with millions of taxpayer dollars - IT"S TRUE !!

Action Alert

STOP CHINATOWN EVICTIONS COMMITTEE
(Asian Pacific Environmental Network, CJWP, Just Cause Oakland, Oakland Tenants Union)
February 14, 2007

COMMUNITY ACTION ALERT: OAKLAND CHINATOWN AFFORDABLE HOUSING HANGS IN THE BALANCE

ACTION NEEDED: Contact Oakland City Councilmembers and Mayor Dellums to Request that No Council Decision be Made at the February 20, 2007 Closed Session that Would Result in the Sale of ANY of the Pacific Renaissance Affordable Housing Units.

City Contact Information:
Mayor Ron Dellums, 238-3141, officeofthemayor@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 1: Jane Brunner, 238-7001, jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 2: Pat Kernighan, 238-7002, pkernighan@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 3: Nancy Nadel, 238-7003, nnadel@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 4: Jean Quan, 238-7004, jquan@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 5: Ignacio De la Fuente, 238-7005, idelafuente@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 6: Desley Brooks, 238-7006, dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
Dist. 7: Larry Reid, 238-7007, lreid@oaklandnet.com
At large: Henry Chang, 238-7008, cityochang@aol.com

Please call and email the Mayor and councilpeople today.
The message is simple: In their closed session on the 20th, only approve bids that will preserve ALL 50 of the affordable housing units at Pacific Renaissance.

COMMUNITY STRUGGLE BACKGROUND: Four years after the Oakland Chinatown and housing rights communities have been fighting to preserve the Pacific Renaissance affordable housing units, and three decades after Chinatown activists worked to secure these same units, we are close to securing permanent affordable housing for Chinatown’s low-income and elderly residents. Some of the key aspects of the struggle include the following:

• In the 70's and 80's, Chinatown activists worked to secure the Pacific Renaissance 50 affordable housing units in response to the devastation of thousands of affordable units in Chinatown due to City redevelopment efforts. The City of Oakland provided over $30 million in public subsidies to the Pacific Renaissance developers, including a $7 million loan for the affordable housing.

• In April 2003, the Pacific Renaissance developers attempted to evict all 50 families, mainly low-income, immigrant elders. The Oakland progressive community organized in support of these tenants. Community groups and tenants filed a lawsuit against the developers and compelled the City of Oakland to sue the developers for defrauding the City and tenants that resulted in the loss of the City’s $7 million loan and the 50 affordable housing units.

• In May 2006, on the eve of trial, the parties entered into a tentative settlement agreement that would result in the preservation of the Pacific Renaissance affordable housing units. The settlement provided for the City to purchase the commercial property, affordable housing, and parking spaces for $40 million. The City could then sell the commercial property and parking spaces to another buyer for a higher price. The City has been working to find a buyer for the property and set a deadline of January 31, 2007 for all bids.

• The community has made clear, again and again over the years, its support for retention of all 50 affordable apartments at Pacific Renaissance. They are central to meeting the housing needs of low-income residents as well as to the vitality and character of Chinatown.

WHAT’S AT STAKE: City Council Decision at the February 20th Closed Session Could Result in the Sale of Some of the Affordable Housing Units

• The City is trying to recoup its costs of the lawsuit by selling off some of the affordable housing units. We need to make sure our elected officials know that the housing rights and Chinatown communities do not want any of the units to be sold.
• Creative options exist to help close any money gaps that the City has including renegotiating the sales price of the Pacific Renaissance property, allowing a nonprofit housing developer to purchase the affordable units, and deferring the City’s attorneys fees. The City must get back into negotiations with the Community and Tenant Plaintiffs to work out a solution.
• This is a closed-door meeting with no public comment. We need to make our voices heard NOW to impact the decision on Tuesday.

Please call and email the Mayor and councilpeople today.
The message is simple: In their closed session on the 20th, only approve bids that will preserve ALL 50 of the affordable housing units at Pacific Renaissance.

Thank you for your crucial support.

For More Information Contact: Just Cause Oakland, 763-5877; victory@justcauseoakland.org


For more info about this fight: http://www.aamovement.net/community/nomoveoakland1.html

Developer accused in 'elaborate scheme'
Cecily Burt, Oakland Tribune

Bidding Could Leave Tenants on Short End
Momo Chang, Oakland Tribune
December 15, 2006

Past Events

Community Struggle at Pacific Renaissance Plaza:
A Discussion on Good Governance,
Affordable Housing, and
Redevelopment in Oakland

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 17, 2004
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Madison Park Apartments: 100 9th Street,
(close to Lake Merritt BART), Oakland

Click here for more information »

SHOW UP !! STAND IN SOLIDARITY !! LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD !!

RALLY in SUPPORT of the PacRen tenants
(balloons & guerrilla theater for the first 500)

Monday, November 3, 2003, 4pm at Oakland City Hall
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza

CJWP is calling out to all of our brothers and sisters who are part of the beautiful community of activists, artists, friends and family in the Bay. You've come through for us before and we need your help again. The tenants at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza need us to turn out in a HUGE way to let the Oakland City Council know that the POWER OF THE PEOPLE are backing the tenants. They know we have lawyers and expert analysis which they choose to ignore. The POWER OF THE PEOPLE will not be ignored. Come support the struggle to maintain affordable housing in Chinatown and throughout Oakland. This fight transcends all communities and your support reflects this. We need to flood the plaza, raise our voices and demand JUSTICE !!

The word that we're getting is that councilmembers are going to let $16 million dollars of our taxpayer dollars slip away.

gathering for protest at Larry Chan's Parc55 hotel. photo: derek chung