We all know someone who has been pushed out of Oakland as the tide of gentrification and displacement continues to sweep through the Town and the wider Bay Area region, hitting low-income, immigrant and communities of color the hardest. Each month landlords are evicting between 1,000 to 1,500 tenants living in Oakland. Just between 2000 and 2010, 25 percent of Oakland’s Black population was displaced, and that number continues to climb.
With Uber moving into downtown Oakland and bringing 3,000 employees, we can expect more rapid displacement unless we place stronger protections in place for renters.
Although we passed the Tenant Protection Ordinance and Increased the Minimum Wage in 2014, further action is required to stabilize our neighborhoods. As a member of the Committee to Protect Oakland Renters alongside many labor and community organizations, Oakland Rising is working to increase protections and power for the city’s most vulnerable renters, the fabric of our communities.
After a long political battle to qualify the ballot measure, Oaklanders will have a chance to vote on increased protections for renters this November through Measure JJ. With 60 percent of the city’s population renting their living space, Oakland Rising’s massive field program will operate tirelessly between now until Election Day to make sure people turn out in full force to pass these safeguards.
If passed, the Renter Protection Act (Measure JJ) would:
• Expand eviction protections to an additional 15,000 tenants
• Fundamentally switch the balance of power between landlords and tenants, by requiring landlords to petition the Rent Board if they want to increase a tenant’s rent above the Consumer Price Index
• Increase tenant representation on the Oakland Rent Stabilization Board
Oakland Rising will contact 17,488 low-income, immigrant and voters of color in Oakland this fall in support of Measure JJ to surpass the margin needed for victory. We have many opportunities to phone bank and door knock. Join the fight for renters’ rights by volunteering with us!
Oakland Rising and our collaborative partners are united in our vision for a city that embodies health, happiness, safety, and equal opportunities for all. Our goal is to create a model of progress and sustainability that showcases the possibilities for American cities in the 21st century. We are committed to dismantling the barriers of racial, economic, political, environmental, and educational inequities that have divided us, and instead, embracing the collective strength found in our city’s diversity. We firmly believe that Oakland can achieve its full potential when every resident, student, and bus rider has the ability to shape our city’s future. This vision is attainable and we are determined to realize it through our collective actions, whether it’s through voting, meetings, or call to actions.
Every year, we release a Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform (VIPP) which outlines the annual policies that we and our eight partner organizations prioritize in order to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in the Town. Our collaborative’s agenda encompasses a range of critical initiatives, from expanding affordable housing to creating a more equitable democracy through campaign finance reforms. These priorities are designed to provide vital protections and innovative solutions for the most vulnerable members of our community. As we continue our efforts to promote these policies, we hold conversations with thousands of voters, lead and co-host impactful town hall meetings, educate and mobilize residents and voters, and undertake various other initiatives.
To gain a deeper understanding of our commitment to resist, protect, and advance in this political moment, we invite you to explore our 2023 Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform. Together, we are making strides towards a more equitable and just Oakland, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of change, one vote, one meeting, one march at a time.
Sign up
Get our email updates and stay connected.
Donate
Oakland Rising is a project from our hearts for the people of Oakland. Thank you for your contribution!