I'm writing this from the comfort of a suburban Atlanta home office, listening to Darrel Carrey talk to the Oakland City Council regarding the need for jobs and the importance of redeveloping the Army Base. He is one of 75 speakers and 165 speaker cards (double-counting plus?) and there's a lot of emotion.
While the favorite to win the right to negotiate with the Oakland Redevelopment Agency is AMB/CCG over Federal Oakland Partners, it seems in failing to communicate with the Oakland Film Center people, Phil Tagami, who represents the developer team, has angered a ton of folks and they've come to the Oakland City Council to express their anger.
Well, not Darrel.
Long-time Oakland activist Joyce Roy asked how a developer could get this far without talking to the Oakland Film community. Yikes. This is going to be a long agenda item.
After about 50 speakers, the council's talking. Even with the film community's issues with how they perceive Phil treated them, the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) which will lead to a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) barring a southward turn in the discussions.
The council's main concerns are 1) the film center, 2) open space, 3) fiscal capacity, 4) the recycling center, 5) local hiring and business retention. Councilmember Nadel wants a commitment to the produce market, the film center, and wants the agency administrator to come back to council in closed session in September. Well, she's presented two motions over the phone but as one motions and the council made them into two motions. (Got it?)
The motion passed.
Congratulations, Phil and the AMB/CCG team, you've won.
Steve Saldivar of OaklandNorth did a great job of live-blogging every speaker I didn't want to sit and record. Here's his excellent work: OaklandNorth
While the favorite to win the right to negotiate with the Oakland Redevelopment Agency is AMB/CCG over Federal Oakland Partners, it seems in failing to communicate with the Oakland Film Center people, Phil Tagami, who represents the developer team, has angered a ton of folks and they've come to the Oakland City Council to express their anger.
Well, not Darrel.
Long-time Oakland activist Joyce Roy asked how a developer could get this far without talking to the Oakland Film community. Yikes. This is going to be a long agenda item.
After about 50 speakers, the council's talking. Even with the film community's issues with how they perceive Phil treated them, the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) which will lead to a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) barring a southward turn in the discussions.
The council's main concerns are 1) the film center, 2) open space, 3) fiscal capacity, 4) the recycling center, 5) local hiring and business retention. Councilmember Nadel wants a commitment to the produce market, the film center, and wants the agency administrator to come back to council in closed session in September. Well, she's presented two motions over the phone but as one motions and the council made them into two motions. (Got it?)
The motion passed.
Congratulations, Phil and the AMB/CCG team, you've won.
Steve Saldivar of OaklandNorth did a great job of live-blogging every speaker I didn't want to sit and record. Here's his excellent work: OaklandNorth
Comments