Oakland considers temporary ban in rent hikes

The Oakland City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to vote on ordinances declaring a citywide housing crisis and a temporary ban on rent increases and evictions.

The two ordinances were introduced by a variety of groups, including the John George Democratic Club, Oakland Tenants Union and the Block by Block Organizing Network.

The moratorium on rent increases and evictions would apply to residential rentals except for people evicted under the city's Just Cause law, according to a city report.

The report says the typical Oakland renter earns less than $30,000 a year and can afford to pay $750 a month in rent, while the current median two-bedroom rent is $2,950 a month. The 90-day moratorium prohibits landlords from boosting rents above the lowest percentage increase allowed by state and local rental rules.

In addition, Councilmember Annie Campbell Washington said she is introducing a resolution to help educators afford housing in Oakland.

"Amidst this housing crisis, there is currently a nationwide teacher shortage impacting all education employers, especially California public schools," Campbell Washington wrote in a memo to fellow council members.

New motto for Oakland?


Also on Tuesday, the City Council will consider a new motto for the city: "Love Life."

Led by council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney, if approved, the motto would be added to welcome signs in Oakland.

The idea stems from the 1997 death of 16-year-old LoEshe Adanma Lacy, who was shot and killed while sitting in a van near McClymonds High School in West Oakland. Lacy was not the intended target but was caught in a gang turf war, authorities said at the time. Her name means "love life."

The council is scheduled to hear a report on the proposal and could vote to adopt it as the city's new slogan.

Oakland police cite 51 in pedestrian safety sting

Oakland police were out in force this week, posing as decoys crossing intersections along Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt -- and getting a taste of pedestrian life. One officer in bluejeans and a bright red shirt was nearly hit by a car when crossing Grand near Bellevue Avenue, according to authorities.

On Wednesday police issued 51 citations to drivers and made one warrant arrest during the pedestrian safety enforcement operation, authorities said, noting that the officers targeted intersections known for being a danger to pedestrians.

An undercover officer navigated Grand Avenue in a crosswalk unprotected by stop sign or traffic light several times Wednesday, as motorcycle officers waited nearby to ticket drivers who did not stop for him.

Over the past three years, Oakland police have investigated 876 collisions involving cars and pedestrians, some fatal, according to department spokeswoman Johnna Watson. Statewide in 2013 there were 701 pedestrian deaths, accounting for 23 percent of all roadway fatalities, according to OPD.

[[[Normal]]][[[Normal]]]{"Infobox Head"/}Dear readers:

{"Infobox Text"/}This is the last edition of Citywise, but you can still find interesting East Bay news tidbits in the Eye on the East Bay column in Sunday papers.