Oakland Post: Week of – January 17 – 23, 2024
Special to The Post
We respectfully request that you vote “No” on the City Council resolution regarding Tidewater Franklin Street development due to be scheduled on the Jan. 16 City Council agenda.
Tidewater’s proposed development will harm Geoffrey’s Inner Circle through its very construction, in much the same way that another nearby Black business, Uncle Willie’s Original Bar-B-Que and Fish, was devastated by the construction of a 27-story hotel tower adjacent to the historic building that housed this venerated Black business.
Further, the Planning Commission made many errors in its approval process, including but not limited to the following:
- Its members acknowledged that they were not even aware that the Black Arts Movement and Business District existed.
- It ignored the fact that Geoffrey’s was entitled to critical protections as a recognized historic resource.
- It ignored the fact that Tidewater had not sought permits or permission to alter Mr. Pete’s building, although such alterations are an integral part of Tidewater’s proposal.
- The Planning Department did not provide, in a timely manner, relevant Public Records Act information requested by the appellant.
In addition, the Planning Department staff has refused to meet with Mr. Geoffrey Pete throughout the appeal process. Sadly, it also appears that the City’s own Department of Race and Equity has been bypassed on a matter with significant equity implications.
It should also be noted that there are dozens of studies indicating that residential construction like Tidewater’s drives out live entertainment venues. Many cities have laws to regulate such potential conflicts.
Geoffrey’s is a critical business to the Oakland community as a whole, and particularly to the African American community.
It has been a place of comfort and camaraderie for thousands of people who have listened to music, held celebrations, funeral repasts, and community meetings. And, Pete hosts an incubator program which has provided a haven for business owners who would not have had success if not housed in his building with below market-rate rent and other amenities, thus enabling them to survive in the ever-more costly downtown area.
The African American population in Oakland has decreased from 47% in the 1980s to 22% currently. A large part of the reason has been City policies which privilege the desires of wealthy developers over the needs of the Black community.
There are questions about housing and other matters which are too lengthy for this letter; we would be happy to discuss all of these with you.
We urge you in the strongest terms to support Geoffrey’s and refuse to vote in support of any measure presented to you that would allow Tidewater’s construction next to Geoffrey’s.
Signers (partial list):
Organizations
Black Women Organized for Political Action, Oakland Berkeley Chapter
Oakland East Bay Democratic Club
Block by Block Organizing Network
John George Democratic Club, Steering Committee
Niagara Movement Democratic Club
Everett and Jones Bar-B-Que
Uncle Willie’s Bar-b-Que and Fish
Joyce Gordon Gallery
Pastors:
Pastor Phyllis Scott, president, Pastors of Oakland
Rev. Dr. Lawrence Van Hook, Community Church
Rev. Dr. Jasper Lowery, International Outreach Ministries
Pastor Cornell Wheeler, Greater Whittington Temple, COGIC
Rev. Dr. Joe Smith, Good Hope MBC
Bishop Brandon Rheems, Center of Hope Community Church
Pastor Daniel Stevens, GreaterNew Life COGIC
Pastor Joseph Thomas, New Hope COGIC
Bishop Joseph Nobles, Dancey Memorial COGIC
Pastor Edwin Brown, Market Street Seventh Day Adventist
Bishop J.E. Watkins, Jack London Square Chapel COGIC
Rev. Kenneth Anderson, Williams Chapel MBC
Rev. Germaine Anderson, People’s MBC
Bishop Marcel Robinson, Perfecting Ministries
Pastor K J Williams, New Beginnings Church
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Captain, Glad Tidings
Bishop George Matthews, Genesis Worship Center
Rev. Dr. David Franklin, Wings of Love SDA Church
Bishop Anthony Willis, Lily of the Valley Christian Center
Bishop L E Franklin, Starlight Cathedral
Rev. Dr. Sylvester Rutledge, North Oakland MBC
Pastor Raymond Lankford, MSW, Voices of Hope Community Church
Minister Candi Thornton, Arsola House Ministries
Rev. Dr. Joseph Jones, Alpha and Omega Ministries
Superintendent Dan Phillips, Greater Grace Temple, COGIC
Individuals:
Walter Riley, Attorney at Law
Corrina Gould, Tribal chair of Confederated Villages of Lisjan/Ohlone
Zach Norris, Open Society Foundation Fellow
Raymond Bobbitt, Business
Doug Blacksher
Terryn Niles Buxton, business
Lauren Cherry, School Administrator
Allene Warren
Nirali Jani, PhD, Professor of Education
Frankie Ramos, PhD, community organizer
Henry Hitz, Educator
Sheryl Walton, Community Organizer
Vincent Tolliver, Musician
Eleanor Stovall, Educator
Kitty Kelly Epstein, PhD, Professor of Urban Studies, and Education