Gentrification is one of the major problems facing Oakland residents
As Oakland improves it will become a desirable place for people to live. As we get new people moving here many of these new residents will have higher incomes than those of us who currently reside in Oakland. These new residents with higher incomes will also bring with them an increase in rents and the prices of homes. If preparations are not made it can result in many of the current members of our city being forced out due to the escalation of rents and housing prices. many people scaff at this but if we look across the Bay at San Francisco we can see what has happened over the years with housing in their city. Rents and housing prices in San Francisco are atronomical and many of their residents are relocating to the East Bay. As we build up our downtown many upper income individuals will become residents of our city. Mayor Brown's 10K program is admirable but we have to realize that the spill over effects will be felt in our neighborhoods.
West Oakland is in immediate danger of becoming a victim to gentrification. Its proximity to downtown makes it a desirable area for those people who work downtown and who posess a much highewr level of disposable income. There are billboards all over West Oakland offering to buy existing homes. As a resident of West Oakland and a home owner, not a day goes by when there is not a letter in my mailbox offering to either buy my house or to make a laon available. Right across the street from the Acorn Shopping Center is a community of recently constructed single family homes which sell for a price of $157,000. If homes in West OIakland are going for $157,000, then what do you think the prices of new homes in our other neighborhoodsmwill sell for.
As a long time renter and a resident of the Adams Point neighborhood I haVE experienced first hand the dramatic increase in rents within our city. It is my sincer belief that we should make every opportunity possible for our current residents to remain a part of our city and not be forced ou because of the increase in the price of housing.
I propose that the city began to buy up all the vacant houses on the market, rennovate them or assist potential buyers in their efforts to rennovate and to then put these house up for sale to oakland residents at a price which our citizens can afford. If necessary the city should eat the costs required to bring these rennovated units down to the level which our residents can afford. If the city can find money to give to the Raiders; if our city can find the money to give to developers to construct an ice skating rink
then we can surely find the funds to provide decent affordable housing within our city.
Most of current residents have been here for a long time. We did not flee to the suburbs when Oakland was experiencing the problems of drugs, homelessness and crime during th late 70's and early 80's. We stayed because we love our city and we knoew that one day it would come back. Now that things are beginning to turn around our city fathers must deveop new ideas and programs which will insure that long time residents have the opportunity to stay here. I don't know about you but I plan to be an Oakland resident for the remainder of my life. I'm like rock and roll - I'm here to stay.
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