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Rebecca Kaplan, president of the Oakland City Council, on Tuesday announced a resolution to prevent the auction of at least 153 properties, in the hopes that the city can team up with community-based organizations to use them to shelter homeless residents. If approved, the city resolution would prevent the auction of the properties, which Kaplan said could happen in late March.
Kaplan further called for the state of California to follow suit and prioritize “’auction by the government’ housing properties to be used for affordable housing.”
How did we arrive here?
The councilmember’s actions have been inspired by the Moms 4 Housing activists. The saga began in mid-November, according to reporter Marisa Kendall, when “34-year-old Dominique Walker and 41-year-old Sameerah Karim moved their belongings into a house on Magnolia Street that they say has been sitting empty for two years.”
2017-19: The Magnolia Street house in West Oakland is empty, according to Moms 4 Housing.
July 31, 2019: Wedgewood Properties buys the house at 2928 Magnolia St. in a foreclosure auction for $501,078.
Nov. 18: Moms 4 Housing moves into the house.
Early December: Moms 4 Housing receives an eviction notice from Wedgewood requiring them to leave by Dec. 17.
Dec. 16: The Moms 4 Housing eviction is stalled as a court accepts a claim the group filed, alleging a right to possession of 2928 Magnolia St.
#Moms4Housing eviction is STOPPED!!! Today dozens of community members came out to support @moms4housing in filing a claim to right to possession to #MomsHouse & it was accepted! That means they have 15 days before a hearing where the courts will determine if the moms can stay! pic.twitter.com/uUNresEZnR
— 🐝 ACCE 🐝 (@CalOrganize) December 16, 2019
Dec. 23: Wedgewood offers to turn the Magnolia Street house into a job training center for at-risk Oakland residents as part of a project with nonprofit Shelter 37 — when Moms 4 Housing leaves the property.
Dec. 24: Oakland Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan’s office announces the city is considering seizing the property at 2928 Magnolia St. if Wedgewood does not negotiate a property sale with Moms 4 Housing.
Dec. 30: Alameda County Superior Court Judge Patrick McKinney II hears the Moms 4 Housing case.
Jan. 10: McKinney rejects Moms 4 Housing’s arguments in court, authorizing the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to evict the women within five days.
Jan. 10: Moms 4 Housing loses its court battle but refuses to leave.
Jan. 11: Wedgewood offers to pay for the Moms 4 Housing to live elsewhere for two months. The women refuse Wedgewood’s overture.
Jan. 13: At least 100 supporters gathered in front of the house to protest the eviction.
Jan. 14: Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies end a 58-day standoff by removing and arresting four of the Moms 4 Housing squatters and their supporters.
Jan. 16: Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers 15 trailers — to house 50 to 70 unhoused individuals — to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. Newsom praises the Moms 4 Housing movement: “It takes a tremendous amount of courage to do what they’ve done.”
Jan. 20: Schaaf and Moms 4 Housing announce a deal between Wedgewood and the group to allow them to buy the Magnolia Street property.
Jan. 21: Kaplan drafts a resolution to prevent the auction of specified properties, which can be used to help house the city’s unsheltered.
