Last Tuesday, City Council hosted a public hearing regarding bill 2021-1906, and 35 people signed up to speak. Of the 31 who actually appeared, 27 spoke clearly in opposition to either the contents of the bill, or the way it was introduced – or both. 10 speakers were residents of adjacent neighborhoods, community organizers and community development professionals who spoke to the dangerous precedent that would be set by sending this bill to the Planning Commission, undermining the public process. 17 speakers were Oakland residents – from Central Oakland, Panther Hollow, North Oakland, West Oakland, Schenley Farms, South Oakland, and Oakcliffe. Every Oakland resident asked Council to hold the bill pending conclusion of the Oakland Plan process. Regardless of each individual’s particular perspective or reason for being there, every testifier made it clear: what’s at stake is more than just a few residential blocks, it’s the integrity of public planning everywhere.
Following the hearing, OPDC and a number of Oakland residents reached out to Councilman Bruce Kraus’s office to request a meeting to discuss the matter further. No one received any acknowledgment.
Yesterday morning (October 12), Councilman Kraus announced that he, his legislative aide, and Walnut Capital’s lawyer had spent every day since the hearing behind closed doors working on a set of amendments, which he introduced at the same time that he asked Council to approve them. After some brief discussion, Council voted 8-0 to send the amended bill to the Planning Commission for its review.
The Planning Commission now until January 11, 2022 to review this bill, hold a public hearing, and return its recommendation to Council. Regardless of the Planning Commission’s review, however, if seven Council members vote to approve the bill, it will be passed. (Councilman Ricky Burgess took the opportunity this morning to announce that he, for one, would vote to pass this bill even if the Planning Commission recommends rejecting it. And it is clear he wouldn’t be alone.)
OPDC will be tracking the bill closely at the Planning Commission and will help to get the word out when a hearing date is set. Meanwhile, if you have thoughts to share with Councilman Kraus, he can be reached via email and by phone at 412-255-2130.