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Just Cause VS Ethnic Cleansing of Oakland By Lynda Carson Shocking eviction stats from the Eviction Defense Center reveal that the Courts of Oakland are clogged with evictions, and that a new case occurs every 10 minutes. More than 65% of evictions are against people of color, and for those who fight the evictions each case averages out to around ten minutes per hearing. According to Roxanne Romeil an anti-eviction attorney of Oakland, the process of the Sheriff coming by to enforce evictions has been recently streamlined to within a ten day period. It used to take around two weeks for the Sheriff to make the rounds says Romeil, to make sure the evicted vacated the property after the court case was over and the tenant lost their bid to oppose the eviction. Many landlords are evicting long-term minority renters of Oakland in hopes of finding wealthier renters who tend to be Caucasian yuppies. A rise in the evictions of tenants with pets has also been increasing in Oakland over the past dog mauling trials of San Francisco. Local renters and activists believe that a Just Cause Measure on November's ballot would decrease the gentrification of Oakland and slow down the ethnic cleansing going on Oakland that is forcing thousands to relocate. One of the latest cases of ethnic cleansing to reach public attention is the location of 1647 6th Ave, Oakland. A four plex building, with two families of immigrants, and an African American facing eviction by the new property owners Michell and Steve Awai. Presently, one unit out of the four remains empty. The renters allegedly face eviction so that the new owners may replace the hot water heater. The renters state that the hot water heater has already been recently replaced, and even if it was to be replaced there is no need to evict the renters who have lived there for years. Bruce Parker a resident of 1647 6th Ave, states that his mother was forced out by greedy landlords in Oakland and after residing for over ten years at the present location, he feels that the same is now happening to himself. Bruce Parker now seeks community support to fight his eviction. A call to the new owners of the property Michele and Steve Awai of Oakland, revealed a callousness and lack of understanding to the plight of the tenants they now try to evict. My first call reached Michelle Awai who started laughing when I asked about the evictions. She then tried to convince me that it was all perfectly legal and she quickly hung up on me. A second call moments later reached Steve Awai the husband of Michelle who suddenly claimed that this was harassment and that he did not have to explain his actions to anyone. As if to intimidate me into silence, he asked if I would wish to speak to his attorney. He also quickly hung up on me. After speaking with Sandra Miguel the mother of two who now faces eviction after residing in the property for more than three years, the desperation of her plight was apparent. In her attempt to seek community support against the eviction she has been in touch with the Campaign for Renters Rights, and plans to head to City Hall to make a public plea for help before the next Oakland City Council meeting. Sandra Miguel requests that the community call her at home, 451.9342, to offer support and join her in fighting this eviction in the public arena of community support. She further requests that people who are concerned about the eviction of her family to please call Michelle and Steve Awai immediately to request that they stop this eviction now at 534.1089. Promoters of Just Cause say to vote yes on Prop. EE, on November 5th. Sandra Miguel hopes that Just Cause will pass in November and that in the meantime the community will support her building in fighting the eviction for profit system. The Campaign for Renters Rights also has a campaign going to defend Doris Stancil, and are directing people to call Bruce Millar at 925.837.7055 to say no to the eviction of Doris Stancil. U Eviction Defense Center 452.4541; Campaign for Renters Rights 595.5545; Just Cause Oakland 763.5877. If you have news to report, please email us at [email protected] or fax to 510.645.1331. [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]