Neighbors,
On Thursday, August 11th at 5pm, Neighbors Together Oakland (NTO) will hold a Press Conference at Frank Ogawa Plaza with neighbors and local businesses to demand the enforcement of Oakland’s Encampment Management Policy (EMP) and the immediate closure of the encampment at Martin Luther King and Grand.
For years now, neighbors and businesses by MLK/Grand have written countless letters pleading with City officials to uphold law and order, remove abandoned vehicles and stop open air drug dealing at this encampment. They have received little more than lip service in return. Overdoses, murder, property theft and fires continue to be regular occurences at the MLK/Grand encampment.
The City of Oakland posted an eviction notice this May 26th indicating the city’s intent to close the encampment between 5/31/2022 and 6/2/2022. In typical fashion, the City failed to follow through, simply opting to not show. NTO founder Seneca Scott says that “the City of Oakland has been gaslighting neighbors for too long. This is not compassion for the unhoused, this is contempt. They are dying in shame and squalor on a daily basis. We all deserve better.”
The EMP was passed in 2020 to manage the adverse impacts of homeless encampments while balancing the interest of all residents. The policy does not allow encampments to be closer than 50 feet from residences, schools, parks, businesses, and critical infrastructure unless they are City approved and attached to a local nonprofit for oversight.
Neighbors, Local businesses and nonprofit organizations will be joining this press conference to demand the closure of the MLK/Grand encampment and offers of services and housing made to its inhabitants. Speakers will include Seneca Scott and Urban Compassion Project founder Vincent Williams III as well as neighbors and local business owners.
For more information about NTO, visit www.neighborstogetheroakland.org or contact the group at info@neighborstogetheroakland.org.
Donate to support lawsuit: https://www.neighborstogetheroakland.org/donate
Contact:
Stacey Barker 316906@email4pr.com, 323-833-8358