The following statement was provided to the press by Eric Macadangdang, Secretary, OPDC Board of Directors, in response to outgoing board President Jake Oresick’s letter to Pittsburgh leadership:
“Oakland Planning and Development Corporation is a community-based organization that for over 40 years has invested in Oakland’s residential neighborhoods, supported Oakland’s residents and job seekers with active programming and services, advocated for and promoted affordable housing and equitable development strategies, and coordinated collaborative planning and programming efforts with Oakland’s many stakeholders.
“At a recent board retreat, we took a fresh approach to prioritizing equity and diversity in our programming and centering the needs of Oakland’s most vulnerable residents. At this morning’s board meeting, four board members chose to resign in protest. This was not an outcome any of us desired, but we are invigorated with OPDC’s renewed commitment to building an Oakland that helps all its neighbors thrive.”