Richmond Resident’s Nonprofit Honors African American Contributions

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:

1. Its members acknowledged that they were not even aware that the Black Arts Movement and Business District existed.
2. It ignored the fact that Geoffrey’s was entitled to critical protections as a recognized historic resource.
3. 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.
4. 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

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