Oakland, Berkeley, And East Bay News, Events, Restaurants, Music, & Arts
Paul Merr
Member since Mar 29, 2015
Recent Comments
Re: “The Fight Over Rent Control”
RENT CONTROL IS BAD BUSINESS FOR ALL!!!!
Re: “No Punches Thrown in Oakland Council District 6”
I'm going with Taylor!!!
I just hope he has the gonads that others failed to have in the past!!!
THINKING OUT OF THE BOX IS A MUST!!!
Re: “Role Reversals in the Oakland Mayor's Race”
Mr Riles : >>Kat Brooks is Preference Number One!> Brooks, who has never held public office before, has said that one of her top priorities will be better job training for Oaklanders, and especially workers of color.<<
Oakland does NOT need any politician that courts one specific group over another!!! Plus any candidates looking to cut OPD overtime is CLUELESS!!!
Oakland is emerging from decades of crime from particular areas of the city. We all know it, to be the TRUTH!!! Oakland needs leadership that will stop pandering to crime & those individuals that are not willing to put in an effort to improve their lives!!! This mentality of PLEASE take care of me ... has had it's day in Oakland!!! These people are adults and they need to act like adults!!! Get the hell out of the streets!!!
Oakland needs a leader that will aggressively address homelessness!!! In a humane way. That does NOT mean just handing out MONEY!!!
Oakland should be partnering with other cites across American that have affordable housing. Not everyone can afford to live in Oakland nor the Bay Area for that matter. I'm sorry but many will have to leave with the cities help in order to have a more productive life. A chance to have their own home in a stable environment vs a crime area like many parts of E.O. Right now there is a home in New Castle, PA at auction for $13,500, 3 bd, 2bth. A low crime area.
Oakland should help a homeless person relocate and acquire that home to start a new life. Partnering with other cities can change the entire Bay Area and help other communities in America that need new people. The city could do like the VA does ... not fund the home purchase but guarantee payment to a bank. Thus virtually no money from the city, unless there is a default, house note of maybe $250/mth.
Foothill Square is for sale for $34 million. New Castle has a 14 acre vacant mall site for sale @ $3 million, with 1300 parking spaces!!! A 200 room vacant hospital on 6 acres zoned for homeless shelter $350,000!!!! They will work with the City of Oakland for lower taxes!!! This is not the only city in America that needs new people and has many vacant affordable homes & businesses!!! Many homeless have SKILLS!!! They just need a fresh start in life!!! Not a hand out that will end ... putting them back on the streets!!!
It's time to realize affordability of the Bay Area will NOT stop increasing!!! Many will need to leave. At least the city can help them in that transition rather than just throwing money away that ends up in the hands of landlords etc and nothing really changes. Gentrification is here to stay and we might as well accept that fact!!!
I live in E.O. , born in Oakland 1947. Our family has been here for more than 100 yr's!!! I am a Black man ... Oakland's Blacks have no long term claim to Oakland!!! Family members came out of a need for a better life. That now is what many of the homeless need a better and more affordable life outside of the Bay area.
Re: “Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks Alleges City Attorney Failed to Competently Represent Her in the Elaine Brown Lawsuit”
It's time for Brooks to go!!!
Re: “Oakland and Berkeley Homeless Sweeps May be Unconstitutional”
>>criminalize homelessness<<
FACTS MATTER!!!
Lets be clear ... it's a CRIME to litter, defecate, urinate on the streets!!!
All the homeless on Oakland's streets are NOT from Oakland!!! Where are they from, where is the original home??? It's hard enough for tax paying workers to provide for shelter for themselves & thier families let alone people that are homeless not from Oakland!!!
Oakland residents that can prove they are from Oakland and roots here should be taken care of others need to MOVE OUT of Oakland!!!
Re: “Gentrification Changed the Names of Oakland Neighborhoods”
Maxwell Park named after it's developer John P. Maxwell. He built his home at 2625 Maxwell Ave. The only home in that area that sits on a double lot. Nice styling!!! Check it out via Google maps. Traveling the area you can find large concrete markers, staking out Maxwell Park boundaries.
Re: “The East Bay's Tow Hustle”
It's appears the ONLY illegalities are from the tow companies!!! These people all filed complaints and got their money returned.